Slow Dancing

Chapter 4

ARI TOOK A DAY off because she’s not feeling well. Constant partying matched with heavy drinking plays a role why. It’s raining and music is blasting across the four corners of her room. She would love to hang at the gym by the jacuzzi but she’s having a massive headache. It’ll probably go down later and maybe then she could go. 

Nagwa-water therapy din muna siya dahil nananakit ang lalamunan niya. Lagi pa siyang inuumaga ng uwi, minsan ipinapasok na lang niya sa trabaho kahit na may hangover siya. 

She got curious when her phone rang. Someone texted her and it was the guy from last night. Nagyaya ng Boulevard ang isa sa mga kaibigan ni Ale kagabi. Napilitan siyang sumama dahil kasama siya ni Ale nang yayain ito. Nakailang Kopparberg na rin sila no’n habang nasa playa at tamang pahangin lang. She didn’t wanna say no dahil ang daming kaibigan ni Ale ang dumating at kahit na si Lewis lang ang kilala niya. Kahit gano’n ay sumama pa rin siya para ibang mukha naman ang makasalamuha niya.

Her usual crowd is her co-workers and mostly Ale. They were a group of three but their other close friend, Jelly, had to move to another country because of work. Bumibisita ito isang beses sa isang buwan pero saglit lang ito kung mag-stay. Dalawang araw lang, matagal na ang tatlo. 

Naburyong siya sa trabaho-bahay na lifestyle. Noong mga panahong ‘yon kasi ay madalang kung magkita sila ni Ale. Sinubukan niyang maghanap ng ibang hobby o circle kung saan pwede siyang makakilala ng mga bagong mukha. Sumama siya minsan sa mga katrabaho sa trip ng mga ito na Saturday game night sa isang game shop na nagbebenta ng iba’t ibang board games at merchandise at pwede nilang laruin ang mga iyon. Kakilala ng ilan sa mga ito ang may-ari at hinayaan silang mag-stay sa pinakamalaking kwarto na may conference table pa. Maybe it was too much interaction on her part and it exhausted the hell out of her but Ari decided not to take part in any social gatherings anymore. Alejandra advised her to go to the gym. She rolled her eyes at the mere sound of it like it didn’t make any sense. She ate her words afterward because she’s living for the jacuzzi and sauna moment of the gym she paid to go to. 

It kept her fit and sane at the same time. She could put on her gym swimwear and no one’s gonna judge. If she feels like flaunting her figure, she will just go there. If she doesn’t wanna exercise but will feel guilty by doing so, then she will juggle the sauna and jacuzzi. Her going to the gym serves a purpose. She’s not that self-isolating but also not raising her extrovert side to the roof.

Back at the Boulevard, a club dominated by Filipinos, they drank some more and talked loudly and danced and managed to get kicked out of the club when the group she’s with started a fight. People started to join the fight until their circle was told to leave or else. Ari doesn’t dig the vibe of the club anyway because Filipinos always pick a fight in this motherfucking club like it is a sort of ritual. She wouldn’t be shocked if one day they announced that a particular race is banned there forever. 

They brought the party to Ale’s apartment. Finally, she thought, she could properly talk to them without yelling. 

Hindi na makausap ng matino si Lewis at maligalig na ito. Pinapakilala nito ang mga kasama nila sa kanya sa ikalawang pagkakataon. She just sat there nodding and smiling. “Sleep it out, big boy,” she just said and tried to make him leave.

 “And this is Samael. I believe you’re on the same page since he is bisexual,” Lewis told her.

Ari and Samael’s eyes locked and without the need for words, they brought the drunk guy to his bedroom. “Que pesao ese tío,” reklamo niya. Ipinunta lahat ng alak sa utak imbis na diretso sa tiyan. 

Nagkibit-balikat si Samael. “Magkakape ako,” anito.

Ilang segundo niyang hinihintay ang susunod nitong sasabihin nang maintindihang wala nang kasunod iyon at nandoon na ang lahat ng gusto nitong sabihin. “I’ll have tea,” aniya. Nagpunta sila ng kusina at nagtimpla ng kanya-kanyang inumin. 

“Hmm, instant,” puna nito. “I wish I’m back at home just so I could make a good coffee,” anito.

Napataas ang kilay niya sa narinig. 

“I make good coffee,” dugtong pa nito.

Tiningnan niya lang ito at hinayaan sa trip na hindi niya mawari.

“It’s Italian and it’s good,” muli ay sabi ni Samael.

Nasapo na niya ang noo. “You really need a coffee right now. You wanna try tea, for a change, if instant coffee offends you?” alok niya. 

“Uh, sure,” sabi naman nito. Hindi niya iyon inasahan dahil lango ito sa ideya ng kape na gusto nitong matikman ng mga sandaling iyon. 

Nang magawa ang tsaa nila ay tumambay na lang sila sa terrace at pinanood ang mga tao sa kalsada na nakatambay pa rin kahit disoras na ng gabi. Buhay na buhay pa rin ang kalyeng iyon at maingay dahil nagsisigawan at nagtatawanan ang mga tao sa ibaba. 

Hindi pa siya nakakainom ng tsaa niya dahil mainit iyon. Wala rin siyang maapuhap na salita para matanggal ang nakakailang  na katahimikan sa pagitan nila. She does what she does best. Judge other people. Nah, she just likes to soak in the aesthetic of this guy. Ari gotta give it to him. The very own Jason Momoa version of the Pearl of the Orient Seas, minus the long locks of hair, his is short. He also wears a colorful V-neck in a bold pattern and style. He’s not totally shying away from an eye-catching look. They wouldn’t miss him in a crowd, one would say he is the crowd. 

“I swear to God if you call me a hipster…” babala nito sabay titig sa kanya nang maramdaman ang nakakapaso niyang tingin.

She smirked. “For the record, you look like one. And it fits you, you know that. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Sumandal ito sa barandilya. 

“Have you ever been told that you look like a downgraded version of Jason Momoa?” she asked.

He snorted. “Now that’s a first.” He smiled. “But downgraded, really?” anito na itinawa ang narinig.

“He’s tall and you are kinda tall, you know what I mean. If we are just comparing you and Jason then it’d be a boring list of how you guys look the same. Now the issue is that you’re a Pinoy and he’s not but both could pass as Pacific Islanders and you’re rocking that sleeve tattoo and I like that you’re wearing shorts not too short and not too tight, just the right amount of tightness—my, my. Anyway.” She just laughed it off.

“Do you have a tattoo?” tanong nito.

“That’s the only thing you heard and will comment about?” She snorted. “Yes, I have one.” Uminom siya ng tsaa. “Ang pakla.” Bumalik siya ng kusina at naghanap ng asukal. 

“Anong hinahanap mo?” si Ale. 

“Ang pakla pala ng pagkakatimpla ko ng tsaa,” aniya at napatuwid ng tayo. “I didn’t even try to add anything in it, dumbass.” bulong niya sa sarili. 

Bukas ang ref at nakayuko roon si Samael na sinundan pala siya. “Maybe this will do.” Itinaas nito ang hawak na condensed milk. 

“Nasa ref ‘yong gatas, may sugar sa cupboard,” ani Ale. “May paggagamitan ako niyan,” anito sa hawak ni Samael. 

“Please?” ani Samael. 

Napamaang silang dalawa ni Ale. “Pa-cute si Kuya,” bulong niya.

“Little s**t,” ani Ale. “Fine, use it then get out of my kitchen.” 

“Sungit mo naman,” sabi niya. “Ang mura lang nito, eh. Ilan ba kailangan mo?” tanong niya.

Natawa sila pareho ni Samael sa tunog na nilikha ng pagbagsak ng condensed milk sa tsaa. “Parang tae naman ‘yan, sir,” aniya habang humahagikgik.

“Akala mo si Squirtle, eh. Squirt, squirt lang,” anito. 

“Tama na, ang tamis na nito mamaya,” Nauna na siya sa terrace. 

“Anong scene mo rito?” tanong nito para muling mabasag ang katahimikan. 

“Hmm?”

“Anong ganap mo? Tagalog pala dapat.” 

“Heto, work, bahay, gala with friends,” sagot niya.

“I guess what I really wanted to say is, can I have your number?” kabig nito.

Nginitian niya ito ng nakakaloko at pinapangit ang sarili na ‘di mawari ang mukha niya. “Truth be told, I expected more than the ‘can I have your number’ cliche. But why would you want my number? I heard you have a girlfriend,” aniya.

“No, no, no, no. Sorry.” Naihilamos nito ang kamay sa mukha. “I wanna be friends with you, take you over brunch or dinner,” pagtatama nito. 

She made a face and rolled her eyes. “I feel stupid tuloy. Pero bakit?”

“Parang ang saya mo kasama,” sagot naman nito.

Napahalakhak siya sa narinig sabay takip sa mukha. “Tanga, bakit nga?”

“Parang iba ‘yong naba-vibes ko sa ‘yo. Ewan ko lang, ha—”

“Malamang, kakakilala mo lang sa ‘kin. Ewan ka riyan—”

“‘Yon talaga nasasagap ko, eh. ‘Di pa naman ‘to nagkakamali.”

“Baka sa ‘kin pa lang.”

“Baka nga naman. Baka sa ‘yo pa lang.”

Tatawa-tawa lang siya pero inaamin niya na gusto niya ang flow ng energy nila ngayon. Sa isip-isip niya, bakit naman hindi nila ito ituloy sa ibang araw? Kaysa makipaglampungan lang ang atupagin niya. Napaismid siya sa naisip. Kadiri, aniya. Okay pa na palawakin niya ang circle niya kaysa kung anu-anong aktibidades pa ang gawin niya.

“Game? Six zero—”

“Wait,” Kinuha nito ang smart phone nito. “Game.”

Kasalukuyan niyang binabasa ang mensahe nito. Bunkers tayo? San Juan.

Hinawakan niya ang nananakit na lalamunan. Iniisip kung pupunta pa ba siya ng gym o hindi na. Sakit ng ulo lang naman ang pinapalipas niya, eh. Tinamaan siya ng malala dahil hindi pa roon natapos ang gabi nila. ‘Yong akala nilang nightcap, interlude lang pala. May huling hirit pa no’ng napadaan sila ng Taverna kagabi. May live band do’n tapos nademonyo sila ni Ale na pumasok kahit ilang tequila shots lang daw na purong kasinungalingan. Kung sino pa ‘yong nagyaya, siya pa ‘yong walang dalang pang-bayad. Nakalimutan daw ang card, sure. Na-budol na naman siya. At buti na lang medyo malapit ang uuwian niya at nagpahatid na lang siya sa mga kasamang lalake.

San Juan na ba? Sige, g na ‘yan.

Kumain muna siya, nagpababa, saka naidlip. Baka sakaling maibsan ang nararamdamang pagpintig sa ulo niya.