Along the way ( Province #1 )

Kabanata 25

Hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyari pagkatapos ng reunion, ang alam ko lang ngayon, napakasakit ng ulo ko. My head started to throb again as I tried to get up. Napatakbo ako sa banyo ng maramdaman kong bumabaliktad ang sikmura ko.

Nilabas ko lang ata lahat ng kinain ko noong araw na iyon. I washed my face to freshen up, I'm hungry now.

Pagkalabas ko ng banyo, naroon na sa loob ng kwarto ko ang pinsan ko. With his mocking face he gave me his cellphone.

I raised my brow. "What's this?"

"Watch it," sabi nito ng nakangisi.

I open his cellphone and I saw a video. Me drinking all different alcohol's in front, para akong isang hayok na hayok na unang beses nakatikim ng ganitong klase ng inumin. My face was a mess, and I could see that I'm starting to puke. One last shot. In the video I saw myself raised the glass of beer with my eyes screams proudness. And then, I passed out.

Binato ko ng naiinis sa pinsan ko ang cellphone na hawak ko. He flinched.

"You passed out," he said slowly.

Hinawakan ko ang ulo ko ng bigla itong kumirot. I think I need more sleep, pero sobrang gutom na ako.

"That's it I passed out?" paninigurado ko.

"Nope, about your price." pabitin nito.

"It's a cash, and--- trip to Baguio," he said excited.

Mabilis na pumunta ako sa kanya. "Really!? A cash? And trip to Baguio?"

"Yes, yes!" he snorted.

"But--" pabitin nito ulit. He scratched his head and stood up.

"I think it's better, if you ask Abel what happened." nagmamadali siyang lumabas ng pinto.

Abel? May ginawa na naman ba akong hindi ko magugustuhan? But I can't really remember anything.

I went downstairs to grab some foods when I saw 'Nang Flora, she offered me a soup.

"Lasing na lasing ka nang umuwi kayo dito hija," she said concerned. "Ito, mag painit ka muna ng tiyan mo, ng mahimasmasan ka." she placed the soup in front of me.

"Thanks, Inang."

Nakatulala pa rin ako sa soup na nasa harapan ko, gutom ako pero wala pa ako sa wisyo.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

I heard a raspy voice behind me. Hindi na ako lumingon dahil alam ko na kung sino ito. What did I do this time Abel? I wanted to spill it out, but I can't find my words.

Abel sat in front of me. Abel's arms crossed as the veins buldge perfectly. The hem of his white shirt perfectly hug his body revealing his marvelous chest. The thick brows that started to furrowed calculating my every moves. I gulped.

Sinimulan kong sumubo, para mawala ang atensyon ko sa taong nasa harap ko na mariin na nakatingin sa akin. Gayong may sabaw naman ang kinakain ko, nahihirapan akong lunukin ito.

With my trembling hands, I meticolously put down the spoon. Tinignan ko si Abel na hanggang ngayon ay nakatingin pa rin sa akin.

His eyes slowly traced my lips, that made me uneasy. He sighed painfully and his eyes remained there.

"Tell me,"

He broke the silence between us, making me stiffened.

"How could that beautiful lips, drive me away from my insanity?"

Nagsisimula na akong maguluhan sa sinasabi nito, pero ganoon naman siya lagi. Hindi mo alam kung anong nais ipunto. Punong-puno ng misteryo.

Bagama't nalilito sinalubong ko ang titig nito. "B-bakit?" why am I stammering like an idiot!