Lost In Love

CHAPTER 18

HINDI maintindihan ni Armand kung bakit halos umusok ang ilong niya sa galit nang hindi inaasahan niyang makita si Clara ngayon sa bar pagkarating niya, kasama ito ni Homer sa isang sulok ng sofa. They are so very close to each other while sharing each other's drink.

Hindi mapigilang magtaka ni Armand kung bakit nandoon si Clara. Hindi kaya, hindi parin ito tumigil sa trabaho nito katulad ng dati? Tila naman nainis si Armand sa naisip niyang iyon.

He can't help to go towards them after he ordered a beer from the counter.

"Oh, Armand! Nandito ka pala?" Manghang sabi ni Homer nang mapansin siya.

He glance at Clara who was shock at his presence.

"Hi. You're enjoying?" He coldly said and glance to Homer.

Homer chuckled, sabay kabig sa mga balikat ni Clara. "Of course! Have a seat, Pare.."

Saka naman naupo si Armand kaharap nila. He place his beer infront of them beside their drinks also. Panay ang sulyap niya kay Clara na ramdam niya ang hindi pagka-komportable sa presensiya niya.

"By the way... She's Clara, the most beautiful woman here in my bar!" Pagmamalaking pakilala ni Homer.

He nodded and stare at her where she quickly look away.

"Clara, my love... This is Armand my friend." Pakilala pa ni Homer habang nakangiti sa kanila na may bahid na ng kalasingan.

"Nice to met you again, Clara." He confidently said in a sarcastic tone while offering his hand to her.

She ignored him, instead, she get her glass of tequilla at walang kahirap-hirap na ininom iyon. Armand clench his jaw seeing her this way, very different from before... Ang inosenteng pagkatao ni Clara noon ay tila naglaho na iyon. Ibang-iba na ito ngayon.

Napakunot-noo si Homer. "Again?! Wait, nagkakilala na ba kayo?" Pagtataka nito habang naniningkit ang mga mata.

He half a smile. "Yeah of course... We've been-"

"Ah k-kahapon! Nagkita na kami kahapon..." Putol ni Clara.

Homer nodded satisfactorily.

"Homer, mauuna na ako ah? Baka hanapin ako ni Carrie." She suddenly excused and stand.

"Wait, I thought we're gonna.." Sabay pisil ng kamay ni Clara na tila may pinag-usapan na sila.

"Next time nalang Homer. Pasensiya na." She murmured to him habang lihim naman silang pinakikinggan ni Armand.

"Okay fine..." Homer sighed as he gently drag her away from their table. Sinundan sila ng tingin ni Armand.

He frowned when he saw Homer bidding a kiss on Clara in the dark area of the bar while putting some money on the back pocket of her jeans. Saka na umalis si Clara, homer goes back to his seat while smiling at him.

"Is she your girlfriend Homer?" He curiously asked, kahit parang nahuhulaan na niya ang istado ng dalawa.

Homer drank his beer. "I'm courting her, but her daughter don't like me." He chuckled.

He drank his beer too, and excuses to leave.

"Saan ka pupunta, Pare?" Homer asked.

"CR lang ako." Aniya at palihim na tinungo ang labasan ng bar para sundan si Clara.

He found her at the side of the highway, akmang papara na ito ng taxi ngunit kaagad niyang hinigit ang kamay nito na ikinagulat ni Clara.

"A-Armand!?"

"What was that, Clara?" He directly and coldly asked.

She frowned curiously as his question. "Ang alin ba?"

He clench his jaw. "Hindi ka pa rin ba tumigil sa trabahong ito Clara? And what was that? You're using Homer?" He coldly asked.

Para namang nasaktan si Clara sa sinabi nito. Inis niyang iwinaksi ang kamay mula rito. "Ganun naman ang trabaho ko diba? Kahit noon pa! At ano ngayon kung prosti ako!?" Walang pag-aalinlangang sambit niya.

"May anak ka Clara.. You have Carrie, at ano ito... You're doing this to get money from homer? To sustain your child?"

Tuluyan ng nanakit ang dibdib ni Clara sa sinabi nito. She slap him. "Wala kang karapatang pagsalitaan ako ng ganyan! Lalo na dahil wala kang pakialam kung ano man ang gusto kong gawin para sa anak ko!" May bahid na puot at galit niyang sambit.

He took a deep sighed. "I'm just concerned with you, especially to Carrie... Kawawa naman siya kung bubuhayin mo sa ganitong paraan." Kalmadong sabi niya.

She look at him coldly. "Maliitin mo na ang trabaho ko, wala akong pakialam. Buhay namin to ng anak ko, kaya kahit iladlad ko ang buong katawan ko sa kahit na kaninong lalaki ay wala kang pakialam! At least wala akong ginagawang masama, nabubuhay kami sa paraang alam ko na wala kaming inaapakang ibang tao!" Inis niyang sumbat at tinalikuran ito.

Pero bago pa man makalayo si Clara ay hinigit na siya muli ni Armand.

"Yan lang ba ang kailangan mo Clara." He said while dragging her towards his car with so much anger.

"Armand! Ano ba! Ano bang problema mo!?" Sumbat niya rito habang pilit niyang kinakalas ang kamay mula sa mahigpit na pagkakahawak nito.

"Kung pera lang ang kailangan mo Clara, marami akong pera!" He pinned her in his car while getting his wallet. "Huwag ka nang kumapit kay Homer!" Pangigigil niyang sumbat. He get some thousands from his wallet while imprisoning her from his arms.

Clara can't help her tears right now. She was never been insulted in her whole life like this! At ang pinakamasakit pa ay kay Armand. She slap his hand. "H-Hindi ko kailangan ang pera mo! Isaksak mo yan sa baga mo!" She exclaimed with so much anger and slap his face.

Hinihingal at tahimik na umiyak si Clara habang nakatitig kay Armand na ngayo'y napatigil sa ginawa sa kanya. Pareho silang natahimik. He was clenching his jaw while bowing his head.

"Ano? Tapos kana ba sa pang-iinsulto mo sa akin, Armand!?" She coldly asked and bravely wipe her tears while looking at him.

Napabuntong-hininga si Armand at muling umangat ang tingin patungo sa kanya. Puno ng pagsisisi ang mga mata nito. Kung kanina ay para itong galit na tigre ngayon ay tila maamong pusa na humihingi ng tawad.

"I.. I'm sorry... Nadala lang ako..." He murmured sencerily.

She clench her jaw and tried to get off from him. But he is more stronger to not let her go.

"I'm sorry... Ayoko lang na nakita ko kayo ni Homer na ganun! I don't want you to pursue this kind of work you have, Clara! At lalong dahil ayoko na sa kung kani-kaninong lalaki ka sumasama!" Mahinahong sumbat nito.

She frowned and a bit glaring at him. Sasagot sana siya ng unahan ulit siya ni Armand.

"You are not allowed to go to that bar, or any other bar anymore Clara! Itigil mo na itong trabaho mo!" Saka nito hinigit ang kamay ni Clara at binuksan ang pinto ng kotse niya.

"At sino kana man para diktahan ako!? Ang kapal mo rin noh?!" She exclaimed while trying to get off from him.

"This is not good for you! Lalo na para sa anak mo!" Dagdag pa nito habang pinipilit ipasok si Clara sa passenger's seat.

"Ano ba? Saan mo naman ako dadalhin!?" Reklamo niya ng sa wakas ay maipasok siya nito sa kotse, Armand locked his car as he get inside the driver's seat.

"Huwag kang mag-alala ihahatid lang kita pauwi. Marami pa tayong dapat pag-usapan Clara!" He warned, na ikinakaba ni Clara.

Ano naman ang pag-uusapan nila? Hindi kaya tungkol ito kay Carrie? Alam na ba nito ang tungkol kay Carrie? Lalong kinabaan si Clara sa naisip niyang iyon.

          

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To be continue...