#LGS1TwoYears #LGS1chapter21 #LaGrilla1

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TWO YEARS LATER . . .

TWO years . . . It took Leo two years to clear the way so that his love for Imee can smoothly reach its way back to her.

But two years seemed such a long time for her to wait, and too late for him to return.

They never saw each other since then.

Ikababaliw ni Leo ang paghihintay ng balita mula sa kaniyang bayarang impormante. Kaya habang hinahanap pa nito si Imee, kailangan niyang magtrabaho para may perang maipambayad dito.

Kapag wala namang trabaho, nililibang niya ang sarili sa mga lumang pelikula. Dahil kung hindi ay lalo siyang mawawala sa sarili sa pag-aalala kung ano na ang pinagdadaanan ni Imee sa mga oras na ito. Idagdag pa ang mga alaala ng nakaraan na pilit niyang kinakalimutan . .

Sa isang TV screen, ipinapalabas ang isang lumang pelikula.

Ayon sa isa sa mga karakrer, katotohanan at mga ebidensiya lamang ang pinakikinggan at pinahahalagahan sa korte, hindi mga walang basehan na salaysay.

Sinagot naman ito ng kausap nito, ang bida sa pelikula. Akala raw nito ay pagbibigay ng hustisya ang nais nilang makamit kaya nagkakaroon ng mga pagdinig sa korte.

"Iyan din ang akala ko noon," Leo muttered to the main character.

Kahit ilang beses na niyang napapanood ang pelikulang ito, ganito pa rin ang komento niya sa eksenang iyon.

Leo had always wanted to be a lawyer and he achieved it, but along the way, he believed something too ironic for a lawyer—justice didn't exist. Katulad na lang ito ng pelikulang paulit-ulit niyang pinapanood, at mga court hearing na ilang beses na niyang nasaksihan—kathang-isip lamang.

There must be nothing wrong about the written laws or justice itself, but the human who participated in the execution of both. Justice wanted to prevail, to make its existence know, yet evil men suppress its voice for their selfish interests. The law was fine and good for everybody, yet evil men twist the words to make the results of a hearing favor them and their pockets.

Inalis na ni Leo ang paningin sa TV. He was in his townhouse's office room and he was interrupted from watching the movie by a phone call.

Inabot niya ng isang kamay ang kaniyang smart phone na nakapatong sa side table ng sofa na kinahihigaan niya. Ang kabilang kamay naman niya ay pinindot ang remote at ini-pause saglit ang pelikula.

Leo lifted his head a little to see the smart phone's screen. He rolled his eyes when he read the caller ID before answering the call.

"Hello."

"Leo, the Atlantis calls me . . . Let's go clubbing tonight?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm done with clubbing, Curtis?" iritadong sagot niya rito.

The caller was Curtis Saavedra, a fashion model who kept bugging him because he was having contract problems lately. They weren't really friends, but were acquaintained with each other pretty well because he was friends with his older brother, Claude.

Muling nagtaglo lang ang kanilang mga landas dahil sa legal nitong suliranin. Palagi nga lang itong busy para mag-set ng appointment, at dahil masyado ring busy si Leo para kulitin ito kung kailan nito planong makipagkita ay ipinaubaya na niya kay Curtis ang pag-contact sa kaniya. Hindi naman niya inaasahan na imbes pag-usapan ang trabaho ay pagliliwaliw ang iaalok nito sa kaniya.

Curtis chuckled. "Come on, Leo. You will like the dancers here in Atlantis. Dito na rin natin pag-usapan 'yong problema ko sa kontrata."

'Atlantis' ang pangalan ng strip club kung saan nagliliwaliw ang ilan sa mga may pangalan sa iba't ibang industriya. The name was very fitting for the club because it was hidden from the 'civilization.' Only few could access it, and the dancers there were sirens that could definitely lure careless clients to an ocean of debts. Hindi sila close ni Curtis kaya halatang hindi nito alam na maging si Leo ay madalas noon sa Atlantis, iyon ay bago pa sila nag-date ni Imee.

"I'm only going there if we'll discuss something related to my job," sagot niya.

Curtis groaned. "Fine! Fine! Just meet me. I'll text the address to you."

Pagkatapos ng tawag ay bumangon agad si Leo mula sa sofa. Una niyang inayos ang mga gamit at ngitngit siya nang ngitngit sa iritasyon habang sinasalpak ang mga folder sa briefcase bag niya.

"Legal matters ang aatupagin namin, sa club pa talaga niya naisipang i-settle 'yon?"

Nakailang mura pa siya bago nag-shower at nagbihis ng three-piece suit na navy blue.

***
Warning: 🚫
Depiction of Illegal activities

PAGDATING ni Leo sa club, nasaktuhan niya na nagsasalita pa sa stage ang club manager nito. Hindi pa madilim sa lugar o malikot ang ilaw sa strip club kaya madali niyang natagpuan ang mesa ni Curtis.

Mag-isa lang na nakaupo ang fashion model sa isang pulang couch at may hawak itong isang lowball glass ng alak. He had this wavy hair tousled fashionably, a playful smirk, and a maroon suit that wrapped his ripped physique.

"Leo!" Tumayo pa ito para bigyan siya ng bro-hug at tapik-tapikin sa likod. Leo did not reciprocate the hug and pats on the back. Mabilis namang humiwalay ang lalaki sa kaniya. "Come here, man, take a seat!"

Napabuntonghininga na lang siya at umupo sa kaliwang sulok ng couch.

Curtis had been nice to him, but he was cautious of him because his friend, Claude, already warned him about how treacherous this man could be. What a deceiver he was. Claude even assumed that his brother, Curtis, was befriending Leo and his other friends to keep tabs on him, to gather information about his whereabouts.

Napatingin si Leo sa stage dahil sa catchy na pananalita ng club manager, ang lalaking naka-long sleeve na gray shirt. He was very articulate and his publix speaking skill was just flawless. As a lawyer who spoke publicly too and placed such importance on the way people speak, the club manager quickly piqued his interest and attention.

Nakapulupot ang isang checkered na powder blue scarf sa leeg ng club manager at platinum blond ang kulay ng maikli at naka-spikes na buhok.

"Heto na sila!" masigla nitong pagtatapos, "Ang mga sirena ng Atlantis!"

Naghiyawan at nagsipolan ang mga kalalakihan sa audience. The stripclub was exclusively for male clients, so they were the only ones that could be seen seated in the audience area.

Aside from booze and sexy dance numbers, the strip club catered to those who were willing to pay for women to spend the night with. Of course, what they would do depended on what the two parties agreed upon, but it wasn't surprising that a one-night stand was a usual part of their activity.

Sa pagpasok ng mga dancer sa stage ay biglang dumilim ang paligid. Bumalik lang ang liwanag bilang mga mahaharot at makukulay na ilaw. Sumabay dito ang pagtugtog ng Good For You ni Selena Gomez.

Naglabasan na ang mga sirena—mga mananayaw na babae at lalaki. They queued in two paralleling lines and ramped on the stage, each step of their heels harmoniously beating along with with music's tempo.

The women wore glittery, clam shell-shaped silver bras. Their silver bikinis hinted behind their sparkling, white mesh loincloths. The men were topless, their chest and abs smeared with silver glittered oil. They wore bikini bottoms with silver clam shells that cupped their crotch area.

They sexily walked and moved their bodies to the music. The women twirled their hairs and the men flexed their biceps.

Hindi masyadong napansin ng audience na may naglalakad pala sa pagitan ng dalawang magkahiwalay na pila ng mga mananayaw. The woman executed her catwalk with such grace and fluid energy. Her red bikini ensemble meant that not a single client was allowed to spend a night with her. Ang kulay kasi ng suot ng mananayaw ang basehan sa strip club na ito kung sino ang puwede at hindi puwedeng 'ilabas.'

As the woman's silhouette neared the stripper's pole at the tip of the stage, the pole glowed in neon red, attracting all eyes on it.

Pagkahawak na pagkahawak ng pigura ng babae sa pole, biglang tumutok dito ang spotlight kaya malinaw na nakita ng mga manonood ang kagandahan at kaseksihan nito. Saglit na nangibabaw ang namamanghang mga pagsinghap ng audience bago ito mabilis na sinundan ng mga pagsipol at masigabong palakpakan.

Leo muttered at what he just saw.

He knew that face!

Dahil sa spotlight, malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw kung kanino ang mukha ng babaeng sumasayaw!

The chorus of the song seemed to be her cue to start her dance. Doon na kasi nagsimulang umikot ang babae sa pole.

Her heelwork was smooth and perfect. The heels of her glittery red shoes brushed against the plate of the stripper's pole while alternately tipping her shoes' toe for leverage as she wheeled around.

She wore a pair of sharp-heeled, chunky shoes but she danced with them as if she was barely touching the floor, levitating.

The woman kept on tilting her head, slapping her shoulder-length hair against her face, shoulders, neck, and the top of her pushed-up breasts. It was as if she was fighting against the music before she finally decided to run away from it by climbing the pole.

Niyapos nito ang mga hita sa pole habang nakatalikod sa audience bago ito lumiyad. The perfect cross knee release showed off her firm body, from the muscles of her thighs to the sharpness of her pointed toes. All eyes trailed their paths from her stomach to her breasts, then to her neck and down to her face.

Bumagsak ang maikli nitong buhok dahil sa patiwarik nitong paglambitin sa pole at pinanghaplos nito ang mga kamay mula sa  balakang papunta sa mayayamang mga dibdib na tanging clam bra lang na pula ang takip.

"Imee," Leo hissed. It was a warning—even if he knew she wouldn't hear him against the music, even if he knew that she wouldn't heed him if he warns her to get down from that stage or else . . .

"She's what I am talking about on the phone," ani Curtis na tila hindi narinig ang kaniyang ibinubulong-bulong. "Didn't I tell you that you'll like the dancers here?"

Leo threw a glare at him, but Curtis—who was watching Imee—seemed unaware of it. Nakaramdam lang lalo ng inis si Leo dahil bukod sa hindi siya nito pinapansin ay tila luwang-luwa pa ang mga mata nito sa panonood kay Imee na nagpo-pole dance.

Curtis grinned as his eyes stayed on Imee. "The dancer? One week ko na rin siyang pinanonood na nagpe-perform dito. Too bad, she's untouchable. Dancer lang daw siya, hindi puwedeng ilabas. Maybe, access to her is that restricted because a mafia lord is protecting her, who knows?"

Napatingin uli si Leo sa babae. 'Shit, it's really her! Of course, Imee has to be hidden away from the world by this underground club, by the mafia rather. That will perfectly explain why me and my informants are having a hard time to find her!'

Hindi siya makapaniwala. Ni hindi sumagi sa kaniyang isip ang posibilidad na magiging pole dancer si Imee sa isang club. Given that her parents were traditional people, he bet that they wouldn't approve of this either.

How Leo wanted to run to her, to cover his coat on her exposed body. Gusto na nga niya itong kaladkarin at itago mula sa mga lalaking nagkakantiyawan at tila naglalaway rito!

Her body deserved the admiration, the praises, but he was possessive of it. He wanted to be the sole privileged fool who only gets to see this view of her! Siya lang dapat!

Leo clenched his fist. 'Bakit? Bakit ka narito, Imee? Matagal na kitang hinahanap. Why do you have to be where I least expected you to be?'

Pagkatapos ng sayaw, nakuha pa ni Imee na ngumiti. Then, she sexily turned her back and walked into the backstage. Leo swallowed upon seeing her firm ass alternately bounce, sandwiching the back part of her bikini bottom while trotting away.

Nagsalita naman ang club announcer na nakasampa na sa stage. Isa-isang in-auction nito ang mga sirena na kasama ni Imee sa pagsayaw kani-kanina lang.

"Now, about the contract—" panimula ni Curtis pero naputol ang pagsasalita nito nang biglang tumayo si Leo. "Hey, man, sa'n ka pupunta?"

"Let's talk about your case in a more appropriate place," sagot niya rito bago niya binitbit ang dalang briefcase bag.

"Hey, pupunta ka sa backstage?" natatawang buntot nito sa kaniya. "Nandito ang auction kung gusto mong mag-uwi ng chicks, Leo!"

He glanced at him with narrowed eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you, pal, that I am not interested with womanizing anymore?"

"Then why are you heading to the backstage?"

"It's Imee."

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Imee? Man, don't tell me, hinahanap mo pa rin ang babaeng 'yon? Dalawang taon mo nang hinahanap ang babaeng nasa wastong edad na. She's obviously hiding from all of you."

"That pole dancer is Imee, okay?" he gritted at Curtis then he stopped. Naniningkit ang mga mata na napatingin siya rito. 'Imposibleng hindi namukhaan ng Curtis na 'to si Imee! Did he intentionally bring me here to see her? Nagmamaang-maangan lang ba ang gagong 'to? Claude was right. This man is treacherous, a deceiver.'

Natawa naman si Curtis sa nagdududa niyang tingin dito. "You . . ." Inekis nito ang mga braso. He tsked-tsked. "Come on, that's impossible. No'ng hinahanap mo siya sa 'min, remember, you showed us this picture. Imee has a pixie hair cut and she's—"

"Just shut it, Curtis."

Curtis was unfazed. He only responded with a mischievous smirk.

"I don't know what you want to get out of this, out of leading me to where Imee is while pretending that you did not intentionally brought me here. But I will deal with you later."

Tinalikuran na niya ito. Sinasayang lang ni Curtis ang oras niya. Sa mga oras na ito, dapat ay hila-hila na niya si Imee palabas ng club na ito.

Marami siyang dapat ipaliwanag kay Imee. Marami siyang dapat ihingi ng patawad dito. Pero sa sitwasyon na ito, maging si Imee ay dapat ding magpaliwanag sa kaniya.

Samantala, hinayaan na siyang umalis ni Curtis. Itinaas na lang nito ang mga kamay at umatras na.

Alam na alam naman ni Leo ang daan papunta sa backstage kaya hindi na niya kailangan ng assistance ng kahit sino, pero kapag minamalas nga naman siya . . . Naudlot kasi ang pagpasok niya rito nang sumulpot bigla ang club manager ng Atlantis na si Erik.

"Leo!" masiglang bati ng bakla sa kaniya sa buo nitong boses. "Ang tagal mong nawala! Nakapagtatampo ka, ha? Mukhang pinagsawaan mo na ang mga sirena ko."

He rolled his eyes because he had no time for chit-chats. "I'm not here for your mermaids. Where's the pole dancer?"

Binigyan siya nito ng nanunuksong ngisi, inekis ang isang braso sa dibdib, at ipinatong doon ang siko ng kamay na ipinangsalo sa baba nito. "Ikaw, ha? Alam mo naman ang rules dito sa Atlantis, attorney. Mga sirena lang ang puwede mong ilabas, off-limits ang mga dancer."

"I just have to talk to her," seryosong sagot ni Leo, medyo halata na rin ang iritasyon sa kaniyang mukha.

"Leo, kilala kita. You don't talk to women here in Atlantis, you just take them out to fuck." Umiling-iling ito. "I'm sorry but I don't think I can accommodate your request. Besides, paalis na si Mimi sa club na 'to, kanina lang 'yong last number niya for tonight."

Tatalikod na sana ito pero hinablot ito ni Leo sa braso. "How much is she?"

Leo asked to buy Imee because if Curtis' insinuation was true that an underground group or a mafia was gatekeeping her, then this was the easiest way to get her out of that organization's clutches, unscathed—by buying her out. The only problem he could expect though was if someone from the mafia had any personal attachments with Imee. Because that would mean, he could never buy her freedom.

Pinaikot ng bakla ang mga mata. "I told you, off-limits ang pole dancer namin."

"Come on, Erik, you have a price. Name it." He was already wishing in the depths of his heart that his plan would work.

Tinitigan muna siya nito, tila nagkakalkula kung malaki ba ang pahamak na kahaharapin nito kapag pinagbigyan ang kagustohan ng isa sa mga matagal nang kliyente ng Atlantis.

"Eighty thousand for a night, Leo. I hope . . . that's affordable for you?" taas nito ng isang kilay.

Napailing si Leo at namaywang. "I don't want her for a night, I want her for life. Now name the price."

"Wow, Leo! Ang galante mo yata ngayon!" Natatawa na ito sa kaniya habang bakas ang pagkasindak sa namimilog nitong mga mata. Hindi pa kasi siguro ito nakakakita ng kliyente sa Atlantis na kasing tindi niya mag-offer.

"Just tell me the fucking price."

"Well . . ." Erik looked up, as if he was thinking about his offer. "Magaling na sumayaw, virgin pa. I'll give her to you for two million—in cash."

Leo nodded his head. "She's worth more than that amount to me, so thanks for the biggest bargain of my life, Erik. You will get the cash after a week."

Erik's jaws dropped. "A week?"

"Hindi basta-basta ang pagwi-withdraw ng dalawang milyon, okay? The bank might fucking question me. Huwag kayong mag-alala dahil hindi ko siya itatakbo. Kilala n'yo naman ako, 'di ba?"

"Oo naman. . . . Oo naman, Leo," alanganing tawa nito.

"Iuuwi ko na siya ngayon." Niluwagan ni Leo ang black and white striped na kurbata gamit ang isang kamay.

"Ngayong gabi na agad?" taas nito ng mga kilay.

Sunod na dinukot niya mula sa backpocket ng kaniyang slacks ang wallet. "Oo."

A sly smile escaped from his lips. "Mabilis ka talaga, attorney."

"Shut it." Tinapalan niya ng limang libong piso ang nguso nito. "Tip mo 'yan dahil madali kang kausap."

Masayang kinuha ng bakla ang pera at hinalik-halikan ito bago ibinulsa.

"Thank you," kindat nito. "Abangan mo na lang s'ya sa basement parking lot. Baka papunta na sila ro'n ng manager niya. Pero, siguraduhin mo lang na hindi mo ipagsasabi sa iba pang kliyente rito na ibinenta ko siya sa iyo, clear? Ayoko ng gusot."

"Noted," talikod ni Leo rito at nagmamadaling dumeretso sa basement parking.

***

AS soon as Leo left, Curtis left his table and beer and headed to the direction where the backstage was. Ngunit bago pa nakapasok dito ang binata ay sinalubong na ito ni Erik.

"It's done," hagod ni Erik sa balikat ni Curtis, pababa sa dibdib nito. "Whether the woman comes with him or not, it's not our problem anymore."

Curtis smirked, picked Erik's hand off his chest, and kissed its knuckles. Nangingiting binawi tuloy ng bakla ang kamay nito.

"Of course, you don't have to force her to come with Leo. I think Leo is aware about respecting her right to consent, so he'll understand. He's a lawyer, after all."

Erik pouted playfully. "I don't want problems with the mafia, too."

Curtis cocked his head to the side and smiled wider. "I told you, I already talked to Maria. She's so easy to talk with. After all, I'm friends with the son of her Big Boss . . . By the way, thanks for helping me and my friend."

Ngumisi lang ito. "Most welcome but, he's quite a cheapskate though. Five kyaw lang ang inabot sa 'kin!"

"Cheapskate? E, ginawa na nga niyang savings account itong Atlantis noon! Halos linggo-linggo pa nga siya nagdedeposit ng pera dito para sa mga sirena mo, 'di ba? Baka kulang lang ang dala niyang cash. Biglaan, e." Curtis generously handed Erik a credit card. "Max this out. I'll take this card back next week, so make the most of it, and be generous to your boy toys."

Tuwang-tuwa na tinanggap at hinalikan ni Erik ang card.

***
COME HERE
La Grilla Series #1
Copyright Registered: 2024
R-18, General Fiction, Sexy Romance, Drama
First publish on Wattpad: December 2016

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