"WHAT the hell did we drink, Vince? Lambanog ba 'yon?" Aya asked giddily. They were supposed to drink just a single shot. Until they had three. And the kick was too overwhelming. Ni hindi nila namalayan na iniwan na pala sila ni Lario doon.
"Hindi ko alam at wala na akong balak alamin pa. I just don't want to drink anything anymore." Inilapag ni Vince ang hawak nitong coke sa upuang troso. Maya-maya ay tumayo ito at inilahad ang palad sa harap niya. "Let's dance. They're all having fun there."
Napatanaw siya sa palibot ng bonfire at pinagmasdan ang mga taong nagsasaya roon.
Umiling siya kay Vince. "Alam mong hindi ako sumasayaw."
He cocked his head to one side. "Ah, wrong. You just did it the other night, remember?"
"Ah, wrong," she mimicked. "Dahil para lang sa mga mata mo ang pagsayaw kong 'yon."
She could tell that Vince was trying to stifle a smile and the cuteness of his reaction made her heart flutter.
"Eh 'di isipin mo na tayo lang ang nandito ngayon. Sa akin ka lang tumingin."
Heat surged into her cheeks. Kanina pa siya nahihirapang i-contain ang sari-saring emosyong bumabaha sa kanyang puso. Tinanggap niya ang kamay ni Vince at ipinaubaya ang sarili rito.
There must be really something weird about the strong liquor they drank that they moved and danced like a bunch of fools. No one cared. They didn't care. Nothing else mattered as long as they were together, having fun.
Vince caught her hand and twirled her, pulling her close at the last spin. Napakislot siya sa paglapat ng mga kamay nito sa kanyang baywang. She ended up putting her hands on his broad shoulders. Slowly, they swayed and held each other's gazes.
"Kapag bumalik na tayo sa Manila…" he hesitated for a bit. "Will you still go out with Steve?"
She shook her head. "We're really not going on a date, Vince. Ikaw lang naman ang nag-assume sa bagay na 'yon. Sinakyan lang kita."
Kumunot ang noo nito. "What?"
"He did ask me for real though. Pero tumanggi ako."
"Bakit naman? I thought you used to have a big crush on him."
'Because your stupid good-looking face kept popping into my head. Hindi ako makapag-concentrate sa kanya n'ong time na 'yon,' sabi niya sa isip.
"I guess not anymore," she replied instead, shrugging.
"Then what's with that 'See you in Manila' crap?'"
"Nag-promise ako sa kanya na sasamahan ko siya sa resto ng Tita Dina ko sa Binondo. Naikuwento ko kasi sa kanya na may masarap na roasted chicken recipe si Tita."
"'Still sounds like a date to me," he murmured.
"We're not gonna be alone. Pumayag siya na isama ko si Stacy."
She hid her smile as she caught him sighing in relief.
"May kailangan din akong i-confess sa'yo," anito.
"Dapat ba 'kong kabahan d'yan?"
"Those sandals you're wearing right now…"
Napayuko siya saglit para silipin ang asul niyang hiking sandals. "Ah, yeah. Hindi 'to sa 'kin. Kay Aubrey yata ito, naisama lang niya."
Naningkit ang mga mata nito sa kanya. "Really, that's your first take?"
"Bakit, may iba pa bang—oh..."
"You hurt my feelings, Aya, but that's fine. Oo, ako ang bumili niyan para sa'yo. I told your sister it's a surprise. Dahil ang balak ko sana, ako ang magyayaya sa'yo dito sa bundok. But my great uncle beat me to it."
"And he could hike better than you," pang-aasar niya kay Vince. Tumawa lang siya nang tapunan siya nito ng matalim na tingin.
"But I gotta admit, I'm glad everything didn't go according to my plan," sinserong sabi nito maya-maya.
Na-curious siya. "Bakit naman?"
"Kasi napunta tayo dito."
***
MAAGANG nakatulog si Uncle Hum sa kuwarto nito. Kung paano ito nalasing sa party kanina ay wala silang ideya. Vince dropped them off first to the house before he left to drive Lario home.
Katatapos lang niyang mag-shower at magbihis nang marinig ang tunog ng makina ng sasakyan sa labas. Madali siyang bumaba sa hagdanan para lang masorpresa sa nakitang bagong dating.
"Megan?"
Megan didn't seem surprised to see her. Friendly itong ngumiti sa kanya. "Hi, Aya! Long time no see."
She forced herself to smile back. "A-Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
Sandali itong tila nag-alangan sa isasagot. "Uhm, Vince asked me to come here."
Her body tensed. "W-Why?"
"He said he needs me. I don't—You didn't know I was coming?"
May paninigas siyang naramdaman sa kanyang sikmura nang marinig ang sinabi nito. Vince needed her? Para saan? Was this some kind of a joke?
"Oh my God! Is something wrong? I'm sorry if I…" Bumadha ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Megan. She looked just as confused as her.
But then, she was able to find her composure and fake a smile. "No, everything's good. Sinabi nga ni Vince na darating ka, nawala lang sa isip ko. Ahm, pabalik na 'yon. Inihatid lang niya 'yung kaibigan niya. Sa sala mo na siya hintayin. Aakyat na 'ko."
Hindi na niya ito hinintay na sumagot. Dali-dali siyang pumanhik sa kanyang kuwarto at sumandal sa pinto. Mariin siyang pumikit at nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga. When she opened her eyes, she hastily packed her stuff and called Steve.
"Hello, Aya?"
"Nandito ka pa rin ba?" tanong niya.
"Uhm… actually, pabalik na ako sa Manila ngayon."
"Pwede ba 'kong makisabay sa'yo?"
"S-Sure. But you sound off. Is everything okay? Where's Vince?"
She bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears. "I just need a ride home. Now. Please?"
Sandali itong nanahimik sa kabilang linya bago sumagot, "Okay. I'm on my way."
***
MINSAN lang bumili ng bulaklak si Vince, at iyon ay para sa mommy niya. Kahit kailan ay hindi pa siya nagbigay ng bulaklak sa ibang babae. He never had to court anyone, conventionally. Pero kaninang mapadaan siya sa flower shop ay bigla niyang naisip si Aya kaya't napabili siya ng isang bouquet.
Wala siyang ideya kung mahilig sa mga ganito si Aya. The list of facts he had about her didn't exactly cover anything about flowers and teddy bears. He knew she loves chocolates though.
Nagtaka siya nang maaninag ang isang kotse na nakahimpil sa tapat ng bahay. He recognized it as Steve's. But what was he doing there? Was he trying to hit on Aya again?
'Not on my watch, dipshit.'
Mabilis siyang umibis ng sasakyan at natigilan nang makita si Aya na naglalakad patungo kay Steve, bitbit ang suitcase nito. Her eyes looked glassy when she glanced at him. Sinalubong niya ito.
"Hey, w-what's this? Aalis ka?"
"Tinawagan ako ni Aubrey kanina. She needs me home right now," she replied coldly.
Napakunot-noo siya. "May nangyari ba kay Aubrey? Miji didn't tell me anything—"
Napansin niyang may ibang kotse pang nakaparada sa labas ng bahay. Lumipad ang mga mata niya sa babaeng nakatayo sa pintuan at biglang nabalutan ng tensyon ang sistema niya.
Para siyang binuhusan ng yelo sa naalala noong gabing nagpakalasing sila ni Aya. After that kiss… He was so drunk and confused that he picked up his phone and called Megan. He told her to come over. He even recalled texting her the address. Nawala na lamang sa isip niya ang tungkol doon kinabukasan.
Napatingin siyang muli sa suitcase ni Aya.
Shit.
"Sasabay na 'ko kay Steve pabalik sa Manila." A half smile drew across her lips. Saka ito tumalikod at iniwan siya.
Nagsalubong ang tingin nila ni Megan at nabasa niya sa mga labi nito ang paghingi nito ng tawad. It wasn't her fault. This was all his. He was the one who fucked this all up.