KABANATA 73

Cheers For New Year, New Life!

(Gabion POV)

Nasa iisang table lang kami ng mga kaibigan ko habang patuloy ang party.

I studied Arzelle, the way she moved, the way she talked and laugh. Was there something submissive in the way she lowered her eyes with a sighed? She is showing some clues about feeling sad and bored. Halata kahit sa mga ngiti niya.

I usually sensed these emotions of her mula pa nung dumating kami rito, and my friends, they didn’t sense her gloom, but maybe that was because I’d known her for so long kaya mas ramdam at pansin ko sa mga kilos niya ang lungkot.

Nararamdaman niya kaya na nahalata kong pilit niya lang makipagsabayan sa mga kaibigan namin at ayaw masira ang gabing ito na dapat kasiyahan lamang?

Ade poured another round of champagne as midnight crept closer. I wasn’t drunk enough, but I didn’t dare drink more. One look from Arzelle, one innocent kiss at midnight could easily go sideways if I let down my guard again.

Hindi ko yon hahayaan! Ayaw kong maging mapa