Kabanata 3
1177 Words
Rafael
"I really apologize, Sir but all the other cabins are already occupied," the staff said after checking their system for the nth time.
Napabuntonghininga ako. You've got to be kidding me. Swerte na, eh. There are a lot of women to choose from but I still haven't brought my first girl in bed because I hate my neighbor. Well, I wasn't sure if that's the right term but still, I don't like staying next to Caya's room.
Napahilamos na lang ako ng palad sa mukha. I had no choice but to just thank the staff before I went to the bar area to chill. Maybe if I'd get wasted every day, mawawalan na ako ng pakialam sa "kapitbahay" ko.
"Good evening, Sir. What can I serve you tonight?" may ngiti sa labing tanong ng bar tender.
I sat on a stool and rested my elbow on the counter. My eyes scanned the top shelf while I massage my jaw with my fingers. "Give me the finest. Top shelf," I said.
He enthusiastically poured me the best liquor he can recommend from the top shelf. I don't mind spending much for a good drink. Wala naman akong balak nang mag-asawa. Walang pamilyang kailangang paghandaan sa hinaharap.
I could waste my hard-earned money on things that make me happy. I might go broke someday but at least I'll die alone. No one's going to bawl their eyes out in front of my cold body asking where the hell is their college funds.
Ah, the benefit of getting your heart terribly broken. Cheers to getting forced to look at the bright side.
"Hey, handsome," a cute girl in two-piece with a flowy cardigan to cover it greeted.
Nawala yata bigla ang inis ko na hindi ako makalipat ng cabin. Tila isang ngiti lang ng babaeng maganda ay hindi ko na kailangan pa ng gamot para sa stress at high blood.
I smirked. "Zup? Wanna drink?"
"Sure," she replied in an obviously flirty way. Naupo siya sa katabing stool at sinabi sa bartender ang gusto niyang inumin. I didn't stop her, though. Nang muling ibalik sa akin ang atensyon ay sinimulan ko na ang pagtatanong.
"So what brought you here, hmm?" I asked.
She smiled and told me that her Dad bought her a ticket to join the cruise. She even told me how her Daddy treats her like a princess and that she didn't finish college because her family is loaded.
Okay naman sana ang usapan, kaya lang noong masyado nang obvious ang gustong iparating ay nawalan na ako ng gana. She's looking for a rich husband who will spoil her, too like what her daddy does.
I don't know. Maybe despite my carnal desires, I still crave for conversations that aren't average. Hindi ko lang siguro napapansin noon pero madalas akong ma-turn on sa mga babaeng may utak, alam ang gusto sa buhay, at hindi hinahayaang ibang tao ang magdesisyon para sa kanila.
I licked my lips. "If you don't mind me asking, will you be able to buy yourself an LV bag without using your dad or your husband's money?"
She laughed softly. "Don't be silly. I don't wanna work. Of course, I need their money to buy it."
The warning signs blinked in my head. There. That's the entitlement I'm talking about.
Sumimsim ako sa aking baso nang nawalan na talaga ng gana.
"Why did you ask about it anyway?" tanong niya nang siguro ay napansin ang kawalan ko na ng interes.
Umayos ako ng upo. "I developed this thinking that if a woman will demand for stuff from a man, it should be because she knows she can provide those to herself, too. I hope that doesn't make me look as if I have toxic masculinity but that's just how I see it."
Napawi ang malanding ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. "Excuse me?"
"Don't get me wrong but I think if a woman will demand for certain things, that's because she knows she can get it herself and the sole reason why she's asking for it from a man is because she wants to give him the chance to prove that he can keep up with the way she's able to spoil herself. Don't you think men will be more inspired to spoil you if he knows you can give yourself everything he can offer? I mean, he'd be challenged to prove himself worthy, though."
Baka mali ako pero iyon ang tingin ko sa mga bagay-bagay. I don't think women should serve men, though in order to be provided with their needs, but I definitely don't think men should spoil their women even when their women don't provide value to the relationship. That's not a relationship anymore. That's parasitism. I f*****g learned it the hard way.
Humugot siya ng hininga. "Are you saying that men should not give gifts?"
"Nope." I sipped on my glass. "Men can give gifts since it's still a form of love language. We should also try to reach a woman's standards, but if his woman cannot even stand her own ground and show what he could lose if he wouldn't reach the bars she managed to set, what bar exactly are we even talking about? Is there even a standard to reach or just mere assumption that all women should be treated like princesses even when some of them aren't ready to be promoted as queens and defend their lands? Standards should have a basis or else it's plain lalaland bullshit." I smiled. "Your turn."
Namula nang husto ang kanyang mukha sa galit. Imbes sagutin ako ay nagmartsa paalis.
I sighed. Oops. Not my type. Sorry not sorry.
Tinungga ko ang natirang alak sa aking baso saka ako umalis. Maybe I should just sleep for tonight. Baka bukas ay may gana na akong muli.
I buried my palms in my pockets as I walked towards the elevator. Nakasabay ko naman doon ang kapitan ng barko na si Captain Guevarra.
"How's the cruise so far?" he asked.
"Great." I sighed. "It's been great so far," I lied.
He smiled and jerked his head. Nang tumigil ang elevator sa floor ng cabin ko ay naunahan niya akong lumabas.
My brows slightly furrowed when I saw him walking towards Caya's cabin. Maya-maya ay tuluyan siyang kumatok at pinapasok.
I stopped taking another step. Maya-maya ay naalala ko ang sinabi ni Caya. Her cabin was personally assigned to her by the captain. Napangisi tuloy ako. Wow. Looks like I got a scoop to sell to the media, huh?
My lips formed a smirk before I pulled my phone out of my pocket to look up Caya's social media account. Nang mahanap ay kaagad akong nagtipa ng chat.
Rafael Avila: Hey, Miss Delicate. If I were you, I'd start asking my boyfriend to get me a new room before the former attorney next door hear your moans.
I smirked after pressing the send button then looked at her cabin's door.
Who's gonna move now, huh?
I scoffed. "One point for me, Caya . . ."
- Writer
