AN: You can play the video above while reading the latter part of this chapter for a better perception of the scene.
I woke up earlier than usual that's why I managed to take a walk around our subdivision. But unlike last time, there's no maniac that I've encountered.
Pawis na pawis akong pumasok sa bahay namin pagkatapos ko mag-jogging. Kaso halos bumalik ang lahat ng ito nang makita ko kung sino ang nagkakape sa sala namin. He didn't notice me so I coughed a little to catch his attention.
"Kape?" He offered me as he raised his mug.
I raised my brows at him. This is my house, idiot.
"Oh nandito ka na pala, tara na mag-umagahan," ani ng tatay ko.
I checked my watch and saw that it's only seven in the morning. What the hell is he doing here?
"Ah nandito pala si Langley kasi pinagpapaalam ka niya sa ano nga ba ulit 'yun?" Tanong ni daddy kay Langley.
"Sa bar po sa downtown, may lights out event po kasi," he explained calmly and eyed me. He then wiggled his eyebrows.
Ano bang pakana ng isang 'to? Pero wait, sa bar daw?!
"Would you let me?!" I excitedly asked my father.
I mean nakakapag-bar naman ako pero hindi nila alam 'yun kasi gusto nila mag-aral lang ako. Kung papayagan ako ngayon, this would be my first time to go to bar legally. I'm so freaking excited!
"Oo.."
Hindi ko siya napatapos nang niyakap ko siya sa saya.
"Pero.."
I suddenly let go and looked at him. May pero pa?
"12 am dapat nasa bahay na at dapat si Langley pa rin maghahatid sa 'yo. Deal?"
I nodded as fast as I could and looked at Langley. His eyes are smiling, they kind of gave me a foreign feeling. Should I dig deeper? Should I invest more?
Those thoughts vanished right away as my mother called us.
Kumakain ako nang masaya habang kinakausap pa rin ng magulang ko si Langley. I can't believe we're having breakfast together. My heart's so full I feel like it'll jump away from my body.
"So nililigawan mo ba anak ko?"
"Daddy!" Saway ko sa kaniya dahil sa tanong niya.
Out of the blue baman siya magtanong. Nakakahiya kasi kaibigan ko lang naman si Langley baka na-awkwardan na siya. I angrily eyed my father but he just laughed at my reaction.
"Hindi ka na pabata," my mom added.
"No, okay? We're just friends, kakahiya kayo."
My parents both laugh at my reaction but I can't help it. Nakakahiya sila.
I saw how the lips of Langley rose in amusement. Isa pa 'to!
Our topic ended when my father threw more questions at him.
The day ended quickly kaya 'di ko namalayan na 5:30 pm na and he would pick me up at 6:30 argh! I was literally diving at my closet 'cause I can't seem to find a perfect outfit. My mother even helped me declutter my clothes. I heard that she apologized for how she behaves but somehow, I still feel uncomfortable around her. It can't be helped though. But baby steps, we'll get there.
At exactly 6:30, I heard a gentle honk of a car from outside. I quickly went out only to see a Sedan. Where's his motor?
We bid farewell to my parents and head our way to downtown.
"You look gorgeous," he said as he took a glance at the center mirror to check me.
With that, my lips pursued to hide a smile. "Duh, I know," I said still hiding a smile.
His soft chuckle filled the car. "Oo nga. Lagi naman."
He opened the door for me as we arrived at the bar. It's huge and elegant. First time ko rito. He led the way kasi nandito na raw friends niya. When we stopped at a table, all eyes are focused on us. Nahiya tuloy ako bigla.
"Iyan na ba?" One of his friend asked him.
"Kaya pala 'di ka na nasama sa'min sa after class gala natin," another one teased him.
"Tol babe time raw," and another one.
Tumawa lang siya sa tabi ko at pinaupo na 'ko.
"Hoy wala akong sinabing gano'n," pagtatanggol niya sa sarili niya.
"Oo nga pala. Important matters daw," and with that the group laughed.
I looked at him with questions plastered on my face. What the hell are they talking about?
"Nang-aasar lang. Chill ka lang d'yan."
He introduced me to his friends one by one. Hindi ko nga maalala names nila maliban kay Cody kasi nagkita na sila ni Blair noon. And Dakota's here too but she's quiet.
The group decided to play never have I ever. May ibabatong mga tanong at kung nagawa mo na mag-shot ka. It sounds fun that's why I decided to join too.
Bukod sa mga shot mayroon pa silang beer sa tabi. Mataas yata tolerance nila sa alcohol not like me. Kaya mag-iintay na lang ako sa shots.
"Never have I ever failed a semester," panimula nung isa.
I saw how all of them dramatically drank from their shot glass. Nagulat pa sila nang 'di ako uminom.
"Wow kaya pala bet na bet ka ni.." 'di siya nakatapos nang tinikom niya ang bibig niya.
"Nino?" I innocently asked.
"Ninuno hehehe next!"
I just shrugged my shoulders and looked at Langley. Pinagtaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. Ang arte.
Nagpatuloy lang ang game at wala pa yatang time na 'di uminom si Langley. Napakakalat naman ng buhay nito.
"Never have I ever ghosted someone 'cause I'm bored."
They all gave their glasses at Langley. "Kulang pa yata 'to sa dami nang na-ghost mo tol," Cody said while laughing his ass out.
"Ghoster si Langley?" Tanong ko.
They nod at me aggressively. "Takot sa commitment o kaya kapag 'di na pinansin ay mang-ghost na HHAHAHA."
I felt something on my stomach. I shifted my weight on the chair. Nang-ghost pala?
"Never have I ever kissed someone," Cody said.
Halos masamid si Langley sa beer niya nang narinig ang statement. I raised my brows at him when he drank his shot. How many girls have you kissed, then?
"Ano 'yun, five seconds walang malisya?" Cody teased him and even tapped Dakota.
Halos mabalisa na 'ko sa upuan ko, ayaw ko na yata maglaro nito.
"Never have I ever like someone at the moment."
And that hit me. I unconciously got my glass and drink it slowly. At the corner of my eye, I saw him looking at me so I faced him right after I finished my shot. Hindi siya natinag kaya nang lagukin niya ang shot niya ay magkatitigan kami. His eyes were communicating with mine. May gustong kumawala. But I felt a slight punch in my heart when he looked away and laugh with the group. Tumatawa lang siya pero ang gwapo at lakas pa rin ng dating. What a pretty man.
Hindi rin nagtagal niyaya nila 'ko sumayaw sa dance floor kaya pumayag na lang ako. We were jumping and synchronizing with the beat.
"Putangina!!" We all screamed at the top of our lungs when a certain drop beat was heard. It was a bar tradition, I guess.
Halos mapamura ulit ako nang dumilim ang bar at namatay ang mga ilaw. Only glow in the dark and neon clothes and lights from the disco ball serve as the source of light. It was a lights out party for a reason. But that only brings the wild and fun in everyone.
I was dancing to the beat when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. Nakaakbay pala siya sa'kin. "Baka mawala ka sa crowd eh. Ayos lang ba?" He calmly asked me.
I just nodded at him. Pero simula no'n 'di na nawala ang tingin ko sa kaniya. The color of lights from the disco ball are reflected on his eyes. And even in the dark, his features are clearly seen. Are you even real?
Natulak ako papalapit sa kaniya nang magtulakan ang mga tao sa paligid nang naging mas catchy ang mga kanta. I am facing him now. We're still jumping and enjoying the music.
When our eyes met, that's when I knew something in my chest was awaken. Ayaw na tumigil ng puso ko kakatibok. I'm kind of afraid that he might hear the beats of my heart.
"Damn you!" I shouted so he can hear me.
"Aray bakit naman?!"
"I'm falling."
My heart is aching so bad. I'm falling so hard, Langley. And I don't think I would want it to stop.
Before 11:30 we bid our goodbyes to his friend. Well curfew ko na kasi ng 12.
"Ingatan mo si Langley ha!" One of his girl friends shouted.
I let out a short laugh and waved my hands at her. "I will."
On the ride home, he played some songs of Lany. I didn't know he was a fan.
"Para ka palang si Cinderella kailangan nasa bahay na before mag-12," he said.
"You promised my father," I replied.
He chuckled and rested his left arm on the door of the car. Bukas kasi ang bintana ng sasakyan. "Yes and ayaw ko naman tumulad sa prince ro'n. I'll take you home safely."
We can work it out
You and I are meant to be together
When we encountered a red light, he of course stopped the car.
"Iingatan mo pala ako ha?" He said when he faced me.
This is how it's supposed to feel
I felt my cheeks burn with his question. "Why wouldn't I?" I muttured under my breath.
The traffic light let out a green light so he face again the road. But what bothers me is his smile. He's smiling like crazy while driving.
I'm inlove with the atmosphere
The next day, I went out again because I have an appointment with Dr. Ramirez.
When I entered the room she's still busy talking with someone on the phone so she just gestured me to take a seat.
"Pang-ilang beses na siya 'di umattend? Tatlo? I guess I have no choice but to transfer him back here. Mas mapagtutuunan ko siya ng pansin...Thanks again Dr. Valdez," and she hid her phone to her pocket.
Mabilis lang ang meeting namin hindi katulad dati at hindi ko alam pero it's not that draining anymore. I'm starting to feel at peace.
"That's good to hear, By! Maybe something or someone is really making a drastic change in you. Don't let go of it, okay?" Dr. Ramirez said as I tell her my goodbye.
I nodded at her and smiled. Of course I won't let it go. I won't let him go.