Art of Serendipity

16

Nagbihis ako, I'm wearing a cherry colored spaghetti strap dress ending just above my knee. For the first time, I will wear a stilletos. Bar ang pupuntahan namin so It's okay to look a bit daring, right? I want to get out of my comfort zone just for this night. Light make up includes red lipstick and I am done to go.

I did not see Tita Donna when I got downstairs. Hindi ko na rin siya gugustuhin pang makita, baka hindi ko mapigilan ang bibig ko at kung ano pa ang masabi kong hindi maganda sa kaniya na sigurado akong hindi niya magugustuhan. She cannot just accept honest criticisms. As much as I wanted to give respect to her, she does not deserve it!

"Saan po ang punta niyo, Ma'am?" our driver asked.

"Magnifique bar. Do not ask further questions and just lend me there, Kuya. Please," I answered. "Also, do not ever tell Dad about this." Tumikhim lang ang driver at tumulak na kami paalis. I really hope that he won't tell this to Daddy or maybe... He is the spy. I don't know. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pang gagawin ko.

To Levi:

Magnifique bar. Go there now.

I know I am becoming cruel again with my words. Umayos ang pakiramdam ko nitong mga nakaraang araw dahil hindi kami nakakapag-interact ni Tita Donna masyado dahil siya lang naman ang natatanging nagiging dahilan ng galit ko.

I already booked a seat in Magnifique the moment I stepped inside. Maingay at magulo pero alam kong mahigpit ang security sa lugar nito. Hindi naman siguro ako mapapahamak. Besides, I will be with Levi later.

Sa harap nito ay ang restaurant ng Magnifique at mas traditional iyon kaysa rito.

Malaking sofa ang nakuha ko dahil malalaki naman talaga ang seats dito kaso, dalawa lang naman kami. Apat sana kung nandito si Alas at Ate Noreen, pero wala naman sila and besides, I don't have friends aside from them. Ayaw ko rin namang uminom mag-isa 'no. Hindi ko pa talaga alam kung ano ako kapag lasing, let this night be my practice ground.

The harsh scent of alcohols crushed my nose. Kumuha ako ng isang shot glass at nilagyan ito ng unang wine na nakuha ko. Pinakatitigan ko ito. Nakainom na ako ng wine dahil marami no'n sa bahay but I'm not alcoholic. Hindi pa ako nakakatikim sa kahit isa nito, cocktail, vodka, whisky na may chaser pa. Oh, damn. There is al black label!

Ininom ko ito at gumuhit agad sa lalamunan ko. Damn! Gusto ko ng umayaw pero hindi ko alam kung bakit umulit pa ako ng isa, ng dalawa at pangatlo pa.

Nang pang-apat na ay may humablot na sa akin ng shot glass. Marahas niya itong ininom at umupo sa tabi ko. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang kabuuan ko bago pumikit ng mariin. Pagkamulat niya ay nag-aalab na ang tingin niya.

"How many shots have you already taken?" his voice is colder than Ice. What did I f*cking do this time?! Lahat na lang bgalit sa akin?!

"Pang-apat na sana kaso inagaw mo naman! You took so long!" I hissed. Maingay kaya bahagya akong tumungo sa kaniya para marinig niya ako.

"Bakit dito ka pa mag-iinom? Pwede naman mag-inom sa bahay niyo or sa amin. Why the hell are you drinking? This is not you," marahan niya pang saad kahit ramdam ko ang inis niya. Anong nangyayari sa kaniya? Masaya pa siya kanina, ah?

"Psh. This is not me? Kailan ba may nakakilala sa akin? Even my father doesn't know me that much." I smiled bitterly. Kailan ba nila ako nakilala? Wala naman nakakakilala sa akin ng mas higit pa sa sarili ko.

He sighed and the moment he heard that, he already knew why I am here. I have all the sh*ts inside me, so I wanted to have fun.

"Drinking is not the only solution to your problems," Iling-iling niya pang ani.

Sus. Nakaisip na rin ako ng solusyon kanina. Gumana ba? Hindi! Ako lang ang naging mali sa mata ni Daddy. Napakagaling hindi ba?

Hindi ko na siya sinagot at kumuha ulit ako ng isa pang shot. Hindi na rin siya kumibo. We drink in silence. Nang medyo naramdaman ko na ang tama ng alak ay tumayo ako. I wanna dance. I wanna have some fun.

"Where are you going?" the man beside me asked. Oh, may katabi pala ako!

"Hi, handsome! Wanna dance?" I said and I don't know but I just feel cool and witty.

"Aya, you are already drunk. Iuuwi na kita sa inyo. Let's go," the man commanded. Oh, he knew me! But sadly, he is a kill joy! Pauwiin ba naman ako!

He stood up and held my arm but I threw it harshly, kaso natumba naman ako but this man's flexes are good. Nasalo niya agad ako. Sino ba 'to? In fairness, natatabunan ng mabangong amoy niya ang amoy ng alak.

"Shh! Kapag inuwi mo 'ko sa amin. My witch stepmother will report this to my Dad and of course, kasalanan ko na naman!" My eyes bore onto him. I used my index finger to stop him from talking but in just one tilt of his head, nawala agad iyon sa mga labi niya.

"Kaya nga iuuwi na kita! I will explain to whoever you are talking about." His face is dark and his voice is authoritative.

"That woman will never believe you. My father will not going to believe you! Ikaw? Can you believe that? Even my Dad doesn't want to believe his daughter." I laughed bitterly and roughly. My head is now spinning in a way that just makes no sense. Para akong nasa carousel!

The man groaned. "What am I going to do to you then? You look devastated and..F*ck!" he cursed harshly after looking just right my shoulder.

He held the strap of my dress and move it up harshly. Umupo siya at pilit din ako pinaupo but under the influence of alcohol, everything just seems so fun so I sat on his thigh. Muntik na ulit ako mahulog pero hinawakan niya ako sa baywang para mapirmi ako.

I can see fire in his eyes. Nag-aalab at nakakapaso. He looks mad too. Ha! Anong ginawa ko? He's a man right?! Diba dapat gusto niyang may nang-aakit sa kaniya? Damn! Bukas wala na 'to! So, might as well enjoy it!

"What's your name, handsome?" ang tinig ko ay hindi ko na rin makilala.

"Stay put. Is Nanay Luz in your house?" he asked instead of answering my question! Ano ba naman 'to! Walang kwenta kausap.

"She's on day-off." I stood up, kung ayaw niya sa akin e 'di ayaw ko rin sa kaniya. Suit himself.

"Where on earth are you going, stubborn woman?" he asked again while pulling my hand pero hindi na ako ulit umupo sa hita niya.

"I'm going to flirt! Ayaw mo naman sa 'kin, e," pagpupumiglas ko pa.

Naiirita na siya sa akin. Ramdam ko 'yon. "Alam mo ba ang sinasabi mo? Oh right! Of course, not! Let's just go!"

Hinila niya ako palabas pero bumabangga ako sa mga tao at hindi ko na talaga maintindihan kung ano ang nasa paligid. Humarap ulit ang lalaki sa akin at maya-maya lang ay naramdaman ko na parang lumulutang ako. He carried me in a bridal style, iniyakap ko ang braso ko sa leeg niya at tanging ang mukha niya lang ang nakikita ko.

Is he a demigod?

Pumikit ako ng mariin at binaon ang mukha sa kaniyang balikat. Pagmulat ko ng mga mata ko ay nasa kotse na ako ng lalaki. Uuwi na kami? No way! Wala pa akong nagagawang hindi ko pa nagagawa sa tanang buhay ko!

"Bring me back inside that bar! Minsan lang naman ako maglasing kaya susulitin ko na!" I hissed to the man.

"No. You might just do something that will embarrass you there, and I will never ever let that fu*cking happen," he said in an uthoritative tone.

"Exactly! That is my purpose why I am here! C'mmon! I have not done any embarrassing thing yet! Yung tipong pagsisihan ko kinabukasan pero hindi ko na maalala! Yung gawain na hindi ko pa nagagawa noon!" I gritted my teeth.

"Jesus, please guide this woman." He massaged his temple out of frustration. "Tsk, ano bang gusto mong gawin na hindi po nagagawa?! Drinking so much until you're pain in the ass?!"

I shut up. Ano bang pwedeng gawin? Ah, alam ko na! "Wala pa akong first kiss!"

"Damn it!" He groaned. Pinukpok niya ang manibela ng malakas."Is that what you wanted to f*****g do? You're unbelievable!"

"You know I'm of legal age but I've never been kissed nor touched!" pagmamatigas ko.

He looked at me then iiwas ulit talos tititig at iiwas ulit. Ah, basta! Wala akong pakialam! I held the car's door to open it.

"Saan ka na naman pupunta, Miles?" His mouth twitched and jaw moved aggressively.

"Maghahanap ng first kiss!" sigaw ko at akma ng bubuksan ang pinto pero hinawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko at inilapit sa kaniya.

He sighed and just a second... One smack on my lips, I could not move. I could not even close my eyes. I was so shocked, parang nawala ako sa katinuan. Oh well, kanina pa naman ako wala sa katinuan. Naka-awang pa rin ang labi ko habang nakatitig sa magaganda niyang mata. He pursed his lips and stared at my lips more.

"Yeah right, let's do something that we never knew existed because surely, we will regret it by tomorrow," he whispered.

He held my cheeks gently. His fingers brushing slowly my face, para akong hinihele kaya pumikit ako, only to meet his tender lips again. He kissed me again in a soft and gentle caress. In that kiss I found peace. My heart begins to pound, parang sasabog sa sobrang lakas ng t***k.

He stopped. I can see his eyes as he stared mine. Familiar ang tingin niya. An image of a man looking at his artworks full of passion and love flushed in my mind. He is looking at me like I am one of those precious things he has in this world. Kilala ko siya. Alam ko. Pero bakit ngayon ay walang pangalang rumerehistro sa utak ko?

His finger touched my neck, down to my shoulders and to my hands, pinagsalikop niya ito. He held my hands gently yet firm. I felt safe, he spoke no words. I closed my eyes again and take a breath out.

~~~