"Pass muna ako! Baka naman hindi ko kayanin kung sasagarin ko kaagad ang sarili ko?" angal ni Daia nang tumungo sila sa bar area para sa happy hour.

"Weak ka pala, e," sabi pa ng kapatid nito. Inirapan naman siya ni Daia. "Tingnan mo pa 'tong si Cara. Kahit isang shot lang sinubukan. Hindi naman ako nagalit. Would you let her drink a shot, Ken?"

Napakibit balikat naman ito. "I don't mind. We're all here to have fun. Go ahead, babe. Only if you want it, take a shot."

"Kakasabi ko lang naman na pass muna ako, 'di ba?" pag-uulit pa nito, pero nakuha na niyang magtaray dahil baka uulitin pa nila hanggang sa mapilit na siya. Mabilis pa namang bumigay si Daia kapag pinipilit. "Kayo na muna. Pupunta pa tayo sa bar na sinasabi ni Cara. Mas gusto kong pumunta ro'n. We should get this first night special. Ano ba kayo? Ang boring niyo naman."

"I think lasing na si Daia," komento naman ni Alleah. "Kenny you should look after your girlfriend. . ."

He winced. "I think she was."

Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ni Daia nang ma-realize niyang pangalan niya ang nabanggit sa usapan. "Ako? I'm not lasing. Mataas ang tolerance ko sa alcohol, 'di ba, Kenny?" she sang his name and they knew for a fact at that point, she was drunk.

"'Wag ka nang sumama sa bar," sabi ni Dominique. "Maiwan na lang kayo, Ken."

"Mukhang gano'n naman nga ang mangyayari." Kibit balikat na sagot ni Kenny. "Babe, let's have them go tonight. I think you need some rest, too."

"Or have some sex?" Hagikgik pa nito.

Napasapo naman sa ulo si Dominique. He wasn't expecting it for her to say it out loud. At that moment, Kenny knew had to take Daia to their room, pero mapilit ito at umupo pa sa may table sa bar area. Walang pumigil kay Daia at hinayaan na lang muna ito.

"We should sneak out," Dominique mouthed. Tumango naman sina Alleah at Cara sa kanya. Kenny would stay with Daia tonight at the bar area. Kung maging okay man ang pakiramdam ni Daia ay susunod sila sa kanila.

Isa-isa namang umalis sa kinauupuan ang tatlo. They excused as if they were heading to the restroom, pero sa kalapit na bar ang destinasyon nila. Cara knew where to go so Alleah and Dominique were following her.

"Malayo ba 'yon, babe?" tanong ni Dominique sa kanya.

Umiling naman 'to. "No. . . I don't think so. Magkakalapit lang naman ang bar dito. We don't want to make any trouble on our first night kaya mabuti nang naiwan muna sina Daia at Kenny ro'n sa hotel. You know. . . Your sister lately was being a little wild. If you know what I mean. . ."

Tumango naman si Dom bilang pagsang-ayon. "I get you, babe. I talked to her, but she wasn't listening to me. Sinasabi ko rin naman kay Kenny 'yon, but I guess he was tolerating her. Wala na akong magagawa kung gano'n silang dalawa."

"I hope they won't end up like me and Arm. . ." Alleah said out of nowhere. Napatingin ang dalawa sa kanya dahil sa pagkabigla sa binanggit nito.

Umiling naman si Dom. "I don't think they would break up, Ley. Kahit na ano-ano na pinag-awayan no'ng dalawa, hindi pa rin naman sila naghihiwalay, e."

"Oh, okay. . . Sila na strong," komento pa nito.

"Don't get me wrong, Ley!" mabilis na depensa ni Dom. "I didn't mean to say anything to you, ha?"

Umiling at ngumiti naman si Alleah. "Okay lang. Wala naman 'yon sa akin. I'm just happy for them. Mapapa-sana all na lang talaga. . ."

"Ley, don't worry," sabi pa ni Cara at ipinalupot nito ang kama sa braso ng kaibigan. "Pupunta tayo sa bar ngayon. For sure, maraming boys do'n. Baka nga foreigner pa, 'di ba? Gusto mo ba foreigner? Half or full?"

Hindi napigilang matawa ni Alleah sa tanong ng kaibigan. "Wala, Car. Wala akong gusto. . . Hindi naman 'yon ang dahilan nang pagpunta natin do'n, 'di ba?"

Cara grinned. "Yes. . . Pero kung gusto mo lang, Dom and I were here to help you out."

"Thank you, but I think I'll pass for now. . ." sabi ni Alleah at tinanggap naman ng dalawa 'yon.

Hindi rin nagtagal nang marating nila ang bar na sinasabi ni Cara. Dom was feeling so excited dahil napakaraming tao. Hindi naman nila inaasahan na sa sobrang tahimik ng hotel na tinutuluyan nila ay dito lang pala nila makikita ang iba't ibang klase ng tao. They thought Daia and Kenny would love it, pero dahil kailangan muna magpahinga ng kaibigan nila, pass na muna ito sa unang nigh out.

Pumasok ang tatlo sa bar. It was already crowded. Bukod sa mga lokal ay may ibang galing ibang bayan din. Karamihan ay galing ding Maynila. May nakakilala pa kay Dominique na nakilala niya sa isang club sa BGC.

"What do you want to drink? Treat ko," pag-aalok ng kaibigan ni Dominique. "Anyway, my name's Willimar. Dom and I are good friends, well, I met him from my friend who was his friend as well. So, what do you want? 'Yong matapang ba?"

"Ay, hindi ako," mabilis na pagtanggi ni Cara. "I'm Cara nga pala, Dom's girlfriend. . ."

"I know you, of course," Willimar said. "Nakwento ka niya sa amin no'n. It's nice to finally meet you though. . . And if you don't want something strong, do you think Rhum and coke would be fine?"

"I think it's fine, right, babe?" Nilingon pa ni Cara ang boyfriend para kunin ang opinyon nito.

Tumango naman si Dom. "Yeah, Rhum and coke's good. . . What about you, Ley?"

Lahat ng mata ay napunta naman kay Alleah.

"Hindi ko alam. . ." saad nito.

"I've got a recommendation." He looked at Alleah from head to toe. "It seemed like you're the type of girl who would love to drink a glass of margarita. Am I right?"

"Not really, but sounds good. . . I'll take if it's a treat then. . ."

"Of course! What's your name again?" Willimar questioned.

"I'm Alleah. . ."

"Oooh," he swooned. "That's such a nice name. I liked it. Alright. So beer for Dom. Rhum and coke for Cara, and a margarita for Alleah."

"You can call me Ley so it won't be too long," Alleah suggested.

Willimar smiled. "Sure. I will. . . I'll be back in a moment."

Naiwan naman ang tatlo habang pumunta si Willimar sa bar counter. Habang hinihintay nila si Willimar na bumalik ay inaasar ni Cara ito sa lalaki. She thought he was good for her. Matangkad, moreno, makinis ang balat, at magaganda ang pungay ng mata. She was shaking head as if she didn't want to associate herself with anyone else. Hindi naman KJ si Alleha, but she thought getting to know someone else right after breaking up with someone who she thought would be her husband eventually was inappropriate. Mang-asar lang sila nang mang-asar, pero hindi siya papatol.

Saglit lamang habang naghihintay ay nakarining sila nang gulo ilang talampakan mula ang layo sa kanila. Doon lang nila nakita si Willimar na nakikipagtalo sa isang foreigner. Nabigla at napalayo ang lahat sa kanila nang suntukin ni Willimar ang lalaking foreigner. Bumanat din naman ng suntok ang lalaking foreigner dahilan para bumagsak sa sahig si Willimar. Mabilis namang lumapit si Dom para tulungan ang kaibigan.

"Tell your friend don't get into my face again," paalala no'ng foreigner at saka tinungga ang bote ng beer at tuluyang naglakad palayo.

Napatitig na lamang si Alleah sa foreigner habang si Cara ay tinulungan din ang bagong nakilalang kaibigan. Sa isip-isip ni Alleah ay pamilyar ang lalaking foreigner na 'yon. Pilit naman niyang inaalala kung saan niya ito nakita dahil baka napanood niya lang ito somewhere sa social media, pero mabilis na pumitik sa kanyang isipan kung saan niya ito nakasalamuha.

It was the same foreigner who talked to her and Kenny at the gas station earlier. Napakunot na lamang ng noo si Alleah habang iniisip kung anong ginagawa ng foreigner na 'yon sa Baler.

On the other hand, Daia and Kenny were still in the bar area. Whenever Kenny tried to pick her up to go to their room, aangal bigla ang girlfriend nito. 

"How are you guys doing?" Napalingon si Kenny sa babaeng nagsalita. It was Morriah. "Where are the others? Hindi niyo kasama?"

Umiling naman si Kenny. "No, we decided to stay because. . ." He simply pointed to Daia, a visibly looking drink. 

"Ah, I see. . . I'll be back. I've got something for her. . ."

Umalis si Morriah at tumungo sa bar counter kung saan nag-request siya ng pineapple juice. Pagbalikni Morriah ay agad niyang inabot ang baso ng pineapple juice kay Kenny at inabot nito sa kanyang girlfriend. Ayaw pa sana inumin ni Daia, pero napilit niya rin ito. 

"Thank you. . . How much was this?"

Umiling naman si Morriah kasabay ng pag-wave ng kamay. "No. You don't have to pay for it. It's on me. Ako naman ang nagma-manage ng hotel so it'll be fine. . . Do you still need some help?"

"I think we're all good. . . Thank you again. . ."

"Alright. Let us know if you need some help. . . Enjoy your evening. . ."

When Morriah left, Kenny was left curious about her. Sinundan niya pa ito nang tingin hangga't sa umupo ang babae sa corner ng bar area na nakatingin sa sea side. Napakunot ng noo si Kenny dahil nagtataka siya kung anong tinitingnan niya ro'n. Madilim ang paligid at wala siyang makikita ni anino. Isang malaking kawalan ang nasisilayan nito ngayon.

Iniwan muna saglit ni Kenny si Daia sa kanilang table at pinuntahan si Morriah. Ikinalabit nito sa balikat ang babae at nagulat pa ito sa ginawa niya. Only then Kenny found out she was crying as she was wiping her tears away, but she quickly put a smile on her face to cover them up.

"Hey. . . May problema ba?"

Dahan-dahan namang umiling si Kenny. "I have none. . . You?"

Morriah scoffed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry if this made you uncomfortable. I should've—"

"No, it's alright. . . I don't mind," Kenny said. "Care to share? They said it's better to tell your problems to strangers as you wouldn't be able to see them again ever in your life."

"Is that even true?" she queried and laughed it off. "Pero sige. . . Hindi naman madrama ang buhay ko. Nagkataon lang siguro. We recently just renovated this hotel and cost me a lot, as in a lot. . . Before that, I lost both of my parents. . ."

"I—I'm sorry, I didn't know. . ."

"It's alright, it's fair you don't know me at all," she said. "When they died, I managed Casa Casillas so my parent's legacy would remain alive, as long as I'm alive too. Not even all that. I was so devastated about my parent's death that I had to break up with my fiance. My life was just a mess and the only thing that remained beautiful was the wonder of this place. . . Baler is my home, but sometimes, I also don't want to be here because of the sad memories I had to wake up every single time. . ."

"Oh, wow. . ." tanging sambit ni Kenny.

Natawa naman nang bahagya si Morriah. "That was a lot, 'no? What about—" 

She was about to ask him, but Daia fell on her chair to the floor. Mabilis namang sumugod si Kenny papunta sa kanyang girlfriend at binuhat ito. Daia was asleep and maybe didn't realize what happened. Sumunod naman si Morriah sa kanila so she can assist them. When they reached their room, Kenny put Daia down on their bed.

"Thank you, Miss. . ." Kenny said.

"Call me Morriah," anito. "And hey, you owe me your story, ha? I'll be looking forward to knowing yours. . . Have a good night."

"Good night. . ." Kenny said, shutting the door on her.

Morriah then took a deep breath and picked herself up for a few seconds until she found her way back to the hotel's reception desk. She thought it was just the first day of having these guests around at their hotel, but they brought something with them, and she wasn't prepared for it.

***