Crash And Burn

Chapter 2.

Kahit na nanuyo bigla ang lalamunan ko ay pinilit ko pa rin magsalita.

“Who the hell are you?” Tinigasan ko ang expression ko.

Yeah, he looked so damn hot but I wasn't here to ogle at this guy.

He chuckled, making me see his pearly white set of teeth. He started walking towards me, pero umaatras din ako. His scent started to assault my nose. How can he look and at the same time smell so sexy?

“Bakit ka ba lumalapit? I asked you kung sino ka?” Asik ko. I need to look strong.

Tumigil sya sa paglalakad. He just started at me and it became uncomfortable kaya umiwas ako ng tingin. He has this intense aura and I can't know if it's a good or bad thing.

“Have a seat.” Bigla ay sabi nya.

Nauna syang naglakad papunta sa puting couch na kanina ko pa gusto upuan. He sat at the single couch. Inilapag nya ang hawak na baso sa table na nasa tabi ng inupuan nya. He was just looking at me, atubili ako na sumunod at naupo sa couch na nasa harap nya.

“Bakit ba ako nandito?” I maintained my annoyed face.

He narrowed his eyes on me before he chuckled again. “You know, seeing you this close.. I never thought I'd be more hard than when I saw you last night from afar..” His voice was low and husky at hindi ko alam kung bakit ako biglang kinilabutan.

It wasn't my intention but my eyes landed on his crotch and saw the raging bulge in it.

Para akong sinilyaban nang marealize ang ibig sabihin ng sinabi nya. Automatic akong napatayo at lumayo ng ilang metro sa kanya. He was hot and sexy and all the adjective that meant he's darn good looking but he's a perv!

“Bastos! Bakit ba ako nandito, ha?!” I gritted my teeth in anger.

“I don't really like negotiating but I want to know what's your price.” Imbes ay sumeryoso ang mukha nya.

My chest started heaving. “What price?”

“For tonight, darling.” Pinagsalikod nya ang mga palad nya at inilapag iyon sa mga hita nya while looking at me intensely.

Hindi nawala ang kakaibang kilabot na naramdaman ko. “Hindi ako puta.”

“Ah, yes.” Tumayo ang lalaki. He was towering over me. “Hindi ko na matandaan kung ilang beses ko nang narinig yan. But then again, I'll let you name your price. For tonight, to warm my bed, that is.” He stood in front of me like a King, waiting for his servant to serve him.

Gusto kong sumigaw at lapitan sya para sampalin, pero kinalma ko ang sarili ko. I don't know what to feel. This guy's just so good looking and I hate that fact together with another fact that he wants to know how much he can pay me to warm his bed tonight. Nagtama ang mga mata namin and this time ay nakipag laban na ako ng titig.

His dark eyes promises danger, but I don't care.

“I'm gonna pretend that I didn't hear you, that I was never here, then I would go down and sing at that freaking stage like I never had a pervert asking to bed me.” Mahinang sabi ko.

“You wanted the Saturday slot, right?”

“What? You're gonna offer me the slot para makama mo?”

“That, and more. Just name your price.” He put his hands on his pocket acting cool. His dreamy eyes seemed to love looking on any part of me. I felt humiliated and at the same time, weird that a man as goodlooking as him, checking me out.

I bit my lower lip. “Hindi mo ba nakikita ang sarili mo? You look so damn good! Why are you offering to pay me para maikama mo kung madami namang willing?” Now I am curious.

“Curios now, darling?” Ngumisi sya. His face's expression softened, so was mine.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. “No, I was just saying-”

“They don't give me the hard on that you give me just by looking at you. The feeling of imagining me f*****g you so hard you'll scream for more. The feeling of thinking that you're begging-”

“Okay! Fine! Stop! I don't want to hear it!” The unfamiliar heat crept into my body and I felt my cheeks burn. Muling bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko. What the f**k is happening to me?!

“You look flushed.” He's enjoying it.

“I am not!” I hissed. Huminga ako ng malalim. “I would love to have the Saturday slot, pero kung kailangan mo pa akong maikama para makuha ko 'yon, no thanks. Aalis na ako. Nice meeting you, sir.” Bumaba ang tingin ko sa bukol na nasa pants nya. “And good luck dyan!” Turo ko bago ako tumalikod at naglakad palabas.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang ma realize ko na hindi nya ako sinusundan. I open the door and got out, hindi ko na nilingon ang dalawang guard sa may pinto and went directly to the elevator na mabilis namang nag bukas.

Tulala lang ako habang nasa loob ng elevator. I should be mad, pero bakit parang gusto ko uli sya makita? Oh God. I am f****d. Nasapo ko ang noo ko. Why is he even getting hard just by looking at me? I felt shivers down my spine when the image of his bulge came into my mind and knowing it was because of me.

“Fuck.” Mariin na mura ko.

The elevator doors opened. Tumingin ako sa wrist watch na suot ko. Mahaba pa ang oras ko para sa unang salang and I feel hot and bothered because of that guy and his supposedly lust over me. Nang makarating ako sa dressing room ay sinikap ko na kumalma, but I can't get off the guy's face in my head, pati na ang paulit ulit na mga sinabi nya na gagawin nya sa akin.

I tried to distract myself by focusing on doing things on my phone. Five minutes bago mag alas nueve ay hinanda ko na ang sarili ko. I looked at the mirror to ensure na maayos pa ang itusra ko. I went out from the dressing room to the stage area, para mapatigil nang makita ko ang paligid.

Kumurap ako ng ilang beses para masigurado na tama ang nakikita ko. The place was dark, naka focus lang sa isang table ang ilaw bukod sa stage. And there he was, sitting alone like a King in his throne while looking directly at me.

“What the hell is this?” Nagtataka na tanong ko. Nag echo pa sa paligid ang boses ko. Lumingon ako at naka handa na ang banda na magtutugtog.

“It's a private show. You'll sing for me.”

Huminga ako ng malalim at mabilis na bumaba ng stage para puntahan sya.

“Ano bang problema mo? Why are you doing this?!” Gigil na sabi ko. I tapped my hands on the table pero imbes na sa mukha ko ay nag landing ang mga mata nya sa dibdib ko. Umayos ako ng tayo nang mapansinko 'yon, tsaka sya tumingi sa akin.

“You know why.” Makahulugan na sabi nya.

“You're insane!”

“Maybe.” Umayos sya ng upo, pinagsalikop nya ang mga kamay nya sa mesa. “Sing.” Matigas na sabi nya. His eyes became dark and intense.

Napalunok ako. Biglang umurong ang dila ko. I stood in front of him frozen for a few seconds before I started walking back to the stage. I feel suffocated all of a sudden dahil sa laki ng lugar at walang tao. Sanay ako na puno ng tao ang paligid.

I told the band the song and they started playing. I tried to keep my cool but my heart started racing when I realized he was still looking at me. This guy's really crazy. Crazily good looking! Damn it!

I've been with you boy

Three years is quite a while

But getting too sensual

Is really not my style

I tried not to be obvious that I am shaking inside. Paubos na ang iniinom nyang alak sa baso at may nagdala ng isa pang bote sa mesa nya at isa pang baso na may yelo. He was just sitting there comfortably while looking at me.

You know I love you

And I like it just like this

And sometimes I feel like

Giving you more than just a kiss...

But baby it's wrong

Baby it's not my kind of game

If I give it to you now

Our love will never be the same

I closed my eyes para hindi ko sya makita. I hold the mic and the stand and tell myself na kagaya lang din naman 'to ng ibang set. Iniisip ko na nagpapa impress ako sa mga tao para sa malaking tip.

It won't be long

We gotta play our love just right

I know you know the time will come

But baby for tonight...

Let's take it slow (so slow)

Anywhere you wanna go

Baby for you, I'll lay it all on the line

You oughtta know (oughtta know)

Boy I ain't got nowhere to go

I'll give it to you, only to you...

We gotta take it real slow

I opened my eyes and our eyes met while he was sipping in his glass. His dreamy eyes were alluring but I knew he was danger, kaya mabilis ko ring sinabi sa sarili ko na hindi ko sya dapat i romanticize. Sure, he can be the most good looking guy I have ever seen, but he's also the most that screams danger. At wala akong panahon.

Bata pa ako, twenty six pa lang ako at anytime ay makakatagpo ako ng teacehr, o doctor, o kahit na accountant na mas higit pa ang itsura sa lalaking ito. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali.

I know tomorrow

It will still be you and me

I'm savin' it all for you

Especially

Trust in me, baby

When I say this to you...

If we wait a little longer

Our love will be forever true

Let's take it slow (so slow)

Anywhere you wanna go

Baby for you, I'll lay it all on the line

You oughtta know (oughtta know)

Boy I ain't got nowhere to go

I'll give it to you, only to you...

We gotta take it real slow..

I heard him clapped his hands after the song. Lumayo ako sa mic pero nakaharap pa rin sa kanya.

“I'm not gonna do this s**t. Uuwi na ako.” Tanging nasabi ko bago mabilis na tumalikod at naglakad pabalik sa dressing room.

My heart was racing so damn fast and it's because of that guy. Isasara ko na sana ang pintuan nang maramdaman ko na may humarang. I frowned when I saw his pretty face.

“Pwede ba? Magbibihis na ako.” Inis na sabi ko.

“I'm always open for a free show.”

“f**k you.” I spat at him.

“I would love that.” He chuckled at parang gusto kong kurutin ang sarili ko when I realized I love his chuckle.

Pumasok sya while his hands are on his back. Luminga linga sya hanggang sa tumingin na sya sa akin. He started walking towards me and I just stood there. I tried not to be intimidated by him at hindi ko alam kung umuubra iyon. He stopped walking nang halos ilang inches na lang ang layo nya sa akin. His scent welcomed me again at pakiramdam ko ay nanghina ang tuhod ko.

“Hindi ako makikipag s*x sayo, period. If you'll gonna fire me because of it, magrereklamo ako sa DOLE!” Chin up na sabi ko.

He doesn't seemed to be interested in what I was saying because his eyes landed on my lips.

“Nicollo.”

“What?” Mahinang sabi ko.

“My name's Nicollo.” Hindi nya pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa mga labi ko.

“So what? Wala akong pake sa pangalan mo.” Ako na ang unang umalis sa harap nya. Umupo ako sa couch because I can't stand still because of his scent and whole existence is assaulting me and my poor heart.

“You should, Aniya.” My name rolled in his tongue like it was endearing to hear.

Napalunok ako. Sobrang affected na ako sa kanya that I needed a fresh air.

“B-bakit walang ibang tao kanina?” I am still curious about that, actually.

Umupo sya sa tabi ko. “I wanted you alone. Hindi pa ba obvious?” He chuckled again.

There's something about his damn fast transition in being the playful guy into the dreamy boy next door to a serious dangerous man. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko sya mababasa.

Not that I wanted to.

Yumuko ako in frustration. Napapitlag na lang ako nang maramdaman ko ang daliri nya na tinitrace ang braso ko pababa. Para akong nakuryente na lumayo sa kanya.

“Gusto mo ba makasuhan ng s****l harassment?!” Gilalas na tanong ko sa kanya. I stood up, still terrified not of what he did but on what I felt.

Tumayo rin sya pero parang wala lang sa kanya ang sinabi ko. “I love your skin, it's so soft.. and your hair. I wonder how messy it would get once I start pounding you under me? Hmm?” His voice became raspy and something in my stomach stirred.

Oh, s**t.

“Kung hindi ka lalabas para makapag bihis ako, I'm going home with this gown at didiretso ako sa police station!”Okay that was an empty threat but hell, I just want this to get over with!

His eyes narrowed on me. “You are one feisty girl, Aniya. I hope you'll be a real tigress even in bed.”

“f**k you!” Inis na sigaw ko. I grabbed my bag and marched to the back door.

Nagulat ako nang may dalawang naka itim na lalaki ang nakatayo doon habang naka sandal sa isang itim na sasakyan. Hindi ko sila pinansin pero hinarang ako ng isa.

“Excuse me?” Kunot ang noo na tanong ko.

“We'll drive you home.”

Mariin akong napapikit sa frustration nang marinig ko ang boses ni Nicollo sa likod ko.

“Kaya ko umuwi.” Matigas na sabi ko.

Hindi sya nagsalita. Instead, naglakad sya papunta sa harap ko. One guy opened the door's back seat.

“Let's go.” Rinig ko na sabi nya.

“Kaya ko umuwi mag isa.” Sabi ko ulit.

“Get in, Aniya. You won't like me when I'm mad.” His voice became deep and dark. Hindi ko na sya kailangan tingnan pa para malaman na pati ang expression nya malamang ay ganon na din.

Napalunok ako at wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang sumakay.