Addicted

Chapter 4

KIANDRE ZIAR SANDOVAL

__

"Congrats, babe. I'm really so proud of you," malawak ang ngiting sambit ni mom habang nakahawak sa balikat at sa pisngi ko.

"Thanks, mom."

I let her hug me tight. I loved to feel that.

"So happy to hear an inspiring graduation speech from you. You never failed to make us proud," dad said at yumakap sa akin even they already hugged me pagkatapos ng ceremony sa venue.

"Your mom and I had a hard time finding gifts for you. May hindi pa ba kami naibibigay sa'yo?"

I never failed any exams so I could always ask anything from them and Ate.

"I need nothing else, dad."

"What about private plane?"

"We already have lots of it."

Our private airport had its opening just few months ago. Marami pang bagong private planes. I don't think I need a new one.

"Just in case you want a new one or you want to customize your own. Something you think you'll be more comfortable or something you might want to show your girlfriend in the future. I know you would love to fly with her."

"Can I come? I don't mind being a third wheel," Kal said na kararating lang at yumakap sa baywang ni dad, "Congrats, Kuya."

Parari siyang sumasama sa amin kapag may training ako. She likes to travel.

Dad chuckled. "I'm looking forward na makita kayong dalawa working together."

Kal smiled widely at dad. "Me too. I can't wait to finish college, dad."

"I'm sure you'll be the prettiest FA, sweetheart."

"And kuya as the most handsome pilot ever."

Yumakap ito sa akin telling me how proud she was. She will always be our sweetest girl.

We waited for Ate to come home before we started our dinner. I celebrated with them even after it for a couple of hours. Binuksan ko ang mga gifts na binigay nila sa akin.

Nagpaalam na rin akong aakyat sa kwarto ko after that. I just took a shower at humiga na rin ako sa ibabaw ng kama.

I received lots of messages on my inbox. Some of my batch mates were sending me congratulatory message. I don't even know kung saan nila nakuha ang contacts ko.

I had a long day, but I still couldn't sleep.

I opened my eyes when I saw her again in my mind. She was never gone in my head. Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon sa mga matang iyon na hindi ko magawang kalimutan. Those eyes kept on haunting me even in day time and my busy hour.

I always had that urge... to see those personally.

Ilang oras ang lumipas. I already tried everything to fall asleep even asked yaya to give me two glasses of milk pero hindi ko pa rin nagawang makatulog.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga habang nakatingin sa ceiling.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I stood up from the bed and fixed myself to go outside. It was already midnight, but everyone was still in the house. Nasa veranda ang mga ito maybe talking about different stuffs.

They didn't notice na umalis ako and it was better. I never told Brayle and Helix na bumabalik pa rin ako sa club.

I went to my car at nagsimula na akong magmaneho papunta sa club.

I was nervous when I stepped out of my car. I always feel that way whenever I would go there.

As usual, the big bouncers would look at me from head to toe before they would let me enter the premises.

At katulad pa rin noong unang beses, naamoy ko agad ang alak sa loob ganoon na rin ang amoy ng sigarilyo.

Tintingmnan ko pa lang ang buong paligid nang halos mapaiktad ako nang may babaeng bigla na lang sumulpot sa harapan ko at pinagapang ang kamay sa dibdib ko.

"Are you looking for adventure?" she asked seductively.

Napalunok ako nang bumaba pa ang kamay nito sa sinturon ko. I was about to take off her hand there pero may babaeng tumulak rito.

"Tabi."

Napadaing ang babae sa lakas ng pagkakatulak nito. I was planning to help her kaya lang pinigilan niya ako at pinaalis agad ang babae.

"Go find someone else. He's mine."

Walang nagawa ang babae kung hindi ang umalis.

A woman in front of me smirked at me. "I guess... we have another regular customer."

I would not forget her. Siya ang babaeng sumalubong rin sa akin noong nakaraan.

She offered her hand to me.

"Follow me," mapanukso pa ring anito.

Pinagpapawisan ang mga kamay ko pero inabot ko pa rin iyon sa kanya.

She again smirked at me bago ako hilahin sa pamilyar na direksyon. Dinaanan namin ang VIP kung saan sila madalas mag sayaw and I didn't see Arin there. Dinala niya ako sa dressing room kung sana ko ito pinutahan noong nakaraan.

Inikot ko ang tingin ko sa buong paligid, but I didn't see her there.

"W-where is she?"

Nanatili itong nakasandal sa mesa still smirking at me.

"Wala. She's not here."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nakaramdam ng panghihinayang.

"May... customer ba siya?" nag-aalangang tanong ko.

She chuckled. "Alam mo bang... ikaw lang ang nag-iisang customer niya?"

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. Hindi ko iyon naintindihan kaagad.

"Yeah, she's always mingling with customers for extra money, her choice if she will let them touch her or not, but if I wasn't mistaken, ikaw ang unang customer na pinayagan niyang dalhin siya sa langit."

I wanted to believe that it was true dahil ayokong marinig ang kabaliktaran.

"She was offered millions for one-night-stand pero kahit isa wala siyang tinanggap, and your friend just offered her ten thousand to have s*x with you, surprisingly, she accepted it. You know I think she's really going crazy. I didn't know she's that cheap. Ten thousand, really?"

I was literally confused. I didn't know that was the price Brayle and Helix gave her. I had no any idea about sa presyo na dapat ibayad sa kanila, but I don't think she deserved that.

"Hinulaan ko lang na mayaman ka based on your looks and I was wrong... you're not just rich, you are super rich. Congrats, I've watched your speech on social media, mukhang maraming babaeng nagkakagusto sa'yo with teenage attitude. I still think you're kinda... plain. You're handsome, mukha kang mabango, mukha kang mabait, but your biceps... your chest? Two out of ten. We don't like that here. You look like a teenager. You're tall, but you lack confidence. Bad boys are more attractive than good boys, don't you know that? But anyway, going back, I think you should have at least paid Arin a million because I guess she had to do all the job, but I don't know... most of the time that woman is hard to understand."

"I will... pay her. I'll give her what she deserves."

"Good. One more thing... I like your voice. I think it'll sound sexy if you would stop stuttering." Ngumisi ito sa akin. "You're body is not my type, but I like your intelligence, the way you deliver your speech, it's attractive. Are you sure you don't want me?"

"Where can I... where can I see her?"

She immediately rolled her eyes. "I thought you're smart? Summa c*m Laude chuvaness. Why can't you answer a simple question?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Anyway, before I forget, 'yung lalaking kasama mo the first you were here, is he really your cousin?"

"B-Brayle?"

"Oh, yeah... that monster."

"He's my cousin."

"Are you sure?" taas kilay na tanong nito. "Mayaman kayong lahat, 'di ba? Bakit ten thousand lang wala siya? That poor monster."

Ramdam ko ang inis sa tinig nito. I was still disappointed na hindi ko nakita si Arin doon.

"I-- I'll go now..."

Akmang tatalikod ako pero muli itong nagsalita.

"Fine, five thousand for her location."

I didn't hesitate to get my wallet from my pocket. Lumapit ako sa kanya to give her the money.

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya waiting na sabihin niya kung saan ko ito makikita pero nakatingin lang din ito sa akin.

"And his number."

"W-what?"

"Your cousin's number," taas kilay na sambit nito.

I didn't want to give it to her dahil ayokong magalit si Brayle, but I still ended up giving his number.

Nagsimula na namang mabuo ang ngisi sa mga labi nito.

"Paglabas mo, lakarin mo ang kaliwang side hanggang sa makita mo 'yung kumukurap na signage ng isang bakanteng building. It was an old club na heaven ang pangalan. Medyo matagal na noong umalis siya kanina so you better hurry."

"Thank you..."

"Welcome, handsome," anito habang winawagayway ang limang libo sa ere.

Sinundan ko lang ang sinabi nito. Malayo pa ako nakikita ko na ang kumukurap na ilaw na tinutukoy niya. Walang bantay sa building pero napansin kong nakabukas ang padlock.

Madilim sa loob nang makapasok ako kaya naman nagdahan-dahan lang ako sa pag-akyat ng hagdan hanggang makarating ako sa ikaapat na palapag.

Huminto ako nang makita ko itong nakatayo sa dulo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagsimula na naman akong nakaramdam ng kaba sa dibdib ko.

Kahit malamig ang simoy ng hangin doon ay pinagpapawisan pa rin ako. It took me a while bago ko maihakbang ang mga paa ko papalapit sa direksyon niya.

Naamoy ko agad ang mabangong amoy niya nang nakapuwesto ako sa tabi niya, but I also smelled her cigarette.

Pakiramdam ko dumoble ang kabog ng didbib ko nang tingnan ko ito. Nakatingin pa rin siya sa mga sasakyang dumaraan sa ibaba habang patuloy sa paghitit at pagbuga ng usok sa ere.

I wanted to stare at that face longer pero hindi ko mapigilang mapaubo. I never liked the smell of it.

"Your friend... told me you're here."

Hindi ito sumagot. Muli siyang nagbuga ng usok sa ere bago bitiwan ang hawak na sigarilyo. Tinapakan niya iyon gamit nag itim na heels niya.

"What else did she tell you?" casual na tanong nito.

"She said... I'm your only client," nag-aalangang sambit ko. "I'm... I'm sorry-- I didn't know the amount Brayle and Helix gave you not until your friend told me."

"You're the only one who saw it. No one else except you."

Hindi ko alam kung anong eksaktong maramdaman ko when she confirmed that.

Lalo akong hindi nakapag-isip nang maayos nang bumaling ito sa akin. Muli ko na namang nakita ang dalawang pares ng mga matang iyon.

"Can you keep that to yourself?"

I gulped something down my throat before saying anything.

"Y-you can trust me..."

Hindi ko pa rin nakitaan ng kahit anong emosyon ang mga mata nito. Maybe that was why I couldn't forget it... I was craving to see something from it.

"You know what I like about you?" she said and started to go closer to me. Sunod-sunod akong napalunok sa lapit nito sa akin. "You're good at keeping what you saw."

I don't have to tell anyone what happened between us.

I was so nervous that I could hear my heart's loud beat.

She really had that effect on me.

"I-- It's cold here..." Wala sa loob na sambit ko kahit pa pakiramdam ko ay nag-aapoy na ang buong katawan ko.

Natatarantang tinanggal ko ang suot kong coat at muli ko iyong binalot sa kanya. She was wearing a revealing dress, I thought she needed that.

Malapit pa rin ito sa akin and she was just looking into my eyes kaya naman hindi man lang nabawasan ang kabog sa dibdib ko, but then... I didn't want to lose the chance to ask her...

"I'm wondering..." I started but I couldn't seem to continue. Damn.

I hated myself for being like that. I couldn't really talk straight to people. Conversation was always making me feel nervous. And talking to her, that close, asking her something that she might refuse, made me feel more nervous.

"I'm wondering... If I-- if I could... d-date you?" I asked na halos hindi na lumabas sa bibig ko.

Halos kumawala na ang puso ko hanggang sa hindi ako nakaririnig ng sagot mula rito.

Her, looking at me, made me want to melt.

"Rich people like you don't ask," she answered plainly, "You like getting what you want even without permission. You make the rules."

"I'm not... I'm not like them. My parents are rich, but not me. I-- I still want to ask..."

Sandali itong hindi sumagot at nanatiling nakatingin sa mga mata ko.

Damn those eyes...

"And if the answer is no?"

At ako naman ang hindi nakasagot sa tanong na iyon.

I then understood that there was no sense of asking because I wouldn't really... accept a no. I didn't want to prove her na tama ang sinabi niya, I wanted her to consider that asking her to date me was an exception, but I guess my silence answered her question already.

A smirk started forming her lips. Napalunok ako.

Gumapang ang palad nito sa didbib ko papunta sa pisngi ko. It gave me shivers. It gave me electricity all over my body.

"I know it..." she whispered-- a whisper I knew was also hard to forget, "I know all your games... I know how to play them."

Muli akong napalunok nang gumapang pa ang isang kamay nito sa dibdib ko.

She leaned closer to me and laid her lips on my ear.

"Can you guess mine?"