WITH THE widest smile his lips could possibly muster, Nowi put his phone in his pocket to finally go to Karson. Hawak-hawak niya ang camera'ng nakasabit sa leeg niya nang makabangga niya si Jemay. Buong gabi siya nitong kinukulit. Ilang beses itong nagpakuha ng picture sa kanya. Some were just solo pictures.

        "Nowi~ kanina pa kita hinahanap," Jemay cooed. She even gripped the hem of his shirt. Napansin kasi nito agad ang akmang pag-iwas niya. "Akala ko, you went home na, e. Sama ka sa 'min ng friends ko. Dance tayo!"

        Nowi carefully removed her hands from his shirt. Mahirap na. Kahit madilim at kumikislap ang ilaw sa bar, baka may kung sinong kumuha at magpakalat ng picture nila ng babae. "Sorry, I can't. I'm looking for someone."

        "Sino naman?" Muling yumapos sa kanya si Jemay. "I'm down pa rin naman even if you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend."

        "Well, I'm not down kasi, e. I'm just not that kind of person." He sighed exasperatedly before pushing her away. "I'm sorry but I have to go."

        Nowi frantically searched for Karson after that. Mas lalo kasing naging wild sa Blve. Mas dumami ang tao kaya mas umingay at mas sumikip. Apart from that, he was worried Karson saw that little stunt Jemay pulled.

        He was in the middle of calling her when he caught a glimpse of her, exiting the restroom.

        Nakipagsiksikan si Nowi. Maraming nagreklamo. Someone even cursed him in Filipino and English. Still, he managed to brave the crowd to get to Karson.

        "Miss Chua, do you recognize me pa ba?" Kumaway-kaway siya sa harap ng babae. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She also seemed asleep despite standing up. Nakayuko ito, natatakpan ng buhok ang mga mata. "Karson?"

        Malakas na napasinghap si Karson. "Yes po? This is noted po, I'll update you later," she said, loudly.

        "You're not in the office," Nowi mumbled, chuckling.

        When she didn't respond, he went ahead and draped her right arm around his nape. Maingat niya itong inalalayan. Sinabayan at ginabayan din niya ang maliliit nitong hakbang. Nang mapagtantong baka siyam-siyam ang abutin nila, saglit niyang isinandal si Karson sa isang pader.

        "Miss Chua, is it okay if I carry you to my car?" He bit his lip. "It would be faster kasi."

        With eyes still shut, Karson hugged her purse. "Okay lang pero—" Sinenyasan siya nitong lumapit. Nowi obliged with a cheeky smile. "—sabi mo, iki-kiss mo 'ko. Nasa'n na?"

        Mahina siyang natawa sa tanong nito. "Tequila makes you clingy pala. That is noted."

        Karson looked at him with pleading eyes. She even batted her lashes. Ngumuso rin ito nang ilang segundo na at hindi pa rin umiimik si Nowi. Nangingiti niyang sinipit sa tainga ang ilan nitong hibla ng buhok. He gulped several times when she leaned into his touch.

        "Just one kiss, okay?" malambing niyang tanong. "After that, we'll go home na, yeah?"

        She nodded in agreement.

        Smiling, Nowi leaned in. He was planning for a chaste kiss but Karson wasn't. Ito mismo ang yumakap sa kanya para palalimin ang halik na iginawad niya. He smiled against the kiss. He was cheated but it didn't feel like it.

        Naisahan man siya ni Karson, panalong-panalo naman ang pakiramdam niya.

        "Miss Chua," bulong niya. "We should stop muna. Let's go to my car na, yeah?"

        "Mm-hmm."

        Buong ingat niyang pinasan si Karson sa likod niya. Thankfully, she wasn't too drunk to hold onto his neck. Ngumiti si Nowi bilang paalam kay Blue, 'yong may-ari ng bar. Kumaway lang din ito. Blue even shook his head, smiling, upon seeing Karson's state.

        When they finally reached the car, Nowi reclined the passenger seat. Tinulungan niyang umupo roon si Karson. Siya na rin ang nag-lock ng seat belt nito. After locking his own seat belt, he messaged Jai.

        Humingi kasi ito ng update. Nag-aalala na raw si Monica sa pinsan.

        The whole drive was okay. Paminsan-minsang bumubulong si Karson pero walang naintindihan si Nowi. Parang random na syllables nga lang ang iba. Still, he enjoyed her company. He enjoyed throwing her glances every time the traffic lights switched.

        It was weird. Kahit universal truth nang mahirap mag-alaga ng lasing, natuwa pa rin siya. It just felt nice to take care of Karson and to be responsible for her.

        He turned the engine off. Naiwan sa hangin ang marahang paghinga ni Karson na sinabayan ng "I Want to Know What Love Is" ng Foreigner mula sa car radio. Umayos ito ng upo kaya nabitiwan nito ang purse.

        Sighing, Nowi bent down and reached for her purse. Sinabit niya ang strap niyon sa kaliwang palapulsuhan ni Karson. Segundo ang lumipas. If it weren't for a notification from Monica, he might have spent minutes just staring at her hand.

        Pero mabuti na rin siguro iyon. The urge to hold Karson's hand was getting harder to fight anyway.

        "Miss Chua, we're here na." He lightly tapped her cheek after unlocking her seat belt. Wala pa rin itong reaksyon. "Your friends are worried na. Let's go inside na, yeah? Uhm. . . can you hold onto me ba?"

        When she slowly nodded, he held her arm again. Maingat din niyang inabot at pinagilid ang mga binti nito. Matapos iyon, nakatalikod siyang lumuhod. He reached for her arms.

        "Hold onto me, okay? We're almost there."

        Karson just hummed in response as he gave her a piggyback ride. Mabuti na lang at nakaabang sina Jai sa gate. Nagmamadali nitong binuksan iyon. Monica's brows were furrowed. Si Lilith naman ay patawa-tawa lang habang nakalabas at nakatutok ang phone sa kanila.

        Bumuga ng hangin si Nowi. "Which way to her bedroom?"

        "Here."

        Naunang lumakad si Monica. Ito na rin ang nagbukas ng pinto.

        Dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba si Karson sa kama. He and Monica were about to leave when Karson grabbed his hand. "Nowi. . ."

        Saglit silang nagkatinginan ni Monica. "Ikaw ata 'yong reason kung ba't siya nagpakalango," buntonghininga nitong sabi. "I'll give you a few minutes. May gusto 'yang sabihin sa 'yo, e."

        "Uh, thanks?" Nowi mumbled as Monica shut the door behind her. Muli siyang hinila ni Karson. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nagpatangay na siya. Umupo siya sa gilid ng kama. "Miss Chua?"

        Karson tried her best to open her eyes. When she found the light too blinding, Nowi immediately turned it off. Bumalik siya sa tabi ng babae pagkatapos.

        "Thank you," bulong ni Karson. "Alam mo. . . first time kasi 'to."

        "What do you mean?"

        "'Yong ganito na—" Pilit nitong nilabanan ang hikab na kalaunan ay nakawala rin. "—hindi ko alam kung ano mangyayari. I don't know what to do."

        "With what?"

        "With you." Karson sighed. "Gusto kita i-hug. Gusto kita i-kiss."

        Nowi suddenly wished the lights were on. Natitigan niya sana ang babae sa mata habang sinasabi nito iyon. Nagpakatotoo naman na ito kanina. Karson confessed on the phone. The first was through a voice message. The second time was on a written message full of typographical errors.

        Still, the effect was the same. Parang sasabog ang buong katawan ni Nowi sa tuwa. Marahan niyang hinaplos ang buhok ni Karson. "Why do you want to hug and kiss me? Is that all ba? Is it physical lang?"

        "No, hindi. . . I just. . ." She opened her eyes. Mapungay ang mga mata nito dahil sa alcohol. Nowi didn't mind. He was sure she wouldn't lie despite being drunk. Sigurado rin siyang hindi nito babawiin anuman ang sasabihin nito habang lasing. "Gusto kong nasa malapit ka lagi."

        Hinila siya nito palapit. Nowi ended up laying on the bed, right beside her. Umayos at tumagilid siya para matingnan si Karson sa mata. "This close ba?"

        "Mm-hmm." She let out a small laugh. "Gusto kasi kita. Gustong—" Hikab. "—gusto."

        Tuluyang kumawala ang ngiting kanina pa pinipigilan ni Nowi. "Me, too. I like you, too, Karson," he whispered as he kissed the tip of her nose. "So much."

        "Hmm. . ." Karson hummed. Huminga ito nang malalim pagkatapos. "Kiss. . ."

        She trailed off afterward. Nowi laughed softly upon realizing she had fallen asleep before finishing her thought. Gayunpaman, parang alam naman na niya ang balak nitong sabihin. Maingat siyang umupo. He leaned closer to her and lifted her chin.

        "Goodnight, Miss Chua." He hastily planted a soft kiss on her lips.

        Nowi stopped in his tracks. May narinig kasi siyang tumikhim sa pintuan. It was Jai. He didn't notice him come in. Smiling apologetically, he made his way out of Karson's bedroom.

        That stupid, goofy smile on his face stayed even after Jai lectured him. Puro tango lang ang ginawa niya. Sigurado naman kasi siyang protective lang ito kay Karson. Besides, he had always been sincere with his feelings for Karson.

        Nowi had good intentions. He had Karson's words repeatedly ringing in his head, too.

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