Same Familiar Feeling...

I woke up to the crackling sound of oil on a skillet.

I put on my glasses and went straight to the kitchen.

Sorry ser, nagising ka ata. Kinuha ko na lang yung pwedeng maluto sa ref - pasensya na po hindi na ako nagpaalam, ayaw po kitang gisingin. N

I just smiled.

Okay lang ba 'to ser? Ako na lang po magluluto ngayon saka kung gusto niyo pong magpalinis. N

Hindi mo naman kailangang gawin yan. ME

Eto lang po alam kong gawin para makabawi eh. N

Bumawi saan? ME

Sa pagpapatulog sa akin dito. N

Parang wala naman akong choice kagabi. ME

N just smiled and went on to fry the sausages, egg and the left over rice.

-o0o-

Oy! Visayas tayo - we'll meet you there by 10-ish. ME was with R on the phone.

I have work tomorrow. ME

So? When did that ever stop you? Hahahaha. R

Leche! Ewan ko, finishing something - let me see later. ME

Arte! See you! R hang up.

-o0o-

Gusto mong kape? Nagkakape ka ba? ME asked N

Opo. Salamat ser. N

I took out two sachets and poured them into hot water. Stirred them then offered one to N.

Yosi lang ako. ME

Puwede bang maki-hit ser? N

Oo naman, kaso sa balcony tayo - no smoking dito sa loob e. ME

Opo. N

We were on the balcony with a stick of Blues each. N lit the cigarette for ME.

Bakit ang dali mong malasing kagabi, lakas mo namann uminom nung fiesta ah. ME to N

Wala lang sa kondisyon ser - puyat lang din kasi sa trabaho. N

Oh, eh bakit di ka na lang nagpahinga kagabi? ME

Hindi naman madalas ser eh. Ska sabi ni Kuya R, bibihira ka lang daw makasama sa mga ganun. N

ME took a sip of coffee. ME was silent until the cigarette was finished.

-o0o-

Ang tagal mo! R immediately commented as I took a seat opposite him.

I told you I had to finish something. Oy, B2, musta? ME said to B2 sitting beside R.

Ayos lang po. Tagay mo na po agad. B2 said as he handed me a shot glass with some kind of blue concoction in it.

Agad-agad naman. Walang nang patumpik-tumpik. Hahaha. ME.

Ay friend, ikaw lang naman mahilig sa patumpi-tumpik. R

ME just gave R the "eye" and drank whatever the blue thing was. It was okay-tasting considering the color.

Masarap ser noh? It was N. He sat right beside ME.

Oy, kanina ka pa? ME

Opo, nag-CR lang. N

I gave R the "eye" again.

-o0o-

Kain na tayo ser. N said when he finished his cigarette. We were still on the balcony and the street below was starting to get busy.

Sige-sige, mukhang mahusay kang magprito. Hahaha. ME

Ay ser, mahusay talaga ako. N was teasing

Wala ka bang pasok ngayon? ME was trying to change the subject.

Meron po. Makikiligo lang sana ako ser tpos aalis na din - direcho na sa trabaho. N

Sige-sige. Bilisan mo baka ma-late ka pa. ME

We ate, had another cigarette, and then N took to the bathroom for a bath.

-o0o-

Into the night, and on our second pitcher of the blue concoction, our conversations become rowdier.

Basta ako, masaya lang. Living in the moment. R was declaring

Yan naman talaga dapat - wala naman tayong magagawa sa past and future. B2 added.

Isang future lang naman inaasam ko eh. It was N.

Ano yun? R asked.

N look at me.

Yung kasama ka. N finally said.

P*ta 'tol - hindi ka pa rin nagbabago. Hahaha. B2

Ay o! May pa-damoves agad sa'yo friend. Hahahaha. R

I just laughed. N tapped by knees and said - Huwag kang mapipikopn ah.

Hahaha. Sige lang - sanay ako sa bola. ME

Basketball lang binobola ko 'kala mo. N

Shumat ka na lang kaya. ME offering my shot to N.

Pero kami mauuna na kasi may biyahe pa ako in 2 hours. Kayo na bahala diyan. R

Una na kami 'tol. B2 said to N

It felt planned. It was planned. LOL.

Ubusin lang natin 'to ser tapos hatid ko na po kayo baka meron pa kayong gagawin bukas. N

ME just smiled.

-o0o-

Ser! Ser! It was N shouting from the bathroom.

Yep? ME

Tuwalya po pala. N Said.

ME went to get fresh towels to give to N. The bathroom door was half open. N was inside showering. I slowly placed the towel on the knob and tried to close it.

Abot mo na lang. N noticed ME at the door.

ME handed him the towel.

N handed me some...

This, ito, ngayon lang 'to. ME was saying between kisses.

Kaya sulitin na natin. N replied.

And I went down the drain after that.