Chapter 33
"Can you let go now, Gomez?" Ms. Sanchez asked, her tone laced with impatience as I kept my arms wrapped tightly around her.
"One more minute, please?" I murmured, burying my face into the crook of her neck. I didn't want to let go. Her scent was intoxicating, a mix of strawberry and something uniquely hers. It was addicting.
She sighed, clearly annoyed. "You're abusing this already."
"How?" I countered, tightening my embrace just a little more. "I'm just hugging you."
She pushed at my chest lightly, but I refused to budge. "You reek of alcohol. And you're heavy."
She sighed heavily, clearly exasperated, but I felt her arms twitch slightly as if debating whether to push me away or not. I tightened my grip just a little, savoring the warmth of her body against mine.
"Seriously, Gomez. Let. Go." Her voice had that familiar sharpness, the one she used when she was dangerously close to losing patience.
I nuzzled my nose against her shoulder, inhaling deeply. "You smell nice," I mumbled, my voice slightly muffled against the fabric of her sweater.
She groaned in frustration. "You're impossible. If you puke on me, I swear-"
"I won't." I lifted my head slightly, looking at her with a lazy grin. "But if I do, will you take care of me?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Not a chance."
"Mhm,"
She let out another sigh, this time softer, and I felt her body relax, just for a second. It was enough. Enough for me to know that no matter how much she complained, she would never truly push me away.
"You're drunk, Gomez. And clingy. Not a good combination," Ms. Sanchez said, crossing her arms as she looked at me in disapproval.
"Sa'yo lang naman ako ganito," I answered, flashing a lopsided smile. "Drunk or not, ikaw lang palagi." My words slurred slightly, but I meant every single one of them.
She sighed, rubbing her temples as if she was already regretting dealing with me. "Let's just go, Gomez," she said firmly.
Reluctantly, I let go of her, feeling the warmth of her body leave mine. "Thank you," I murmured with a small grin before bending down to pick up my things.
The moment I tried to stand up straight, the whole world tilted. My vision blurred, and I staggered, barely able to keep my balance.
"Oh my God, be careful, Gomez!" she exclaimed, grabbing my wrist just in time to stop me from face-planting onto the sand.
She let out an exasperated sigh, still holding onto me. "How can you be this drunk? For goodness' sake," she muttered, clearly frustrated but refusing to let me go.
"Sorry," I whispered, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude.
She clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "I hate you. Let's just go, and hold on to me," she ordered, slipping my arm over her shoulder to support me.
I didn't argue. Instead, I leaned into her, letting her guide me out. Maybe I was too drunk, or maybe I just liked having an excuse to be this close to her.
"God, Gomez, how much did you even drink?" she muttered, glancing at me with a mix of concern and annoyance.
I hummed, tilting my head. "Not much. Just enough to make you take care of me."
She scoffed. "You're unbelievable."
"And you're beautiful."
She abruptly stopped walking, turning to face me with a glare. "Shut up, Gomez."
I grinned. "You blush when you're annoyed."
"You're drunk. You imagine things."
"I'm drunk but I know what's happening." I said while she's still holding me tightly while walking.
"Can you walk properly? I'm getting tired because of you," Ms. Sanchez complained, adjusting her grip on me.
"Okay po," I replied obediently and let go of her-only to stumble the moment I did.
"For goodness' sake, Gomez!!" she yelled, clearly frustrated.
"Sabi mo bitaw po," I answered calmly, struggling to push myself back up.
She groaned, rubbing her forehead. "I didn't say that-Argh, never mind!" Despite her irritation, she still reached out and helped me stand again.
"You can go first, Miss. Kaya ko naman," I insisted, even though my legs felt like jelly, and I was barely staying upright.
"Oh, shut up. You can't even stand on your own, stupid pufferfish," she snapped, rolling her eyes.
I blinked at her, offended. "Do I really look like a pufferfish?" I asked, completely unconvinced.
"Yes, you do," she deadpanned. "Now can you shut up and start walking properly? Don't let go."
"Okay, Miss," I mumbled, gripping her arm again, trying my best to stay balanced.
She sighed, shaking her head. "You're much crazier when you're drunk."
"Right. Pero kapag ikaw lang naman kasama ko," I admitted with a smirk, glancing at her.
She scoffed. "Do you think I'll believe you?"
"It's okay," I said with a small chuckle. "At least I know in myself na hindi ako nagsisinungaling."
She didn't respond, and as we continued walking along the shoreline, the night breeze felt colder than before. Or maybe it was just me-drunk and overly sensitive. The salty air mixed with the distant crash of waves, and I could feel her arm under my grasp, warm and steady, keeping me from collapsing like a fool into the sand.
She sighed, adjusting my weight against her. "God, you're heavy, Gomez."
I chuckled. "Ikaw lang naman ang gustong hawakan ako."
She scoffed. "Excuse me? You were the one clinging like your life depended on it!"
"Same thing," I mumbled, resting my head briefly against her shoulder. "You're still here, right?"
"Unfortunately."
That made me grin. She always said things like that-sharp words meant to push me away. But her actions? They always contradicted her.
I stole a glance at her. The moon cast a soft glow on her face, highlighting the slight furrow in her brows and the way she bit her lip, as if debating whether to scold me or just let me be.
She caught me staring. "What?"
"Nothing. You're just... really pretty."
She groaned, clearly exasperated. "Shut up, Gomez."
"But-"
"I swear to God, if you don't stop flirting, I will let you fall face-first into the sand."
I let out a dramatic gasp. "Miss, so heartless."
She rolled her eyes, but I could feel her grip tightening on me just a little more.
"Just keep walking," she muttered, guiding me as we trudged along the shore.
The waves lapped at our feet, cool against my skin, and the only sound aside from the ocean was the distant chirping of crickets and the occasional rustle of palm trees swaying in the breeze.
"Miss," I called softly.
She didn't answer, but I knew she was listening.
"Why are you still here?" I asked.
This time, she stopped walking. I almost lost my balance, but her hands steadied me before I could fall flat onto the sand.
"What kind of question is that?" she asked, tilting her head.
I shrugged. "I mean, you could've just let me suffer, let me crawl my way home. But you didn't."
She scoffed. "Of course, I wouldn't do that. I'm not that evil."
"But you always say you hate me."
"Because I do."
I smirked. "Liar."
She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Gomez, I'm two seconds away from shoving you into the ocean."
"You won't."
She narrowed her eyes. "Try me."
I laughed softly, my grip on her tightening just a bit. "See? You don't actually hate me."
She groaned. "You're drunk. Stop overanalyzing things."
"I'm drunk, but I'm not wrong."
She fell silent, and for a moment, we just stood there under the moonlight, the ocean stretching endlessly before us. Her steadying me, and me clinging to her like she was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
I sobered up just a little at the thought. Maybe she really was.
"You're annoying," she muttered, looking away.
"But you still care."
"Shut up, Gomez."
I grinned. "Whatever you say, Miss."
And with that, we continued walking, the sand cool beneath our feet, the waves singing their endless song, and her presence still keeping me steady-even when she claimed she wanted nothing more than to push me away.
"Did you drink a lot again, Via?!"
I heard my Ate's voice, and that's when I realized-nakabalik na pala kami. Ms. Sanchez gently let go of me as my sister approached, her face filled with concern rather than anger.
"I didn't, Ate," I said, trying my best to act normal, kahit na parang umiikot na ang paligid ko.
She sighed and shook her head slightly. "Via, please don't lie to me. I can smell the alcohol all over you. You're not even standing straight." Her voice was calm but firm, the kind that made me feel guilty rather than scared.
I bit my lip and looked away. "Where are the others?" I asked, trying to change the topic.
"They already went home, Via. Do you even realize how late it is? I've been worried sick looking for you."
I let out a small, nervous laugh and rubbed the back of my neck. "Sorry, Ate... I didn't mean to make you worry. I just lost track of time."
She sighed again, this time softer, and placed a hand on my arm. "I know you want to have fun, but you need to be more responsible. You could have gotten yourself in trouble. What if something happened to you? What if no one was there to help you?"
I looked down, feeling guilt creep up my chest. "I know... I'm sorry. Can we just go home now? I'm really tired."
She studied me for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but can you walk properly?"
"Of course!" I said confidently, but the moment I took a step forward, my knees wobbled, and I almost lost my balance.
"She's really drunk, Athena. You should hold her," Ms. Sanchez said, concern in her voice.
Ate immediately reached out to steady me, wrapping an arm around my waist to keep me upright. "It's okay, I've got her. Thank you for bringing her back safely. I really appreciate it."
"Ingat sa pag-drive, Athena, okay?" Ms. Martinez reminded her as she handed over the car keys.
"Take care, honey," she added, giving Ms. Dizon a small smile.
Ate nodded and turned back to me, her grip on my arm secure but gentle. "Alright, let's get you home. You need to rest."
She carefully guided me toward the car, moving slowly to make sure I wouldn't trip. Unlike what I expected, she didn't scold me harshly or lecture me in front of everyone. Instead, her voice was calm and filled with concern, which somehow made me feel even guiltier.
As much as I wanted to keep talking, my head was already spinning, and all I could do was lean on her for support. I knew I was going to get a proper talk from her tomorrow, but for now, she just wanted to get me home safely.
---
"That's why I told you to stop drinking too much! You never listen to me, Via!" Ate scolded as I leaned over the toilet, throwing up everything-well, technically, nothing-since I didn't even have dinner last night.
Gosh, I swear I'm not usually like this. Pero mukhang naparami lang talaga ako kagabi. I lost track of how many drinks I had, and now, here I am, suffering the consequences.
"I'm okay, Ate," I said weakly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
"You're not! Look at yourself! Do you even think you can attend your class today? If not, just tell me. I'll excuse you," she said, arms crossed, her voice laced with concern. But I could also hear the frustration underneath.
"I can attend my class, Ate. Okay lang ako, promise. I'll just take a shower," I reassured her with a forced smile, but she only let out a deep sigh before nodding, clearly unconvinced.
The truth? I am definitely not okay. My head is pounding, my stomach is twisting in knots, and I feel like complete trash. But I don't want her to worry. Kasalanan ko naman 'to, eh. I did this to myself.
Dragging myself to the bathroom, I turned the shower to its coldest setting, hoping the freezing water would shock the hangover out of my system. The moment it hit my skin, I shivered violently, but I forced myself to stay under the stream.
After what felt like forever, I finally got dressed and went downstairs, hoping to find something light to eat.
The smell of food instantly greeted me-warm, savory, and somehow comforting.
But instead of making me hungry, it made my stomach lurch.
I hesitated at the dining area entrance, my body debating whether I was ready to eat or if I was about to throw up again.
Ate was already sitting at the table, her plate untouched as she sipped from a steaming mug. The moment she saw me, she put it down and motioned toward the chair beside her.
"Let's eat," she said simply.
I sat down, still feeling a bit lightheaded. She observed me closely, and I could tell she wasn't done scolding me yet.
"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked again, eyes scanning my face like she was searching for any sign of a lie.
I nodded quickly. "Okay naman ako."
"Fine," she said, though her tone suggested she didn't believe me. "Drink the soup I made for you." She pushed a bowl toward me.
Napatingin ako sa kanya nang may pagdududa. "Ikaw nagluto?"
"Yeah, it's still hot," she replied nonchalantly, taking another sip from her mug.
"Thank you!"
As I ate in silence, she finally spoke again. "By the way, the school announced a one-week break for students."
That caught my attention. "Talaga? That's great then." I said, perking up slightly. A break was exactly what I needed.
She nodded but hesitated for a second before continuing, "Actually, Grandma asked me to tell you something."
I gave her a wary look. "Mhm? Ano na naman 'yan?"
"She suggested that you visit the province for at least three to five days."
I froze mid-bite. "What?! Why?! Ayoko, tinatamad ako!" I immediately shook my head, rejecting the idea.
Ate sighed, like she already expected my reaction. "Via, you have a lot of land properties in the province, but you haven't visited a single one."
I rolled my eyes. "So? I'm lazy, and also, I didn't ask for it," I muttered, slumping against my chair.
Her eyes narrowed. "Stop being stubborn, Via. Don't test me, okay?"
I groaned, slumping further. "Fine, fine! Kailan ba?"
"It's up to you, as long as it's within your one-week break," she said with a shrug.
A thought suddenly hit me, and I squinted at her. "Wait-ako lang mag-isa? Ikaw?"
"I'm busy. And besides, it's your decision if you want to bring someone with you," she replied, smirking slightly.
I let out another dramatic groan, already regretting my life choices. A week-long break was supposed to be for resting, not for being sent away to some province I barely remember. This was going to be a long week.
---
Nandito na ako sa university, and since vacant namin ngayon, hindi ko naisipang dumiretso sa classroom.
Nakakatamad.
Instead, I decided to take a walk, letting the cool breeze hit my face as I observed my surroundings.
The sun was out, but it wasn't unbearably hot-just the right amount of warmth to make everything feel peaceful. The leaves swayed with the wind, some falling gently from the trees, adding to the calm atmosphere.
As I walked, my eyes landed on a bench under the shade of a large tree.
A girl was sitting there, her back turned to me, completely engrossed in her laptop.
Even from this angle, she looked familiar.
The way her long hair cascaded down her back, the way she sat with an air of quiet confidence-I knew exactly who she was.
A smirk played on my lips.
Slowly, I approached her, my footsteps light against the pavement. When I reached her side, I casually sat down on the bench, resting my arms on the backrest before glancing at her.
She must've felt my presence because she immediately turned to look at me, her brows furrowing in annoyance.
"What do you want now, Gomez?" she asked, her tone carrying the usual irritation she reserved just for me.
Napangiti ako. Kahit inis siya, she still looked breathtaking. She was wearing a crisp white polo tucked neatly into her skirt, though the top two buttons were undone. My throat suddenly felt dry. I tried not to stare, pero tangina, ang hirap. She was captivating-more than usual.
"Eyes on me, Gomez. Not on my chest, pervert," she deadpanned, snapping me out of my trance.
"Hey!" I raised my hands defensively. "Hindi naman ako nakatingin doon! Hindi ba pwedeng natulala lang sa kagandahan mo?"
She scoffed, rolling her eyes before returning her attention to her laptop. "Whatever. Can you not bother me? Don't you have class?"
"Nope. Vacant namin," sagot ko, stretching my arms. "Btw, ano 'yang pinapanood mo?"
"Alchemy of Souls. It's a K-drama," she replied, still focused on her screen.
"Oh, so you like watching K-dramas?"
"No. I love watching K-dramas," she corrected, emphasizing the word love.
Napangiti ako. Cute niya.
"Really? Can I watch it too?" I asked, leaning in slightly, trying to peek at her screen.
She didn't respond, pero hindi rin naman ako itinulak palayo. Small win.
"What's your favorite K-drama?"
"This. Alchemy of Souls," she answered instantly, her lips tugging into a small smile.
"So napanood mo na pala 'to? You're just rewatching it?"
"Yes. This is my fifth time rewatching it, actually. It's my favorite and never fails to disappoint me."
I let out a chuckle. "Five times? Talagang favorite mo nga."
"Obviously," she said, still glued to the screen.
"Can you tell me more about this K-drama? Like, can you summarize the whole story? Kasi parang sobrang invested ka talaga dito," I asked, hoping she'd talk more.
She scoffed. "No. I don't want to spoil it. Just watch it on your own."
"Luh, ang damot mo naman," biro ko, nudging her playfully.
She shot me a glare but didn't respond. Then, out of nowhere, she changed the topic.
"How do you feel? You drank a lot last night."
I smirked. "Why? Do you care about me now?"
She let out an exasperated sigh. "You're really getting on my nerves, Gomez."
Napatawa ako. "Joke lang naman, parang hindi ka mabiro. But to answer your question, okay na ako. 'Wag kang mag-alala."
She studied me for a moment before speaking again. "Why did you drink so much? It's not good for you, Gomez."
Nagulat ako. Usually, she didn't ask about my habits. But today, she seemed... different. More talkative. More concerned.
"How can I not?" I shrugged. "It helps me relieve the pain I'm feeling."
She didn't reply right away. Instead, she just stared at me, her expression unreadable.
"You're really going to die young, y'know that? Smoking and drinking? Not a good combination," she finally said.
I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Okay lang. Mabuti sana kung ikaw kasama ko sa pagtanda, aalagaan ko talaga sarili ko."
She shook her head, looking back at her screen, but I caught the way her lips twitched-like she was trying not to smile.
I leaned in slightly. "Btw, gusto mong sumama sa akin sa probinsya?"
Her brows furrowed. "What? Out of nowhere?"
"Yeah, just asking baka gusto mo. You know, peace of mind din 'yon. Baka marami ka nang iniisip, then visiting the province is the solution," I reasoned.
She gave me a doubtful look. "Why won't you ask Seinna? Or anyone else?"
"Ayoko. Ikaw lang naman gusto kong kasama palagi, kahit ayaw mo 'kong makasama," I answered truthfully.
She fell silent for a moment before responding. "Nonsense. But I'll think about it."
Napangiti ako. "Really?! Aasahan ko 'yan ah!"
She sighed, still focused on her laptop, completely ignoring my presence. But I wasn't going to let her be. I leaned in a little closer, making her glance at me with a glare.
"You're really testing my patience, Gomez," she muttered.
I chuckled. "You love having me around, don't lie."
She scoffed but didn't refute my words. Instead, she closed her laptop and turned to me fully, arms crossed. "Why do you even want me to go with you to the province? Don't you have better things to do than drag me into your plans?"
I pretended to think for a second before smirking. "Nope. Wala. Wala akong ibang gustong makasama kundi ikaw."
She rolled her eyes before standing up, gathering her things.
I panicked a little. "Hey, saan ka pupunta?"
"Library. Somewhere peaceful-where you are not," she shot back.
I grinned, standing up as well. "Then I'll come with you."
She groaned. "Gomez-"
"Anong section tayo? Fiction? Non-fiction?" I cut her off, walking beside her.
She quickened her pace, trying to lose me, but I matched her steps easily.
We reached the library, and she shot me one last glare before going inside. I followed, letting her lead the way. She went straight to the farthest corner, where fewer students were, and placed her laptop on the table. I took the seat across from her, watching as she opened her laptop again.
"Aren't you gonna study or something?" she asked.
"I'm studying you."
She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "You're so corny, Gomez."
I laughed. "You should be used to it by now."
For a while, she ignored me, focused on whatever she was doing. I watched as her brows furrowed, her fingers typing away on the keyboard. She was beautiful. In every way. And the more time I spent with her, the deeper I fell.
"Hey," I called softly.
She looked up. "What?"
I hesitated for a second before deciding to just say it. "You seem tired."
She blinked, surprised by my sudden concern. "I'm fine."
"You sure?" I tilted my head. "Baka kasi gusto mo munang magpahinga. Stress ka na yata masyado."
She stared at me for a moment before sighing. "I'm just... busy. Responsibilities, life."
I nodded in understanding. "That's why you should come with me to the province."
She gave me a skeptical look. "And how will that solve anything?"
I leaned in slightly. "Sabi mo nga, dami mong iniisip. Maybe a break is what you need. Just for a little while."
"Whatever, Gomez. Can you just shut up? We're here at the library," she whispered sharply, her eyes briefly meeting mine with a warning look.
I raised my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll behave."
She rolled her eyes before turning back to her laptop, her fingers flying over the keyboard, her brows furrowed in deep concentration. I knew better than to push my luck-at least for now.
The library was quiet except for the occasional rustling of papers and the soft clicking of her keyboard.
I tried to entertain myself by flipping through a random book I grabbed from the shelf, pero sa totoo lang, hindi ko maintindihan ang binabasa ko.
My mind kept drifting back to her-how focused she looked, the way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, the way she would sometimes bite her lip when she was thinking.
An hour passed. She was still glued to her laptop, barely moving. Ako naman, halos makatulog na sa kakahintay. I stretched my legs under the table, resting my chin on my hand as I fought the drowsiness creeping in.
Then, all of a sudden, I felt a slight weight on my shoulder.
At first, I thought I was imagining it, but when I turned my head slightly, my breath hitched.
She had fallen asleep.
And her head-her soft, warm head-was resting against my shoulder.
Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
I swallowed hard, afraid to move, afraid to even breathe too loudly. I felt her slow, steady breathing against my arm, her warmth seeping through the fabric of my uniform. Her long lashes rested gently against her cheeks, her lips slightly parted as she slept peacefully.
Tangina.
My heart was going crazy inside my chest, thudding so loudly that I was sure she would wake up any second. My brain screamed at me to take out my phone and snap a picture-proof that this moment actually happened. But at the same time, I didn't want to ruin it.
I closed my eyes for a second, inhaling deeply, trying to calm myself. Relax, Gomez. It's just a nap. It's not like she-
She shifted slightly, snuggling closer.
Holy. Shit.
I felt her breath against my neck now, sending shivers down my spine. My hands clenched into fists on my lap, resisting the overwhelming urge to wrap an arm around her and pull her in closer.
I shouldn't be enjoying this.
But damn, I was.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. I had a class soon. I should get up, wake her gently, remind her where we were.
But screw it.
I wasn't moving. Not when she was like this. Not when she was finally close to me without pushing me away.
Yeah.
I had a class.
But never mind.