Nights Like This

CHAPTER 21

I just got out from the shower when I heard the loud sound blasting on the speakers. Nasa labas na silang lahat and having fun. This is our last night here in Camp Willow and bukas, we're going to be back from our daily lives. I can't believe myself that there's a part of me that doesn't wanna go back.

I guess I saw the beauty and the purpose of this camp. Every activity that we did required the unity of the team and because of that, or team became tighter. Mas nakilala namin ang isa't isa not just on the professional level but also more personal. Dahil wala ring internet, we have no choice but to entertain each other by talking to each other and it's a first time that I actually got to talk to them without asking about the deadlines and stuffs like that and it's quite nice. Parang na re- set yung relationship namin sa isa't isa.

After I did my skin care I opened the door of the dorm para sana maka labas at maki saya na sa kanila and there, I saw Vance leaning on the rails of the terrace.

"Why are you here?" tanong ko sa kanya. Wala naman kaming usapan na daanan nya ako nagpapa hintay ako sa kanya si I don't know kung bakit nandito sya.

Baka naman hindi ako ang sadya nya and then inunahan ko na ng assume.

"I was waiting for you. Ang tagal mo," aniya.

"Bakit nga?" tanong ko ulit sa kanya.

Sabay kaming nag lakad papunta sa base camp where we are required to gather dahil nga last night na. The staffs prepared a feast for everybody and of course some booze. Kung wala pang alak, baka ako pa mismo ang magpa bili. We cannot really miss of having something rough to the throat yet sweet to the mouth.

"Gusto lang kitang kasabay. You know, just making sure na baka mag tago ka na naman o tumakas ka na naman," aniya.

I raised my brows at him. "Wow naman sa'yo. I didn't even think of that naman," depensa ko.

That's true. I didn't think of hiding. In fact, I am so excited because I wouldn't miss the fun of getting wasted because this is the last hurrah before we go back.

Kahit naka suot na ako ng sweater, parang tumatabla pa rin yung lamig ng hangin sa katawan ko. Napapalibutan kami ng mga halaman so there's natural feel of breeze. Hindi na nga namin kailangan ng aircon sa dorm because the walls are made of bamboo so lumulusot yung lamig galing labas at for the first time in my life na naka gamit ako ng kulambo that feel so good when I rub the net on my feet. I'll get one pag balik ko sa city.

I wonder tuloy if this is how my bestie Haya feels now that she's in the province kaya ayaw na nyang umuwi. I mean, after some exhausting days from the city life, I think it's a good idea to be surrounded by nature if I wanna rest or I just want to take a break. Nahumaling na yata hindi lang ng boyfriend nyang si Lukas kundi na rin ng hangin roon kaya ayaw na nyang bumalik. I've been persuading her na ako ang bahala sa kanya para maka pasok sya sa KSW pero but she declined. According to her, ayaw na nya because she's happy there.

Dahil ilang lakad lang naman ang layo ng dorms sa mismong base camp, nakarating agad kami ni Vance. There are two types of food that is served on the long table. One is for the dinner and one is for the pulutan. The staffs prepared a lot. I haven't gone to any fiestas and I think this is the closest experience that I'll ever have.

Hindi lang pagkain ang marami because I don't know how many cases of beer ang naka kalat sa bawat tabi. There's a lot. Baka nga lasing na ang lahat, may alak pa rin.

"You have to eat first before drinking anything," sabi sa akin ni Vance. He's almost shouting because if he won't hindi kami magkaka- rinigan sa lakas ng speakers.

Even though magpa tugtog ng malakas, wala namang mag re- report to the police because we don't have neighbors here na mabubulabog because we're literally at the middle of the forest.

Wild animals and trees can't report to the police, can they?

Syempre, although they're also aliving thing, they can't.

"Of course kakain ako. I am really hungry kanina pa," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Sinasabi ko lang. Minamata mo na kasi yung alak agad. If you'd drink in an empty stomach, baka lang hindi ka na maka bangon bukas sa sobrang ka- lasingan."

"I've never been passed out drunk, for your information sir, " sabi ko. "Matibay ako sa inuman. My friends can attest to that. Of course, you wouldn't know. Hindi pa kita nakakasama sa inuman so..."

I shrugged my shoulder and then dragged him papunta sa dalawang staff na naka bantay sa lamesa na may mga pagkain na kinakawayan kaming dalawa.

"Are you sure na hindi ka pa nag p- passout sa sobrang lasing that made you feel like you don't remember anything?" tanong nya sa akin.

Napa isip ako sa tanong nya. Sa dami ng party and night out that I was present, hindi ko na matandaan kung may nangyari na ba but if I can really remember everything correctly, hindi pa.

Oh. Wait.

I rember when I was really drunk, not really pass out because may ala ala pa ako ng gabing yun sa ZONE17 then the next day I woke up at A1 Hotel. I could still remember everything on that night except the face of Jaye's boss who brought me there.

I mean, it's not just me who meets a lot of people and forgets their faces after the short interaction.

"Really? Eh are you sure na hindi pa kita nakikitang uminom?" tanong nya sa akin. His voice have a slight hint of something that I can't really pin point.

"Why? Nakita mo na ba akong uminom?" hamon ko sa kanya because again, if ever man na nag cross ang landas namin sa bar pa yan o sa clubs kung saan regular kami ng mga kaibigan ko, I wouldn't forget that kind of face.

He shrugged and raised one of his eyebrows while one side of his lips ay mayabang na naka angat.

Vance didn't say anything but I feel like there's something base sa expression nya.

"Hindi nga? Have you seen me before?" pang u- usisa ko. Malay ko naman, he has seen me pala before. Magkaiba naman yung ako yung naka kita sa kanya at sa sya ang naka kita sa akin.

I smiled at the two staffs na inabutan kami ni Vance ng plato. We proceed on getting food. I don't know kung bakit mas invested na ako sa topic namin ngayon than getting lechon that I've been eyeing kasama nung malamig na beer.

"You think?" tanong nya in a very maoang asar na manner. Hindi ko alam kung sasagutin ba nya ako ng matino oh ano.

Pag ako naubusan ng pasensya, bahala sya.

"I want answers, Vance. I don't want you to ask me kung anong tingin ko," medyo gigil na sabi ko sa kanya.

He lets out a laugh na lalo lang nagpa inis sa akin. Look at this guy oh. Tawang tawa samantalang ako rito, I've been dying to know the answer.

"Okay! Chill. Naiinis ka na naman," natatawa pa rin nyang sabi sa akin. "Pag naiinis ka mukha ka pa namang angry bird."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at him.

"You know what, bahala ka na on your own," sabi ko sa kanya nang matapos akong kumuha ng food ko and walked papuntang vacant na chair.

Kung may isa pa akong na discover kay Vance after almost tailing him 24/7 during this camp is that he can be really annoying. Not really annoying na masama ugali nya but annoying in a sense na he likes to annoy me by teasing me and he's a frustrated joker. He can either be too quiet or too annoying.

That is one of the discoveries ko kay Vance and I honestly didn't expect that kind of side from him at nagugulat pa ako tuwing may na u- unlock akong ugali nya. He's full of surprises.

I can't help but to wonder what are the things na hindi ko pa nakikita sa kanya and when will he show me those?

"Before ka na naman mainis sa akin, sorry. I'm just messing up with you."

Inirapan ko sya. "Too late. Inis na ako sa 'yo."

"Sige mainis ka. Magmumukha ka talagang angry birds," panakot nya na as if naman batang maliit ako na natatakot.

Kita ko pa rin ang pagpipigil nya ng ngiti sa labi nya but his eyes are screaming na nag e- enjoy syang kulitin, asarin, at buwisitin ako.

Bakit ba kami napunta sa topic na 'to? Nakahanap na naman sya ng pang inis sa akin.

"Okay. Ituloy mo lang tutal natutuwa ka naman dyan but don't come near me because instead na itong lumpia yung ma- tusok ko ng tinidor, malay mo maging ikaw."

Vance laughed once again and scrunched his nose.

He really has a habit o scrunching his nose kapag natatawa sya or natutuwa sya.

On a lighter note naman, I am entertained to see him this carefree. Sa office kasi para sya laging stuck up. I'm glad naman na hindi lang ako but also the team is getting to know him more.

Wag nya lang talaga akong asarin para okay.

"Okay. Okay! I'll answer," aniya. Tumuloy lang ako sa pag kain but my attention is on him. "No, hindi pa. If I see someone like you, I don't think makakalimutan kita."

The last sentence occured to me as a surprise. It made the hair on my body straightened because of the goosebumps dahil that's exactly my words to him.

"Why? Bakit ka naman ganyan maka tingin?" tanong nya like he's weirded out and a little bit of conscious because of me.

Even me naman, I'd be weirded out to myself lalo na kung naka tulal na lang ako at pinaka titigan na lang sya just like what I am doing right now.

"What made you think na hindi mo ako malilimutan?" I blurted out on him.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko and looked away from him. That question was supposed to be just a thought. Nakapag salita na naman ako nang hindi nag iisip ng maayos.

"Because I won't."

Natahimik ako sa sagot nya kasi sa totoo lang hindi ko rin alam kung anong tamang sabihin sa kanya dahil I don't really get the context.

"Maam! Sir!" Tawag ni Sol. Halatang nak inom na sya because namumungay na yung mata nya pero mukha pa rin namang hindi pa umaakyat yung alak s utak nya. May hawak na syang dalawang beer.

"Sol," bati ni Vance sa kanya. I just looked at him and gave him a small smile.

"Sa inyong dalawa 'to," inabot nya sa amin yung dalawang beer, tig isa kami ni Vance. "Maiwan ko na kayo. Inabot ko lang po talaga 'yan."

In all honesty, hindi ako sanay na maka inom nitong ganitong beer because I sanay ako sa mga drinks from the bar and clubs and because of that, I don't really drink beer that much. Ngayon na lang siguro ulit.

"Thanks Sol," sabi ko habang nararamdaman ko na ang pamamawis ng labas ng bote beer sa palad ko.

After namang magawa ni Sol yung agenda nya, lumakad na rin sya palayo.

"Oh. You drink that," tawag ni Vance sa attention ko. Pag lingon ko sa kanya, he's handing me the beer that Sol gave him.

"Why are you giving me that? Aren't you going to drink?" nagtataka kong tanong sa kanya.

I mean, how can he not drink in this kind of situation? We are having a feast and a really good time! Hindi naman sya mag d- drive so walang pipigil sa kanya na uminom.

"No. Iinom ka kaya hindi ako iinom. I'll just watch you enjoy this night. Don't worry, nag e- enjoy naman ako."

Hinablot ko yung bote ng beer na inaabot nya saka lumagok roon. I feel like I nanuyo na naman yung lalaunan ko roon.

This is gonna be a long night for me.