Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Chapter4: Detour
"Is this how syndicates like you work?"
Poseidon removed his sunglasses and fixed his cap. Masama ang tinging pinupukol niya but I ignored him and continued looking around the place.
Few days after I recovered, here we are, back to the fake place I told him about. We both wore huge sunglasses and baseball caps. The place was smelly and crowded, perfect place para sa mga away at kung ano pang gulo. It's a place where you cannot run freely, unless you choose to hop from roof to roof. It was a smelly squatter's area, and a dangerous one. Tanghaling tapat ay may mga tambay na lasing sa mga kanto.
I know we're here for nothing, but it's good to fool the reaper. Nakita ko kung paano siya magtrabaho— which is kind of lame. Akala ko ay napaka-cool maging reaper o assassin, but it was actually a pathetic job.
"Nauuhaw na ako," reklamo ko at iginala ang paningin sa paligid, looking for a store. I spotted one on a far corner, at gaya ng iba pang mga tindahan, may iilang nag-iinuman. "I'll buy us a drink."
Wala akong narinig na sagot mula sa kanya kaya umalis na ako at nagtungo sa tindahan. Nang nilingon ko siya ay panay ang obserba niya sa paligid, casually asking people random unsuspicious questions.
Nang marating ko ang tindahan ay tumayo ang isang lasinggo. "Hi, miss!"
I faked a smile. "Hello."
"Shot ka muna."
No, thanks.
"Sige, salamat," sagot ko, not to offend the men. Mukha pa naman silang mga may masamang balak. But I learned not to judge people easily. These ugly-looking men probably didn't kill a guy, yet, that good-looking guy I was with killed quite a number. Kaya hindi ko na huhusgahan ng kung ano ang mga lasinggong 'to.
"Nauuhaw ako eh, tubig sana—"
The most ugly-looking one insisted and filled the glass with what appears to be white liquid, but I doubt it was water. I don't drink this shit, pero mukhang wala akong choice.
"Sige na nga, isa lang ha!" I know saying no would be bad, so I was trying to be on these guy's good side, lalo na't dayo lamang kami rito. I accepted the glass each of them used to drink. Gross, I know. I hope I don't die.
And they made a happy cheering sound as they watched me chugged the liquor.
******
I almost fell on the ground as I laughed on Kardo's joke. Kardo is huge guy, na sa simula ay tila walang gagawing mabuti but after a shot of gin, or maybe six bottles, he's actually a great guy.
Ang payat naman na kasama namin na medyo maasim ang pawis ay si Robert, Berto kung tawagin. He just told us a story of how he met his pretty wife.
Si Pako naman ay ang pinakabata sa kanilang tatlo. Medyo tahimik at walang ambag sa usapan but he has the most laugh of all. Siya iyong tipong ang babaw ng kaligayan. I mistakenly chugged on the gin instead of water, ayun halos mautot na sa katatawa.
