Chapter Seven

Just One Drink

"And who the hell are you?" matapang na singhal ng lalaking hawak ako kay Toine.

Oh shit.

Kung kanina ay takot na takot ako sa posibleng mangyari sa akin dahil sa lalaki, ngayon ay literal na nananalaytay ang takot sa aking kabuuan para na sa kanya dahil sa pagsagot rito.

"You know her? Are you his boyfriend?"

"No but when I said let her go, let her the fuck go." mas may diin at nawawalan na ng pasensiyang sagot ni Toine rito.

My insides were churning. My mind was cursing and I keep standing still even though his presence and aura was giving me a hard time. Kahit na hindi ko pa nakikita ang kabuuan niya ay naghuhuramentado na ang buo kong pagkatao.

I feel my soul left my body when the man finally let me go and face Toine. Gusto ko na lang siyang hilahin palayo kahit na napakasama niyang tao kaso lang ay hindi na talaga ako makagalaw! Even running for my dear life scared me!

"Who do you think you are? Hindi mo naman pala girlfriend bakit nakikialam ka?" lumapit ito kay Toine at nilagpasan na ako.

Alam kong napakarami niya pang gustong sabihin pero laking gulat ko nang bumulagta na lang ito sa lupa! Toine punched him so hard the man was knocked out!

"Don't tell me I didn't warn you." he said after putting his feet on the guy's chest while his hands were now on his pockets.

My peripheral vision was slowly betraying me. Nasa gilid na siya ng aking mga mata at kahit iniwas ko ang tingin ay huli na ang lahat.

"Are you okay, Miss?"

"I-I'm okay." nagmamadali kong sagot at hakbang palayo.

Kahit na hinang-hina ang mga tuhod ko ay pinilit ko ang sariling gumalaw pero bago ko pa maihakbang ang isang paa ay nalaglag na ang puso ko nang maramdaman ang mainit niyang kamay na humuli sa aking palapulsuhan!

Oh God help me!

"Where's your manners?" iritado niyang tanong sabay hila sa akin pabalik sa aking pwesto.

Napamura ako. My knees were fucking traitors because I almost fell! Mabuti na lang at nasalo niya ako!

What in the fucking cliché!

My world suddenly stop spinning when his eyes finally locked on mine. Natalo ng malakas na kalabog ng puso ko ang natitirang ingay mula sa foam party at dalampasigan ilang dipa ang layo sa amin.

I melted into his arms. I absentmindedly grab his shirt for support. Mas lalo akong nawalan ng lakas nang mapakapit na sa kanya braso habang itinatayo niya ako.

Standing in front of him is like looking at my fragile self-broken eighteen year old self. Gaya ko ay hindi natinag ang pagtitig niya sa akin, as if waiting for me to break the ice first.

I waited for his expression to change but it didn't. Bukod sa magkasalubong na kilay at pagkadismaya sa naging reaksiyon ko matapos niyang iligtas ay wala na akong ibang nakita sa kanya.

Wait, is this true? Tama ba ang hinala kong hindi niya ako nakilala?

I waited for a minute for him to finally recognize me but it did not happen. Mukhang mas lalo lang siyang nairita sa pagiging ungrateful ko at hindi pagpapasalamat ng maayos sa kanya, That calmed me. Nahihiya ko siyang binitiwan at pagkatapos ay inayos na ang sarili.

"I-I'm sorry and thank you for saving me from that man." sabi ko sabay lingon sa wala pa ring malay na lalaking nasa lupa.

He glanced at him too and then back at me. Halos mahimatay na ako nang kumalma na ang kanyang ekspresyon at ang mga mata ay nakatuon na lang sa akin na tila ba unti-unti nang may gustong maalala.

I stopped him from realizing I am someone he knew from the past by backing up, giving us both enough space.

"Thank you ng marami." untag ko.

"You really don't know him?"

"No I don't and as weird as it sounds, hindi ko alam kung paano niya ako nadala rito. I've been begging him to let me go but he never listened. Kahit may mga nakasalubong kami ay hindi niya ako binitiwan."

He cock his head and pulled something out of his pocket.

"Do you mind?"

Umiling ako. Sinindihan niya ang kinuhang sigarilyo at hinipat agad 'yon. That gave me an opportunity to say good bye.

"Thank you ulit. I'll get going. Be safe."

"You're staying here tonight?" he asked after I turn my back on him.

Natigil ako. Shit.

Kahit labag sa loob ko ay muli akong pumihit paharap sa kanya. Hindi niya naman ako natatandaan kaya alam kong safe kahit paanong makipag-usap pero hindi na dapat ito mangyari.

"Yes. You?"

He nodded. "Buy me a drink."

"W-what?"

He puffed his cigarette twice before answering me back.

"If you really want to thank me then buy me a drink."

"I'm sorry but I think I'm done partying."

"Well I'm not and you owe me one."

"Sir—"

"Toine. That's my name and you are?"

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

"I-I'm... Armani." I smile after saying that to keep my lie hidden.

"Well Armani, thank me by buying me a drink."

"But—"

"Don't worry, I won't let anyone touch you again."

I felt the sting in my eyes because of his words. Hindi ko alam pero parang bigla akong pinagsusuntok ng kung anong emosyon sa interaksiyong ito. Kahit na alam kong kailangan kong kumawala sa kanya ay hindi ko magawa.

I know I promised myself that I will let everything about him go including what I felt for him and all the bottled up emotions, but Toine Andres really have his own way to touch and bring back those memories and familiar feelings. And I hate myself because I couldn't do anything to stop it.

Bago pa ako makasagot ay binitiwan na niya ang yosi at pinatay. He picked it up and walk past me to get to the trash bin near by. Ibinalik niya ang mga kamay sa kanyang bulsa matapos itapon ang filter bago ako muling nilingon.

"Come on, just one drink. I'm sure that will not hurt your bank account, right? Show me the right manners, Armani."

The side of my lips rose a bit at that. Him calling me Armani made me feel new emotions that I just couldn't decipher. And for the first time, it's not negative. Parang sinasabing wala talaga akong dapat ipag-alala kaya sa huli ay tuluyan na akong hindi nakawala.

"Just one drink, Toine."

He nodded and then started walking away. Nang marinig ang ungol ng lalaking nakabulagta sa lupa ay nagmamadali ko na siyang sinundan.

I just can't believe that after all those years, I am with him again. Ayaw ko sana siyang pantayan dahil may pag-aalinlangan pa rin ako pero sinadya niyang bagalan ang paglalakad para magpantay kami.

I did not look at him because I don't want to panic again. Mabuti at hindi na rin siya nagsalita hanggang sa mapunta kami sa kabilang pool taliwas kung nasaan ang party. He asked someone to get me a robe and then personally handed it to me. Agad kong sinuot.

Nang mapansing hindi namin tinatahak ang daan patungo sa party pool ay hindi ko na natiis na magtanong.

"Where are we going?"

"You said you're done partying so let's just go to a quieter bar." sagot niya sabay nguso nang isang spa.

"The spa?"

"Just trust me."

Kahit na ayaw ko ay sumunod na lang ako. Gusto ko sanang magsalita lalo na nang makitang occupied daw ang lahat ng therapist at walang tao sa reception area pero hindi ko nagawa nang magtuloy-tuloy lang siya patungo sa kabilang banda hanggang sa makapasok kami sa isang mas pribadong silid.

To my surprise, it was really a quieter space with an exclusive bar. May nag-iisang tao roon na naka-roba rin gaya ko at mukhang katatapos lang magpamasahe. He nodded at Toine when their eyes met. Dumiretso naman kami sa bar area na mayroong bartender. Kahit na maliit ito kumpara sa mga nasa labas ay kompleto di ang mga kagamitan. In fact, mukhang mas mga mamahalin pa nga ang mga alak na narito.

"A bar inside a spa?"

"This is a secret bar," he answered after we both sat at the highchair. "Twenty-four hours open but not everyone can go and drink here."

"So it's an exclusive bar for whom? Sino lang ang pwede?"

"Investors and other important people."

"You're an investor?" I asked after taking the margarita he ordered for me.

"Kind of."

"So you're big time then?"

The side of his lips almost curved at that. I already know the answer to that but I need to keep playing pretend.

This is good information. This is why I'm here and not being recognized by him could actually be an advantage. I am at the right place.

"Are you staying here just for tonight?" he asked, changing the subject.

"No, you?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe? You mean you're leaving tomorrow?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "When are you checking out?"

"Why are you asking?"

Umiling siya. "Just asking. Why are you not answering?"

Ibinaba ko ang alak at umiling din. "In two days."

"That wasn't hard, didn't it?"

I rolled my eyes at him. Tinungga niya ang hawak na alak at muling sinenyasan ang bartender. Agad naman itong nagbuhos ulit ng panibagong whiskey sa kanyang baso.

"You said only one drink?"

"I'll pay for both and yours, don't worry."

"Sabi mo iyon ang bayad ko sa pagsalba mo sa 'kin sa lalaking 'yon?"

"And now it's not."

"Look, ayaw kong magkaro'n ng utang na loob sa kahit na sino so let me at least pay for every drink tonight."

"You don't have to pay at all."

"What's the catch?"

"Nothing. Maybe accompanying me is already enough as a payment."

I chuckled at that. "Are you that lonely?"

Doon na siya nangiti. Hindi ko na nabawi ang nakaka-offend na tanong.

"I am lonely." he confessed.

Nawala ang ngiti ko.

"Why? Are you single? That makes you lonely?" I asked.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just asking."

"How about you? Are you single?" he rebutted.

"Bakit bumalik sa akin? Answer me first and I'll answer you."

"I am lonely and my relationship is none of your business, but being single doesn't always imply loneliness, at least in my case. Same goes in being in a relationship. Not everyone who has a partner is happy and sometimes it's the other way around. Relationship sometimes make people miserable."

Wala akong naisagot. I always find Toine wise. Malalim siyang mag-isip at may mga bagay siyang kayang ipaintindi sa akin na hindi kayang gawin ng iba. I witnessed everything when we were fuck buddies back then. Lahat ng kahinaan at kasiyahan niya ay alam ko. He even said once that he's vulnerable and comfortable when he's with me and that is because I'm a good listener and I gave him solace.

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang walang sabi siyang tumayo matapos muling ubusin ang pangalawang shot.

"I'll accompany you to your room."

Nalagok ko ang hawak na alak at pagkatapos ay natatarantang napatayo na rin. I never thought this would end now. Napakarami ko pang gustong itanong at usisain lalo na tungkol sa mga may-ari ng hotel pero hindi ko na nagawa.

"No, I can manage. Okay lang ako."

"I insist. What happened with that man is far from over yet. Hangga't hindi pa kayo nagkakaharap at hindi pa siya personal na nakakahingi sa 'yo ng tawad ay hindi 'yon matatapos so let me accompany you and ensure your safety just for tonight."

His words rumbles in my head that all I did was follow him as we walk to my suite.

Wala nang usapang namagitan sa aming dalawa. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko dahil kahit gusto kong putulin ang nakakabinging katahimikan sa pagitan namin habang naglalakad ng magkatabi ay hindi ko magawa. It seems like he too has a lot to say but chose to close his mouth until we reach my room.

"This is me."

Sa wakas ay nakaharap ako sa kanya matapos huminto sa pintuan ng aking silid.

"Thank you ulit, Toine."

He nodded slowly and slightly pursed his lips.

"Good night, Lacey. Be safe." sagot niya.

Natulala na lang ako nang walang lingon na siyang naglakad palayo sa akin. I absentmindedly hug myself as I watch him disappear in my eyes.

Kahit na nagpapasalamat akong tapos na ang interaksiyon namin ay may parte sa traydor kong puso ang nanghihinayang at hindi mapakali. Pakiramdam ko ay sa kanyang pag-alis ay may nakuha na naman siya sa pagkatao ko.

Wait, did he just called me Lacey?! Oh my God, did Toine recognized me?! Putang ina... did he knew it was me all along?!