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MACKENNA

I JUDGED RYDER TOO QUICKLY. Don't get me wrong: I still don't completely trust him. But he'd already proven to me that he wouldn't kidnap or harm me in any way. Because if that was his true intention, I would have been dead by now.

Instead, Ryder helped me find a place to stay in Brooklyn. He also brought me to Foster's workplace, but it had already closed by 5 p.m. and all the staff had gone home, so I couldn't see him. I will just go back there tomorrow morning to see him and hopefully he will let me see Savanna.

I don't even know if Foster knows what Savanna did to me or if they both planned this or what. At this point, hindi ko na alam kung sino ang pagkakatiwalaan ko dahil mismong kapatid ko nga ay nagawa akong lokohin.

"Are you sure you'll be okay here alone?" Ryder asked when he came back after talking to the landlord. Ang sabi niya ay kakilala niya 'yong may ari nitong apartment at hiningan niya ako ng discount dahil ilang linggo lang naman ako mamamalagi rito sa Brooklyn. Maswerte rin at may bakante silang kuwarto para sa'kin. Ang balak ko kasi ay sa hotel muna ako habang hinahanap ko si Savanna, pero mas mabuti na rin na dito ako dahil mas mura ang ibabayad ko rito keysa sa hotel.

The apartment is tiny but not too shabby. It's a one-bedroom unit with a small kitchen and a bathroom. I guess this is all right for me. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal dito dahil babalik din ako sa Las Vegas kapag natapos ko na ang dapat kong gawin dito.

"I'll be fine. Thanks again for all the help, Ryder. You didn't have to do all of this, but... you still did," I smiled at him. Ryder is leaning on the kitchen counter, his hands in his pockets, and his gaze is fixed on me. He really is handsome, but I didn't come here searching for a guy to date. I can probably introduce him to Freya, if she comes to visit me here. And since they're both half-American and half-Filipino and couldn't speak Tagalog, I think they'll get along well, so that's that.

"I feel bad for leaving you so soon." His arms involuntarily flexed as he boldly scratched the back of his neck. He sighed deeply. "I really just have to meet someone."

"Oh, my gosh!" I let out a gasp, realizing what he said. "No, no, please go ahead and do what you must do. I already feel awful for taking up so much of your time. I had no idea you had a girlfriend waiting for you." I said, my face flushed with embarrassment. I should've asked whether he had any plans beforehand. Masyado akong na-overwhelmed sa kamalasang nangyari sa'kin kanina kaya nakalimutan ko nang itanong kung may plano ba siya bago ako manghingi ng tulong sakaniya.

I was surprised when Ryder suddenly chuckled. Gosh, even his laugh is sexy. My forehead creased confusingly. "Why are you laughing?"

"First, don't feel bad for asking for my help. Second, you look cute when you're embarrassed, and lastly, I don't have a girlfriend waiting for me." Ryder began approaching towards me, his lips extending into an amused grin, and I felt as if I'd been stuck in place. My heart starts beating irregularly. Napapikit ako nang bigla niyang itaas 'yong kanang kamay niya at marahang pinisil 'yong tungkil ng ilong ko. "For your information, I'm meeting my cousin."

Para akong napipi dahil sa ginawa niya. He's so close to me that I can smell his minty breath as his deep blue eyes pierce my soul. His eyes were gleaming with amusement.

Mabuti nalang at nagpaalam na rin para umalis si Ryder. Ang sabi niya babalik siya rito mamaya para kamustahin ako, kahit na ilang beses ko nang sinabi sakaniya na okay lang naman ako. May pagkamakulit at mapilit din 'yung si Ryder, pero mabait naman siya.

I decided to take some of my clothes out of my luggage and place them in the cabinets. I don't have much stuff anyway. I only have a few clothes, toiletries, and some important stuff that I'm going to need just in case. I also brought an emergency kit; you never know when you'll need it, so mahalaga nang handa.

I was busy organizing my things when my phone started ringing. I grabbed my cellphone from my bag to see who was calling me, but it was an unknown number. Agad akong kinabahan dahil ang unang pumasok agad sa isip ko ay baka si Savanna 'tong tumatawag. I know it's impossible, but I still hoped that it was her, so I immediately pressed the answer button.

"Hello?" My palms were sweating from anticipation, but when I heard the voice from the other end, my face fell in disappointment.

"Good evening and I'm sorry for calling this late, but I would like to talk with Ms. Mackenna Evans."

"This is Mackenna." I replied with a sigh.

"I wish I hadn't caught you at such a bad time, but I would like to inform you that we are happy to inform you that you got hired and make you part of our team." Mas lalo akong nalumo dahil sa narinig ko. Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang mga luhang nagbabadyang tumulo.

I just got hired for the office job that I've been hoping to get, but here I am, crying over it.

"Hello Ms. Mackenna? Are you still in there?"

"I, um... I'm so sorry," A tear escaped from my eye. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept that job. I left Vegas and I don't know when I'm going to be back," I admitted. As much as I wanted that job, I still had to find Savanna. I can't go back there yet. I still have unfinished business here.

Savanna really robbed everything from me.

The call ended, and I let myself fall to the ground, sobbing.

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I decided to get some fresh air after crying for god knows how long. Basta naramdaman ko nalang na nauuhaw na ako at wala man lang akong kahit na anong pagkain o tubig sa loob ng refrigerator. So, I just quickly fixed my face, grabbed my bag, and headed outside. I have no idea where I'm heading, and all I know is that I'm thirsty and headed inside a bar that I spotted not too far from the apartment.

"What can I get for you?"

"Whiskey and coke please," I said to the bartender, taking the vacant seat at the bar. Maya-maya lang at binigay na ng bartender 'yong in-order ko ata agad ko 'yung ininom na parang tubig lang. "One more please," sabi ko ulit sa bartender. Mukhang nagulat pa siya dahil sa ginawa ko, pero agad din naman niya ako ginawan ng refill.

I gave him a twenty-dollar bill and said, "Thank you." I took another swig from my drink and finished half of it.

The bar is not very crowded or loud. Maybe it's because I'm used to Vegas, where the music is so loud that your ears feel like they're going to fall off and people drink and dance like there's no tomorrow. The folks here are just... calm. There are a few people drinking and dancing on the dancefloor, while some are simply lounging and enjoying beers at the large round tables, whilst others are alone, like myself.

And then there's this one guy, sitting alone, not far from where I am. And what easily caught my attention was the pilot's uniform that he was wearing.

This guy is wearing a complete pilot's uniform, inside a bar, drinking alone. I wonder if he gets fired or what. I didn't know that I've been staring at him for too long that our gaze met. Agad akong nag-iwas nang tingin at sa sobrang taranta ko ay nasanggi ko 'yung alak dahilan para matapon ito.

I shrieked, "Oh my God!" The bartender reached for a cloth and quickly helped me with my spilt drink. I apologized over and over again, but he said it was OK.

"Napakamalas mo talaga Mackenna." I swore under my breath. I had no idea I was this unlucky person. Parang wala nang tamang nangyayari sa'kin. Napahilamos nalang ako sa mukha ko dahil sa kahihiyan, tatayo na sana ako para umalis nalang at matulog, pero napatigil ako nang makita kong nakaupo na sa tabi ko 'yong lalaking nakasuot ng pilot's uniform kanina.

"Noypi?" tanong niya. Agad kumunot ang noo ko. Lasing na yata to.

"What?"

"Pinoy ka?" paglilinaw niya.

"Oo, bakit? Pinoy ka rin?" tanong ko pabalik at agad namang tumawa 'yong lalaki. "Why are you laughing? Did I say something funny?"

"Oo, narinig mo na kasi akong nagsalita ng tagalog tapos tatanungin mo pa ako kung pinoy rin ako," paliwanag niya at agad ko siyang inirapan. Napabuntong-hininga ako dahil sa sinabi niya. He got a point but why does he have to laugh at me. Gwapo pa naman sana siya kaya lang ang sama ng ugali.

"Goodbye," I just said, and was about to walk away when he grabbed my pulse, making me stop.

"Wala na. Na-judge mo na ako agad,"

"Hindi kita maintindihan. Hindi kita jina-judge okay?" sagot ko bago ko tinanggal 'yong pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko.

"WEH?" tinuro niya 'yong mukha ko gamit ang hintuturo niya, "Ang obvious kaya sa mukha mo na jina-judge mo ako."

"Ang assuming mo,"

"Gwapo lang, hindi assuming." sagot niya agad at saka siya tumawa ulit nang nakakaasar. I scoffed. The audacity of this guy. "Wala ka namang kasama 'di ba? Libre ko na alak mo, basta wag ka lang umalis."

"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow. I think this guy is really drunk!

"Sorry, hindi gano'n ang ibig kong sabihin." natatarantang sabi niya. Napakamot siya sa batok niya. "What I meant was, I really need someone to talk to. Lahat kasi ng tao dito ay American, natatakot ako baka kasi dumugo 'yong ilong ko kapag naubos 'yung baon kong English kapag sakanila ako nakipag-usap."

Wow this guy... is really something. Ngayon lang ako nakakilala ng klase niyang lalaki.

"You don't have to buy me my drinks. I can handle myself," I said before sitting back on my seat and signaling the bartender for another glass of whiskey and coke but this guy interrupted it and ordered us a bottle of champagne instead. Hinayaan ko nalang siya dahil mukhang hindi rin magpapatalo 'to.

"Dito ka ba nakatira? Pansin ko kasi ang galing mong magsalita ng English tapos may accent ka pa," manghang tanong niya. Kakaiba talaga 'tong lalaking 'to.

"I'm actually from Las Vegas, and I'm just here in Brooklyn for a... visit." I said before taking a sip of my drink. "Ikaw? What are you doing here? And why are you wearing that," tanong ko sabay turo sa uniporme niyang suot.

Napakamot ulit siya sa batok niya. "Mahabang kwento e, pero may tinataguan kasi ako..." he said, curiosity seeping through me. Wanted ba 'tong lalaking 'to? o 'di kaya drug dealer? "Hindi ako wanted at mas lalong hindi ako drug dealer." sabi niya bigla na tila ba nabasa niya ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko.

"Change topic nalang nga, pero promise hindi ako wanted o drug dealer. Isa akong piloto at isang linggo ang bakasyon namin dito bago kami lumipad pabalik sa pilipinas." I nodded my head, accepting his explanation.

Our conversation became longer, as the bartender continued to refill our drinks without us noticing. We started to laugh. He shared stories about his pilot life while I told him about my job as a bottle girl and how the rich people waste their money on drinks. I'm becoming a little tipsy, and he was clearly drunk. He started caressing my cheeks with his warm thumb while I was getting drowned by his gaze. We suddenly became quiet while staring at each other. My body is on fire. I'm so drunk that I started thinking about kissing this guy that I just met today.

And so, I did.

I leaned closer to him, pressing my lips on his and we started kissing.

W H A T Y A S E Y