Love is a Riot

43

"I just wanted to hear your voice... Imari."

"I'm not Imari," the voice on the other line said, na tinawanan ko lang. "What happened? Are you drunk?"

"A bit, but see, natandaan ko ang phone number mo!" I replied. "Aren't you proud of me?"

"Go home already," narinig ko mula sa kabilang linya. "Where are you? Pupuntahan kita. I'll hang up now."

"No!!!" I sulked. "I can't even get to call you when I'm sober, tapos bababaan mo lang ako! Not fair! You're bad, Imari! You're the worst!"

"Cielo," he firmly said. "Umuwi ka na."

"Nasa bahay ako! Bakit mo ba ako pinapauwi?" I said, as my vision started to get blurry. "Oh, god, my head hurts. Gusto ko nang matulog..."

Those were my last words before I blacked out. The moment I woke up, I was shocked to see Deuce sitting beside the bed, sleeping in a position na tinitingnan ko pa lang ay nangangalay na ang batok ko.

Bumangon ako at dahil doon ay nagising siya. Iniwasan kong magtama ang tingin naming dalawa kaya naman napako ang tingin ko sa orasan at nakitang mag-aalas dose pa lang, kaya naman tumingin ako sa bintana at napagtanto na maghahatinggabi pa lang.

"How are you feeling," bungad niya. "Have you sobered up already?"

Tumango lang ako sa kanya at wala na siyang itinanong pa ulit. Tiningnan ko ang suot ko at nakitang nakapambahay na ako. How did I get home? I just remember drinking until I dropped. Ni hindi ko matandaan na nagpalit ako ng damit. Did Deuce change my clothes? Pasimple kong inamoy ang sarili ko at hindi naman ako mabaho. God, am I brainwashed? I don't remember a thing? Baka naman sa panaginip lang ako nagpakalunod sa alak?

"You deleted my number?" tanong ni Deuce, kaya naman napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Pinakialaman mo-"

"Do I not have the right to check it," he said, at sandali akong natauhan. Did I call him instead of Imari?... "I wouldn't even be shocked 'pag sinabi mong binura mo na rin ang mga messages natin. Even the photos we took together."

I didn't answer. Dahan-dahan akong yumuko at itinuon ang pansin sa mga kamay ko.

He let out a sigh of disbelief. "Do you not care about us that much?" sabi niya at tumayo bago umupo sa kama katabi ko. "Does that not bother you in the least? Have you considered looking at those photos when we're not together? I can't even get a good night's sleep when I'm not with you!"

"Don't you think you've taken enough from me? Why would you want to rob me of my sleep as well? Ano'ng gusto mong gawin ko? Magpuyat?" singhal ko sa kanya. "Bakit gusto mo laging nasa masamang kalagayan ako? You would do everything to bother me, to hurt me, to make me feel uncomfortable! You never wanted to treat me well, to make me happy. Gusto mong maging miserable ako kagaya mo!"

Hindi siya nagsalita. Tumayo na ako at kinuha ang phone ko. Nanikip ang dibdib ko nang lumuhod siya sa harapan ko at tuloy-tuloy na bumagsak ang luha niya. He was trembling, and he was biting his lips a bit too hard. A tear formed at the corner of my eye, but I didn't let it fall.

Deuce held me using his strong hands. "That's not true, Cielo. That's not what happened. Huwag mo akong iiwan," he sniffled between words, and I didn't even bat an eye on him. "Please don't leave me. I could lose anything but not you. Listen to me, Cielo. I'll give you everything. I will not do anything that could harm you. I would even die for you..."