Renegade

Chapter 26

It was past 7:30 PM when I left Blast. Hindi ko inaasahan ang nalaman ko tungkol kay Hector. It really shook me to the core but... things happened five years ago.

I was devastated and angry at him, five years ago.

And right now, I want to focus on now. Nagulat ako sa nalaman ko pero hindi ko na naramdaman iyong kaparehong galit na naramdaman ko noon. Isa pa, mas gumaan iyong pakiramdam ko na inamin kaagad ni Hector. He could've lied and when he did not, that’s when I knew he was really sorry for what happened to me.

Sapat na ‘yon sa akin. Wala namang magagawa kung magda-drama pa ako.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago iika-ikang lumakad paalis ng Blast. Hector was too much for me but... I could not deny the fact that enjoyed every second of what we did.

Habang naglalakad, tiningnan ko ang hawak kong flash drive. I gulped as my cheeks heated with embarassment. Laman ng flashdrive na ‘to ang video ng first time ko. Hector wanted me to watch it. Sabi niya tatanungin niya ako ulit kung payag daw ba ako ulit na i-upload ang video na ‘yon sa site nila after ko mapanood.

I agreed to him already but he wanted to make sure that he really got my consent and not just because I was pressured to say yes.

I was really out of myself, kaya napaigtad ako nang bigla na lang may humarang sa dinadaanan ko.

I frowned at the man standing in front of me. “Ikaw na naman?”

“Pauwi ka na?”

It was the bartender from Blast. “Ano ulit name mo?”

“Warren,” he answered before he extended his hand to me, “Warren Zild Placido.”

Napabuntong hininga ako bago nakipagkamay sa kaniya. “Clarisse Drake.” Alanganin ngumiti ako sa kaniya. “Don’t tell me hinintay mo talaga akong lumabas ng Blast?” Saka ko nilingon ang club na hindi pa naman kalayuan sa pwesto namin.

He shook his head before he showed me a plastic bag then he pointed at the convenient store on his right. “Galing ako riyan para bumili ng dinner ‘tapos nakita kita. So, kalalabas mo lang pala ng Blast?”

Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang paghagod ng tingin niya sa kabuuan ko. Kaya kaagad kong tinakpan ang mga dibdib ko gamit ang mga braso ko at masamang tiningnan siya. “Hoy! Ano’ng tinitingin-tingin mo riyan? Gusto mo bang tusukin ko iyang mga mata mo?”

Gwapo sana ‘tong Warren na ‘to at ang amo ng mukha dahil sa maliit niyang mga mata at ilong. Ang tangkad pa saka macho ang katawan. Pero mukhang manyak.

“Okay ka lang ba? Wala bang nangyaring masama sa ‘yo sa loob ng Blast?”

Unti-unting bumaba ang mga braso ko dahil sa itinanong niya. I squinted my eyes at him before realization hit me. “Alam mo ba na hindi lang simpleng club ang Blast?”

Natigilan siya bago umiwas ng tingin. Kiming tumango siya at hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko nang humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa plastic bag. “Nagtatrabaho dati si Mama sa Blast.”

Bumaling ang ulo ko sa kaliwa. “Nagtatrabaho?”

When he returned his gaze to me, he was more serious. Medyo kinabahan ako sa expression ng mukha niya.

“She worked in Blast as prostitute before the vice mayor and Sir Zaragosa took over it.”

Literal na shut up ang bibig ko dahil sa inamin niya. Naguguluhang tiningnan ko siya. “Why are you telling me this?”

Huminga siya nang malalim bago sinuklay ang medyo buhaghag na buhok niya. He looked at me with concern which I don’t really understand the purpose. We’re not even friends. He’s not required to be concern of me.