Player of the Game

Cincinnati Clocks (Ourselves the Elves)

Ennajie. 

11PM.

"Why aren't you answering?" She was standing outside the door of our hotel room. Ano ba'ng pinagsasasabi nito? Nagkusot ako ng mata, baka sakaling matanggal ang antok ko. Tama ba nakikita ko?

"Check your phone." She prompted me and I complied.

32 missed calls. 17 text messages. Ano kayang nangyari?

Buti na lang at hindi nagising si Ate Ella sa lakas ng katok n'ya. Sunud-sunod ang katok n'ya kaya naman nang naalimpungatan ako ay binuksan ko agad ang pinto. Akala ko kung ano na. Mukha namang hindi gano'n kaimportante ang sasabihin n'ya.

"Bea, ano'ng oras na ba? Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito? 'Di ba dapat nasa Astoria ka?"

She was running her hand through her hair. That's her signature. Damn, gabing gabi na kung anu-ano pa'ng pinaggagagawa ni Bea sa murang pag-iisip ko. Sa totoo lang, gising na gising na ang diwa ko. " I won't go away."

"Just go back to Astoria. May game pa tayo bukas." Kunwari pa ako. Pero sa loob-loob ko lang talaga sana mag-stay pa s'ya bilang ginising na rin naman n'ya ang katawang lupa ko. And besides, I'm playing hard to get. Maghapon n'ya kayang kasama si Maddie. Tapos, pupunta s'ya dito kung kailan patapos na ang araw? May feelings din ako, no. Pasalamat ka, crush kita.

"I won't. Not when you're like this." This is not the time to be persistent, Bea. Gusto ko 'yan sabihin sa kanya, I wanted to push her away. But she's seemed so irresistible in the midnight air I can't help myself from being busy drinking her presence in.

"Bea, inaantok na— " And before I know I can make another pakipot, I was being dragged by her. We were running to the elevator pero pagdating namin sa may pinto ay bigla n'yang naisipang gamitin ang hagdan. Gusto kong magprotesta, ni hindi maayos ang pananamit ko- I was wearing a white spaghetti strap, a cardigan to top it and a short shorts. Even my footwear is not at all proper— I was wearing my plush cat bedroom slippers! Pero alam ko rin sa sarili kong gusto ko 'to; na I've waited for this moment.

The 30-minute drive that followed was quiet. I wanted to ask her kung saan n'ya ako dadalhin pero everytime bubuksan ko ang bibig ko ay hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko. Bakit ba kasi hindi ko na lang din aminin sa sarili ko na I'm enjoying the thrill. I wanted to be surprised. Midnight road trip with my girl crush doesn't seem so bad naman, 'di ba?

———————-

We are now standing in front of the Jovan Building—isang commercial building sa Mandaluyong. Talagang dumayo pa kami dito. Nakakalimutan ba ni Bea na may game kami bukas? Ano 'to? Bakit n'ya ako dadalhin sa isang residential condominium?

"We're here, J. This is it." She was smiling from ear to ear. Bumaba s'ya at umikot para pagbuksan ako ng pinto. Pagbaba ko naman ay tinanong ko na s'ya kung ano'ng ginagawa namin dito.

"You'll see when we get there." She tossed her keys at the valet then started tugging my hands again. Once we get inside, we literally ran for the elevator. Parang bata si Bea kapag na-eexcite. I didn't bother asking her habang naghihintay kaming makarating sa 8th floor. Alam kong hindi rin naman n'ya sasagutin.

When we stepped out of the elevator, I saw it. Naintindihan ko si Bea kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang tuwa n'ya. She brought me to a roofdeck bar. The place is crowded by chairs and beanbags in different colors.  Lamp boxes on the floor light the place like Christmas eve. There are even murals on the walls. Though they seem random to me, they seemed to have the pop essences on all of them.

Marami-rami rin ang tao kahit mag-a alos dose na ng madaling araw. Halos lahat ay masayang nagkkwentuhan over beers and seemingly good food. The place is apparently called Bunk.