Nakaramdam si Fresia ng kilabot sa batok nang marinig iyon. Mickey, who was looking behind her, smirked. Nang lumingon siya, nakatayo na roon si Bullet. Lumapit ito at umakbay sa kanya. "You're on my seat," sabi nito sa lalaki.

Bullet was looking all serious and stern, natakot tuloy 'yong lalaking nanggugulo sa kanya. The guy apologized and left.

"Yours?" taas-kilay niyang tanong nang sila na lamang ang nandoon.

Ngumiti si Bullet. "Effective, di ba? He left you alone."

"Ah..." Ngayon naiintindihan na niya. "So that's what you did."

"I drove him away." Inalis nito ang pagkakaakbay sa kanya saka ito bumalik sa pwesto nito kanina.

"Didn't you even stop to think that I might want to have a drink with him?"

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Seriously? With that guy?"

"Yes! Seriously."

Pupuntahan na sana niya ang lalaki nang bigla siya nitong hilahin pabalik.

"Galit ka? May nagawa na naman ba akong mali?" may pag-aalala nitong tanong.

Nag-iinit na naman ang ulo niya. He was so casual with things. Ni hindi man lang nito iniisip kung ano ang epekto ng mga sinasabi nito sa kanya. She couldn't even tell him why she's mad because it's embarrassing!

"Nothing," she answered. Binawi niya ang kamay at saka muling naupo. "Let's just drink."

Hindi na siya pinilit ni Bullet na magsabi kung ano ang problema. But he was watching her drink, natatakot sigurong mapasobra na naman siya. He let her have five more glasses of liquor. She was already feeling tipsy after that.

When Mickey gave her another one, Bullet quickly took it away.

"That's enough." Binalingan nito si Mickey at sinabing, "No more drinks for Fresia."

Mickey gave him a salute and tended to his other customers. Seryoso si Bullet nang muling tumingin sa kanya. He must be really scared to be puked at again.

"Why don't we call it a night?"

"It's still early."

Hindi pa naman nadu-doble ang paningin niya. Para lamang siyang naka-salamin nang may grado kahit hindi niya kailangan. She's already glassy-eyed, but she could drink some more.

"Last one," sabi niya rito. Inagaw niya ang baso ng alak at saka iyon tinungga. Napangiwi siya nang gumuhit iyon sa lalamunan niya.

Bullet took the empty glass from her hand and said, "You've had your fill. I'll take you home."

Suminghot siya. "Your home or my home?" lito niyang tanong.

--

How does one resist temptation? Nakailang buntong-hininga na si Bullet mula nang makalabas sila ni Fresia ng bar ni Mickey. She told him earlier that flirting makes her uncomfortable, so he stopped. Ngayon, ito naman ang lumalandi sa kanya. Ano ba talaga?

Nakakapit ito sa batok niya habang alalay niya ito papunta sa kotse. And when he opened the door and tried to sit her down, she almost pulled him down with her. Good thing he was quick enough to strap her seatbelt on.

Habang nagda-drive ay pabaling-baling ito sa kanya at sa bintana sa tabi nito.

"Which home?" tanong nitong muli sa kanya.

"Yours."

Ngumuso ito. "You'll sleep on my couch then?"

Tumango siya. Where else would he sleep?

"Let's play some music!"

He helped her find a decent radio station. Nang hindi kasi nito mabuksan ang radio ay sinimulan nito iyong pukpukin. Masisira lamang iyon kung hindi niya ito tutulungan.

Fresia made him stop searching when she heard the song from Spice Girls. Saka ito bumanat ng kanta. She was so out of tune, it was almost scandalous! Ang sarap nitong i-video, but he was driving so he couldn't.

After the song from Spice Girls, sumunod naman ang kantang Macarena. Hindi na siya magkandamayaw kakatawa nang samahan pa ni Fresia ng sayaw ang kanta.

She definitely made it rain. Inabot sila ng ulan dahil kanta ito nang kanta. And she has no shame this time, all inhibitions were drowned by the alcohol. It was fun watching her lose herself in a song. She even urged him to sing with her.

He didn't expect to enjoy the ride so much. Medyo nadismaya pa siya nang makarating sila kaagad sa bahay nito. Iba talaga kapag nag-i-enjoy ka. Mas mabilis ang oras. Even the traffic didn't slow them down.

Tinanggal niya ang jacket bago lumabas ng kotse. Isinaklob niya iyon sa ulo ni Fresia saka nila tinakbo ang apartment nito. Nakahawak ito sa bewang niya habang binubuksan niya ang pinto. She's almost ready to fall down.

Iniupo niya ito sa couch pagkapasok sa apartment. Sumandal so Fresia sa upuan at pumikit. He went to the kitchen to brew some coffee. Naghanap rin siya ng malulutong soup pero walang masyadong laman ang refrigerator. Puro cup noodles naman ang nasa cupboard. Hindi talaga yata namimili si Fresia dahil hindi naman ito nagluluto. Prito-prito lang. But fried food won't do her any good right now.

"What are you looking for?"

Napapitlag siya nang bigla itong sumulpot sa tagiliran niya. She's leaning on the counter. Papikit-pikit ang mga mata nito, pabagsak na ang mga talukap. Pulang-pula na rin ang mga pisngi nito dahil sa kalasingan.

"You should sit down," sabi niya rito.

Kumapit ito at sumandal sa braso niya. "You have big arms," she commented.

"Fresia..."

She looked up and smiled. "What?"

"You're drunk."

"No! I'm not drunk!" Lumayo ito sa kanya at sinubukang maglakad nang tuwid. She ended up zigzagging back to the living room. "See?"

Shaking his head, he poured the freshly brewed coffee in two cups. Nilagyan niya nang maraming gatas ang kape ni Fresia. She likes her coffee sweet and creamy.

He put his cup on the coffee table and gave her hers.

"Here. Drink your coffee."

"I don't want coffee." Isinubsob nito ang mukha sa dibdib niya.

He exhaled. What the fuck is she doing? Why is she making patterns on his chest? Wala na talaga ito sa sarili. Naibaba niya ang hawak na cup nang bigla itong yumakap sa kanya.

"What do you want then?"

Fresia puckered her lips. Tapos ay bigla nitong tinakpan ang mukha, parang nahihiya.

"Do you want a kiss?"

She bit her lower lip and nodded. Agad siyang napaurong. Kung ano naman ang urong niya ay siyang lapit nito. He reached the corner of the couch. Iniharang naman nito ang braso para hindi siya makaalis. She was pinning him down.

Napamura siya. Kung hindi lang ito lasing, baka game na game pa siya sa gusto nitong gawin. But she's drunk. She's really drunk.

"I didn't say you could kiss me."

Fresia grinned widely. "Can I?"

"No!"

"Yes?"

Idinikit nito ang katawan sa kanya. Napahigit siya ng hininga. Why does this have to be complicated? Why does it have to be her thing? Why can't she be a normal drunk?

Her eyes were languid. He could smell the alcohol in her breath. He could feel the warmth of her body. Her wet lips are just begging to be kissed and God help him, he's so tempted to just take the chance... kahit alam niya kung ano ang consequence.

Nakatingin lamang ito sa kanya, parang humihingi ng permiso. Hindi naman siya makaiwas sa titig nito. He likes looking at her face because Fresia is truly beautiful. Iba ang hatak ng ganda nito sa kanya. Hindi nakakasawa. And she actually has the brains and personality to go with that look.

His gaze went down on her lips when she licked it. Wala ring silbi kung manlalaban pa siya. Alam niya sa sarili niyang gustong-gusto niya itong halikan. Mula kagabi pa. When he first saw her outside his unit with the cupcake box on her hands, he wanted to kiss her.

Nang isuot nito ang damit niya. Nang halos hubarin nito iyon nang harapin nito si Mari. Nang tumingin ito sa kanya pagkatapos niya itong pasalamatan.

At ngayong nakatingin ito sa kanya, na para bang naghihintay ng permiso...

He let out a sigh and nodded. Fresia understood. She smiled and crossed the distance between their lips. Hers tasted bitter and sweet, soft and warm. He opened his mouth to welcome her tongue.

Ninamnam niya ang mga labi nito. He didn't want it to end. He wanted to go beyond the kiss, somewhere where he could make her his, if only for one night.

But the inevitable eventually came. Fresia froze for a moment and he mentally readied himself for what's about to come. Iniiwas niya ang mukha nang humiwalay ito sa kanya.

--

Mabigat na mabigat ang ulo ni Fresia nang magising. Masakit din ang lalamunan niya. She knew she got drunk last night. Wala siyang maalala, e. Hanggang sa bar lamang ni Mickey ang natatandaan niya. After that, it was all a blur that doesn't make any sense.

Kinusot niya ang mata at naniningkit na tiningnan ang digital clock sa tabi niya. It's already seven in the morning. Nakaalis na siguro si Bullet.

She tried getting up to check if he made something for her hangover. Pero hindi siya makabangon dahil may mabigat na nakadagan sa kanya. She looked down on her body and saw an arm draped over her stomach.

Agad siyang kinabahan. Who's with her last night?

Dahan-dahan niyang nilingon ang katabi. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita kung sino ito. Nagpumiglas siya sa yakap nito, but that only made him tighten his embrace.

"Let me go!"

Siniko niya ang lalaki kaya nabitawan siya nito. Pero dahil maliit lamang ang kama niya ay sa isang direksyon lamang siya napunta. Down... on the floor. Napangiwi siya nang bumagsak ang katawan sa sahig. But the surprise didn't end there! She's only wearing her bra and panty!

Napanganga siya nang bumangon si Bullet. He's not wearing any shirt! And possible, no bottoms too! What did he do to her?!

Tumayo siya at pinaghahampas ito ng unan.

"Why are you in my bed?! Who let you come in here?! Get out! OUT!"

Sinalag nito ang panghahampas niya. But he got off her bed. Thankfully, he's wearing his boxers.

"Why am I in your bed? Just look at the freaking couch and you'll know!" iritado nitong sagot.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. The couch? What happened to her couch? Did she do that thing again? With him, again?!

"Yes, you kissed me and then vomitted all over me," sabi nito sa kanya. Mukhang nabasa yata nito ang iniisip niya.

Napaupo siya sa kama. "Why did you let me get drunk?" may panunumbat niyang tanong.

"Kasalanan ko pa? Ayaw mong tumigil sa kaiinom. I tried to stop you but you're too stubborn!"

"Then you should have dragged me outside!"

"I dragged your ass outside," he said grimly. "I also changed your clothes, brushed your teeth, and scrubbed the floor. Ngayon, sabihin mo sa 'kin kung pang-aabuso ba'ng pakikitulog ko sa kwarto mo dahil sinukahan mo 'yong tulugan ko."

Wala siyang naisagot.

"I told you not to get drunk. Naglalasing ka pa kasi, alam mo namang wala kang kontrol sa sarili mo!" pangangaral nito.

Napayuko siya sa kahihiyan. "Sorry," mahina niyang sambit.

Bullet exhaled. Nakonsensya siyang bigla sa pagsigaw-sigaw niya rito kanina. Kasalanan naman pala niya pero iba ang sinisisi niya. Umiling ito at saka lumabas ng kwarto. She followed him to tha living room. Kitang-kita ang malaking marka sa gilid ng couch na gawa ng suka niya.

"Nakasampay sa banyo 'yong mga damit natin," sabi nito sa kanya.

Poor guy. She made him wash their clothes. She liked seeing him hald-naked, but he can't go out like that. May trabaho pa naman ito. Paano ito lalabas ng apartment niya na naka-boxers lang?

Bumalik siya sa kwarto para maghanap ng damit na pwedeng ipasuot dito. Nakakita siya ng isang damit na panglalaki sa kailaliman ng drawer niya. It must be Richard's. May naiwan pa palang damit nito roon.

She gave it to him and told him to wear it for the meantime.

"Kanino 'to?"

"Baka kay Richard."

Bullet threw the shirt away. She picked it up and handed it to him. "Isuot mo na muna. Ngayon lang naman, e."

"I'd rather be naked than wear his shirt. Why do you still have that anyway? Ang dapat dito, sinisira." He tore the shirt after saying that. Itinapon nito iyon sa basurahan. "Just give me my shirt back. Ibabalik ko na lang sa 'yo sa isang araw."

Tumango siya at hinanap ang damit nito sa hamper. Iyon na lamang ang isinuot nito.

"Magsuot ka rin ng damit," sabi nito sa kanya.

Saka lang niya naalalang underwear nga lang pala ang suot niya. Tinakpan niya ang kahubdan at saka naghanap ng damit sa closet. She settled for a tank top and shorts. Bullet was already wearing his jeans when she walked out. It wasn't soiled like his shirt.

"Aalis ka na?"

"I'll just buy some pancakes. Walang makakain sa bahay mo," sagot nito.

"Sama 'ko." She took a sweater and put it over her top.

Nagpunta sila sa isang fast food restaurant. Bullet ordered a pancake meal for each of them. Kape ang kasalo ng meal nito. Hot choco naman ang sa kanya.

He looked annoyed. Salubong na salubong ang mga kilay nito habang kumakain.

"Sorry ulit," sabi niya. "Ipalilinis ko agad 'yong cushions pag-uwi ko."

Tumingin lamang ito sa kanya at tahimik na uminom ng kape.

"Do'n ka na lang matulog sa... sa kwarto ko. I can sleep on the floor. May extrang mattress naman sa apartment."

"Do you think I'll let you sleep on the floor?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. Ano ba ang gusto nitong mangyari? He can't sleep on the couch for now. Ayaw naman nito sa kama niya. Ano ba ang gusto nito, sa sahig ito matulog?

"Saan mo ba gustong matulog? Sa sahig?" pagkaklaro niya.

She took a sip of her drink while waiting for his answer.

When he finally decided, he answered, "On your bed. With you."

Bigla siyang nasamid.