Red Room

Chapter 8

"Where's the resort again?" I asked Karl, my ex over the phone.

"White haven. It's a bit far from your place but it's somehow close to 'Cooper's'." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

"Cooper's? You mean, the bar?"

"Yes. Cooper's."

"Okay then, got it."

"You sure you don't want me to fetch you?"

"Nah, I'll be fine. I'll be tagging along with the writer that I talked to you about. I might even stay at his place haha." biro ko nang malaman kung saan malapit ang sinasabing resort.

"Pardon?"

"Wala, sige na. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you. Have a good rest." With that, I dropped the call and dialed another number.

"Hey." panimula ko nang sagutin niya.

"Hey. Where's the resort that you mentioned again?"

"Don't mind that. Where are you?"

"I'm at Cooper's. Why?"

"That place is closer to our venue tomorrow. Can I sleep there? I'll just rent one VIP room."

"Of course, you can."

"Okay, be there in thirty." Pagkatapos ng call ay nag pack na ako ng mga dapat kong dalhin bukas. I only brought a few clothes and a piece of swimwear just in case. Pagkaraan ay dumiretso na ako sa banyo upang maligo. As always, kung may isang lugar na nakapagpapasaya sa akin, iyon ay ang shower room. Gustong-gusto ko ang pakiramdam na humahaplos sa aking balat ang tubig. After a couple of minutes ay nagbihis na ako. I am wearing a plain white silk dress. This one's not too revealing since wala naman akong irereveal pft and at the same time, not dull. I didn't bother to wear any makeup except for a nude stick for my lips. I called him as soon as I reached Cooper's. Sinalubong naman ako nito para kuhanin ang bag ko na may lamang mga gamit. Iiwan ko na dapat ito sa kotse ngunit naalala ko, kailangan ko pa rin palang magbihis bukas.

"Hey. Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ko nang magdirediretso siya sa paglalakad at nalagpasan na ang mga VIP rooms.

"Sa kwarto."

"Where? Ito lang ang mga VIP."

"May mga kwarto pa roon."

"Wala na. Ito na 'yon oh?"

"Don't you consider red room as a room?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Of course I do but that's not meant for an overnight."

"Why not? There's a bed."

"Ano bang gusto mong mangyari?"

"Sleep there. That's to avoid you from spending money."

"Kaya ko naman, I can afford."

"Nah. Doon ka na."

"Hindi na."

"Doon ka na. Masyado nang madaming nakagamit ng VIP room. Who knows? Baka kung ano-anong bacteria na ang nandon." pagdadahilan niya na ikinatawa ko.

"Why? Panget ba ang services niyo rito?" Matapang kong tanong.

"Of course not. Basta."

"What then? Tabi tayo roon?"

"Gusto mo ba?"

"'Yan lang pala gusto mo kaya mo ako pinapatulog diyan."

"Nah, I was just asking. Uuwi ako mamaya."

"Okay then, agreed." Pagkapasok namin sa loob ay itinabi niya ang mga gamit ko. He sat cozily in the couch. Dumiretso naman ako sa kama.

"Do you want a drink?"

"Hmm, pwede naman." He ordered and we got room service. I almost forgot, I'm with the owner of Cooper's. Nang uminom ako sa baso na iniabot niya sa akin ay agad na nalasahan ko ang tapang nito.

"What's this?"

"Sunset."

"Too strong."

"Oh, sorry. I thought you can handle. Magpapadala nalang ako ng iba. What do you want?" Wika niya at lumapit sa akin para kunin ang baso nang ilayo ko ito sa kanya.

"It's okay. Hindi ko nalang uubusin."

"Are you sure? Baka hindi mo pa rin kayanin. Just tell me what you want, papapalitan ko."

"Nah, I'm good with this. Sit here." Sabi ko at tinap ang kama.

"Tell me, why do you write?" I asked randomly. Naka sandal kami pareho sa headboard ng kama. I diverted my gaze at him as he think of his answer.

"I write because I'm in love with life." Sagot niya at ininom ang alak mula sa baso na hawak niya.

"Pft, really?"

"Yeah."

"What's so attractive in life that urges you to write?" I asked for I am curious. Kabaliktaran ng kanya ang dahilan ko sa pagsusulat.

"There's a lot. Too many to state. Uumagahin tayo."

"Just state some."

"Little things. Things that we, humans, fail to acknowledge. Particularly the sacrifices, the bounce backs from every setbacks, the endurance, the beginning of things and even the ending. Try to remember what I've said the first time we communicate. 'You don't have to focus on the peculiar. You just have to figure out how to make the ordinary extraordinary.' Simplehan mo lang. Mag isip ka the same way children think. Pwede rin namang sa paraan ng pag-iisip ng mga matatanda. Sometimes, the lightest topic has the heaviest impact." Nakatuon lamang ang tingin ko sa kanya habang nagsasalita. He's too deep. The water's too deep and vague to the point that I can't even see what's within. I am indeed amazed.

"Do you want to play?" Pag-iiba ko ng topic bago ubusin ang iniinom ko. Surprisingly, hindi naman ganoon kalakas ang tama sa akin ng alak.

"Do you want to? You know the rules."

"Yeah, fine with me."

"Sure. What game?"

"Snakes and Ladders." Wika ko at dumiretso na sa shelf para kunin 'yon.

"Again?"

"Yeah."

Makaraan ang ilang minuto ng paglalaro ay dikit na dikit ang laban. Nasa box 98 siya at nasa 99 ako. Pag roll ko ng dice ay tumapat ito sa dalawa kaya naman nandito pa rin ako sa parehong pwesto. Nang siya naman ang kumuha ng dice ay pinagdadasal ko na sa isip ko na huwag siyang manalo kaso— hindi ata narinig ang panalangin ko. Ganoon ata kapag hinihiling mo na may hindi magandang mangyari sa kapawa mo tao.

"I won." Sambit niya nang nakangiti.

Hobby ko na ata ang matalo.