Chapter Three: Best Thing

"Hey, kasama mo naman na ako who are you still texting with?" Justin asked as he gave my shoulder a soft kiss. Pasimple kong ibinaba ang phone ko at nginitian siya.

"Sorry, it's dad. Sinabihan niya kasi ako na itext pa rin siya every once in a while. You know him.. hindi naman siya mahigpit sa'kin but then he wants to be updated," I lied.

Because the truth is, I am texting with Nicolas. Nandito rin naman siya sa bar kahit na hindi ko siya nakikita and he just can't stop texting me like warning me about my off shoulder top na mas bumababa and if there is anyone he think na trip ako dahil panay daw ang tingin sa'kin.

Justin clutched one of my hand and brought it to his lips. "Nandito ako. I may not be the bravest person in the world, but I won't let anyone hurt you."

Supposedly, dapat kiligin ako di ba? But hearing those words kinda made me sad in a sense that it reminds me of Nicolas and the fact that we will always be just friends we'll never cross the line, ever.

"Are you okay?" it's Justin's voice and tbe loud music that pulled me from my trance. Sunod-sunod ang pagtango ko.

"Yeah. I just kinda feel dizzy with the smoke. Matagal na kasi nung last time na nagpunta ako sa bar kaya medyo naninibago ako ngayon," pagdadahilan ko and sipped from my cocktail para hindi mahalata ang pagsisinungaling ko.

The last time I went to a bar was during Nicolas' eighteenth birthday. It was one of the best night of my life. I got way drunker than him na para ngang ako raw ang may birthday at hindi siya. The morning after, napagalitan siya nina Tito Blaise and Tita Arya for letting me drink beyond my capacity.

Hanggang ngayon naaalala ko pa rin ang reaksyon niya. He was too cute. 'Yong tipong gusto niya ipagtanggol ang sarili niya pero di niya magawa dahil mas lalo siyang malalagot kaya nakatingin lang siya sa'kin nang masama.

"If you want.. pwede naman tayong pumunta sa ibang lugar? I mean it's obvious as well that you don't like Jace's crowd" he asked which alarmed me. Ito na kaya yung sinasabi ni Nic?

I kept my composure then shook my head. I'm not enjoying this party because no one is talking to me aside from him pero ayoko pa rin pumunta sa isang lugar na kaming dalawa lang.

"No, it's okay. I like it here," I said and I wish he won't force it. He then smiled that made me relieve.

"Alright, I won't force it. How about I get you another drink? Jace is friends with the bartender here and he makes delicious cocktails. Wanna try it?"

"Sure," pagpayag ko na ikinatuwa niya. I'm just glad right now that he did not force me and I get to prove Nic that he's wrong. 

"I'll be back," bago pa ako makagalaw he has already managed to inched his face towards mine and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. Hindi naman matagal 'yon but it startled me.

Nang makaalis na siya saktong nagring ang phone ko.

"Did that fucker just kiss you?" Nic asked angrily.

"It was a smack. Hindi ko napigilan, nagulat din ako," I reasoned which is true. I heard him breathed harshly.

"Sa ganyan yan nagsisimula, Millicent! Go get your purse and we're leaving!"

"Nicolas.."

"How can you expect me to calm down? Ninakawan ka ng halik ng gagong yan! He's not even your boyfriend!"

"Stop overreacting! Natural lang naman na gawin niya 'yon since I'm also letting him feel na gusto ko siya!"

He has no answer at that. Bago pa ako makapagsalita, napatay niya na ang tawag. Damn him!

"Hey it's here!" Justin is back and he's carrying two glasses which I suppose the other one is for him.

"Go have a taste," tinikman ko yung cocktail and it's really good.

"You like it?" I nodded smiling because it didn't disappoint me.

Justin and I then started talking more about his friends and his plans after college. The question about his ex girlfriend is itching at the back of my head pero pinigilan ko because I don't think this is the good place and time to ask that.

I don't know how long it is already when suddenly.. bigla na lang akong nakaramdam ng hilo.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly. Umiling ako.

"My head hurts.." there's no sense of keeping it dahil masakit talaga ang ulo ko. And it seems like my world is spinning.. 

"Damn.. Tara lumabas na muna tayo. You need air," inalalayan niya ako sa pagtayo. He curled his arm around my waist to keep me from falling.

I can't be drunk with two glasses. What's happening? It's not even hard liquor.

Hindi nagtagal nakalabas na kami and we went kung saan nakapark ang kotse niya. He opened the passenger side at pinapasok ako.

"I can't take you home like this, Millie.  Doon muna tayo sa place ko," he said and I groaned at that.

"I need.. I need to call Nic," I said and tried my best to look for my phone but I can't just find it! Hilong hilo pa rin ako at pakiramdam ko nanlalambot ako.

"Why do you need to call him? Do you want him to fuck you instead of me?"

I'm still struggling pero napatingin ako sa kanya. Did I hear him right?

He harshly grabbed my arm at inilapit ako sa kanya. His lips landed on my neck habang ang isang kamay niya ay nasa buhok ko.

"Justin.. don't — "

"Magpapakipot ka pa ba? Isang buwan din akong nagtiis sa'yo, Millicent so I deserve to get in your pants. Don't act like you're still a virgin when everyone knows how close you are with Blake Gandia," he said mockingly as he continue to give kisses on my neck. Panay ang palag ko pero wala akong laban dahil mas malakas siya.

Tears started to pool around my eyes when I realized something.. this bastard just drugged me! At anong sinasabi niya na may nangyari sa'min ni Nicolas?! It isn't true! Yes, he have lots of experience with sex but definitely, we didn't do it!

"Blake Nicolas, where are you?" I said in a small voice as I started to cry. Sinubukan kong pumalag ulit pero hindi ko talaga kaya.

***

I woke up and a familiar white ceiling welcomed me.

When last night's events occured to me, bigla akong napatayo.

"Hey, you're awake," Nicolas said na nagising dahil sa pagtayo ko. At that, bigla na lang bumuhos ang mga luha ko. Mabilis siyang tumayo at niyakap ako.

"Hey, it's okay. You're okay. Hindi niya nagawa ang balak niya sa'yo kasi dumating ako.." I should feel grateful for that pero mas lalo lang akong naiyak.

"I almost killed the bastard, Millie. If it wasn't for the people there na pinigilan ako, napatay ko na sa gulpi 'yon.."

Humiwalay ako ng yakap sa kanya and looked at him. "I'm sorry. Kung nakinig lang sana ako sa'yo, hindi sana —"

"Don't you dare blame yourself for what almost happened to you. You trusted him because he showed you good things. Hindi mo kasalanan na may utak rapist siya. It's his fucking fault and he's the only one to be blamed!"

Hindi na ako sumagot because by the looks of him now, he's really angry and ready to kill. Instead, I just hugged him again kahit na nga ba wala siyang pang itaas na suot at paulit-ulit na nagpasalamat sa kanya.

"Your parents were worried sick pero kumalma naman nung nalaman na dito ka na muna nag stay. You should give them a call after this,"

"Yes tito. Thank you and I'm sorry for the mess," nahihiyang sabi ko dahil nadamay pa sila.

Tita Arya sighed harshly. "Sino ba ang magulang ng batang yan at parang hindi nila napalaki nang maayos ang anak nila?"

"I don't really give a damn about that. Kung bakit ba kasi pinigilan pa ako kagabi. He was supposed to die in my hands," Nic said that made Tito Blaise winced.

"You should file a complain against that bastard, Millie. It should not be hard, nandito si Blake. He witnessed what happened," Tito Blaise said.

"I don't know tito.. iniisip ko sila daddy for sure mag-aalala sila," plus the disappointment they will feel especially that they trusted that trash.

Nicolas slammed the table. "Of course they will worry! You were drugged and was almost date rape!" he yelled.

Napatingin ako kina tito dahil nahihiya ako. Kumakain pa naman kami and now their son is throwing a fit because of me. But it seems like they're unbothered at all. 

"I just can't fucking imagine it you know? Alam mo kung anong pumasok sa utak ko nung nakita kong pilit ka niyang hinuhubaran? Paano pala kung wala ako roon? Paano kung hindi ko nalagyan ng tracker ang phone mo? Damn, just thinking about it is driving me mad!"

I sighed heavily and looked at him sincerely.

"Pero hindi nangyari di ba? Because you were there. You saved me. You did a great job protecting me and that's what matters to me. And I'm really sorry for not listening to you.."

Kung gaano katigas ang anyo niya kanina, kabaliktaran naman ngayon.

"You don't scare me like that, Millicent. You don't."

Despite of everything hindi ko mapigilan mapangiti. I don't intend to be a damsel in distress but having Nicolas as my knight in shining armour is the best thing in the world.