Jazz: The Forceful Rhythm

Shots and Bacardi

Nagising si Justin na tila binibiyak ang ulo sa sobrang sakit. Hindi na niya alam kung paano siya nakauwi. Ang natatandaan lang niya, pagkatapos ng mga nangyari sa kanila ni Jazz ay nagmamadali siyang umalis. Kinakailangan niyang makalayo kaagad sa dalaga upang pahupain ang pagnanasang lumulukob sa kanyang pagkatao.

Nakarating siya sa isang resto-bar sa lungsod ng Lucena. It was a small bar and has only a few customer at the time he arrived. He went to the bar counter and ordered the strongest alcohol they have. He looked around and observe the surroundings. Pop music is playing on the background. May mangilan-ngilan nang parukyano ang nasabing bar. It was already past 7pm when he arrived, maaga pa para sa night jam aside from the fact that it was a thursday night kaya marahil kakaunti ang customer.

Inilapag ng bartender ang order niyang inumin. Inisang lagok iyon and asked for another shot.

Napansin niya ang isang grupo ng mga kababaihang nakatingin sa kanya. He's not yet drunk. Kaya naman nilampasan lang niya ng tingin ang mga ito. He picked up his phone and dial a number.

Tatlong ring bago sumagot ang nasa kabilang linya. "Hey man, what's up? Nakaalala ka yata bigla."

"Are you busy Dan? Nandito ako sa Lucena right now."

"Are you for real, man? "

"Pumunta ka na dito ngayon! I need company. "

"Lucky you, kakauwi ko lang from Japan. Kahit may jetlag pa ako pupuntahan kita and you owe me that, bro! Teka saan ba yan?"

Itinanong niya sa bartender kung anong pangalang ng resto-bar na iyon. "Muziq and Lyriqx Restobar daw. "

"Oh I know that place. The owner is an acquiantance. Will be there in less than 15 minutes." Iyon lamang and his friend dropped the call.

Napakadaling kausap talaga ng kaibigan n'yang yun. Although Dan is older than him by seven years pero nagclick parehas ang personality nila. He is a professional boxer at nagkakilala sila ng maging endorser ito ng sports shop na pagmamay-ari din ng mall na under ng kumpanya niya. Since then, they've been good friends. At taga Lucena ito.

Small world.

Wala pa ngang kinse minutos ay dumating na ito. He is in his usual attire, leather jacket, maong pants and black leather boots. On his right hand he carries his Shoei helmet. Tila ito action star sa hitsura nito. Kaagad na lumapit ang isang staff para abutin dito ang helmet nito. Mukhang kilala nga ito ng mga staff dahil tinapik pa nito sa balikat ang staff bago nakangiting bumaling sa kinaroroonan nya. Masigla itong lumapit sa kanya at nakipaghigh-five!

"Hey Barty the bartender, give me the usual and charge it to him. This friend of mine is super duper rich minsan lang yan magtapon ng pera kaya sasamantalahin ko na, " wika nito sa bartender. " Barty's not his real name but I call him that because his a bartender, " baling nito sa kanya sabay halakhak.

" Ang corny mo pare. Ganyan ba talaga pag tumatanda na? " he asked pero natatawa din naman sya sa kakornihan ng kaibigan.

" Who's old? I mean look at you man, all those wrinkles and dark circles in your eyes. That's why I never dreamed of being a man of the corporate world. "

" So you just opt to get beaten inside the ring, " he rebutted.

" Excuse me! I have never been beaten in my entire boxing career. "

Which is true naman. Undefeated World Champion ang kaibigan niyang ito. And one of the reasons why even though he's already 36 yrs old ay halos parang kasing edad nya lang ito is because of his proper diet and healthy lifestyle. Talk about an athlete's life.

Inabot ng bartender dito ang order nitong alak pero inagaw niya iyon. "Then you shouldn't be drinking now. Baka masira ang undefeated record mo kapag nalasing ka."

Hinablot nito iyon sa kanya,"No way, man! Hindi ko palalampasin etong panlilibre mo. Besides, I'll make sure na ikaw ang mauunang malasing kesa sa akin," he said then sipped his drink. " Ah... This is heaven! Tagal kong di nakatikim nito, Bart!" wika pa nito at humalakhak ng malakas.

"Napakaingay..."

Sabay silang napalingon sa nagsalita. Approaching them is a woman with black wavy hair, rounded eyes and has fleshy cheeks. She has a well rounded body, with curves in all the right places making her voluptuously sexy.

Lumapit ito kay Dan, "The moment I heard that laughter, I already knew that would be you," pagkatapos ay bumeso ito sa kaibigan niya.

"Hi there, gorgeous! Long time no see!"

"Nothing changes, bolero ka pa din!"

Umiling ang kaibigan niya. "I am the most honest man, you'll ever meet in this whole wide world! Right, Justin?" bumaling ito sa kanya. " Oh by the way, this is ate Muziq. She's the owner of this resto-bar. Ate Muziq, meet my very rich friend, Justin Lee."

"Hmmm... Two asian blooded hunks. I wonder, where were the chikas here at di pa kayo pinagkakaguluhan."

Inilihad niya ang mga palad upang makipagkilala."Justin Lee, it's a pleasure to meet you ma'am!"

"Oh no, don't call me ma'am. Ate would be alright. Are you also japanese, just like this kolokoy here," wika nito habang nakikipagkamay sa kanya.

Natawa si Dan sa tinuran ni Muziq.

"I'm a korean national."

"Hmmm... Hapon at Koryano..." Bumaling ito kay Dan, "Wala ka na bang ibang friends, prefer ko yung turkish o kaya ay chinese. Tsaka yung kaedad ko naman. Wag naman yung mas bagets pa sa iyo."

Napakamot ito sa ulo, "Grabe ka naman sa akin, ate! I'm not that old huh!"

"Just kidding, darling!" wika nito. "Enjoy your drinks, punta muna ako sa kitchen," tumalikod na ito at nagtungo sa pinto sa likod ng bar counter.

" So tell me, bro. Anong dahilan at bigla kang nagawi dito sa maliit naming bayan ng Lucena. I know you're a very busy man."

Muli niyang inisang nilagok ang alak at sumenyas sa bar ternder ng isa pang shot," My parents are here in the Philippines."

"Talaga pre, I thought you're old man didn't want to go here. Why suddenly they decided to visit you?"

"It's because of that damn chismis!"

Napakunut-noo ito sa tinuran nya,"Anong chismis?"

"Reporters saw me with a woman, and speculations of me having a relationship spread and unfortunately, with the kind of technology we have right now, it easily reached Korea especially mom, and in a flash they're here!"

"Whoa, that was amusing man!" manghang wika nito. "I really can't believe how your mom can easily make your father obey her. Women can really be dangerous," palatak pa nito.

Indeed! How he's been under the spell of her intern secretary is something that's so dangerous! Ipinilig niya ang ulo to remove her image that's starting to form in his mind.

"And who is this woman na naging dahilan para biglang mapauwi ang chairman at ang madam ng K'Centric. At mukhang gumugulo ngayon sa sobrang organized na utak ng president nito."

Umiling sya," She's just an intern in my company."

"Oh... An intern." Tinitigan siya ng kaibigan, "And with the way you look right now, I don't think she's just an intern to you, bro! Look at you, mukha kang sumugod sa gyera pero para kang natalo. Nabasted ka ba?" Hindi nito hinintay ang sagot niya bagkus ay bumaling sa bartender," Naka ilang shot na ba 'to?"

Sumenyas ito, inilahad ang dalawang kamay na nkataas ang limang daliri sa kanan at dalawa sa kaliwa.

"Anong shot ba tinitira nito?"

"Bacardi po," tugon ng bartender.

"Oh, no! I will not send you home, you dumbass!"

Tumawa sya at bumaling sa bartender, "He's the only person who can call me names and didn't get knocked off, know why? It's because he's the undefeated world champion!" malakas niyang wika.

May mangilan-ngilang customers ang napapatingin sa kanila. Mukhang tumatalab na ang espiritu ng alak sa kanya dahil nagiging maingay na siya. But he doesn't care.

Isang babae ang lumapit sa kanila, may bitbit din itong alak at confident na bumati. "Hi handsome! Mukhang napapasarap na ang pag-inom natin. You guys wanna join me? " tinitigan pa siya nito ng malagkit at nang-aakit. Kumindat naman ito sa kaibigan niya.

Hinarap niya ito,"If I join you, can you satisfy my needs?"

Lumapad ang ngiti nito tila nakakita ng masarap na pagkaing nakahain sa harap nito."Of course, lover boy! I can even make you reach the heavens. Kahit dalawa pa kayo!" Humawak pa ito sa braso niya at bahagyang pinisil iyon.

Iwinaksi niya iyon," Oh no, miss. You're not my type. And this friend of mine here, has already someone buried deep in his heart. Not even you, stripping in front of him will make him forget about her."

"I don't care as long as you, two, can make me come," malandi pang wika nito.

Humalakhak siya na ikinamaang ng babae."Slut! You're nothing in comparison to her. Just disappear in front of me!" iwinasiwas pa niya ang kamay na tila nagtataboy ng aso.

Masamang tingin ang ipinukol ng babae sa kanya bago tuluyang umalis.

Curious namang tumingin sa kanya ang kaibigan. "Ok ka lang ba pare?"

Tumawa ulit sya,"Of course, I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be fine, I'm Justin Lee, man! I am always fine!"

"Naku, lasing na nga ito," pumapalatak pang wika nito. "Akala ko papatusin mo yung babae kanina eh!"

Umiling siya,"Kahit magpakalunod ako sa alak, hinding-hindi na yata maaalis sa sistema ko ang babaing iyon. At kahit pa nga hainan ako ng sampung babae sa harapan ko, wala pa ring epekto dahil sa ngayon siya lang ang gusto ko!"

"Sino? Yung intern mo?"

He didn't answer back.

Muli itong nagsalita,"No wonder you look like a mess. For someone na madaling makuha ang gusto mukhang natanggihan ka parekoy." Natatawa pa itong nagwika. "Well, move on ka na lang tol!"

"How can I move on when she's just around. Didn't you know, she's at the villa right now. Staying there with us because my mom wanted so. So that villa's a hell to me right now!"

"Then get her and fulfill your desire and get over with it! As simple as that!"

Napailing siya. "She's too young, I bet she doesn't have any experience yet."

"Then good for you, ikaw ang magbibigay ng first experience niya." Pero nagbigay ng warning sa kanya, "But remember, first timers are real headache. If you wouldn't set your boundaries, baka kumapit yan na parang tuko sa iyo!"

Napailing siya sa tinuran ng kaibigan, sinabi lang nito ang nasa isip niya!