“Ganda ng ngiti, a!” ani Aicka mula sa couch habang papalapit ako pabalik sa table namin matapos makausap ang apat na lalaki.
“Ang ha-hot nila, ‘no? Ang babango pa! Jusko! Gusto ko na agad i-uwi si Daniel, my love!” Rein squealed softly, half-hiding her excitement. Naupo ako sa tabi ni Sab, habang kaharap naman namin si Rein at Aicka.
Tumikhim ako para maitago ang kilig na kanina ko pa pinipigilan mula nang makaharap ko si Dos.
“Kalma lang kayo, tangina! Nakatingin na sila sa gawi natin.”
Pasimpleng lumingon ang tatlo, at mabilis na nag-ayos bigla ng kanilang upo, parang walang nangyari.
“Grabe sila makatingin, jusko! Minus points na naman ako sa langit nito. Iba naiisip ko kapag tinitignan nila ako,” bulong ni Sab habang tinatakpan ng cocktail glass ang bibig niya.
“Grabe ka! Wet ka na agad sa tingin pa lang?!” Rein shot back, swirling the ice in her glass. “Ang bilis mo, ha!”
“Gaga! Hindi wet agad! Pero swear, feeling ko hinuhubaran na ako kapag tinititigan niya ako! Gosh! Ang kupad pa, ang tagal magyaya na magpahinga kami. Kunwari lasing na lasing na ako, ganern!”
“Pinagbabawal na technique ‘yon, Sab!” natatawa kong singit, and the whole table burst out laughing.
When it was just us four, walang filter ang usapan. Bastusan, kalokohan, walang hiya-hiya. That was our safe space. Sa trabaho kasi, kailangan classy, professional. Pero sa ganitong set-up? No walls, just us.
“Hi.”
The voice made us freeze. Our heads snapped toward the sound, and our eyes widened.
“Can we join you, girls? If you don’t mind?”
Dahan-dahan kaming lumingon.
“A-ah… s-sure! No problem!” nauutal kong sagot, bago ako tumikhim sa mga kaibigan ko para bumalik sila sa sarili.
“Y-Yeah… sure!” Sab added quickly.
Nagkanya-kanya ng upo ang apat, at sa ikinagulat namin, tumabi sila mismo sa amin. Kung sino ang target ng bawat isa, siya rin ang katabi.
Oh, shit. He smells expensive.
Napalapit ako sa gilid nang umupo si Dos sa tabi ko. Hinila ko pababa ang skirt dahil feeling ko sobra yatang nakikita ang legs ko.
He leaned back, draped his arm over the back of my chair, and crossed his legs like it was second nature. When I glanced at my friends—well, they were already busy chatting with the people next to them.
Woah. Kanina lang, mga pabebe pa. Ngayon, parang matagal nang magkakakilala. Tss.
“So, you’re the one who owns this famous bar?” Dos asked, his voice low but steady.
“Yeah…”
“Hmm. Nice. I like it here.” His gaze wandered around the place, sharp yet approving.
“Really? Thank you.”
“How old are you?” Bigla niyang tanong, at napaangat ako ng tingin. Mas matangkad siya, kaya kailangan ko pang tumingala ng kaunti.
“I’m 23, why?”
His brows lifted, eyes slowly raking over me.
“You’re just 23 and you already own a bar?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with that? I’m not a minor.”
“I’m not saying you are,” he chuckled lightly. “I’m just… amused. At such a young age, business-minded ka na.”
BINABASA MO ANG
The Price Of A Sinner
General FictionMifi grew up believing she was her parents' only child, until the truth shattered everything. A stepsister she never wanted. A family who gave their love and attention to someone else. From that day, resentment took root in her heart. Then came him...
