Please, Forget me Not

CHAPTER 12

Nasa labas na kami ngayon ng bahay ni Frea at inaantay na lang siyang lumabas. I looked at my best friend who was gently tapping his fingertips on the steering wheel. He seems bored and uninterested.

Kunwari pa...

"Frea is coming," I announced, trying to get him to look at her way but he acted like he didn't hear me.

I sneered at him before shifting my gaze back to Frea.

"Oh, my God!" Kinalabit ko si Aly. "She's so freaking sexy in her black backless lace-up bodycon dress!" I exclaimed after she turned around, showing me her back. Awrang-awra ang gaga! nahiya ang suot ko sa suot niya, my God!

"Aly, what do you think?" I asked, still staring at Frea who's walking gracefully towards the car. Nang hindi agad sumagot si Aly ay nilingon ko siya para makita ang reaksiyon niya. I was shocked when I saw his clenched jaw and furrowed brows. Pero mas nagulat ako when he started the engine and drive away fast.  Hindi pa nakakasakay si Frea!

"What the hell, Algid Quinzy?!" I shouted at him and tried to look back at Frea, but she's out of my sight anymore.

I glared at him.

"Don't glare at me," he said firmly.

"Let's go back. You're being rude to her!" I yelled. "Why did you do that, huh?" I can't help but get mad at him because of his attitude towards her. I mean, she did nothing for him to treat her like that and take note, that's for a while now.

"Tell her to change first if she wants a ride. I don't like her wearing that piece of sh*t."

I laughed humorlessly. "And now you're being controlling? Ano bang pake mo sa suot niya? She's not your girl, let me just remind you." I know I’m being harsh to him pero hindi ko makontrol ang sarili ko. Naiinis talaga ako.

"We're going to a place that was freaking full of drunk bastards and I know she'll attract them, I just don't want her to get harassed or what, just like you."

"Everyone wears that in a bar! At isa pa, she can handle herself. Now, I want you to go back and pick her up if you don't want me to ignore you for months," I said, leaving no room for argument. Baka tuluyang masira ang mood ko kung magpapatuloy pa ang pagtatalo namin.

He glanced at me. When he saw how serious I was, he heaved out a sigh of defeat.

When he's about to maneuver the car, I received a text from Frea saying I don't have to worry about her because she's riding her car already.

"She's on her way, you assh*le," I snapped.

"I'm sorry, okay?"

"That's what she said. You. are. an. Assh*le." I emphasized the last sentence para dama. "And if you're really sorry, then pay for our drinks." I crossed my arms trying to look more serious.

"Are you serious?" He looked quickly at me.

"Yup." I nodded.

"Fine. Binudol mo lang ata ako, e."

"No! I'm really mad at you earlier and I’m sure Frea too because you're such a d*ck!"

"Your words, Khyrss," he reprimanded.

"Sorry, Dad." I rolled my eyes. "But that's true, though I know you just really like her and the main reason why you don't want her to wear something like that is that you're being possessive and don't you dare deny it, kitang-kita ko ‘yon sa reaksiyon mo kanina no'ng nakita mo siya.

“If you really don’t want to see her wearing such clothes, edi court her. I know her. I’m sure she won’t dare wear them again kahit hindi mo pa pagbawalan. Kaya ganoon lang siya manamit ay dahil single siya.”

 “Tss.” I made face at him at hindi na nagsalita pa. I want to give him time to figure out kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin.

"I thought someone's courting her. What happened?" tanong niya makalipas ang ilang minutong katahimikan.

"It didn't work out. The guy dumped her," natatawang sabi ko. Na-karma ang gaga, naunahan siya. "It's a good thing. though. You'll have your chance. You should really make a move on her tonight. You see how hot she is wearing that dress, I'm sure hindi matatapos ang gabing 'to na walang manlalandi sa kaniya. Baka bukas may manliligaw na naman siya." Sana pakinggan niya ang mga sinasabi ko. I really want to see them together. 

Nang makarating sa bar, umuna na akong pumasok sa loob dahil mukhang wala pa siyang balak pumasok, baka hihintayin si Frea. I don't know. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang dagat ng mga tao para hanapin kung saan nakapuwesto si Stefan. Before Aly and I got here, I received a text from him informing me na nakarating na raw siya. Hindi halatang excited, 'di ba?

I roamed my eyes around and there, I saw him in the corner, waving his hands to catch my attention. I made my way towards him. He's alone because Brenda can't make it tonight because she's sick, kahapon pa. Sayang, siya pa naman ang nag aya. Ica-cancel nga sana namin 'to kaso sabi niya ituloy na raw namin at babawi na lang siya next time.

"Wow, pati ba naman sa night out natin late pa rin si Frea? That girl!" bungad niya sa akin nang makitang hindi ko kasunod si Frea.

"Kasabay sana namin siya but something happened, e, but she will be here in a few minutes." I sat on the couch across from him then I immediately brought out my phone to inform Zach that I'm already at the bar.

"Have you ordered drinks yet?" I asked him after I sent my message to Zach.

"Yup, antagal niyo, e. Asan na nga pala 'yong tatlo?" Stefan asked, actively waiting for my response.

Pagdating talaga sa lalaki, attentive 'tong baklang 'to!

"Aly's with me kanina. Nasa labas lang siya, pero 'yong dalawa, I’m not sure kung andito na sila." I shrugged. Agad akong kumuha ng baso ng alak na kabababa lang ng waiter sa lamesa namin at ininom 'yon nang diretso. Napapikit ako nang mariin nang gumuhit ang pait sa aking lalamunan.

"Girl, nagmamadali ka ba? dahan-dahan lang sa pag-inom. Tonight will gonna be a long night for us! Baka malasing ka agad." I threw my hands up in the air.

"Pampagana lang, and I’m not planning to get wasted tonight. Aly is here, I’m sure hindi 'yon papayag."

"Minsan talaga naiisip ko na baka jowa mo talaga si Aly, hindi mo lang sinasabi sa amin," aniya na nagpa-rolyo ng mata ko. "Oh, the Almighty Frea is finally here! What took you so long?" Buti na lang at naagaw noon ang atensiyon niya. Sawa na akong mapagkamalang couple kami ni Aly. Nakakatamad na mag-explain. A boy and a girl can be friends too! What Aly and I have is platonic friendship. 

Nilingon ko na rin si Frea na umupo sa tabi ko at hindi pinansin and sinabi ni Stef, imbes ay agad siyang kumuha ng alak pagkaupo at nilagok iyon!

And take note, a freaking bottle of Bacardi!

Nagulat naman kaming dalawa sa ginawa niya. She's in a bad mood, I can tell just by looking at her brows that were lowered and knitted together.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys?! May problema ba kayo? Bakit ang aggressive niyo sa alak ngayon?" He looked at us in bewilderment.

"Nothing!" Nagkatinginan kami ni Frea nang sabay kaming sumagot pero bigla niya akong inerapan. Aba! anong problema ng gagang 'to sa akin?

Lumapit ako at hinila ang buhok niya. "Ba't ka bad mood? Is that because of what happened earlier?"

"Nope," maikling sagot niya habang kinukutinting 'yong kuko niyang newly polished. My gaze remained on her, not convinced on what she said.

"What?" she arched her brow.

"Bakit nga? Anong problema mo? We're here to enjoy baka nakakalimutan mo."

"Let's enjoy, then." Tumayo na siya at naglakad palayo. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa makalapit siya sa kabilang table at nakipag usap sa mga taong naroon. Tinitigan ko lang siya habang iniisip ang posibleng dahilan kung bakit bad mood siya nang maagaw ng pagdating nina Aly ang atensyon ko. 

"Hi, Khyrss." Napalingon ako kay Keighan nang umupo ito sa tabi ko pero agad din naman siyang hinila patayo ni Dreiden.

"Dude, 'wag ka na riyan kay Khy, off-limits na 'yan, doon na lang tayo sa taas madaming chics." Napailing na lang ako sa sinabi niya. Napaka babaero talaga, tss.

"Ikaw na lang pumunta roon, tinatamad ako." Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan siya ni Dreiden.

"Totoo ba 'yan?"

Keighan gave him a dirty finger. "Ulol, ikaw lang babaero sa atin 'wag mo ako idamay." Napahalakhak naman si Dreiden sa sinabi ng kaibigan at hinayaan na lang na umupo ulit  si Keighan sa tabi ko. 

"Dreiden kadarating mo pa lang pero babae agad ang gusto mong atupagin. Dahan-dahan lang, hindi ka naman mauubusan," biro ko.

"Khyrss ang dami mo pang sinasabi, ayaw mo na lang sabihing nagseselos ka. Sige na nga, hindi na ako aalis sa paningin mo," aniya at umupo sa tapat ko. Hinayaan ko na lang siya at hindi na pinansin ang sinabi niya. Just like what I said, sanay na ako sa kaniya. 

Napalingon ako kay Stefan na nasa tabi niya at napataas ang kilay ko nang makitang nakatitig lang siya kay Keighan. Kung nakakatanggal lang ng damit ang titig, malamang Kei is already naked. Harap harapan niyang pinagnanasaan ang kaibigan ni Aly, my God!

Bumaling naman ako kay Aly nang mapansing tahimik lang siyang nakaupo sa kabilang gilid ko. He's looking somewhere. As I followed his gaze, my eyes landed to Frea who's holding a glass of alcohol while laughing with a guy.

I smirked. That seems to have caught Aly's attention. I grabbed a glass of Bacardi and handed it to him.

"What am I going to do with this?" He asked while looking at the glass in his hand.

"Iinumin ko, gusto ko lang ipahawak sa'yo." Napairap ako. "Syempre iinumin mo, para naman magkaroon ka ng lakas ng loob. Hindi 'yong nakatitig ka lang diyan." Agad naman akong napangiti nang nilagok niya iyon nang isang diretso.

"That's my boy... want more?" Nagsalin pa ulit ako ng isa pang baso ng Bacardi pero tinanggihan niya 'yon kaya kay Keighan ko na lang inabot. Tinanggap niya naman 'yon at ininom. I looked away when I saw how his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. 

I can't deny that Aly has such hot and attractive friends. I think if I have known them before Zach and I had an interaction, I'm sure I'll get attracted to them, lalo na kay Keighan. Though, gwapo rin naman si Dreiden, pero masyado kasi siyang malandi. 

"Khyrss, bakit siya lang ang inalok mo? What about me? Ang daya... favoritism, e mas gwapo naman ako sa kaniya." Pabiro ko siyang inerapan bago ko kinuha 'yong bote ng Bacardi at inabot sa kaniya. 

"Mas favorite kita kaya ayan, sa'yo na 'yan, laklakin mo lahat." Natawa si Keighan sa tabi ko. 

"Gusto mo ba akong lasingin? May balak ka sa'kin, 'no? Sorry kung irresistable 'yong kagwapuhan ko. Nakakaisip ka tuloy ng ganiyan," giit niya. Imbes na sagutin siya ay bumaling ako kay Keighan. 

"Can you tell me how you became friends with him? Wala ka na bang ibang choice? Buti hindi ka nahahawaan." 

"Are you saying na may virus ako, Khyrss? Grabe ka, you're hurting my feelings!" 

Magsasalita pa lang sana ako nang biglang sumulpot si Frea at hinila ako patayo. "Pahiram muna kay Khyrss, ha?"

Wala akong nagawa kun’di ang magpatianod na lang sa kaniya hanggang sa tumigil kami sa isang table.

"Khyrss, I want you to meet my cousin, Saimon. Sai, she's Khyrss, my friend." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kung sino 'yong ipinakilala sa akin ni Frea! He's the same Saimon I met in the resto bar few months ago! Pinsan pala siya ni Frea?

Halata rin ang gulat sa mukha niya habang nakatingin sa sakin. 

"Finally, we met again, Khyrss. I thought I would never see you again. Kaibigan ka pala ng pinsan ko, what a coincidence!"

"Oh, seems like you already know each other. That's great! Hindi ko na kailangang magpaka-kupido." Napapalakpak sa tuwa si Frea at ngumiti sa aming dalawa.

“Gaga, he’s the same guy back in the resto bar. 'Yong napagkamalan mong boyfriend ko."

“Really? My bad.” She laughed. "Pero bagay kayo, totohanin niyo na lang ‘yong akala ko." Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata pero kinindatan lang ako nito at umalis na papuntang dance floor, leaving me alone with Saimon.

"I think she's drunk already, sunod-sunod ang inom niya kanina pa e. May problema ba 'yon?" Napabaling ang atensyon ko kay Saimon na pinagmamasdan ang kan’yang pinsan bago lumingon sa akin.

"I'm asking her but she's not telling me, e." He nodded. Natahimik kaming dalawa pero agad rin naman siyang nagsalita.

"So… how are you doing these past few months?" He guided me to sit on their couch.

"Medyo na stress lang sa mga school works but still doing great, ikaw ba?"

"I was busy these past few weeks because of our campaign shoot, actually we're here because we are celebrating the success of that project. Na-launch na siya kanina."

"Oh, you didn't tell me last time na you're working na pala. May I know what your job is?" He handed me a drink before he answered my question.

"I'm an advertising and commercial photographer."

"What?" I asked when I didn't hear what he said. Lumalalim na kasi 'yong gabi at mas nagiging wild na 'yong mga tao sa paligid na sinabayan pa ng malakas na tugtog.

Lumapit siya sa akin bago muling nagsalita.

"I'm an advertising and commercial photographer!" Malakas na sabi niya sa tainga ko.

"Really?" Wow! We also share the same interest. Kaya siguro nasabi ni Frea na bagay kami ay dahil parehas kami ng hilig gawin.

At dahil do'n, sa photography na umikot ang usapan namin in the next few hours. We talked about a lot of things like his experiences and things he went through before he became successful in his career. He also gave me a lot of tips about things he learned throughout his journey. He even offered me help to get a job right after I graduate college, but I refused kasi travel photography 'yong gusto ko. Then he told me that he's been thinking about that also. He wanted to try something new and he's considering that as one of his choices.

I really enjoyed talking to him because why not? It's so nice to talk to people with the same interest as yours kaya.

"Seems like you guys were enjoying each other's company, huh?" Sabay kaming napalingon ni Saimon nang biglang sumulpot ang ulo ni Frea galing sa likod.

"Franzyn, you're drunk already. We should go, I'll take you home." Saimon stood up to face her. Umikot naman si Frea papasok sa pabilog na couch na kinaroroonan namin at umupo sa tapat ko.

"No! Can't you see that I’m still having fun? And... we’re here to have fun, right, Khy? but there's a freaking assh*le that ruined my mood earlier, bumabawi pa lang ako ngayon. I'm not yet drunk, I'm not weak like her." She pointed her finger towards me. I glared at her.

"What? I'm just telling a fact," she said innocently. Tss. Hindi raw lasing. 

She grabbed another drink from the table at diretsahang ininom ‘yon.

She then winked at me before she walked away heading towards the dancefloor again.

"She's obviously drunk," I said, still looking at her who's now dancing with a guy. I looked away. Hindi ko kayang tingnan ang malaswang pagsayaw niya. Well, she's just grinding her ass on that guy's front! My goodness!

I can't imagine Aly's reaction if ever nakikita niya ngayon 'yong pinaggagagawa ni Frea.

"Sh*t!" Napatayo ako nang bigla kong maalala si Aly. Kanina pa kasi akong wala sa couch namin, baka kung anong isipin no'n. Nagpaalam na ako kay Saimon na babalik na ako sa couch namin.

"Hi, gorgeous, wanna come and dance with me?" Biglang may nanghapit sa aking baywang at bumulong sa tainga ko. Agad akong lumayo at tinanggihan ang alok niya.

"f**k off!" Sinamaan ko ng tingin 'yong lalaking nangahas na hawakan ako sa ganoong parte ng katawan. I know I'm in a bar and it's very usual to encounter guy like him being so touchy, but it doesn't mean they can touch me wherever they want. That's the main reason why I don't really like dancing in bar. Inom lang talaga 'yong habol ko. Everytime na mag ba-bar kami, nasa couch lang ako kasi ayokong nahahawakan or nadidikitan ako sa iba't ibang parte ng katawan ko lalo na ‘pag sinasadya. Hindi pa ako ready sa ganoong bagay. Baka makasapak lang ako.

Buti umalis din agad 'yong lalaki. 'Yong iba kasi, ang kulit e, namimilit pa. Hindi ata makaintindi ng salitang 'ayaw'. Libog kasi ang pinapairal at hindi ang utak. Tss.

"Seems like I should usher you to your couch. Lapitin ka, e." Saimon smirked beside me. 

Hahakbang na sana ako nang bigla akong nakaramdam ng hilo. Buti agad akong naalalayan ni Saimon dahil kung hindi, malamang natumba na ako.

"Ano, kaya pa? Lasing ka na rin ata, e." Hinampas ko ang braso niya dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Hindi ako lasing! Tipsy lang," sagot ko at dahan-dahang umayos nang tayo. Kaunti lang naman ang nainom ko dahil wala naman kaming ginawa kun'di ang mag-usap kaya sigurado akong hindi pa ako lasing.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad habang ang kamay ni Saimon ay nakaalalay sa lowerback ko. Hinayaan ko lang 'yon dahil alam ko namang gusto lang niya akong alalayan maglakad dahil nga nahihilo ako.

When I reached our couch, all my friends were nowhere to be found. I roamed my eyes around trying to get a hold of them pero wala. Ang hirap nila hanapin because the crowd is getting wilder here. Punong-puno na ang dance floor!

Napatingin ako sa katabing couch at agad na napaiwas ng tingin when I spotted a couple making out and ravishing each other’s lips!

Itinuon ko na lang ang atensyon ko sa aking cellphone at agad na napasimangot nang wala pa ring reply si Zach sa mga messages ko.

"You okay?" Napatingin ako kay Saimon na nakaupo sa tapat ko. I nodded. 

Biglang may lumapit sa kaniyang babae kaya naman nabaling ang atensyon niya roon. Siguro isa sa mga co-workers niya dahil mukhang kilala niya naman e, kaya pinabayaan ko na lang silang mag-usap.

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko nang makaramdam na naman ako ng pagkahilo. I wanna go home na! Asan na ba si Aly?!

I rested my head on the backrest of the couch and closed my eyes. After a few minutes, I felt my phone vibrate. It was a notification from i********: saying Zach added a video to his story.

My brows arched upon seeing the video. At first, it was a girl smiling in the front camera saying something then it switched to rear cam and there, I saw Zach who was so busy on his plates that he didn't even notice that he was being filmed. I watched it five times already and I still can't hear what the girl was saying since the music here is loud, but one thing is for sure... I'm craving Bacardi right now!

Ang sarap bigla uminom.

"A bottle of Bacardi and Jager, please," I ordered when I spotted a waiter.

"Hey, you wanna get wasted tonight?" Saimon asked, concern was visible on his face. Wala na 'yong babaeng kausap niya kaya naman nasa akin na ulit ang buong atensyon niya.

"Yup, wanna enjoy this night too, just like my friends." I smiled at him.

Agad kong sinunggaban 'yong alak na in-order ko pagkalapag pa lang ng waiter sa lamesa. Alam kong naguguluhan ngayon si Saimon sa ikinikilos ko pero hindi ko na iyon pinansin. Ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang aking pag-inom na parang napakataas ng alcohol tolerance ko kahit hindi naman. Nakakailang baso pa nga lang ako pero ramdam ko na agad na tinatamaan na ako pero hindi pa rin ako tumigil hanggang sa may umagaw ng bote na hawak ko.

"Hey, say hi to my live! Brenda's watching! Inggitin natin ang babaeng nag-aya pero hindi sumama!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Stefan na biglang sumulpot kung saan at itinapat sa akin ang camera. Hinawi ko ang kamay niya dahil ang atensyon ko ay na kay Saimon na siyang kumuha ng iniinom ko.

"Ay, busy sa kalandian ang gaga, ayaw papaistorbo!"

Tumayo ako para abutin 'yong alak na hawak ni Saimon pero hindi ko iyon mahawakan dahil nagdodoble na ang aking paningin.

"Give it back to me," I said slowly.

"No, lasing ka na."

"I'm not yet drunk." Pilit ko iyong inabot mula sa kamay niya pero nawalan ako ng balanse kaya naman nahulog ang katawan ko sa kaniya.

"See, you can't even stand properly tapos sasabihin mong hindi ka pa lasing?" I heard him chuckle, but I just ignored it. I felt like I’m floating in the air, so I didn't bother to move a bit, instead, I closed my eyes when I suddenly felt drowsiness.

"Hey, Khy? Are you sleeping already?" Tinakpan ko gamit ang aking palad ang pinaggalingan ng mga salitang 'yon.

"Why the f*ck my bed was speaking?" I breathed.

I felt a sudden vibration.

"Hey, get up, I’m not your bed. If you want to sleep, I’ll take you home. You can't sleep on top of me, you're too heavy."

Why do I feel like my bed was pushing me away? Oh, it smells so nice too. I sniffed more and it was like a... man scent? Omg! Did I sleep with someone? No!

I shoved that thought away to the deepest corner of my mind because I don’t remember going home with a guy. What I remembered just now was Zach's i********: story. I can't help but feel jealous knowing he was with a girl and I'm sure he's close with her because he was letting her touch his phone especially his social media account.

Sana all.

Pero wala naman akong karapatang magalit dahil walang kami at mas lalong wala siyang sinasabing kahit ano tungkol sa kung anong meron kami. We're just talking, that's all.

F*ck, that hurts even more.

I freaking need my Bacardi right now!