A Night In Vegas

Kabanata 8

"Ano nga ang work mo, Atreus?"

Atreus stopped sipping from his coffee and looked at me with his green eyes. Ibinaba niya ang mug sa lamesa bago nagsalita.

"I'm a seaman."

My eyes gleamed with excitement upon hearing his work. Naalala ko ang bastos kong kaibigan sa trabaho niya. That bitch has some obsession with seamen dahil palagi iyong ikinikwento ng gagang iyon sa'kin. I know she loved the sea that she's willing to travel everywhere just to sea different waves from different seas.

"Anong role mo sa barko?"

"I'm the captain."

Tumango-tango ako habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kanya. My stares will make him uncomfortable pero hindi ko lang talaga mapigilan dahil may naaalala ako sa kanya.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa inakto ko. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Tumawa ako. "You just reminded me of someone close to me. Mahilig kasi iyon sa mga seaman."

"A woman?" He asked curiously.

Tumango ako. "Yes, her name's Aira."

"Aira..." Parang natigilan pa siya sa narinig na pangalan. Mas lumalim ang gatla sa noo niya. "What's her fullname?"

Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay at nginisihan. Mukhang interesado ha.

"Why? Are you curious if she's beautiful?" I asked teasingly.

"No. I'm just curious about her name since like you, it reminded me of someone I know," He clenched his jaw. Kita ko ang bahagyang paglambot ng mga mata niya. "It reminded of her."

"Her?" Napasinghap ako nang may maalala. "Oh, you have a girlfriend, right?"

He chuckled pero halatang malungkot iyon. "How I wish she would still see me as her boyfriend after I left her."

"You left her?"

"Yes. It was the choice I made to protect her."

I saw how his face darkened upon remembering something. He breathed deeply before closing his eyes like he's in pain. I averted my gaze at him. Kinuha ko ang phone ko at pumunta sa gallery para hanapin ang picture ng kaibigan ko. When I saw it, I immediately showed it to Atreus na mukhang kumakalma na.

"This is the friend that I'm talking about."

Tiningnan niya naman ang larawan na ipinakita ko. I saw how his eyes widened slowly before he cleared his throat and returned to his normal serious face.

"S-she's pretty." He commented before clearing his throat again.

Tinaasan ko siya muli ng kilay dahil sa inaakto niya. I don't know him yet but he's really acting weirdly.

"Are you alright? Namumula kasi ang tenga mo."

"Yes, I'm alright, Ian."

"I'm a doctor, kaya if you're not feeling well just tell me, okay?"

"Yes, dok." Doon naman siya ngumiti at sumaludo pa sa'kin na ikinatawa ko.

The next days were peaceful. Nagpatuloy na muli ako sa pagtatrabaho habang nasa paligid ko lang si Atreus. He's guarding me even if I don't see him around the corners of my workplace. He's stealthy I admit. Mukhang hindi lang pagiging kapitan sa barko ang talent and skills niya.

I was just finished checking my last patient when I heard a knock on my clinic's door. Kaagad ko namang sinabi na pumasok ito sa pag-aakalang sekretarya ko iyon.