Chapter 13

"Girl, you're missing out a lot," bungad ni Sasa sa akin nang magkita kami sa ground floor ng building at hanggang ngayon ay pinaulit-ulit niyang binabanggit kahit nakaalis na kami. "But I understand what you're going through kaya no need to rush everything and I think na-enjoy mo naman ang locked-in stay mo sa unit mo."

She grinned at me like there's something between her smiles she means to say to me.

My face scrunched looking at her. "Anong klaseng ngiti 'yan, Sasa? Parang may binabalak kang masama sa akin, ah."

"Hoy, gaga!" Pagpalo pa nito sa braso ko. "Wala akong masamang balak. I just meant na na-enjoy mo kasi magkasama kayo ng boss mo all day and night! May nangyari na ba? Tell me something about it, bilis!"

Umiling ako sa pananabik niya. "No! Nothing happened at walang mangyayari sooner or later. Even if I wanted it, hindi ko papatusin si Trent. He's still my boss. He's paying me for my service and I can't go beyond that border. I'm just working for him at hindi isang kalaguyo."

"But you're a wifey material," panunudyo pa ni Sasa. "'Di ba, sabi mo, bet na bet ni Trent ang mga niluluto mo sa kanya? Maybe he's just testing you. Maybe naghahanap na siya ng mapapangasawa niya ngayon that's why he dropped that bitchy Albertyne away kasi nandiyan ka na. And you're on a six month contract for he could determine na swak ka nga bilang maging asawa niya. If that's really the case, ang ganda no'n 'no? You're already in the process of becoming his wife! Seilaverne Hu!"

"Yup! Seilaverne who?!" I squinted my eyes.

"Hu. Not who."

"Gaga, hindi mo gets 'no?" I sighed, rolling my eyes. "What I meant was who am I to be his wife, right? I can't imagine myself being a wife of him. For pete's sake, hindi naman 'yon ang ipinunta ko rito sa Japan. I came here to escape my problems from everything at ayoko nang pag-usapan 'yon. I'm just here to live a new life na malayo sa gulo."

"But Albertyne came," pagdugtong niya sa akin.

"Yes, she was pero hindi na ngayon. Trent already filed restraining order so she'll finally can't come to us at harassing us at some point. Kulungan ang makakaharap niya if she did that. And you have a crazy mind, Sasa. Kung saan mo man nakuha ang ideyang 'yon, pwede ka nang gumawa ng isang movie to set it all out. But it's not that case after all."

"Meh," she scrunched her face. "Hindi pa rin ako kumbinsido. But I'm so happy na kasama na ulit kita tonight. Mabuti na lang pumayag si Trent."

"It was actually a long discussion," I said. "Hindi pa niya sana ako papayagan lumabas pero napakiusapan ko naman siya. I just assured him na kasama kita at walang mangyayaring masama. He just don't want me to go to the clubs yet pero dahil nandiyan ka naman, makakahindi ba ako?"

"Hm..." Bahagya naman siyang napaisip sa sinabi ko. "If Trent said na bawal ka pang mag-club e 'di girl we're supposed not going to the clubs right now! Baka ako pa ang pagalitan ng boss mo at the end of the day."

"Hindi naman niya malalaman," sagot ko. "He has a busy life to know what's happening on my life. Ang inaalam niya lang naman sa akin ay kung anong mga ginawa ko at anong pakiramdam ko. Other than that, wala naman. Kaya don't assume na mag-e-end up na asawa ko 'yon. I think he's far from looking one. Gaya nga ng sabi ko no'ng nakaraan, his relationship isn't that serious that he's just playing around."

"And maybe that's the reason kung bakit hindi na rin siya nilubayan ni Albertyne."

"Maybe. Pero parang naging linta si Albertyne kay Trent but I can't say more dahil hindi ko naman talaga alam kung anong kwento kung paano sila nagkakilala."

"Baka tama ka nga..."

"Can we just talk something else?" iritado kong tugon sa kanya. "This night should be the start of something else at 'wag na natin balikan ang mga masasalimuot na pangyayari. Hindi nakakaganda ng buhay 'yon."

"And is that also the reason why you won't talk about your life in the Philippines?"

I glared at her. "Yes. You're right, so can we just talk about other things?"

"Of course, girl!" ganadong tugon ni Sasa. "Let's go that way!"

We waited until the stoplight turned red and every people started crossing the Shibuya's busiest intersection. Sasa wanted me to take pictures of her kahit nakakabangga na siya ng ibang tao. I was the one apologizing for her actions at hindi rin naman ako pinapansin ng iba kaya napapangiwi na lang din ako.

"Dahil you can't be in the club right now, dadalhin kita sa isang budget friendly restaurant," pang-eenganyo pa nito sa akin.

Nasa kalagitnaan pa lang kami ng pagtawid ng mapansin ko ang pamilyar na tao. I immediately stepped back and run to the opposite direction where Sasa went. Mount Fuji is only a train away from Shibuya so it's possible na bumalik na siya ngayon dito? I barely remember what we talked about last week when we saw each other—was that even last week? Hindi ko na alam. Biglang nagkabuhol-buhol sa isip ko. Albertyne did this kaya nawala ako ng sense of day and time.

Hindi ko na alam kung nasaan na si Sasa. Sa kumpulan ng mga tao, wala akong ideya kung nasaan siya ngayon. I tried calling her but she's not answering the call. And so I tried to call someone whom I supposed shouldn't be bothering at this moment.

I took a deep breath while waiting for him to answer the call.

"Lav?" bungad nito sa akin ng masagot ang tawag.

Nagtaasan naman ang balahibo ko sa katawan at tila para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig nang marinig ko ang boses niya. Parang gusto kong ibaba na kaagad ang tawag ko dahil kaya ko naman talaga ang sarili ko and because he keeps saying to me na kapag kailangan ko ng tulong, he's there for me. Tama nga ba 'tong ginagawa ko?

"Ah, Trent... sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I didn't mean to call you. It was a mistake though."

But there's a sudden paused before he could answer me back. "You would've cancelled it before I could answer it, Lav."

Napalunok naman ako sa sinabi niya. "No, no... it was a mistake."

"Where are you?" Hindi niya pinansin iyong sinabi ko. "I'm on my way home now. I know you're out tonight. Are you with your friend?"

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot sa kanya kaya out of getting pressured, I ended the call and I panicked after doing that to him. Parang biglang gusto kong magpagulong-gulong sa crossing ng Shibuya dahil sa ginawa ko. I shouldn't have done that. Bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko na parang nakikipagkarerahan sa ibang kabayo.

Tinitigan ko ang screen ng phone ko at inabangan ang muli niyang pagtawag but a few minutes have passed pero hindi na ulit siya tumawag sa akin. But that doesn't mean okay na ako. I'm still in the middle of people and I don't know where I should be going.

I stood in front of a bakeshop. I couldn't read the store name 'cause it was written in Japanese characters but I recognize the area dahil natatanaw ko ilang hakbang mula sa kinatatayuan ko ang Scramble bar na unang place na idinala ako ni Sasa. Hindi ko naman siya matanaw sa paligid dahil kung saan-saan tumatapon ang atensyon ko.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I called him out, but then he seemingly ignored me and put his attention back to his phone. Or he might not understand what I said at all. Papalapit na ako sa kanya para sitahin siya nang biglang marinig ko ang pangalan ko sa boses ng isang babae.

There I found Sasa rushing towards my direction. Hinawakan naman niya agad ang balikat ko.

"Saan ka ba nanggaling? Ba't bigla-bigla kang nawawala?" pag-aalala niyang tanong sa akin. "What's happening, Lav?"

I pointed the man in front of me and then he suddenly turned his back from us. "I think he's taking pictures of me. I heard his camera phone shutter and I'm sure he had done it."

"Sure?" paninigurado pa nito. "Sure na sure?'

Tumango ako bilang pagkompirma sa kanya. What I didn't expect was the thing she did to the local guy. I was about to stop her but it seems like she can't be stopped. She confronted the man and my face scrunched when she spoke to him in full Japanese. Ang sunod na lamang na nangyari ay nakaharap na silang dalawa sa phone ng lalaki and she's pointing at the screen and the local apologizes then after he just walked away with his head bowed.

She walked back towards me like winning a lotto grand prize. She flipped her hair and walked like a model coming back to my side.

"Anong ginawa mo?" tanong ko.

"Well, be proud of me. I just made him delete the photo. And yes, you're right, he did take a photo of you. Mabuti na lang napansin mo. But let's get right into business. Bakit bigla mo akong iniwanan do'n? Muntik pa kitang hindi mahanap."

"I called you," pagrarason ko naman. Ayokong banggitin na nakita ko si Fredrick dahil hindi rin naman ako sigurado kung si Fredrick ba ang nakita ko. Baka namamalikmata lang din ako. Hindi talaga ako sure.

"And I'm calling you as well," she said, grunting sabay ikot ng mata niya. "Nag-worry ako ng bongga kasi kung mawala ka, ako ang kakarga sa responsibilidad and I don't want your boss to get mad at me. Panigurado kasing magiging chain ang reaction ng mga 'yan. Your boss don't know my boss but if this situation could go wrong, baka at the end of the day ay magkakilala na silang dalawa."

I sighed. "I'm sorry that I made you feel that way. Hindi ko naman sinasadya."

"Ayos lang," tapik nito sa balikat ko at ngumiti. "'Wag ka lang mawawala sa paningin ko. For god's sake, Lav. That's all I ask to you."

"Promise, hindi na mauulit!" I raised my hand like devoting myself not to do it again. "I won't stress you out again."

"Naiintindihan ko naman, girl. You've been through worse so I understand it. Hindi mo naman kailangan magpaliwanag—but... I think... uhm... Lav?" nauutal na tugon ni Sasa at nakatingala at tingin lamang sa isang direksyon.

Napakunot naman ako sa kamya kasi biglang nagbago ang reaksyon niya. Nang ibaling ko naman ang direksyon kung anong tinitingnan niya ay hindi ko rin inaasahan ang nakita ko. Agad kong binalik ang tingin kay Sasa at ang lapad na nang ngiti nito sa labi. Pinandilatan ko naman siya pero mukhang hindi niya pinapansin ang binibigay kong senyales.

"Lav," Trent spoke when he finally got closer to us.

Dahan-dahan din naman akong lumingon sa kanya at napangiwi na lamang. He's still wearing his corporate suit but less presentable but not noticeable that he's out of his work now. Maayos pa rin ang pagkakadala niya sa sarili niya kahit medyo loose na ang necktie niya at nakarolyo sleeves up to his elbows.

"You're here..." That's what I could just say in front of him.

"Yes, I am," he said seriously. "I tracked your phone and it led me right here."

"Oh... you can do that?"

"Of course, he can do that," bulong pa ni Sasa akin. "He's a billionaire, you know?"

I nudged her to keep her opinions to herself. It only makes me embarrassed in front of my boss.

"So, why are you here?"

"Are you going home?" he countered.

"Sasa and I are—"

"Actually, we're also about to go home na. I don't want Seilaverne put through so much."

"Why? What happened?"

She pressed her lips together. "Uh... nothing. You don't have to worry about it. It's already settled."

Trent raised a brow. "Oh, really?"

"Trent, it's fine. I'm okay. Don't worry," pagpapalubag loob ko sa kanya para naman hindi na niya gisahin si Sasa.

"Yes, it is!" dagdag ni Sasa.

"If so, Lav, you're coming with me," he said, sounded like a demand already.

"Huh? Saan?"

"Somewhere," tiipid nitong sagot sa akin.

Tiningnan naman niya si Sasa. "I'm taking here away tonight. Should I get a tax for you?"

Umiling naman agad si Sasa, waving her hand not to do what Trent suggested. "No... I think I'll be hanging around for the mean time. Wherever you guys go, enjoy the night! So... see you around guys."

Umalis naman kaagad si Sasa. Tatawagin ko pa sana siya pero hindi ko na nagawa. Naiwan ako sa boss ko. Napalunok ako ng laway at dahan-dahan ko siyang tiningnan sa mata.

"Saan tayo pupunta, sir?" I asked him ago.

But he just grabbed my hand and we started walking. We then proceed ahead to where he park his car. It took us a few minutes before we reached his car. He opened the card door for me and when I got inside, he then do the same. Inayos ko naman ang seatbelt ko. Hindi ko magawang lumingon kay Trent dahil kinakabahan ako.

I have no idea what will happen tonight, but please oh good Lord, let this be something end on a great matter.

Would it be?

"Ready to go, Lav?"

"Yes, love—I mean, yes, sir—puta."

He smirked. "You can call me love as well, I don't care."

Napalunok ako ng laway. Tama nga kaya ang hinala ni Satanes kay Trent? And what if she's right and it is really the motives of Trent? Anong gagawin ko? Kakatakas ko lang ng mapait kong mundo sa Pinas, could this be another round of misery for me?

I hope not. Cross fingers.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

#NightLifeInTokyo13 #NLI13 #WT3

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