C8 8

After her performance, tumango siya kay Tyler. As if signaling to him na hintayin siya. Magpapalit siya ng damit cause she doesn't feel comfortable with what she has on. Tyler smiled back then nodded too.

Nick saw the exchange. Nasa tagong lamesa ito with Billy.

He angrily gulped some booze as he removed his eyes from Stacey and her former boss.

"Dang man! Super hot ang number na yun! Whew!" he pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. "But mate, I can't stay long. Sinugurado ko lang na totoo ang binalita ni Jim na nagpeperform pala si Ms.June dito .I am sure nanghihinayang yun kasi hindi siya pwede ngayon." Dagdag pa nito habang umiiling pa.

"Stop calling her that!" medyo galit na sabi ni Nick.

Napatingin si Billy sa kaibigan.A kala niito hindi intresado si Nick kay Stacey. He just shrugged his shoulders. He can't blame his friend, umaapaw sa sex appeal si Stacey Ledesma.

"Tell your brother I want to talk to him tomorrow, first thing in the morning! " Nick said before gulping the remaining scotch on the rocks in his glass.

Though puzzled, Billy just nodded. "Maiiwan ka ba mate? Aalis na ako."

Tumango lang si Nick na ibinalik ang tingin sa dalawa. He is now glaring at Tyler.

Nagkamot na lang ng ulo ang kaibigan nito bago nagpaalam ulit. Billy feels that Nick is acting really strange. And why does he want to talk to his brother anyway?

Something must be bugging Mr. Hot Millionaire! He thought.

Nang lumabas si Stacey, she's wearing low-waist faded jeans, and a purple half-sleeve body fit top. She tied her hair in a high pony tail. Wala na din siyang masyadong make-up. She just applied lip gloss on her full lips.

"Stacey!" tumayo si Tyler bago inayos ang uupuan ng dalaga.

"Thanks. Akala ko nagbibiro ka lang na manunuod ka." she smiled.

"Hindi ko palalampasin ang pagkakataon na makita kang kumanta. You were breathtaking!"

"Salamat." she said shyly.

Noon naman lumapit si Blake. "Can I talk to Stacey for a minute pare?" he looked at Tyler. Medyo kumunot ang noo ng huli but he just nodded.

Nagtataka din si Stacey. Why does Blake want to talk to her? Tumayo na lang siya when he took her hand.

"Sandali lang." paalam niya kay Tyler.

Blake led her to the wall near the bar. "Miss Hotness, you can't talk to any customer while the others are looking. Kahit sabihin mo pang kilala mo." bulong nito.

"Bakit? I just wanted to thank him for being here." she's frowning a little. She is slightly light-headed. She had two shots of vodka bago ang number nila. She needs a little alcohol para mas ma-relax siya.

He shook his head and lightly touched her left cheek. "Dahil hindi tine-table ang vocalist ng banda. Gusto mo bang lahat ng manunuod sayo magrerequest na i-table ka? Ayaw kong mababastos ka. You know how hot you are. Lahat ng mga nandito gusto kang makilala,. But no! I won't let that happen. I want to protect you.Eve will kill me pag may nangyari sayo." he joked.

She sighed. He has a point. Alam niya that he is just after her welfare. "Okay.Sorry.Hindi na mauulit." she said.

"Hindi ka na pwedeng bumalik sa lamesa niya. May gusto ka bang pasabi sa admirer mo? Ako na lang ang magre-relay " sabi nito.

"Can't I even say goodbye properly to him?" tanong niya.

"No. Nakatingin na ang ibang customers. Maybe we have to put on an act." he suggested as he looked around the bar.

"What do you mean?" naguguluhang tanong niya.

"Para hindi na mag-isip ng kung ano-ano ang ibang nakatingin, kunwari you are the owner's woman. At hindi ko nagustuhan ang ginawa mo. And since napaka-ganda naman talaga ng nobya ko, they can look but they can't touch." sabi nito as he stares at her. His eyes are twinkling with amusement.

She pouted. "Kailangan pa ba yun?"

He touched her chin. Inilapit nito ng konti ang mukha sa kanya. So mag-uumpisa na ang palabas nila. She prepared herself. The little alcohol she had made her less shy of him.

"I am harmless Ms.Hotness but I will enjoy pretending to be your boyfriend. Just don't fall for me,okay?" biro nito while he has a naughty smile on his lips.

Stacey almost giggled. She knows that he's right. Alam niya mahal nito ang gf at anak. Ang lakas lang talaga ng dating ni Blake. Kung hindi lang niya alam na may sabit na ito, baka may chance pa na magkagusto na siya dito ngayon. Pero hindi na pwede .Then a tall man with a stubble flashed in her mind. She blinked her eyes twice para mabura sa isip si Mr.Sungit.

Makikisakay na lang siya kay Blake. He might flirt with her a little but they both know na harmless flirting lang yun. They are just friends now. She touched his cheek."Okay..you're the boss." she said huskily.

She stifled a laugh when she saw his mouth open slightly sa gulat. She had never touched any part of his body before. He is pleasantly surprised.

"Basta kunwari lang...baka ma-in love ka na naman sa akin. Ayaw ko ng may sabit." she said habang matamis na nakangiti.

“Fucking hell!”. Mahinang mura ni Nick.

Kitang-kita nito ang lahat. Stacey is openly flirting with the man with tattoo. He has a strong desire to punch his face.They are almost of the same height at parehong malaki ang katawan nila but Nick is confident na kaya itong itumba si Blake. He has a black belt in karate.

Lalong tumindi ang galit nito. .Harapan itong nakipaglandian sa lalaking customer kahit nandito din ang nobyo nito. She is a slut! Women like her needs to be taught a lesson! He thought before he stood up angrily after leaving money on the table.

(Stacey)

Walang nagawa si Tyler kung hindi umalis dahil hindi na siya hinayaan ni Blake na lumabas ng dressing room. She said she wants to go home but sabi nito, palamig muna sila. Her approaching Tyler's table half an hour ago caused quite a stir among the other male customers.

She just texted Tyler na mag-usap na lang sila sa ibang araw. Tinawagan siya nito and she explained the situation. Gusto nito na hintayin siya sa labas para ihatid pauwi but she refused. Sabi niya may dala naman siyang sasakyan.

Gaano pa ako katagal dito? I want to go home! she told herself.

She just wants to sleep on her comfortable bed. Sinuot niya ang black light jacket niya with hood. Sumilip siya sa labas. The corridor is clear. She took her bag then pinatay niya ang ilaw ng dressing room. Nauna ng umalis si Eve dahil sinundo ulit ito ng nobyo. She will just text Blake na umalis na din siya. Siguro naman okay na Mukhang busy naman ang mga tao dahil may bagong banda na nagpeperform. Natanaw niya si Blake na abala sa pakikipagusap sa ibang customers. She hid her face in her jacket's hood then mabilis na lumabas.

Luckily walang nakapansin sa kanya. She felt relieved ng makalabas siya. Her car is parked at the far end of the parking space. Walang ibang tao siyang nakita kung hindi yung nagdaang nagtitinda ng balot. Habang naglalakad siya ng mabilis towards her car, she texted Blake na uuwi na siya. Medyo madilim ang dadaanan niya kasi sira ang poste malapit sa kotse niya. Halos tumakbo na siya ng parang naramdaman niya na may sumusunod sa kanya. Ayaw niyang tumingin sa likod niya dahil mas natatakot siya na may makikita siyang kakaiba. She opened her car's door when suddenly may naramdaman siyang humablot sa kanya and may itinakip sa mukha niya.

***

She feels a little dizzy and she has a slight headache. Naramdaman niya na nakahiga siya sa malambot na kama. The cool temperature of the room is making her drowsy again.

Then she remembered na pasakay siya ng kotse niya when someone grabbed her. She opened her eyes but couldn't see anything. She gasped because something is covering them. She tried to move her arms but she can’t! Nabalot ng takot ang buong pagkatao niya. Nakatali ang mga kamay niya above her head.

"HELP!!" iyak niya as she tried to free herself.