Kiss Me Slow

KMS-7

"I had those people investigated. Possession of any recreational drugs is strictly prohibited in my club. Alam naman nila 'yon. But I'll make sure we will have tighter security from now on. Pinapasakit ng mga hayop na 'yon ang ulo ko."

I watched as RD busied himself cleaning his bar. I don't like the way he's taking this so lightly. I don't think this tool is taking me seriously at all. It was as if what happened last night wasn't at all a big deal. I shook my head. "If this happens again, pasensyahan tayo, bro, pero ipapasara ko 'tong bar mo."

RD stared at me with questioning eyes. Hindi ako sumagot at nakipagtitigan lang ako sa kanya. He looked back at Caleb who's sitting two stools away from me and laughed. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"You heard me, bro,"

"Seriously?"

"Mukha ba akong nagbibiro?" I tossed my hair angrily. Ilang araw ko nang binabalak na magpagupit pero laging busy si Ika kaya hindi niya ako masamahan. Hindi ako nagpapagupit nang wala siya because I have to make sure everything is done right. "Putangina, bro, muntik ma-rape si Sarika! Sa tingin mo nakakatawa para sa'kin 'yon? Ka-joke joke' yon?!"

"I'm sorry that happened to her but I did try to protect her! Matigas ang ulo niya!"

"So gano'n ganon na lang 'yon? Matigas ang ulo niya kaya hahayaan mo na lang siyang mabastos ng mga tarantadong yon?"

"That's not what I'm saying! I tried to stop her from mingling with those people and she didn't listen to me!" ibinaba niya ang basahan sa bar top. "Besides, she's not my responsibility!"

Nagpanting lalo ang tainga ko sa sinabi niya. "She's inside your club! She should be your responsibility!"

RD stood straighter and faced me. "You're the best friend. Where were you that night?"

That comeback kind of hit home. I've been beating myself up for letting her out of my sight. Kahit pa ilang beses kong sabihin sa sarili ko na hindi ko kasalanan at hindi ko minuminutong mababantayan si Sarika, hindi ko parin mapatawad ang sarili ko sa nangyari. I was keeping my distance because I was upset that she went out with that dickhead, Monica was pairing her up with. Bukod pa doon, nasa eksena nanaman si Justin de Dios, that prick! Naiinis ako na ang daming umiiksena sa best friend ko. At ang mas nakakainis pa doon, hindi ko alam kung bakit naiinis ako.

I used to be okay with her dating. Why all of a sudden it became a fucking huge deal that she was seeing other guys?

And what did me acting like a damn pussy cost me?

Ayaw akong lubayan ng titig ni RD na tila ba sadyang naghahamon talaga siya ng away. Napatayo ako mula sa stool at handa na sana akong hamunin ng suntukan si Randall nang hawakan ako sa balikat ni Scor. He shook his head at me.

The last thing I want right now was for us to get on each other's bad side. I've never really fought with any of these morons. But over Ika? I'm ready to kill every single one of them without a single thought. That's how much that woman means to me.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Walang mangyayari kung paiiralin ko ang init ng ulo ko. I shrugged Scor's hand off my shoulder and I settled back on my stool.

"Hindi ka naman pala papalag, e."

"Putangina mo ba, RD, ha? Pipikunin mo talaga ako?" ibabato ko talaga sa kanya ang hawak kong shot glass pag hindi siya tumigil.

"Pussy."

"Bakla."

Natawa si Caleb. "Seriously? Calling each other names? Magsuntukan na lang kayo, kahit magbayad pa 'ko."