Behind A Smile

Chapter 30

Kabanata 30

"Hoy! Nakita ko 'yun!"

I watched Tyrone as he happily ascended to the stage, like he's the happiest man ever alive, like he's achieved one of the greastest thing in his life.

I blow a silent air realizing what I did. I swear, I'm never the touchy type. Until now, I still couldn't fathom why I always end up doing things I thought I would never do in my life. Hindi ko alam. It's just happening, and it just feels... right.

"Matutunaw na, Zanaiah!"

I blinked when Karina waved her hand infront of my face, blocking my view of Tyrone. Tinabig ko iyon at nanatiling nakatingin sa kaniya. He went to whisper something on the drummer who happened to came late, as well as to the other members. After that, he busied himself with assemblying the mic stand, and mic testing also. I could see from here how he's dominating the stage, and the whole place.

"Mic test, hey, hello," he tested on the mic, and now he finally caught everyone's attention. They all stopped drinking and looked at him with amusement.

"Ay 'o, wala na 'to." reklamo ni Karina.

Tinignan ko na siya. "Ano 'yun?"

She scoffed. "Wow, talagang hindi mo pala ako napapansin rito?"

"Sorry na," hinaplos ko ang aking batok, at kinagat ang ibabang labi ko.

"I saw what you did!"

"What did I do?"

"Malandi ka!" pang-aakusa niya sa akin.

"Humalik lang, malandi na?"

"May pa-ganiyan ka na ha," kinurot niya ako sa bewang.

Tumawa ako. "Punta na tayo doon?"

"Kuha muna tayo mga inumin."

"Sige."

Agad niya ako hinila at nagpatianod lamang ako sa kaniya. Nang makarating kami sa bar counter ay agad kaming dinaluhan ng mga bartender at ibang waiter kasama na si kuyang hiningian ko kanina ng maiinom. Napangisi ako habang humagikhik si Karina nang makilala rin si kuya.

"What do you prefer to drink tonight, beautiful ladies?"

"A hot martini for me," nakangiting sagot ni Karina.

"Give her the strongest liquor you have,"

"Hoy! Anong strongest liquor ka d'yan?!"

The bartender blinked thrice, seemed shocked at my order. Mas lalong nakita sa mukha niya ang pagkabigla nang may ibinulong si kuyang waiter sa kaniya.

What could that be?

"Sige ha, basta ba ikaw uminom!"

Tumawa ako. Karina is just so cute. Pikon din talaga 'to minsan.

"Just kidding. A plain tequila will do for me, sir," i winked at the bartender, and now, he seems flattered. Better.

"Plain tequila? Ayaw mo may halo? Kahit lemon lang, ganun," si Karina.

"Yes, ma'am.  You can try our hot tequila sunrise, or tequila vermouth, red aromatic martini..."

"Classy," tanging nasabi ko.

I wasn't familiar to other alcoholic drinks that he mentioned, but the latter sounds good so I chose it. Red aromatic martini? Bago 'yun sa pandinig ko ah. We have whiskey and liquors at home, in our mini bar. That's why I am familiar to some alcoholic drinks I saw in their pantry and stalls. But this one is new. Maybe they're invented the names, and the flavors and they probably discovered new combinations.