Take me down the road of Sacramento

Sixty two

"We're here!" deklara ni Fauro na ikinadoble sa bilis ng tibok nang puso ko. Nanlalamig din ang aking mga palad at hindi ako makahinga nang maayos.

A cold bullet of sweat formed on my forehead when I took a peak of the people swaying with the cheerful rythym of the song.

Alam ng lahat na pawang kaliwa ang mga paa ko! I mean, Fauro and Aèm know! Hindi talaga ako sasayaw kahit pa anong mangyari.

"Are you sure I look good?" nakalabing tanong ko kay Aèm. Puno ng pag-aalinlangan ang boses ko.

What am I thinking? Pwede pa bang umatras?! Ang lakas ng loob kong sabihing hindi na dapat ako affected pero parang kusa ring bumahag ang buntot ko. Kung pwede lamang balikan ang kanina, babawiin ko agad ang sinabi ko!

Huminga ako ng malalim at kinalma ang naghuhurentadong sistema ko. "Kaya ko ba 'to?" I wondered mostly to myself. I blanched at the thought and shook my head. "Kaya ko 'to!"

Ngumiti si Aèm at ipinarong ang palad niya ang ibabaw ng kamay ko. "Let's rock the night, Ace! Show that bozo what he lost when he left and who's not coming back."

"Ano pang pinag-uusapan niyo?" Pareho kaming natigilan nang biglang humukas ang pinto at sumilip si Fauro sa amin.

"Wala naman," tipid na sagot ng katabi ko.

Tumango siya at saka sinabing, "let's go," saka isinara ang pinto ng sasakyan.

Pinandilatan ko muna ng mata ang katabi ko saka naunang lumabas sa kotse.

Sinalubong agad ako ng nakasisilaw na mga ilaw sa palibot ng bahay ni Mc Kenzie. Unang tingin pa lang, alam mo ng may party na nagaganap sa loob.

Fauro walk towards me and offered me his arm. I smiled before clutching one of my palm. He do the same with Aèm before we walked at a grand-like entrance with a red carpet and professional photographer who's taking pictures of Mc Kenzie's guest.

The bariety of pink and purple light illuminated the atmospere the moment i step outside his flame-red maserati.

"Look who's here!" The moment he spoke, the music dissapear. We heard the crowd began clapping their hands; as if a very special guest had arrive.

"Welcome back, Titus." Aèm smiled at him and they shake hands.

He gave her a beam and said, "Thanks, Judge Aèm."

"Just call me Aèm, wala naman tayo sa trabaho," she insisted. "Just Aèm." She paued and winked significantly on me, making my brow arch in confusion.

What does she mean by that?

"Long time no see, Attorney." Fauro smiled at him and offered him a hand.

"It's nice seeing you, Architect."

"Oh, geez! Where's the girl, bro?!" Natigilan kaming lahat nang may lumapit na lalaki sa eksena. "'Yung kalaban mo sa case na hawak mo ngayon!" Bahagya niya pang sinagi si Titus para magbigay daan upang mapagmasdan ang kabuuan ko.

"You're La Synfonic?" he asked. Napatabingi pa ako ng ulo, animo'y inaalala kung saan ko nga ba nakita ang lalaking 'to.

"I am," kalmadong sagot ko. Bumungisngis siya saka ini-akbay ang braso sa balikat ni Titus.

Kahit yata baliktarin ko ang ulo ko, hindi ko siya maalala. Baka ito ang una naming pagkikita, hindi kaya?

"She's almost claiming the picture of perfection, bro!" Muli niya akong binalingan at umiling-iling na tila ba puno ito ng panghihinayang. "Now, I understand why you cry yourself whenever you sober in the bed."

Ano raw?

"A girl like her is indeed hard to forget." He tap Titus' shoulder and twisted around to face me. "If I were you, I would probably do the same thing." He smirk and added, "You look good tonight, Mrs. Solis."