The lights by the pool was already starting to look like a kaleidoscope to me, spinning around. My head already hurts and I can feel vomit in my throat.

The night was already deep, umaga na nga ata. Tumunog na yung daily alarm ko every 3 am e.

We were all wasted. Tulog na si Keily while Lance was fixing our table, si Ella nakasandal sakin still murmuring nonsense. While I was looking up the sky, an airplane passed by.

"Ali.. pakiramdam ko isang shot nalang lilipad na ako papunta sayo" I whispered.

I felt a warm hand on my cheek.

"Hey.. I'm bringing Keily sa kwarto niyo, isusunod ko na si Ella, wait for me okay?" I heard a soft voice.

I just waved my hand and went back to my dream.

"Oh Ali.. to be that plane, I'd be crashing down right into you boo.." wow alcohol really hits you huh.

I can no longer feel Ella's heavy head on my shoulder.

"Bat ba anglayo ng new york?!" I slowly stood up and walked drowsily.

"Why'd you leave like that boo?!" I was hysterical, all I could think of is why Ali is not here. Celebrating me, being a doctor.

"San ka boo? sinong kasama mo?" I cried.

All these questions, unanswered. All my prayers, unheard. Why can't I forget you!?

"Please love me.. again." nagulat nalang ako nang wala na akong natatapakan, I fell sa pool. I was such an idiot, I don't know how to swim! Nadagdagan pa ng kalasingan ko.

Nakakalunok na ako ng tubig, I was shouting for help when suddenly I was held by someone.

I was out of my mind, I remembered how Ali tried to teach me how to swim.

~~~~

"B-boo! ah!" I held onto Ali as we were going towards the deep end of the pool.

"What? hahaha stop trying to fly and start trying to swim!" she laughed at me.

"Ano?! niloloko mo ba ako?!" what can I do I was panicking.

"You look like you're flapping your invisible wings boo! hold on to me first" she held my both my hand as I clinged on her back.

"Ihhh, hold me lang pleaseee" I acted cutely para hindi niya ako bitawan.

She just laughed and kissed my hand she was holding.

~~~~

I was already feeling cold, all I know is someone is carrying me pabalik ng kwarto. Lalake to, malaki katawan e.

"Eyy shh shh drop me na I can walk" I tried to wiggle my way out of his hold but he gripped tighter.

"Soph stop, I'm trying to get you to your room so please stay calm" he has such soft voice.

"I said stop!" I stood on my feet though I nearly fell on my back.

He quickly caught me and put my arm around his nape.

"See? stop and I'll take care of you, basang basa ka"

Next thing I felt hiniga na ako sa kama. I felt hands starting to unbutton my shirt.

"Hmm" I groaned.

"You need to change first, don't worry dadalhin kita sa kwarto niyo nila Ella mamaya" he spoke again. His deep voice was melting me.

He started to wipe me with a towel, I felt my upper body was hit with cold air from the aircon of his room.

"Can you continue cleaning yourself in the bathroom?" I heard him ask me.

"Hmm" I just hummed, I know I couldn't.

"Tss, just stay still for me then" he ordered.

I felt my shorts slowly get pulled down. I was too weak to counter his every move.

He wiped my legs and something inside me stirred up like a wave.

"Hmm" I moaned.

I'm currently too drunk to care. I can't even feel my eyes anymore, it's all puffed up, masakit na rin yung lalamunan ko dahil sa tubig kanina.

Then I felt warmth slid down my left leg, his hand was caressing it. It made me lift my body slightly.

"A-ah" I couldn't stop the tingling feeling.

"Soph.." I heard him speak.

"P-please.." I begged.

After that he held my left cheek, next thing I knew he was already kissing my lips, softly at first, then hungrily. He started tracing down kisses on my neck.

"U-ugh" moans came from the both of us.

His every kiss, his tongue, his warmth. Everything felt so good. I grabbed his wet shirt and removed it.

His body came crashing down on mine after he moved me to the middle part of the bed.

I can tell I was down for this, every part of me was aching for something to make me forget.

He reached for the hook of my bra before taking it out and slowly caressing my breasts. The heat was getting too much to handle. I unconsciously grabbed his hair and water came running down my hands.

I moaned to his every action. Kisses filled my upper body as he was tracing down my abdomen.

Loud moans filled the room as we both got lost in our inner demons.

Wet..everything was wet. My body, from my neck, to my nipples, to my stomach. I got startled when his hand went down there. The cloth in it was too thin for me not to feel the electric response of my body.

"A-ali.." I moaned.

Then everything I was feeling just stopped. His hands were nowhere anymore. I opened my eyes and saw he was already dressing me up to new clothes.

"Ali.. please, come back. Hindi mo na ba talaga ako gusto?"

Shit. I thought of it for a second, what the hell did I just say?!

I was about to try to stand up when someone held my cheeks.

"I like you Sophia.. I like you a lot" my head was spinning.

"You mean a lot to me already, I love you. I love you when you don't think of me, I love you when you don't want me, when I mean nothing to you, I love you everyday, everytime. I love you Soph.. when are you going to take that and forget about her?" his soft voice calmed me as I closed my eyes slowly and drifted to slumber.

I woke up and immediately sa Ella and Keily on the other queen sized bed beside mine. I tried to sit up but my head quickly destroys my morning.

"Argh" I groaned in pain waking up Ella.

"Hmm, why?" she softly asked.

"Wala, masakit lang ulo ko" I answered and tried to get up from bed para makapaghilamos na.

I looked at my phone and heck it was already 11:40 am. Damn, I didn't know if I'm hungry or hungover, or maybe both. What the hell even happened last night?

I proceeded to brush my teeth sa banyo when Ella suddenly entered. She sat down sa toilet bowl and yawned.

I suddenly realized I'm not wearing my own clothes, I didn't bring any black oversized. Or did I? fuck alcohol.

"What do you want for lunch?" tanong ni Ella getting up.

"Hmm?" I hummed kasi di pa naman ako tapos magtooth brush.

"Ah ok, ako na oorder" she rolled her eyes.

She was about to leave when she turned to look back at me with squinted eyes before it turned to serious ones.

I spit the water in my mouth before looking back at her.

"What?" I asked confused.

She then grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer to her.

"Huy Ella!" I shouted as she got real close.

"Wha-" she looked at me obviously surprised making me think harder.

"Why?!" I asked.

She pointed at my neck.

"Where the hell did you get that?!" I checked myself sa salamin bago napatakip ako ng bunganga. Damn hickeys.

"Shit.. it wasn't a dream!" I quickly exited the bathroom pushing Ella out.

"What? what wasn't a dream Sophia? I didn't know you invited someone else last night, damn we were dead drunk, where exactly were you after that?!" nagising bigla si Keily sa mga sigaw ni Ella na sumunod sakin sa kama ko.

"I- I was drunk too!" I reasoned.

"Okay?! so what the hell happened?!" Ella insisted, I get that she's worried but I know she understands how getting drunk can do to your mind.

"Hmm, anong nangyayari?" Keily sat up with closed eyes.

"Tell me Sophia, who did you fuck last night?" Ella seriously asked

"WHAT?!" napabaligwas si Keily sa narinig niya which made me cover my face sa hiya.

Ella crossed her arms and sighed hard.

"Speak now or I'll ask Lance" I looked at her surprised.

Her lips then parted.

"OH.. MY GOD" she reacted. Fuck.

"Ella!" she left the room before I could even explain.

I was about to go after her when I felt Keily's hand hold mine.

"Ano bang nangyayari?" she asked while scrubbing her eyes.

"Nothing Keil, you can go back to sleep"

"Ella just said you fucked someone last night, how is that nothing?" she innocently answered.

I sighed before biting my lip and looking away.

Keily might come out as a basic slut from the way she dress and talk, but she's literally the cleanest I know saaming tatlo.

"Look Keil, it's nothing. From what I remember nothing happened, so we're good" I explained.

"Hmm, well.. I guess so" she pouted before standing up at pumunta ng banyo.

Nakahinga ako ng malalim bago lumabas at hanapin si Ella.

As soon as I got out of our room I noticed nakabukas yung door ni Lance which is nasa tapat lang nung samin. Damn it, I knew this shirt wasn't mine.

I barged in Lance's room to look if Ella was already killing him but I saw no one, until I heard voices from the bathroom.

I opened the door and unfortunately saw how Ella slapped Lance.

I gasped which made the two of them look at my direction.

"Soph.." Lance spoke.

"Don't even dare say her name" Ella pushed him.

"Ella!" I grabbed Ella's arm as she was about to push Lance again.

"Ella please! walang nangyari samin!" sigaw ko to stop her from coming at Lance.

"Wag mo nang ideny Sophia! Lance told me something happened, yes you two were drunk but what the hell?! we're friends! isa't isa nalang ang meron tayo magjujug jugan pa kayo?! tangina umamin nalang sana muna kayo na gusto niyo nang magligawan hindi yung bibiglain niyo kami ng ganito.. " Ella snapped before pulling her arm from my hold.

I was left speechless, she's right. We were so reckless.

"I'm just protecting you Sophia, I know hindi ganito ang plano mo.. and you" she pointed at Lance.

"I know just how much you like Sophia , and I've been watching you two ever since kasi kaibigan ko kayo, but you never had the courage na sabihin yun saamin ni Keily na parang wala lang kami. Now you decide you can fuck our best friend since you already got into our circle?! . I'm the eldest here Lance, and as much as I want to rip your head off right now, I'm too busy for my future career than where to dump your dirty body"

Ella held my hand before heading out the bathroom, I was just behind her.

"Ella!" we heard Lance shout.

Then I felt him grab my arm but Ella instantly took his hand off and pushed him back once more.

"You come to me first, no part of you is ever allowed to touch Sophia again unless she permits you to." she looked him in the eye which made Lance look at me asking for help.

"Don't look at her.. wala na akong tiwala sayo Gonzales"

Ella pulled me with her out of the room as I saw Lance sat down sa kama niya with hands on his face.

Ella opened the door to our room angrily which made Keily jump surprised.

"Ay kabayo!" she shouted.

"Pack up your things, we're leaving" Ella commanded.

Keily looked at me confused while I just stood there, it's not new for Ella to go over board from protecting us but this was the first time it ended like this.

"I said fix yourselves, we're leaving!" napabaligwas nalang si Keily bago magayos na ng gamit niya so I just did the same.

We were already in a taxi but nobody dares to make a sound as Ella was infront and Keily and I was at both ends of the back seat.

"Psst" I heard Keily called me.

I looked at her.

"What happened?" she mouthed.

"I'll text you" I whispered.

Nauna nang naibaba si Keily and now I'm getting dropped off sa apartment ko.

I looked back at Ella whose eyes were fixed infront.

I sighed before opening up the gate and going straight to my door.

I laid myself down my bed and unconsciously started to cry.

"Bakit ka ba kasi nagpadala Sophia!? napakalandi naman e" I told myself.

"I know hindi natuloy yung nangyari but still.. damn it angdumi dumi ko na!" iniyak ko nalang lahat hanggang sa makatulog ako sa pagod.

I woke up and it's already 9:36 pm.

"Fuck.." I groaned as I tried to stand up and wash my self before trying to find something to eat. Uminom na rin ako ng gamot para sa sakit ng ulo.

Kumakain ako ng pinadeliver ko while checking my phone.

"2 unread messages from Ella"

"Soph I'm sorry kung nawala ako isip ko kanina, just don't drink and get raped again"

"Beep me when you forgive me"

I smiled.

"I'm not mad Els, I know you're just concerned" I replied.

The next notification made me laugh.

"6 unread messeages from Keily"

"Gurl anong nangyari?"

"Huy reply naman jan"

"Ano na san na yung tsaa ko?"

"Puta pag ikaw nakatulog Sophia Hannah"

"Ahhggdkakdjfjflsskdl nagantay ako e!"

"I'll go there tomorrow"

I rolled my eyes before laughing again, I forgot nagpapakwento nga pala tong si Keily.

"No need, I'll call tomorrow morning. Goodnight Keil" I replied before putting down my phone and proceeding to wash the dishes.

After that naisip kong magayos ng gamit at magwalis sa apartment, baka aalis na rin ako dito sometime this year kung makahanap na ako ng trabaho.

I was fixing my shoe rack kaya pinagpag ko sa labas yung mga sapatos ko when I saw a box sa tabi ng pintuan ko.

Huh? was this here before? whose is this?

It was wrapped in kraft paper and may piece of envelope sa taas kaya binuksan ko baka naligaw lang.

"You never fail to make me proud Anna" I read the content and got confused, that's my name right?

I mean may iba pa bang Anna na nangungupahan dito? I know a Joy sa 2nd floor. I decided na itext nalang si lola para makasigurado.

"La? gising pa ho ba kayo? may napansin ho ba kayong nagpaabot ng package saakin kanina or kagabi?"

"Saiyo iyan iha, ipinaabot lang ng lalaki kagabi pa"

Ha? so hindi ko lang napansin kaninang papasok ako?

"Okay po salamat" I put my phone down and went to get the box before opening it sa table.

I gasped sa nakita kong laman, I double checked if namamalik mata lang ako or what but it's real.

I immediately called Ella.

"Oh bakit? sino nanaman ngayon ha?"

"Els! hindi yon!"

"Oh bakit nga? inaantok pako e"

"Did you send me a gift?"

"Ha? anong gift?"

"Littman Cardiology IV stethoscope"

"What?!" I heard her voice louden.

"E hindi ko nga mabilhan yung sarili ko ng ganyan e! I have a gift for you yes but it's still here sa cabinet ko, that's not mine" I furrowed my brows.

"O-okay, I'll call Keily"

"She's asleep Soph"

"Ah.. well sige bukas nalang" I ended the call still surprised.

I slowly and carefully held the gift, it felt too special on ny hands. This is such a dream, I can't even think of how did this get here.

I tried wearing it and it made me so happy, sobrang mahal nito, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari.

Tumalon talon ako sa saya, kung sino ka man mahal na ata kita.

But then my mind went to something it shouldn't have. Is it Lance?

I wanted to ask him but my hands won't cooperate as it trembles holding my phone.

Humiga nalang ako at huminga ng malalim. I'll wait for his move nalang.

Patulog na ako when my phone beeped.

I read the text from an unknown number and tears suddenly escaped from my eyes.

"Hi boo, I know hindi ka pa cardiologist but I know dun din ang punta mo. Congratulations. I hope you like it, I miss you."

~~~~~~~

uwu:>