Chapter 2
1455 Words
Chapter 2
"Flirting"
Halos mabagot ako sa paggawa namin ng report. Parang boss ko ang kasama ko at hindi kaklase. He is too serious. Naalala ko tuloy ang intership ko sa Ricaforte Liquors. I was able to work directly to the CEO's office kay Einstein Ricaforte.
"So Rossette, huh," sabi ko nang malapit nang matapos at format na lang ang kulang. I badly want to fish some information pero hindi ko alam paano. He did not respond pero nagtagis ang bagang niya.
"Mahilig ka pala sa bata."
Ayon sa nabasa kong data sa kanya, he is already twenty-four while Rosette is just sixteen. How would someone fall for a young girl? Sabihin na nating Rossette looks more mature for her age dahil sa tangkad at pangangatawan niya, but that doesn't change the fact na bata pa talaga si Rossette. Kung baga, may gatas pa sa labi.
"Just eat, Miss Zubiri," he said dismissively.
"Ang formal naman ng Miss Zubiri." I rolled my eyes.
"How did you meet her?" I pushed even more.
Wala naman siyang balak na sumagot kaya hindi ko na ipinagpatuloy.
The night with him ended na wala akong napapalang impormasyon. I don't know why am I so driven with his secret affair with Rossette. Basta ang alam ko lang natutuwa ako sa kanya. He has a strong façade when in fact he looks like a love struck fool sa isang menor de edad.
"Let's go girl." Hinila na ako ni Laz papasok ng bar. He seems pretty excited.
The dancing neon lights and the noise of electronic music welcomes us. Tumuloy kami sa second floor kung nasaan ang mga kasama namin. Nasa malaking sofa sila at mukhang kanina pa nagkakasiyahan. There I saw Ruiz Alcantara, my guy best buddy. Tumayo siya at sinalubong ako ng halik sa pisngi.
"Bakit hindi na lang kayo?" komento ni Laz.
I rolled my eyes. Tumawa naman si Ruiz.
"You two look good together," sabi pa ni Lindon Chiong, one of our common friend.
Kung alam lang nila. Well, Laz knows Ruiz is my ex boyfriend noong high school. Hindi rin kami nagtagal. Nag-break kami dahil parehas kaming maloko and we ended up best friends instead. Parehas kasi ang likaw ng mga bituka namin.
"Nah-ah, she's a big pain in the ass," wika ni Ruiz at inakbayan ako.
I shove his arms away from me.
We talked, we drank, we laughed and all that for hours. I am already feeling light headed. Nagpaalam akong sa may railings lang. I enjoyed myself at the people dancing on the dance floor. Some are dancing like a stripper, there are couples or strangers making out already and some are too drunk to know what they are doing.
Dumako ang tingin ko sa may counter. I smirked when I saw a very familiar man. He is with someone pero umalis din ito. Bumaba ako mula second floor at nagtungo sa bar counter. Nang makalapit ay umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi niya.
"One mojito, please," tawag ko sa bartender na naroon. The bartender winks at me, he knows me. I am after all their regular customer.
"Look who's here..." I drawled habang nakatingin kay Montalba na umiinom ng scotch.
"Alone?"
Hindi siya sumagot. He's a real snob but I did not stop.
"Here's your mojito, madam." Inilipag ng bartender ang order ko. He leaned a bit and whispered to my ear, "Good luck." Saka siya ngumisi.
I rolled my eyes.
"f**k off."
Tumatawa naman siyang lumayo.
"I'm Dennis, by the way." Muli kong binalingan si Montalba. "Come on, don't be so stiff. This a bar after all. Wala tayo sa school o sa corporate world," tumatawa kong sambit.
"What do you want?" Binalingan niya na ako ng tingin.
Finally!
"Nothing in particular." I sipped my mojito. I paused for a moment para damhin ang paguhit ng init sa lalamunan ko dahil sa inumin.
"Are you flirting with me, Miss Zubiri?" Diretsahan niyang sabi sa akin.
Napatitig ako sa kanyang nakakunot na noo saka tumawa.
"Flirting agad? Hindi ba pwedeng friendly lang? Besides we're classmates."
"Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi we are in a bar." Binaba niya ang tingin sa scotch niya pagkatapos nilagok iyon. He did not even flinch, sanay... sanay na sanay.
I shrugged my shoulder.
"Well maybe yes, maybe no. It's up to you," I challenged him.
"So madalas ka rito?" tanong ko.
He shrugged his shoulder.
"You're so cold," komento ko na mukhang wala naman siyang pakialam.
"You know what, I am really wondering about you." Itinukod ko ang siko sa counter saka ipinatong ang ulo ko sa palad ko. I stared at him, then I thought of something. Rossette is one lucky b***h for having this man. How old is she again?
"Why Rossette?" I said bluntly na nagpalingon sa kanya pabalik sa akin. "Given that she's beautiful and all that, but she is still young. You're a cradle snatcher."
Tumawa ako ng bahagya. Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng alak. "I know many more mature and beautiful girls are flocking at your feet but why her?"
Wala naman akong pakialam kung nakikinig siya o hindi. I just want to get his attention. That way I can sneak my way in. I will l annoy him if I have to. This is really challenging. Naisip ko tuloy, maybe I am looking for thrill in my boring life and Montalba is that thrill.
"Are you pertaining to yourself, Miss Zubiri?" Nakangisi na siya but I sensed danger in his smirk.
"Oh, don't flatter yourself too much, Mister Montalba," umiiling kong sagot. "You're diverting the topic."
Tinapatan ko ang ngisi niya.
"Hindi porke't gwapo ka ay itatapon ko na ang sarili ko sa'yo," I take a sip on my second glass of mojito.
"Thanks," turan ko sa parehong bartender na nagbigay ng order ko.
"Then, why are you flirting with me?"
Napangisi ako. So he flirts too, huh? Very well then.
"Am I?" Nakibit balikat ako. "You know what, you should befriend me," ani ko na nagpataas ng kilay niya.
"And why is that?"
"So you can freely stalk your baby girl. I can be your cover up. Pwede ko rin siyang bantayan if you want."
"And in return?"
Of coursez nagdududa siya sa intension ko. Bahala siya.
"Nothing. Sabihin na lang nating isa akong concern citizen na handang tumulong."
"You're crazy," naibulalas niya.
"Maybe I am."
"Now, tell me you're not flirting with me," hamon niya.
"Papalandi ka ba?"
Nagkatawanan kami. Maybe I broke his walls a bit. Maybe I finally made my way in a little. Ewan. Why am I doing this again? For thrill? Whatever.
"'Andyan ka lang pala." I heard someone from my back. "Kanina pa ako naghahanap sa'yo," sabi ni Ruiz habang binalingan ng tingin si Montalba.
"Uuwi na tayo? Where's Laz?" tanong ko. I stood up. "Oh, my bad. Ruiz, this is Montalba my classmate..." Pagpapakilala ko kay Montalba. "... and this is Ruiz, my buddy."
"Rurik Montalba," usal ni Ruiz.
"Alcantara." Montalba acknowledges Ruiz.
"Magkakilala kayo?"
Walang sumagot.
"Tara na, Dennis." Hinila na ako ni Ruiz paalis. Madali naman niya akong nahila. I looked back to glance at Montalba. Nakatingin siya sa direksyon namin.
"Hey! It's nice flirting with you, Montalba. See you in class." My voice was loud para tapatan ang ingay ng paligid. I even waved my hand at him.
Lunes. I am miraculously early. Pagdating ko ng classroom ay kaunti pa lang ang tao. Nagulat pa nga ang iba nang makita ako. They are used to me being late. Hinanap agad ng mga mata ko si Montalba sa usual spot niya. Nakaupo siya roon at seryosong nagbabasa. Naglakad ako palapit sa kinaroroonan niya at naupo sa tabi niya.
"Hey! Good morning," bati ko sa kanya.
Bored niya akong binalingan ng tingin.
"I hope you won't snub me. You talked to me at the bar. I may be tipsy but I can clearly remember what happened," pagkausap ko sa kanya.
Dumating iyong palagi niyang katabi. Napasimangot pa ito nang makitang nakaupo ako sa upuan niya. I raised my brow to tell her to back off. Wala na siyang nagawa.
"Whatever, Dennis," he muttered dismissively.
I smirked at him for calling me by my name.
"First name basis, huh, Mister Montalba? That's good."
"It's Rurik for you, love," bulong niya.
I was appalled for a split second bago muling ngumisi sa kanya.
"Are you flirting with me, Rurik?"
His lips forms into a lopsided smile.
"You tell me," he said smugly.
"I thought you're stiff. Marunong ka pa lang lumandi. Nasa loob ang kulo?" I laughed heartily. This must be fun. He doesn't seem offended, tho.
You make me more intrigue, Rurik. Let's see where this will lead me. Let's see.
- Writer
