Part 13:

I looked away and changed seat so my back was facing the counter  where Sancho was ordering drinks. Why is he here? This place is an  hour from their studio.

I anxiously nipped my lower lip. He's obviously with someone. I could hear them arriving. Looks like the members of the band is with him as well as their manager.

Of course, Sancho is also familiar with this place. It's where his first  gigs started after all. Bagay na ilang tao lang ang nakakaalam. But of all nights, bakit ngayon niya pa napiling pumunta dito?

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang bumalik si Kayla. Nilampasan niya ang counter nang hindi napapansin ang grupo. Good for her. I wish I  have that kind of indifference.

Kayla rushed to the table to get her things. "I need to go."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig. "Go where?"

"I need to meet him."

I checked the time on my wristwatch. It's nine in the evening. "At this hour?"

"He's only gonna be here until tonight. Maaga siyang babalik sa Baguio bukas. I need to see him."

Her face... she had this rare hopeful expression again, like a child  hearing that her parents are finally home. Kaya wala akong nagawa  kundi ang tumango.

I forced a smile. "Drive safely, okay?"

"I will."

I watched her rushed out of the bar. Sa pagmamadali, muntik niyang mabangga ang lalakeng kapapasok lang sa bar. But Kayla was too  frantic to notice. Napalingon ang lalake sa kanya hanggang sa makaalis siya nang tuluyan.

The drummer of Saint Claire.

I don't know what's pissing me off more. The bad timing of things or Kayla's asshole boyfriend. I shouldn't let her leave. But how could I? She's been waiting for him to visit for weeks because that damn guy couldn't even make a call. Buti sana kung may nangyaring hindi  maganda sa tarantado, kaso panay pa ang post sa social media samantalang hindi mareplayan ang girlfriend.

That damn guy is really getting into my nerves. I need to find a way to get rid of him-- far away from Kayla's life. But first, I need to leave this place.

I discretely asked for the bill while Sancho and the others were  immersed in their own conversation. I was only able to breathe freely noong paakyat na ako sa narrow staircase on the way out of the  building.

Is there a way to get rid of one's bad energies? Mula noong nagkita ulit ni Sancho, I've been surrounded by bad luck.

I went straight to my car at the parking lot. Once in the driver's seat, I leaned against the cushion and breathed out. Ilang segundo ng katahimikan ang lumipas na nakaupo lang ako sa loob ng sasakyan.  When I finally drove out of the tight parking space, a small impact  made me slam on the breaks.

Shit. Did I just hear a scratch?

Medyo hilo pa ako nang lumabas ako sa mini cooper. I stared at the  mess. In front of the blaring headlights of a red SUV was the dented bumper of my car.

I breathed out, quite annoyed by the situation. I had my warning lights and all, hindi ba ito nakita ng driver? Hindi ba sila marunong  mag-park?

A tall burly man in a black fitted tee stepped out of the car. "Putangina naman."

I flinched from his sharp words. With thick furrowed eyebrows, he surveyed the scratch made on his car, severely irritated. I couldn't  believe this! His big ass car came bulldozing through the parking lot  like he owned the place and then wonder why he got into a minor accident? And come on, compared to a scratch, my car suffered a freaking dent!

I took out my phone and snapped a picture of the incident, saka ako humarap sa lalake. "Do you have a calling card?"

Lalo siyang nairita sa sinabi ko. He was glaring so intensely so I made my statement more specific. "I'll contact you to reimburse the cost of  my car's repair."

He scoffed and let out a dry chuckle. Akala niya siguro nagbibiro ako. But I wasn't. I stared up at his rough round face with a dead serious expression.

If I want to avoid this hassle, I could. I have the means to shoulder the repair of my car without bothering for a reimbursement. But a neglect without punishment can turn into a crime. I don't want to be a  bystander to that.

"If you need time to save up, I could-"

He hovered over me like a looming giant, making me step away from  him. "What are you doing?" I demanded.

"Tingin mo wala kang kasalanan dito? Kung 'di ka ba naman kasi ta-tanga-tanga!"

May bumara sa kalamnan ko dahil sa mga salitang narinig. I hate it.  This kind of noise... of people shouting. I tried to pull my composure back before pulling the spare wallet from my car.

I handed a calling card to the man. "Give me a call I'll also reimburse for the repair-"

He shoved my hand so hard it hit the side mirror of my car. "Masyado kang madaming sinasabi, tangina ka!" He raised a hand and I stumbled on the hood of my dented car. At first it didn't occur to me what was about to happen. Until I felt a searing pain on the side of my head, followed by the ringing in my ears.

Natulala ako. My trembling hand reached for my pained cheek kasabay ng pagtulo ng luha sa mga mata ko. A stranger's fist hit me... but the ache... is so damn familiar.

Someone grabbed the man's shoulder. The moment he turned around, a fist collided against his jaw. The two stumbled against the SUV and I couldn't breathe. They were exchanging blows and shouting curses in front of me.

Clutching my chest, I stepped back with trembling feet. Images in my head suddenly blocked my vision. Broken perfume bottles, their heavy smell mixed in the air, scattered shoes and bags pierced through with scissors.

Eula, you're gonna be like me... you're my little angel...

I clasped my mouth tight, feeling a familiar discomfort rising to my  throat. It was only when I heard Sancho's voice I was pulled back to my senses.

"How dare you hit her, you fuck-up bastard!"

My eyes turned wide, realizing what's happening. I immediately pulled him away from the back, trying to prevent him from hitting the guy further.

"Sancho! Sancho, stop!"

Isang bagay pa ang napansin ko. From the tinted window of the SUV, a phone camera was recording the scene, its screen illuminating the face  of a woman on the passenger seat.

No. No. This can't be happening.

The guy's fist was about to reach Sancho when I forcefully pulled him away. Sancho was heaving deeply, fuming mad, arms trembling in  anger.

"Ano'ng nangyayari 'dyan?!"

I turned to the sound of the running footsteps toward us. My knees  nearly give way nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ng kanilang manager at si Jarvis. Isa-isa silang nagdatingan sa parking lot kasama  ang security guard ng establishment.

"Ah, shit," bulong ni Jarvis nang makita ang gulo. Napakamot siya sa kanyang ulo while the security guard was subduing the man and the manager was calming Sancho down.

Humarap ako sa bintana ng SUV na ngayon ay bahagya nang  nakabukas. From the tiny space, the young woman inside the car was staring in Jarvis and Sancho's direction with wide, shocked eyes while still holding the camera. I knew right away she recognized them as the members of Saint Claire.

Tuluyan niyang binuksan ang bintana wanting to record their faces clearer. Hinarang ko ang sarili ko sa harapan niya. I held my cold hand in front of the woman.

"Hand over the phone."

She only stared at me with a clouded gaze. The stench of liquor from inside the car reached my nose.

"If you made a live video of the incident or planning to post what you recorded without consent, I'll make sure your names will be on police records for assault and driving under influence."

Her face distorted in a sudden rage. "I didn't do anything! You can't force me to!"

I leaned my open palms against the SUV to stare directly at her face. "I promise you, I can."

--

Thirty minutes after the incident, I ended up back inside the  establishment with Sancho and the rest of his team. The manager was trying to treat the swell on Sancho's left cheek which took a blow  earlier.

"Siguradong mamamaga ito," buntong hininga ng manager. "Hindi ka pwedeng pumunta sa live interview bukas. Sabihin ko nalang masama ang pakiramdam mo."

Nakaupo ako sa kabilang couch sa loob ng staff room kasama sila.  Sancho's gaze were on me the whole time kahit kanina pa siya pinagsasabihan ng manager.

Iniwasan ko ang kanyang tingin bago tumayo. "I-I have to go."

Bumaling sa'kin ang manager. Jarvis was outside the room taking a call from Rosco who wasn't with them. Mukhang mas takot pa sila sa magiging reaction ni Rosco kesa sa sarili nilang manager.

"Sigurado ka bang okay ka na, Ms. Eula? Namamaga pa ang pisngi mo."

I forced a smile. "I'm fine. I can treat it at home."

"Dapat ini-report mo ito sa police," dagdag ng manager.

But I couldn't do that while I'm with them. I couldn't drag their names  in this mess. Hindi ko parin magawang tignan si Sancho. "I'm sorry," was all I could say before I left the staff room.

Agad akong lumabas ng establishment. When the chilly evening breeze reached my face, I realized it was damp with tears. What a fucked up  day indeed.

My car was already parked closer to the driveway. I was about to head inside when someone held my arm. Flinching, I backed away and  covered my face, anticipating something to hit me.

Natigilan si Sancho nakita. Pareho kaming napatitig sa isa't-isa.

"Hindi ka okay."

Blinking, I avoided his sharp gaze. "I'm fine... it's just--"

He grabbed my hand as if trying to prove something. Napatitig siya sa nanginginig at nanlalamig kong mga kamay. "Ni hindi mo kayang magmaneho ngayon."

"My friend will be here anytime," I lied.

Nasilayan ko ulit ang namamaga niyang mukha. Wincing, I looked away feeling the anxiety and guilt bubbling inside my stomach, making me queasy.

"Sorry," I mumbled again.

"I'll drive you home."

"You can't." I insisted. Huminga ako nang malalim bago ko siya nagawang titigan. "This is not college, Sancho. You can't just have fist fights in parking lots or drive someone home. There are more things to consider now and as much as I don't want to be involved in your life again, I don't want you to ruin what you worked hard for."

His fists were both clasped to his sides, forcing himself not to come closer to me. "Eula..."

"It was a mess, Sancho. Everything is. It's always been like this. I just don't understand why I'm still not used to it." I let out a dry smile. "But thanks for helping me... just like old times. I hope you recover from  your bruises."

Tuluyan akong pumasok sa sasakyan at nag-drive palayo, leaving behind Sancho once again.

***