The Faded Spark | TID #1

Chapter 29

FLASHBACK

I felt so dizzy.

"Nausicaa."

My head's spinning like a whirlpool. It's like it never ends to twirl. I tried to open my eyes, pero mas lalo lang akong nahilo.

I saw a figure of a man, I couldn't tell who was it. It's so blurry and my mind's not functioning well. What the heck happened?

"Hey, Nausicaä, are you alright?"

I nod as an answer, kahit na nahihilo talaga ako at walang kaalam-alam sa mga nangyayari sa paligid. All I know, I was enjoying the night with my blockmates, especially my groupmates. Natapos na kasi namin ang scaled model ng isang gothic-style architecture—ang Duomo di Milano.

To be honest, it was so damn difficult! Imagine to built a so detailed masterpiece in a scale of 1:50 only with more than three thousand statues, hundreds of gargoyles and spires? Mapapamura ka na lang talaga. We took almost three weeks to finish it. Araw-araw puyat, araw-araw bangag at magdamagang naglalaklak ng kape.

Ika nga nila sa kursong ito . . . Walang tulog, walang singko.

That's why my groupmates decided to throw a party—para i-celebrate ang pagkakalaya namin sa mala-bangungot na scaled model at ang katapusan ng semester. Third year first semester done! Kaunting taon na lang, Renae . . .

I was just sitting on the sofa in Gwen's house, tamang inom lang ng juice. Siya ang nagpresentang sa kanila na lang ganapin ang party. Kagrupo ko siya at para naman daw may 'unity' ang block namin, she also invited the others.

The party was so wild. Akala mo ay ngayon lang ulit sila nakapag-party sa loob ng ilang taon. I understand them though.

And now, this happened.

"Hala! What happened to her?"

"She might drank the punch, Gwen. Iuuwi ko na siya."

"Okay, just make sure that she's safe. Tawagan mo ako kapag naihatid mo na siya."

I wasn't so sure who's talking. Hindi ko makilala ang mga boses nila sa sobrang hilo ko. Pero base sa narinig at naintindihan ko, isa Gwen ang isa. Ano ba kasing nainom ko? I thought it was just a juice?

Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman kong lumutang ako sa ere. I don't know but I smiled out of the blue. Para bang feel na feel kong ako 'yong nasa commercial ng Cloud 9, then I chuckled.

"You're drunk, Nausicaa. Gaano ba karami ang nainom mo?" someone asked.

Tinawan ko lang ang tanong niya na para bang joke iyon sa aking pandinig. Shit! I've never drink alcohol in my entire life! This is the first time. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung paano ba ako kapag nalalasing. I hope that I won't cry or do such embarrassing things that I'll regret.l the next day.

Hindi ko na alam ang mga nangyari sa sumunod. Muli lamang nagising ang diwa ko no'ng naramdaman kong lumapat ang likod ko sa isang malambot na bagay. Cotton candy, perhaps? I laughed at that thought.

"I'm sorry I brought you here in my pad. Hindi ko naman alam na humiwalay ka na ng unit sa kaibigan mo."

It's true, lumipat na ako. I had a huge fight with Alliah to the point na kinailangan kong lumipat ng tirahan. It's just a week ago.

Akmang aalis na ang kung sino mang nag-asikaso sa akin, pero hinala ko ang laylayan ng damit niya. He stopped and look at me. Nagkatinginan lang kami. Hindi ko pa rin makita nang maayos kung sino siya, my eyes were just half closed.

With all my strength, I pulled his hand, dahilan para mawalan siya ng balanse at mahulog sa ibabaw ko. I wanna see him closer. Hindi naman ako nabigatan sa kanya dahil nakasuporta ang dalawang niyang kamay. I smiled at him and wrapped my hands around his nape.