Mr. Black

Chapter 2: Mother of my children

What kind of drinks are served here? Bakit parang pambata naman lahat ng mga inumin na nasa menu?

“What kind of drinks are you serving here?” mataray kong tanong. The drinks are not quite good, who would buy such drink like a Ferrero? Cadbury? And such? Pinanindigan ba talaga nila itong pangalang choco bar?

“It must be your first time here. You can’t underestimate our drinks here, ma’am, as it can knock you out just a minute after you drink it,” nakangiting sabi sa akin ng bartender.

I only gave him a look telling him to prove it to me. “What kind of drinks do you want, Ma’am?”

Napatingin ako sa menu at pinili ko iyong hindi masyadong nakakabutas ng bulsa. Their drinks price is not so very pleasant, nakakabutas ng bulsa.

“Just give me three glasses of Cadbury,” tamad kong sabi. I think that would have enough? Their drinks are costly. But maybe tasting would give me an acceptable reason why are they selling that high.

I actually liked the drinks. Kaya lang nakakaisang baso pa lang yata ako ay medyo nakakahilo na. I kept on focusing on the dance floor kaya mas lalong umaalon ang paningin ko. I closed my eyes for a second. Tatlong baso ang inorder ko.

Nakatingin ako sa dalawang glass na parang sumusuko na. No, I still want to drink it though. The taste is somehow likeable. Masarap naman siya. Nakakaadik pero napakalakas ng tama kahit isang baso pa lang ang naubos ko.

Sa pangalawang glass ko ay para na akong nawawala sa sarili. Ang tapang niya talaga masyado. Tumingin ako sa mga nagsasayawang tao sa dancefloor.

‘Gusto kong sumayaw.’

Parang may nag-udyok sa akin na lumapit doon at sumayaw.

“And we have a new list of names for tonight’s chocolate hot night.”

Nag-iiba talaga ang tama ng alak sa akin kapag lasing na ako. I shouted when the crowd started shouting too.

Winawagayway ko ang dalawang kamay ko at nakikisayaw sa kanila. I started jumping when they jumped. I am laughing at myself because of the stupid things I did.

“Get a hold of yourself ladies. Our star of the night! Paul Clarence Santiago!”

Nakipagsigawan din ako nang umingay na ang buong paligid. Gusto kong pumunta sa unahan para makita ang pinagkaguguluhan nila. I tripped when someone accidentally pushed me. “I’m okay,” I said laughing at myself.

Nakapikit lang ako dahil sa nahihilo na talaga ako. I felt someone helped me up. “You smell so good,” komento ko nang maamoy ang pabango niya.

He carried me at agad akong kumapit sa kaniya. Nakapikit pa rin ang mga mata ko.

“He is not Clarence! Where is my baby Clarence?”

“He’s not bad looking naman but you said Clarence!”

“We want Clarence!”

Iyon ang naririnig kong sigaw nila bago ito nawala sa pandinig ko. “Put me down. I will get home by myself,” sabi ko at binaba niya naman ako.

Napaupo ako sa semento nang biglang umikot ang paningin ko. “My head is spinning!”

I laughed at myself nang makita ko ang mga tao na dumudoble na sa paningin ko.

"Hey! Help me!" sigaw ko sa lalaking kumarga sa akin.

He is preparing his car. All I can see is his all-black outfit. Hindi ko maaninag ang buong mukha niya dahil bukod sa dumudoble ang paningin ko ay naka-mask ito ng itim din at may sumbrero ring itim.

"You look hot with that outfit," puri ko rito.

I slapped myself a bit when I noticed my not so normal self. Nagiging madaldal na ako. I'm drunk and I need to sleep now.

Dahil sa inaayos niya pa ang sasakyan niya ay humiga ako sa semento at natulog. It is cold and hard but the breeze made me close my eyes and so, I did.

"I didn't rape you," seryosong sabi niya.

Nagising na lang akong nasa tabi ko na siya nagbabasa ng isang libro. He's obsession with black is fantastic. Itim ang kama niya and he is dressed with a night gown na itim.

Napatingin ako sa damit ko, "This is not what I wore last night."

The shirt looks so big. I glared at him when I saw something. "My n*****s are showing!"

Puti ang suot kong damit ay kita ang hindi dapat makita.

"You chose the shirt."

Hindi na ako nagsalita at tumayo na para magbihis. I saw my clothes last night na maayos ang pagkalagay sa mesa.

Para akong may-ari ng bahay na kinuha iyon at nagbihis sa loob ng banyo. Hindi na ako nagpaalam at diretso lang ang lakad ko palabas ng kwarto niya.

"You forgot this."

Agad kong hinablot sa kamay niya ang kwintas ko. I unconsciously touched my neck. Hindi ko alam kung bakit natanggal ito sa leeg ko.

The painting...

I stopped to admire the painting on the wall. Hindi ko ito nakita noong una kong punta rito kasi dire-diretso lang ako noon but now I am in awe.

"The face. The details. The stroke. Everything is perfect."

I traced my hands on the painting. The is perfect. This is what I needed. Napalingon ako sa lalaking may-ari ng bahay.

"Can I buy this one?" tanong ko sa isang painting na kumuha ng atensyon ko.

The face of a beautiful kid holding a white rose is everything. Her smile and her features are perfect. But when you look closely at her you will notice how cold she is.

There's a reason behind that smile and story to tell.

"She's my future daughter. You can't have her."

I looked at him with a questionable look. What? Is he picturing what will be his daughter's face? Paano naman niya nasisiguradong ganito talaga ang magiging mukha ng anak niya?

Weird.

"Your future daughter looks like me, her eyes," sabi ko.

I can see my eyes in her but her face is almost the same as this man in front of me.

"Are you saying that you will be my daughter's mother?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Of course not," tanggi ko agad.

Why would he conclude it that way? I just said that the girl's eyes are kind of the same as me. I didn't say she is my child.

"You can't have that painting if you can't be the mother of my children."