4: The Playboy's Victim

Chapter one: Chris Lawrence Lardoza

1

He just got to Baguio that night and he is so exausted already. Kaya't nang may makita siyang bar di kalayuan sa private village ni Zach ay nag pasiya siyang mag palipas oras muna roon.

Pag pasok niya sa loob, he was welcomed by a dimmed lights and somewhat familiar place. Hindi ito nalalayo sa mga bar na napupuntahan niya. They're almost look the same but this one is bit different. Umupo siya sa bakanteng upuan, Nakuha ng kanyang atensyon ang babaeng nakatayo sa may harapan. She's standing right there as everyone is waiting for her to sing. Parang nakasanayan na ng mga tao rito iyon. Na kahit bar ito ay allowed siyang mag perform.

The slow music is played. the woman started to sing as he ordered a drink.

Late that night I am wondering.. all alone I'm longing for your touch,

please come back to me..

"Great." sabi niya sa kanyang sarili ng marinig ang kanta. He was distracted by the waiter giving him his drink.

Everyone is getting married except him, it was his plan anyway. He just drove all the way here for his friend. Kundi niya lang kaibigan si Zach hindi na siya mag aabala pang bumyahe paakyat sa matarik na zig-zag road ng baguio.

How can I forget the day you said that you would never leave me,

How can I forget the love that we share it's comming back.. to my life once again..

She continues. Napapikit siya at muling tiningnan ang babaeng kumakanta sa stage, she was singing her hearts out. Maganda ang boses nito at damang-dama niya ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig ng dalaga. She was so good that he can almost feel the pain behind her beautiful voice.

Napailing nalang siya nang bumalik sa kanyang isipan ang isang mapait na alaala. He shake his head and drink the liquior straight. The familiar strong taste of bacardi calms his inside muscle that's clenching just a while ago.

No one will ever understand why he end up like who he was today. They just know me not my story.

Muli siyang umorder ng alak sa bartender habang pinapakinggan parin ang kumakanta.

The sad melody of her music brings back his unwanted past. The lyrics says it all, they were like what he feels that time.

He stop counting after his fifth shot. Hindi niya namalayang natapos narin ang kanta. Ramdam na niya ang tama ng alak sa kanyang sistema kaya't nang tinanong siya ng bartender ay tumanggi na siya. He had enough. Baka pag umorder pa siya ay hindi na siya makauwi sa Jewerly Sights.

The music change into a slow but club song after the woman sings. The late night life begins as the center of the stage gets crowded again.

Wala na nga siya sa kanyang sarili dahil he found himself standing up as he notice that she was getting ready to go. He can't help but to compared the night life here to manila. Ibang iba ito kumpara roon. They only play slow club musics, loud but not enough. They don't have blasting music that he had become so used to, no disgusting smell of smokes and other things that I don't want to mention. It's the perfect way of chilli'n not getting wasted at all.

Lumakad siya papalapit sa paalis na babae. when he gets close to her the shock was visible to her face.

Hinawakan niya ang bewang nito dahil unti-unting dumami ang tao sa gitna, they were stock at the center with her in his chest. He was still supporting her waist for her not to loose balance.

"Are you okay?" tanong niya rito. Pero nakatitig lamang ito sakanya.

"Staring is rude you know?" sabi niya ulit. nang mag iwas ito ng tingin ay duon lamang niya napagmasdan ang itchura nito.