When The Rain Stops

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

I hate games like this.

Napansin ko na sa tabi ng bote ay naroon ang isang bote ng alak at isang baso.

Now I’m sure this is not going to be good.

Pinaunlakan ni Arcehr ang tawag ng grupo kaya napilitan na lamang akong sumama kasi baka kapag umayaw ako ay aayaw din si Archer at ayaw ko namang biguin niya ang kanyang mga kaibigan dahil lamang sa akin.

“So here’s the mechanics. Iikot ang bote at kung kanino tatama ito ay siya ang made-dare. This is not a truth or dare, it is a dare game, ang pagpipilian lamang ay gagawin mo ang dare o iinom ka ng kalahating baso ng alak. Ako na muna ang unang magpapaikot nito at kung kanino matatapat after niyang gawin yung dare siya naman angmagpapaikot ng bote. Kahit sino ang pwedeng mag utos ng dare basta isa lang yung gagawin.”

Hindi shot glass ang baso na tinutukoy nito kundi yung talagang baso na pang tubig na kasinghaba ng isang lapis ang taas. Parang yung mga baso sa mga milk commercials, ganon. At kailangang inumin ang kalahating baso ng alak kapag hindi nagawa ang dare, hindi pa man din ako sigurado kung gaano kalakas ang alak na nasa aming harapan at kung ilang porsyento ang alcohol content nito. Needless to say, hindi pa naman ako umiinom.

“Okay let’s start!” nagsimulang umikot ang bote at natapat ito sa babae na hindi ko kilalang kaibigan nila.

“Go have a 10seconds dip in the seawater.”

“What? Malamig yung tubig!” protesta ng babae

“It’s a dare, Micah.” She rolled her eyes and started removing her dress para hindi ito mabasa at may maisuot pa ito mamaya. Sumipol naman ang isang lalake at pinakitaan lamang ito ni Micah ng daliri bago tumakbo at nagtampisaw sa dagat ng sampung segundo. Nagablik ito ng nanginginig ang kamay. Agad din namang inabot ng lalaking sumipol kanina ang towel mula sa isang upuan, kinuha naman nito at agad ring ipinunas sa katawan bago isinuot ang kanyang dress at pinanatili nito sa kanyang balikat ang towel.

The next spin pointed to one of Karylle’s friend that she met earlier. “Do a lap dance on James.” My eyes widened at that dare. Mapapainom ata ako kapag ganyan ang mga dare nila. Hindi ko sigurado kung may tama narin iyong babae o sadyang malakas talaga ang loob nito at nagawa niyang mag lap dance sa tinawag na James at malakas ang hiyawan nila. I looked at Hannah and she looked at me as well with wide eye.

I know. I know. Kaming dalawa siguro ang pinakabata rito, mga fresh grad at graduating marahil ang mga narito. Dang, ano ba ‘tong pinasok namin. Hindi naman na kami minor alam ko 20 na kami pero nakakapanibago.

“Riel. I dare you to kiss the most attractive person here.” Sumunod na tumutok kay Riel kasi ang bote.

“What if she’s taken?”

“It’s just a game, and we’re all in here. It’s a dare, Riel.”

Nakatingin siya sakin na parang nag iisip. Saka tumingin ito sa alak.

“Damn. I respect her and her relationship people, I’m not an ass…I’m booking a room, I won’t be able to drive with this. ” Nagsalin ito ng alak sa baso saka ito diretsong ininom.

Sumunod na tumapat kay Vince ang bote

“Do one thing that you wanna do right now. Anything.” Ang dali naman ng binigay kay Vince, pag ako yan aalis ako at matutulog na. Easy.

But I did not expect what he did!

He kissed Hannah on the lips. Oh boy. I watched Hannah blushed and Vince just smirked at her when he pulled away. She is in a state of shock, I know her, right now she wouldn’t be able to slap Vince because she’s still stunned. But I’m sure when she’s recovered, patay si Vince.

Sumunod ang katabi ni Riel at pinasayaw lamang nila ito. Kasunod nito ay si Karylle. Laking pasasalamat ko sa Diyos at hindi tumatama sakin ang bote.

“Same with Riel, kiss the most attractive person in here.” Said by the same person who dared Riel, I figured out his name is Hans. What’s his deal? And he’s smirking.

Tumayo si Karylle at lumapit sa amin.

Archer.

Wow. The nerve. Riel can respect a relationship, and this girl, can’t! what a B!

Lumuhod ito sa harapan ni Archer upang  mag level sila. I just stared at the glass half-filled with liquor in front of me and forced myself not to look at them. I suddenly want to drink that liquor and taste it, it looks sparkly.

“Archie?”

“Kary—“

“Like they said, it’s just a game Archie and we’re all in here, thus the approval is present.”

Btch.

I wonder how Archer will respond.

“and besides, we’re friends, we’ve always do this.”

Yeah right. Friends. And you guys do that huh?

Naramdaman kong sumulyap sa akin si Archer ngunit pinaglaruan ko lamang ang buhangin sa aking harapan. Friends kayo, maiintindihan ko naman yan….siguro?

“Come on birthday boy, just a kiss.” Tukso naman ng ilang kaibigan nila na pinangunahan ng kaibigan ni Karylle.

I felt the contraction of my chest when I saw through my peripheral vision what happened next.

Karylle kissed him on the side of his lips, not on his cheeks but the side so near at his lips.

Really Archer? Wow.

Now I’m praying for the bottle to stop on me so I could drink that tempting liquor in front of me.

“Amy!” tawag ng isang hindi ko kilala ngunit alam ko na nakilala ko na ito noon, isa siya sa mga kaibigan nila Vince ngunit hindi ko na matandaan ang pangalan. I told you, I’m bad with names.

“Same dare, Amy.” Malawak ang ngisi ni Hans.

“What? You’ve been asking us to do the same thing.”

“It’s a dare.” Aniya lamang saka tumawa. All eyes are on me but who cares. I don’t have any doubt, I know what to do.

I grabbed the glass and immediately drank it all straight. I heard Archer’s protest but too late Archer. Gumuhit sa aking lalamunan ang pait at init ng alak. It tastes so off, so bitter and prickly, I also don’t like the smell. But who cares, I feel like I want it, I needed it.

My vision started to spin for a second and I giggled. I don’t know what’s urging me to laugh, maybe the alcohol kicked in too fast since it was also my first time and I drank a bit too much and straight. I put back the glass with a wide smile on my face.

I let out a small laugh at the bitterness, either the bitterness of the alcohol or the bitterness of what I feel, of what they just did in front of me.

He let her kiss him. They’re friends? Lol. Fck them. I’m sorry but I kinda want to cuss.

“Rain.” Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Archer sa aking braso.

“Yes, Archer?” my eyelids are drooping and I felt the warmness of my cheeks, my head feels so light.

“That was a liquor.”