When Love Grows (COMPLETED)

Chapter 24

When Love Grows (24)

I was incessantly tapping my feet on the ground as I was getting impatient of waiting for him. Ang tagal na! Hindi na saglit ang one and a half hour na sinabi niya. He was rooted on his sit, he didn't even pee or went here to ask me and check on me. These drunkard councilors. Si Mayor mas lumalakas pala ang boses kapag lasing! Their table was a mess! They emptied two bottles and I think they up to consume the remaining. Oh, gosh, if ever so, I reckon we couldn't go home early.

"Miss..."

"Ah, hindi na po. Thank you po." I said declining the fourth bowl of ice cream she offered.

"Tubig miss o juice? May gusto po kayong inumin?"

"Ay! Thank you po...Pero okay na po talaga ako."

She smiled and headed inside. I saw Miguel stood up from his seat. What a relief we're finally going home! But, I saw how the man beside him insists to belt another shot. Naiinis akong nakatingin sa direksiyon nila. He declined to drink.

"Jude!" Mayor called the guy he was with at the city hall. They talked using their dialect.

"Mayor wag na po. Hindi na po kailangan." Miguel wasn't slurring unlike them evidencing they're drunk.

"Sige na! Architect Alvares, pasasalamat nalang!" Mayor was really drunk.

"Sige po. Salamat po. Happy birthday, Mayor."

"Salamat din Architect! Pati sa maganda mong kasama!" Mayor drunk-laughed habang hawak niya pa 'yung kamay ni Miguel. "Para mas mabilis kayong maka-uwi. Simulan mo na!" nagtawanan na naman sila.

Miguel said his leave-taking before he walked towards the patio. He could walk straight...but slow. He doesn't look like he was totally consumed. Pero 'yung mukha niya halatang naka-inom siya. Naglakad na ako palapit sa kanya. He held my hand.

"Mayor." He called. Kumaway lang si Mayor tapos nag thank you lang ulit.

I felt his fingers making its way until his hand stopped on my waist. It stayed there while we're walking. "Hintayin natin si Kuya Jude. Ihahatid niya tayo."

He smelled alcohol. Tinignan ko siya. His eyelids were looking heavy. I felt his face at the back of my hand. Gusto ko sana kasing mainis! Pero biglang nawala 'yung inis! 'Di ko alam kung san nagpunta.

"Lasing ka ba?" I asked. Unsure.

He chuckled. "Nahihilo lang. Hindi pa ako lasing." He kissed my knuckle. We stayed at the aisle for a bit.

A van was moving forward until it stopped on our side. "Sa likod ka." He opened it for me before he headed to the passenger seat.

It's already two thirty when we arrived. Medyo naging matagal 'yung biyahe kasi nga isolated itong sittio.

"Ako na Miguel." I get the key from his hands. He struggle pushing the key in the knob. It's taking him too long. Nagiging mabigat na 'yung itsura ng mata niya.

"Tulog ka muna kaya? Tapos...ako na rin maghahatid dito kay Maya." I said when we got inside.

"Ihahatid kita. Ako kukuha kay Maya." He said taking off his polo shirt. "Maliligo lang. Hintayin mo 'ko." He was rubbing his temple. I think he's really feeling dizzy.

"Okay. I'll wait."

I watched him until he went at the back dahil nandoon ang bathroom nila. I went to his room while waiting for him. I saw the cross stitch I made for him. Ngayon ko lang napansin. I lied on his bed and resumed the series I've been watching. I really feel this homey feeling when I'm at his house.