Kabanata 2
1050 Words
Mabilis kong dinampot ang cellphone ko at napalingon kay Leo na kunot ang noong nakatingin sa hawak kong telepono.
"Who's Oliver?" he asked with his tone filled with curiosity.
I forced a smile and shook my head. "Someone I know," I replied, standing to my feet. "Lalabas muna ako, tell Denise I'm talking with someone outside if ever she'll look for me," bilin ko sa kan'ya at mabilis nang umalis doon bago pa man siya makabato ng iba pang tanong sa akin.
The cold midnight breeze kissed my skin the moment I stepped outside the bar. Tila nanibago ang aking pandinig sa katahimikan sa labas.
Iilang mga sasakyan na lamang ang dumadaan sa kalsada. Ngunit may iilang mga taong naka-stambay sa harap ng bar. Some were casually talking with the people they're with, some had a bottle of liquor in their hands, and some were making out in the corner.
I hugged myself as I glanced at my phone with a notification that I missed a call from Oliver. I peered at the two guys who passed in front of me, staring at me while they were walking away. I saw how their lustful eyes scanned my body like an object.
I rolled my eyes on them and brought my sight back down to my phone. Seconds passed and my phone rang again that I swiftly answered.
"Hi," I greeted with a small smile crossing my lips, thinking that maybe he'd know I was happy he called.
"Where are you?" bungad niya sa kabilang linya.
"Somewhere," I joked and let out a soft chuckle.
"You think I'm joking?" his calm yet dangerous voice filled my ear as he asked.
My smile got swept off by his unhappy tone. Bigla akong kinabahan sa tono niyang iyon.
Maybe something happened sa kompanya nila na nagpasira ng kan'yang araw, o 'di kaya'y may hindi sila pagkaka-unawaan ni Selene—her long-time girlfriend.
A pang of pain was felt in my chest as I mentioned his girlfriend's name.
I bit my lower lip and cleared my throat. "Nasa bar ako, Denise invited me and I couldn't say no, so me and—"
"I don't give a f**k why you're there, I'm here in your condo so come here or I'll leave right away," his voice was demanding and empathic, still filled with anger and danger.
Humigpit ang aking paghawak sa cellphone at tiningnan ang kalsada, umaasang may paparating na taxi upang maihatid kaagad ako sa aking condo.
I didn't bring my car 'cause Leo insisted to leave my car on my building's parking lot and siya ang hahatid sa akin pauwi. I never thought that Oliver would want me right now so I said 'yes' to Leo's offer.
"Alright, I'll be right there," sagot ko sa kabilang linya, pini-pigilang ipahalata ang dahan-dahang tumu-tubong bukol sa aking lalamunan.
"Faster. My time is gold, Ms. Miñoza," he uttered and ended the call without saying goodbye.
His words were harsh and insensitive, enough for me to felt bad for myself for letting him do whatever he wanted to say and do to me.
The moment I realized that I broke the one and only rule, I became his puppet, letting him hold the strings and decide for me that I gladly follow all the things he'd tell me to do, painfully bearing and swallowing the growing affliction inside me.
People see me as someone bold and unbothered, but with him and with his words, I became helpless and fragile, all because I fell head over heels for him. The worst part is, he didn't know and that made the pain more unbearable, yet I tried everything I could so he wouldn't know, for I know he wouldn't like the idea.
Look how love can make someone a fool.
I waved my hand when I saw an approaching taxi. The moment I opened the door, I told him my condo's address and asked to make it fast.
Habang lumilipas ang minuto at lumalapit kami sa condo ko, lumalaki ang kabang nararamdaman ko.
I was always like this whenever Oliver's not in the mood. My skin crawled with the thought of Oliver's angry yet heavenly face. I scoffed silently with my praise despite being nervous at the moment.
Nang tuluyang nakarating sa harap ng building ay mabilis akong nagbayad at hindi na kinuha ang sukli. While walking away from the car, I heard the driver said 'thank you po, ma'am', a tone filled with gratitude. Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil sa pagmamadali ko.
"f*****g slow," I murmured with the elevator's poor performance.
Napalingon sa akin ang matandang lalaki na tanging kasabay ko at nakatayo sa aking harapan, kunot ang noo dahil sa narinig.
I forced a smile and said that I was talking about the elevator. Tahimik niyang tinanggal ang tingin sa akin ngunit maba-bakas pa rin doon ang pagdu-duda.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit tila'y ang bagal-bagal ng pag-usad ng elevator pataas o masiyado lang akong nagmamadali? Maybe it was the latter, but wala na akong pakialam. Gusto ko nang makarating sa unit ko nang hindi pa humaba ang paghihintay ni Oliver.
Mabilis akong lumabas sa elevator nang nakarating na ako sa palapag kung nasaan ang unit ko. I even noticed the old man's glances at me nang napadaan ako sa kan'ya ngunit hindi ko na siya binigyan ng pansin.
I took a deep breath as my fist formed into a ball when I already faced my unit's wooden door. When I was about to unlock the door, it opened automatically as if someone behind the door knew I was there already, unless he peeked at the peephole.
Sumalubong sa akin ang blankong ekspresyon ni Oliver. His black tie was already untied and the sleeves of his white long sleeves were rolled up 'til his elbow.
He was still holding the doorknob with his left hand as he stared at me with his intense gaze. Bakas ang ugat sa kan'yang braso dahil sa paraan ng kan'yang pagkakahawak sa doorknob. The light inside was dimly lit, that made Oliver's expressionless face became more frightsome.
"I—" I choked with my own saliva. "I was with Leo—"
I didn't have the chance to finish my sentence when he harshly grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.
- Writer
