"Hi Andy."
She's standing infront of them. The flickering lights still allow him to notice the irritation at Sophie's face by the way the girl looks at him. Naramdaman niya ang mahigpit na kapit nito sa kanyang braso.
"Hi Paola! You're still in town." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Sophie na nakakapit sa braso niya. He acknowledges her gesture, and in a way to purposely show it to Paola.
Paola's brow raises a bit. "Yes, obviously. You are missing our night outs here, aren't you? Perhaps you know I'm around." Kinindatan pa siya nito.
"W-well..." He gives her an awkward smirk. "Have a great time, Paola." He tucks his arm around Sophie's waist and gently prompts her towards a group he recognizes instantly. His friends.
"I knew this place since my university days. And babe, I have no idea she's here."
"Are they friends with Paola, too?"
"Acquaintance. I've introduced her once, but they didn't really hang out together. She felt she was out of place."
He catches the sigh of relief at Sophie's expression. He's glad too that she gets along with his friends well.
"I don't like how Paola looks at yoi. Well, let me correct that. She's not looking. She's gawking!"
"Those piercing look you shot at her earlier? No doubt about that."
"That obvious? It's an instant reaction from a normal girlfriend against an intruder."
"Or defense mechanism," tukso nya rito. "You can't blame me if I notice those small details as my eyes are always set on you."
He catches her supressing a laugh. Even the tiny blushes that appear in the apples of her cheeks have not escaped his observant eyes. "Whatever. But I cannot let her presence ruin our night."
"That's my girl. I'll just go fetch you a drink. What do you want?"
"Cosmopolitan."
Iniwan niya si Sophie sa mga kaibigan, na ang ilan ay nakilala na rin nito sa kasal ni Dianne. Just upon reaching the bar he suddenly feels a tap on his shoulder. "Paola!" He tries to mask the disapointment in his tone by throwing her a smile.
"Drinks?" Inabutan siya nito ng bottled beer. He hesitates.
"I won't take no for an answer. Just one."
"Fine, just one." He drums his fingers on the bar counter as he waits for Paola to start a mini conversation. Ngunit nakatingin lamang ito sa kanya ng malagkit habang hinihimas ang bibig ng bote ng inumin nito. "So what's up? What have you been up to lately and how come you managed to stay this long?"
"I know you're gonna ask that." She settles on the barstool and crosses her legs, then smiles on her beer before she sips it.
"Thought Cambridge bores you."
She moves with the rotating seat towards his direction so her knees brushes his. And as her eye winks she says to him, "I just came to realize that geeks are the new sexy."
He feels his brows knit a bit. Pinigilan niya rin ang matawa. Nagbibiro ba ito? He knows exactly her kind of guys and university dudes don't appeal to her. Ni hindi nga niya alam kung ano rin ang nagustuhan nito sa kanya. Tingin niya ay hindi siya ganoon kaguwapo. Ngunit alam niyang isa sa panlaban niya ay ang maganda niyang mga mata.
When he was with Paola, she kept on telling him that his "dual character" attracted her the most. Sweet-looking guy next door by day and rugged artist by night. Being an artist was the hottest thing about him according to her, maybe one of the reasons he liked her in a way. Because Sarah never saw it in him.
Maya-maya lang ay iniabot na sa kanya ng bartender ang in-order niyang inumin para kay Sophie. He lets out a sigh of relief. He now has a reason not to linger long. "I gotta go, Paola. See you 'round."
Natagpuan niya si Sophie na nakasandal sa lounge habang nakabusangot ang mukha. Kitang-kita niya iyon kahit medyo madilim. Umupo siya sa tabi nito at inakbayan ito sa balikat. "You okay? Who are you texting with?"
"Everything was fine until I texted Marcia." Dinampot nito ang drinks at uminom na para itong uhaw na uhaw.
"What's the matter?" Bahagya siyang sumilip sa phone ni Sophie. Medyo nabasa niya ang usapan nila pero hindi naman niya naintindihan kasi Tagalog ang mga iyon.
"I was asking about the woman I suspect to be Dad's girlfriend. And she just seen-zoned my message.
"Oh that thing again. It bothers you terribly, huh?"
Mabagal itong tumango. He realizes this issue about her Dad seriously affects her that much. He doesnt exactly get it and at few times it annoys him, but the fact he sees her in that state affects him too in a way.
"Maybe your sister was busy to reply you. Give her the benefit of the doubt."
Tumango na lang si Sophie at itinabi na ang cell phone sa bag.
"How can I put the smile back on my baby's face?"
"An out of this world---Mai Tai," matulin nitong sagot. Biglang pawi rin ang lungkot nito sa mukha.
"You haven't even finished your drink yet."
"Alright, I'll finish this up!" Kinuha ni Sophie ang Cosmopolita niya at inubos ang natitira sa isang inuman lang.
"Fierce!"
"Would you care to get me more?"
"Fine. But only after you danced with me." He sets his beer down and grabs Sophie's hand. Hinila niya ang kamay nito kaya't 'di na ito nakapalag.
"Wait, I still wanna drink! I want my Mai Tai!"
"Come on, let's dance first." He takes her hand and tugs, dragging her to the dance floor. Sophie's eyebrows furrow but then her lips give up a smile as he pulls her against him and he begins moving to the rhythm. Music and moving bodies surrounds them. They have danced before in the wedding but this one of course is a different environment and different music, giving him a different vibe.
Lalo na't mas lumapit pa si Sophie nang husto sa kanya kaya't mas naging dikit ang kanilang mga katawan, nagsimula na naman siyang maakit dito. Andiyan iyong tatalikod ito habang hawak ang mga kamay niya't ipapalibot ang mga iyon sa baywang nito. Sophie's taking the lead in the dance floor. She's hot and full of confidence. But she doesn't lose her grace.
"You are so hot, babe! You're making me wanna take you home now instead."
Sophie just gives him a smirk and stares at him teasingly. Napakagat-labi siya at inilapit niya ang kanyang mukha rito, akmang hahalikan ang girlfriend. Pero inikutan siya nito habang sinasayawan kaya lalong siyang nanabik.
"You're teasing me! And I'm really liking you this way."
Pagkabalik ni Sophie sa kanyang harapan ay lumapit ito nang husto sa kanya. Magkadikit ang kanilang mga katawan kaya't ramdam niya halos ang dibdib nito. Hinila niya ang baywang nito papalapit pang lalo sa kanya hanggang magkadikit narin ang kanilang mga balakang at hita. Halos manghina ang kanyang mga tuhod.
"I really like this side of you, Sophia," bigkas niya sa tainga nito.
"I may be virgin. But I'm no saint," halos pabulong nitong sabi sa kanya kasunod ang may pagka pilyang tawa.
Nagharap ang kanilang mga mukha. "I'm dying to--- I'm looking forward to that day you'll open the door for me. I'm hungry for you. I want you so bad, Sophia! If you only know how hard I help myself to prevent me from touching you."
"Me too, Adrian. Me too."
His lips purse into a juicy kiss.
Lumalalim na ang gabi at marami-rami na rin ang ininom ni Sophie. Hindi naman siya gaanong nag-alala dahil siniguro nitong okay lang siya. Maya-maya pa'y nakatanggap siya ng tawag sa kanyang cell phone.
Si Sarah.
"I wouldn't have called you if only Brad is in town. He has his own family affair to attend to."
Nasiraan si Sarah habang nagmamaneho pauwi. Stranded siya ngayon sa gitna ng kalsada at ayon dito ay sobrang lakas pa ng ulan.
"I called the towing truck company so they should be here soon." Her voice is unbearably gentle, though there's a tone of a little panic in it.
"Stay inside your car. I'll go get you."
Ipinaalam niya kay Sophie ang nangyari pero mas pinili na lamang nito ang manatili sa bar. Inaasahan din naman nila ang pagdating ni Bruce at Lyanna.
"Glad I arrived first before the towing company comes. It's better that you come with me instead as some of our friends are also at the bar." Natagpuan niya si Sarah na yakap-yakap ang sarili dahil sa lamig. Nakababa ng kalahati ang bintana ng kotse nito. Ang lakas ng ulan at wala pa naman siyang dalang payong. Hinubad niya ang jacket na suot ipinandong iyon sa ulo ni Sarah habang palipat sila sa kotse niya.
"Bar?"
"Yeah. Sophie and I are having drinks back there. It's her birthday."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Andy. You should've told me so I didn't bother you."
"It's fine. She also preferred to stay." He catches her notice the wallet size selfie of him and Sophie which he hanged on the rear view mirror of his car.
"I haven't asked you this before. But how did the two of you meet?" A look of interest is visible on her face.
"He found me in an online network-slash-dating site." He answers without hesitation along with a childish laugh.
"Found you." Sarah mockingly emphasizes at him.
Stupid grin splits his face as he nods in confirmation. Totoo namang si Sophie talaga ang unang nakakita sa kanya sa dating site na iyon. "He clicked me, then I sent her a message. We chat, emailed, and the rest is history."
"Amazing. And she travelled all the way here for you."
"Hmmm, not actually. She really had plans of traveling here even before she met me."
"She's enjoying the city so far? Have you had the chance to tour her around? Because you didn't take a leave at work, right?"
"She had a group tour with the other tourists like her before she came to Cambridge."
"Great!"
"Too bad she's leaving soon." Sagot niya habang ang mga mata'y nakatuon lamang sa kalsada. Batid niya ang pagseryoso ng kanyang ekspresyon.
He stops at the red light and right there he lets out a deep sigh. "She's got three days left."
Saglit na natahimik si Sarah. "I dunno if I can handle a relationship like yours. LDR."
"I know, right. I mean, I know how you are."
Taka siya nitong tiningnan. "What about me, huh?"
"I know you demanded time."
"What's wrong about that?" natatawa nitong balik sa kanya.
"There's nothing wrong about that. And now I'm getting the best of that understanding with my situation with Sophia." It's too late before he realizes what he just said. Parang ang dating kasi, hindi man lang niya iyon na-realize noong sila pa ni Sarah. Napansin niya rin na medyo napawi ang ngiti sa mukha ng ex-girlfriend. "We've been talking about me. How are you and Brad goin'?"
Biglang bumalik ang ngiti sa mukha nito. Mukhang masaya naman ito sa bagong karelasyon. Nagpatuloy ang kanilang kuwentuhan hanggang sa makarating sila sa bar. Wala sa lounge si Sophie. Tinanong niya ang ilang mga kaibigan ngunit hindi raw nila ito napansin.
"I think I saw her went with a guy to the dance floor." Paolo says mockingly, twirling her long locks.
Nagmadali siyang tumungo sa dance floor at halos itulak na niya ang mga nakaharang sa kanyang dinaraanan. Sinipat niya ang mga taong nagsasayawan hanggang sa matagpuan niya mula sa kinatatayuan si Sophie kasayaw ang isang lalaking hindi niya kilala. Nakahawak ang lalaki sa baywang nito habang halos mawala ang sariling balanse sa pagsasayaw ang girlfriend. Hanggang sa iyon nga ay muntik na nga itong tumumba at agad namang nasalo ng lalaking kasayaw.
Humagukgik si Sophie at ipinatong nito ang dalawang kamay sa balikat ng lalaki na halos halikan na siya sa labi sa sobrang lapit ng mukha nila sa isa't-isa.
His jaw becomes tight, his mouth a straight line of displeasure. He rushes to them like a lighting bolt and pushes the guy in his chest. "Get your filthy hands off my girlfriend!" Inalalayan niya Sophie dahil mukhang lasing na lasing na. Gaano ba karami ang nainom nito habang wala siya?
"What's your problem, man? He agreed to dance with me," anang lalaki.
His fists ball tightly, eyes staring blankly. Pinipigilan ang sarili na suntukin ito at gumawa ng eksena.
"He's right, Andy. I went with him. (Hik!)" Litaw na litaw ang kalasingan sa tono ng pananalita ni Sophie. "Am I not allowed to dance with other guys beside you? (Hik!)
"Dude, you missed your girlfriend's hot dance moves with me and man, she's freakin' wild! If you came a bit late, you wouldn't have found her here anymore. She was asking me to bring her to my pad! I'm loving the Asians now!"
Ambang susuntukin na niya ito ngunit siyang pagdating ni Bruce upang pigilan siya at ang ang nagbabadyang gulo. Tiningnan niya nang matalim ang lalaki bago lisanin ang dance floor. Umupo sila sa lounge at pinainom naman ni Lyanna si Sophie ng malamig na tubig. Nakasandal ito sa upuan habang bahagyang nakabuka ang dalawang hita. Inayos ni Lyanna ang pagkakaupo nito.
"What the hell were you doing, Sophia! Just what the hell!" pasigaw niyang sabi kay Sophie. Napatingin nag ilan nilang mga kaibigang naroon.
Tumawa lang ito at halos maningkit ang mga mata habang nawawala ang sariling balanse kahit nakaupo na. "I was having fun, Adrian."
"Damn, Sophia!"
"Are you jealous, babe? Don't be." Hinawakan nito ang magkabila niyang pisngi sabay hinalikan siya. "Come on, let's go back there! I'll show you what you have missed."
"She's drunk, Andy," wika ni Lyanna. "You better go home and rest. Remember you have plans tomorrow, right?"
"I don't wanna push my plans for her tomorrow because of what she did!"
Lumapit si Bruce at binulungan siya. "That dude has a reputation, man. I heard he puts e-drugs on his prospects' drinks."
Kumunot ang noo niya. "That asshole!" Agad siyang tumayo ngunit agad din siyang napigilan ng pinsan. "I should get back to that ---"
"Calm yourself, man! Look, Sophia's wasted as hell. You have to bring her home now."
"Andy, Bruce is right. Be fair to her. It's not her fault. And you know how badly she wanted to see that place."
"Listen to them, Andy." ani Sarah.
"How about you?" baling niya kay Sarah.
"I'll go with you. And I'm too tired to stay, anyways."
"Okay. I'll drop you to your apartment."
Irritably, he watches Sophie's half unconscious form in between driving. She looks so drunk as she lays frail on the reclined car seat. And he hates to admit to himself that she looks more high from the ecstasy compared to being sober from the alcohol.
Ang imahe ng posibilidad na sasama si Sophie sa lalaking iyon ay nakapanggigil sa kanya. Hindi na siya galit dito. Pero gusto niya itong pagsabihan kapag nasa katinuan na, na mag-ingat naman at maging alerto sa mga taong mapagsamantala. Paano na lang kung hindi agad siya nakarating? At lalong paano na kung hindi na sila magkasama?
Lalo siyang nanggigil kaya't napabusina siya nang malakas sa kotseng nasa unahan niya kahit siya pa mismo itong nagbiglang-preno. Madaling-madali na kasi siyang makauwi.
"Are you okay, Andy?" tanong ni Sarah.
Tiningnan niya ito mula sa rear view mirror. "I'm fine. Sorry about my reckless driving."
"She's lucky we got into the bar and you found her in the nick of time."
"Mark my words, Sarah. I will not stop until I break his jaw and ruin his face if he does something to her!"
At another red stop, he brushes his hand over Sophie's forehead then he gently strokes her hair. I shouldn't have left you at the bar, he says to her softly, almost inaudible.
She moans. "I want you, babe."
"Hush... We'll be home in a few minutes."
"You want me too, right?"
Napatingin siya kay Sarah. She just shrugs her shoulders and throws him a tiny smile before he turn to the car window.
"Keep yourself awake, baby. We're almost home."
He drops Sarah off to her apartment. He cannot exactly remember the last time he sent her home. But the atmosphere becomes familiar and now he guesses it could be from a night out too and she did not bring her car that time.
He misses the familiar --- her dainty apartment eversince college, which has become like a second home to him. He recalls the good all days, and the missing does not include any romantic feeling. Just plain nostalgia of nice memories that put a smile on his face.
"Thanks for the ride, Andy." Mula sa labas ng kotse ay bahagya itong yumuko upang silipin siya sa bintana.
"Anytime, Sarah."
"Thanks for the jacket. I'll wash this first," pahabol pa nito.
He hears Sophia moan again. "Are we home, babe?"
"Very soon, babe."
Akay-akay niya itong pumasok sa kanilang apartment. Habang paakyat sila ay paulit-ulit pa nitong sinasabi sa kanya, 'I want you, Andy.' Pagkapasok na pagkapasok ng kanyang unit ay isinandal siya ni Sophie sa pader at pinaghahalikan na tulad ng ginawa niya rito sa hotel pagkatapos ng kasal ni Dianne. Hindi niya alintala ang amoy ng alcohol sa bibig nito. Palaban ang mga halik ni Sophie. Sino nga naman ba siya para tanggihan iyon, eh gusto nga niyang may mangyari sa kanila.
Napakapit siya sa nakalugay nitong buhok habang ang isa naman niyang kamay ay gumapang sa dibdib nito. Nadinig niya ang mahina nitong ungol. Ngunit tanong niya sa sarili, tama ba'ng samantalahin niya ang pagkakataong ito na high sa sex drug si Sopihe? Hindi naman yata maganda na ang unang beses na gagawin nila ito ay dahil high si Sophie sa gamot at hindi dahil kusa siyang nagkaloob.
Tinigilan na niya ang pakikipaghalikan. Si Sophie naman hinila siya sa leeg at pinaghahalikan siya ulit. Sobrang hirap pigilan, pero kailangan. "Babe, I said I want you," ulit pa nito.
"You know how much I want you too. But you're drunk... and ---" Hindi na niya muna itinuloy ang sasabihin. Saka na lang niya ipapaliwanag kapag nasa katinuan na ito.
Biglang para nalang mabibilaukan Si Sophie sabay takbo ito patungong banyo. Narinig niya itong nagsusuka. Sinundan niya ito at nakita siyang nakaluhod sa sahig ang sumusuka sa toilet bowl. Hinagod niya ang likod nito habang napapailing na lang siya. Pakiramdam niya ay may nakababata siyang kapatid na inaalagaan.
"Arrgghh! My head feels like it's splitting into two!"
Inalalayan niya ito para tumayo. Amoy suka! Pati pala sarili nitong damit ay nasukahan niya. "I'll get you cleansed."
Cautiously, Andy takes off her top and leaving her bra on. Sophie is unconsciously trying to remove her bra but he stops her from doing so. She almost loses her balance. She leans against the glazed ceramic wall, her head down, and eyes half-closed.
He hesitantly unbuttons her pants and unzips them down. A black laced bikini is revealed before him, making him stare at the precious sight. He reaches for the light switch and he turns it off.
Pinaliguan niya si Sophie nang patay ang ilaw. Quick shower lang naman. Mabasa-basa na rin siya sa paglilinis dito, habang ingat na ingat ding maiwasan na makapa ang maseselang bahagi ng katawan nito.
"Don't you want me anymore, Adrian? You rejected me." Inalalayan niya ulo nitong makahiga nang maayos sa unan.
"You know how much I want you. But I don't want to do it this way." Kinumutan na niya ito ng duvet. Siya rin ay nahiga na nang patagilid kaharap si Sophie. "I dunno if you'll still remember this when your sound mind is back. I'm not gonna rush your first. For now, I will take care of you."
"I love you," mahinang sabi ni Sophie sa kanya. Sobrang hina nuon pero nabasa niya rin ang mga salita mula sa labi nito. I love you. Matapos ay pumikit ito at agad na nakatulog.
Napangiti siya at hinalikan ito sa noo. I hope she means it, sabi niya sa sarili.