Chapter 1: No Escape

“Patatalsikin ko ‘yang cellphone mo, o sisipain kita palabas ng kotse? Sagutin mo na kasi!”

With gritted teeth, I pressed the decline button before tossing my phone to the other side of the passenger’s seat.

“Ikaw kaya ang patalsikin ko sa trabaho, Ms. Alviz?” pabalik na bulyaw ko sa aking matalik na kaibigan at sekretarya na ngayo’y mahigpit ang pagkakakapit sa manobela ng kanyang BMW. 

“You escaped again.” Saglit akong sinipat nito mula sa rearview mirror bago muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa abalang kalsada ng siyudad.

“Obviously, Gia.” Nangalumbaba ako at bumuntong-hininga.

It’s almost past midnight and we’re out for some late-night rendezvous. That old man can no longer restrain me just like before. This time, I’m running away for good. They're all just after the fruits they expect me to bear. Greedy beings, I’m so sick of them. 

Tumubo na ang sarili kong mga pangil, hindi na nila ako mapakakain ng mga basurang kanilang iniluwa. Quinn Amara owns Quinn Amara.

To enjoy youth without being forced to swallow adulthood; to simply breathe and move forward within my own pace; to just live and be happy without the burden of not being worthy for unworthy people; these reasons kept me going, and they always will.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually leaving? Akala ko mag-iinom lang tayo? Pati ako mapapahamak. Alam mo naman ang ugali ng tatay mo, ginagalit mo siya lalo, Amara!” 

I get what she's trying to tell me but she's just too loud. With the string of patience continuously losing its length, I leaned over the front side and grabbed a cigarette from the car’s compartment. Narinig ko ang munting pagmumura ni Gia pero ‘di ko ito pinansin at umupong muli sa likuran upang buksan ang bintana sa aking kanang gawi.

“I don’t own a home.” Inipit ko sa pagitan ng aking mga labi ang sigarilyo’t sinindihan ito─isang malalim na hithit at buga. “Si Atlas ang tanging dahilan ng pagtitiis ko sa impyernong mans’yong iyon, Gia.”

"Tututol pa rin si Atlas ngayon. Isa pa, hindi mo man lang ba naisip na gagawa ng paraan ang tatay mo para puwersahin kang umuwi? 'Di 'to simpleng case lang ng anak na nagrerebelde sa magulang, giyera ang sinusuong mo," nag-aalalang asik ni Gia.

"I was weak before pero ngayon, may kumpanya akong sarili kaya kaya ko na. Kailangang pakawalan ako ni Atlas," pinal kong tugon bago humithit muli sa aking sigarilyo.

"Exactly! May sarili kang kumpanya at aasintahin iyon ng tatay mo dahil  pinahahalagahan mo iyon ng sobra."

Nagkibit-balikat lamang ako. I can't really disagree with Gia, but I’ve have enough of that old man’s trash. I'm not getting any younger, I must cut the leash.

“Mauuna pang mamuti lahat ng bulbol ko bago makita kang makinig sa iba,” nakasimangot nitong bulyaw habang abala sa pagmamaneho.

“Tingin muna nung bulbol.”

“Siraulo!” tumatawa nitong pinasaludo ang kanyang gitnang daliri na malugod ko ring tinugon ng sa akin.

“Malayo pa ba?” Pinatay ko ang natitirang sigarilyo at isinilid ito sa may bawas na bottled mineral water.

“15 to 20 minutes nalang.”

We are heading to the bar owned by Gia’s cousin situated within the highly-urbanized Clark, Pampanga. It’s my first time and seeing it now, it isn’t too different from the Metro. This town’s alive and vibrant too. Mukhang mag-eenjoy ako ngayon!

Inilabas ko ang itaas na parte ng aking katawan sa bintana at pinakawalan sa ere ang dalawang kamay. Gia complained about it, but I disregarded her objection. Wala namang ibang sasakyan kaya hindi delikado.

“Happy independence day, self!” I shouted while welcoming the cold breeze.

It’s not that long when my smile instantly curved the opposite way. I heard my phone ringing again. With ferocity, I  went back inside the car and answered the call.

“Stop defying my rules, woman! Bakit wala ang mga gamit mo sa kwarto? Nasaan ka?”

“You should pack your things too, old fart. I’m on my way to hell. Ipasusundo na kita kay Satanas.” Yes, I’m being disrespectful right now, but trust me, this man doesn’t deserve even the slightest ray of respect.

“Watch your mouth!” Knowing how annoyed he is right now, I felt even more fired up.

“Watch your mouth, now watch me nae nae,” natatawa kong kanta. Hindi nakatakas sa aking tenga ang mumunting halakhak mula kay Gia.

“This childish rebellion won’t spare you. Umuwi ka na habang anak pa ang turing ko sa’yo.”

“Sheesh! May tatay ako?” sarkastikong wika ko na siyang ikinabuntong-hininga nito sa kabilang linya.

“You're being tracked by Roman. We'll push through with the deal tomorrow. Do not test my patience, Amara. Go home now!” I can’t control my annoyance after hearing him blabbered trash.

“I will decide for my own life.” Nanginginig ako sa galit. Pinapauwi niya lang naman ako dahil may pakinabang ako sa kaniya. I was about to cut the call short when I remembered something.

“Nakalimutan mo na ba? I have no home nor family since I was seven.” He fell silent.

“Nakalimutan mo rin bang lahat ng ‘yon ay dahil sa’yo? Nawalan ako ng asawa dahil sa’yo,” he stated with rage. After that, I heard loud noises. He’s probably venting out the pain of wounded ego.

Awtomatikong natuyo ang aking lalamunan. I felt my heart aching, as if it was being crushed between two walls. I wanted to end the call, but I lost the strength to do so.

I bit my lips hard, trying to suppress the mixed-up emotions jarred within me. With so much going through my mind, I threw my phone outside the car’s window. Gia noticed it and immediately stopped on the right side of the road.

“Here.” Tinignan ko ang hinagis nito, isang puting panyo. I shook my head and forced a smile. No, crying won’t make the situation any better.

“Let’s get drowned with booze tonight, Gia.”

“How about your phone?” She eyed me with disbelief when I told her to just shrug it off. Mabuti na rin ang ginawa kong iyon upang ‘di kami mabilis matunton ng mga tauhan ng aking ama.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na rin kami. I inserted some cash inside my brassiere and headed out of the car.

It’s a decent spot for night outs. The atmosphere was too vibrancy and fun even from the outside. The parking area is spacious enough and notably, it’s almost fully occupied. Wow, this place must be a hit!

“Welcome to Paradise, My Amara─aray gago!” Nanlaki ang aking mata sa biglaang pagsapok ni Gia sa kanyang pinsan. He deserves it though. Nobody owns me. 

“Tangina nakakahiya! Ibabalik kita sa sinapupunan ni Tita Yve!” nakangusong bulyaw ni Marcus.

“Ibabalik naman kita sa bayag ni Tito Gil!” Gia retorted, then with hands on her hips, she made a face while sticking out her tongue.

Pagpasok sa bar, agad kaming sinalubong ng mabilis na ritmo ng musikang buong giliw namang sinasabayan ng mga taong gaya ko’y nais tumakas pansamantala at magpakalunod sa panandaliang saya ngayong gabi.

I can’t lie, Paradise is fire! Hindi ako nagsisising dumayo pa kami para rito. I’ve been all over the bars in Manila. Halos lahat nga ata ay napuntahan ko na, but this bar is exquisite. It gives off this wild yet classy hype.

“I told you, you’ll like it here,” malawak ang ngiting sigaw ni Gia habang pumapalakpak pa sa tuwa.

“I love it here,” I can see how contented she was with my response.

“I’ll order you some drinks. Hintayin niyo ako rito,” pagpapaalam ni Marcus na ‘di rin naman naming gaanong pinagtuunan ng pansin ni Gia.

There’s a triangular dance floor standing in the middle of three different bar stations. In each station, kapansin-pansin ang mga naglalakihang chandeliers at ang agaw-pansing color scheme na Gold, Black, at Navy Blue. This must have cost a lot of fortune!

“Pinahatid ko na sa VIP room. Tara na?” bungad ni Marcus nang siya’y makabalik, ngunit mas nangibabaw ang malakas na hiyawan mula sa dance floor. “He’s overdoing it again,” nailing na puna nito na hindi nakatakas sa aking pandinig.

I shifted my gaze at the person Marcus was referring to.

What the hell? He’s armed with nothing but a pair of ripped jeans! Oh, he's hot! Kitang-kita naman ang pananabik sa mga babaeng lumilingkis sa kanya.

His enticing body that was apparently carved to be hailed the fairest of them all made the side of my lips twitch. He stood so confident while banging his head against the rhythm of his own music.

“He’s definitely looking this way!” walang pakundangang tili ni Gia na ngayo’y tila ba bulateng binudburan ng asin. I remained silent, but I can’t stop myself from looking at him.

“Mukhang jackpot ako tonight, bff. Mabuti nalang talaga at maganda ang isinuot kong panty!”

“Ang kalat mo, Gia. Isusumbong kita sa tatay mo.” Nakasimangot na bulyaw ni Marcus sa pinsan na wala namang pakialam.

“Hala papunta na siya rito, Amara!” Inalog-alog pa ni Gia ang aking braso.

Napako ang tingin ko sa lalaki. Nakangiti nitong hinahawi ang karagatan ng mga nagsasayaw. Lalong nanlaki ang aking mata nang bigla itong ngumiti at kumaway…sa akin?

Anong trip niya? Is he hitting on me? Breathtakingly hot, yes, but I am not into romance. Nah! That formula isn’t tailored for me. Sumimangot ako rito.

“Walang dress code rito pero 'di ibig sabihin na hindi ka na magdadamit. You're catching too much fishes tonight. Akala ko ba 'di ka makapupunta?” biglang sulpot ni Marcus mula sa aking likuran. Nagkamayan sila nung lalaki.

Uh…what the heck? Did I assumed things? Walangya ka, Quinn! Kay Marcus siya ngumiti at kumaway, hindi sa’yo!

I felt my cheeks suddenly heating up. Quinn Amara MOntejo, mukha kang diyosa pero tao ka lang din. Mistakes are inevitable, Quinn. Hindi ka tanga sa part na ‘yon, kaunti lang.

“Oo nga pala, this is my cousin, Gia,” pagpapakilala ni Marcus kay Gia. “And this is her gorgeous friend, Quinn. So, ladies, this jerk right here is Gunther, a close friend and a self-proclaimed disc jockey of Paradise.”

Dalawang kamay na inabot ni Gia ang nakalahad na kamay ni Gantler, Garter, Gander? Ay ewan basta katunog no’n! Tila ayaw pang bitiwan ni Gia ang huli kaya kinalas na ni Marcus ang kapit ni Gia rito. In my case, I didn’t move to greet him. Asa siya!

“You won’t come here for nothing lalo na kung nagdecline ka beforehand. Why are you here?” kunot-noong tanong ni Marcus.

He brushed his jet-black hair up using his fingers and shifted his gaze to me. Napalunok ako sa paraan ng pagtitig niya. “I’m chasing after a crazy woman who ran away from home. May nakapagsabing dito raw nagpunta.”

He’s chasing a what? Tinaasan ko ‘to ng kilay nang mapansing hindi nabaklas ang pagtitig nito sa akin. I am feeling weird right now.

“Are you being serious? Nahanap mo naman ba?” Marcus asked, surprised.

“I found her already,” mariing tugon nung lalaki. I stiffened as he slowly walked towards me. I was shocked with all the unimaginable things that took place after.

“Dead end,” his eyes glimmered.

Who would’ve thought that I’ll be handcuffed to a stranger tonight? I tried everything I could to remove the cold metal circling my left wrist, it was of no use. Halatang nabigla rin ang magpinsan, ni hindi man lang umalma.

“Let me go! Adik ka ba?” He just smiled sheepishly, dinukot ang kanyang cellphone, at itinapat sa kaliwang tenga.

“I’ve sent you the coordinates. Come fast,” he authoritatively uttered over the phone. I smell trouble.

“Ugh! It was supposed to be a fun night!” I blurted out of frustration.

Without a notice, he flashed a dangerous grin. “You can’t escape, but don’t worry. I will make this night fun for us." 

Oh, shit!