Crystal Breeze

CB9

CB9

Tahimik lang ako sa tabi ni Sir Rion habang seryoso silang nag-uusap. I remained on high alert even while sitting calmly. Maingay pa rin sa pagilid ngunit naririnig ko naman ang usapan nilang dalawa, malabo nga lang iyong ilan. It's about business, for sure.

Noong una ko ngang nakita si Diego ay akala ko'y normal na pagkikita lang ng magkaibigan ito— hanging out, I mean. Hindi pa rin pala. Pero ano nga bang dapat kong asahan sa Legrand na ito?

"Don't you want the drink, Syn? Ano bang gusto mo? I'll order for you!"

Naagaw ni Diego ang atensyon ko noong marinig ko ang pangalan ko na lumabas sa kanyang bibig. Bahagya akong nagulat dahil sa biglaan niyang pagpansin saakin.

"Leave her alone," Sir Rion demanded and glanced at me for a second.

"C'mon, Legrand! Accommodate your girl! Naa-out of place na ata!"

I nearly choked hearing that. Nakita ko din ang bahagyang pagkunot ng noo ni Sir Rion ngunit hindi siya nagsalita. Inaasahan ko pa naman na tatanggi siya!

I better be out of place than to hear that!

"Ayos lang..." I faked a chuckle while waving my hand. "I don't drink..."

Like really. Kahit anong dalas ko noon sa mga club na katulad nito dahil kay Senator Pascua, hindi talaga ako umiinom. Well, I'm not ignorant of its taste but I may say that I don't like it. A sip is necessary, a glass is enough.

"Really?" tanong niya na may halong gulat. "What a good girl..."

Hindi ko alam kung paano ilalarawan ang tunog na iyon. It doesn't completely sound sarcastic but it's like a mixture of praise and mock.

Sir Rion chuckled darkly and looked at me. Mabilis lang iyon dahil napunta muli ang atensyon niya sa pagsasalin ng alak sa kanyang baso. Ngumisi ito at umiling.

"Anything but that."

Tuwang napabaling si Diego sa kanya. There was a smirk playing on his lips.

"Does that mean... she's you know..." hindi nito tinuloy ang kanyang sinasabi ngunit tila iba ang tingin niya kay Sir Rion. He didn't say anything but it infuriated me. Ang tingin na iyon ay hindi ko nagustuhan kahit hindi naman iyon nakadirekta saakin.

Nawala ang ngisi ni Sir Rion. "Watch where you're going..." banta nito na kahit ako ay bahagyang pinagtaasan ng balahibo.

"What?" natatawang tanong ni Diego. "Did I say something?"

"Be thankful you didn't," Sir Rion said and drank straight on his glass. Mabigat niyang binagsak ang baso sa lamesa bago siya tumayo. "We'll leave now. Next time you want a discussion, make sure it's at the proper place."

"Woah, bro. Chill..." Diego said and stood up. Wala akong choice kung hindi tumayo din katulad nila. Isa pa, mukhang aalis na kami. "I'll visit your office next time."

Inabot ni Diego ang kanyang kamay. Sir Rion, though clenching his jaw, accepted it and they once again did a chest bump like what they did a while ago. Diego tapped his shoulder before letting him go and turning to me. Nilagpasan niya si Sir Rion at humakbang papalapit saakin.

"Nice to meet you, Syn," he said, extending his hand again. And as a courtesy, I accepted it. Nagulat ako noong bigla niya akong hilahin papalapit. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong huwag magpakita ng lakas. If he was just some random guy, I would have twisted his arm already! "Sorry about this... I'm just trying something."

I relaxed as I heard his whisper. It confused me, though. Does he mean, he's trying to make him angry? May bago ba doon?

Hindi niya pa ako tuluyang pinapakawalan ay naramdaman ko na ang isang kamay na humawak sa aking pulso at hinila ako papalayo sa kanya.