Cupid's Outlaw

Chapter 15: Lost

It's been months since my little situation with Reider, but I still couldn't get what he said out of my head.

I wasn't that dense. I knew exactly what he was talking about. I was just not brave enough to face it, or to actually think or speak of it...

Because if I did, I was afraid it would become true. And the truth would eat me alive.

Kaya oo. I would continue to convince myself out of this truth because right now, that's the only thing I could do to prevent what I knew was sure to be a big mistake.

"Miss, bababa ka ba?" rinig kong tanong ng Grab driver sa akin.

Natigilan ako sa pag-iisip. Focus, Jillia. Nasa Grab nga pala ako.

"Ah, opo. Sorry," sagot ko na lang bago lumabas sa sasakyan niya at pumasok sa isang mamahaling restobar.

Malakas na musika at samu't saring ingay ang bumungad sa akin pagpasok sa loob. The famous restobar was even more cramped than usual, but I wasn't surprised. Tonight's Spade's birthday solo gig, after all.

Kaya nga kahit ginabi na ako sa Ice Age practice ay siniguro ko pa rin ang pagpunta rito. Bukod sa birthday ni Spade, he told me his bandmates wouldn't be here tonight. In other words, we could spend as much time as we wanted.

Umupo ako sa isang bar stool na medyo malayo sa stage. Wala pa si Spade sa stage pero siksikan at aligaga na ang mga tao. It's probably 10x more than the last time I watched him here.

Nagulat ako nang biglang may nagnakaw ng halik sa gilid ng labi ko. Itutulak ko na sana 'to nang naamoy ko kaagad ang pabango ni Spade.

"Hi babe," he grinned as he turned to the bartender and hid his face from the crowd. He's wearing dark shades and a black beanie.

Kaagad bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. "Aren't you supposed to be on stage, birthday boy?"

"Yeah, but I gotta kiss you first. Tara sa likod?" pilyo niyang anyaya.

Nag-init ang mukha ko at pinalo siya sa braso. "You're crazy. Kanina pa naghihintay ang fans mo."

He pouted, "fine. Mamaya ka sa'kin." Napalibot siya ng tingin at napangiti. "Do you still remember when we first met here?"

Automatic ding umangat ang sulok ng labi ko. "Of course. You embarrassed the hell out of me."

Tumawa siya, "you embarrassed yourself, babe."

That was almost three years ago. My friends and I managed to get inside here with fake IDs and connections. I was so drunk that time that I never let go of the karaoke microphone despite my lack of singing talent. I just felt so free. I sang and danced to my heart's content, and I was too drunk to care.

"You know you can't sing, right?" biglang tanong ng isang gwapong lalaking may piercing sa tainga.

He looked just about a year or two older than me. How did he even get here? Well... If my sorry ass managed to get inside, he probably did too.

I rolled my drunk eyes at him. "Shut up, I bet you can't even carry a single note."

He smirked so annoyingly. "O yeah?"

"Heck yeah. A face like that can't possibly have it all," wala sa sarili kong sagot dito sabay shot. Ah, I'm loving the teenage life!

Tumawa ito, "wanna bet?"

"What's the price? Well, whatever it is, I'm sure you're all talk, anyway."

"So is that a yes?"