Chapter 5
1663 Words
After Ion's birthday, I invited Maya to have a few drinks again the following Friday.
But she couldn't come.
She had gone back to work.
For the whole week, she kept telling me she was doing overtime. Even on Saturdays and Sundays, she was busy. Apparently, the business she was working for belonged to their family, and since she was the boss now, she needed to focus on it.
As for me, aside from picking up and dropping off Ion, I started doing side jobs in entertainment and hosting—mostly in bars, stag parties, and birthday celebrations.
That had been my hustle ever since I resigned from the hospital as a nurse.
Whenever I got bored, I even drove my neighbor's car as a ride service sometimes. The money I earned usually went to buying things for the people at home... or helping with household expenses.
My mom was often at home anyway, taking care of her grandson. Whenever I was out, she watched over Ion.
So basically...
I was living like a bachelor again.
No major responsibilities.
Just going with the flow.
Another Friday came.
But Maya still seemed busy.
What if she's just making excuses...?
What if she's avoiding me?
I sighed.
Why did I even kiss her that day?
Honestly... I liked what happened.
The sad part was the thought that maybe she didn't want to see me anymore.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
Maya.
"Maya? How are you?"
"Levi?"
I immediately pulled the car over when I heard her voice.
"W-why did you call?" I stuttered slightly, trying to hide the excitement in my voice.
"Are you free tonight?" she asked softly.
"I just want to relax. I've been really stressed these past few weeks... I wanted some company. But if you're busy, it's okay."
"I'm free," I said quickly.
"What time should we meet?"
"Same as before. Seven. At the bar with the live band?"
"Uh... no."
I paused.
"Not there. I'll choose the place this time."
"Okay... see you later then."
And just like that, she ended the call.
I rushed to return the car I borrowed and bought a bucket of fried chicken for dinner at home.
It was already almost six, and I still had to get ready.
When I got home, everyone was happy about the food I brought.
"Mom, lock the door later," I told her. "I might late to come home tonight."
"Why? Where are you going?"
"Uh... someone invited me to host an anniversary event."
A lie.
"Alright," she said. "Just be careful."
I quickly got ready and left.
When I arrived at the checkpoint, Maya's car pulled up at the same time.
When I got inside her car, she asked,
"So where are we going?"
"I'll just guide you."
I brought her to a quiet bar with an overlooking view.
When we entered, we sat in a small hut-style table that had a perfect view of the glowing lights of Manila.
Her eyes lit up.
"Have you had dinner yet?" I asked.
She shook her head, still staring at the city lights.
"Is this your first time being somewhere like this at night?"
"I've been somewhere like this before," she said.
"But it was a long time ago... back when Kaiden and I weren't married yet."
I sat down while she continued admiring the view.
Soon, the waiter came.
"Drinks?" I asked.
"No," she said.
"Let's eat first."
So we ordered dinner.
After we finished eating, we finally ordered drinks.
She seemed to really like the place.
"Maya... can I ask you something?"
She looked at me.
"Did you graduate from college?"
She tilted her head.
"That's what they say."
I blinked.
"What kind of answer is that?"
She laughed.
"I guess I did. I saw my certificates and graduation photos."
"Wait... I'm confused."
She smiled slightly.
"I had retrograde amnesia."
My brows furrowed.
"Basically... I lost a few years of my memory."
"About two or three years of my life."
"I don't even know the exact date of my last memory before the accident."
"I don't remember graduating from college."
"What about... your relationships?" I asked carefully.
"Well... when I woke up, I was looking for Kaiden."
"He told me we had already been together for five years."
"That surprised me."
"Everyone also told me we already had a baby."
She looked down at her drink.
"The last thing I remembered before the accident was when we were still deeply in love... and we hadn't even reached our first anniversary yet."
I swallowed.
"What about your college life?"
"That's the part I lost," she said softly.
"The last thing I remember from college is taking my first-year prelim exams."
Damn...
Now I understood.
I was probably one of the memories that disappeared.
She brushed her hair aside and showed me a small scar—almost an inch long—behind her ear.
"They said I was lucky I had already given birth before the accident."
"Two years after I recovered, Kaiden and I got married."
"Did you ever want your lost memories back?" I asked.
"Yes."
"But Kaiden told me not to."
"He said that period of our relationship was painful. We hurt each other a lot back then... and he doesn't want us to relive that again."
I leaned back in my chair.
So that's how it was.
Maybe...
Maybe I really was one of the memories she wasn't meant to remember anymore.
What she didn't know was the reason I brought her here tonight...
Was because she once told me she loved places like this.
Back when we were still close.
Fine.
If Kaiden wanted me erased from her past...
I'd respect that.
But I could still show her the happiness I once gave her.
We talked for so long that we didn't notice we had already finished half the bottle.
The alcohol was starting to hit.
Her cheeks were already turning red.
"Stay here," I told her.
"Watch me."
I spoke to the waiter and asked if I could play one song on stage.
Maya didn't know I worked part-time at this bar.
When I sat on the stool with the guitar, some customers looked at me curiously.
"Good evening," I said into the microphone.
"I'm not the scheduled acoustic singer tonight... but I'd like to dedicate one song to a special friend who trusted me enough to be here tonight."
I started playing.
It was Maya's favorite song—the one I used to sing for her back in college.
And while I sang...
Memories flooded my mind.
The days we laughed together.
The times I made her smile.
The moment she once told me,
"If I didn't have a boyfriend... maybe I wouldn't settle for just this."
When I finished, the people in the bar applauded.
Including the woman I sang for.
Later, I bought a half-pack of cigarettes at the bar.
When I returned to the table, Maya waved away the smoke drifting toward her.
"Try it," I said.
"What? No. I don't smoke."
You used to, I thought.
"You should try it."
"I might cough."
"Trust me."
She took the cigarette and tried it.
I smiled.
She handled it naturally... like she'd done it many times before.
When the bottle was almost empty, she suddenly stood up.
"I'll go to the restroom."
When she came back...
She had a cigarette in her hand.
She blew smoke toward me teasingly.
"Where did you get that?" I asked.
"From you."
I laughed.
"I thought you didn't smoke."
"You made me try it earlier."
We finished the last of the alcohol.
Her face was red.
"Thank you, Levi," she said.
"For what?"
"You made me happy tonight."
"And I won't forget this night."
Her voice was sincere.
"I'm always here for—"
I stopped.
Because suddenly Maya dropped her head onto the table.
"Knockout," I muttered.
She was completely drunk.
Flashback — 11 Years Ago
Maya was extremely drunk.
I had invited her to the birthday party of one of Eric's high school friends.
"Maya... are you okay?"
No response.
She was completely out of it.
"Come on, let's go home."
I nudged her shoulder.
"Let's go. You need to rest."
"I can't go home like this," she murmured.
"My parents will scold me."
I thought for a moment.
"I know."
"Let's go to my house first. You can rest there."
"No..."
"Then what do you want? Leave you here? That would be embarrassing for the birthday celebrant."
She stayed silent.
Finally she looked at me.
"...Fine. Let's go."
We left the party and went to my house.
It was only ten at night.
My parents were already asleep, so I quietly brought her into my room.
When she lay down on my bed, she suddenly groaned.
"Levi... I feel like throwing up."
"Wait—hold on!"
I quickly grabbed a plastic bag so she could vomit.
After that, she lay back down, exhausted.
The room smelled like vomit, so I threw the bag outside and grabbed a towel with alcohol to clean her up.
While I wiped her face and arms, she asked for water.
She drank, rinsed her mouth, and spat into the trash bin.
Then I noticed her shirt was dirty too.
"Maya... I'm going to remove your shirt. There's vomit on it."
She didn't answer.
But I removed it carefully and cleaned her up.
And I kept repeating to myself—
I won't be tempted.
I'm a nursing student. I've seen this before.
I won't be tempted.
She trusts me.
When I finished, I covered her with a blanket.
Then I lay down beside her.
But I couldn't sleep.
Even with the electric fan on, I felt hot.
So I removed my shirt until I was left in my boxers.
I glanced at her.
She was sleeping peacefully.
I hope I can fall asleep too.
I wrapped my arms around her.
Holding her tightly.
Until...
I couldn't stop myself anymore.
- Writer
