6:25 PM
"Liam, I'm here at the back alley of the hotel. I'll wait for you, be quick."
"Fine!" I snapped at Yñaki and end the call. Sa service elevator ako sumakay magmula sa 28th-floor ng hotel pababa ng lobby.
After the program, we checked in on a nearby hotel at Cebu IT Park as part of security precautions. Jaques and the rest of the boys we're at one of the rooms on the top floor of the hotel, taking their rest.
Walang kaalam-alam ang mga 'to sa balak namin ni Yñaki. All along they thought we're taking our much-needed rest given that we'll have a flight at 11 in the evening.
Matapos kong makalabas sa service elevator, nakayukong nilakad ko ang malaking lobby ng hotel. Nagtungo ako sa lugar na sinabi ni Yñaki at naabutan itong nakasandal sa pader. Like me, he's also wearing a dark hoodie and a baseball cap. We're trying to look normal and blend in.
"Let's go. I heard there are several street parties happening now, don tayo pupunta."
"Isn't it too risky? If we're spotted there, it will be catastrophic," I gazed at him. Of all people, Yñaki must know the magnitude of the scenario I'm trying to paint for him.
Nagkibit balikat lang ito. "We'll stay low-key. Don't worry, we're good."
"Okay. Let's do this shit before the boys have our balls."
Natawa nang malakas ang pinsan ko bago sabay naming binagtas ang kahabaan ng Salinas Drive. Muntik kong batukan ang pinsan ko ng bigla itong pumara mg taxi.
"Tonto! Anong low-key d'yan!"
"Trust me okay? Basta wag kang iimik masyado and avoid eye contact, we're safe. Hanggang sa may Fuente Osmeña lang naman tayo. Heard that they opened and ease some roadblocks," paliwanag nito habang hawak ang pinto.
"Sakay."
I groaned and slowly get inside the small cab. I hate this kind of vehicle. It's suffocating and I can't move my legs.
"Fuente Osmeña, Bai."
Yñaki instructed the cab driver while I silently watched the people across the street, happy and enjoying the festival.
"Did you off your phone?"
"Yes. But it's useless. You know the caliber of those scorpions."
Mahinang natawa si Yñaki sa sinabi ko.
"Your number 2 will go definitely go batshit crazy. It's a sight to behold."
"Hindi kita maintindidan kung bakit ka pumayag sa dalawa. Matanda na tayo para sa ganito," galit na bulong ko sa pinsan.
Mabuti na lang at abala ang driver sa pakikinig sa balita sa radyo kaya di kami nito masyadong binibigyan ng pansin.
"Because you need to loosen up a bit. Tatanda kang wala sa oras sa ginagawa mo. Chill, man!"
I sighed and exasperatedly turn my attention to the road. Annoyed and I'm close to strangling my cousin, so I better concentrate on other things.
"Ser, excuse me ho? Pero parang pamilyar ho kayong dalawa."
Pareho kaming napaigtad ni Yñaki ng marinig ang sinabing iyon ng driver.
"H-ha? Naku kamukha lang namin 'yon, Tang," ani Yñaki habang hinihila pababa ang suot na baseball cap.
"Hindi ko ho alam, Ser. Pero para talagang nakita ko na kayo, eh."
Shit!
I eyed Yñaki and I mouthed him to tell stop. We have to get off this cab as quickly as we can before things turned south.
"Ay tama ho! Naalala ko na. Kamukha n'yo 'yong kras ng anak kong mga artistang Koryano."
I sagged at my seat and Yñaki laughed at the old man's remark. Fuck! I nearly had a coronary.
"Pero 'di rin ho ako sigurado. Di ko kasi kayo mabistahang mabuti dahil sa suot n'yo. Taga Maynila ho kayo?" Usisa pa rin nito.
Tumango si Yñaki at bumaling sa 'kin. Alam marahil nito na napipikon na ko sa sobrang pagiging usisero ng lalake.
"Sa tabi na lang kami. Hetong bayad. Keep the change."
"Ay naku salamat ng marami Ser. Ingat ho kayo at enjoy," malaki ang ngiting anito habang hawak ang one thousand bill na may naka imprintang mukha ng abuelo namin. Ang hari.
"Mierda! Akala ko namukhaan tayo," bulong ni Yñaki ng nasa gilid na kami ng kalsada at nag lalakad.
"Gusto kong tapalan ang bibig 'non."
"You really need to get laid. Umakyat na sa bumbunan mo 'yung init."
"Fuck you!" At nagpatiuna akong maglakad sa kanya.
"Hey! Stop."
"What?!" I barked, my voice lower than usual. Ayokong maka attract ng atensyon ng ibang tao.
"Let's meet her after 25 minutes. Okay?"
"Okay. Hasta luego, prick!"
"Si, dick head!"
7:05 PM
Around Fuente Osmeña Street
I glanced around and stared back at my Rolex. It's past 7 and I have to be back on the street that Yñaki and I agreed to meet. By now, I know that the royal guards together with the secret service, are combing the whole city, searching for us. We need to get back to the hotel.
Kapag kasi lumipas ang mahigit isang oras at isa sa amin ay 'di makita nila Jaques, it will be catastrophic. A state of emergency will be raised around the city or worse in the whole Reino.
Tinahak ko ang daan kung saan ako nanggaling kanina pero bigla akong napahinto ng makitang nag sasanga iyon.
Fuck, is it right or left?
Dahil halos nakayuko ako habang binabagtas ang kahabaan ng Fuente Osmeña, hindi ko maalala kung sa kanan ba ko lumiko kanina o sa kaliwa?
"Shit. Bahala na," mabilis akong lumiko pakananan.
Mahaba-haba na din ang nilakad ko sa madilim na eskinitang iyon ng matigilan ako. May isang street party na nagaganap sa dulo ng daan. Kung mamalasin ka nga naman. Mali ang desisyon kong lumiko pakanan. I should've turned to my left.
I looked at my watch one more time. I'm guessing that Yñaki's already at our meeting place, nose flaring and bored. I weigh my options, it's either I walked back to the other side of this street or open the cellphone I have inside my pocket. I think my best option now is the second one.
I decided to walk a little more and stand beside a paramedic van that was parked along the curb. Sighing, my hands fished for my phone but I was stunned when a soft warm hand grabbed my free hand, pulling me.
What the hell?
"OMG!Something like this..tara!"
I flinched as I felt a sudden electrical charge crept from my arms and quickly like a wildfire, consumed my whole system. Leaving me astounded.
What was that?
Gaping at the stranger who had my hand, I wonder where's my voice and sanity. Dapat ay pumapalag ako ngayon at umalis na palayo sa babaeng 'to. But why am I following her lead?
"Tara na, bilisan mo! Andon si Donna. I love that song and I want to dance."
The profanities that I'm about to throw at the insolent stranger who snatches my hand, hang in the air, as the light from the lampost shined on her delicate feature. I think my world just turned into a-flame.
Sweet Jesus! Am I dreaming?
Hindi ko malaman kung bakit at paano, pero biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. All my senses came alive and I became conscious of the stranger. For the first time in my life, I'm nervous. The stupid muscle inside my chest is rapidly beating and it annoys me. Why am I nervous in the first place?
Iniiwas ko ang tingin sa mukha niya at dumapo iyon sa kamay kong hawak n'ya, para kong nahihipnotismong pinagsalikop ang mga iyon at marahang pinisil ang pinakamalambot na palad na nahawakan ko. Napakislot ang estranghera sa kapangahasan ko. Lihim akong napangiti.
Is she somehow, feeling this awkward tension between us?
"Dito na lang tayo," her saccharine voice traveled to my ears. Napahinto ito malapit sa stage at inilibot ang paningin sa paligid.
Mula sa kinatatayuan ko, malaya kong napagmasdan ang mukha niya. I'll commend the city mayor for installing countless street lights in this area.
I gulped as I drank her beauty.
She's the kind that'll make you stop and just stare. Gawk at her and think of a million ways on how can you please her. Long black hair, lithe, and willowy features. Black eyes, flawless skin, and a body that made me almost drop on my knees. Fine small tits, a flat stomach, and an ass perfectly made for grabbing.  My Monstrou's suddenly awoke. Curious.
Joder! Yñaki's right, I need to get laid. I'm acting stupid and having dirty thoughts with some random lass. Looking at her again, I can't blame myself. She's exquisite, the kind that made you think angels are real and you want to convert on whatever belief she has.
If I'm a sinner, I want to renounce my faith and vow to my newfound religion. Her.
Fuck! That's sappy and a bit gross. What's wrong with me?
"Tumulo laway mo ha? I know maganda ko but really, Karlo? 'Di ka pa ba nag sasawa dito."
Mierda! I clenched my fist as I glare down at her. She's laughing nervously as she pointed her index finger to her face. Hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko sa babaeng kaharap. One minute I'm calm then brutal and on the verge of murdering that bastard name Karlo.
An audible gasp escaped from my mouth when I saw her took a swig of whatever it was on the cup she's holding. What a hot sight! My friend down there was pleased and I silently castigate myself. Kailan pa ko naging pangahas ng ganito?
"Where's your beer?mandaraya ka talaga eh kalalaki mong tao!'' She looked up and handed me her cup.
"Inom!"
Lost in trance and mesmerized, I took it from her and hastily drink its content. God, it's awful! Why is she drinking this disgusting beer? Bagay sa kanya ang Moet o Dom Pérignon.
I shook my head. I should end this craziness and leave.
Akma kong ibabalik ang baso sa kanya para umalis na sa lugar na iyon ng biglang magsiksikan ang mga tao at madikdik kaming dalawa. Instinctively, I protectively wrapped my arms around her small waist and pressed her against me.
I heard her gasped and my whole body froze because of the contact. I caught a whiff of the destructive yet most seductive concoction that teased my olfactory. Vanilla, floral with a hint of fruity scent wafted on my nose.
Damn. She smells so fucking good.
"Wow! Nag change ka ng perfume?Ang bango-bango mo ngayon Karlo," she muttered.
Awtomatikong nag tagis ang bagang ko ng marining na binanggit n'ya na naman ang nakakairitang pangalan na 'yon. Karlo. Karlo. Puro Karlo! Boyfriend n'ya ba 'yon? Shit. I don't share but most importantly I don't steal other man's girls.
Fuck. I have to get out of here.
Subalit lahat ng plano ko naglaho ng bigla n'yang pisilin ang dibdib ko. Kung marahil walang nakatabing na sombrero sa ulo ko'y makikita ng pangahas na babaeng 'to ang pagkatigalgal ko.
"Sorry. Ang tigas eh. Dinama ko lang," nahihiyang anito at nakita kong bahagyang namula ang makinis nitong pisngi.
I was fascinated by her flushed face. She's prettier when she blushed.
Hindi pa man ako nakakabawi'y muli na naman akong nagulat sa ginawa n'ya. Marahan nitong iniyakap ang mga braso sa leeg ko't hinila ako palapit sa kanya. Slowly, her hips began to sway and as if hyptotized, I followed suit.
Who is this lady and what kind of spell did she put on me?
Nanatili kaming ganoon sa loob ng ilang minuto, nakatitig ako sa kanya, tulala. Habang siya'y nakasandal ang ulo sa ibabaw ng dibdib ko. I wonder, naririnig kaya n'ya ang mabilis na tibok ng puso ko?
"You feel so right...I can't explain it! You're like my Je ne sais quoi."
My steps faltered not just because of her comment but due to the fact that I spotted some of the royal guards scanning the area. Mierda! This is not good. Maraming tao ang nakapaligid sa 'min at kapag nalaman ng mga taong narito, kasama na ang kaharap ko, kung sino ako. Tiyak malaking gulo.
Walang imik na hinablot ko ang kamay n'ya at hinila siya palayo sa lugar na iyon. Alam kong nagtaka ang dalaga sa ginawa ko pero laking pasalamat kong pinili nitong 'di umumik. Tahimik lang na sumunod ito sa akin.
"Karlo, wait..." anito sabay hila sa 'kin. Napahinto kami sa gilid ng kalsada.
"Ano bang ginawa mo ha? Tell m-"
Hindi ko s'ya sinagot dahil nahagip ng mga mata ko ang papalapit na bulto ni Jaques. Nalilito pa rin ako kung bakit ganito ang reaksyon ko. I can just drop her hands and leave.
I don't have any obligation to her–or to anyone for that matter, to explain myself. She doesn't need to know who am I but somehow there's a tiny voice within me that is compelled to do so. I shook my head. No, this is just pure concern.
Madilim sa parteng iyon at 'di kaya ng konsensiya ko na bigla na lang siyang iwan. Isa pa, alam kong malalagay siya sa alanganing sitwasyon kapag naabutan kami nila Jaques. She'll be in custody and the Secret Service will grill her for God knows how long, just to make sure that she's not a threat of spy. Surprisingly, that thought infuriates me.
SOP and security shits.
"Karlo ano ba malapit na sila," natatarantang sabi nito. "Hayup ka talaga. Nangutang ka na naman ba sa 5'6, ha? Sabing tigilan mo na ang pagtaya sa casino, eh!"
She's right, Jaques and Jordan were few meters away from us and all of a sudden my mind went blank. My calm and calculated nature was nowhere to be found. Hindi ko na nga initindi kung anuman ang sinasabi niyang utang.
Holy shit.
Iniisip ko pa lang kung anong kalye ang lilikuan namin ay hinatak ako nang malakas ng estrangherang kasama ko sa isang madilim at makitid na eskinita. Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin ako sa kanya.
Round, big piercing brown eyes are studying me and I think someone gutted me. It's the most beautiful eyes that my eyes meet. It's a unique combination of honey and nature. The darkness only made her orbs shine brightly and I'm mesmerized. Lost in her eyes and the warmth it gives to my soul. What's with this woman and her fucking brown eyes?
"Oh my God!"
I was startled by her voice. Shit. I know that by now she figured out that I'm not that damn guy named Karlo. I could feel her panic and before she could bolt or scream, I lean forward, grabbed her nape and slammed my eager lips to her shock, and parted one.
Just once, I thought. I'm only doing this to keep her quiet but damn, I'm not prepared for the effect her lips have on me. She tastes divine. The sweet taste of her mouth unfurls all my senses, intoxicating me to the point of near brain death.
Holy shit. I want to claim her, now. Against the wall of this filthy alleyway but my logical mind gets the better of me. The voice reminded me to go and get a grip of my rational self. The odd feeling that this beautiful stranger in my arms evokes is short-lived. She's just an ephemeral flower passing by, confusing me. And I hate it.
Bago pa ko malunod ng tuluyan, umahon na ko't bumitaw. May kung anong kahungkagan akong naramdaman habang pinagmamasdan s'ya pero isinantabi ko iyon.
"Damn! Lo siento, Senorita."
Without hesitation, I turned my back, leaving the woman who piqued my interest and in some ways, beguiled me.
Oh, what a chance encounter! I'll move on, I know.