TAMED SERIES 3: RAFAEL AVILA

Rafael "Sige na, Rafael." The girl ran her palms on my chest while staring at my lips in a seductive way. "Just one more time. I missed you inside me." I smirked and brought my glass of whiskey near my lips. She's standing between my parted legs while I'm sitting on a stool, slightly leaning against the bar counter. Masakit sa mata ang malilikot na ilaw ng club. Kung tutuusin pwedeng umuwi na ako at mag-chat na lang ng pwedeng makasama sa condo, but that's gonna be boring. "Sorry, sweetheart. Not really here to look for a one-night-stand," I lied casually. Well, that's the thing you learn by being a lawyer. You become good at lying. Except, I'm no longer a lawyer. I lost my license out of love for the wrong girl. Never again. The woman in front of me pouted. "But I really miss you. Didn't you enjoy our last?" Sumimsim ako sa aking alak. Well, I kind of enjoyed her, too but I only f**k those on my booty list twice. This woman had wrinkled my sheets twice already. I promised myself that I'd stick to my rule this time so girls won't have the chance to find their way to my heart. The last time I allowed that to happen, I ended up in jail. I sipped on my glass. Not a good memory to reminisce, damn it. "Raf, what are you doing here?" I turned, only to see Mikhael Veneracion in his typical disguise when they're about to raid a place. I groaned. "I am trying to have fun, Khael. Bakit ngayon pa?" Nayayamot niya akong hinatak palabas. Siguro takot na marinig ako ng iba. "You need to go. We've got a report that there's an on-going drug deal in one of the VIP rooms. Baka maipit ka mamaya," aniya. "Tang ina naman, Khael tuwing nag-iinom na lang ba ang tao sa labas?" asik ko. No, seriously. Bakit tuwing naiisipan ko na lang uminom sa labas, natityempong iri-raid nina Mikhael ang lugar dahil sa drugs, human trafficking, at iba pang ilegal na gawain? Mukha ba akong radar ng kapulisan? "Go somewhere decent, Avila nang hindi tayo palaging nagpapanagpo tuwing may lakad ako," aniya. I scratched my head irritatingly before I sighed. Nilakasan ko talaga ang buntonghininga nang marinig niya. "This is a decent place," I said. Mikhael glanced at the neon signage before he turned to me again. "Doesn't look decent to me at all." I groaned. "Paano ba ang itsura ng disente sa'yong lintik ka, hmm? Should I drink by an altar and have a toast with a priest?" He shook his head while heaving a sigh. Maya-maya ay pinasadahan ako ng tingin. "You really lost yourself after what happened to you and Jaysel, huh?" Umiwas ako ng tingin. "I don't know what you're talking about." Mikhael gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "It's okay to be lost, man. I'm not here to judge you, but maybe instead of trying to pretend that your life didn't change after you got out of prison, you should take some time to listen to yourself." I scoffed. "What the f**k does that mean? Talk to myself? Create an alter ego and have a conversation with him?" Bumuntonghininga siya. "Look." Sandali niyang nilingon ang club bago ulit itinuon ang buong atensyon sa akin. "Cassy and I bought tickets to a cruise but due to the conflict of our schedules, we won't be able to join. Pwede kong ibigay sa'yo ang isa. She's planning to give the other one to her friend anyway." Cruise, huh? I licked my lower lip. That sounds great? I get to see new faces and will less likely to bump into someone I already f****d. "That's gonna be free, hmm?" paniniguro ko. "Yeah, free but you have to help me once you're back." Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Help you with what?" "It's not a huge favor, man don't worry. I just need your opinion about a case I'm handling," sagot niya. Umismid ako. "Mikhael, I suck as a lawyer." "No, you are not." He sighed. "When will you listen to Whiskey? Just because you made a mistake out of love doesn't mean you suck at everything else already? You can always start all over again, Rafael." I looked away and scratched my temple. "Yeah, right. Easier said than done when your reputation is already stained with your bad decisions." Muli siyang napabuntonghininga. "You really need that trip. They're gonna take a stop at a healing camp. You might wanna take advantage of that." Ngumisi ako. "Pambabae naman 'yang sinasabi mo." Kumunot ang noo niya. "Who said places like that are exclusive for women? Hindi lang babae ang natu-trauma, Rafael." I massaged my nape. "Oo na, sige na." Nope. I won't get my ass into that place. I'll just join the cruise for the women I can sleep with. No strings attached. Maganda iyon. Pagdaong ng barko ay tapos lahat ng mamamagitan sa amin. Hindi ko na kailangang mag-alala na kakatukin nila ako sa condo para humingi ng isa pa. I know I'm good in bed but I'm not really into connections that will lead to another heartbreak anymore. Or jail time. "Cool." He checked his Rolex watch. "I'll give you the ticket tomorrow. Dadaan ako sa condo mo." "What time?" I asked. "Probably eight." My brows furrowed. "In the evening?" "No. AM." I groaned. "Tang ina, tulog pa ako niyan. Alas dose na, Veneracion and you expect me to open the door for you that early tomorrow?" "Well, you better. It's good for your mental health. Take a cold shower, open your curtains, go out and take a walk." Bumuntonghininga ako habang umiirap. "Pulis ka ba talaga o psychologist?" "Well, I took up psychology before I applied in the PNP academy." Nilingon niya ang kasamahang nakapwesto na sa harap ng club. "You need to leave. I got work to do." "Hey, 8AM is too early!" I shouted when the motherfucker started walking away. Nang hindi ako sinagot ako inis akong bumuntonghinga. I shook my head and was about to head to my car when I spotted the girl at the parking lot, scanning me with evident lust in her almond eyes. Ngumisi ako't dinukot ang condom sa bulsa. I showed it to her then jerked my head. The girl stood up straight then walked towards me. Nang marating ako ay kaagad kinuha ang condom bago ngumisi. "This might not be enough, though," she said in a seductive voice. I smirked. "Don't worry, sweetheart." I held her chin with my index and middle finger. "I got plenty back in my place . . ."