Captured Through The Lenses

Capture 22: Nobya

Capture Twenty Two

I feel like I'm being watched. Not just by some random men in the bar wanting to get my digits. It feels different.

Isaac noticed my tension. "What's wrong? You've been looking around the bar for minutes."

Ibinalik ko ang aking tingin sa kanya at umiling. "Nothing. I just feel like I'm being watched.Pero baka wala lang 'yon. Hindi lang yata ako sanay na maraming tao."

He wasn't convinced. Isaac started roaming his eyes around the bar, searching for signs of someone suspicious. Mas humigpit ang pagkakahapit niya sa aking bewang. Na para bang kinukuha ako sa kanya ng kung sino.

Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone sa kanyang bulsa. "Keenan, umikot kayo sa bar. Look for anyone suspicious. Report back to me with the names of those people."

"Sino si Keenan?" I ask him after he ended the call.

"Isa sa tao ko. They're also trained to read body language kaya mahahanap nila ang kung sino man ang nagbabalak sa'yo," he drank his shot.

"Tama na ang pag inom. Magmamaneho ka pa mamaya," inagaw ko sa kanya ang glass at inilapag sa aming table.

"Yes ma'am," he replied huskily. I could smell alcohol in his breath.

I gave him a small smile. "Nagkatotoo nga yung sinabi ni tita, five years ago. You become successful first, then you'll have your own people."

"Catherine, sayaw tayo," putol ni Brooklyn sa usapan namin ni Isaac. "Kailangan ko na ring humanap ng akin. Nakakaboring kayang umupo lang."

"Hindi naman ako marunong sumayaw, Brooklyn," pag angal ko.

"Just go with the flow, Lilly. Hindi ka naman gagawa ng choreography rito. Freestyle freestyle lang yan. Tara na. Tignan mo sila Benjamin, kumukuha na ng numbers ng girls," turo niya sa dancefloor kung nasaan sila Mason. Hinila niya ang aking kamay ngunit pinabigat ko ang sarili upang hindi niya ako madala sa dance floor.

"Si Madison na lang," pilit ko kay Brooklyn. As if she heard nothing, mas lalo pa niya akong hinigit kaya nagpahila na lang din ako sa dance floor.

It smells like Isaac everywhere. Iminulat ko ang aking mata. Nasa loob pala ako ng sasakyan ni Isaac. My eyes went to the person in the driver's seat. Isaac was staring at me.

"Hello sleepyhead," he whispered .

Sa sobrang pagod ko sa pagtayo sa dancefloor ay nakatulog ako.

Bumangon ako mula sa seat na panigurado'y inadjust ni Isaac para nakahiga ako. I yawned. Sa labas ng window ng kanyang sasakyan ay natanaw ko ang isang malaking bahay.

"Nasaan tayo?" tanong ko.

"My house," simple niyang sagot.

"Sa Forbes?"

He nodded.

"How long have you been watching me sleep?"

"Not long," a hint of mockery edging his mouth, then he went out of the driver's seat.

I want to curl up into a ball and hide from him. Just how unattractive did I look while I was sleeping? Nakanganga ba ako o tinuluan ng laway? Naisipan pa talaga niyang gawing pelikula ang pagtulog ko sa harapan niya.

Hinawakan ko ang gilid ng labi ko upang tignan kung may natuyong laway. Wala naman. Mabuti na lang.

The door to my side of the car opened. He crouched down to put his hand on my back and under my thighs to carry me.