Confused by his own actions, Sage continued drinking whisky on his own. Sinubukan niya ring gisingin si Ken pero tulad ng dati, napakalalim ng tulog nito.

Nagsimulang umambon pero kahit napapatakan na ang mukha nito, hindi pa rin nagising ang dalaga. Madalas man silang hindi nagkakasundo, ayaw niya pa ring magka-pneumonia si Ken kaya binuhat ito ni Sage papasok ng penthouse at inilapag sa kama niya.

"Ano bang gagawin ko sa'yo?" He sighed in frustration. Sa rami ng nainom, nahihilo na rin si Sage kaya alam niyang hindi niya maaasikaso si Ken kung tumuloy man ang dalaga sa drunk stages nito.

He took another glance at the girl as she turned to her other side, letting out a small moan in her sleep. The strap of her sundress fell off her left shoulder and her dress rode up a bit, exposing more of her shapely thighs. 

Even in her sleep, she managed to incite unwelcomed involuntary reactions from his body. "You're definitely not sleeping on my bed," Sage said, determined to take her home.

* * *

His head was spinning as his fingers fumbled with 27G's electronic lock. Sage never would've guessed that a simple 1-2-3-4 could be so hard to press. Kaya siguro 'yon ang passcode ni Ken dahil madalas maglasing ang babaeng ito.

Pagewang-gweang ang paglalakad niya habang buhat ang dalaga at ilang beses din silang muntik matumba bago makarating sa kwarto ni Ken.

He sighed in relief after clumsily laying her on the bed. Mission accomplished.

As Sage turned to leave, she pulled the hem of his shirt which caused him to lose his balance and fall on the bed. Mahigpit siyang niyakap ni Ken nang mapahiga siya sa tabi nito. She was drunk but he was unsure if she was talking in her sleep or just half asleep. "Don't leave," she pleaded. "I'm hungry."

Umikot ang kuwarto sa paningin ni Sage. Sinubukan niyang paulit-ulit na isara at buksan ang mga mata habang hinihiling na mawala ang pagkalasing niya pero parang lalo lang siyang nahilo. Tiningnan niya ang katabi niyang nakayakap pa rin sa kanya at nakitang nakapikit na ang mga mata nito pero nakakunot ang noo.

Napangiti si Sage. Even in her sleep, Ken was grumpy. He placed his finger on her crumpled forehead and massaged the area between her eyebrows to make them relax. Hindi nawala ang ngiti niya but after a few seconds, he realized what he was doing and he quickly withdrew his hand.

He needed to leave while he was still thinking straight and before Ken progressed to her drunk stages. Marahan niyang tinanggal ang mga kamay ni Ken at sa kabutihang-palad, hindi ito tuluyang nagising. Sage stood up with difficulty and hurried out of her room without looking back. He couldn't risk taking a last glance, baka magbago pa ang isip niya sa pag-alis.

* * *

Halos gapangin ni Sage ang daan pabalik sa penthouse dahil sa rami ng beses na natumba siya sa kalasingan. Sa banyo siya dumiretso para isuka ang alak.

He massaged his temples and tried to focus his vision. Nakatayo naman siya nang diretso matapos ang ilang minuto. Hating alcohol breath, he started to brush his teeth right away. He washed his face afterwards and stared at his reflection on the bathroom mirror. "You know how awful you feel when drunk, bakit mo pa kasi pinagbigyan si Ken?" saway niya sa sariling reflection.

Nakipag-away na si Sage nang lasing.

Nakapagsaway na siya ng ibang lasing habang siya mismo, lasing din.

Nakapag-hallucinate na rin siya ng kung ano-ano sa sobrang kalasingan.

Pero ngayon lang nangyaring nag-hallucinate siya ng away sa pagitan niya at ng reflection niya matapos niyang sawayin ito.

"It's 'cause you like her," said his reflection. Sage was so intoxicated that he failed to recognize the absurdity of the situation as he continued arguing with a figment of his imagination.

"No way, she's not my type," Sage replied in defense.

"Wala ka namang type eh. You just magically get along with everyone and the girls fall for you and you go date them for fun. Ken is an exception, aside from not falling for your charm, you rarely get along. Kaya mo siya gusto," his reflection said, with a knowing smile.

May point naman 'yong hallucination niya pero hindi ito basta-bastang tatanggapin ni Sage. "Hindi ko siya gusto, ako na nga ang lumayo kahit niyakap niya ako kanina sa unit niya, 'di ba?"

"But you wanted to stay, right?"

"That's nonsense. I didn't want to stay. I'm just a normal guy at aminin na natin, kung makarating siya sa Stage Four at pinatulan ko siya, she'd murder me when she sobers up. Ayaw ko lang masayang ang kaguwapuhan ko 'pag ginawa niya akong punching bag."

"Bullshit, Sage. You left because you care about what she thinks and how she feels. Kung papatulan mo siya sa Stage Four, it would ruin whatever you have with her and you don't want that."

"Kung ano man 'yang sinasabi mong meron sa 'min, it does not exist. In fact, we have a mutual dislike for each other."

"So kissing is a sign of mutual dislike?"

"It was in the heat of the moment. It didn't mean anything!"

"Are you sure? You enjoyed every moment of it. Did you even want to stop?"

"It was purely physical. No feelings involved. She's a great kisser, 'di ko ba pwedeng i-appreciate 'yon?"

"Okay, kunwari naniniwala ako sa'yo—"

"You are so stubborn!"

"I'm you, anong in-expect mo?"

"Can you just stop? I feel nothing for Kendra, okay? I can only like one girl at si Yumi 'yon. May kakaibang epekto si Ken sa 'kin kasi naaalala ko si Yumi sa kanya, maybe because of her eyes and her martial arts talent but that's it. Nothing more."

"You tried to dim a whole city just so you could cheer her up."

"It wasn't a big deal. Bakit ba pinipilit mo?"

"Not a big deal? You now owe Teri a favor and you know that it's not going to be a simple one."

"Saka na natin problemahin 'yon. Ang importante, ngumiti na si Ken."

"Aha! Tama ako!" his reflection exclaimed while pointing at him. "You obviously like her," it said with a triumphant grin.

"Nilalagyan mo na lang ng meaning ang lahat, pwede bang I'm just trying to be nice?"

"You weren't that nice to any of your exes. Wala ka pa ngang nadadalang babae dito maliban kay Ken eh."

Sage groaned. "Give me a break. I'm drunk, kalokohan lang ang mga pinagsasabi ko."

"A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts, right?"

"Wrong. Fuck off." He left the bathroom, pissed at his own hallucinated reflection.

Humiga siya sa kama at pinag-isipan ang naging pakikipagtalo niya sa sarili. He realized how stupid it was to have argued with himself but he was still angry that his reflection presented good points that he just couldn't ignore.

Sage tried to overcome the dizziness while thinking of something to blame for his words and actions earlier. Kailangan niyang patunayan na mali ang Sage sa salamin dahil wala siyang feelings.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, finally finding something to blame. "Beer, wine and whisky, ang dami ko palang nainom. No wonder I did weird things."

And just like that, he was able to convince himself that he didn't need to worry about hallucinated Sage's words.