Between Two Hearts [to be published under Bookware]

Chapter 10

"All my friends are wasted.
And I hate this club. Man, I drink too much.
Another Friday night I've wasted. My eyes are black and red.
I'm crawling back to your bed."

We sang along to the band and dance along with the beat. Everyone in the crowd seemed to be enjoying the moment. Nag-uunahan sa pag indayog ang aming mga balakang at halos mapunit na ang aming lalamunan dahil sa pasigaw na pagsabay sa kanta.

Nandito kami ulit ngayon sa Bistro. As usual, ipinaalam ako ni Vettinah kay mama, at sinabing may kailangan kaming tapusin na requirements. I don't want to lie but, I have no choice. Kung hindi kami magpapalusot, maliwanag pa sa sinag ng araw na hindi ako papayagan.

We decided na bumalik na sa table namin. I removed my denim jacket before sitting on the couch. My friends did the same.

"Grabe, ang wild nila!" I exclaimed amusingly. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng may nightlife, masaya at masarap sa pakiramdam.

"True yan, tapos ang dami pang pogi!"

"Pokpok ka talaga,beh!" Pagbibintang ni Cassandra, kay Vettinah. We all laughed before drinking the last shot.

"Marupok lang ako pero hindi ako pokpok," she replied with a wink.

"Oy, order na ulit kayo," pag-uutos ni Cassandra matapos tunggain ang natitirang patak sa bote ng Black Label. Sa aming apat, siya lang ang hindi naka-mini attire.

"Mag-ambagan muna tayo mga tanga," Vettinah said. "Ang lalakas niyong uminom, kuripot naman kayo sa ambagan."

"Wow ha!" sumbat naman ni Ernisha. "Nagsalita naman yung lakas mag-aya sa inuman, pero weak naman."

"Atleast hindi katulad ni Tatiana," pagtuturo naman nito sa akin. "Excited mag-plano pero di naman pumunta."

"Boom, tokisss!"

"Tangina niyo, ako na. Libre ko na," I said before putting my money on the table. Tumawa ang mga ito at nag- apiran dahil nakalibre nanaman sila. Mukhang nabudol-budol nanaman ako nang mga 'to.

"Black Label ba," Cassandra asked. Tumayo ito at inalis din ang kanyang denim jacket. "O cocktail nalang tayo?"

"Cuervo nalang," Vettinah suggested.

"Gago ka," pagmumura naman ni Cassandra. "Ang yabang mo gago, porket di ka nalalasing."

"Sige, try natin 'yon," pagpayag ni Ernisha, bago umalis.

My phone keeps on vibrating so I looked at it, and saw my mother, calling. "Tumatawag si mama, cr lang ako," pagpapaalam ko sakanila. Mabilis ang mga hakbang na ginawa ko ngunit masyadong crowded kaya nahirapan akong makalagpas sa dance floor. I can't answer the call here, baka mabuking ako.

I decided to message her instead of answering the call. Sinabi kong hindi ko agad napansin ang tawag niya, dahil abala kami sa pagtipa nang research paper.

"I'm sorry," I apologized when I suddenly bumped into someone.

He chuckled. "Nakatadhana ba na lagi tayong magtagpo unexpectedly?"

"Nagkataon lang siguro."

"Lagi ako dito sa bistro, pero parang ngayon lang kita napansin." He's obviously hitting on me.

I bit my lower lip. Lagot ako kay Cassandra, baka isipin niyang inaagawan ko siya. But, by the way madami naman siyang reserba.

"Pangalawang beses ko pa lang."

"So you're not alone?"

"I'm with my friends," I said bago ituro ang table namin na medyo natatapalan ng mga naghaharutan sa dance floor.

"Friends and boyfriend?" He asked. Kunwari pa siya, halata namang gusto niya lang malaman kung may boyfriend ako o wala.

"I don't have one," sagot ko at tinitigan ito. He has tan skin, that suits his rock hard ripped body. He had that messy hair, deep expressive eyes that will make you not to look away from him, his thin reddish lips, that pointy nose, and strong jaw, that every girl couldn't resist.

"Oh," sabi niya na tila hindi naniniwala sa akin. "I thought you're with him. Nakita ko kasi siya kanina, sa labas ng Bistro."

"Who's him?"

"Your possessive boyfriend," he answered. "Na muntik akong sapakin."

"I already told you, he's not my boyfriend."

His lips slowly formed an amused smile. "Gusto mo ulit mag-perform?" He asked, smiling. I like his aura, he's always smiling. Magaan sa pakiramdam, at parang komportable ako.

"Dipende," I answered.

"Regular kami dito sa bistro, sabihan mo 'ko kapag gusto mo ulit."

"Pag-iisipan ko pa."

He chuckled sexily. "Hindi na dapat pinag-iisipan 'yon," tumigil ito saglit upang batiin ang ilang kakilala niya. He's too friendly and approachable. "Grab mo na agad, masarap mag lustay ng pera kapag galing sayo at pinaghirapan mo."

Mabilis kaming nagkasundo. He's easy to get along with. Given that we almost have the same interest and mindset.

"Tara doon," aya nito sa akin at tinuro ang table nila. "I'll introduce you to my friends."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Why wouldn't I?" Tanong naman nito pabalik sa akin. I gave him a nod and he chuckled sexily. He guided the way papunta sa place nila.

"Ay awit, may babae na agad."

"Naol malandi."

"Naka-bingwit nanaman, hanep."

"Basta vocalist matulis!"

His friends are obviously teasing him when they saw us together walking towards them. He just laughed at them. Judging by the way they talk, mukhang solid din kasama ang mga ito.

"Tatiana, meet my friends, Romuel, Eco, Jam, Joshua,Yorme and Kero," pagpapakilala niya at saka isa-isang itunuro ang mga ito at ibinigay ang pangalan. 

They welcomed me immediately. We sat on the couch, and they started talking about different staff. They were nice, never kong na-feel na hindi ako belong. They didn't let me out of the conversation.

He invited me to dance, at agad kong tinanggap 'yon.

I was busy dancing and swaying my hips when he suddenly holds my waist. Lumapit ito sa akin at bumulong, "Kung nakakalusaw lang ang tingin, kanina ka pa lusaw."  He chuckled a bit and continued what he was saying, "At kung nakakatamay lang  ang tingin, kanina pa ako pinaglalamayan."

Naguguluhan man ay sinundan ko na lamang ang sinusulyapan ng kanyang mapupungay na mata.

My jaw literally dropped when I saw Leo at the stool bar, looking darkly at us while its jaw is already clenched.