Illicit Love

Chapter 5: Word To Describe My Day

CHARLES

The music was ear-splitting, people were dancing to the beat, some were dancing funny, while some dances provocatively. And some are just sitting there and drinking while talking to others, no, more like they are shouting with each other. Because of how loud the music was, you can barely hear the person talking to you.

The music was very loud so I decided to sit at the very corner where the music cannot be heard, and, yeah... that didn't help.

I looked around, there was only one bouncer. I can tell that the bar wasn't of high quality. I've never been to this bar before. Well, It was my fault, sa sobrang pagmamadali ko, I only said to the driver to drive me to the nearest bar, I wouldn't know that the bar would be like this. Akala ko kabisado ko lugar nato turns out I was wrong.

It wasn't uncomfortable but it wasn't comfortable either. There was no one to talk to because I don't know anyone. Well, it's not like you can talk here. But if I have to choose, I'd rather be in a strange place than go home. I ordered two bottles of beer. I want to get drunk but at the same time, I don't want to. I have to stay sober to think about things.

I scoffed at my thoughts.

Ha! Why do I need to think about things? It's not like I can do something. What can a coward do? I didn't even move nor say anything earlier, I can't even defend my sister. I was just watching, and all I could do was comfort her through the phone.

Naawa na ako kay Ate. It's not like we choose to have parents like that but she didn't also choose to have a brother like me. I'm the only one who Ate thought as an ally and yet—haaah, f*ck! I can't help but laugh at myself. I'm laughable. It's another day to be disappointed in myself.

I looked at the beer in my hand and took a sip. It tasted normal, nothing special. I expected that the bar would be quiet where I can think things, but actually, this is quite nice. I came here to think but because of how loud this place is, I can't think, it stops me from thinking negative things.

I looked at the stage where people were happily dancing and then looked at the people around me.

As I looked around, I noticed two men at the third table from mine. The man who sat at the stool was in an all-black outfit and there was a noticeable snake tattoo on his neck, while the other man was normal looking, he was standing holding a glass of alcohol in his hand while looking at the stage.

I was about to take my eyes off at them when the man in all black took something from his pocket. It was a sachet with white powder inside it, he opened it and poured it into the bottle of beer at the table. Were those drugs? I took my phone and secretly recorded it.

Just in case, but I can't hear what they were saying because of how loud the music was. I made it look like I was texting someone to avoid being caught. Seriously, what am I doing? I waited for seconds but the man didn't drink it. What? Did he just do that to hide the fact he used drugs?

I was about to stop recording when the normal looking guy whispered something from the all-black guy. I still couldn't hear them because the music was very loud.

The normal looking guy said something again at the guy in all black, pointing his index finger at the stage. I looked at the person his finger was pointing to. It was a teenage looking girl dancing to the stage, surrounded by both girls and boys. She wore thick makeup, she looked like in her teens. Her fitted red dress was very eye-catching, it wasn't because of how revealing the dress was but because of how bold the colour is. It stands out and compliments her pale skin.

Some guys and even girls were either staring at her or looking at her from time to time. Some guys were trying to talk to her but she just gave them a finger. Huminto ito sa pagsasayaw at naglakad papunta sa dalawa ng lalake.

"San beer ko?" she shouted. Her red lipstick was intense. She pulled the chair and sat across the table from the man in all black. Some people took notice of them but they didn't do anything as they didn't care, but they seemed to know what was about to happen.

I did not stop recording them.

The man in all black gives the girl the bottle of beer that has the white powder in it, and the girl takes it from the man's hand. Sh*t. Should I stop her now? Or should I call the police?

As she was about to drink it, I stood up and approached them and held the girl's hand, stopping her from drinking the beer. She didn't let go of the bottle, instead, she looked at me, questioning my actions.

"He spiked your drink," sabi ko dito.

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko na nakahawak sa kamay niya. Kumunot ang noo ko sa reaksyon nito.

"Oh, she knows," said the guy in all black, smirking.

I heard the girl sigh, kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. Ibinaba niya ang bote at saka ako tinignan. Her eyes saying, 'F*ck off, Old man!'. Well, I don't know about the old man but, yeah.

"Sir, mind your own business," the normal looking guy said, holding his laugh.

Oh, Yeah. F*ck you, self. So that's how it was. I acted too rashly.

I shook my head. This is what I get for not minding my own business. Kung kailan ka nga talaga naman magkaka lakas ng loob. I'm really hating the world and myself so much now that I'm scared.

I heard the man in all black laugh, pansin ko rin ang mga mata ng tao sa paligid ko, so I decided to walk out of the bar. The people around were trying not to laugh. If embarrassment can kill a man, kill me!

I didn't have a choice, I can't just go sit there. I should still call the police, right? Or should I mind my own business again? Whatever, I'm just gonna report it to the police with this evidence and after that, it's not my business anymore.

...Haaah. F*ck! I'm f*cking tired. Paglabas na paglabas ko sinalubong ako ng malamig na hangin, mukhang uulan. I looked at the red sky, and couldn't help but sigh. That was embarrassing. What a day. And I didn't even get to finish my beer.

Ughhh! I feel like shouting! Yumuko ako, I kicked the small stone that was beside my feet, at tinignan itong tumama sa napadaan na taxi.

Now I'm hurting someone else's car. I sighed tiredly.

"Frustrated much?" Napalingon ako sa nagsalita.

She was wearing a fitted red dress and an intense red lipstick which didn't help to make her look mature. She was the girl who I tried saving but turns out didn't need saving. I looked around her, hindi na niya kasama ang dalawang lalake.

She looked okay, she must haven't drunk the spiked drink, but she's obviously drunk. I didn't pay attention to her, at tumingin lang sa nagdadaanang sasakyan.

Kids are just getting and getting, haaah...

I shook my head.

"Galit po-hik kayo, Kuya?" I looked at her again, her face was very red. She must be the type who hiccups when drunk.

"That's what you get for saving me. Hik–what if mamamatay tao ako tas deserve ko pala mangyayari sa–hik sa'kin? Edi, dalawa tayo sa impyerno nito? Hahah, nakakatawa talaga ako," sabi nito at tumawa ng tumawa. Huminto ito bigla at tinignan ako ng seryoso. May luha sa mga mata nito na siguro ay dahilan ng walang tigil niyang tawa.

"Akala mo siguro 'di ko–hik deserve ang mangyayari sa'kin 'no? Dahil bata pa lang ako? Kaya 'di ko deserve? If that is how logic works, where are the things that I de–hik deserve? Ba' t puro nakukuha ko yung mga sinasabi niyong di'ko deserve? Haha, you save the wrong girl. This girl—," she said in difficulty and pointed at herself. "Is not innocent. I'm a demon, a sh*t!" she shouted. Tinanggal niya daliri sa dibdib niya at itinuro sa akin at bigla na lang ako pinakyuhan.

People were looking at her, shaking their heads as they walked. I stared at her emotionless. I just look at her. A stranger word really did cut me deep, huh?

I sighed and massaged my throbbing head. I thought it stopped hurting.

"You're drunk, go home kid," I said.

How is she allowed to go here anyway? Does she only look underage? I envy her, I don't look like my age when I was in my teens. I should introduce her to my parents and let them discipline her. They are good at that.

Nakita ko sa malayo naka park ang taxi na natamaan ko kanina. Ginugulo gulo nang buhok niya, he lets out a voiceless shout or I couldn't hear it, it must be voiceless, or maybe I'm just too far away.

I'm sorry. If someday I ride your taxi I will give you more money than what you should receive.

"Hik! What you're gonna ignore me? I'm in this state because of adults like you. P*TANG INA NIYO!!" Napalingon ako sa gulat ako sa biglaan niyang pag sigaw at pagmumura, magsasalita na sana ako para pigilan siya, when couple linking their arms stopped.

The woman looked disgustingly at the girl, looking at her head to toe, at tsaka umiling sabay sabi, "May tama yata tong bata na'to. Hindi pinalaki ng tama ng magulang. Kung ako magulang, aba talagang maiitahi ko baba niyan. Nako! Kung tayo magkakaanak, nako, nako!" wika ng ale sabay umiling-iling.

The girl turned her head and looked at the woman with her eyes flared. "F*CK YOU KA 'RIN!" nagulat si Ale pati na rin ako.

Naglakad ako papalit sa kanya pero agad akong napahinto. Why would I do that? I might get humiliated again for not minding my own business.

The woman looked at her, infuriated. She gritted her teeth. Naglakad ito papalapit sa babae at akmang sasampalin niya ang babae nang pinigilan ito ng asawa niya.

This is giving me a headache. Should I just walk out? As I was about to turn my back away, bigla na lang itinaas ng ale ang kamay niya.

PAAAK!

It was so loud that the people around stopped. Some didn't bother while some stopped and look at the girl and woman for a while and some stayed for the drama. They looked at the girl and the woman, shocked and scared. Others have their cellphone out. Her husband looked at her wife shocked more than everyone. He realise the gaze of the people around us and awkwardly smiled at them, clearly dying of embarrassment. And I'm feeling the same.

Hindi ako makagalaw dahil sa gulat. I didn't know what to do. I didn't expect that the woman would be so mad at the girl to the point of slapping her in front of everyone. I thought she's gonna let it slide but the girl deserves that, doesn't she? She f*cking yelled at the woman and even cursed at her. So, of course, she deserves the slap. Yeah, that justifies it.

Should I turn my back now? Should I just mind my own business? Does she need saving now?

But does a person who is clearly broken have to ask for help? Broken people don't know how to ask for it.

"Walang galang 'to bata 'to ha? Hindi ka ba tinuruan ng magulang mo rumespeto sa nakakatanda?!" galit na sigaw ng ale sabay turo sa babae. Akmang sasampalin pa niya uli ang babae pero, this time I stopped her. I hide the girl on my back, dahilan ng paghinto ng kamay ng ale.

Haaah... F*ck. I couldn't even do this to my sister yet here I am, saving a stranger.

"She's drunk and a child at that. We're sorry," I said and smiled at her kindly. The husband looked at me awkwardly.

"Ehem... Ano ba? 'Wag mo na kasi patulan. Lasing iyan. Ganyan ka 'rin namang malasing e. Minumura mo' rin naman ako, " pagtigil nito, the woman wants to say something but she decided to walk away, habang nagmumura pa. She walked so fast that his husband has to run.

I sighed in relief. I turned my back and looked at her in disbelief. Just what's wrong with this kid?

Kinuha nito ang kamay sa pisngi, it was very red, because her face was red, to begin with, it became uneven. Tinignan niya ako ng masama at tsaka tumawa.

"Hik! Kuya, kadiri ba talaga ako? Nakakadiri ba ako? I was–hik only trying to survive. Was it dirty of me trying to survive?" she shouted while pointing to herself.

She collapsed on the ground and bawled."UGGHHHH!" Umiyak ito na parang bata hindi binilhan ng magulang ng gusto ng laruan, kulang na lang ay magdabog ito.

And for the second time today, I feel embarrassed, and all from the same person. I looked around and didn't know what to do. The people around me were looking at me strangely.

Seriously, what's wrong with this girl?

She pulled her knees to her chest, her head buried into her knees crying. Her dress was very short, and because of the way she was seated, her undies can be seen.

"Hey. Si...Sit properly!" I shouted at her, I can't just force her to stand up. I don't know what to do, she was a complete stranger. I remember a friend of mine once helped a girl fall from the escalator but was put in jail because of s****l assault. I was his lawyer.

I sighed in defeat and took off the suit I was wearing and put it on her legs to hide her legs and her undies.

"I see what you did there, you were about to leave me. Pagod na akong maiwan. Kung aalis naman kayo, isama niyo naman ako oh," she mumbles, her face still buried into her knees.

Tumayo ito bigla at tumingin sa akin. Naglakad ito ng palapit sa akin.

"My knight–hik and shining armour, wanna do something with this dirty girl?" she asked, smiling at me provocatively.

Did she drink something else? Is the drug that was put on her drinks was something weirder and more dangerous than drugs? A new one that I don't know of?

I was about to say something when she pulled my tie, making my face so close to hers. I could smell a strong liquor from her.

I was about to pull her when she pulled me again. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang tumama ang mga ngabil nito sa ngabil ko. Before I could do anything, I felt a warm and wet thing trying to go in my mouth.

Tinulak ko siya ng malakas.

"Ugh! Hik! " Ungol nito sa sakit nang malakas na bumagsak ito sa sahig. I wiped my lips while looking at her. She's crazy! I didn't say anything and just stared at her. I was lost for words.

I was the one who was sexually assaulted.

"Too bad. Haha–hik, next time na lang," she said, with a smirk on her face. Mas lalong lumaki ang mata ko nang bigla na lang ito humiga sa sahig. There were more eyes on us than before. Some even stopped and kept staring at us.

"Hey!" She's not dead, is she?

Umupo ako para magkapantay kami. I checked her, good thing she's still breathing and not only that, but she was also snoring.

She's asleep.

F*ck! And f*ck this lingering taste in my mouth. How bad is my day gonna be?

Now, what should I do? I don't know her, I don't know where she lived. The guys at the bar seem to know but there's no way in hell I would entrust them to take her home.

I took a deep breath and looked at the strange girl. Nakita ko ang dalawa ng palad nito na dumudugo. Did I push her too hard?

F*ck.

"Sh*t is a word to describe this day," I sighed in frustration as I looked at the girl in front of me sleeping peacefully.