Take A Shot

Last Night

"I'm not drinking that. It looks like piss."

Malakas na tawa ang narinig ko kay Jenard at muntik niya pang mabitawan ang punong baso na may pinaghalo halong iba't ibang alak. It looks disgusting and there's no way I'm drinking that s**t. Call me kj or what, I don't drink alcohol to begin with.

"C'mon Helix, you won't die after you drink this. Alak lang yan pare. Well, mixed drinks to be exact pero promise, masarap yan!" Inilapit niya ang baso sa akin at sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. I knew this would happen. I should've insisted to stay at home.

"You sure it's not poison?"

"Yes, now bottoms up! You should start living the college life right. Kalimutan mo muna mga assignments mo. We're here to have some fun!" He's right. Maybe drinking can distract my mind for a while. I've been thinking too much lately.

I hesitantly get the cup but drink it in one shot. The moment I finished it, I throw it somewhere and cough. Ang panget ng lasa. Hayop talaga tong si Jenard.

"Whoo! Welcome to the right path of a happy life, Helix! Now, let's dance!" Hindi ko na masyadong narinig pinagsasabi ni Jenard dahil humilab ang dibdib ko. Ano ba 'tong pinainom sa akin ni Jenard? Nakakahilo at ang sakit sa tyan.

Hinila ako ni Jenard sa dance floor ng club. Madaming mga taong nagsasayawan at halos magkabungguan na kaming lahat dito. Ang kulit na ni Jenard dahil lasing na ata at kung sino sino na ang kinakausap. I was left alone standing in the middle of dancing drunk people.

I feel so weak dahil nahihilo na agad ako kahit isang baso lang naman pinainom sa akin ni Jenard. My head feels like spinning but I can't move dahil baka matumba ako kapag gumalaw ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Humihina sa pandinig ko ang malakas na tugtog galing sa speaker. Medyo lumalabo na rin ang paningin ko and everyone seems like slow moving. But what is this figure? It's coming to me.

Unti unting nagiging malinaw ang mukha ng taong dahang dahang naglalakad palapit sa akin. A girl in a sleeveless black dress snapped her fingers at me then everything goes back to normal. I blink couple of times and look away. Ahh, I feel like throwing up.

"Are you okay? Kanina mo pa ako tinitignan e. Gusto mo ba ako?" I frowned at what she said.

Wow, this girl got some nerves to tell such words like that. Nakatulala pala ako kanina, nag-assume ata siyang tinitignan ko siya. Hindi ko siya sinagot at tinalikuran na. Babalik na lang ako sa seat namin ni Jenard.

Hindi pa man ako nakakalyo sa dance floor ng may humawak sa braso ko at hinila ako para humarap sa kaniya. What the f**k does this girl wants?

"Hey, you didn't answer my question!" Magsasalita na sana ako ng nabunggo siya sa likod ng mga taong sumasayaw at na out of balance kaya napalapit siya sa akin. Nagulat ako at napahawak ako bigla sa may bewang niya for support. And now, she's looking at me, straight to my eyes.

Namumula na ang mukha niya. She also smells like alcohol na rin. I think this girl drank too much. When I came back to my senses, agad ko siyang binitawan at iniwan sa dance floor. That got me nervous, damn.

Dumiretso ako sa labas papuntang car park to unwind. I need to sober up. Jenard is absolutely drunk. He can't drive. During this situation before, I always drive him home dahil hindi naman ako nainom noon. I just join them with our blockmates to stop them annoying me.

I heave a deep sigh and startled when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around and saw the girl who approached me earlier. She looks wasted but still keep smiling.

"What the heck do you need?"

"Bakit mo ko iniwan doon? Akala ko ikikiss mo ko," then she pouts like a cute baby. Wait, did I just said cute? Jeez.

"Shut it, woman. Go back inside. You shouldn't be chasing strangers."

"Hmm? Then why did you held my waist earlier? Crush mo ko 'no, yiieee." This girl is annoying.

"I never said that and I did that to save you from falling," from pouting, she smiled again but widely this time halos mawala na mga mata niya. A chinita girl.

"Nakakakilig naman! Tara uwi mo na ako, gusto ko na magpahingaaaa. Dali naaaa." What? Why is she asking me to get her home? She's totally a weird drunk woman. Bumuntong hininga na lang ako dahil hinahawakan niya na ang braso ko at niyuyogyog ito habang paulit ulit niyang sinasabi na umuwi na daw kami.

Seriously, what the f**k? But it looks like I don't have a choice. I may not know her but I can't leave her like this. I get out the car keys from my pocket at hahanapin na sana ang BMW ni Jenard ng may sumigaw na babae at napalingon si cute girl sa direction noong sumigaw ng pangalan na,

"Stacy!"

It looks like they know each other. Thank God, less problem for tonight.

"Where the f**k are you going? You look so wasted!"

The girl took Stacy away from me. Tuwang tuwa naman si Stacy ng makita ang kaibigan niya tapos niyakap pa. It seems like she didn't notice me or she chose to ignore me. Nonetheless, I don't care. I can finally have peace.

I just realized that I'm sober up already and immediately texted Jenard na sumabay na lang sa mga kaibigan namin pauwi dahil uuwi na ako dala ang kotse niya. I hop in the car of Jenard and started to drive it. Nasa akin ang susi kaya ako na lang muna ang maguuwi nito babalik ko na lang bukas.

I was driving when the scene at the dance floor earlier popped in my mind. I smirked when realizing she's actually cute and brave. I hope to see her again.