Dancing with Stranger

UNO

THREE YEARS AFTER...

I looked at myself on the mirror and settled on the person I’m seeing right in front of me. I checked myself again before i get out of my walk in closet.

“Do I have anything in particular now, Castor?” As I fix the button of my suit.

“No, sir. Just a couple of meetings and some interview. Would you like to add one?” I glared at Castor who’s grinning on me.

He’s been with me ever since I started training to be my fathers heir.

I checked my phone when it vibrate. Its my f*****g friends again. I hope they don’t have problems right now coz I’m kind of busy to help them again.

“Wtf! Do you want, Montedillo?” I said while getting in the car. Castor was driving beside me so I have time to talk trash with this maniac.

“f**k you too, bud. What time you coming, buddy?”

I scratch the back of my head suppressing my laughed hearing him talk in English. They usually talked Tagalog but when it comes to me, I was used to speaking in English but they often yell at me because of that.

“Namo, Benjamin.” Napatingin si Castor ng bigla akong humalakhak.

“Antayin niyo nalang ako. I’ll be there on time.” I said before hanging up.

Napatingin ako sa prasang nasa bisig ko. Alas siyete palang ng umaga kailangan kung matapos ng maaga. Birthday ngayon ni Fin at saktong kakabukas lang ng bar niya kaya kailangan nandoon kaming lahat. Si Ashton ay manggagaling pa ng US, si Dustin naman ay sa Italy.

Each of us were busy making our self stable. But set a side we always make time to play. Playtime is separate from our serious and stressful life.

“Castor—”

“You can go, whenever you wanted to live.” He said cutting off my words.

I just smiled and shook my head. That’s why we stick together for this long. He always knows me and understand all my plans in life.

Pagpasok ko ng kompanya ay wala pa masyadong tao. Alas otso pa ang umpisa ng party niya kaya pwede pa akong umuwi pag kagaling ko ng opisina. Papasok na ako ng private elevator ko ng isang babae ang nagmamadaling humarang sa akin at naunang pumasok. Akmang pipigilan ito ni Castor pero sinenyasan ko nalang na hayaan nalang. Mukhang matagal na itong tumatakbo dahil halos sabog-sabog ang buhok nito at halos hindi na makita ang mukha niya.

“Sorry,” she bow. “I’m kinda. I know I’m not allowed here.”

I smirked. “Incompetent.” I whispered before she got out.

I know she heard me. I don’t care that’s my self assessment on here.

Tumango lang ako sa lahat ng bumabati sa akin ng makalabas kami ng elevator. Most of them like me, but mostly they hated me. I don’t care!

Pagpasok mo sa opisina ay nakasunod na si Castor bitbit ang mga papeles na hawak niya. Kakatapos lang ng ilang meetings ko mabuti nalang at dito lang sa building at hindi ko na kailangang umalis pa. Gusto ko pa sanang magreklamo pero binalaan agad ako nitong kapag hindi ko ito natapos ay wala akong nightout.

Kaya wala akong choice kundi isubsob ang sarili ko sa mga papeles na ‘to.

Pagod kung binagsak ang likod ko sa sandalan ng upoan ko ng matapos kung ireview at pirmahan ag hulig papeles na nasa harap ko. Agad kung kinuha ang blazer ko bago tumayo at dire-diretsong lumabas. Baka mamaya ay abotan pa ako ni Castor dito at may bitbit na namang papeles ay hindi na ako makaalis.

“Call me if you need anything,” he shouted before I enter the elevator.

Sa likod ako ng building lumabas at doon pumara ng taxi pauwi. Kukuha nalang ako sa bahay ng sasakyang gagamitin ko kailangan ko din maligo at magpalit ng damit. Ayokong ulanin ng tukso mamaya baka sabihing aattend ako ng meeting.

I just picked a Blue Ralph Lauren button down shirt and a black pants with a white Nike shoes.

Pagdating ko ng Club zero ay marami ng tao sa labas palang ng bar. Art was there to assist me inside. They were all here when I arrived including Castor who’s grinning happily.

“Nauna kapa talaga.”

“Hindi kita boss ngayon, bawal manermon.” He hissed and gave me a bottle of Sapporo.

The bar looks crowded and it’s the first day he opened it. Ever since he really wanted to put up a bar like this. Coz he said he loves alcohol and party and we also loves to hang out. At least we already have our own place. A place who doesn’t bother if we’re crazy or loud and even if we fall asleep on the floor.

“Congrats, buddy. It’s a good start.”

“Yeah, hope it'll last not just today. Anyway, have you tried the food Art booked? It’s good.”

“Puro na naman englishan ang naririnig ko sa inyo. Isang linggo ng dumudugo ang ilong namin ni Ashton diyan. Magtagalog naman tayo.” Asik ni Dustin ng maupo sa tabi ko.

Sabay-sabay kaming natawa dahil sa sinabi nito. Lagi ba naman silang abroad kaya lahat ng kausal ang puro foreigner. Gusto ko sana ng whiskey kaso nagreklamo ulit ang dalawa dahil baka whiskey na daw ang dugo nila. Kaya ito kami nagtitiyaga sa Sapporo, not bad narin masarap naman.

Napasandal ako sa couch na kinaupoan ko dito sa lounge. Nakaramdam ako bigla ng hilo naparami na pala ang nainom naming beer. Kasi ang tatlo ay nawala na sa tabi ko nandoon na sa gitna at namumulotan ng babae.

Fin made us a room in the second floor of the bar. So I feel like my head were spinning right now I wanted to rest. But this goddamn friends pf mine blocked my way and asked me to dance and get wasted with them. I don’t have a choice but to get along, coz lately were always been busy making a life.

“Tangina, Ashton huwag kang maghubad.”

“Gago, mainit dito sa bar mo. Ipasasara ko na ‘to.” Ashton shouted back on Fin.

Samantalang si Dustin ay nakayupyop na sa isang tabi na parang may kinakausap na. Nakakabaliw talaga ang alak dahil bigla nalang itong tatawa bago iiyak. Si Fin ay parang malanding pokpok na nagsasayaw sa gitna habang winawagayway ang mga damit niya. Samantalang kanina lang ay todo saway pa ‘to kay Ashton. Isa rin naman pala siya sa nangunguna.

Ilang kumpol ng mga babae ang lumapit sa amin para makipagsayaw. Dahil naturingang malalandi ang mga kasama ko ay hinarot na din nila. The one in front of me were grinding on my legs. She’s making me hard. But I’m so dizzy and I feel like the whole bar were moving with me.

I need to pee so I leave them and find my way to the bathroom. I was busy peeing when someone walk in one of the cubicle. I just ignored it knowing maybe nature calling him. But to my horror, it was a girl who’s taking of her dress while walking in. She grabbed my neck and kissed me.

“What the f**k are you doing?” I asked and tried to push her away from me.

“God, Benjamin I didn’t know you’ll be this hot.”

What the f**k is going on? That’s what I’ve been thinking when her hands were exploring on my body. We were eating each others face when she pulled me to the stairs.

I don’t know what’s happening but she kept on kissing me. I can’t stop her thinking how drunk and dizzy I am.

But every kissed and every touch of her lips on me were like starting a fire inside me. Its wakening the desire’s I haven't experience on my past lovers.

Her lips were new, yet its sweet and delectable.

I walked up in a room that’s unfamiliar. I’m used to it but I’m not used to see myself naked under the sheet and with a pair of underwear beside me. I don’t remember anything or anyone from last night. All I know is we flirted some girls, but I don’t remember bringing them up her. Based on what Fin’s said I was alone in the room with a pair of underwear on the side. No one’s there and no one see me with a girl last night.

“Baka naman nanaginip kalang kagabi Benjamin?” Fin

“Then how do you explain the underwear? And the fact that I’m naked.”

The bar were still closed and were eating breakfast or brunch I don’t know what it is. Coz the alcohol still running in my veins plus that girl that I don’t remember.

Damn it! I feel molested.

“Ikain mo nalang yan buddy. Minsan talaga sa pag-oover work lang natin yan.” Dustin put a plate in front of me.

“Naku, kaya pala sa overworked mo umiiyak at tumatawa kana mag-isa.” Buska ni Ashton kay Dustin.

Kahit anong isip ko hindi ko talaga maalala kung sino siya. Kahit ang cctv ni Fin ay walang makita. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung nagdedeliryo lang ako kagabi o may sa multo ang babaeng ‘yon.

Sinulyapan ko ang underwear na nasa tabi ko. Inamoy ko kanina hindi naman mabaho. Sino kayang may-ari nito? Ipanawagan ko kaya? Baka mamaya may babae pang mang blackmail sa akin dahil dito.

“Swerte mo kung babalikan niya ‘yan.” Ashton said.

“Paano kung hindi?” tanong ko sa kanila bago sabay silang nagkatitigang tatlo at sumigaw ng

“GAMITIN MO SI MARIANG PALAD, GAGO!” I face palmed.

What do I expect from them?!