Abot langit ang kaba sa dibdib ko habang bumababa kami ng hagdan. Hindi katulad ng restaurant sa taas na maliwanag, dito madilim at samu't saring ilaw ang sumasayaw sa hangin.

Malakas na sigawan at tawanan ang sumalubong sa amin. Maging ang malakas na beat ng tugtog. Maraming sumasayaw sa gitna. Maraming tao! Paano namin mahahanap sila Jhon Rey? Mukhang they rented a room.

"There they are!" Anne exclaimed. Nakita naming pumasok sa isang room 'yong mga lalaking kasama nila Jhon Rey kanina. Naging mahirap para sa akin ang huminga.

"I don't think I can do this, Anne. I don't want to witness another situation like before."

Naalala ko na naman ang nangyari noon sa amin ni Jhunel. That night when I saw him with other woman. Muling bumabalik sa akin ang sakit.

Anne turned to face me with those troubled looks.

"Hindi ko yata makakayang makita si Jhon Rey in the same scene like Jhunel before," pag-amin ko.

She knows what I am talking about. She bit her lip and caressed my arms. "Alright. Alright. I'm sorry. Umalis na tayo."

Biglang bumukas ang pinto na siyang ikinagulat namin. Rinig namin ang tunog ng mga nabasag na bote. Napakunot ang noo ko. May nag-aaway?

"Jhon Rey, where are you going? We're just starting the party!"

Agad kaming napaatras ni Anne. Boses iyon ng isang lalaki. Hindi pamilyar.

"Why would you bring her here? Are you really messing up with me? Paolo? Aaron? Did you know this? Did you plan this?"

"No way! I have no idea who sent them here or why they were even here in the first place. I was also surprised. May mga nagdalawa pa ng mga babae." Rod appeared to be furious as well. "Aren't we clear about not bringing any girls and keeping it limited to just us?"

Napatingin ako kay Anne. Pareho kaming nakakunot ang noo habang lihim na nakikinig sa kaguluhang nagaganap sa loob ng kwarto. 

"I'm just letting you all here even though you weren't invited because I don't want to be rude, but why are you setting me up with my ex?" Boses iyon ni Jhon Rey. Nakakatakot ang tono niya kapag galit. Nai-imagine ko ang mukha niya.

Sumilip ako sa may pintuan. Kausap ni Jhon Rey 'yong mga lalaking sumunod sa kanila, 'yong apat na lalaking nakasalamuha namin noong nakaraan. Hinanap ng mata ko ang babaeng tinutukoy ni Jhon Rey. Quency was not there inside. Where did she go?

"Aren't this too much?" Jhon Rey sounded so frustrated.

"I'm sorry, Jhon Rey. I was threatened by him kaya binigay ko sa kanila 'yong address, but I don't have any idea that they will bring your ex," sambit ng isang kasama nila na kaninang pumasok sa kwarto kaya nalaman naming ito ang kwarto nila.

"This party is supposed to be fun, but it was destroyed by gate-crashers. Why didn't you told me about this earlier?" Rod said before turning his face toward Jhon Rey. "Listen here, Jhon Rey, calm down. I'll do what I can to fix this, but don't leave us here alone. We prepared it for you."

"No, I'm leaving. This is enough. I'll be going now. My wife doesn't know about this so I should go home. I really appreciate your effort, but I couldn't stand being here for so long." Jhon Rey seemed to calm down now and looked at that bully man who crashed their party. "And you, be sure that you bring her home. You drag her here for a nonchalant excuse." 

Agad kaming lumayo ni Anne nang makita naming papalabas si Jhon Rey sa kwarto nila. He was about to leave the room, but right at that moment, Quency appears in front of him.

"Hey, uuwi ka na? Hindi mo ba ako ihahatid?" Quency approached her. I saw how Jhon Rey was taken aback by the sudden appearance of his ex-lover.

Lumakas ang kabog sa dibdib ko.

"Anne, I think we heard enough. We should go now," wika ko kay Anne habang nakakapit sa braso niya. Hindi ko na kaya pang makita o marinig man lang silang dalawa. Nadudurog ako.

"Are you sure that you don't want to hear his conversation with his ex?" Anne asked.

I smiled and shook my head. "I've had enough. It's enough."

Tumalikod na ako. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako sa narinig ko kanina o malulungkot dahil muli ay nagkita na naman sila ng ex niya. For sure, he will do what she says if Quency insists. I mean, sinong tatanggi? She's so beautiful, and idagdag pa na they were in a relationship before. Knowing that this place is bombarded of jerks, of course, he'll take care of her.

Lumingon ako sa likod ko para i-check kung nakasunod ba si Anne sa akin pero wala siya. Where is she? Where did she go?

Napabuntong-hininga ako nang makitang mag-isa na lang ako. I should probably call her, and as well as Derrick so that he can come pick us up. Kinuha ko 'yong phone sa pouch ko para i-message ang kaibigan ko dahil napagtanto kong hindi ko siya maririnig kung tatawagan ko siya. But the hell! Walang signal!

Doon ko naalalang nasa underground ako.

Alright. Aakyat na nga lang muna ako bago ko sila tawagan. May signal naman sa taas.

I was surprised when some of the dancers bumped into me. They seemed not to notice it because they were busy dancing in the big crowd, which was just a little before they had conquered even the walkway. I was about to lose my balance, but luckily someone helped me and held my waist from the back so I didn't continue to fall on all fours. Nilingon ko siya.

I was surprised to see Jhon Rey holding my waist.

"Jhon Rey? What are you doing here? You're supposed to—"

He looked so surprised to see me here too.

"So you saw us?" tanong niya bago ako tinulungang makatayo.

He helps me stand properly.

"Y-yeah. So you can leave me now; you can go with her." I pushed him slightly and fixed myself before looking at him. He looks so handsome tonight, and I can't bear to catch my breath.

"I'm going home with you," he stated, which I was really surprised by. I can no longer protest when he takes me away from people.

"Wait, si Anne. I'm with her," apela ko sa kaniya.

"She's with Aaron now. The party is over, and they were heading home."

Umakyat na kami sa restaurant at doon nagsimulang magtutunog ang phone ko. It was Anne's messages telling me her boyfriend brought her out of this place at si Jhon Rey na nga raw ang mag-aasikaso sa akin.

Luminga-linga ako para hanapin si Quency. Hindi ba't nagpapahatid ito sa kaniya kanina?

"Paolo will definitely bring her home so stop thinking about her now," he remarked, as if he could read my mind.

"How do you know that I'm thinking about her?"

"Anne told me you both saw us." I scowled. Why would she tell him that? Oh well, I admitted it earlier. Anne and I are the same. Wala kaming sikreto sa isa't isa at walang habas ang mga bibig namin.

Napapikit ako. "Pasensya ka na. Sinabi ko na sa kaniyang hayaan na lang kayong dalawa. Hindi niya na naman ako pinakinggan."

"Hey, inisip mo ba talagang ihahatid ko siya pauwi?" he sulked.

"Why not?" I looked away, trying not to hurt myself with what I said.

I heard him sigh. "I am going to marry you, and you expect me to be with someone else?" He looks so annoyed.

"She's the love of your life, so I understand," I confidently stated.

"You really are hurting my feelings," wika niya. "Nakakatampo ka naman."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. We were still here at the restaurant near the stairs, where we could no longer hear the loud noises from downstairs. We were just talking, and I don't know why we chose to talk here.

"I mean, it was the right thing to do. Maybe she was drunk or something. You should really have brought her home."

"And leave you here alone?"

"You didn't know that I was here," I replied.

"Yeah, I didn't, 'cause you never told me you were having a bachelorette party too. You should have told me so I could celebrate it with you."

Natawa ako. "Hindi ko sinabi kasi you're not my friend."

"Woah, didn't we agree before that we were friends?"

"So we're friends?" I looked at him. I know either way his answer will hurt me, but I wanted to make sure why he was being like this. He keeps messing with my feelings, too.

But he remains silent, which makes me hurt even more. "Ah right. I forgot." I tried acting cool. "But you never mention you'll be having a bachelor's party either."

"I was hesitant to attend too." His voice becomes bland. "And I was hesitant to tell you too. Baka mag-isip ka kung bakit ako nagpapaalam sa 'yo."

I nodded. So that was his answer? I am neither his friend nor a lover who can be advised of his whereabouts.

I let a deep sigh. "Yeah, you don't have to tell me everything. Even if we get married, your life is your own and mine is mine, so don't worry about it."

He sighed even deeper than I did. "Tsk. You always put a barrier between us. The only thing that connects us is that baby."

"Because I don't want to be hurt so much, Jhon Rey, so please be mindful of your words and actions. I might take it the wrong way," I reminded him.

"What if it's right? What if you're right?"

A long silence enveloped us. I don't want to hear any of it. I'm afraid.

"I knew what I did before made you build a higher wall around you—that's why you always try to push me away. But I'm thankful that despite all that, you're not leaving me."

I saw him smile, which made my heart melt.

"Despite all the things I've done, thank you for staying, Sheen May."

I tried my best to respond because I have no clue why he is acting this way. "Why are you talking like that?"

Sinulyapan niya ako at sa pagkakataong iyon, tila ba may nabasa ako sa mga mata niya.

"Because it's you who I'm talking to, that's why I talk like this."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita dahil sa tindi ng nararamdaman ko sa kaniya.

Tinagpo ko ang mga mata niya. Never did I imagine that I will fall even deeper. Akala ko'y nahulog na ako sa kaniya dati pa, may malalim pa pala akong pagkakahulugan.