Something Phenomenal: One Shot

Note: This one shot contains glimpses of their past that didn't make it to the original story but remain part of Gab and Shane.

Timeline: After Gab's first remission, when she was able to attend university.

Prompt: That one time Shane got drunk.

I miss their tandem. Enjoy reading!

//

Classes are finally over for the day. I grabbed my laptop and things and shoved my headphones in before stepping out of my college building in my Dr. Martens boots, oversize band T-shirt and a peach flowy skirt to match.

My hair is the color of the sunset sky, pink blush. I just had it done the other day and it makes me feel like a main character, humming to an upbeat song while walking in the busy university pathway with no care in the world.

My destination as usual is the engineering building at the other side of  the street, across the main campus. While waiting at the crosswalk with other students, I pulled up my phone to text Shane.

Otw to ur building.
Ur classes done?

Their building, along with the college of architecture, is basically guys' territory because most of the students in this part of the university belongs to the male specie, like a zoo where you can observe animals in their natural environment.

At the gates, three girls from another college were pushing each other, trying to initiate who will step first in the animal territory. I excused myself between them and went straight to Shane's college building. Sa paanan palang, kita ko na ang mga pamilyar na mukha ng mga blockmates niya na palabas ng building.

"Gabriela San Gabriel!" one of them called loudly like a sports announcer.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Do boys ever grow up? "Si Shane?" tanong ko.

"May ka-date," joked one of them. I gave him a side-eye.

His blockmates knew so well my purpose for being in their building almost everyday. Shane's my car ride to and from school, even on days when he has no classes.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I forced him to do it. He basically volunteered to be one since I went back to attending school after my remission. And heck, who would missed on the opportunity of not having to commute and pay for gas?

I shoved the boys out of the way to check their classroom for Shane. Before I can call his name with my loud voice, I saw him talking to someone in the empty classroom... to one of the rare girls in their department.

Grinning widely, I peeked from the open doorway. Looks like Shane is finally making a move to someone. Thank God I didn't have to set him up-

"Sorry..."

Huh? Mas nilapit ko ang sarili sa pintuan para makinig. Why is Shane  the one saying sorry? Don't tell me he's the one dumping the girl?

I automatically steered away from the classroom when the girl took her leave. Hah! It's so Shane to receive a school confession like a freaking YA romance novel. I thought he's shining presence and best-boy personality ended in high school, but I guess girls are naturally drawn to people like him.

Bumalik ako sa labas kung saan naka-tambay parin ang ilan sa mga blockmates ni Shane.

"Kita mo na, may date sabi sa'yo eh," one of them commented.

"I wish," I blurted out.

"How about you, Gabriel?" tanong ng isa sa kanila. "You want me to  take you on a date-"

Someone pointed a finger on the guy's forehead and pushed him away from me. "Shut up, Romero," asik ni Shane na kalalabas lang ng  building.

I caught a glimpse of the girl walking away in a different direction. I automatically hit Shane's head with my palm. "Gab!" reklamo niya sa atake ko.

"You stupid, you made a girl cry."

Humalakhak ang mga kaibigan niya. "Nasapak ka tuloy. Magpaalam ka na din para minsanan ang sakit. Kita-kita tayo mamaya."

Bigla akong humarap kay Shane. "You're heading somewhere?"

"Inuman lang."

"Nanaman?" I exclaimed. "You just had drinking session last weekend. Don't tell me you're making this a weekly activity? What are you, alcoholics?"

"Grabe naman girlfriend mo, Shane," biro ng isa sa mga kaibigan niya, nakangiti. "Magpaalam ka kasi nang maayos. Pati tuloy kami nadadamay."

Shane turned to me.

"No."

"Come on, Gab. We just had our exams. We need to loosen up."

"You do this even without exams and then what? You'll end up with a rotten liver." A complete exaggeration but hey, prevention is better than cure.

"Higpit naman ni girlfriend," the guys chuckled. "Hindi pwedeng  hiramin ang Shane mo?"

"No, he's mine. Go ask somebody else to hangout with you."

A small smile was plastered on Shane's lips while I dragged him by the arm to the parking lot. Nang makarating kami sa tapat ng kanyang sasakyan, humarap siya sa'kin.

"You're being possessive, that's new." He tried to hide his smile.

I stared back at him with a sharp gaze. "Because that's a bad habit you're developing."

Nakangiti siya habang napapailing bago binuksan ang pintuan ng passenger seat para sa'kin.

"What? Is there something funny?"

"Nah."

He protected my head as I slid inside the car and made sure I was seated properly before closing the door. Once he sat on the driver's seat, muli  ko siyang ginisa sa sariling mantika.

"And what's with dumping someone? Aren't you single?"

Binuhay niya ang engine ng sasakyan bago muling nagsalita. "I have you."

My eyelids blinked.

"You're already a lot to take care of," biro niya bago kami nakalabas sa parking lot.

"Hah," I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm not a kid."

While driving through the busy university belt, Shane asked me. "Hungry?"

"Mcdo," I told him without raising my head from my phone, busily typing on the class group chat. Bigla akong humarap kay Shane nang  may maalala.

"How about I set you up?" alok ko, nakangiti. I have a blockmate and she's-"

"Quit it," agad niyang putol sa sasabihin ko. "You know I'm too busy for that."

"Whatever," asik ko sa kanya. "Kukulitin lang din kita hanggang sa pumayag ka."

After receiving our order from the drive through, I ransacked the paper bag for the fries. Every now and then, I will give a few pieces to Shane while driving, shoving it to his mouth.

"Do you really wanna go with them?" I asked, referring to their  drinking session. I couldn't help but soften up. I'm his gorgeous best friend but I don't want to control him.

"I don't have to go if you don't want me to," he shrugged, nonchalant with his eyes on the road.

"I guess it's okay since you just had your exams," I muttered. "Just don't drink too much and don't drive while drunk. Ask someone else to drive you home or get a taxi."

That's my main worry, for him to be driving home drunk.

"Yes, ma'am," ngiti niya. He really is a sunshine.

—

That night, in the middle of my laser focus video editing for a subject,  my phone started ringing. I grabbed it from the table and saw Shane calling. Kumunot ang noo ko lalo na nang makita ang oras. It's almost twelve in the evening.

"Yep?" sagot ko.

"Gabriela..." My eyebrows scrunched. This isn't Shane.

"Who's this?"

"Romero, blockmate niya. Lasing na lasing siya ngayon. Nagpapasundo sa'yo."

The heck? Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Malalagot talaga ang mga 'to sa'kin. I got up from my desk with the phone still on my ear. "'Dyan parin ba kayo sa dati?"

"Oo, dito parin."

I immediately grabbed a jacket from the closet and laced up my white sneakers. Ilang beses na ba itong nangyari since the start of the semester? Three? Four? Shane rarely gets drunk but when he does, he would  never want to move from any place at all, unless I'm the one picking him up.

I checked my phone to book a Grab while heading out of the house. Twelve midnight and he's doing this to me. I swear to God, I'm gonna start a fight.

It was almost closing time when I arrived at the establishment.  Dumeretso agad ako sa loob at hinanap ang mga tarantado. Shane was seated in a corner table with two of his remaining friends who were equally drunk.

"Shane."

I stomped my feet while walking to his direction. He had his face  resting against the cold table surface. At first I thought he already heard me arriving, but he suddenly sat up straighter, swaying a bit, before he fished his phone out of his pocket.

What is he doing?

"I'm gonna call Gab..." he told his friends with a goofy smile. "She must be sleeping..."

Nagkatinginan kami ng mga kaibigan niya. The two were already standing up, inaalalayan ang isa't-isa para hindi matumba. How much did they even drink?

The phone in my hand started ringing. I rolled my eyes and held it to my ear to answer. "What?" I stared at Shane a few steps away from me, smiling like a goofball.

"Gab..."

"What?"

"You wanna know something..."

I sighed heavily. "Sure, sure. Fire away."

"You're the most beautiful girl I know..."

Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko. I couldn't help it! Finally, I stepped in front of Shane with a smug look on my face. I folded my arms in front of my chest and muttered.

"I know."

"Gab... you're here." Shane's face was flushed, with tinge of red from drinking.

Muli akong bumuntong hininga bago tinulungan siyang tumayo. "You're a dumbass sometimes," I told him. "Let's get you home." I made him lean on me while walking and God, he's heavy and why is he so damn tall? It's like trying to carry a goddamn tree.

I also hired Grab for his two friends to go home. Seriously, I'm becoming more and more of a babysitter here.

"Bye Gab!" one of them drunkenly waved his hand from the car.  "Ingatan mo 'yang si Shane. Delikado na 'yan."

"I know," I mumbled to myself before facing Shane. "Do you have your car with you?"

His weight on my shoulder was too much to bear. Seriously? Is he sleeping while I'm trying to hold him standing? "Shane!" I snapped, staring up at his face.

His drunk, flushed face stared back at me. Our faces were too close that for a moment, I thought he's gonna lean down. I stared away instead and patted his pockets for keys.

Once we arrived at his car, I settled him on the passenger seat before I took the driver's seat. Now it's getting clear why he taught me to drive last summer. To be his designated driver.

Shane was peacefully seated on the passenger seat, eyes closed, when I started the engine. Sumulyap ako sa kanyang mukha bago nagsimulang mag-drive.

Despite the hassle, it feels good to do things for him. Because for the longest time, he's the one who's always been there for me without complain.

After a fifteen-minute drive in the almost empty road, we finally arrived at Shane's house which was basically a mansion. Even before his  family got into politics, they're well-off and I used to tease Shane for being a rich kid.

I stopped the car in front of their gate to wake him up. Of course, I'll  take his car with me. We're neighbors but I have no plan on walking home at this hour. And Shane needs a good scolding from me when he pick his car tomorrow.

"Shane, we're here."

It took an entire minute bago siya mahimasmasan.

"Should I call one of the staff to open the gate?"

"Gab..."

His voice was low, serious. So here we are, in the last phase of him  being drunk. He's gonna be philosophical or will talk about random  deep things. One time, I was stuck with him in the same situation and we ended up talking until morning about political and outer space conspiracies.

After this, he's gonna be knocked down... so most of the time I just let him talk.

"Yes Shane, what it is?" I asked patiently.

"Don't ever leave me."

I was speechless for a moment before I managed to smile. "I'm here. I won't leave you."

"Gabriela San Gabriel..."

"Yes, Shane Arguelles?"

"Would you be mad if I kiss you?"

Natulala ako sa sinabi niya. I stared at Shane who's still a bit drunk.

I wished you're sober Shane because you're a bad drunk. You say things that make me wish I have a normal life with you, but you won't remember any of it when you wake up.

"Gab..."

Shane held my hand with his, intertwining our fingers together. "Live for a long time with me."

Ngumiti ako. "I'll be with you for a long time."

//

#SPOneShot