From A Distance

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

The Pina Colada was working a lot to make my vision twirling. It made my head heavy that I wanted to lean my head against the table and just sleep but nah, I don't want Lani assisting me later tapos masusukahan ko pa siya. Just by the thought of it, napangiwi na ako. Kera won't bother din since she's drunk as hell and can't be control kung ganoon nga.

Pinasingkit ko ang aking mata when I noticed a group of guys looking at my table. Napalingon ako sa likod to see if there's anyone they're talking about dahil panay din ang kanilang ngisi ngunit nang wala akong makitang babae sa likod o sa tabi ko ay ipinagsawalang bahala ko na lang. I looked at my dress, probably the reason why but it looks decent on my own perspective. There is a criss-cross neck detail and it's not that short but it's really hugging all the curves I have. Long sleeves din siya.

Habang pinagmamasdan ko ang aking sarili ay nagawi ang paningin ko sa aking kwintas. It was my brother's gift to me, a small heart necklace. Very simple and minimalist that it looks elegant. Nangilid ang luha sa mga mata ko. He's been there for a month now and I really miss him. My kuya is really a good guy, what contributed to the anger he has before was people provoking him to do that. Though I don't know the real story, I trust my brother that he is a good guy.

"That necklace is beautiful," napaangat ang ulo ko sa nagsalita. Ang baritonong boses na iyon ay galling sa isang lalaki, may balbas at mukhang may ibang lahi. Mestizo siya at ang kanyang buhok ay kayumanggi, ang kanyang mga matang nakatitig sa maamo kong mukha ay maitim, as deep as the sea I cannot even dive into it.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay, still wondering why this guy is talking to me gayong hindi ko naman siya kilala o namumukhaan man lang.

He chuckled, it was sexy alright. "Juan Miguel, you are?" iniabot niya ang kanyang kamay.

Napatingin lang ako doon, I won't talk to him if he doesn't tell me kung anong pakay niya sa akin.

Napakamot siya sa kanyang ulo and shyly smiled at me. "Okay, I and my friends.." So kasama pala siya sa mga grupo ng lalaking nakatingin sa akin. I looked at the other table and nagkakanchawan at nagtatawanan na sila. "...are just looking at you from a far and they dared me to have a casual conversation with a pretty lady so..."

Oh, a dare. Okay. "Ellie," I said not bothering to say my last name because who knows? I might lose a conversation with a cute guy from this boring place.

Napalingon kami sa ibaba nang marinig ang mas malakas na music sa kakatawag lang na bagong Dj. Nang ibalik ko ang aking paningin ay ganun din naman pala siya kaya pareho kaming napatawa. "You're from Manila?" medyo pasigaw ang pagkakasabi niya noon dahil sa ingay sa ibaba.

I smiled. Umiling ako, "Yes, though I grew up in Davao until I was 18. Lumipat kami dito for my college ed."

Those years I was miserable and devastated. Leaving Davao is like leaving my jam-packed wallet to a beggar. I was left with no choice. It was a decision my parents made for our family dahil nung mga taong yun, papalubog na ang negosyo namin. We didn't know Dad planned it para makahanap nang mas maraming investors at mauutangan. Manila on the other hand, welcomed me with a warm heart giving Solani and Jhokera to me. I lived in Davao, sa centro which pwede kong ihambing sa Maynila. The adjustments are fast anyways kaya di na ako nahirapan.

"How old are you then?" he asked habang sumisimsim siya sa vodka na kanina niya pa hawak magmula nang lapitan niya ako.

"I'm 23," simpleng sabi ko habang tinitingnan siya sa mata. I swear those set of deep jet black eyes are familiar that it's strange.