Prologue
Night lights
"I didn't know that this is your definition of a night out."
I looked at Niko. Nakangiti ito pero alam kong kanina pang nagngingitngit ang kalooban nya. This is the first time I went out with him and I've been sulking since the moment we entered the bar.
"I told you to enjoy the night! You've been ogling that girl for thirty minutes now... Puntahan mo na," sabi ko.
Alam ko namang ang ikinaiinit lang ng ulo nya ay dahil hindi nya ako maiwang mag-isa. He can't go find his flavor of the night and he wouldn't. Wala syang maiuuwing babae ngayon dahil babantayan nya ako at ihahatid pauwi.
He may be a playboy but he's a responsible friend.
"She's hot, isn't she?" he smiled. His full attention is still on the girl at the dancefloor.
"Go! I can take care of myself, Niko..."
Sinabayan ko sya sa panonood sa magandang babae. Siguradong konting udyok na lang ay papatol na ang kaibigan ko. That lady is exactly his type. But the way she dances doesn't seem like she's used to it. Mukhang lasing na lasing lang talaga.
"Dang! Nasaan si Rian kapag kailangan ko sya?"
I looked at him sharply but he just laughed and gave me a sly grin.
Ganon siguro talaga ang mga tunay na kaibigan. Alam nang magagalit ka, pero gagalitin ka pang lalo.
"Bakit hindi mo lapitan? Ask for her number. Kung ipipilit mong ikaw ang maghahatid sakin, sa ibang araw mo sya kitain," pagpupumilit ko.
"Are you kidding me?!" he chuckled. "That will be the end of my flirting career. You know I don't do relationships..."
He dismissed my idea with a wave of his hand. Ibang klase talaga ang kaibigan ko.
"Yeah. Don't do that, we don't know for sure if she'll give her number to you," panunuya ko habang nagsasalin ng vodka sa baso.
I am tipsy but I still want to drink. I'm allowed to today, anyway. Sumandal ako sa sofa at muling uminom. Ramdam ko ang ngisi ni Niko sakin.
I looked at him and his eyes narrowed. "That's not gonna work, Raf... You witch! You are doing it again, aren't you?!"
"Doing what?" patay malisyang tanong ko.
"Your reverse psycho shit..."
"I'm stating an observation, Niko. Look at her. Does she look like a party girl to you?"
Kita sa mga mata ng katabi ko ang pagsang-ayon.
"If anything, baka kausapin ka lang nya because she's really drunk and nothing else..."
Biglang kumunot ang noo nito at tiningnan ako ng masama. Umiiling na dinukot ang cellphone at may ginawa roon. Panigurado ay nagsisisi na sya sa pag-aya nya sakin at malamang ay hindi na ito umulit.
"Leave. I can go home alone..."
"I know you can, but you're gonna make me shit bricks on your way. Sa tingin mo makakampante ako?"
Hindi ko na sya muling nilingon at nagpatuloy na ako sa pag-inom. I looked around hoping to see a familiar face. Kawawa naman 'tong kasama ko. Kung may makita akong kakilala, I'm sure he'll let me be.
I was busy looking at other tables when Niko tapped my shoulder. Nakangisi na saya at alam na alam kong may binabalak na kalokohan.
"Kuya is somewhere near this bar. He'll pick you up," aniya at tumingin sa kanyang relo, "I'm sure he'll be here in thirty minutes..."
