If I have Nothing (Absinthe Series 5)

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

If I Have Nothing

Pinapasok kami ng bouncer sa loob ng bar. Rhett just showed him an ID then we entered. Nasa kamay ko ang hawak ni Rhett habang binabaybay namin ang daan. Purple led lights covered the area. Sa unahan ay nakikinita ko na ang mataas na stage at kulay puting hagdan. There were u-shaped couches, mayroon ding pabilog. May mga tables rin na tig-aapat ang puting silya. It actually had a Santorini vibe because of all the white seats, ang kaibahan lang ay purple lights ang pumapalibot sa lugar. There's an upper floor too. May puting barandilyang nakapalibot at mula sa aking kinalalakaran ay may mga puting couches din.

Marriam actually told me that a lot of upper floors in bars or high end clubs were for VIPs.

There was a long bar counter. Hanay hanay ang mga nakatayong alak sa shelves at may dalawang taong nagmi-mix na ng inumin doon.

There's a lot of people already and the night was just starting. May iilang bumati kay Rhett na sa tingin ko ay galing lang din naman sa UDM. May napapatingin sa akin kaya nginingitian ko na lang din para hindi bastos tingnan.

Rhett made me sit on a couch. Medyo malayo sa iba pero may kalapitan din sa stage. Hindi siya umupo kagaya ko kaya naisip kong baka hindi rin siya magtatagal at mag-aayos pa.

"Don't accept drinks from anyone, okay?" paalala niya. Nanulis ang aking labi bago tumango.

"But if I want to drink?"

Nandilim ang mata niya sa aking tanong. He then sighed when he noticed that I was serious. Gusto kong uminom, kahit isang baso o bote lang. I just want a bar experience.

"I'll get you a juice." aniya. Namilog naman ang aking mata at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa kaniya.

"Ano ako, bata? I want an alcoholic drink, Rhett!" umangal ako, masama pa rin ang tingin sa kaniya. He glared back at me.

"I'll order you a drink but with less alcohol. I want you sober when we play."

Napairap ako. "Hindi naman ako maglalasing. One sip won't make me drunk, right?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe you're low on alcohol tolerance."

Ngumuso ako. "Then what should I order?"

"Ako na," agap niya medyo masama pa rin ang timpla ng mukha, "Don't bother standing when I am out of your sight. Just stay here, huwag mo na akong pag-alalahin."

"When did I even made you worry?" kumunot ang aking noo.

He scowled at me, "A lot of times, I might say, flower."

"Fine," labas sa ilong kong sabi. I admitted my defeat because it's my first time and I just had a bit of knowledge about bars. Basta't sabi ni Marriam ay huwag akong pumansin ng ibang tao. If I have to stick with Rhett, I have to.

Umalis si Rhett sa aking harapan ngunit umupo naman sa aking tabi. Our shoulders touched when he abruptly closed our distance. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. The purple lights filled his face ngunit hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang kislap ng kaniyang mga mata. Those grayish silver orbs would always get in the way of everything, mapamalamig o mapalambot man ang tingin, pakiramdam ko'y kahinaan ko iyon.

I made a small distance by moving to my right a little. Iniwas ko na ang tingin sa kaniya at pinakialaman na lang ang lock ng dala kong clutch. Nasulyapan ko ang pagtaas niya ng kamay at may lumapit agad sa amin.

I heard him ordered a mojito mocktail. I don't know what that is but I wanted to ask him. At least I have a bit of information of how it tastes like. Pero nahiya akong magtanong lalo na at mukhang binabantayan niya ang kinikilos ko.