State Of The Present

Chapter 10

After the little dinner at saktong eight in the evening, nagsimula na ang afterparty. Marami-rami pang tao ang natira na halos mga ka-edad lang namin.

This will be a fun night!

Nagsalin ako ng alak sa baso at nilagok ito kaagad.

"Hey! Easy ka lang!" Celina tried to hold my glass pero inilayo ko sa kaniya.

"I'm fine! Ilang araw din akong hindi uminom,"

"Yeah, pero hinay-hinay ka lang, Nadj," aniya pa.

My phone rang and I saw that Yella was calling me. I picked it up and answered her call.

"Check your X (Twitter). Bilis!" bungad niya kaagad without saying 'hello' or 'hi'.

Nakunot ang noo ko and asked her kung bakit.

"Basta... Tingnan mo na." She ended the call after she said that.

I clicked the app and scrolled to my news feed. A post stopped me from scrolling.

Actress Nadia Esquivel was seen with a man at a bar. There is also a rumor that she was with Actor Miguel Sarmiento in that said bar. How true?

At sa post na 'yun, there was a photo of Ethan and I while he was helping me papalabas ng hallway dahil nga lasing ako. Hindi naman gaanong kita ang mga mukha namin dahil blurred.

I checked the replies.

"OMG! Wala na bang MiDia!? I was hoping pa naman for the both of them :("

"Nooo! Nadia is not that girl!"

"Dirty little secret, huh..."

"She was with Miguel that time!? Huhuhu. Hugs, Papa Migs,"

"Two-timer pala,"

"You broke Miguel's heart, Nadya,"

"Sl*t!"

"I am hating you rn!"

Napasapo ako ng noo ko at napapikit dahil sa mga kahihiyang nagawa ko. Hindi ka talaga nagtatanda, Nadia.

"Are you okay?" Someone went to me and patted my shoulder.

I suddenly got up and saw Kaye with a curious face.

"Yeah, antok lang siguro 'to," Pagsi-sinungaling ko at tumayo mula sa high chair. We went to Gabbie's side.

"Uhm.. guys, mauna na 'ko ha," bungad ko sa kanila.

"Hey, kaka-simula lang natin, aalis ka na kaagad?" Gabbie said.

"Sorry, Gab. Promise! Next time, we'll do this again," I re-assured them with a smile, but they just gave me a fainted smile.

"So paano? Mauna na 'ko ha. Enjoy the rest of the night!" dagdag ko. They bid goodbye before I walked away.

Kumuha muna ako ng isang beer sa counter bago lumabas sa bar. Naglakad ako patungo sa dalampasigan.

Malamig ang simoy ng hangin ngayong gabi at kaunting ingay lang ang maririnig sa paligid. Umupo ako sa buhanginan at hinayaan ang hangin na liparin ang buhok ko.

"Why do these all need to happen? Is it all my fault?"

I sighed and suddenly thought of Ethan. I regained my energy para sumigaw.

"Bakit ka pa kasi nagpakita!? Simula nu'ng bumalik ka, gumulo na naman ang buhay ko!"

Tears started to form in my eyes.

"I lived alone without you! And I can forever live without you!"

That's not a lie...

Lumagok ako ng alak at napapikit sa inis. I heard a heavy sigh from behind which left me dumb-founded.

Lumingon ako sa likod at nakita ko ang mapupungay niyang mga matang diretsang nakatingin sa akin.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa dagat at pinunasan ang mga luhang gusto nang tumulo. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo at hinarap siya.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo rito? Hindi ko alam na nandito ka pala," Malumanay na tanong ko.

"I just got here earlier. Anthony messaged me yesterday. Unfortunately, the wedding was over when we arrived."

"We?"

"I am with Stella,"

Even I was shocked, I stayed calm. Tumango lang ako sa kaniya.

"K-Kanina ka pa rito? I mean, dito sa kinatatayuan natin," Naiilang man, I still asked him.

He chuckled. "Yeah, may kaaway ka yata kaya ka sumisigaw."

I want to punch his face. Nagagawa niya pa talagang tumawa!?

Napansin niya yatang walang reaksiyon ang mukha ko kaya tinago na niya ang ngiti niya.

"I'm sorry," He looked away, hiding his face.

Tama 'yan, ikaw dapat ang mahiya at hindi ako.

"Ethan, nakita mo na ba 'yung kumakalat ngayon?" I asked, changing the topic.

He looked again at me with his forehead slightly frowned.

I sighed. "Our photo. When you were helping me because I was... drunk,"

"Actually, yes. My friend sent it to me."

I sighed. "I'm sorry, nadamay pa kita sa kagagahan ko, nakakahiya... but thank you na rin dahil tinulungan mo 'ko."

He laughed at me. "It's okay. You're cute when you're drunk. I haven't seen it in years,"

I just rolled my eyes.

"Did she see it?" Pagtukoy ko kay Stella.

"No. Maybe in some other time," he jokingly said.

Parang wala lang sa kaniya!?

"Bakit parang hindi ka naaapektuhan?"

"Alison, if you are always affected, it will haunt you forever,"