Continuation.........
Abala sa pagmamaneho ng sasakyan si Troy ng tumunog ang kanyang cellphone. Rein was at his side. His thoughts were occupied. He was planning his first date with this sweet lady and he was so excited.
He wanted the best for her, he wanted to please her. After a series of thoughts, he decided to bring her to Manila Peninsula Hotel, where they can share a candle-lit dinner.
He was not the usual romantic type but he felt like one right now. She knew Rein was special. She deserved to be treated like a princess.
His cellphone continued to ring and he was forced to answer it.
“Where are you at this point in time Troy? It’s almost dawn. Don’t forget that we have an appointment tomorrow. Nakakahiya kay Pareng Bernard kapag mukha kang lantang gulay bukas. You need to be in good shape. Papaano ka magugustuhan ni Regine if you look hellish. Go home now and take some sleep.”
His face suddenly darkened. His father was like Hitler. He used to manage his life until now. Nagawa pa siya nitong ipagkasundo sa anak ng kumpare nito. He was already fed up. Ano ang tingin sa kanya ng ama, isang teenager? Hell, but he was already twenty-eight, for crying out loud!
He had given up a lot of things to please his father. He wanted to be a musician, a drummer specifically. But he wanted him to be a businessman. He gave up his band, to manage their business. He did whatever he said he will do. But it was never enough. He was never pleased of him, never been proud of him. He always fall short of his expectations. And now he realized that he will always be a nobody for his father.
Nakapagpasiya na siya. He wanted out of his manipulations. He will do what he desired. Marami siyang bagay na gustong patunayan sa ama. He will brave the world of music. Sa loob ng maikling panahon ng magbalik sila sa Pilipinas, he was able to organize a band. Tiyempo namang nawalan ng drummer ang isang papasikat ng banda and he gladly filled the part. Now they were preparing for an upcoming album.
He did not care if his father will not approve of his music stint. He surely won’t. Nasa tama na siyang edad upang magpasiya para sa sariling kapakanan niya.
He turned off his cellphone. He was not in the mood to argue with his Dad. He was with Rein, and he did not want to spoil the night. Hindi niya namalayang itinigil niya ang sasakyan sa isang tabi. His eyes full of contempt.
“May problema ba?” She bravely asked. She can tell by the looks of it that he was problematic. His mood suddenly changed after the phone call.
Napahugot ng malalim na buntong-hininga si Troy. “Yes,” he confessed. He was trying to compose himself yet he can’t. Gusto niyang pakawalan ang hinanakit niya sa ama.
Rein swallowed the lump in her throat. She felt sorry for him. Whatever problem he had must be something. She can feel his emotional struggle. “I have a problem too.” After a moment of hesitation, she decided to confess. “Alam mo bang naglayas ako sa amin ngayong gabi?” She smiled painfully.
Nilingon ni Troy ang dalaga. Nakita niya ang pait sa magandang mukha nito. And suddenly, he wanted to protect her. “Pareho pala tayo,” he was happy to see any connection with her. “Parang gusto ko na nga ring maglayas eh. My father was too much.”
“My Dad too…” Her voice cracked.
He reached for her hand. He wanted to console her. He hated to see her hurt like this. He can see pain in her eyes. And he understood her. His father was difficult as well. “It’s okay…” He whispered softly. “At least you’re free now. I’m not yet.”
“If I can just go to a place where I can simply forget everything and just have fun, you know, I never had one in my life.” Rein sweetly whined.
Troy beamed a smile. Now he knew what he wanted to do tonight, where they wanted to be. She wanted fun, and that’s what he needed as well. “Then let’s go and have some fun.” Muli niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan at tinahak ang daan papuntang Makati Avenue. He will bring her to Disco Maxx, a club owned by Nat, ang lead guitarist ng kinabibilangan niyang bandang ExMUD.
Disco Maxx was jampacked when they entered the vicinity. Palinga-linga sa paligid si Rein habang akay ni Troy. Naninibago siya sa lugar. It was her first time to enter a disco club. With her curfew and parents’ strict monitoring, she had no chance to experience wild night life.
She was glad she stowed away. Ngayon ay wala ng amang makikialam sa mga bagay na gusto niyang gawin. She followed Troy. Dinala siya nito sa isang grupong kaagad na tumayo at sinalubong si Troy ng mamataan ng mga ito.
“Hey, Pare.” Ang pinakamatangkad sa grupo ang unang nakipagkamay sa binata. Sumunod ang iba pa. Masayang nagkamayan ang mga ito at nag high five.
“Hey guys, meet Rein.” Troy gladly introduced her to the group. Isa-isang ipinakilala nito ang mga kabarkada. “Rein, this is Vince,” itinuro nito ang pinakamatangkad na lalaki, “the lead guitarist in our band and at the same time, the big time owner of this club.” Si Vince ay ngumiti ng matamis para sa dalaga at inilahad ang mga kamay sa kanya. He was a handsome and charming personality. She felt Troy’s hand at her side. He pulled her closer to him as if owning her. Kaagad namang nakuha ni Vince ang mensahe ni Troy. He shrugged his shoulders at casual na nakipagkamay kay Rein.
“This is Andrew, our electric guitarist,” iminosyon ni Troy ang binatang bagamat mapagmasid ang mga mata ay tahimik lamang. Nakipagkamay din ito sa dalaga. “This is Ash,” tukoy nito sa pinakabata sa grupo, “our keyboardist.” Ngumiti lamang ang lalaki bagamat hindi ito nakipagkamay. “And this is Eaton, our lead vocalist.” Troy beamed at a very attractive guy who posses a pair of enchanting blue eyes.
Inabot niya ang kamay ni Hanz upang makipag-handshake. She looked at Troy’s bandmates. They are all very attractive in their own ways. Mistula tuloy ang mga itong nabibilang sa isang brotherhood na ang pinagbabasehan ay good looks. Wala siyang maitulak kabigin sa mga ito kung kaguwapuhan ang pagbabasehan. But she found Troy more appealing and sexy among them.
They joined the group’s table. Abala sa pakikipagkuwentuhan ang mga lalaki. A few moments later, isa-isang nagsilapitan ang nagagandahang mga babae sa mga ito, like bees to flowers. Nabaligtad tuloy ang mundo, she thought. In these gorgeous men’s world, girls do the chasing and they just sit and wait for them.
She shook her head.
“Hey, something’s wrong?” Troy asked kindly when he saw her reaction.
“Nothing Troy,” she looked at his eyes. “Naninibago lang ako. I’m not used to all of these.”
He smiled sweetly that took her breath away. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right here by your side. I will guide you through all these…” His arm snaked at her side and pulled her closer to him. Magkatabi silang nakaupo sa malapad na sofa. Their bodies brushed and she felt chill travelled from her head to her toes. He sniffed her scent at her neck. His breath tickled her skin. Her eyes widened as she suppressed a gasp.
Gusto niya itong itulak palayo sa kanya. Ngunit walang lakas ang kanyang mga braso upang gawin iyon. Instead she closed her eyes and savored the exhilarating sensation brought by his nearness.
“Rein…” he whispered saltily.
She opened her eyes reluctantly. She still wanted to savor his body’s warmth and comfort. She saw his pair of sexy eyes staring at her intensely. His face was a few inches away from hers and she suddenly felt humid. Aircon naman sa loob ng club ngunit ang epekto sa kanya ng lalaki ay sapat na upang pagpawisan siya.
“Troy…” she shyly blinked her eyes. She avoided his gaze and let her eyes roamed around, giving herself time to breath. Madilim sa paligid at kung hindi dahil sa iba’t-ibang makukulay na liwanag na nagmumula sa disco lights, hindi niya makikita ang mga tao sa paligid niya.
Her eyes widened even more when she witnessed what was happening around her. Ang mga kagrupo ni Troy ay hindi na umiinom. They were busy kissing and cuddling with their partners. Siya ang nakaramdam ng pagkapahiya para sa mga babae.
Alam niyang moderno na ang pag-iisip ng mga babae sa ganitong panahon. Even she was starting to think radically. But it was the first time that she witnessed such kind of liberation from women. Her stare went back to Troy and she shivered at the intensity of his gaze. She felt her throat withered that she drank her glass of beer in mouthful. Kaagad na napangiwi siya ng malasahan ang pait ng ininom na Red Horse. Tiniis niya ang pait at muling tinungga ang lamang ng kanyang baso.
She was just sipping her beer slowly awhile ago. But since siya na lamang yata ang nalalabing hindi lasing, she decided to finish her glass of Red Horse so she can drink another one. Troy’s presence added more to her uneasiness. She needed diversion, so she can be momentarily be free from his hypnotizing gaze. He can burn the house down with those sexy, sinful eyes!
And so ang napagbalingan niya ay ang Red Horse Beer. She drank another glass. Kaagad na umikot ang kanyang paningin. She tried to blink for several times.
“Hey, take it easy…” Si Troy na kaagad hinagod sa likod ang dalaga.
Napakapit siya dito ng lumala ang pag-ikot ng kanyang paningin. His hands snaked around her waist. He firmly held her in his powerful arms.
“Are you okay, baby?”
Tiningala niya ang mukha ng binata. She smiled at him. Kahit lasing siya at umiikot ang paningin, she was still smitten by his handsome face. “I’m okay Troy. I can manage.”
Isang makabago at nakakaindak na tugtugin ang pumailanlang sa paligid. Halos lahat ng mga tao ay nagpunta sa dance floor at nagdisco.
She wanted to dance too but her hand instantly covered her mouth when she felt like throwing up. “I need to go to the restroom Troy,” she said in hesitation ngunit ng muling umatake ang paghilab ng sikmura, she ran to the restroom. Muntik na siyang natumba ng buksan ang pintuan.
“Easy baby… easy…” Si Troy ay maagap na sinundan ang dalaga at inalalayan. Ito na mismo ang nagbukas ng pintuan ng restroom.
Tuloy-tuloy sa loob si Rein. Tamang-tamang narating niya ang sink ng bigla siyang sumuka. She threw up the Red Horse that she had drunk like water. Nahimasmasan siya ng matapos makapagsuka. She washed her hands and cleaned her face. She felt like wasted.
So ganito pala kapag nalasing, she thought.
Nagtagal siya sa loob ng restroom at inayos ang sarili. Ngayong nahimasmasan siya mula sa kalasingan, she felt apprehensive to go out and be with Troy. That man can simply make her lost her mind!
She composed herself and when she thought that she can handle her wits now, she went out of the restroom. She was disappointed when she did not see Troy. Nakaramdam siya ng inis. Hindi man lang siya hinintay ng lalaki.
Oh well, baka nainip ito sa paghihintay sa kanya kasi ba naman ang tagal niyang lumabas ng restroom!
Bumalik siya sa kanilang mesa. The table that they occupied awhile ago was now vacant. Wala kahit ni isang kabarkada ng binata. Her eyes wandered to the dance floor. Pantay sindi ang disco lights ngunit kaagad na nahagip ng kanyang paningin si Vince. He was towering among other people. He was busy dancing with a partner na kung makagiling ng balakang ay halos umabot ang pang-upo sa lupa. Ang iba pang miyembro ng grupo ay naroon din sa dance floor kasa-kasama ng kanilang mga partner na babae.
When her eyes landed at Troy na enjoy na enjoy habang sinasayawan ng isang seksing babae, a sudden surge of emotion attacked her heart like a green-eyed monster. Raw jealousy overwhelmed her entire being. Napaupo siya sa malambot na sofa at napagbalingan ng pansin ang inuming nakapatong sa mesa. It was scotch on the rocks. Puno pa ang baso. Tinungga niya ang laman ng baso, drinking the liquor in just one gulp. Ngunit kaagad na napangiwi ang mukha niya ng madama ang init ng inumin sa kanyang lalamunan. Napaubo siya ng ilang beses.
She wanted to regret that she drank the liquor. But when she looked back at Troy's direction, she felt sudden vehemence. She impulsively drank another untouched glass. Inubos niyang inumin ang mga hard drinks na para sana sa kagrupo ng binata na tila uhaw na uhaw. Hindi na ng mga ito napagtuunan ng pansin ang inumin at naging busy na sa kani-kanilang mga babae.
Muling umikot ang paningin niya. She slouched on the sofa, her head swirling in drunkenness. She closed her eyes.
"Hi!"
Napapitlag sa kinauupuan si Rein ng marinig ang nagsalita. She opened her eyes and in her hazy vision saw a guy standing in front of her. He was smiling sweetly at her.
"Free for tonight?" He asked.
She smiled back. Troy had left her alone and she was hurt. But she won't let herself sulk in the corner. She stood up and reached for the guy's hand.
It's time to party, she thought...
ITUTULOY.........
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