Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Five - Party's Over

SHE’S NOT ANSWERING, palo ni Renante ng isang kamay sa manibela.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagda-drive. Nakailang subok na siya pero wala. Paglingon niya sa smartphone na nasa holder malapit sa airconditioner ng kanyang kotse, kusang nagdisconnect ang tawag. Unattended.

I can’t believe pahahabain niya ng ganito ang pinag-awayan namin kaninang tanghali. Aren’t we supposed to be mature about this?

Nag-aalalang tumanaw siya sa mga nadadaanan. Kahit maliit na tsansang makita ang sasakyan ng babae, kinakagat na ni Renante.

What is matured anyway?

Kinabig niya ang manibela pakanan.

Everyone’s entitled to deal with things the way they feel like dealing with it.

His usual calm demeanor was washed over with worry. He shifted gears, slowing down his car a bit.

But damn, she’s running away again.

Nabanuntong-hininga si Renante.

She always does that…

He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Then back to the steering wheel.

Keep your cool. You’ll find her.

If not on that cliff, then on one of the thousands of bars and clubs here in Manila.

He sighed wearily.

Of course, she won’t make it easy to find her when she doesn’t want to be found.

Napailing siya nang matanaw ang buntot ng mga sasakyan. Padagdag na ang kanyang kotse sa hanay ng mahabang trapiko.

On the horizon, Renante saw brushstroke stripes of purple, orange and white. Cable lines and posts turned to silhouette. Nightfall up ahead as buildings began lighting up their windows and signages.

.

.

SINALUBONG SILA STACEY NG DUMADAGUNDONG NA TUGTUGIN. Mapaglaro ang mga ilaw sa club na tinuluyan nila. Hindi iyon nalalayo sa mall kung saan nagpaunang inom at merienda na sila.

Naghintayan muna sila sa parking lot bago sabay-sabay pumasok. Kaya wala talaga siyang takas sa mga ito. Lalo na kung panay ang buntot ng kotse ni Kylie sa kanya.

Halos tingalain ni Stacey ang paligid. There were even lofts in this club! Dark-tinted glass boxes over-looking the dance floor! Sa kabilang dulo naman ay isang maliit na entablado na okupado ng DJ at ng mga equipment nito. It was just a few minutes past 6 P.M. and the whole place already has lots of people in it! No wonder, her fashion model friends stepped in with ease and no escort required. They can be lowkey in here since there were too many people and a tricky lighting to recognize them.

Sa magkabilang gilid ng dancefloor, nakahanay na ang iba’t ibang mga mesa. Kahanay naman ng entrance ang bar at ilang long-lounged seats.

“First time?” lambitin saglit ni Kylie sa kanyang mga balikat bago bumitaw.

Nilingon niya ang kaibigan na malaki ang ngiti sa mga labi. Nilagpasan naman sila nila Fritzie at Cynthia para maghanap ng mapupwestuhan nila.

“Yeah,” amin niya rito. “Is this a new club or…”

“Let’s go,” daan ni Sondra sa kanila. Hindi pa kasi sila lumalakad.

Sinundan ito ni Stacey ng tingin. Hindi lang talaga niya alam kung paano kakausapin si Sondra. Kahit maliit na bagay tulad ng pag-oo lang ang sasabihin. Meanwhile, Kylie just gave  Sondra nod then returned her eyes on her.