Chapter 2

Hindi maramdaman ni Auri ang pisngi sa lakas ng sampal ng ina pero hindi 'yon sapat para manatili s'ya sa presens'ya nito. She would have slapped her back, but Selene was still her mother.  Auri left the bedroom the grabbed her purse and car keys at the coffee table as soon as she got downstairs. Sumakay s'ya ng kotse na walang destinasyon. Ang naiisip na lang niya ay makalayo sa bahay nila at bahala na kung saan s'ya mapadpad. 

The Velvet Lounge was just recently opened by her friend, Lira. She was not able to attend the opening of her bar because Damian was not feeling well at ayaw nitong papuntahin s'ya na hindi kasama. Nagtampo si Lira dahil doon pero hindi rin s'ya nito natiis dahil makadalawang araw ay iniimikan na rin s'ya nito. 

She promised to visit the bar soon, but tonight, she needed a distraction from the chaos at home. The Velvet Lounge was making the waves. Narinig niya ang mga kasamahan sa trabaho na pinag-uusapan ang bar ni Lira at puro papuri ang mga ito. Hindi iisang beses niyang inaya si Damian kahit saglit, pero palagi itong tumatanggi. Damian was not a fan of bars. Nagkokomento pa nga minsan ito na puro pakawala raw ang mga babaeng mahilig tumambay sa bar. 

Napaismid s'ya sa memory na 'yon. Kung may pakawala man ay hindi ang mga babaeng sinasabi nito, kung 'di si Damian mismo!

Naupo s'ya sa bakanteng bar stool at nag-isip ng maiinom. She has never been a drinker. Noong college ay si Cami at Lira lang ang madalas n'yang kasama pero nang magmigrate ang pamilya ni Cami sa Amerika, silang dalawa ni Lira ang madalas magkasama. 

She called Lira and in a couple of rings, she picked up.

"Is everything okay? Where are you? It's loud," tanong ni Lira.

"I'm at your bar. Nasa bahay ka pa ba? What time are you coming here?"

"Oh no, I can't tonight. I'm out of town. 50th birthday ng father ni Alex at dito sila sa Quezon nagcelebrate. Bukas pa ang uwi ko. Of all days, ngayon ka pa nagpunta riyan kung kailan wala ako," nagtatampo nitong wika sa kanya. 

Si  Alex ang boyfriend ni Lira at one year na ang mga itong magkasintahan. Damian never liked Alex or Lira. Isa pa 'yon sa na-realize n'ya ngayong gabi. They were civil kapag nagkikita-kita pero wala ang closeness na inaasam niya. 

"Are you drinking booze? Did Damian cheated on you?"

"Oorder pa lang. Yes."

"What?! That freaking asshole!" mahinang mura ni Lira. She didn't want to ruin the party she's at. "What happened?"

"I will tell you once you're back. Fow now, I just need to drink my sorrows away."

"Oh, Auri. I wish I'm there right now. I'm so sorry." Napabuntong hininga ito. "Drinks on me. I'll let my staff know. Okay? And please don't drink and drive. Iwan mo na lang ang kotse mo riyan at magtaxi ka na lang pauwi ha?"

"I'll be fine. I'm a big girl." Narinig niyang may tumawag sa pangalan ni Lira. "Sige na, naaabala na kita."

"It's okay. Sinenyasan ko na." Napabuntong hininga ito. "I think I should go there. Magpapaalam ako kay Alex—"

"Li, ano ka ba? Okay lang ako. Nakakahiya naman sa family ni Alex at saka hindi naman ito urgent. Nothing will change if you come tonight. Damian will still be a cheater. Mag-usap na lang tayo pagbalik mo."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure. Just have fun at huwag mo akong isipin."

When the call ended, Auri ordered a whiskey. She heard a chuckle and automatically, Auri turned to see who did that. The man looked ruggedly handsome. Casual lang ang suot nito– fitted black shirt and jeans. The only accessory he had was a watch and it was a Patek. 

Must be a fake watch, she thought. 

"If your done checking me out, let's toast."

Pareho sila ng order. Whiskey rin ang laman ng baso na hawak nito. 

"I don't even know your name."

"I'm Ian."

"Auri. So what are we toasting for?"

"Freedom." Napataas ang isang kilay ni Auri sa narinig. "You just broke up with your cheater boyfriend today too."

Auri gasped. Hindi lang ito gwapo, tsismoso rin! She was getting ready to talk back when he smiled and Auri was mesmerized. Kung ano man ang sasabihin niya ay lumipad na lang, and she hasn't even had a drink yet!

"Sorry. You weren't exactly discreet. I heard you talking to your friend over the phone and I have a good memory."

Auri rolled her eyes. 

"So how about that toast?" ulit ng lalaki sa kanya.

He raised his glass first, then she did the same. 

"To freedom and new beginnings!"

They clinked their glasses and took a sip of their drink. Their eyes glued at each other's faces. Auri couldn't take the heat so she averted her gaze. Tumitig s'ya sa selection ng mga alak sa bar. 

"So what do you do for work?" 

"Boring office work. How about you?" tanong ni Auri. Muli s'yang tumingin kay Ian. His eyes was still on her.

"Same. Aren't we a match?"

Napatawa si Auri. "Mabilis ka rin. Hindi uso sa 'yo ang magpasakalye."

"I don't believe in wasting time. Besides, the longer you ride on the wrong train, the more expensive your fare is going to be."

Auri smiled. Same thoughts run through her head. She was about to say something when her phone buzzed. Damian's name flashed on the screen. She just let it. 

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Ian asked after five missed calls later. "He just called you five times."

"I don't want to talk to him. We're over."

"If you're over, then why aren't you blocking him?" tukso ng lalaki kay Auri.

"Alam mo, ang dami mong alam." Auri rolled her eyes at him. It was childish but she couldn't help herself. 

If the relationship is over, then there should be no more conversation unless it's about business and strictly professional." Auri's phone buzzed again, but this time it wasn't Damian. The message made her heart race.