Unlabeled [Baguio Series #1]

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Inilagay namin ang mga alak sa living room, at maging ang mga pagkain na binili niya. May cake pa siyang binili na may nakalagay na happy birthday kahit na walang pangalan kung para kanino at kung kanino nanggaling. Kinuhanan ko muna iyon ng litrato, kasabay ng pagbukas niya ng TV sa Netflix na siguradong hindi naman namin mapagtutuunan ng pansin.

"Mamaya ka na mag-blow ng candle. There's two hours and thirty minutes before your birthday."

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Thanks for this."

Naupo siya sa tabi ko at nagsimula nang magkuwentuhan ng kung anu-ano. Kung kailan unang nagpunta ng Baguio, paboritong lugar, hanggang sa dumating na kami sa topic na, pangarap mapuntahan, at lugar na ayaw nang balikan.

I checked my watch and saw that it's past 11:00 PM. I smiled.

"Do you have a place that you don't want to go back to anymore?" he asked.

Napaisip ako. Unti-unti na akong nalalasing pero pinapanatili ko ang sarili kong diretso mag-isip. Nakakahiyang malasing kaagad. We're both waiting for my birthday, so it's not good to just sleep because of too much tipsiness.

"Wala," I smiled as I drank my shot of Tequila. "There's always been special in every place, for me. Kahit na may masamang nangyari, masamang experience, or may bad impression, I would still want to go back," I looked at him. "Ikaw?"

He shrugged. "I will never come back to Baguio."

Napakunot ako ng noo sa sinabi niya. "Bakit? This is my favourite place!"

He laughed. "Secret."

Napairap na lang ako, at doon, nagsimula na akong lalong mahilo.

"You're drunk, woman," he chuckled. "Let's start the game."

Tumingin ako sa kan'ya. "How can we start that damn game?"

He laughed. "You start. Tell me things you've never done before. Afterwards, I'll tell you mine, then we'll do it alternately."

Napatango ako, at pagkatapos ay nag-isip ng sasabihin.

"Never have I ever..." hmmm... ano ba? "Never have I ever travelled overseas."

Napanguso siya. "You should try Japan," he smiled. "That place is damn worth every penny," he laughed. "As for me..." tulad ko ay nag-isip siya. "Never have I ever...met someone...so... naïve?" he laughed. "Until now."

Hinampas ko siya nang natatawa. "Eh 'di sorry!"

He laughed. "It's okay. You're cute."

Umirap ako bago uminom ulit. "Hmm... ako ulit..." muli akong nag-isip ng sasabihin. "Never have I ever..." ano, Mary?! Ano?! "Peed in the pool?" I laughed. "Sorry, wala akong maisip."

He laughed. "It's alright. But, I peed in the pool; I mean, the running water. At the beach."

Tawa ako nang tawa sa ginawa niyang pag-amin sa akin kahit na hindi naman siya tinatanong.