My Nosy Paparazzi

Chapter 28

Chapter 28


"In you go, woman." Pagpapapasok ng bouncer sa pub na pinasok ni Calli.It wasn't the usual club that she'll usually visit in New York. Clubs with disco lights, clubs with bimbos and clubs that are drowned with filthy music. None of it was present at the moment.

It was more like a tavern; one that you'll usually see in cowboy movies.

Kauupo niya pa lang sa kanyang table ay meron nang lumapit na waitress sa harapan niya. Binigay niya ang kanyang order at agad na pinanood ang nagpe-perform sa mini-stage. Patapos na ito sa kinakanta kaya inabangan niya ang susunod na performer.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang pinisil ang pwet ng kakatapos lang na nag-perform. Napatili ang babae sa ginawa ng customer. Gagalaw na sana siya nang makita niyang ikinandong ng lalaki ang babae sa table nito.

So much for the woman's virtue. Naiiling niyang tinitigan ang mga ito. For all she knew ay baka isang high-class call girl ang babae. O baka naman ay lover niya ito. But if truth be told, she'd plainly settle for the first thing she had in mind. No sane man would shame her woman in front of everybody.

She muttered her thanks at the waitress when her order was served. Abalang-abala siya sa pagnguya at paglunok ng kanyang steak nang magsimulang magpatugtog ng  Once Upon A December sa piano ang isang babae sa mini stage.

The piece she was playing was beautiful, haunting and bitterly sweet. It made her heart ache so bad that she can't breath; like she was slowly sinking to pieces. 

Ilang sandali siyang nakatunganga sa babaeng nasa harapan. Kahit na nakatirintas ang ginintuan nitong buhok at nakapantalon ay magandang-maganda pa rin ito sa paningin niya.Calli silently prayed that she wasn't one of those girls na nagpapa-table at nagpapabastos sa mga customer. 

In fact, her talent was way way far from being slutty. Unlike the other girls from before.

Pero nangyari  ang kinatatakutan niya. Merong gusgusing lalaking lumapit sa stage at hinimas ang binti ng magandang babae. She could have slouched back in her seat in disappointment had she not seen the girl struggle from the filthy man's grasp.

Her protective instincts kicked in. Basta-basta niya na lamang nilapitan ang nanggugulong customer at hinila ito palayo sa babae. Hindi naman siya nabigo at bigla itong tumilapon sa kalapit na mga table.

"Are you alright?" Binalingan niya ang babae.

"I'm perfectly fine." Sagot nito sabay ngiti.She wondered why she was smiling. She expected her to be trembling in fear. But  there was none of it in her eyes. In fact, there were sparks of unfiltered amusement in her face.

"You rotten bitch!" Narinig niyang mura ng customer mula sa likuran niya. Lumingon siya at patamad na hinawi ang upuang ihahataw sana sa kanya. She gave the man a quick, hard jab on his stomach. Napauklo ito at agad na tumilapon ulit sa sahig.

And just when  the action and spill of adrenaline's finally over ay doon lumapit ang bouncer. Wow, what a nice way to show up.

"Out! Out!" Pagpapalabas nito sa nakalugmok na customer. Nakita niyang inilabas nito ang kanyang batuta para takutin ang lalaki. Agad na humawi ang mga nakiki-usyosong mga tao sa paligid.

"I'll pay for the damages." Deklara niya sa papalapit na manager. Isang mesa at silya ang nasira niya sa gabing iyon. Perhaps she can spare some money from her travel allowance.

"Leave it be ma'am. There's payment for the damages already." Napanganga siya sa sinabi ng manager.

"That's right, you need not to worry about that matter." Nilingon niya ang magandang performer kanina. Iginiya siya nitong umupo sa katabing stool ng bar. " Fix us some margaritas, Lordy." utos nito sa bartender.

"Are you sure the manager's fine with me not paying for the damages?"Sumimsim siya sa kanyang margarita.

"The bill's deducted on my account." Simpleng sagot ng babae saka ngumiti. "Thanks for saving my ass awhile ago. I'm Rollie, by the way."

"Calli." Nakipagkamay siya kay Rollie.Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay magaan ang loob niya dito.

"You're new here. Nagbabakasyon ka ba dito sa Monaco?"


"Err...uhmm..." Gosh, how could she explain this? she cannot possibly blurt out that she's on a secret mission. "I'm here for some business." Pagpapaliwanag niya dito. "Uhm Rollie, is it always like this?" 

"The what?"

"Customers touching your butt and grasping for your ankle?"

"Well bloody yes! But I'm not like them. Anyone who makes a grab for me is dead meat. I could have blown off that man's balls awhile ago had you not entered the scene.

"Wow, that's kind of fierce.I suppose  you're quite harsh at school." Napuna niyang mas bata ito sa kanya.

"I never go to school." Napalingon siya sa sinabi ni Rollie.

"Well, why don't you?" Nanghihinayang siya sa babaeng ito.Pasimple niyang sinuri ang kasuotan ni Rollie. Tattered jeans and overworn shirt. Oh my, the girl might be playing the piano in this bar for a living. And she mentioned awhile ago that the damages were deducted on her account. Shit, she must pay for the drinks at least!

Lumukot siya ng ilang bill sa kanyang bulsa at nilapag iyon sa countertop."For the drinks." Nginitian niya si Rollie.

"Oh no. Tell me you're not doing that! You saved my ass awhile ago from that skunk and I owe you some drinks. I may be living the life of a beggar, but I can still pay for the margarita I gave you." She whisked away the bill she was offerring. " Don't worry, Lordy's my friend here. The drinks are on the house. Right, my friend?" Nilingon nito ang bartender.

"Anything for you Rollie." Kinindatan sila ng bartender.

"As to your question awhile ago, yes I don't go to school, Calli." Mataman siya nitong tinitigan. "But I study at home. I have books to guide me."

"And you work in here." Sumimsim siya sa margaritang iniinom niya.

"Oh yes.I'm happy with that thing. Listen, I know this sounds so sudden and a bit of a haste for you, but can I crash at your place? For tonight?" Nagmamakaawang tanong nito sa kanya.

"Oh sure. Bakit, pinagalitan ka ba sa inyo?" Pabirong tanong niya dito. Alam niyang tama ang hinala niya dahil biglang nalukot ang magandang mukha ni Rollie.

Heck, she did hit a nerve!

"Well, kinda like that actually.So pwede ba ako sa inyo?"


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