Kumuha ako ng cheezy after kong ilagay sa basket niya yung clover. Mas lalong lumawak yung ngiti ko nang magtama ang mga mata namin. One.. two.. then his gaze shifted back at my hands. Hindi ako nagsalita at nilagpasan ko siya saka nilagay lahat ng dala ko sa pushcart saka ko ulit siya hinarap.
"I didn't saw you earlier" I said.
Umiling lang siya saka naglakad paalis. I shook my head as I watched him walking away. My plan A and B was successful, no doubt. Tinulak ko yung pushcart at sumunod sa kanya. Fortunately, I was done with my list kaya magkasunod lang kaming nakapila sa counter.
"Babalik ka kila Melissa?" I asked.
He scowled at me like I just suddenly grown another head then looked away and shook his head.
"Is she okay now? Papasok na ba siya bukas?" I asked again but I've got no response.
I watched him habang nilalagay niya ang lahat ng laman ng basket sa counter. The corner of my lips lifted up. Everything he does makes me like him more. Even if it looks like I was just hurting myself. It doesn't matter.
Hindi ko na siya nakita after kong magbayad sa cashier kaya umuwi na lang ako.
*
"Nakapasok ka na ba sa bar?" tanong ni Nico na sumadya pa talaga sa classroom namin, umagang umaga.
"Hindi pa," sagot ko.
He grinned like I said the magic word "Cool. Then i'll take you there and let you experience the night life"
Troy nudged him. "Don't corrupt her mind" sabi nito.
"I do not," Nico scoffed, "I just want her to step out of her comfort zone at least once in her life" he said matter of fact.
I tilted my head and watched them. Ano bang pinaglalaban ng dalawang to?
"We won't be drinking alcohol, we'll just enjoy there. Pumayag ka na Lala."
"You want to?" tanong ni Troy sakin.
I stared at them. They looked expectant kaya tumango na lang ako. Gusto ko din naman maexperience magbar for once in my life.
"I bet you didn't know na madalas sa bar si Ethon," sabi ni Nico pagkapasok namin sa sinasabi niyang bar.
I roamed my eyes around. Disco lights, smell of smoke and mixed alcohols and live rock music all over the place. We settled at the bar island because according to Nico, doon lang hindi mausok.
"Madalas ka din dito?" I asked.
"You bet"
"Obviously," sabi ni Troy.
I chuckled and asked him to order. He ordered nachos, fries and pj. And he's true to his word na no alcohol kahit sa kanilang dalawa.
"Pumupunta lang kami dito every weekend to chill but when we're in the mood, lumilipat kami sa kabila where we can dance"
"Sa club? I want to see it," I said excitedly.
Mahinang hinila ni Troy yung buhok ko. "Bawal ang hindi marunong sumayaw dun" sabi nito saka tumawa.
I pinched his cheek, "I can dance!"
"Tell me about it" he smirked.
"Hindi ka marunong sumayaw? I can teach you some moves," sabi naman ni Nico nang may nakakalokong ngiti.
Tumayo ako, "Bayaran mo na yang kinain natin," sabi ko kay Nico.
He frown and looked at his watch, "Ang aga pa!" he exclaimed.
I shook my head and grinned, "Lilipat tayo sa kabila," I announced.
They gave me a 'what-the-heck' look. So, I held my chin up, "I'll prove to you that I can dance!"
Troy profusely shook his head, "You don't have to, we're not asking for it," he said firmly which was I heard it for the first time.
"Oh yeah? Cool!" sabi naman ni Nico saka naglabas ng pera at siningit sa ilalim ng plate, "Let's go!"
I smiled widely.
Compared sa kabilang bar, this looks more wild. Loud electronic dance music, disco lights, strong smell of smoke and alcohol and loud voices of the club goers.
"We can go back at the bar if this overwhelmes you," sabi ni Nico.
I shook my head and smiled.
"Sure?"
"Sure."
"Okay. Show us your moves," he grinned then dragged me on the dancefloor.
Both of them facing me expectantly. I chuckled then started swaying my body. Huh! I've watched a lot of movies kaya hindi ako inosente sa ganito. I did the body roll habang nasa gitna nila akong dalawa.
"Dammit Lala. You can be lethal if you ever want to," sabi ni Nico pagkaupo namin.
"Saan mo natutunan yon?" tanong naman ni Troy.
"Movies, of course," I chuckled. "Next time if you two provoke me again, i'll make sure to give you both a hard on," I warned.
"Lala!" both of them exclaimed in unison which made me laugh. They looked offended or something, e, I was joking in lang naman. Wala naman akong alam kung paano magpaturn on ng lalaki.
"Don't say it again," seryosong sabi ni Troy while Nico groaned like something pained him.
I laughed at their reactions, "Chill guys. Joke lang!" I grinned sheepishly.
Pareho silang umiling. Nico ordered tulad ng inorder niya sa kabilang bar. We heard loud laughters galing sa kabilang table pagkalapag ng order namin.
"Wow, they had the balls to enter here, but too damn coward to get a booze," sabi nung isang lalaki and again tumawa na naman sila. The mocking laugh I could tell.
I frowned and looked at the reactions of Troy and Nico. I was relieved when I saw that they ignored the mocking remarks from the other table. This is my first time na makapasok sa ganitong lugar at ayoko naman na brawling ang first experience ko no. Surely, it will memorable but traumatizing at the same time.
"I texted Ethon," Nico announced then slid his phone inside his pocket.
"Really?" I smiled.
Hinila ni Troy ang buhok ko "Don't be too obvious," he chuckled.
"I'm a proud person so I won't hide my excitement," I said proudly.
Both of them shook their heads.
No one dared open a conversation. Pinanood lang namin ang mga nagsasayawan hanggang sa may tumabi sakin.
"Nakakapagtampo"
Nilingon ko yung tumabi sakin and I grinned when I saw Melissa na nakacrossed arms at nakapout habang nakatingin sakin.
"You're here! Di ba may sakit ka? Okay ka na?" I scowled at her.
Her lips tugged upward and she glanced at her right and I saw Ethon sitting next to Nico and he was looking at Melissa.
"Sumakit lang ang ulo ko kaninang umaga but I'm okay now. Nico posted a picture in instagram then he told me I can come dahil hindi naman kayo nainom ng alak"
I nodded then immediately, kinuha ko ang phone ko sa bag at inopen ang wifi para tingnan kung anong picture yun. I glared at Nico who snickered right after I saw it. Ang panget ko sa picture!
"Bully!" I hissed.
Lumingon sakin si Troy at inagaw ang phone ko, then I heard him chuckled. Isa pa to.
"Nice shot dude," he commented.
I slapped his arm pero tinawanan niya lang ako. Kainis.
"Okay lang maging panget sa picture, maganda ka naman sa personal," Nico added then he laughed again.
Hindi na lang ako sumagot and just shook my head. Sumandal ako sa upuan at tumingin na lang ako kay Ethon. I instantly smiled when I saw him looking at me, though he looked away immediately.
"Let's dance!" yaya ni Melissa at tumayo na.
"No. Wag mong pagsasayawin si Lala!" tutol agad ni Nico.
I tilted my head then smiled, "And why?" I asked.
He shook his head, "You're lethal. Baka mapaaway kami," he answered though there's a hint of humor behind it.
I frowned. What does it mean?
"Don't listen to them Lei, let's go," sabi ni Melissa at tuluyan na kong hinila sa dance floor.
I smiled widely. I love the loud music that's why I immediately went to the flow. Melissa and I were just laughing as we dance weirdly. But we abruptly stopped when a guy stepped in between us and snaked his arm around Melissa's waist. Tinalak siya ni Melissa, but to no avail dahil mas malakas ang lalaki. I was about to call the boys nang biglang dumating si Ethon and quickly yanked the guy's arm and tugged Melissa behind him.
"Who the fvck are you?" the guy asked angrily.
Hindi sumagot si Ethon, instead, tinalikuran niya yung lalaki at hinila si Melissa palayo sa dance floor. I followed them, pero nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako nang mas mabilis na lumakad yung lalaki at nilagpasan ako. Then in just a snap, Ethon was lying on the floor.
"Ethon!" Melissa exclaimed in panic.
I ran to them, shoving everyone in my way at tinulungan ko si Melissa na alalayan si Ethon makatayo, but a strong arms pushed me hard enough that I stumbled on the ground saka sinutok ulit si Ethon.
"Ethon!" sigaw ko nang makita kong pumutok ang gilid ng labi niya.
"Lala! Okay ka lang?" tinulungan ako ni Troy tumayo.
"Tatawag ako ng pulis kung hindi ka titigil!” narinig kong banta ni Nico.
Hindi ko na kasi sila makita dahil nakapalibot na yung mga tao sa kanila at nakikiusisa.
"Stay here," mahigpit na hinawakan ni Troy ang kamay ko para hindi ako makalapit kay Ethon.
I sighed.
Pinanood ko ang unti unting pag-alisan ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila at yung dalawang bouncer na bitbit naman ang lasing na lalaki na sumuntok kay Ethon.
"Let's go," sabi ni Nico habang nakaalalay kay Ethon.
Sumunod kami sa kanila palabas ng bar.
"Doon muna tayo samin. Hindi pwedeng umuwi 'to ng ganito ang itsura," said Nico.
Sumama kaming lahat sa bahay ni Nico para gamutin ang sugat ni Ethon. Naupo ako sa tabi niya at hinawakan ang baba niya para tingnan kung gaano kalala ang pagputok ng gilid ng labi niya. He didn't protest, he just looked away nang tumingin ako sa mga mata niya.
"Let's clean it first," sabi ni Troy habang inaabot sakin ang medical kit.
I gently cleansed the bruises on his face. Iningatan kong hindi madiinan para hindi siya masaktan.
"I can't believe my first bar experience will be like that," narinig kong reklamo ni Melissa.
"It's memorable," sagot naman ni Nico.
Napailing na lang ako habang nililinis ang sugat ni Ethon. He didn't say anything, ni hindi niya ako matingnan e. I bit my lips nang malinis ko na yung sugat at wala ng kalat na dugo. I checked his face and thankfully, doon lang sa gilid ng labi ang may cut but his left cheek was swallowing.
I gently touched it but he still winched, "Sorry. Kukuha lang ako ng icebag," I said then asked Nico para samahan akong kumuha ng icebag.
Naupo agad ako sa tabi niya pagkabalik ko at dahan dahang nilapat ang icebag sa namamagang pisngi niya.
"Papasa yan," I said.
"Ako na," sabi naman niya saka hinawakan yung kamay kong nakahawak sa icebag.
Of course I was shocked at our sudden skin contact but I composed myself at agad kong binigay sa kanya ang icebag. I shook my head as I looked away. I can feel his stares pero this time, I can't return my gaze, simply because, my heart was beating wildly at ang lapit lapit namin sa isa't isa.
Kinuha ko na lang ang cotton balls at nilagyan ng betadine saka ko ginamot ang cut sa gilid ng labi niya. I focused my eyes on his cut and purposely avoided his eyes. I scanned his face again then smiled nang wala na talaga siyang iba pang sugat. Lumayo na ako sa kanya saka ako tumingin sa mga mata niya. "Ano pang masakit sayo?" I asked.
Kahit na sobrang bilis pa rin ng tibok ng puso ko, I bravely looked at his brown orbs na hindi ko naman inaasahan na nakatingin parin sakin. Kumunot ang noo niya when our eyes met bago umiwas ng tingin saka umiling. I bit my lips saka ako tumayo at naupo sa tabi ni Troy.
"Okay ka lang? I'm sorry, nadamay ka pa," sabi ni Melissa nang naupo siya sa tabi ni Ethon.
Ethon smiled at her, but winced immediately nung mastretch yung cut niya. Napalingon lang ako sa gilid ko nang biglang tumayo si Troy at lumapit kila Melissa.
My brows furrowed as I watched him. Akala ko may confrontation na mangyayari at nagselos na ng tuluyan si Troy, but I was wrong. Bumalik si Troy sa tabi ko dala ang medicine kit na kinuha niya sa tabi ni Ethon. Hinawakan niya ang braso ko pagkaupo niya sa tabi ko saka ginamot ang galos na nakuha ko kanina nang itulak ako ng lalaking sumuntok kay Ethon.
"Manhid ka ba?" kunot noong tanong niya.
I smiled at him then shook my head. He sighed and continued mending my bruises.
"Bakit nagkasugat ka?" Ethon suddenly asked.
Napatingin agad ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko naman inaasahan na nakatingin pala siya samin.
"Tinulak siya ng lalaki," Troy answered instead.
Ethon's eyebrows connected in one line as he looked at Troy, then when our eyes met again, nag-iwas agad siya ng tingin saka binalik kay Melissa ang mga mata.
"Ayos ka lang?" he asked Melissa as he reached her face and gently rubbed his thumb on her cheek.
Melissa smiled at him and nodded. I looked away and smiled and just watched Troy as he mend my bruises.