The Price Of A Sinner

Chapter 7

Bakit nga ba may mga magulang na parang bulag sa nararamdaman ng mga anak nila? Bakit may mga magulang na hindi man lang napapansin kung gaano kasakit para sa amin ang bawat maling desisyon na ginagawa nila? It’s selfish, isn’t it? Kids who have parents that actually listen and try to understand them… they’re lucky. They’re blessed. They have people who know them even in the smallest details because they care. Ako? Mapapa sana all na lang talaga. Tss.

Nagmaneho ako palayo sa bahay. Wala akong plano, wala ring malinaw na destinasyon. Basta ang mahalaga lang ngayon ay makalayo ako at mapag-isa. Gusto ko lang huminga, kahit saglit.

Ilang oras din akong nagda-drive kung saan-saan bago ako napadpad sa isang maliit na bar. Hindi naman ito mukhang tago, pero may kakaibang vibe. Maliit siya kung titignan sa labas pero classy, may dalawang bouncer sa pintuan, at ang pangalang Hide Out ay naka-neon lights na blue at red. Tahimik sa labas, walang ingay ng tugtugan o mga tambay sa paligid.

Pinark ko nang maayos ang kotse ko sa tapat at inayos muna ang sarili bago bumaba. Paglapit ko sa pintuan, hiningi ng mga bouncer ang ID ko. Pinakita ko ang driver’s license at agad nila akong pinapasok. Dalawang pinto pa ang dinaanan ko bago sumalubong ang tunog ng malakas na music at hiyawan sa loob.

“Nice bar,” I murmured to myself with a faint smile as I scanned the place.

The second floor had people drinking while overlooking the dance floor below. To my right was a long, polished bar counter with bartenders mixing drinks in rhythmic motion. To my left were cozy couches and tables under soft, dim lighting — perfect for hiding. And right in the middle, a wide dance floor pulsing with bodies moving in sync with the beat. You’d never guess this place was this big from the outside.

“Jose Cuervo,” I told the bartender as I settled onto a stool.

“Gold or silver, Ma’am?”

“Silver, please.”

“Right away.”

Moments later, a glass of tequila was in my hand. I drank silently, letting my thoughts spiral deeper. By the time I felt the buzz, I was already on the dance floor, swaying my body without a care in the world, as if dancing could erase everything weighing me down.

“Mind if I join you, sweetie?” a deep voice whispered behind me, a stranger’s hand snaking around my waist. I ignored him and kept moving, pretending he wasn’t there.

Pero ilang segundo lang, bigla siyang bumagsak sa sahig. Nagulat ako. Lahat ay napahinto, ako mismo ay nanlaki ang mga mata. Nakaupo na ang lalaki ngayon sa sahig, nagpapahid ng dugo sa labi.

“What the fuck?! What’s your problem, dude?” sigaw niya sa taong nasa likod ko.

“Don’t dude me. Stay away from my girl, fucker!” came a cold, low growl. I froze. That voice — I knew that voice. Slowly, I turned around.

It was Dos.
And he wasn’t alone, his friends stood behind him, grinning at the scene. Dos’s eyes found mine, and when they did, I felt my heart leap to my throat. There was nothing but a heavy silence in his gaze, and yet it was enough to make me swallow hard.

Anong ginagawa nila rito? Kanina pa ba sila?

Bago pa ako makapagsalita, hinawakan niya na ako sa kamay at hinila palabas ng bar. Ang mga kaibigan niya, muntik pang manuntok ulit bago sumunod sa amin.

Tahimik akong nakatingin sa likod ni Dos habang hila-hila niya ako. Kahit likod lang ang nakikita ko, halata mo pa rin kung gaano siya ka guwapo. Tss.

“Where’s your key?” tanong niya nang makalabas kami ng bar.