Reckless

Chapter 39

“Are you drunk already?” Tanong nito. “No…. maybe tipsy.” Sabi ko.

“I’ll get you some water to sober up.” Sabi ni Gio.

Hinayaan ko siya umalis at tinungkod ko lang ang ulo ko sa aking kamay na nakapatong sa lamesa.

“Ms. Valerio, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Lumingon ako at kinabahan sa nakita ko. It’s Mr. Garcia.

The one who asked for my number. Tumabi siya sa’kin. Sobrang lapit niya kaya lumayo ako ng kaunti. I don’t like the feeling. I’m uncomfortable with him.

“Can you please leave me alone for a bit?” Sabi ko.

“You’re drunk?” Tanong nito at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Kaagad ko namang iniwas ‘yon.

“What the hell?” Nagulat ako sa susunod na nangyari. Nagsigawan ang mga tao at nasa lapag na si Mr. Garcia.

Parang nawala yung hilo ko at natauhan ako.

“Gio…” Sabi ko at pinigilan siya dahil umaamba pa siyang sumuntok ulit.

“What happened here?”

“That man f*****g punched me out of nowhere!” Sigaw ni Mr. Garcia. Kumunot ang noo ko.

This isn’t right. He’s blaming Gio for protecting me from him?

“Mr. Garcia harassed me. I was tipsy and I told him to leave me alone, but he insisted and hold my hand.” Sabi ko.

Nashock ang mga tao sa paligid at hindi inaakalang magagawa ‘yon ni Mr. Garcia. I didn’t even know he’s involved in this party.

Tumayo na si Mr. Garcia at umambang aalis dahil sa hiya pero hinawakan siya ni Gio. Tinanggal niya yon pero may iba nang humawak sakanya. Si Mr. Villanueva.

“As far as I know, I didn’t invite you to this after party, Mr. Garcia.” Sabi nito.

Sinabi ko na nga ba. Wala siya kanina sa charity program so how come nakaattend siya dito. A police was called after that.

Of course I filed a report and case for what he did. I don’t want to look weak. Kapag hinayaan ko lang ‘yon, people will think of me as a weak woman and some might even do worst in the future.

Mabuti nalang talaga at dumating si Gio. Mr. Villanueva was helpful too. He’s one of my business friends kaya hindi niya din talaga pinalagpas ‘yon.

“Ayos ka lang ba? Did you touch you somewhere else?” Tanong nito at tinignan ako ng mabuti. Umiling ako.

Hindi ko magawang ngumiti or magpanggap na okay dahil hindi talaga. Unwanted touch from that person gives shivers to my body.

Nakakadiri na hindi ko alam kung anong magiging reaksyon ko. It wasn’t the first time I got harassed, but it was the first time after so many years.

Akala ko kapag malaki na ako at may posisyon, people will respect me and don’t even think twice to do me wrong pero mali pala ako.

“I’m sorry Gio, can I go back to my room and rest for the night?” Sabi ko.

Mahaba pa ang gabi pero parang hindi ko na kaya makipagsalamuha o makipagusap sa mga tao.

Tumango lang ito at hinayaan akong maglakad mag isa. Nakasunod lang siya sa likod ko. Noong hinawakan niya kasi ako kanina ay nagulat ako at natanggal ko ng biglaan ang kamay niya.

I don’t want to be touched. I don’t know if I’m overreacting, but that’s what I feel right now.

Pumasok ako sa kwarto ko at tinignan ang cellphone ko. Tulog na ata sila Brion dahil wala na akong natanggap na message sakanila.

My business account was full of question and was asking if I was okay. Sinesend din nila sa'kin ang mga article about sa nangyari kanina. Sobrang bilis naman?

So there were still a lot of reporters at the after party? I sighed. A lot of people will know that I've been harassed. God. I just hope Brion wouldn't see this articles in the future.

I'm not even that famous so why did they made an article about me? I pouted.

My business account was full of question and was asking if I was okay. Sinesend din nila sa'kin ang mga article about sa nangyari kanina. Sobrang bilis naman?

So there were still a lot of reporters at the after party? I sighed. A lot of people will know that I've been harassed. God. I just hope Brion wouldn't see this articles in the future.

I'm not even that famous so why did they made an article about me? I sighed. I hate dramas. Papunta na sana ako ng banyo para maligo at magbihis ng biglang may tumawag sa'kin.

"Hello?" Sagot ko

"Hello? Katherine? Are you alright? What happened?" He started off strong that I moved the phone away from my ears.

It's Louis. Ang bilis niya naman makita ang article? I'm sure our highschool friends or mutuals sent it to him dahil hindi naman siya gaano gumagamit ng social media accounts.

"It was handled. I filed a case to him." Sabi ko.

"What did he do? Where did he touch you?"

"Hands." Sabi ko.

Wala talaga akong gana makipag usap, but he seems really worried do I don't want to be rude.

"That fucker. If I was there, I would've smashed his face already." Sabi nito.

"Hayaan mo na, Louis. It was already handled by the law. No need to be violent." Sabi ko.

"Ikaw, ayos ka lang ba?" Nung tinanong niya 'yon ay hindi ko mapigilang maluha.

I just thought I couldn't get out of there. He cornered me. There's a wall by my side and he's covering my way out of that seat.

Madami din ang tao at wala pa nakatingin sa'min. Hindi ako nakagalaw noon. Ang akala ko kaya ko siyang suntukin o saktan man lang para hindi niya ako mahawakan, pero hindi talaga gumalaw ang katawan ko. I felt like I was paralyzed.

"Kathy..." He said when I started sobbing.

I cried that night while I'm on the call with him. Hindi siya nagsalita at maski ako.

Umiyak lang ako buong gabi. Nung kumalma ako ay saka lang ako nakaligo at nakapagbihis.

I apologized to him after crying since I wasted his time, but he insisted that it was fine. Kung hindi siya tumawag, tingin ko ay kikimkimin ko lang 'yun at hindi ko iiyak.