Playing For Keeps (Manila Nights Series #2)

Chapter 7

Napaupo at napahawak na lang ako storage bench sa paanan ng kama nang biglang manlambot ang mga binti ko at hindi pa rin kinayang suportahan ang bigat ng sarili kong katawan.

"You, okay?" Gozon asked, pinning a playful smile on his pinkish lips.

"I am, Gozon."

"Do you want me to dress you up?" He asked. Mas lalo lang sumama ang tingin ko rito. Gozon glides from the bed and dresses himself. Pagsuot nito ng itim na chrome heart jacket ay dumiretso siya papunta sa harapan ko.

"What?" I hissed.

"I'm starving. We have ramen downstairs. Do you want one? Ako na magluluto. Tatawagin na lang kita kapag okay na." I rolled my eyes at him, grabbing my dress from the floor.

"Ramen? Seryoso ka?"

"I figured there's a higher chance you'd eat cup noodles with me downstairs than in a fancy restaurant. Kung gusto mo ng fine dine, I'll drive us to La Piazza."

"Ramen is fine. I don't want to be seen out with you in public."

"Wow! Peak, I'm not like the other girl moment, Saralee," Gozon commented, chuckling before he turned his back to leave me in the room.

Gusto ko pa sanang magbabad, but my phone blaring outside the bathroom cancelled that plan of mine.

"Where are you? I'll pick you up. Samahan mo ako sa Racetrack."

"I'm not in the mood for a three-hour drive from Taguig to Pampanga. I'll pass. Magkikita naman tayo sa Grand Prix next week---"

"Who said we'll drive to Speedway? Nagmamadali rin ako. The team expects me to be there in an hour."

Silence fell between us, I contemplated.

"Send me your location. I'll pick you up in ten minutes," utos ni Koa.

"Shit!"

"Ha?"

"A-Ahm... no. Huwag mo na akong sunduin. I'm only a few minutes away from the building. I'll see you at the helipad na lang."

"Fine," Koa replied.

"Saralee?" Koa called my name from the other line. His short pause pushed my anxiety to the roof.

Alam niya kayang nasa whore house ako ngayon?

Malalim akong bumuntong-hininga.

Paano niya naman malalaman?

"Koa?"

"Don't be late. I'm almost at the building, too. Chopper will leave in ten."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll hang up, na," I said, rushing to get dressed and grab everything that shouldn't be left behind in this place.

"Tatawagin pa lang sana kita." Abot hanggang tainga ang ngiti ni Jacques nang magkasalubong kami sa hagdan. He eyed the bag on my hand and the blazer hanging on my arm.

"Luto na iyong ramen. I cooked it to your liking."

Marahan kong tinapik ang balikat ni Jacques at nilampasan siya.

"Thanks, but I can't eat that anymore. Koa asked me to go with him in speedway. Kikitain ko siya sa helipad. Enjoy your ramen, Gozon!" I said, nagmamadali na talaga.

Jacques called my name and for a moment it ringed to my ear as if he was protesting that I was leaving him like that. I stopped on my track. Pipihit sana ulit paharap sa kakasarado lang na pinto ng whore house nang pumasok na naman ang tawag ni Koa.

"That brute!" I whispered to myself, bearing the pain in between my legs.

Sakto sa pagbukas ng elevator ay ang pagharap ni Koa. He smiled. Sumabog sa ere ang mga buhok ko dala ng malakas na hangin dahil sa umaandar ng elesi ng chopper.