Elite Wars

Chapter 16

"Enrique! Nandito ka nanaman? Akala ko ba next week ka babalik? Baka naman iba na ang tine-table mo ha!" Malakas na tinig na ani ng babae.

"Mara! I want you to meet my cousin. This is Gustave."

"Hi! I'm Mara! Papasayahin kita tonight!" She offered her hands on me and I just stared at it. I don't shake random people's hands.

"Oh? Hard to get ha. Yan ang gusto ko."

Parehong humalakhak si Enrique at ang babaeng tinawag niyang Mara.

"O pano? Iiwan ko muna kayo? You'll have your phone in an hour. Have fun!" Tumayo si Enrique at iniwan kami sa kwarto.

Tumayo din ako at dumiretso sa pinto pero pag-pihit ko noon, laking gulat ko nang hindi ko iyon mabuksan. God damn it! Is it locked from the outside? I tried opening the door once again but it wouldn't budge. Wala akong nagawa kundi sipain iyon.

"Wag mo nang subukan. Naka lock talaga iyan sa kabila pag request ng customer. Pwede din naman i-lock dito." Naka ngising ani ng babae.

"Open the door. I have to leave."

"Sorry, si Enrique ang magbabayad sa akin eh." Kibit balikat niya.

I forced the door open. I even kicked it a bunch of times but it was made of a thick mahogany wood. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang sumuko at hintayin ang oras. I sat on the far end of the couch, away from the filthy woman. Nakaramdam ako ng uhaw kaya kinuha ko ang isang bote ng tubig na kasama sa mga alak na ipinasok nila. I finished the entire bottle and sighed. I need to leave. I need to find a way.

"Look, whatever he's paying you, I'll double it. Just let me out!" I said, frustrated.

Humalukipkip siya at tiningnan ako na para bang nag-iisip.

"Interesanteng offer, pero wala talaga akong susi. May bayad pa din naman ako kahit wala tayong gawin. Gusto mo umidlip ka muna diyan at magpahinga. Mukhang nakainom ka na eh." Aniya.

Nanahimik ako at pinag-masdan siyang humugot ng isang kahang sigarilyo mula sa masikip na bulsa ng maiksing shorts niya. Nalukot ang mukha ko nang sindihan niya iyon habang ngumunguya ng bubblegum.

Mukha ngang wala din siyang susi. Wala din akong cellphone para tawagan si Enrique. Wala akong nagawa kundi sumandal sa couch at ipahinga ang mga mata ko. Pumipintig ang ulo ko at mabilis ang tibok ng dibdib ko. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa sangkatutak na wine na ininom ko o sa inis kay Enrique. Makakatikim talaga siya sa akin pag-labas ko. Wala akong pakialam kung mas matanda siya sa akin.

I didn't put much attention on her. I took a bottle of a cheap whisky and chugged it. I didn't bother pouring it to a glass. I just want to drown, and forget. All of my efforts is nothing to her. I am nothing to her. And to be honest, I didn't even know why I'm feeling this way. Pero kung wala ako sa kanya ay wala lang din siya sa akin. She's nothing but a woman who climbed her way up to society and I must say, she succeeded.

I didn't know how much I drank. I blacked out.

I woke up from the sunlight beaming on my face. Naramdaman ko agad ang sakit ng katawan ko. I tried moving to feel Sandrine beside me. She was still there. I moved and pulled her closer but the moment I touched her skin, I realized something was wrong.

Shit!

I forced myself to open my eyes only to find a complete stranger laying on the bed with me. She was naked, her bare back is out of the sheets. I instantly felt disgusted.

Mabilis akong tumayo at iginala ang paningin. This is a hotel room. This is one of Salguero Empire's hotel!

"Shit! Who the fuck are you? What the hell are you doing here?" Sigaw ko.