I Fell For You

Chapter 5: Calm before the Storm

At night, Ephraim (I decided to call him that) and I decided to go together in Moulin Rouge to watch a show and have dinner. It is a famous French cabaret and is known as the birthplace of the can-can dance. But customers can also dine there, and order champagne during the show.

I'm wearing a black mini dress and silver stilettos. We have to dress formal kasi for the dinner.

I put some light make-up and fixed my hair in a messy bun. Sinuot ko ang kulay ash grey na long coat ko at nang matapos mag-ayos ay bumaba na ako sa lobby para hintayin ang prinsipe.

Hindi naman na ako naghintay dahil nakita kong nag-aabang na siya doon. He didn't notice me yet, he was just busy looking around the place. His hands are inside the pockets of his black pants. Nakasuot siya ng kulay dark red na coat at sa loob ay kulay puting shirt. I noticed the silver necklace dangling on his neck. May suot din siyang dark sunglasses.

Kahit ata ano ang isuot niya, kapansin-pansin siya sa lugar. I can't help but point out that he looks dashing tonight, siguro dahil nag-abala pa siyang ayusin ang buhok, or maybe he's just naturally handsome. Some woman were even shamelessly looking at him. Hindi ko alam kung napansin niya iyon.

I smiled and waved at him when he saw me. His lips lifted to a cocky smile as he gaze on me. Mabilis akong pumunta sa harap niya, hindi na inalintana kung nakatitig man siya sa akin sa likod ng sunglasses niya.

"Let's go?" I pursed my lips. Ngumiti siya at inoffer ang kanyang braso para kapitan ko iyon, "Shall we?"

I was hesitant to take his arm but in the end, I let my hand slide around it. He hailed a cab for us. Hindi naman kalayuan mula dito ang pupuntahan pero dahil naka-heels at malamig sa labas ay pinili na nga lang namin na mag-taxi muna, although I have no problem if we walk.

He let me in first. Inayos ko ang coat na suot nang makaupo na. Binalik ko ang tingin kay Ephraim nang hindi pa din siya pumapasok. I noticed that he was watching something from a far.

I stared at his line of vision but I couldn't perceive which one he was looking at. Maraming tao ang naglalakad-lakad kahit pa gabi kaya hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinitignan niya doon. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay pumasok na siya. When I asked him about it, he only shrugged, pero napansin ko ang kaunting pag-iiba sa kanyang mood.

"Wala ka talagang pinagkakaabalahan 'no?" I asked him while on the way there. Ang dami niya kasing time. And ang dami niya ding pera kahit nagtatago siya. Won't his money transactions give away his location?

"Well, I consider this as a vacation so..." he shrugged. Nailing na lamang ako.

I don't think I could manage to live like him. He has no plan at all. At least, if ako siya, after escaping I would have a plan in mind on what I'd do next. Hindi ko ata kayang magpatianod nalang sa mga nangyayari especially when the burden of the country is on me.

Moulin Rouge's brightly colored electric-powered front greeted us. Agaw pansin ang iconic na windmill sa harap nito. Montmarte was once a tiny village full of windmills. Nalaman ko iyon syempre mula kay Ephraim. According to him mayroong 15 windmills sa Montmartre dati but today, there's only two.

The insides of the building is absolutely stunning. Halos puro kulay pula ang mga ilaw na ginamit ngunit hindi iyon masakit sa mata. The lights were dim and it gives of a mysterious yet elegant vibe. Tapos naka-formal attire pa halos ang lahat.

Ephraim and I settled on a seat on the center with the perfect view of the stage. I removed my coat and placed it behind my chair. Siya na ang pinag-order ko ng dinner namin habang abala ako sa pagtingin sa paligid. I took out my phone to take a photo of the stage. I sent it to our family group chat.