"Leon, pahinga ang pinunta mo d'yan ha, hindi panibagong lugar para isubsob ang sarili sa trabaho."
"Oo na, Kiks. Mas marami ka pang habilin sa akin kaysa kay Sharon e!" I rolled my eyes even if Kiko can't see me.
"Kilala na kasi kita, Leonor. Please, enjoy your vacation. You deserve it. Bumili-bili ka ng townhouse riyan, hindi mo naman pala gagamitin! Kami na munang bahala rito, okay?" Kiko instructed. Gosh. Parang tatay.
"Copy, boss!" I chuckled.
"And please, if ever you meet someone there, don't hesitate na lumandi! Kaya siguro napaka sungit mo, kasi wala kang lovelife!" He laughed on the other line.
"Sabi mo, magpahinga. Ngayon naman, gusto mo akong maghanap ng kalandian. E dagdag stress lang 'yan e!"
"Ah basta, give it a try, Leon. One week ka lang naman dyan. Puwede na ang isang linggong pag-ibig." I heard Sharon laugh beside him.
"Okay, fine. I'll try. Sige na, parating na 'yung uber ko, Tell ate Shawie I said thank you. Take care there, okay? Bye, I'll see you in a week."
I sighed. Ang kukulit. Honestly, I don't even want to go here. Sila lang 'tong nagpumilit. Sabi nila, I need some rest because "I deserve it." Pero alam ko namang pinagpahinga nila ako because I lost the case I've been handling for a while now. I barely lose a case, kaya akala siguro nila it will affect me so bad. Hindi naman. Maybe.
I found myself sitting at the corner of a nightclub because I couldn't put myself to sleep. Jet-lagged, perhaps. I thought that a few drinks would help, so I went.
I was busy observing the people around me, when a woman dancing wildly on the dance floor caught my attention. The woman is wearing a body-con mini dress paired with a black leather jacket. I found myself watching the woman for about 5 minutes, when the woman suddenly looked at me. I looked away in embarrassment. Ang creepy mo naman, Leon. I said to myself.
"Alone?"
I almost jumped on my seat when the woman sat beside me. Tangina, bat naman sumusulpot bigla!
I finished the beer I'm drinking when I responded, "Ah, yes." What the heck, Leon? that was it? that's all you could answer? Since when did you become speechless in front of a person?
"Sungit. Ako na nga 'tong nag-approach kahit siya 'tong kanina pa ako tinutunaw sa tingin," the woman mumbled.
"Excuse me?" My eyebrows furrowed.
"Edi dumaan ka," the woman jokingly said which made my eyebrow raise. I think that made her realize that I understand what she just said.
"Oh my gosh! Pilipino ka rin?! Uy joke lang 'yun ha! I'm Reese! Sorry ha, I noticed kasi na kanina mo pa ako tinititigan. Nilapitan na kita kasi baka matunaw ako e," Reese chuckled.
Napaiwas tuloy ako ng tingin. Ano ba kasi 'yun, Leon? Gandang ganda lang?
"A-ah, I'm sorry, hindi so sinasa-"
"Alam mo bang staring is rude? I'll accept your apology in one condition." Reese said with a serious face.
"A-ano 'yun?" I started to scratch my elbows because I don't know what to do. Baka makulong pa ako sa lagay na 'to! Kasalanan ni Kiko 'pag nagkataon.
She suddenly laughed loudly when she saw me getting really nervous, "Your name," she said.
"Huh?"
"What's your name?"
"Ah, my friends call me Leon."
"Leon... What a nice name." She smiled cheekily. Lights beamed her face so I got to see her beauty closely. Wow. Breathtaking.
