Who's Here?

"Yana, hey! I'm talking to you!" nawaglit ako sa aking malalim na pag-iisip ng tapikin ni Faus ang aking hita.

"What?" gulat kong tanong.

"Si Joaquin na naman ba 'yan?! You're too occupied. Dada ako ng dada dito, nasa Sacortoza pala na iyon ang nalipad mo!" inis niyang saad sabay lagok ng isang shot ng martini.

"It's not him. I'm just thinking if ipagpapatuloy ko pa ba ang pagsama sa London with Sir Gio?"

"Oh! How many times do I have to tell you, huh? You should! It's a big opportunity... And it's UK of course! Who wouldn't love to have that vacation for almost a year!"

"It's for business matter, Faustina. Not a vacation," tugon ko at lumagok din ng isang shot ng Martini. Kahit nakararami na ako ng shot ay hindi pa rin tumatalab ang tama ng alak sa aking sistema. I'm a hard drinker.

I have known it when I have experimented myself before when it comes to alcohol and I must say that I'm a pro in that field.

I drunk different kinds of liquor in my condo but I have stayed up the whole night after it. Kinaumagahan noon ay nagkahang-over ako ngunit nakapasok pa rin sa trabaho.

"If I were you, sasamantalahin ko ang pagkakataon. I'd travel all around the UK and take thousands of pictures for souvenirs!" palatak niya na mariin kong inilingan. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pag-inom sa mga shots na inoorder ni Faus.

Kami lamang dalawa ang nasa stool bar at paminsan-minsan ay nakikisali sa aming usapan ang bartender.

"Give me your hardest liquor here..." ani ng isang baritonong boses sa aking likuran.

Mabilis na naghalo ang bartender sa ni-request na inumin.

"Yana let's dance!" sigaw ni Faus.

"Ikaw na lang..." Faus did not waste time to go to the dancefloor.

"Ylliana?" pagkuwa'y banggit ng lalaki sa aking likuran. Napalingon naman ako at bumungad sa akin si Jordan.

"Jordan, what are you doing here?"

"Didn't Joaquin tell you about the project in London?"

"Project in... London? Siya iyong kasama ni Sir Gio sa trip?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. Sir Gio didn't mention that the deal he was aiming was the one in London. It's about distillery, a subsidiary industry of the Corpuz Hotel Industries.

"So you know Giordano Corpuz? Are you going to be with us in London?" Bumakas ang ngisi sa kanyang labi sa napagtanto.

"Yes and yes. Sir Gio is my boss and I might accompany him in London," alanganin kong sagot.

"Hindi ba't secretary ka ni Joaquin before I left?" nalilito niyang saad.

"I'm sorry I do not work with him anymore... I've moved out. Two years ago..."

"Oh, do we have a very big catch up to do?" nakangisi niyang tanong. Ngumiti ako at tumango sa isa sa mga naging kaibigan ko noong nasa Casa Sacortoza pa ako.

"Shall I take you to our table?" anyaya ni Jordan sa akin. Malugod ko naman siyang pinagbigyan.

He held my waist while we were crossing the dance floor. I saw how my friend Faus danced intimately with a foreigner. Ngumiwi ako sa nakita. I think I will never be used to seeing her like that. I know she grew up in New York and people there are liberated. And that's what I'd always tell myself.

Few meters away to where we were directing to, is a group of bigtimes in the couches. Muntik na akong matalisod ng dumako ang mata ko sa pares ng matang nakatingin sa akin. Ang lalaking nasa kanilang gitna. Sitting firmly with legs spread apart a bit like a king, is the CEO of the Sacortoza Group of Industries. A woman with a very daring tube dress is sitting beside him. Her hand is on his chest and the other is anchored on his neck.

I felt a pang on my chest but I just ignored it. I walked with Jordan until we reached them.

"Mind if you tell me that gorgeous' name with you, Jordan?" tanong ng isang mestizo at blue-eyed na lalaki.

"She's Ylliana Roxas, Gio's General Operating Director..."

"How come I did not see you at the Corpuz Company? I was recently regular there... I'm Ashton, by the way beautiful," anito at hinalikan ang likod ng aking palad.

"Oh not her, Ash. Find someone you've gotta play around with." Agad akong pinaupo ni Jordan dalawang metro ang layo kay Joaquin at agad itong umupo sa tabi ko.

All the guys in the circle bothered to talk to me but not him. He just nodded as the sign of acknowledgement that I am here. The woman beside him never turned her gaze unto us.

The other girls talked to me too, except her. Parang may sariling mundo ang dalawa at ang isa't isa lang ang nakikita. Seeing them makes me want to punch someone. Wews. Why do I felt bad for myself? Hindi dapat ganito, Ylliana. Just keep your face, straight. Ipakita mong wala lang sa iyo yan kahit na kinakausap na siya ngayon ni Jordan at wala pa rin siyang pakialam!

"I heard that you and Gio are together, is it serious or?" Binitin ng babaeng katabi ng babae ni Joaquin ang tanong. She was wearing something daring too but not as revealing as that girl's wearing. Tss.

"It was only a rumor. He's my boss and I work for him. That's the end of it."

"Oh, but you were together at that event? My brother told me he's bringing his soon-to-be girlfriend there..."

"Don't tell me my cousin's head over heels with a woman now?!" Hindi makapaniwalang konklusyon nito.

"Uhmm... Well... You are his cousin?" Tanong ko kahit obvious naman.

"Yes, dear. That bastard doesn't want me in his building that's why we don't see each other. Hmmm... kaya pala. I'm Blythe, by the way..." Tumabi ito sa akin at kinausap pa ako tungkol kay Sir Gio. The talk went on. People in the couch went after and after to the dance floor. Hindi ko napansin na maging si Jordan ay umalis na rin. Nagpaalam na din sa akin si Blythe ng yayain siya ng kasama kaninang lalaki sa dance floor.

Nakita ko na lamang ang sarili kong mag-isang nakaupo kasama ang dalawang naglalampungan sa gilid. Well, sino pa nga ba? Ang malanding Joaquin at ang alaga niyang linta. I didn't know why I don't feel anything at all. Tumikhim ako upang ipaalam ang presensya ko. Can't get intimidated by me? Tss.

Kitang-kita ko ang pagtirik ng mata ng leech. Iww. May umiirap bang leech? Syempre hindi ako nagpatalo. Minsan lang ako makapagtaray, lubus-lubusin ko na. Dahil siguro sa alak kaya nai-irritate ako ngayon. Pinakita ko din ang pangmalakasan kong irap sa dalawang malandi.

Sabay tayo at diretso papunta sa restroom. Nakasalubong ko si Jordan na may kaakbay na agad na babae.

"Where are you going Ylliana?" anito at lumampas ang tingin sa aking likod. Probably, seeing the two having their own worlds.

"Restroom lang," sagot kong pasigaw dahil sa sobrang lakas ng music. They continued to dance while I proceeded on my way.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng marating ko na ang restroom. It was really suffocating there. The trance music plus the dancing lights and the dry ice smoke. Idagdag pa ang pinaghalong amoy ng alak at sigarilyo.

Naghilamos ako upang mahimasmasan mula sa iritasyong nararamdaman. Damn. Pulang-pula pala ako. Mabuti na lang madilim kanina.

Umalis na ang huling babaeng nagrest room. Ako na lamang ang natira. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pag-aayos ng aking sarili. Inaayos ko na ang mga gamit ko ng biglang namatay ang ilaw.

"Sino yan?" Bulalas ko ng madinig ang pagsarado ng mismong pintuan ng restroom. Someone's steps is the only thing that I am hearing and I know it's advancing towards me.

"Who's here?" It was foolish of me to even ask a question again.

Tumakbo ako papunta sa pintuan kahit madilim at wala halos akong makita. I don't want this...

But someone blocked my way and pulled me towards him. That familiar scent hit through my nostrils and it sent shivers down my spine.

"What the hell are you doing?" Hirap kong saad at nagpumiglas sa kanyang hawak.

"You have guts now to wear dresses like that?" mababa ang tono ng boses nito.

Nanginginig man ay nagawa ko pa ring sumagot. Only him can make me stay longer in dark places like here without having a breakdown.

"W--why? C-can't I wear d-decent clothes?" Patuya niyang pinasadahan ang kabuuan ko. At kahit madilim ay ramdam ko ang hiya dahil sa kanyang tingin.

"Is that what you call decent? Don't you know that boys are drooling over you? Don't you see their stares like they wanted to take you to bed?" Madiin niyang sagot.

"E anong tawag mo sa suot ng kalingkisan mo?! A towel after shower, perhaps?" Sa inis ay nagawa ko siyang masagot ng diretso sa kabila ng pangambang nararamdaman.

He hugged me tighter and buried my face on his chest.

"I miss you..."

He looked at me with stern face and his hand cupped my face. I turned my face sideway only to be hugged by him again tighter.

I felt him kissing the top of my head. I never wrapped my arms around him.

"Why can't you hug me back?"

Hindi ko na siya nagawang sagutin ng marinig ang sunod-sunod na katok sa pinto.

"Yana?!" Dinig ko ang boses ni Faus.

"Yana are you there? Come on, answer me please," Jordan added.

"Yana are you okay?"

Nakita ko na lamang ang gulat sa kanilang mga mukha ng si Joaquin ang nagbukas ng pintuan.

"What the fuck are you doing here, couz? Are you desperate?!"

"Fuck you, Jordan. I just accompanied her."

"Oh! Don't fool me, Joaquin. You pervert!"

"Pervert my ass. You have something to talk about with me." Anito at umalis.

"Ohmygosh! Buti kasama mo si Joaquin. There was a blackout here. High-end bar, really? Guess, they suck at electric bills..." Paliwanag ni Faus sa nangyari sa buing lugar.

"I'm okay, Faus. Let's just go now. I can't stay here any longer..." I can't be in one place with him. It suffocates me.

"Mabuti pa nga. Baka mawalan na naman ng kuryente. Delikado para sa'yo."