(La Mémoire #1) NOSTALGIA

XXIV

Humalakhak si Linn bago ako hinila sa dance floor.

We found ourselves in the crowd underneath the blinding strobe lights and defeaning EDM. Some guy, fairly-tanned approached me and began to dance with me. He sounded French when he spoke, and he looked like one of those male models in my agency.

It was too crowded that his body bumped with mine as he moved with the music. I didn't mind until he held my waist and was almost initiating to grind on my hips.

Nawalan ako ng gana at iniwan ang dancefloor. Pumunta ako sa isang sulok ng bar, sumandal sa poste roon at pinanood ang mga nagsasayawan. Panay ang inom ko sa cocktail drink habang nakatanga lang roon.

Nagawi ang paningin ko sa ikalawang palapag ng lugar. Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang mapansin ang mga pamilyar na bulto roon. I confirmed my mind wasn't tricking me when I clearly saw Stav and Lyon there.

Seryosong nag-uusap ang dalawa. Aakyat sana ako at lalapitan ang mga iyon ngunit muli nang dumating si Linn.

"Linn, nandito pala sila Stav." I told her when we were back in the cocktail table.

"Ah oo, madalas si Lyon dito. Baka pinuntahan ni Stav."

The latter could barely keep up because she was all to sweaty from dancing. Our night progressed on Linn spending so much time on the dancefloor while I drunk too much cocktail.

Tahimik akong umiinom roon nang mamalayan ang pagkakagulo ng paligid. It was suddenly chaotic and a lot of people were rushing outside. May narinig akong nagsabi na may nag-away raw sa may parking.

I heard it was a grave fight that some of the guys were severely injured. Iyon ang dahilan kaya nakikiososyo ang iba at gusto na ring tumingin roon.

"Linn, what happened?" Sinalubong ko si Linn sa gitna ng maliit na komosyon.

"Some stupid guys fought. Nagsimula raw iyon sa VIP area dyan sa taas tapos pinalabas ng mga bouncer. Pero hanggang sa parking, pinagpatuloy pa pala nila."

Umahon ang masamang kutob sa dibdib ko.

"Tingin mo kasama sina Stav at Lyon?"

Nilingon ako ni Linn. Magkasabay na gumuhit ang pag-aalala namin. Hinawakan ako nito at mabilis kaming lumabas ng bar. There was a small circle of people in the second parking no matter how much the bouncers try to clear them off. 

Sinalubong kami ng sirena ng police car at ambulansya. Isang lalaking iika ika sa labis na pagkabugbog ang inalalayan ng mga paramedic patungo roon. I glanced around, and to my horror, I found Lyon being questioned by one of the officers.

"Lyon!" I held my mouth.

"Fuck." Linn cussed in disbelief.

Nawala na ako sa tamang huwisyo at akmang lalapitan ito ngunit hinarang ako ng bouncer.

"Miss, hindi ko ho kayo pwedeng lumapit rito. Pumasok na ho kayo." The bouncer politely pushed me and Linn backward.

"But I know him." I insisted and I immediately caught heads turning at me.

Ilang beses ko pa iyong pinilit nang sa wakas ay pinakinggan rin nila ako at sinamahan sa paglapit roon. Lyon was astounded when he saw me. Gaya niya, labis rin ang pagkabigla ko nang matanaw ang bugbog sarado niyang mukha.

His eyes were swollen purple, his lips were bleeding from the open wound. The same with his knuckles, his arm, and his jaw, everything looked severly injured.

"What happened?" I barely managed to croak out.

I started too look around for Stav. This must be his fault. Lyon would never get into a fight like this.