Chapter Nine
1360 Words
Chapter 9
Lucas was the one looking out for Britney, she was after all his plus one as they entered one of the high-end bar. And clearly he lost the bet against Solenn. Date niya sa gabing iyon si Britney as the plus one rule sa bar na iyon. Mga members lang kasi ang mabilis na makakapasok dito, otherwise pipila sila ng ilang oras sa labas. The three of them are members, him, Nico and Solenn. So under his name they wrote Britney. Ale, Nico's best friend also tagged along since he's visiting the country. While Herley was Solenn's plus one. Anim lang sila pero halos maubos na nila ang dalawang bote ng tequila na inorder ni Nico para sa table nila. Tequila with lime and rock salt, simpleng ingredients para sa gabi ng kasiyahan, but not for the faint hearted sabi nilang mga lalaki. Kaya naman Nag-order din sila ng tequila mix specially for the two ladies they're with. They weren't fond of heavy drinking as Britney stated bago pa sila magsimula. That's why he was handling how much Britney was drinking at the moment. He's after all paying for everything. As the music blares and the drinks kept coming, nalalasing na si Solenn. And usually she's the craziest when they got drunk.
"Baaaaaabe...let's daaaaaaance." Lambing nito sa asawa. And then another song was played by the DJ, "that's our song!!!!! Daliiiiiii!" Hinila nito si Nico papuntang dance floor. Sumayaw na ang dalawa making up dance steps na sa mga bukabularyo lamang nila matatagpuan. Kaya naman gustong gusto ni Lucas kasama ang mag-asawa sa mga gimik. They're a live at the moment type out side of the limelight. Para silang mga baliw sa dancefloor habang nagsasayaw ng kung anu-anong moves na pumasok sa mga lasing na utak nila.
Meanwhile, Ale and Herley are in their own bubble. A decade Herley's senior, Ale is an antique enthusiast kaya naman nagkasundo agad ang dalawa. Hindi ni Lucas expected na ganoon ka vast ang nalalaman ni Herley pagdating sa mundo ng arts at antiques. And she just graduated college.
May kung anung binulong si Ale kay Herley na nakangiti from ear to ear, tumango ito at iniwanan na sila ng dalawa patungo sa dance floor. Pinagmasdan ni Lucas ang mga kaibigan niya, Solenn and Nico are dancing like they're the only ones around while Herley and Ale are awkwardly trying to get their own rhythm.
"How long have you known them?" Tanong ni Britney out of the blue. Sumusubo ito ng mga nuts na bigay sakanila as pulitan.
"Nico? Fresh out of college, for the two of us." Inabutan niya si Britney ng isang shot sa tequila mix na nasa mesa nila. " Solenn, when they started dating."
"And Ale?" Tanong nito. She was just looking out for her friend.
"I met Ale at the couple's wedding. He comes to visit every once in a while." He answered her question. Namula ni Britney, nahiya ito sa pagdududa niya sa kaibigan nilang si Ale.
"Pasensya na. Herley is like a sister to me, and she's only twenty one." sabi nito. "I'd be dead kung may mangyari sa assistant ng mama ko." Hinagod niya ang dalawang palad sa buhok.
"Don't worry, Ale wouldn't do anything bad to Herley. Unless she wants him to." Saad niya sabay inom ng panibagong shot. Inabutan niya ulit ang dalaga ng shot. "And she's old enough to party."
"Alam na alam ko na ang mga sasabihin niya saakin." She chuckled holding the shot glass on her hand.
Sumubo siya ng nuts saka sinabing, "What you need is to relax, Doctora--"
"Ironically, I'm of duty today so please do leave the honorifics at GMC's parking space, Lucas." She said taking him aback with her boldness.
"As you wish, Britney." He chuckled taking yet another glass. Dama ni Lucas ang init na dulot ng alak sa kaniyang lalamunan.
Nilagok naman ni Britney ang inumin at huminga ito ng malalim. "I have trust issues."
"Who doesn't?" Tanong niya. Napatingin sakaniya si Britney na para bang tinubuan siya ng pangalawang ulo. "Once in your life you'd be allowed to be stupid. Lalo na sa pag-ibig."
"Really? The great Mr. Agustus who'd brutally devour doctors during case presentation, stupid sa pag-ibig?" Natatawang kumento nito.
Tumango lamang siya being serious, "There you were thinking you've finally found someone whom you can be yourself with, whom you can be funny with and whom you can open up to. You thought you've finally found your forever!" Both of them were laughing, "and then you found yourself single." Napabuntong hininga silang dalawa.
"Kaya nga I would always say na, it's better to be single than to invest into a relationship that is wrong in whatever angle you'd look at it." Sabi nito kay Lucas at sabay silang tumawa with matching apir. "Oh, 'di ba? Hindi pa ako lasing niyan, what more kung may amats na?" Si Britney na mismo ang kumuha ng isa pang shot sa table nila. She was getting drunk sa istema ng binata. She was laughing hard and her skin was red.
"When was the last time you got really wasted?" Tanong niya sa dalaga.
Bigla ito napaisip ng sandali, "may be almost four years ago." Seryosong saad nito.
Alam ni Lucas ang nangyari apat na taon na ang nakakaraan, because he was the one who arranged everything. 'Bakit naman siya nagpakalasing?' Tanong Lucas sa sarili. "And why is that?" Tanong niya.
"It was the day I met my biological father." Napabuntong hininga siya. "Or should I say our dad. Tatay mo din siya am I right?" She looked at him biting her lower lip, and he recognized something else in her eyes.
'Wait, is she hoping that we're not siblings?! Biological siblings?!' Napukaw ang natatagong paghanga ni Lucas kay Britney. Does she like him? "I was fourteen when my real parents died." Saad niya, "Dad was my real parents' lawyer, and it was on their last will and testament that I'd be adopted by him. Trust me when I say he's more of a troublesome brother than a father to me. And if you do the math, he'd be fathering me at the age of fourteen." Napahalakhak silang dalawa.
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if he would." Sagot ng dalaga ng matapos ang tawanan nila. "The morning before I met him, he released a statement saying I'm just one of his 'MISTAKES'." She was doing a quote-unquote gesture with both her hands. "That statement alone ruined every childhood dream I've had of having a whole family." Inabutan ni Lucas ng inumin si Britney, mukhang kinakailangan na kasi ito ng dalaga.
"Well for me, not being a part of who you are will be his biggest regret." Saad ni Lucas na katotohanan naman. Nakita niya kung gaano pinapanabikan ni Hubert ang anak nito.
Britney smiled and took the shot. Napa-exhale ito ng medyo may kalakasan. Napasandal ito sa backrest ng upoan nila at humarap sakanya sideways making her upper arm rest on it at well. She looked like she'd finally reached her limit, judging by the way she squinted her eyes trying to focus. She was feeling at home to the loud music and the uncomfortable lights of the bar. "You know what, Lucas?" Sabi nito with a bit of a pause.
"What is it, Britney?" Tanong naman niya facing her.
She looked at his face, as if trying to memorize it in her heard. He was a bit uncomfortable at first but her warm smiled melted that away. "You aren't such an ass, after all." She said matter of fact.
He gave her a puzzled look. "Why'd you say that?"
"Because if you were, you'd let me kiss you." She said with a proud smirk plastered on her face closing the gap between them.
"What if," he said slowly looking straight into her eyes, "I am an a--" hindi man lang pinatapos ni Britney ang sasabihin ni Lucas, dahil sa mga segundong iyon ay hinagkan na siya ng dalaga. And he was kissing her back.
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