Nights Like This

CHAPTER 25

I deserve this.

I need this.

It's just for tonight.

That's my chant for the night while I drive to the avenue that would lead me to ZONE17. Paano ba naman kasi, parang nag re- replay yung mga paalala ni Vance aboout my alcohol intake and it's making me really guilty so I have to hypnotize myself na ayos lang. Hindi naman nya malalaman.

Traffic dahil kagagaling ko lang sa office and it's already rush hour. I tapped the steering wheel while I wait for the red become green habang tumutugtog ang Enchanted ni Taylor Swift sa radyo na sinasabayan ko ng pag hum because if not, maiinis lang ako sa traffic.

There I was again tonight

Forcing laughter, faking smiles

Same old tired, lonely place

Walls of insincerity, shifting eyes and vacancy

Vanished when I saw your face

All I can say is, it was enchanting to meet youYour eyes whispered, "Have we met?"

'Cross the room your silhouette

Starts to make its way to me

The playful conversation starts

Counter all your quick remarks

Like passing notes in secrecy

And it was enchanting to meet you

All I can say is, I was enchanted to meet you

Iniliko ko ang kotse ko sa ZONE17 nang makarating na ako and parked my car near the entrance. ZONE17 is like the hidden paradise for me kasi hindi sya agad agad na makikita and obvious unless people really know the place as a bar. The definition of lowkey for me. But kahit hindi sya mainstream, what keeps the bar going is because of it's regular customers like me. And take note, their regulars are loaded. I am just lucky na sa tagal ko ng regular roon, I've never bumped to someone that I know. Well, probably because my friends would rather go to a party club than here. Well I like both but if I wanna relieve the negatives, ZONE17 is the go-to place and if I wanna have fun, clubs are the right place to go.

The door chimed and I am excited but I don't know why I am freking nervous as if I am violating something and something's gonna happen tonight even though I am just here to drink a few glasses and not to really get drunk because I'll still drive and I have work tomorrow. Ayaw ko naman mag mukhang miserable bukas pag pasok ko dahil sa hangover.

One corner of my lips rose nang makita ko na nanlaki ang mata ni Jaye like he's not expecting me to be here tonight. Of course. This is a surprise visit and a last minute decision of mine after convincing myself so he shouldn't really be expecting me.

"Hey. Youre favorite regular's here," I said to him. Ipinatong ko ang bag ko sa counter top sa usual spot ko and sat there. Nagpangalumbaba ako habang naka ngiti parin sa kanya.

Humakbang si Jaye papalapit sa akin at nilapag ang palad nya sa counter top at tinaasan ako sa buhay. "Bakit ka nandito?" tanong nya.

I laughed dahil para syang nag so- solve ng Calculus. Gulong gulo sya. "Good Evening din sa 'yo, Jaye. What can you get for me?"

Tumikhim sya saka umayos ng tayo. "Sorry. What can I get from you, madam?"

I bursted out a silent laugh dahil binibiro ko lang naman sya. "Joke lang naman! But a glass of tequila sunrise, please."

Iyon muna ang in- order ko because I don't wanna go hard tonight. Again, I don''t want to be miserable tomorrow dahil marami paa kaming ginagawa.

Pinanliitan nya lang ako ng mata and then proceeded to make me my drink. "Pero hindi nga. Bakit ka nandito? May problema na naman ba?"

Instead of getting offended, I just smiled to him because he's not really wrong. Pumupunta naman talaga ako lagi rito kapag may problema ako so it's not a surprise to him anymore.

"I got lots of problem, Jaye. I am loaded with stress and problems with everything in my life. Ito naman. I know that I haven't been here since forever pero parang hindi ka naman na nasanay sa akin," sabi ko sa kanya. "Saka... I am here because I'm worried na baka makalimutan mo na yung favorite mong customer."

Jaye raised his brows like and tilted his head while looking at me. He's still shaking the tequila and the orange juice on the shaker. "Huwag na nga tayong mag- lokohan. Gusto mo lang uminom kaya ka nandito. Akala ko naman nang bagong buhay ka na kaya ka hindi nagpakita nung nakaraan."

"Grabe naman yung maka bagong buhay ka naman!" reklamo ko sa kanya. "Para namang napaka problematic ko noon na kailangan ko ng 'bagong buhay'."

"Oh, edi akala ko masaya ka na sa buhay mo kaya hindi ka na bumabalik dito," aniya. Nilapag na nya yung Tequila Sunrise ko sa harap ko and I sipped on it agad agad because I missed this.

"Hindi na yata mangyayari 'yan..." mahinang banggit ko but I know na kahit haalos pabulong lang iyon ay narinig pa rin ni Jaye pero wala naman syang sinabi. "Anyway, wala yung boss mo?"

I looked at the door na sila lang ang may access and he sa paligid na wala namang pinagkaiba than the last time that I got here. Nang bumalik yung tingin ko kay Jaye, he's already looking at me unpleasantly.

"Why are you obsessing over my boss?" aniya. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi nya at halos paliparin koo ang palad ko sa bibig ko para iitakip sa bibig ko.

"I am not!" depensa ko. "I'm just asking! Hello? I am not obsessing over him. Tinatanong ko lang naman. I don't even know your boss."

Naalala ko lang naman kasi yung boss nya kaya naitanong ko because the last time that I got here, magpapasalamat sana ako but it's like ang hirap nyang hagilapin sa sobrang private nya. I saw na may binulong si Jaye sa sarili nya pero dahil sa sobrang hina, hindi ko rin narinig.

"Okay. Sabi mo eh. But he's not here today. He's super busy with other things kaya hindi sya araw araw nandito. Teka. Bakit ba boss ko na yung topic natin?" aniya and I just shrugged my shoulders kahit ako nama talaga yung nag umpisa ng topic. "Ano? Ano naman yung problema mo this time?"

Umiling ako. "Wala. I'm just here to chill kaya chill ka lang dyan."

It's evident na hindi naniniwala si Jaye sa akin. Kakasabi ko lang naman na madami akong problema so hindi nga naman talaga kapani- paniwala na wala. Pero kasi I am really just here because I miss being here. Isa pa, ayaw ko namang i- burden lagi si Jayee sa mg problema ko. For tonight, little unwind and chill lang talaga.

"I know you know that I don't believe you but okay. Ikaw bahala. Sabihin mo lang sa akin kung mag b- break down ka na naman just the last time para ma book kita ng Grab," aniya saka iniwan ako.

Hinayaan ko lang syang bumalik sa trabaho nya kasi may mga customers din na bagong dating while I enjoy my drink. Now that I am here, ngayon ko na sobrang nararamdaman na comfort place ko talaga 'tong ZONE17. I got all that I want here. Someone who listens to me without judgement, a nice ambiance and great vibe of the place and the alcohol. It's not just the comfort but also the security. Pakiramdam ko super safe ako pag nandito ako and nohing will really happen to me kahit pa mawalan ako ng malay sa kalasingan.

I am swirling my drink sa kamay ko habang naka yuko nang maramdaman kong may taong lumapit sa tabi ko and the person just leaned on the counter top.

"Jaye, can we do the testing after your shift?" rirnig ko na sabi ng katabi ko. My forehead crunched because the voice is strangely familiar to my ears.

"Sir," sabi ni Jaye. Katulad kanina, halata na naman sa boses nya ang gulat.

I looked at the person na nasa tabi ko at halos malubog ako sa kinauupuan ko sa gulat. Para na namang may pumupukpok sa dibdib ko sa sobrang lakas ng t***k ng puso ko.

I am also too stunned to speak something.

"Yes. Can we do that? I don't think I can come here tomorrow because I have to go to Han's party tomorrow night and we can't push that any longer because we should release the new cocktail mixes next week," sabi ng lalaking katabi ko na halatang nagmamadali. He's not even looking at his surroundings.

"Sir. I think you should look on your left," sagot ni Jaye sa kanya.

Hindi sya nagdalawang isip na lumingon.

"Wha- Camila!" gulat ring sabi nya. Napa atras sya sa kinatatayuan nya't hindi maka paniwala sa nakikita nya sa harap nya.

Vance, too, is too stunned to say anything while looking at me.