Chapter 4 - One unforgettable night

ELOISE'S POV

"Don't worry. I'll stick with Vivienne."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya.

"Mabuti naman kung gano'n."

"Dapat ba ako magselos?” biglang singit ni Gabe habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa.

Napalingon ako sa kanya.

"What?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Wala. Masyado ka na kasing comfortable sa newfound friend mo."

"Gabe!"

Tumawa siya habang nakataas ang dalawang kamay bilang pagsuko.

"Okay, okay. Sinasabi ko lang naman."

Napailing na lang ako. Napakakulit talaga nitong best friend ko.

Meanwhile, nakatingin lang sa amin si Ares, seemingly amused by how close Gabe and I were.

"Ang protective nga talaga ng best friend mo."

Tiningnan ko si Gabe bago muling ibinalik ang tingin kay Ares.

"Wala kang idea."

"Well, I guess I should be careful, then."

"Dapat lang. Aba, kundi lagot ka diyan."

He chuckled.

For a moment, I found myself smiling despite everything that had happened earlier. It felt nice to laugh again.

"So, Ares," panimula ni Gabe habang nakasandal sa inuupuan niya. "Ano pala ang ginagawa mo?"

Ares glanced at him.

"Business."

"Business?" pag-uulit ni Gabe.

Tumango siya.

"That's interesting."

Tumingin ako kay Ares.

"Anong klaseng business?"

"Just the usual. Nothing interesting."

Napataas ang kilay ko.

"Wow. Very mysterious naman."

He smiled.

"Would you prefer a detailed presentation?"

I laughed.

"No, thank you. Baka makatulog lang ako."

Natawa si Gabe sa sagot ko.

"See? Sobrang comfortable na niya sa'yo."

I rolled my eyes.

"Pwede bang tumigil ka na diyan?"

"Fine, fine. I'll stop."

Napailing na lang ako habang pilit na tinatago ang ngiti ko.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero surprisingly, ang gaan lang kausap ni Ares. Hindi ko kailangang mag-isip nang sobra sa mga sasabihin ko. Hindi ko rin kailangang magpanggap na okay ako.

For once, I could simply be myself.

Maya-maya, biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Gabe.

Tumingin muna siya sa akin bago sinagot ang tawag.

"Hello, Ma?"

Tahimik lang akong nakatingin sa kanya hanggang sa unti-unting nagbago ang expression ng mukha niya.

"Wait, anong nangyari?"

Bigla siyang tumayo mula sa inuupuan namin at lumayo nang bahagya sa mesa. Medyo maingay kasi sa puwesto namin.

After the call, bumalik siya sa mesa namin.

"Elle, I need to go."

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Bakit? Anong nangyari kay Mama?"

Mama na rin kasi ang tawag ko sa mommy niya. Nasanay na ako dahil madalas akong nasa bahay nila. Since only child ako, halos pamilya ko na rin ang turing ko sa kanila, lalo na kapag busy sa business ang mommy at daddy ko.

"Nasiraan daw sila ng kotse ni Mama sa highway, and wala pa si Papa sa bahay."

"Ay, hala! Go ahead na."

Tumingin muna siya kay Ares bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa akin.

"Are you sure? Okay ka lang ba dito?"

Tumango ako.

"Oo naman, Gabe. I'm fine."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Wag mo akong tingnan nang ganyan. I know you're not okay."

Napatawa ako.

"Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko?"

"Sumama ka na sa akin."

Umiling ako. Ayaw ko pang umuwi, at ayaw ko ring maging dahilan para ma-delay siya sa pagpunta kay Mama.

"Go ahead. Puntahan mo na si Mama. Magbo-book na lang ako mamaya kapag uuwi na ako."

He sighed before finally nodding. I knew he was still worried about me.

"Alright. Hindi naman ako mananalo sa'yo. But promise me, tatawag ka kapag nakauwi ka na."

"Promise."

He then turned toward Ares.

"Take care."

Ares nodded.

"You too."

Bago tuluyang umalis, tumingin pa ulit sa akin si Gabe na parang ayaw niya akong iwanang mag-isa.

"Elle, please text me."

"Yes, Dad!"

Napangiti siya bago tuluyang naglakad palayo.

I watched him disappear into the crowd before turning my attention back to the man sitting across from me.

"Your best friend really cares about you," Ares remarked.

I smiled.

"Oo naman. He's been there for me through all the ups and downs in my life. Never niya akong iniwan."

"Oh, I see. Ang swerte mo. Not everyone has someone like that."

I nodded.

"Sobrang swerte ko na nandiyan siya sa buhay ko."

There was a brief silence between us.

Then Ares glanced at the glass in front of me.

"Are you feeling better?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Konti."

"Good."

He paused before continuing.

"Would you like to get some fresh air? It's getting a little crowded in here."

I looked around the bar. Totoo naman. Mas dumami na ang tao, at mas lumakas na rin ang music.

"Sure. Why not?"

We stood up and walked toward the outdoor area of the bar.

The cool night breeze brushed against my skin as soon as we stepped outside. I took a deep breath, enjoying the quiet atmosphere away from the loud music.

"Better?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Much better."

He stood beside me, keeping a comfortable distance.

For a moment, we simply watched the lights from the buildings across the street.

"So, Vivienne," he started.

I turned toward him.

"Yes, Mr. Stranger?"

He chuckled.

"Are you always this sarcastic?"

"Kapag comfortable na ako sa isang tao."

"Then I guess I should feel honored."

I laughed.

"Aba, dapat lang. Ako na 'to, oh."

He smiled before looking back at the city.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Parang ang dami mo namang tanong ngayong gabi."

"Should I stop?"

Umiling ako.

"No. Go ahead."

"What do you usually do when you're not having a bad day?"

Natawa ako sa tanong niya.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

I thought about it for a moment.

"Well, mahilig akong magbasa, mag-bake, and cook. Those are the things that make me happy whenever I'm not feeling okay."

"Cooking?"

Tumango ako nang may pagmamalaki.

"Oo. Magaling yata ako."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Should I believe you?"

Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya.

Aba't duda pa itong nilalang na 'to!

"Excuse me? Nagdududa ka ba sa cooking skills ko?"

He laughed.

"I'm just asking."

"Well, for your information, magaling akong magluto."

"Alright, I'll take your word for it."

I crossed my arms.

"You better."

He shook his head, still smiling.

There was something about the way he laughed that made me want to laugh along with him.

"So, how about you?" I asked.

"Me?"

"Yes. What do you do when you're not being mysterious and approaching random women in bars?"

He laughed.

"I work most of the time."

"Ang boring naman ng buhay mo, Mr. Stranger."

"That's what happens when you have responsibilities."

"Naririnig ko pa lang, napapagod na ako."

"It can be."

For a moment, nagbago ang expression ng mukha niya. He looked away, as if there was something about his work that he didn't want to talk about.

Kaya hindi na ako nagtanong pa.

We were strangers, after all. Hindi naman namin kailangang malaman ang bawat detalye ng buhay ng isa't isa.

Instead, I simply told him,

"Dapat nag-e-enjoy ka rin minsan. Huwag puro work."

Napatingin siya sa akin.

"Maybe I should."

"Ayan. Perfect ka diyan."

He held my gaze for a few seconds before smiling.

"You're quite interesting, Vivienne."

I felt my cheeks warm.

"Sus! Huwag ako. Sinasabi mo lang 'yan."

"Am I?"

"Oo. Sino pa ba? May nakikita ka pa bang iba rito?"

He chuckled.

"Alright. Whatever you say."

I looked away, pilit na tinatago ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.

For someone I had only met tonight, he was surprisingly easy to talk to.

And I didn't know when it happened, but I was beginning to enjoy his company.

A few minutes later, I checked my phone.

May message galing kay Gabe.

Gabe: Don't forget to book your ride home, Elle. And please text me kapag nasa bahay ka na. Better yet, call me para alam kong safe ka.

Napangiti ako habang nagre-reply sa kanya.

Me: Yes, Dad! Mag-ingat ka sa pag-drive.

Binalik ko ang cellphone ko sa bag.

"Your father?" Ares asked.

Natawa ako.

"No. My overly protective best friend."

"Right. Gabriel."

Tumango ako.

"Ganyan na talaga siya ever since we were kids. Para na rin kasi siyang kapatid ko. Only child ako, kaya malaking part siya ng buhay ko."

"You're lucky to have him."

"I know."

Chineck ko ulit ang oras sa cellphone ko.

Gabing-gabi na, pero alam mo 'yung feeling na ayaw mong matapos ang gabing ito?

Siguro dahil ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ulit ng kalayaan. Ngayon lang din ako hindi nag-isip tungkol kay Nathan.

That bastard.

Siguro dahil kahit papaano, nawala ang bigat sa dibdib ko. For the first time tonight, I felt like I could breathe again.

Or maybe, I was simply enjoying the company of Mr. Stranger a little too much.

Ares glanced at me.

"Would you like to continue our conversation somewhere quieter?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya.

"Saan?"

"There's a twenty-four-hour café nearby. We could grab something to eat."

Nag-alangan ako sandali.

Pero kalaunan, napangiti rin ako.

"Coffee sounds nice."

He returned my smile.

"Then coffee it is."

And tada! Sumama ako sa taong ni hindi ko alam buong pangalan to spend more hours.

Hindi ko alam kung ano pa mangyayari ngayon gabi.

But for once, Hindi ako natatakot na malaman pa.