You're Just My Toy

Forty-four

Forty-four

As I entered the bar, the familiar feeling embraced me. Ang malilikot na ilaw na hindi na bumubulag pa sa akin. Ang amoy ng pinaghalong alak at sigarilyo na kumakapit sa ilong ko. Somehow, I felt comfortable with the familiar scene I'm feeling.

Dumiretso ako sa drinking station at agad na umupo sa high stool. I ordered the hardest drink I could think of and drank it with one shot. Nalukot ang mukha ko sap ait at gumihit ito sa lalamunan ko. Agad na uminit ang tiyan ko sa inumin. I ordered more.

Ilang baso na ang nasa harap ko at pagka-antok pa lang ang nararamdaman. Kaya ko pa ang sarili ko. I drank another shot when someone sat next to me.

"Hi, Miss. Are you alone?"

Nilingon ko siya. Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha niya. Kahit sa madilim na lugar ay alam kong maputi siya. He was smiling like a maniac and checking me out from head to toe. Bumaling ako sa inumin ko. I know what he wants.

"What do you think?" bored kong sagot.

Maya-maya ay naramdaman ko ang palad niyang dumapo sa binti ko. I smirked. Tinanggal ko ang kamay niya doon.

"Too fast, huh? Do you have uh... girlfriend? You know, I don't want to be troubled because of flirting with you," sabi ko.

He shook his head and chuckled.

"I don't have any, Miss."

He started to get close to me. I can feel his breath on my ear but I didn't bother to move, instead I drank another shot. When my neck was exposed, he started kissing it. I sipped the lemon, ignoring him. Pumulupot ang kamay niya sa bewang ko, pulling me closer. Napatayo ako sa upuan ko nang may biglang humila ng buhok ko.

"What the hell?!" galit na sigaw ko.

"Malandi ka! Bakit mo hinahalikan ang boyfriend ko?!" sigaw niya sa akin.

I looked at the girl from head to toe. She's fuming mad at parang kapag may mali akong gagawin ay sasaktan niya ako. I glared at the guy who was kissing my neck—he's pale as fuck! Ang sabi niya wala siyang girlfriend? Ngayon natatakot siya dahil nahuli siya? Kagaguhan!

I crossed my arms and stood up straight. My height and posture intimidated her but her face was still hard and her looks were throwing daggers at me. I get where she's coming from. I know why she's mad.

"He told me he doesn't have a girlfriend that's why I let him kiss my neck. So instead of pulling my hair, break-up with this asshole because he's clearly cheating on you and you're stupid as fuck if you'd let him in your life agai—"

She slapped me. Mariin akong pumikit bago ko siya nilingon. Namumuo na ang luha sa mata niya. I clenched my jaw. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kanang kamay niya na pinangsampal sa akin na ngayon ay nanginginig na.

I slapped her. Napaatras siya sa sobrang lakas ng sampal ko. Tuluyan nang tumulo ang luha sa pisngi niya. She held her cheek and looked at me with open mouth--speechless.

"Don't blame me for your stupidity! Ikaw ang boba kaya 'wag mo kong masampal-sampal!"

Dali-dali akong kumuha ng pera sa wallet ko at nilapag sa counter bago nagmartsa paalis. Dumiretso ako sa dance floor at doon ko naramdaman ang lahat ng alak na nanalaytay sa buo kong katawan. I danced to the beat without thinking of anything—at least I'm trying not to think of him.

Napadilat ako nang may humawak sa bewang ko at sinasabayan ako sa pagsayaw. Ngayon lang ulit, Princess. Take your back the way it was in London. Forget everything. He was grinding behind me as I danced in front of him. His other hand travelled on my stomach and held me in place.