Five O'clock Sky (Nueva Caceres#1)

CHAPTER 11

Muli akong nagsalin ng vodka sa shot glass. I drunk it straight. Bottoms up at mabigat ang kamay na nilapag ang baso sa counter. The thud it created was audible despite the loud music in the background.

I imagined this night to be magical. I was looking forward for a dance with Sandro and that it would be romantic: Our bodies pressed close to each another, his hands on my waist and mine on his nape.  It would be too sweet that our eyes would be locked in a loving gaze and that we'd get carried away by the attraction between us and ended up kissing passionately. Heck, yes, my young heart and wild mind has long been wondering how would it feel to be kissed by Sandro Benavidez. But... all my anticipation for tonight turned into disappointments. I thought this night will fill my stomach with butterflies, but all it gave was nothing but an aching heart.

I laughed bitterly at all my ridiculous imaginations. I raised the bottle of vodka to transfer another shot in my glass pero isang patak ng alak nalang ang tumulo sa baso. Nayayamot kong sinilip ang loob ng bote mula sa butas nito. I laughed when I realized I once again emptied another bottle. I felt proud of myself.

"Hey, you, Mr. Albert the bartender!" Kuha ko sa atensyon ng bartender, "Give me another bottle of vodka!"

Napangiwi ang lalaki. "P-pangatlong bote na yang naubos mo, Ma'am. Lasing na po kayo baka hindi na po kayo makauwi niyan."

"Excuse... me?" My eyebrow automatically shot up when I heard the word 'lasing', "Hindi... ako lasing!"

Napakamot siya sa kanyang batok. "Panong hindi lasing, ma'am, inaaway at pinapa-alis nyo nga po lahat ng umuupong customer dito sa counter."

I looked around the area of the bar counter.  All seats were vacant aside from mine. Ako lang ang mag-isang customer na nasa bar counter. "Oh!" I giggled, "Nang-away ba ako ngayong gabi?" Saglit akong napa-isip, "Parang wala naman akong matandaan, ah? Parang ikaw yata 'yong lasing, kuya!" Sinimangutan ko siya.

Nanghalumbaba ako sa counter at niyakap ang bote ng vodka sa aking pisnge. Mahaba ang nguso kong tiningala ang bartender na parang nakukunsumeng nakadungaw sa'kin. I pouted my lips.

"Bakit hindi pa bumabalik si Sandro?" Tila batang musmos kong tanong sa lalaki. "Akala ko ba hinatid niya lang 'yong Monica Natividad na 'yon pero bakit hanggang ngayon wala pa rin siya?"

"Ka ano-ano po ba kasi kayo ni Sandro, ma'am? Kanina niyo pa po sya bukam-bibig."

Bumaba ang tingin ko at hindi sinagot ang tanong niya. "He must be enjoying Monica's company right now." I awfully whispered to the wind. The thought na mas pinili niyang samahan ang ibang babae kaysa maging date ko sa ball ngayong gabi hurt me once again. Nanlalabo na naman ang aking mata dahil sa nagbabadyang luha. I blinked it right away.

"You're a brat, Lucy. You will never cry over this." Mahinang pangungumbinse ko sa sarili. God knows how I kept my tears from falling.

Nag-iwan ako ng bayad sa counter. Hindi ko alam kung ilang libo ang nabayad ko. Basta nalang akong humugot ng pera sa clutch bag, nilapag iyon at umalis ng bar. Sinikap kong maglakad ng tuwid kahit nahihilo ako. I heard the bartender calling me and saying something I could no longer understand. Nagtuloy-tuloy ako palabas ng Casa Lucio.

I was about to make a call para magpasundo kay Tang Kael when I realized I didn't bring my phone with me. Then I remembered coming here with Paris. I remembered ditching the supposedly magical ball just to get wasted.

Oh, gosh. Paris! Parang bigla akong nahimasmasan ng konti nang hindi ko maalala kong saan banda ko naitali ang stallion. Or natali ko man lang ba? I remember pagkababa ko kay Paris ay dumeretso kaagad ako papasok ng Casa Lucio. I was about to panick and beat myself with curses when I spotted a white horse  meters away from Casa Lucio's building. Damuhan ang parteng 'yon and Paris was eating grasses. But Paris was not alone. A kid was caressing my stallion's hair. Mio dio, that kid! Siya 'yong inutusan ko kanina na kunin si Paris sa rancho.