P.R.N

14

It was almost midnight when someone rang his doorbell. He was in the restroom kaya ako na ang tumayo para silipin kung sino 'yon.

What the heck.

What is he doing here? Nilingon ko ang restroom bago ko binuksan ang pinto.

"Tito..." I acknowledged him.

Mukhang nagulat din siya nang ako ang bumungad sa kanya at hindi si Cole.

"Vienne? What are you doing here?" He asked me.

I could ask you the same, Tito.

"Are you and Cole living together?" Gulat niyang tanong. I immediately shook my head.

"No, Tito. We were just hanging out."

Do I let him in? Fuck. Hurry up, Cole fucking Gregorio.

"C." I called him.

Not a minute later, he was already beside me. "What?"

I felt how he stiffened a bit when he saw Tito Collin. Nilingon niya rin ang orasan niya. It was already 11 in the evening.

"I'm sorry for visiting you a bit late, hijo. I had an emergency surgery." Tito Collin explained at tuloy-tuloy na pumasok sa unit ni Cole.

Para naman akong pinako sa kinatatayuan ko.

What do I fucking do?

"I don't remember asking." Cole answered.

I wanted to stop him from being rude, but I don't think I'm in the place to do so. I don't know where he's coming from, so I stayed quiet.

It is not my business.

"I just want to talk, anak..." Cole scowled when he heard Tito call him 'anak'.

I cleared my throat at tsaka ko nilapitan si Cole. Pinisil ko ang braso niya at bumulong. "Balcony lang ako."

Ayokong marinig ang pag-uusapan nila.

Alam kong ayaw din naman ni Cole na marinig ko.

Napansin ko yung rhum na iniwan namin kanina. Kinuha ko yon at tinungga nalang habang naghihintay kay Cole.

I just hope that the conversation would go calmly and smoothly.

I'm uncomfortable with loud voices and violence because my parents didn't raise me in an aggressive environment. I get anxious whenever I hear people shouting.

Hindi ko namalayan na naubos ko na pala yung rhum. Isang oras na ang nakakalipas. I'm a bit tipsy now so that should be enough.

Ayokong maulit ang katangahan ko sa Amanpulo.

Nagulat nalang ako na nasa tabi ko na si Cole. May dalang bagong bote ng alak.

"How was it?" I asked after a while of silence.

"Being in one room with him sucks." He muttered. Nilingon niya ang bote ng hawak ko at napangiti.

"Oh boy... You finished it?" He looked at me. "You're red. You tipsy?" He asked with a hint of concern.

Bakit ako ang inaalala niya?

"Pahingi ako." Sabi ko sabay turo sa bote na dala niya.

"That's enough." Pagpigil niya. I crossed my arms and pouted.

Sumandal nalang ako sa upuan dahil nahihilo na rin naman ako. He opened the bottle and drank it alone.

"C..." I called his attention. He licked his lips before turning to me. My eyes were barely open. The world was already spinning in my eyes, but I was still on my right mind. "Can I ask a question about your Dad?"