Love and Cigarettes

Chapter Twenty

"Lars," Hana tapped my shoulder as soon as we entered the club. "Isn't that your secretary?"

Napalingon ako sa tinuro niya. It was, indeed, my secretary. I didn't expect to see Miriam in this kind of place. At least, not while she's pregnant.

Sinabihan ko ang mga kasama ko na maghanap na ng pwesto namin. Ako naman ay lumapit sa pwesto ni Miriam upang batiin siya.

"Miriam?"

My secretary was shocked at the sound of my voice. She rose from her seat to greet me. "Sir Lars!"

"I didn't expect to see you here." I remarked with all honesty."Wait, are you even allowed to drink? You're pregnant!"

Miriam waved her hand. "No, no. Don't worry, I won't drink."

She was with three other girls. Friends, I suppose. One of her companions, who was seated right in front of me, flinched upon meeting my gaze.

"Huh?" My brows lifted in surprise. "A nun?"

Tila nahiya naman siya sa sinabi ko.

"Uhm," She faked a laugh. "God bless you."

Pfft. She's funny.

After exchanging a brief introduction with her friends, I reminded Miriam about the applicants for tomorrow. Since she was pregnant, I was in search of a secretary that would replace her.

For the last time, I smiled to the girls before taking my leave. I could still feel their curious stares on me as I made my way to my group.

"That's Miriam, right? Pwede ba siyang uminom? She's pregnant." My youngest sister, Suna, inquired with genuine concern.

I yawned lazily. "She's not drinking."

"More importantly," singit ni Haru habang nakatingin sa direksyon ni Miriam. "That girl, she's wearing a nun costume..."

Muli akong natawa. A nun in a club.

"Don't tell me you have a nun fetish, Haru?" My twin, Lucy, teased her husband. "Should I dress as one tonight?"

Namula naman si Haru sa pang-aasar nito.

God, ang landi naman ng dalawang 'to.

Napansin ko namang tahimik si Hana at tila malalim ang iniisip. I nudged him on the shoulder and gave him an inquiring look.

"What are you thinking about?" tanong ko kay Hana.

"I was just thinking about how small she is."

I figured he was referring to Miriam's friend who was cosplaying as a nun, Aria Moya.

"Well, she's notably small." tamad kong sabi.

"Doesn't she kind of remind you of someone?"

I flinched. I don't like where this is going...

"Who?" patay-malisya kong tanong.

Ngumiti si Hana. "She reminds me of Tia."

"Who's that?"

Hana sighed. "Si Tia, 'yong ka-dorm natin dati."

"Ah, Florentia." I chuckled dryly. "A shorty, indeed."

She's not exactly someone I remember fondly.

Tia. Haven't heard that name for a while.

When I reached for the shot glass, I glanced over my secretary's group and caught Aria staring at me. She nervously looked away in an instant.