“Guess what, Vic? I think that drink had somehow gotten into me already…” medyo matinis ang kanyang boses, pagkatapos ay binitiwan niya ang isang pilyang hagikhik.
“Hala, sit down then. Are you ok?”
“I’m ok. It’s just that when I went to the toilet, I found it hard to stand up again,” nakatawa siya habang nagsasalita.
“Hahaha! Then don’t drink anymore, Ji. Sit here… with me.”
“No, I’m ok. I want more,” sabay hagikhik muli, “besides, it’s Saturday tomorrow.” Naupo siya sa tabi ko.
Kinuha niya ang isa pang lata ng vodka ice, binuksan ito, at uminom.
“So it’s this feeling, eh?”
“Yeah, but among men, drinking is a social thing… a form of bonding… much similar to what we’re doing now. Hey, drink slowly, you might puke on the couch!” at natawa kaming dalawa.
Halatang may tama na si Jihye dahil nakatawa na lagi ang kanyang mukha. Ang mga mata niya’y halos magsara na sa pungay na bunga ng nainom. Ihinimlay niya ang kanyang ulo sa sandalan ng sofa, tumingin sa kisame na waring malalim ang pag-iisip. Nang magsalita siya, nadagdagan ang pagkapilipit ng kanyang dila dahil sa tama at halos hindi ko na siya maintindihan.
“S…so ha’ a’ oo… now?” usisa ni Jihye.
“What? I can’t understand what you’re sayin’?”
“Oor gefend…”
Naintindihan ko siya.
“We haven’t talked since yesterday. I don’t expect her to call anymore… now I’m okay, Ji. It still hurts but I have to live. It won’t help if I’ll lurk ’round here and stay down forever. Besides, I have to consider the main reason why I’m here…” tumigil ako at tiningnan si Jihye. Tinulugan na ako ng lasing.
“Ji… Ji… wake up…”
“Uuuuh…” suminghap-singhap lang siya ngunit di rin nagising.
