Sebastian

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It's the final day to think about what Eva offered me yesterday. 

I'm strolling into my normal spot, smiling and giving something to the people who are dear to me. My smile is not fake. It comes from my heart.

This morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. Luciano called me early to see if I was available for coffee before work, and here I am, on my way to our favorite place: the Café Haus.

It's not Saturday today, but it seems like it's a hell of a Saturday because of all the crazy things that have been happening around.

"What's up?" I sat down and signaled one of the waitresses who knew my order.

"I'm so fucked." Luciano heaved, jerking his head, trying to ease his tension.

"Semi-final pa lang, Luciano. Wala pa sa tayo sa Final, bro." Napailing ako. Binigyan siya ng konting ngiti.

Mabilis din dumating ang macchiato na order ko. Tinikman ko agad ito, at si Eva ulit ang naisip ko.

I smirked as I tasted the macchiato.

Eva's macchiato was the worst, but somehow, tasting the burnt macchiato's bitterness, she made my day at that time. And now that I'm not going back to that coffee shop, I miss its burning sensation.

"It feels like I'm in the Final term, Seb. Dammit. What the heck." He shook his head and sipped his cold drink. It wasn't a wine but a cold orange juice in the morning.

"What's wrong with your coffee?" I asked. Palagi siyang nagkakape sa umaga, pero mukhang iba ang araw na ito para sa kanya.

"Nothing wrong with my coffee. I just need to change." His brow shut as he stared at the orange glass.

"What about you? How's your day? Anything good?" He chuckled.

I shake my head. "No. Nothing," I smiled.

Bahagyang nagtagpo ang kilay niya at tinitigan akong mabuti.

"Nothing? Are you sure? You look different today, Seb." He looked at me again, surveying my whole.

"I'm alright. Trust me." I mischievously smiled.

After talking to my sister Martha, I realized something. . . I'm going to change my life. She might be right. This is probably the time for a change.

Walang mawawala kung hindi ko susubukan ito.

I admit it, I go to Rampage once a while for pleasure. I looked at those young women as a sex object, and I didn't feel guilty about the service. They're being paid for the job, and I guess they like what they're doing. After all, they only need one thing, and that is money.

The place was like a living hell in heaven. They're not forced to have sex. It's their choice, and I always respect that. It's not about sex anyway. It's all about company and pleasure.

"By the way, are you still seeing Eva?" Luciano's voice pace out a little bit. He looked disarray.

I smiled. "I will see her."

"What? For real? Damn," he slightly laughed.

Eva was different amongst the young ladies that I've deal with. Somehow, there's something about her that I can't let go.

I think I might like her, but I'm unsure. It could just be lust. I'll take my time to evaluate this feeling. Ultimately, I'm the only one who can address the confusion I feel about her.

"Is it a date or just fucking?"

I rolled my tongue inside my mouth as I looked at Luciano. "It's getting to know her, Luciano... I like to get to know Eva," I smiled.

***

Eva

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Kabado man ay ngumiti pa rin ako habang rumarampa sa stage.

The spotlight was on me, positioning me as the focal point. I scanned the room, inspecting each table to see if Sebastian was present. I was pleased to find him—he is here, watching me intently.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya, kahit pa malayo ang distansya niya sa akin. Naririnig ko ang sariling tibok ng puso, at sa totoo lang, ay gusto ko nang lumapit sa kanya ngayon. Pero hindi pa. Hindi pa tapos ito.

Pumwesto ako at pangalawa sa mga nakahelerang calendar girls dito. Katabi ko si Alisha, at nakangiti siya sa banda na kung nasaan si Sebastian.

These are the rules of Rampage. Kung bago ka, ay una ka, at babalik ka ulit sa rolya sa susunod na linggo bilang pangalawa. 

Napagtanto ko na sa huling mga linggo noong hindi pa ako nagsimula ay ika numero 12 si Alisha sa tawag. Nagbakasyon siya ng isang linggo, at kababalik niya lang ulit, at balik sa numero uno siya.

"Our first calendar girl is Hyacinth! The bidding starts now!" saad ni Madam at nag sitaasan na ang mga kamay ng mga kalalakihan.

Alisha is known as Hyacinth.

I bit my lower lip, looking so nervously at Sebastian. He did not raise his hand to bid for Alisya, and I feel better.

May chance pa na iba ang mapipili ni Alisha. Baka sa mga lalaking nag-bi-bid lang din siya pipili. Sana nga...

"Who are you going to chose, Hyacinth?" si Madam sa kanya.

"Uhm..." Nahinto si Alisha at napa-isip.

Mariin ko siyang tinitigan at nakatingin siya sa banda ni Sebastian.

Sebastian, however, did not look at her and was just busy on his phone, as if he was scrolling something. He did not put any interest in Alisha at all.

"Hyacinth?" si Madam ulit sa kanya.

"Uhm... I would love to go to. . . Mr. Daddy Long Legs!"

Bumagsak agad ang balikat ko nang marinig ko ito.

Wala na... wala ng pag-asa!

"Oh. . . I see." Umikot ang katawan ni Madam at saka nilingon si Sebastian. "It seems you are the favorite around Mr. Daddy Long Legs?"

I looked at Sebastian, feeling devastated.

Paano na ako, Seb? Kainis naman oh! Kung kailan ay para na sana sa amin ito ay inagaw pa ng pagkakataon.

Hindi kumibo si Sebastian na para bang hinihintay niyang mag-bago ang isip ni Alisha. Pero wala. Mas lalong ngumiti si Alisha sa kanya at mukha siyang excited na makita siya.

"Let me remind you again, Mr. Daddy Long Legs... you are not allowed to turn down any girls. They choose who they want and if they want you. You can't refuse."

That's it. I'm doomed. It's over!

Tumango si Sebastian at saka pumalakpak ang karamihan. Agad din na bumaba si Alisha at nagpunta sa table niya.

Nalusaw ang ngiti ko sa mukha at parang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang buong katawan ko sa sandaling ito.

"Okay. Our next calendar girl is. . . Miss Gladioli!" saad ni Madam, at nagsimula na ulit ang bidding sa akin.

"Five hundred thousand!" starting bidding ng isang lalaki sa unahan.

Nakakatawa, dahil malaki agad ang bidding ko. Nilagpasan ang kay Alisha na four hundred thousand lang. 

Napaigting ang panga ko at pait akong ngumiti sa sarili. Nakatingin ako kay Sebastian ngayon. Katabi na niya si Alisha at nakapulupot ang kamay ni Alisha sa braso niya.

I hate what I'm seeing. Hindi ko gusto ito. Kaya huminga na lang ako nang malalim at pilit na ngumingiti sa karamihan.

"Two and a half million!!" Tumayo ang isang lalaking mataba, pero mukhang okay naman. Napatingin ako sa kanya, at naalala ko siya.

Siya ang nag-bid noon ng pinakamataas sa akin noong nakaraang linggo.

Natawang bahagya si Madam. "Hindi pa rin kumukupas si Miss Gladioli," pilya niya akong tinitigan. "You surprise me, my dear. It seems like the boys like you so much."

Mas lalong tumabang ang ngiti ko at tinitigan ang karamihan.

Mga baliw ang mga lalaki rito! Nakakainis. Wala sa kanila ang gusto ko.

"Three million!" Sumingit ang isang lalaki sa katabing table ni Sebastian, at mukhang bago siya sa tingin ko.

Natahimik ang lahat at saka rinig ko ang reklamo ng iilang kalalakihan.

"It seems like we have a winner in the bidding now, right?" Bahagyang tawa ni Madam. Siya lang yata ang nasisiyahan ngayon dahil sa laki ng pera!

"So, Miss Gladioli, who will you choose, my dear?"

I lost my smile as I looked at all the boys standing.

Siguro, kulang-kulang nasa labing limang lalaki ito. Isa-isa ko silang tinitigan ulit, hanggang sa napaku ang mga mata ko pabalik kay Sebastian.

He didn't look affected. He had a little smile was on his face while he was listening to Alisha talking to him. I twisted my lips a little bit, feeling annoyed at him.

I'm so stress now, and what I was seeing now with them, looking so sweet with Alisha stresses the hell out of me!

Kung bakit naman kasi...

"I choose him." Turo ko sa matabang lalaki na hindi kalayuan sa akin. At masaya niya akong tinitigan.

Sa lahat kasi ng mga lalaki, ay mukha siya lang ang mabait sa tingin ko... at mukhang siya lang ang hindi ako gagasahain sa gabing ito.

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c.m. louden

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