Crash and Burns

(8) The Deal

Chapter 8: The Deal

“You’re afraid, aren’t you?

Concorde had only been opened for a year, yet it rapidly became one of the most visited clubs by party-goers in Manila. It had the latest surround sound technology, laser lights, glow-in-the-dark pool tables, darts, karaoke machines and VIP rooms. It was also known for the vast choices of alchoholic drinks served by skillful bartenders. Madalas din kami dito dahil medyo malapit ‘to compared sa Finders Keepers. Pagpasok palang namin sa loob ramdam mo na agad 'yung ingay medyo dim pa 'yung light. Agad na naming hinanap si Ceecee party animal kasi ‘yan eh kumbaga malakas ang connections when it comes to this.

“L! SAAN DAW BA SI CEE?” Tanong ni Sofia kay Lara.

Lumingon sa’min si Lara nauuna kasi siya sa paglalakad. “HA?!” Sigaw niya.

Masyado kasing malakas ang music kaya hindi magkarinigan. So inulit ko nalang ulit. “SAAN DAW BA SI CEECEE?”

“Nagtext siya kanina nasa VIP lounge daw siya eh,”

“Ohh. Tara na doon! Excited na ako!” sabi ni Sofia na parang batang hinatak hatak pa kami ni Lara.  Excited ‘yan I bet!

So there, nagpunta na kami doon sa VIP lounge. We spotted Ceecee na nakaupo at enjoy na enjoy sa drinks niya. May kasama yata siyang friends I suppose?

Nakita niya na kami at nagwave siya. “GIRLS! CUZ!” sigaw niya sa amin lumakad naman kami papunta sa kanya.

Hinug niya kami at nagexchange ng kisses sa cheeks. I admit medyo namiss ko din ‘tong pinsan ko na ‘to sayang wala si Katie eh. Tatlo lang naman kasi kami na babae sa mga magpipinsan, Me, Ceecee and Katie then mostly puro boys na. “Cee! Limit yourself ha baka mamaya malasing ka mapagalitan pa tayo ni Tita,” sabi ko sa kanya.

“Don’t ‘ya worry cuz, I got this,” I just shrugged.

Nagstart ng magkwentuhan ‘yung tatlo. Psh. “CEE! Anong balita? Hihi, dami bang gwapo ngayon dito?” tanong ni Lara sabay upo doon sa tabi ni CeeCee.

“Oo nga! I saw some handsome guys out there eh,” sabi ni Sofia sabay nguso sa kabilang side mga nagttwinkle pa ang mga mata nila habang pinagitnaan si Ceecee, nakaupo kasi siya sa couch. “Sana nandito din si Drew sabi niya pupunta daw siya dito,” kinikilig pa siya.

Well, I heard nagiging ‘close’ na sila ni Drew yes, ng The Teenage Kings.

Dahil tinatamad naman akong makinig sa kanila at mukhang nakalimutan na yata nilang nageexist pa ako dito tumalikod na ako habang busy pa sila sa pangungulit kay Cee, I started walking papunta doon sa may counter. I just want to get a drink you know to get tipsy or whatsover. 

I saw from afar that the drinks were served by those skillful bartenders who would toss and whirl around liquor bottles over and around their arms like a professional jugglers. I was amazed.

To my surprise, someone jumped over the counter and began pulling drinks from the wine cellar without asking permission from the bar tenders. Pagkatapos kong makarecover sa pagkagulat binilisan ko ang lakad ko hanggang sa  makarating na ako doon.

“H-hey! What do you think you’re doing?!” sabi ko doon sa lalaki ako lang yata kasi ang nakakita sa ginawa niya, nakatalikod pa kasi siya kaya hindi ko makita ‘yung mukha niya. “You can’t just… W…wow!”

Biglang humarap ‘yung lalaki sa akin and I was shocked to see that he is no other than Chance Villareal himself!

He flashed his childish smile then winked at me as he began juggling three wine bottles. Not only me but also others paused to witness Chance’s bartending skills. He grasped two bottles, and then positioned them in a front of him side by side. He took out two wine glasses, grasped two bottles at a time, crossed his arms one over the other and poured the liquor gracefully. After doing so, he flung both bottles onto the air and charged up to catch them in an astonishing feat. He reached for the third wine bottle and grasped it with his left hand, pouring an amount onto each glass while he held a cigarette lighter on the other hand. He allowed some wine to drip o the sides of glasses. After pouring the last wine, he clicked the lighter and let its blaze touch the mouth of the glasses. It set out a quick spark of blue flame much, to the amazement of the audience that applauded loudly. He finished his masterpiece by putting a slice of orange on each glass and serving one of them to… me?