Meeting Cinderella

Chapter 1 MARAMING tao. Maingay. Magulo. Malakas ang tugtugan. The bar was filled with different kinds of people. There were some who looked problematic, drowning themselves with alcohol as if that would solve their problems, and there were others who were just out to be wild and have fun. The scent of alcohol and smoke coming from cigarettes mixed with the scent of different brands of perfume and sweat. Those were the natural occurrences they encounter every night. Nakasanayan na kasi nilang barkada ang tumambay sa bar na ito—Gizmo. Though nothing was new, they couldn’t seem to miss the day without ending it inside the bar. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Gideon's dad was the owner of this place. It was one of the family businesses of the Alonzos and sooner or later, Gideon was sure his dad would let him handle the bar. Nakaupo sila sa kanilang usual na upuan—sa gitna kung saan kitang-kita nila ang halos kabuuan ng bar. Callix would nod from time to time at some girls that would smile and wave at him. There must be something with the Aquino's genes that made them charming. Si Jared naman ay nginingitian lang ang mga nagpapapansin dito, while Tyler was just staring at the alcohol in his glass, watching the liquid dance as he moved the glass in a circular motion. Gideon was just staring at his friends. He was bored to death. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, but he felt that something was missing in his life, and what was frustrating was that he didn’t exactly know what. Nothing had changed. No—maybe something had changed and he had to admit it. Simula kasi ng magpunta sa Korea si Luna para doon mag-aral, everything seemed a little more boring than how it was before. Yes, their daily routine still stayed as it was, but something he couldn’t exactly point out was definitely changed. Siguro ay dahil wala na kasi silang maasar at mapag-trip-an. Luna Archangel was the only girl in their group, making her the vulnerable target to their teasing and pranks. Pero kahit na ganoon, they were all so protective of Luna.  Funny how their parents were friends that they also ended up hanging out and eventually becoming the best of friends. Their dads used to play in a band called The Zenith. They were a ‘sensation’ back in the days, as their dads claimed. At dito sa Gizmo sila madalas tumugtog at dinarayo. They might have not followed the path in making music together, isa sa mga naipamana sa kanila ng mga magulang ay ang pagkakaibigan nila. Ilang taon na ba simula nang umalis si Luna? Halos magdadalawang taon na pala. Dalawang taon nang boring ang buhay nila. Dalawang taon nang mas masungit si Tyler. Si Luna lang kasi ang nakakapagpa-amo dito. “Ahh, boring!!” buntong-hiningang saad ni Callix. Marahan nitong itinulak ang baso nitong may laman pang alak. “Makapang- babae na nga lang.” Tiningnan ni Gideon si Callix. He was really curious as to how his friend could charm and entertain women all at the same time. Well, he got the looks. Pero ang ipinagtataka niya talaga, paano niya nakakaya ‘yun? Pa’no niya naha-handle ang mga babae nang parang wala lang sila sa kanya. Na parang laro lang ang lahat. “How do you do it, Callix?” tanong niya na ikinapigil nang pag-alis sana nito mula sa kinauupuan nila. Kunot noong nilingon siya nito na para bang napaka-absurd ng tanong niya. “Masaya bang mambabae?” A playful grin curved Callix’s lips. And Gideon knew he got Callix’s attention. Maski ang pansin nila Tyler nakuha niya, Now, all of them were staring at him. Nagkamot si Callix ng baba, nakakaloko parin ang ngiti nito. Alam niyang may tumatakbo na namang kalokohan sa isip ng kaibigan. “Paano bang saya ang gusto mo?” tanong nito, his eyebrows moving up and down. Napailing nalang siya sa kaibigan at natawa ng kaunti. “That’s not what I meant. Naku-curious lang kung paano mo i-handle,” paliwanag niya. “Paano mo nakakayang nakikitang umiiyak ang mga babae?” Kung meron kasi siyang ayaw na ayaw, ‘yun ay ang makakita ng babaeng umiiyak. He just couldn’t stand that. Pakiramdam niya kailangan niya lagi aluin ang mga babaeng naiyak. He knew how to respect girls. Isa ‘yun sa mga bagay na itinuro sa kanya ng Nanay niya. Haylin, his mom, was one heck of a woman. She was timid but strong, his real superwoman. So seeing her cry would really crush him. Isa pa, batok lang ang aabutin niya sa ina kapag nalaman nitong may pinaiyak siyang babae. But seriously, even without the discipline he could get from his mom, he really didn’t like seeing a girl cry. Kaya hinding-hindi niya din gugustuhing maging dahilang ng pag-iyak nito. That was why, though it was hard to admit, and though it was unbelievable, he never had a girlfriend. Pero hindi katulad ng ibang NGSB, hindi siya takot masaktan; takot siyang makasakit. “Tsk. Tsk.” Umiling-iling si Callix na para bang disappointed ito sa kanya. He now sat back comfortably on the couch. “My boy, you need some lessons. Una sa lahat, you don’t choose crying ladies. If you want to have fun, you have to find those girls who are also looking for fun.” Tumango lang siya sa sinabi ni Callix. Alam naman niya ang ibig sabihin nito. Pero hindi niya pa’din ma-gets kung paano nagwo-work ‘yung ‘have-fun-have-fun’ na ‘yan. Umakbay sa kanya si Callix at may itinuro itong babaeng nakaupong mag-isa sulok na tatlong mesa siguro ang layo sa kanila. “Nakikita mo ‘yang babaeng ‘yan?”Tumango siya. “What do you think of her?” Tiningnan niya ng maigi ‘yung babae. She was wearing a dress na kulay puti yata; he couldn’t exactly figure it out dahil dim lights ang gamit sa bar. May suot din itong cardigan. And he must admit, she looked different from the other girls who usually hang-out on bars. Madalas kasi na sexy ang style ng mga babaeng mahilig mag-party. The girl also had long straight hair. Mukha itong maganda kahit na medyo malayo ang distansya nila. “Maganda.” Tumango si Callix sa sinabi niya. Maski ito ay nagandahan sa babae. “Your type of girl.Mukha siyang mahinhin at mabait. And she’s the type of girl that easily cries. Clingy and will try to change the way you are to the type of man she wants you to be. Good girl.” Gusto niya sanang tanungin si Callix kung paano niya nalaman ‘yung mga bagay na sinabi niya. But he was, after all, Callix Aquino. Iba ang galawang Aquino. His dad, Jairon Aquino, was also a babe magnet before he committed himself to Callix’s mom, Camille Sta. Ana. Well, sigurado naman si Gideon na darating rin ang panahong makakatapat ng babae si Callix, tulad ng nangyari sa tatay nito. Nakita niyang hinalo ng straw nung babae ‘yung iniinom niyang juice yata sa tingin niya. And that somehow confirmed that she was a good girl. Ilang saglit pa, may babaeng eksaktong dumaan sa harap ng babaeng tinitignan nila. She was fine. Beautiful but not really stunning; the model type. Matangkad, makinis. Revealing at body hugging ang damit na suot nito, showing all her assets. “Nakikita mo ba ‘yan?” tanong ulit ni Callix. Parehas nilang sinundan ng tingin ‘yung babae hangggang magpunta ito sa bartender at nag-order ng inumin. “That’s the kind of girl you’ll definitely have fun with,” sabi nito kasabay ng isang nakakalokong ngiti. Alam na niya ang ‘fun’ na ibig sabihin nito. Tiningnan niya ulit ‘yung babaeng tinitingnan nila kanina—the good girl as per Callix’s classification. And he must admit, she was kinda out of place. Tahimik lang siya at parang nagmamasid lang sa paligid. It was as if it was her first time to go in a place like this. Tumingin siya sa paligid, and there, he saw a guy checking the good girl out. At alam niyang hindi matinong lalaki ito. “Pustahan tayo. 10k.” Napalingon siya nang marinig niyang magsalita si Tyler. Lahat sila ay nakatingin dito, hindi makapaniwalang ito mismo ang naghamon ng pustahan. Pero nakatingin lang si Tyler sa baso niya na ngayon ay tunaw na ang yelong laman. “Anong pusta?” tanong ni Jared. He was suddenly inflicted with interest. Tumingin si Tyler kay Gideon. “Let’s dare Gid to ask that girl for a date.” “Sino? The hot chick?” tanong ni Callix, who looked excited with their little game as well. Nangunot naman ang noo ni Gideon sa sinasabi ni Tyler. Just what went into his mind for him to think of that ridiculous bet? Umiling si Tyler, tapos tumingin siya sa babaeng kanina pa tinitingnan ni Gideon. “The good girl. Ask her out for a date. Dapat hanggang matapos ang gabi, napapayag mo na siya. We’ll give you Php. 10,000 if you succeed, but if you don’t, you gotta pay us 10,000 each.” “What the!” Napapalatak siya ng marinig ang sinabi ni Tyler. “Seryoso pre? Ang daya naman! Walanjo!” “Wala pre, torpe talaga ‘tong si Gidyon eh!” pang-aasar ni Jared. Inakbayan pa siya nito saka nginitian siya ng nakakaloko. “Alam na this!” sabi ni Callix saka tumawa ng malakas. Gusto niyang mapailing, mga baliw talaga! Tumingin si Tyler sa relo nito. “Your time is running dude. Make the most out of it.” “Ayoko.” Tyler just smirked like he knew exactly that this would happen. “Then pay us now. You were not able to do the bet so pay us.” “What? I didn’t even say yes,” reklamo niya. Tumingin si Tyler sa gawi ng babae. Napatingin din tuloy si Gideon sa gawing iyon. And he saw the guy he saw gawking at her a while ago, now walking towards her. At parang hindi niya gusto ang naaamoy niya. Walang sabi-sabi, tumayo siya sa kinauupuan at naglakad papunta sa babae. Binilisan niya para maunahan niya ‘yung mukhang manyak na lalaki. Narinig pa niyang nag-cheer na tunog pang-aasar naman ang mga kaibigan niya. Bahala na kung anong mangyari. -- HE didn’t know what went into his mind, but he just pulled the girl out of her place without saying anything. The girl was too stunned to even say a word. Nakatingin lang ito sa kanya, sobrang nagtataka habang nagpapatianod ito sa kanya sa dance floor. Now that he was too close to the girl, he could clearly see how beautiful she was. Namimilog ang singkit ang mga mata nito, maliit ngunit matangos ang ilong nito, maganda ang shape ng mga labi. Namimintog rin ang mga pisngi nito na lalong nae-emphasize sa pagbuka nito ng mga labi na waring may sasabihin na hindi nito masabi. He could say that he had seen a lot of too beautiful girls, and if he would compare those girls to this girl he was now holding in his arms, tipikal lamang ito. But there was something deep beneath those orbs that amused him. Hindi niya maalis ang tingin niya dito. Was it because of the shock and confusion he could clearly read on those eyes? Kung ano man ‘yun, hindi na maipaliwanag. “Sorry,” sabi niya dito, medyo pasigaw para magkarinigan sila sa lakas ng tugtog. “I know it was rude. Hindi ko naman gustong hilain ka nalang basta doon. I just saw a guy whom I think has no good intentions on you.” Tinitigan lang siya ng babae, as if weighing his words. Hindi niya alam pero kinabahan siya sa klase ng pagtingin nito sa kanya. “Hindi ba ikaw ‘yung lalaking ‘yun?” Napanganga lang siya sa sinabi nito. Lalo pang naningkit ang mga mata nito. Mukhang hindi nito nagustuhan ang basta nalang niyang paghila dito. ‘Takte Gideon! Ano na?! Tameme ka na?’ sigaw ng isip niya. Narinig niya ang biglang pagtawa ng babae. Parang saglit na tumigil ang malakas na tugtog at mga sigawan ng mga taong nasa bar at tanging ang tunog lang ng tawa nito ang narinig niya. She glowed infectiously as she laughed. At parang gusto niyang mahawa dito. Pero sa halip ay kumunot ang noo niya dito, wondering what she was laughing at. “Sorry. Ang cute mo kasi,” natatawa pa’ring sabi nito. Lalo namang kumunot ang noo niya. “If you only saw your face, you’d also laugh. Joke lang naman. I’m not mad or anything. And thank you sa paghila sa’kin. Napansin ko ngang kanina pa nakatingin sa’kin ‘yung lalaking ‘yun.” Tumingin ito sa gawi ng lalaking naka-abang dito kanina. The guy looked pissed now that she was dancing with him. “And it was really uncomfortable.” Napatango nalang siya sa sinabi nito. Hindi niya alam pero unti-unti na’rin siyang napapangiti. “My name’s Gideon.” Inabot niya ang kanang kamay dito, na agad namang tinanggap ng babae. She had a cold small hand. Malambot ito at parang hindi mo na gugustuhing bitawan. “Madalas ka ba dito?” tanong niya sa babae. Umiling ito bilang sagot. “Actually, this is my first time here.Ikaw ba? I bet madalas ka dito.” Tumingin ito sa paligid. Sinundan naman niya ang tingin nito, and he saw there were lots who were looking at them, most of them, girls. “Mukhang kilala ka nila.” Ikiniling niya ang ulo para mas matitigan ito. Malaki rin kasi ang tangkad niya sa babae, though hindi naman talaga ito maliit. Katamtaman ang height nito at balingkinitan ang katawan. “Well, medyo. Madalas kami dito ng mga kaibigan ko.” Tumango lang sa kanya ang babae at binigyan siya ng tipid na ngiti. Patingin-tingin ito sa paligid, halatang first time talaga sa ganitong lugar. Ni hindi nga sila gumagalaw at nagsasayaw kahit nasa gitna sila ng dance floor. Nakatayo lang sila dun, nag-uusap. Lalong lumakas ang tugtog at mas naging upbeat ito. The people went hyper, wilder. Lalong lumakas ang sigawan sa loob ng bar kasabay din ng mas malikot na pagsasayaw ng lahat. Kita naman niya ang gulat sa mukha ng babae sa biglang pag-iiba ng kilos ng mga tao. Kaya hindi ito nakahuma nang may bigla nalang bumangga dito. Bigla nalang tuloy itong nawalan ng balanse at natumba. Mabuti nalang at nasalo ito agad ni Gideon. “Sorry,” the girl mouthed dahil sa kanya bumagsak ang bigat nito. Inayos nito ang pagkakatayo. “Ano bang nangyayari?” tanong nito, pasigaw para magkarinigan pa’rin sila. Mabilis na nagsayaw ang mga laser lights. Naglalaro. Naghiyawan naman lalo ang mga lulan ng bar. Tapos ay tumapat ang spotlight sa ilang mga tao. Tapos nakita nilang kanya-kanyang sayaw ang mga tinapatan nito. Lalong naguluhan ang babae. “Don’t worry, this is normal,” nakangiti niyang sagot. “The music signals that it’s already midnight. Hard party rocking na!” Nanlaki ang mga mata nung babae pagkarinig sa sinabi niya. Tapos kinapa nito yung cellphone na nasa pouch nito. Then the light shone on them. Sabay-sabay na nag-cheer ‘yung mga tao sa kanila para magpasikat at sumayaw. “Shall we?” ngiti niya sa babae sabay alok ng kamay niya dito. Magsisimula na sana siya sa pagsayaw nang biglang tumalikod ‘yung babae at mabilis na tumakbo paalis. Nagulat siya sa pangyayari. Maski lahat ng taong nakatingin sa kanya ngayon ay bakas ang pagtataka sa mga mukha. His feet moved automatically to run after the girl. “Miss, sandali!” tawag niya dito, hoping that she’d look at him and stop from her tracks. Ginawa nga nito iyon.Nilingon siya. Pero hindi ito tumigil. Sa halip ay nginitian lang siya nito—an apologetic smile. “Wait Miss, anong pangalan mo?” “Sorry!” sa halip ay sagot nito. The girl waved at him, bidding goodbye. May nabangga pa ito dahil sa hindi ito nakatingin sa dinaraanan. But that didn’t stop her either. Nagpatuloy lang ito sa pagtakbo. Nagpatuloy lang din siya sa paghabol dito, until she was gone from his sight. He rested his arms on his knees as if his life depended on it, panting deeply. Kunot ang noo niya, wondering what had just happened. And when he looked down, nakita niya ang isang pares ng puting doll shoes na suot ng babae kanina. She ran away from him, leaving him only with a shoe. Pinulot niya ito.  ‘Did I just meet Cinderella?’