Raine Knows

Raine Knows | The Beginning

Raine Knows | The Beginning

Ezekiel Dela Merced
August 10; Three years ago

"Zeke, that was magnificent!" Stephen Tropel called out to me as I took the steps down the stage of Marquis. "Thanks, man! You're a life savior." He offered a glass of tequila when I approached him and I immediately drank it, quenching my thirst from an hour-long of craziness.

"Maliit na bagay." Wika ko. Umupo ako sa katabing bar stool niya at pinanood ang kabuuan ng Marquis, the most sophisticated and expensive bar in the city, na pagmamay-ari ng mga Tropel. "I had fun, the crowd was crazy!" Sigaw ko sa kabila ng malakas na tugtog. Even until now, the sea of people on the dance floor is still hyped up.

"Come on, man! Your beat was sick!" Napailing ako habang tumatawa. I didn't really need him to shower me with praises just to show me how grateful he was. Stephen manages this bar and apparently, his resident DJ ditched him tonight. Let's just say that Marquis is known for its urbane music and I kind of replaced his DJ habang hinihintay ang hahalili dito for the rest of the night. Hindi ako professional DJ, it's just a hobby. I have no idea if Stephen really believes in my ability or he's just left with no choice since his DJ called an hour before the bar opening. Lumalabas pa lang ako sa NAIA galing sa LA ay ang tawag na agad ng kaibigan ko ang bumungad sa akin. He knew that I was coming back today at sinamantala niya iyon. Ni hindi ko na nagawang iuwi muna ang mga bagahe ko at naiwan ang mga iyon sa sasakyan ko. But nonetheless, the night turned out well, and I got to enjoy it.

I downed another shot of tequila. I was about to get up to leave when we noticed the commotion in the middle of the dance floor. Narinig ko ang pagmumura ni Stephen. Apparently, three girls were involved in a cat fight.

Napailing na lang ako. People go out to have fun. Why spoil the night with this kind of upheaval? I tapped Stephen's back. Nagpaalam akong aalis na at tumango na lang siya at nagpasalamat muli. I like bars and music, alright. But witnessing an uproar on my first night back in the Philippines was not on my list.

Nag-CR muna ako bago tuluyang lumabas ng Marquis. I cracked my neck. Now I feel tired. Tinungo ko ang kinaroroonan ng sasakyan ko at tumigil ilang metro mula doon.

"What are you looking at?!" The girl who was leaning on my black BMW M3 for support asked me spitefully. She's wearing a hip-hugging black dress and black stilettos that made her look taller. Her eyes were looking weary but her stubborn chin was held up so high daring me to talk back to her. I looked at her closely and realized that she was one of the girls who caused an uproar inside Marquis. Magulo pa ang maalon at mahaba niyang buhok. "Manyak ka ba?!" She slurred, obviously too intoxicated to realize what she's saying. I wonder where her friends are. She's too drunk to hold herself up.

Tumingin ako sa paligid para hanapin ang mga kasama niya, but the next thing I knew, sinusukahan niya na ang sasakyan ko.

"Here, let me help you." Agad ko siyang dinaluhan ngunit hindi ko na siya nagawang ilayo sa sasakyan ko. Hinawi ko na lang ang buhok niya para hindi niya masukahan.

"Get off me!" She pushed me away forcefully. I held my hands up in surrender when she glared at me. Woah. This girl has some serious issues.

"I was just trying to help." Depensa ko.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong mo." Pasuray-suray siyang naglakad patungo sa gilid ng pavement at doon sumalampak ng upo. I unintentionally saw her undergarments with her short dress. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at hinubad ang suot na jacket. Nag-alinlangan pa akong ipatong iyon sa mga hita niya. I couldn't leave yet. At least not while she's like this. Hindi ko siya kilala, pero hindi ko naman siya pwedeng iwan na lang basta dito mag-isa. God forbid kung ano pang mangyari sa kanya. "So pa-gentleman ang acting mo?" Tanong niya sa akin na parang naghahamon. "What's your deal? Kunwari good guy, best foot forward ganon? Tapos kapag nahulog na sa'yo ang babae, tsaka mo gagaguhin?" Inirapan niya pa ako. Hindi ko na lang inintindi ang mga paratang niya. Lasing siya, after all. I was just thankful that she didn't shrug the jacket off.