Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 20

Wala akong kakilala rito.

May dance showdown nang nangyari at lahat lahat pero uwing-uwi pa rin ako. They honestly were successful in keeping me entertained but I feel really tired. Gusto ko na lang umuwi...

Wala naman pala akong mapapala sa pagpunta ko rito. Nikolai's too busy at their table. Parating may lapit nang lapit sa kanila.

Nauubusan na rin ako ng iniinom. I'd get wasted if I order more.

"Hey, miss. Are you alone?"

Tatawagan ko sana si Kuya Gael para magpasundo na nang may lumapit sa akin na dalawang lalaki.

They're from my school, I'm sure.

Each of them is well-dressed and all that, but I don't feel comfortable at all.

"No. I'm waiting for someone." pagsisinungaling ko. I turned to the other direction in hopes that it would be enough to show them that I'm not interested.

Sobrang daming ganitong tao sa Maynila. Pero marami sa kanila ang susuko din agad kapag nakitang ayaw ko talaga. Nobody likes wasting their precious time.

"Hmm..." Naramdaman kong umuga 'yong inuupuan ko. Umupo na pala sa tabi ko 'yong isa. He's dangerously close.

"That seat is taken."

"Talaga? O baka naman gawa-gawa mo lang? Come on now... we'll make your night less lonelier." Ginapang ng lalaking 'yon ang kamay niya sa backrest ng inuupuan ko kaya inihiwalay ko 'yung likod ko roon.

"Oo nga... Kanina ka pa namin pinapanood. It looks like you're alone."

"I'm not. And so what if I am? I'm not interested." pinagtaasan ko sila ng kilay. Diniretso ko na dahil mukhang hindi talaga sila titigil at hirap silang umintindi!

Hindi naman ako natatakot dahil kayang-kaya ko silang sipain tig-isa sa mukha kung sakali.

"Aw, kahit number lang?"

"Miss, I promise you that you won't regret it..."

They just can't take no for an answer! Goodness!

"That's my seat."

Umangat ang tingin ko sa lalaking hinarap ang mga nanggugulo sa akin.

Huh? Hindi ba 'to 'yung crush ni Missy?

Even I got intimidated by the look on his face, so it was a given that the guys that were bothering me would back off.

Pagkaaalis ng mga iyon ay umupo 'tong crush ni Missy sa tabi ko, sinusulyapan pa rin kasi kami nung mga lalaki.

I would have said that I didn't need his help because I could have handled it... but I guess he made it easier for me. "Thanks for that."

"No problem."

Tatayo na sana siya pero pasimple akong lumingon doon sa direksyon ng mga lalaking nanggulo sa akin kanina. Nakatingin pa rin... kaya hinila ko 'yong damit niya.

He curiously looked at me. "Stay for a minute until my brother arrives, please? I'll call him."

Ayaw ko na talagang makaharap pa 'yung mga makukulit na 'yon. Nakakatamad at wala na akong enerhiya. Nagmukmok ba naman ako ng kalahating araw tapos mauuwi rin pala sa pagpunta ko sa concert.

Selosa kasi.

Mukhang madali siyang kausap at umupo siya ulit sa tabi ko. "Thanks,"

"It's fine, actually. One of my friends is participating in that showdown so I really wanted to get out of there."