Chapter 1

Whiskey Kisses

Nika sneered after reading her mother's messages.

How many times was it promised to her already? A petition for alien relative to be filed just for her to live with her mom and her new family in Maine. It wasn't new to her anymore. Mag-aayos sila ng papeles ng tita niya tapos mapupurnada lang at hindi na naman matutuloy.

Umay, she scoffed.

Paulit-ulit na lang din kasi sila doon ng tita niya simula no'ng high school siya. Mapapagod sila sa kakaasikaso ng papel, aasa siyang matutuloy, tapos bigla ring aatras ang mama niya dahil may emergency kung saan mas kakailanganin 'yong pera.

The last time was when her sister had an accident. They needed the money for her hospital bills and therapy.

Of course, naiintindihan niya kasi mas mahalaga naman talaga 'yon. She was worried that time, too. Even though she doesn't really know her sister that well. She's not that heartless after all.

Even if she envied her for everything she didn't have.

Nika sighed, turning her phone face down on her bed. There's no need to dwell on it now. May problem set pa siyang kailangang sagutan.

It's been a day and she hasn't given her mother any response yet. Her willingness to follow her abroad have faded away. She doesn't want to go and live with her anymore. And more so, she's not entirely sure if she still wanted to see her mom or her new family.

She wasn't thrilled about it unlike before when she was younger.

For most of her life, Nika counted on the endless and empty promises. Made only to be broken. There wasn't any expectations on her end anymore, she was so sick of being disappointed.

So, she learned not to rely on people that much.

Nag-aya para gumala next week? Okay. Last minute cancellations? Okay. Reschedule ang meet-up dahil may biglaang emergency? Okay. Late darating sa call time? Okay. No shows? Okay.

She honestly couldn't care less if people would honor their words or not, if people would come through or not.

Bahala na sila, she said in her mind.

Nika opened her laptop instead. Next week pa naman ang deadline ng problem set nila. But she has nothing to do while waiting for Miko. Her last class ended early so she had a couple of hours to kill before he could pick her up later by 8 or 9 p.m. for their date.

It was, after all, a Friday night.

Their night.

Pero hindi niya maiwasan ang paglipad ng isipan niya habang tinititigan ang equation sa screen.

It was a bit overwhelming. Isang problem pero ang daming kailangang hanapin. Kulang na naman ang isang page ng one whole para sa solution niya. At next week pa naman ang deadline . . .

Gagawa na ba 'ko o landiin ko muna si Ser saglit? Kaso baka busy siya sa office. Gawa na lang siguro ako?

But as soon as her mind was convinced and conditioned to focus, one of her roommates and best friends, Lana, came knocking at the door.

Napatayo si Nika para buksan ang pinto dahil sunod-sunod din ang katok ni Lana.

Her knocks sounded restless, too. Just as much as how she looks like when Nika opened the door for her.

"Ano nangyari? Bakit ganiyan mukha mo?" tanong ni Nika. Lana looked constipated and she kept on heaving deep breaths.

Just to prevent herself from crying.

"Nakasalubong ko kasi si Laslo kanina . . . " sabi niya.

And with the mere mention of Laslo's name, Lana's tears automatically cascaded down her face.

Wala rin siyang ibang nagawa kung 'di isubsob ang mukha sa balikat ni Nika.

She sighed too at the sight of her friend looking so hurt and broken. First time niya rin kasing makita si Lana na ganito.

"Ano bang nangyari?" tanong ni Nika ulit nang igiya niya si Lana paupo sa kama. She even fetched her a bottle of water and a towelette to wipe her tears away.

"Nakasalubong ko lang talaga siya tapos 'di man lang niya ako pinansin. Kakausapin ko sana e kaso, wala. Nilampasan lang ako," sagot ni Lana habang pinupunasan ang pisngi niya.

"Gago naman pala," sabi ni Nika.

"No! Don't say that. Hindi siya ganiyan."

Nika's eyes widened. "Grabe? Ikaw na sinaktan tapos 'di niya pa rin deserve masabihan nang gano'n?"

Umiling si Lana. "Bebi ko pa rin siya."

"Gaga! Tanga ka rin, e," hindi naiwasang sabihin ni Nika.

Lana's tears budged again, prompting her to cry some more. Because Nika was right. She was a lovesick fool. Dumb, wrecked, and yet, still in love with someone who can't see just a glimmer of her worth.

Napapailing na lang si Nika. She couldn't understand it. How can people tolerate being hurt this much? Kasi kung siya ang nasa puwesto ni Lana, okay na ang isa o dalawang araw na iyakan session. Hanggang doon lang ang deserve nila sa kanya. Tapos moved on na siya kinabukasan.

On to the next person. On to the next landi.

It was always like that for her. Plain and easy.

Kasi bakit ko pahihirapan sarili ko? isip-isip niya. Kung ayaw na nila sa akin, edi okay. Tapos. Mabilis akong kausap. Ayos lang din naman kung ayaw na nila. Nakakapagod maghabol kaya bakit ko pa ipipilit ang sarili ko kung ako na rin mismo ang sinusuka?

But of course, she couldn't say that out loud. Maybe it's easy for her. Pero hindi sa iba. Hindi kay Lana.

And somehow, it reminded her of her father who left them many, many years ago. It's probably point zero of her training ground—back when she was at a mere age of five.

She secretly scoffed to herself. Halos seventeen years na pala ang practice ko.

Nika asked Mithi to stop  by the convenience store just below their dorm to buy some snacks and sweets for Lana. Nadatnan na lang din sila ni Mithi sa loob ng dorm na nanonood ng movie sa laptop.

Nika rested her head on a pillow leaning against the railing of their bunk bed. Si Lana naman ay nakahiga sa t'yan ni Nika.

"Ano pinanonood ninyo?" Mithi asked while sipping on her strawberry milk.

"Naghanap lang kami ng kahit anong horror movie. Para kabahan na 'to si Lana," sagot ni Nika.

"Okay, pass. Makikinood sana ako," sagot ni Mithi. Napabangon naman si Lana para abutin ang mga pinamili ni Mithi sa convenience store.

"Palitan na lang natin 'tong movie. 'Di ko rin gaano mapanood, e. Itong si Nikalat lang nakatutok," sabi ni Lana.

Magrereklamo na rin sana si Nika kasi patapos na rin 'yong pinanonood nila nang biglang sumindi ang cellphone niya.

It was a text from Mikenzo.

Finally.

She was even oblivious of the wide smile forming on her lips whenever his name pops up on the screen of her phone.

She's been wanting to send him a message, but she didn't want to bother him as well. Lalo na't alam na alam niya rin namang demanding ang trabaho ni Miko sa opisina. Besides, magkikita naman sila mamaya.

Miko:
I'm on my way. Sorry, katatapos lang ng meeting namin sa office.

Nika:
Oks lang ser! Mag-aayos na rin ako, ingat ka!

Miko:
All right. See you!

Hindi naman na sumagot pa si Nika dahil tumayo na rin siya para magbihis at mag-ayos. She even brought some of her decent dresses for their Friday night-outs.

She wore a plain black dress for tonight. Its satin fiber complemented the glow on her skin so well. It was a bit long with a high slit revealing her left thigh.

She wore her hair up, too. Drawing a sharp, black wing on her lids and lips painted in nothing but her favorite color—scarlet.

Sakto rin naman ang pagdating ni Miko. He was so thankful the traffic was minimal. Halos twenty-minutes din kasi silang overtime sa office. Hindi pa siya nakapagsabi kay Nika tungkol doon. He could hardly touch his phone at work earlier.

Kaya mabuti na lang at hindi gaanong traffic. He hates being late. He hates making people wait for him, too. Most especially if it's Nika.

"Kuya, baka po mas late ako sa curfew makauwi mamaya. Okay lang po ba magpabukas ng gate? Message na lang po ako," sabi ni Nika sa guard na nagbabantay sa baba ng dormitory nila.

Kuya Ronald, the guard on-duty nodded. "Sige lang, hija! Ingat kayo sa lakad n'yo," he responded with a smile.

"Oo naman, Kuya! Thank you!" sabi ni Nika bago umalis papunta sa sasakyang nakaparada sa tapat ng dorm nila.

"Hi! Are you hungry? May nadaanan akong burger place kanina. We can stop by for our pre-dinner snack," salubong na tanong ni Miko pagkasakay niya ng sasakyan.

"Okay lang naman ako. May biniling siopao kanina si Mithi saka ice cream kaya 'di pa naman ako gutom. Ikaw ba?" she replied while fixing her seatbelt.

"I'm a bit hungry. Okay lang ba stop by muna tayo do'n?"

Nika nodded. "Sure! Parang gusto ko rin ng chili cheese fries if ever mayroon do'n sa nakita mong burger place."

"Okay," he answered.

But even before Miko could release the handbrake, Nika took the opportunity to steal a kiss from his lips.

It was quick, it didn't even last longer than three seconds.

But a smile automatically appeared on their faces.

"Pagod ka ba from work? Mukha kang pagod," Nika asked.

Umiling naman si Miko. Not anymore, his mind whispered.

It's as if her kisses could cast magic spells, but the weight on his shoulder and the strain he was feeling along his back suddenly dissipated as soon as Nika kissed him.

Easily.

Just like that.