Falling for the Masterpiece

Chapter 3: R.K.

IVAN

Naging suki na ng Almasen si Yuki mula noong araw na iyon. Consistent siya every Friday night, during my shift. What's odd is that ibang babae ang lagi niyang sinasayawan tuwing napunta siya sa VIP lounge.

"Your friend is starting to be famous here." Abala ako sa kakalinis ng baso nang hindi ko mapansing katabi ko na pala si Sir Rollo. "And he likes getting stripped."

"Hindi ko po siya kaibigan," I said as I was scrubbing the glass faster.

"Easy, baka mabasag ang baso."

Nagpalabas na lang ako ng mainit na hangin sa ilong ko. I put down the glass at ginawan ng maiinom ang susunod na customer after iwan ako ni boss.

Noong busy na ang lahat kasasayaw sa gitna. I tried removing my black apron and fix my white longsleeves para lumabas at mag yosi.

I suddenly heard glass bottles breaking mula sa puwesto nila Yuki.

"Get off my girlfriend, you asshole!" sigaw ng isang lalaking nakaleather jacket. He pulled one of the girls out of Yuki's lap na ngayon ay maong na lamang ang soot habang nakaupo sa sofa.

Yuki stood up habang dinuduro ang sumugod sa puwesto nila. "You're dating this guy? You can do better."

"Tarantado pala 'to, e!" Two other guys held Yuki by the arms sabay sinapak siya ng lalaking dinuro niya. "Ayan, tangina mo, ewan ko na lang kung hindi ka magtanda."

The bouncers came rushing in but Yuki is already curling on the floor.

Hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang nakain ko because I suddenly found myself in his spot trying to help Yuki up.

The bouncers dragged the trespassers out of the bar while Sir Rollo helped me put Yuki on the couch.

"Should we get an ambulance?" Sir Rollo asked. Another bartender came in with a first aid kit and a pack of ice.

"Huwag na please," umuungol na tugon ng kaklase ko. "I'll just go home. Just put it on my tab whatever damages they made so I can pay."

"Okay," sabi ni Sir Rollo. "Can any of your friends kanina take you home?"

Napalingon ako sa buong VIP launge. There's an irritated look on my face dahil as expected, iniwan na nga lang siya ng mga so-called friends niya.

"They're probably scared, so they took off," paliwanag ni Yuki.

"What kind of friends were they?" tanong ni Sir Rollo. Yuki was just quiet. "Ang bata-bata mo pa, napapa-trouble ka na nang ganito." Sir Rollo turned his head on me, "Ivan, take the rest of the day off."

"Yes!" Hindi maipinta ang ngiti sa mukha ko. "Early out, the best ka boss!"

"Baliw, hindi ka uuwi. Take your friend to his house."

"Ba't ako?"

"Ikaw lang ang kakilala niyan dito."

"Hoy, unggoy," I turned to Yuki. "Call your parents or friends. Have them pick you up."

"Grabe ka sa'kin. Parang hindi tayo seatmate."

"Nako, ginusto mo 'yan. Dial their numbers, dali."

Yuki handed me his phone. It has a crack on it. "Nadali ang screen ng phone ko kanina."

"Okay," Sir Rollo butted in. "Ivan, take him home now. I'll go get you a cab."

Hindi na ako pinasagot ni Boss. He ran towards the stairs while booking something on his phone.

"Sorry," Yuki's voice was faint. He sounded different. Malayo sa maangas na boses niya lagi tuwing katabi ko. Malayo sa kaklase kong papansin tuwing kasama ko sa classroom. Malayo sa panay halakhak na binatang mapagbiro kasama ng mga kabarkada niya.