Bygone Memories of Yesterday (Affliction Series #2) ✔

Chapter 12

“Seven months together, wow!” Mica exclaimed as she raised her glass. “Let’s drink to that!” aniya sabay lagok sa alak na nasa kaniyang baso.

It’s been what? Ten months since that silly plan of my friends — together with Neus and his friend, Keith happened? At kahit na lubos na nakahihiya ang pangyayaring ‘yon sa parte ko, I don’t regret even tiny bits of it. 

I spoke my heart out that day. I told him the truth that day. Bakit ko ‘yon pagsisisihan kung dahil doon, kaya kami narito ngayon?

Three months of courtship and seven months in a relationship. It was a smooth sail — only arguing about petty things and making up later, no one in our families against us, being an inspiration to each other to be a better version of ourselves.

Being each other’s inspiration to grow. 

We’re now in college. I pursued fashion design since it has been my dream ever since, while Neus took business. Kinailangan niyang mag-take ng additional subjects dahil sa paglipat niya ng strand last year but he said he could handle it and I believe him. 

“Hoy, Mica. Drink moderately. Mamaya kung ano-ano na namang gawin mo ‘pag nalasing ka,” paalala ni Shania. Dinuro siya ni Mica.

“Ikaw, umaandar na naman ang pagka-KJ mo. Nasa bar tayo oh, ano’ng gusto mong gawin ko? Matulog?” Umirap siya. Napalingon ako kay Neus nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko.

“Keith’s outside. Can I fetch him?” paalam niya.

Mabilis akong tumango. “Oo naman.”

“I’ll be right back.” He kissed my temple bago tinanguan ang dalawang kaibigan ko. 

Namayani ang katahimikan sa ‘ming tatlo. Only the loud sound of the bar was heard, together with people’s screams on the dance floor. 

Hindi ito ang unang beses ko sa bar. The first one was when we graduated senior high school. Call me a killjoy but I don’t drink. Not because I’m not allowed but simply because I don’t want to. 

“Kumusta? Happy?” Shania asked as she sips a drink that I don’t know what’s called. 

I smiled warmly. “Very.”

“That’s good.” Tumangu-tango si Mica habang pinaglalaruan ang basong hawak. “Si Shania na lang ang walang love life sa ‘tin. I don’t have a boyfriend but I at least I had an experience.”

Shania scoffed and whispered. “’Di mo sure.”

Halatang hindi ‘yon narinig ni Mica dahil wala siyang naging reaksiyon. Habang ako naman ay pinandilatan ang kaibigan.

“Sino ‘yon, ha?”

Shania just shrugged. I crossed my legs and let the topic go. Tumingin ako sa dance floor. 

“Girls, tara sayaw tayo,” biglang anyaya ni Mica.

“Ha? Ayoko. Dito lang ako, bantayan ko na lang gamit niyo,” Shania said making Mica focus on me. 

“Anj, tara.”

“Pero si Neus—”

“Pabalik na ‘yon tsaka, ayan lang naman ang dance floor, oh. Ang lapit-lapit lang. Kung ayaw mong sumayaw, samahan mo na lang ako.”

Knowing that she’s already tipsy and guys could take advantage of her, I nodded. 

“Sasamahan lang kita. Hindi ako sasayaw,” paglilinaw ko. 

“Sure, sure.” Tumayo siya saka hinila ako patungong dance floor. 

It was rowdy. There were people holding a bottle of alcohol while dancing habang ang iba, naghihiyawan habang dinadama ang musika. I even saw a couple kissing somewhere in the middle. Napailing na lang ako at itinuon ang tingin sa sahig.