Chapter 99 Control

Matapos umalis ng sasakyan ni Jao ay biglang nagring ang phone ko.I slidded my phone out of my pocket and answered the phonecall.

"Helloo~~"

I automatically frown and leaned on the gate."Napatawag ka??"Nagtatampong tanong ko sa kaniya na humagikhik lang.

"Ikaw naman mars,namiss mo bako??"Natutuwang tanong naman niya sa reaksyon ko.Umiling nalang ako.

"How's America,Yuqi??"Tanong ko at pumasok na ng bahay.I closed the gate and entered the front door.

"I'm done promoting my single here pwede nakong magbakasyon."Natutuwang sabi niya.He said that next week,his plane will arrive herr in the Philippines.

We talked about going on a vacation trip together with Thetis that night.We planned everything because the both of us are really excited.Well,it's been years since we last hang out together and the three of us have our own lives now.We even rarely contact each other.

Kinabukasan ay naging busy na si Jao sa office niya.Habang ako naman ay walang ginawa kundi ang tumulong sa bahay,samahan si Armielle at magpinta.

Nakingiting bumuntong hininga ako at tumayo sa kinauupuan ko.Inayos ko ang mga painting materials at ang portrait stand na ginamit ko.

"Wow,nice art work."I turned to Tequila who approached while holding a wine glass on her right hand.

I smiled and nodded then look at my artwork.Tumabi siya sa akin at sinipat ang gawa ko.I glanced at her na sumisimsim sa wine niya.

"Tequila."

Sabay naming nilingon si Argust na lumapit sa amin.His eyes darted on while he's approaching the two of us.Tumingin na ako sa gawa ko at niligpit na ito ng tuluyan.

"Oh my god!!"Tequila suddenly dodged the fly and accidentally spilled her wine on my artwork.Bago ko pa ito mai-iwas ay huli na ang lahat.

"Sorry."Tequila apologized and chuckled while wiping the spilled wine on her hand.

"It's fine."I stressfully answered her and heaved a sigh.Kinamot ko ang kilay ko nang tumabi sa amin si Argust.

"My wine spilled."I heard Tequila explained.Tinapon ko nalang ang artwork sa malapit na trashbin at nagpaalam na sa kanila upang makapasok na ng bahay.

"The hell is wrong with you??"

"What?My wine spilled babe,there was a fly."

"Next time,you should watch it."

"Seriously?I can't believe you."

I didn't heard their conversation kaya nagkibit balikat nalang ako habang papasok ng bahay.Dumeretso ako sa kusina at nahuli ko si Mama na tahimik na umiiyak.

"Ma??"Tanong ko at nilapitan siya.Mabilis niyang pinunasan ang luha niya at ngumiti sa akin."What's wrong??"Tanong ko at hinimas ang likuran niya.

Tahimik na umiling siya at tipid na ngumiti sa akin."Ma,please.Tell me what's wrong??"Tanong ko ulit.

"I'm just worried to your Papa Arsenio."Tuluyang sagot niya.

"Wala pa bang balita galing kay Arsius??"Tanong ko naman.

"He said that his Dad is not staying in his office."Sagot ni Mama at tinuloy na ang paghiwa ng mga gulay.

"Then where??"Kunot noong tanong ko.

"Arsius asked the employees pero kahit ang mga ito ay wala namang alam. Sabi ng secretary ni Arsenio ay possibleng sa personal condo daw ito nagpapalipas ng gabi."Sagot ni Mama sa akin.

Nagiisip na tumango ako at tumingin kay Mama na pasimpleng nagiwas ng tingin sa akin.Hindi na siya nagsalita matapos nun at nagpokus nalang siya sa niluluto niya.

I helped cooking our meal for dinner kahit na malalim ang iniisip ko.Arsius stayed on his condo for the night while Argust and Tequila ate with us.

Tahimik na ngumuya ako at sinubuan si Armielle na naglalaro ng psp habang kumakain.Mama was quite the whole time too,she's stressed and as much as i want to comfort her i don't know what to say.Arsius will soon gave us some answers and clarifications,we just need to wait.

"Kuya."Armielle broke the silence and look at me while chewing his food."When will Kuya Jao visit me??"Tanong niya.

I pursed my lips and stopped eating.They all stopped and looked at me.Mama just smiled a bit and continued eating her food.

"Your Kuya—'

"I heard Jao is busy."Tequila suddenly cut me off.I looked at her who sweetly smiled at me."He called me earlier and we talked for a bit."She added and shrugged her shoulder.

He called her?Jao?

Tanging text message nga lang ang natanggap ko maghapon mula kay Jao tapos tinagawan pala niya si Tequila??

Ambrielle stop.It's not healthy on a relationship thinking like that.

"I-i see."Hilaw na ngumiti ako at nilingon si Armielle na naghihintay ng sasabihin ko."Jao is busy,so it will take time for him to visit you."

"Awwe dang it."He cursed and dissapointedly pouted.Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at mabilis na tinakpan naman niya ang bibig biya."Sorry kuya."

"Tomorrow,let's go to his office."Bulong ko kay Armielle at lumiwanag naman ang mukha niya."So for now,stop playing games when you're eating and finish your food."Paalala ko at mabilis naman siyang tumango.

He put down his psp and started eating on his own.I patted his head and continued eating too.

"Seriously."I heard Tequila chuckled and shooked her head.Kumain nalang din siya at hindi ko narin siya pinansin pa.

Matapos naming kumain ay ako na ang nagpresintang maghugas ng mga plato.Armielle went to his room at nagkulong na.Magpupuyat na naman yun kakalaro ng mga games niya.

Sisilapan ko nalang siya mamaya kung tulog naba talaga siya.Matapos maghugas ng plato ay lumapit ako kina Mama at Tequila na naguusap.

"Mauuna napo ako."Nagbeso silang dalawa at nakangiting tinanguan siya ni Mama.Tequila just looked at me and turned to the front door.

"Let me drive you."Argust said while holding his carkey.I turned to Mama at nagaalalang pinagmasdan siyang pumasok ng kwarto niya para magpahinga.

"I can drive myself."Tequila sounded mean and rolled her eyes.Rumampa ito palabas ng bahay at pinagbuksan siya ng gate ng isa sa mga kasambahay namin.

I looked at Argust who just shooked his head and scratched his nape."Did the two of you fight??"I asked hesitantly.

"Yeah."Simpleng sagot niya at nilagpasan lang ako.

"Hindi ka uuwi sa condo mo??"Tanong ko ulit at kunot noong nilingon naman niya ako.I blinked and pursed my lips.

"I'll stay here with Armielle.Why??"Tanong niya pabalik.I shooked my head and smiled a bit.

"Nothing,goodnight."Paalam ko sa kaniya at tumalikod na papunta sa hagdan.

"Goodnight."He answered.Tumango ako at lumakad na paakyat sa kwarto ko.

Tahimik akong tumitig sa ceiling habang nakahilata sa kama.My phone beeped and vibrated.I grabbed my phone on the side table and read the two messages.

Baby: Just got home baby,you asleep?

Jahara: I asked Tywin to help us,he's good in finding people after all (—ᴥ—)

I typed and replied to their messages.

To Baby:

Not yet,make sure to eat dinner and rest before sleeping.

To Jahara:

Thank you very much

My phone beeped again.

Baby: I will,sleep now and restwell too.I love you <3

I chuckled and bit my lips while smiling when he used the same heart emoji i usually used.

To Baby:

I love you too <3

Jahara: You're welcome,goodnight.

To Jahara:

Goodnight

I woke up in the middle of the night when my throat itched.Inaantok na lumunok ako at bumaba ng kwarto.

Tahimik na binuksan ko ang pinto ng kwarto ni Armielle para i-check siya.Good thing he's already sleeping peacefully.Nagtatakang sinara ko na ang pinto nang wala sa tabi niya si Argust.

I yawned and covered my mouth.Dumeretso ako sa kusina nang mapansing kong nakabukas ang ilaw nito.

I found Argust sitting in one of the kitchen stalls while drinking alcohol in the kitchen island.He chugged his shotglass and looked at me with his sleepy eyes.

Dumretso ako sa ref at kumuha ng malamig na tubig.Mabilis na inubos ko ang laman ng baso bago ko isara ang ref.

Ngumiwi ako dahil sa brain freeze.I looked at Argust who's still drinking while looking at me."Why are you drinking??"Mahinang tanong ko at sumandal sa counter top.

"So i could stop thinking things."He answered with his husky voice.He eyed the shot glass and twirled the alcohol inside of it."So i could temporarily forget."

Makahulugang tumitig siya sa akin at tinunga ang laman nito.Nagsalin siya sa isang panibagong shot glass at inalokan ako na uminom din.

Umiling ako at lumapit sa kaniya.I sat on the stall beside him,one seat apart.Nilingon ko siya na walang tigil na tungga ng tungga sa iniinom na alak.

"I-is there a problem??"Tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Always has been."Sagot niya at nagsalin na naman.

"Is it because the two of you fight??"Tanong ko ulit para tumingin siya sa akin.I looked down on my hands."If that's the case,do you want to talk about it??"Tanong ko at naglakas loob na tumingin sa mga mata niya.

He licked his lower lip and chugged another shotglass of alcohol."Tequila..."Panimula niya at huminto muna sa paginom.

"She was already my girlfriend when we we're still college students.After our graduation,i broke up with her."Wika niya.

Tumango tango ako."Why??"Tanong ko.

"You know why."Makahulugang sabi niya at natahimik naman ako."Fortunately,she came back to me again.So...is this how things should be??"Tanong niya sa sarili niya.

"Even if i'm not really happy—"

"Argust."Pigil ko sa kaniya."Are you going to hurt her??"Nagaalalang tanong ko."Again??"Tanong ko pa.

Umiling siya."As if breaking up with her would make a difference."Bumuntong hininga siya at mapait na tumawa ng mahina.

"So this is what love is??Even if you love that person unconditionally and even if you are willing to do
anything just to make things work for the two of you."Umiling siya at nagsalin ng alak sa shotglass niya.

"When it's not meant to be, it will never be.Nothings gonna work out."Dagdag niya at tumunga sa inumin.

"I guess you're right."Mahinang sabi ko at kinuha ang shotglass na inaalok niya sa akin kanina.Tinunga ko ito at ngumiwi sa lasa.

"There are things in life we can't control."Wika ko at nagsalin ng alak sa shotglass ko."But the things we can control can somehow save us from the pain."

"How is that??"

"When i was young,i wanted to have many friends like other normal kids.But then i realized,why make many friends when i can be a friend to my self?"Natatawang tanong ko sa sarili ko."Being alone that time made me realize that i'm already better just by myself."

"And as time passes by,things just happened and clicked.I had Yuqi and Thetis beside me."Nakangiting sabi ko.Argust poured me  alcohol and i chugged my shotglass.

"So if the thing between you and Tequila still doesn't work out,you will have to find that thing that will save you from drowning."Wika ko kay Argust na nakatingin sa akin.

"Life is not that short to begin with,you can do many things while living."Pagtatapos ko at ako na mismo ang nagsalin ng alak sa shotglass ko.

I raised my shotglass and smiled at him."Cheers??"Tanong ko.

He slowly smiled and nodded at me."Cheers."

I don't think i can call that a reconcilation but it made me very happy.The awkwardness between us disappeared and i could freely talk with him again.Just like the old days.

"Hey."Tawag niya sa akin."I just want to say sorry."He suddenly apologized.Kumunot ang noo ko at nagtatakang tumingin sa kaniya.

"Ever since i confessed that night,you looked very worn out and stress.I'm really sorry for making things difficult for you."Sinserong sabi niya.

"It's fine now and to be honest...the thinking is worth it."Sagot ko at tumunga sa shotglass ko.

"Everything for you is always worth it."He said.

We chuckled and cheers.Sabay naming tinunga ang laman ng mga shotglass namin at nagusap hanggang sa tuluyang malasing na ako.

I fell asleep in the kitchen island that night.I was drunk but i wasn't that bothered like i used to,i was happy and i was smiling before i passed out.

Or so i thought...