I don't know what to do with all this money. I've been living my life as though it is without meaning to live. Having all this wealth, it's not enough to make me happy. The truth is, it's not about the money. Siguro dahil nabubuhay akong walang kasama sa anumang hamon ng buhay. At sa tingin ko ay kailangan ko iyon– but money can't buy people, or can it?
I took a hit of the cigarette in between my fingers as I watch the city through the glass walls from above the building where I'm standing. I heard the door behind me opened but I didn't bother to look back.
"Sir, someone is looking for you," said the woman that entered the room. She's my secretary.
"Let him in," I said as I turned to the door, at inuluwa n'on ang isang lalaki.
"Dude, it's been a while," wika nito. He walked towards me at binigyan ako ng yakap. I patted his back bago kumalas sa yakap.
Tinanguan ko naman ang sekretarya ko, kaya nag-bow na ito saka lumabas.
"How's it going?" I asked the man. "Come, have a seat." I motioned him to the sofa while I walked towards a small table on the corner. I filled two glasses with bourbon and brought one glass to him.
"Well, guess what," he started. He took a sip and gave me a warm smile.
"What?"
Umayos siya ng upo bago ako sinagot, "We're having a baby," proud na wika niya.
"Jaira's pregnant?" I exclaimed in awe. "Dude, that's great news. Congrats. You now have someone to carry on your empire."
The thought that my friends are now at the point of their lives to be called dads and moms excites me, although the same thought scares me as well. I'm being left behind. Gustong gusto ko nang makatagpo ang makakasama ko habang buhay. Pero hindi ko alam kung anong problema sa'kin, at baka nasa akin lang talaga ang problema, wala sa babae.
"How's the business? Is it going all right?" He asked as he drew out a cigarette from his pocket. "Medyo problemado yung bar ko ngayon," he said, the cigarette dangled between his lips.
"That, I don't know," I answered. He looked at me, surprised, that I don't know the course my business is currently taking. Maski ako ay nagulat din sa sagot ko. These past few days ay hindi ko na talaga nasusundan ang mga ganap sa sarili kong negosyo. Masyado akong napokus sa mga tanong kung ano ang magiging katayuan ng buhay in the future gayong hindi ko pa nakatagpo ang mapapangasawa ko.
"Dude, are you alright?" He asked me, his face now serious.
I turned to him with a warm smile.
"If anything, dude, I'm always here. 'Kay?" he assured me and patted my shoulder. "Why don't we go to Velvet Veil? C'mon." Tumayo siya at hinatak ang kamay ko. It's 7 p.m.
"Gusto mo lang pera ko eh," I joked.
"Gago, libre nga palagi lahat ng iniinom mo sa bar ko," sagot naman niya.
Bumaba kami ng building at dumiretso sa bar niya. There's something in this bar that drives a lot of patrons here, including me. The atmosphere is sophisticated and elegant, giving you that warm and cozy feeling. There were neon pipings around and the whole establishment glows like embers. Maraming tao ang nandito pero hindi ito katulad ng dati na mas marami pa. Ito siguro ang ibig niyang sabihin na problemado ang bar niya. Nonetheless, it's still the best bar around this place.
Dumiretso kami sa bar counter at naupo sa stool. Kita naman sa mukha ng mga bartender ang gulat dahil dumating ang boss nila. "Anong atin, boss?" tanong ng isang bartender.
"Two Scotch, please," sagot ni Marcus sa bartender.
A moment later, two glasses of Scotch whiskey were presented in front of us. I took a sip at ramdam ko agad ang hagod ng inumin sa lalamunan ko. This is a need for me right now.
