"Macy, you're next ah!" Katrice shouted to make sure she was heard over the music.
Macy nodded as she still did her little dance besides me. Nasa isang club kami ngayon sa Morato. Pagkatapos kasi ng klase ay nagka ayaan at dahil hindi pa rin naman bumabalik ang talagang curfew ko ay nagpaalam muna ako at sinabi na naman ni mommy na isama ko si Yus.
I didn’t expect the place to be so packed, honestly. Macy was the one who picked this spot, so we went with her choice.
"Ang tagal naman ni Gracia?" Macy asked as she looked around.
"True," I said.
Umalis si Gracia hawak ang isang bote ng mojito dahil kailangan niyang ipa-chug 'yon sa mga tao dito. Gaia wasn’t in sight either, but she’d said she would be back later. Katrice even teased her before she left and Gaia just smirked at her meaningfully.
Habang nag uusap ang dalawa ay nag angat ako ng tingin kay Yus na nasa kanan ko. He was wearing a black oversized short-sleeve shirt, white pants, and white rubber shoes.
It was such a simple look, yet he carried himself with so much charisma. He was holding a glass of bourbon with an ice ball in his right hand, his eyes scanning the crowd like he was looking for someone.
Marahan ko siyang siniko kaya napatingin agad siya saakin. Hindi ko makita nang maayos ang hitsura niya pero alam ko naman na nakasalubong ang kilay niya.
"Who are you looking for?" I teased, raising my voice a bit.
The music was loud, but I could still hear his faint scoff.
"Huh? Wala. May nakita lang ako na schoolmates natin," he said. His eyes were still glued to the crowd.
Magsasalita sana ako pero naputol 'yon dahil naituon ko agad ang atensyon kay Gracia. She just came back and was laughing while raising the bottle of Bacardi mojito, showing us that she completed our little game.
"Sino next?" Gracia asked, slightly panting.
The strobe lights quickly flashed past us, and we saw Katrice pointing at Macy while sipping her Blue Island cocktail.
Binaba agad ni Macy ang phone niya at nag angat ng tingin sa inaabot ni Yus na tequila na hindi ko napansin na nawala pala sa tabi ko.
He left and came back this fast?!
"Tequila? Hindi ba sila ma overdose neto?" Macy chuckled as she accepted the bottle of Cuervo Gold.
"Sabi mo kasi 'yung medyo mataas ang tama e," Yus said, chuckling.
Tinapik tapik siya ni Gracia na natatawa rin. "Girl, hurry up. May susunod pa sa'yo"
I took a sip of my Piña Colada and lightly flipped my hair that was resting on my chest. Buti nalang na kahit maraming tao dito ay malakas pa rin ang buga ng lamig galing sa aircon. I can't stand the heat in such a crowded place.
"Expect me to be here in 5 minutes!" Macy laughed before leaving our table.
Katrice chuckled. "She is obviously tipsy na,"
"Ang dami atang ininom," Gracia said, extending her right hand to take Macy's glass. "Look, her glass is almost empty”
Si Macy at Yus lang ang umiinom ng heavy liquor saamin. The two cousins were here to socialize and only drank soda or water. Napatingin ako kay Katrice na tinawag ang pangalan ko.
"Azalea, you're the last player. Anong bibilhin mo?"
I parted my lips. "Uh, tequila rin sana kaso....Macy already bought one so...I have to buy a different bottle,”
"Vodka ka nalang," Yus suggested.
Katrice bought Gin and came back after 12 minutes. Gracia bought Mojito and came back after 10 minutes. Macy bought tequila, but she still wasn’t back. Yus didn’t want to participate in our game, so it was now a girls' game, though he was the one timing everything.
My hands rummaged through the inside of my white quilted chain strap bag to find my wallet. After I found it, I looked at Yus. "Samahan mo ako bumili," I said.
He nodded, and we both left our table. Buti nalang medyo maluwag ang daanan papunta sa bartender's area na malapit sa exit door.
"Hi. One bottle of vodka, please" I greeted with a smile.
I glanced at the two muscular men dressed in black, standing with their arms crossed near the exit door.
Wala pang isang minuto ay nakabalik na kami sa table at hawak hawak na ni Yus ang binili kong alak. Macy still hadn’t returned, so I took another sip of my cocktail, almost finishing it. Katrice and Gracia suddenly squealed and clasped their hands together.
The first mashup song faded out, and a remix of an unreleased track from an international artist started playing. The beat was sensual, and it was definitely boosting our energy. I couldn't help but sway to the music.
"Let's go back to the platform after you finish the game!" Katrice said to me, and I nodded.
"Hey, can you still drive after this?" I asked worriedly when I turned to Yus.
Nagsasalin siya ng bagong inumin sa pandak na baso niya. Natawa siya at tumango.
"Oo naman. I can handle my alcohol really well. You should know it by then,"
His words made me roll my eyes. "I know, I know. But it is so unusual for you to drink a lot. May nangyari ba?"
Napaparami lang siya ng inom kapag marami siyang iniisip o kapag may problema. We all know that drinking was the best way to release our pent-up thoughts.
"Tapos na," he chuckled.
"Huh?" I asked. Anong tapos na? Tapos na ang problema niya? O iba pa?
I let out a long, exasperated sigh. Ilang beses ko nang sinabi sa kaniya na kapag may problema siya ay sabihin saakin. We were a family, and families help each other out.
Whenever something bothers me, he’s the first person I talk to. Not my mom, but him.
"You always give me great advice, yet you're not applying them to your own situations," I chuckled sarcastically.
He chuckled in the same manner. "Because it is too much for you. Believe me,"
I let out a sigh again. "You're so unfair," then turned my attention to the two girls still dancing to the beat. I glanced at my phone and realized that only five minutes had passed.
Sabi ni Macy ay babalik siya pagkatapos ng limang minuto pero ngayon ay hindi pa rin bumabalik.
Nagpaalam na muna ako na pupunta sa ladies' room habang hawak hawak ang bag. I’m not sure if anyone heard me clearly, but I left regardless.
Habang papunta sa ladies' room ay may mga muntik pang makabunggo saakin at muntik na rin akong matumba pero agad na nakaka balanse.
When I was finally inside the ladies' room, I washed my hands first as I looked at my reflection. My face needed a quick powder touch-up, and I had to reapply my lipstick. I was about to finish when I heard a thud near the door, and then it swung open.
A guy and a woman were sticking their tongues down in each other's throats before they settled in one of the cubicles. With a slightly contorted expression, I return my attention to myself.
Hindi na dapat ako magulat pa sa mga ganitong eksena pero hindi ko lang talaga maisip kung paano nila nakakaya ang ganito.
They should have stepped outside and find a motel to do their own thing.
When I was done retouching, I slightly fixed my hair, then turned to my left to see them from the back. I was wearing a baby pink square neck tweed above knee length dress with left slit with a pair of white platform pumps.
It has been a while since I wore a tweed dress. Kaya nang makita ko ito habang naghahanap ng susuotin ay ito agad ang kinuha ko.
Fortunately, it was easy to find the right jewelry to match my outfit. My earrings and necklace were both simple pearl drops.
Pagbalik ko sa table ay inabot saakin ni Yus ang bote ng alak. "It's your turn now,"
Nagkatinginan kami ni Macy. "I finished the game in 7 minutes,"
She sounded so proud of it, yet Gracia snorted and Katrice booed her while laughing.
"I told you, girls, naubos ko nga ng 7 minutes" Macy said firmly.
"Macy...girl, bumalik ka dito ng 12 minutes. Draw kayo ni Katrice," Gracia scoffed.
Macy groaned and almost threw her head back. "Pero alam ko kung anong oras ko siya napaubos,"
"Girl, you said na babalik ka dito ng 5 minutes" Katrice emphasized the word 'babalik'.
"But that's not the actual game, right? Sabi pabilisan maka ubos ng alak. And I did that within 7 minutes," Macy retorted and even chuckle.
Katrice just sipped on her drink while Gracia let out a long, exasperated sigh as she shook her head. Macy then turned to me. "Ikaw na, Azalea. What's your estimated time?"
Judging by the crowd, most of them were already drunk or tipsy. Lunod na sila sa mga alak kaya mukhang matatagalan ako sa paghahanap kung sino ang pwede umubos nito.
I smiled at her hesitantly, which I know for sure she wouldn't see. "I guess, 15 minutes?"
"15 minutes?!" Macy exclaimed.
"What? Ang unfair nga for me since kanina pa ang iba dito," I chuckled, pushing my point.
Macy laughed, then turned to them. "Narinig n'yo ba 'yon? She said 15 minutes," emphasizing the estimated time that I'd bet.
The others went quiet.
"You're underestimating your connections, Azalea" Katrice chuckled.
"I'll be the winner, then" Gracia applauded excitedly.
"No, you won't" Yus said.
"What did you say, Prius?" Gracia asked.
"Nothing,"
Ngayon ay naglalakad na ako at naghahanap ng grupo ng mga tao na pwedeng magpa chug. As I said earlier, most of them were already drunk and dancing wildly. My grip on the bottle tightened as I made my way through the crowd.
"Sorry!" A girl apologized when she almost elbowed my right chest.
Hinagod ng mata ko ang bawat gilid ng lugar na ito at napagdesisyunan na ang bawat tao na nandoon ay ayon nalang ang papainumin ko. The group of shadows that I saw in the right corner was almost exclusive. Hindi sila nakihihalo sa mga taong nasa gitna.
The strobe lights barely reached that side, so it was difficult for me to distinguish their genders.
"Hi, Azalea" I heard from a man.
"Hey," I greeted with a smile.
I squinted a bit when I saw the flashlight from one of the guy's phones. Thanks to the light, I could finally see them clearly. All of them were guys, and I noticed two buckets of drinks on their table.
"I'm trying to empty this bottle. Can you guys help me?" I asked.
Gusto kong huminga nang maluwag dahil kahit sila lang ang mapa chug ko ay pakiramdam ko ay kaya nilang makalahati ang alak.
"Sure! No problem," I heard a familiar voice among them.
"Sige, sige"
Apat na lalaki ang nakapalibot saakin at kumukuha ng video habang naghihiyawan dahil sinasalinan ko na ang bibig nila ng alak. I was laughing, suddenly feeling elated by this game.
Marami sila pero may mga hindi nagpa chug. I expressed my gratitude before leaving their table. Totoo nga dahil nakalahati nila ang alak. Medyo mag aalinlangan pa ako sa pagsalin pero ang mga kasama na nila ang nagsasabi na ramihan ko raw kaya ginawa ko.
I did the same thing with other groups that weren't really mingling with others until I made my way back to our table and flipped the bottle to show it was empty. Everyone clapped, except for Gracia.
"6 minutes, Azalea! Not 15 minutes!" Macy said happily as she hugged me.
She reeked of alcohol and a mix of something sweet.
"And the winner of our game is...obviously, Azalea! Yey! Congrats!" Katrice applauded merrily.
"Congrats, I guess" Gracia.
"Una palang alam naman na agad kung sino mananalo," Yus said.
"Shut the hell up, Prius" Gracia fired.
Prius's laughter echoed within our table. It was a teasing laugh. "Sus,"
Binaba ko na sa lamesa ang bote bago ako nagpahila kila Katrice at Macy para bumalik nga sa gitna para makisayaw sa ibang tao.
The music shifted, and a song from 2013 started playing. I remember hearing it everywhere back then.
Swing your partner 'round and 'round
End of the night, it's goin' down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's goin' down
Swing your partner 'round and 'round
End of the night, it's goin' down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's goin' down
I started moving my hips in a small circle with my hands running through my body up to my head, feeling the loud music. Macy was dancing too, swaying her hips skillfully, while Katrice moved her hips side to side, her hands gliding from her head down to her chest, then back up again.
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