Flames of the Heart (Flames Series #2)

CHAPTER 27

Chapter 27

Two weeks had passed since that honeymoon happened and we’re now back in the Philippines. Naging maayos naman ang lahat lalo pa’t dito na kami sa bagong bahay nakatira. Ang pinagtuunan namin ng atensyon ngayon ay si Rhian dahil pansamantala siyang nag-i-stay ngayon dito. Paano kasi’y tinawagan ko siya kahapon at nalaman kong nasa club ito, lasing.

“Jana?” she eyed me when she woke up, thinking why I’m with her.

“Alak pa, Rhian. Ano, kumusta ang paglalasing?” tanong ko rito pero tinanong niya rin ako kung paano raw siya napunta rito. “Gaga! Tinawagan kita dahil hinahanap ka nina Tito Francis at Harold sa akin. Tapos nung sinagot mo ’yung tawag ko, hindi ko na maintindihan mga pinagsasabi mo. Mabuti na lang at mabait ’yung bartender na nagserve sa’yo at sinabing naroon ka raw sa nightclub nila,” I patiently explained before I glared at her.

“Kumain ka muna para mawala hangover mo. Grabe ka malasing, Rhian. Sobrang grabe. Nakakaproud kang maging best friend,” I sarcastically said. Kumain naman ito kaagad pero maya-maya pa ay bigla siyang nagsuka.

“Rhian Cassandra! Bagong bili lang ’yung foam, leche ka!” She threw me a death glare and I don’t mind. Kabago-bago ng gamit tapos sinukaan niya lang. “Alak pa kasi. Masaya ’yan,” I added.

Rhian stayed with us until night and she kept throwing up. Ang lakas kasi ng loob maglasing, alam naman niyang mababa ang alcohol tolerance niya.

“Malay ko? May maglalasing bang bibilangin muna kung ilang baso ’yung mauubos niya?” sagot nito nang tanungin ko kung nakailang baso siya at gusto ko siyang sapakin ngayon din.

“Gracious goodness, Rhian Cassandra Echarri. You are the best!” A sarcasm invaded my statement yet she just thanked me. Goodness. She’s crazy.

The next morning, I accompanied her to her condo unit. She informed me to crash again in our place if ever she gets drunk again. “You wished!”

I got busier because of my work in Lartek. The additional promotional campaigns and the advertisement we made were already released. As the Marketing Manager, our team has persevered that because that is one way to increase Lartek’s brand and its market share. The shoe packaging was done and it’s ready for distribution which will occur by next week.

I’m already resting when Rhian asked me to see her. Since I’m done with my work, I agreed to meet her.

“Jana, I have a question. Ilang araw umaabot ang hangover?”

I stopped fidgeting on my phone and arched my brows at her. “Why? Don’t tell me uminom ka na naman?”

“No. It’s not what you’re thinking. It’s just that until now I still throw up food. I don’t know kung hangover pa rin ba ’yon or... teka, wala naman siguro akong sakit, ’di ba?” Her forehead creased. She also looked worried. “I mean, well, I guess it’s normal na masuka kapag ayaw ng sikmura natin ’yung pagkain, ’di ba?”

I stared at her because her confession made me doubt something. “Why are you giving me that kind of look? It’s as if I did something horrible.”

“Normal lang naman ’yon pero...” I halted, thinking if I continue it. But because she already opened this, I dragged my chair near her. “Rhian, can you please be honest with me?”

“About what?”

“Have you ever had sex?”

“Jana!” I already expected that she’ll yell at me. That question is so out of hand, I know, but it’s giving me an idea already and that’s why I asked her that.