"One year ago I started smoking, in the hopes that I would find that same warmth you gave me in nicotine, all to realize that I have long been addicted to it."
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busy days
——
"Ugh shit! Ang sakit ng ulo ko," reklamo ni Caf sa tabi ko sabay himas sa ulo nito. He's sitting on his desk while waiting for our next class.
I didn't bother to stare at him for another second after mocking him, "That's what you get for forcing me na sumama sa after-party."
Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa labas ng bintana at pinagmamasdan ang makulimlim na kalangitan. Bigla na naman akong inantok.
I felt Caf next to me. His face as close to kissing me and whispered, "Pero nag-enjoy ka naman," with a smirk on his lips.
'Eto na naman siya. He's so good at teasing that he just gets on my nerves effortlessly. But instead of letting him get his way, I smirked in return.
"Of course, I enjoyed watching you wasted after all," maikli kong sagot before adding, "Sayang nga at hindi ko na narecord ang mga pinagsasabi mo."
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa sinabi ko. No one told him what happened yet, all he knows is that hinatid siya ni Basil because he somehow sobered up right after reaching their doorstep, I mean, he can't let his parents see him wasted, unless gusto niyang tuluyan na lang na matulog sa labas.
Bahagya akong natawa sa reaksyon niya bago siya tuluyang talikuran.
"Wait- wait, wait! What did I say? Did- did I say something embarrassing? Ano 'yun? May nasabi ba 'ko sayo about- I don't know, like anything?"
Patuloy lang ang pagdating ng mga tanong niya pero hindi ko ito pinansin and just gave him my sweetest smile as though provoking him even more before turning back to the window again.
"Huy Nic! Answer me, did I say something I shouldn't have? Mababaliw na ko sa hangover tas hindi mo pa ako papansinin? Nicotine," pagpupumilit pa nito.
This time, kumunot ang noo ko. He seems so desperate that I had no choice but to face him.
He stopped, waiting sa magiging sagot ko. I wore a confused face. "Why? What's it that you're not supposed to say?"
Caffeine was taken aback. Hindi na ito kumibo at bahagyang lumayo while avoiding my gaze.
"Wala," sagot niya sabay upo nang maayos sa upuan nito. "Forget it, hindi ko na rin naman siguro maaalala 'yon."
He brushed my question which meant brushing all his questions as well na para bang tama ako, as though I hit the bullseye. Umiwas na siya ng tingin at lahat-lahat pero pinagmamasdan ko pa rin ang bawat galaw niya which seemed to have been cautious, afraid that he may do something he shouldn't, again.
"I'll forget whatever I heard then, after all it's better to hear them from your sober self," I said, trying to ease him a little bit before leaning on my arms on the desk.
