It Was Always You (The Navalta Series # 1)

Chapter 15

Kira and the guy she was dancing with returned to our table. They both sat from across me. “That was fun. Oh, Ky, meet Josh.” The guy smiled at nagpakilala. Kira and this guy are flirting with each other in front of me.

Clearly, this lady is drunk. She held her glass while laughing with Josh. Hindi ko marinig ang palitan ng mga salita nila sa kadahilanang nagbubulungan sila.

I just smiled and let my firned be, afterall, single naman siya. I just put down my glass when a tall guy approached me. He is wearing a pair of jeans, a gray casual long-sleeved polo folded until his elbows at bukas ang unang tatlong butones, white shoes. He has a tattoo on his forearm.

The lights are dimmed now and he sat beside me. Nagsalubong ang kilay ako at kinikilala ang lalaking nasa tabi ko. He was staring at me. Di ko siya mamukhaan, siguro dahil sa naka-dim ang ilaw or dahil lasing na ako.

Nang medyo lumiwanag, at that point, nanlaki ang mga mata ko. The guy in front of me is smiling now.

“Oh, my God, Calvin. I didn’t recognize you.” Gulat kong bati sa kanya. He was laughing now. “Fancy meeting you here tonight.” Si Calvin.

I didn’t know he has a tattoo. Well, maybe because, palagi ko siyang nakikitang nakaformal attire sa office at palaging naka-long sleeve.

I gave him some drinks. He accepted it and started to drink. “I didn’t know you partied.” He said laughing. I laughed at his remarks and sip my drink. Pinakilala ko siya kay Kira and Josh. They shook their hands.

We were both laughing and I know I am drunk right now but I didn’t mind it. “Ky, you still okay? Tell me if hindi mo na kaya.” Concern na tanong ni Calvin sa akin. I giggled, “I am drunk right now, Calvin but I am okay.”

He snickered. “Wanna dance instead? Just to ease what you are feeling even for just a little bit.” aya niya sa akin. He reached for my hand I grabbed it. “Sure.” Then we both headed to the dancefloor.

Hinawakan niya ang baywang ko and rocked with the music. I wrapped my hands around his nape and started to dance along with him.

I know I was drunk at that moment but Calvin is not the kind of man to take advantage of it. An upbeat music was played by the DJ.

We were dancing so much when we came across Cece kissing someone in the dance floor. Dahil sa kalasingan medyo nagiging blur ang pangyayari but I managed to come near her. Sumunod sa akin si Calvin at inalayayan ako hanggang nasa harap na kami ni Cece.

I pulled her away from the man who was kissing her. “What the hell?” si Cece. Hinarap niya ako at doon ko lang napagtanto kung sino ang lalaking hinahalikan niya. It was Leo.

“Oh, ikaw pala, Ky. Sorry, I thought it was someone else.” Natatawang sabi ni Cece sa akin. We both laughed. “Sorry Ky, she dragged you and Kira to party tonight.” Si Leo.

Napailing ako to assure Leo na okay lang since we all wanted a good night. Hinayaan namin ang dalawa na ipagpatuloy ang kanilang pagbabati sa pagsasayaw sa dancefloor.
Sa sobrang hilo ko, inaya ko na lang si Calvin na bumalik sa table. Inalalayan iya ako pabalik sa upuan namin. Nakaupo na kami ngayon at katabi ko si Calvin, concern is visible in his eyes. I gave him a sweet smile.

Kira was where to be found at the moment. Her bag isn’t there. Oh, shit. Iniwan na naman ba kami ni Kira dito? Malamang sumama siya doon sa Josh na yun.

Napansin ni Calvin na parang may hinahanap ako. “What are you looking for, Ky?”

I chuckled. “It’s not what actually, it’s who. I am lookng for Kira.” I reached for my bag and tried to find my phone. When I reached for it, binuksan ko ang cellphone ko. Naninigkit ang mata ko gawa ng kalasingan.

I noticed the notifications on the home screen of my iPhone. Kira messaged me.

Kira: Sorru I had to leavr forst hehe I am woth Josdh npw. See yoi latwr. Love yoi

Kira has always been like this at sanay na kami na palagi siyang nauuna to be with a guy if she gets too drunk. We used to get mad at her but eventually, we just shrugged it off.

I squinted my eyes on my phone screen when I saw ten missed calls. I opened to see who it was. Nanlaki ang mata ko, it was Ryu. Nababa ko ang aking cellphone.

Calvin faced me, “What’s wrong?” “A-ahh, wala. Nauna na pala si Kira.” I answered and smiled at him. “Tama na yan, Ky. You’re drunk. Hatid na kita.” Si Calvin. “Ano ka ba, maaga pa. Mamaya na. May natitira pa oh.” Sagot ko sa kanya.

I poured another drink in my glass and drank it. Muntik kong mailuwa ang iniinom ko when I saw Ryu in front me.

Nandilim ang kanyang mukha. Magkasalubong ang kilay na nakatitig sa amin ni Calvin. Nakahalukipkip, his eyes raging with anger. He looked at Calvin then turned to me, jaw clenched. He was wearing his long sleeves polo folded until his forearms and his dark blue slacks. I bet he came from the office. Naglakad siya papalapit sa amin. My breathing stopped. Sobrang intimidating ang anyo niya. Parang gusto kong magtago.

Calvin drifted his eyes to where I was looking at medyo nagulat din siya. Tumayo siya sa kinaupuan at binati si Ryu. “Good evening, Sir Ryu.”

Tinitigan lang siya ni Ryu habang nanatili akong nakaupo. Lumapit si Ryu sa akin. Matalim na titig ang ibinigay ko sa kanya. Hindi nagpahalata na ang totoo eh, parang sasabog ang dibdib ko sa lakas ng pintig ng puso ko.

“I’m taking you home. You are very drunk, Ky”. he said firmly. Eyes dark at naninigas ang mga panga.

“Sir, ako na lang po hahatid kay Ky para hindi na kayo maabala.  I can take her home.” Si Calvin.

Nilingon niya si Calvin. I saw him smirked. “Ako na ang bahala sa kanya. You can stay if you want. Thanks.” Baritonong sagot ni Ryu sa kanya at hinarap muli ako. “Let’s go, Ky.”

Nagprotesta ako pero masyado akong lasing at hindi nakayanan ang paghawak sa akin ni Ryu. He positioned me to stand up and inalalayan niya ako. Nilagay niya ang kanyang mga kamay niya sa magkabilang baywang ko. Nakadama ako nang paghihilo at naramdaman nya siguro iyon kaya inakbayan niya ako at inakay papalabas. Naiwan si Calvin sa kinatatayuan niya. Sinubukan kong lumingon ngunit hindi ko na magawa.

Ryu wrapped his arms around me as we headed to the parking space. Ipinuwesto niya ako sa front seat, he reached for his coat sa likod ng sasakyan niya and put it on me. Inilagay ang aking seatbelt at isinandal ng maayos ang ulo ko sa headrest ng upuan. Hilo ang nararamdaman ko. I positioned myself comfortably.

Naramdaman ko na bumukas ang pintuan ng driver’s seat at alam kong pumasok na siya. "You okay?" he asked. Marahan akong tumango but no words came out of my mouth.  I heard him sigh and felt the car moved. My mind went blank as the alchohol took over and drowsiness came.