"THERE'S nothing special about you, Diokno. The only good thing about you is your surname, remove that and you are nobody! You are nothing but a disgrace to that surname! Next time, be a worthy opponent." She said as she turned her back at him.
"That's… that's below the belt." His friend, Clyde said.
Erick just stared at the back of the brave girl. Her long black hair bounced with her every move. He can't help but admire her, even though she keeps stepping on his ego.
"Bilib din ako sayo, Erick. Hindi mo pinapatulan iyong si Dalia kahit na most of the time below the belt na ang sinasabi niya sayo." Marco said while shaking his head.
"Hindi ko din alam kung bakit ang laki ng galit niya sayo. Ano ba kasi ang ginawa mo doon?" Clyde asked him.
Erick just shake his head para maalis ang isipan sa likuran ng babaeng kanilang pinag uusapan.
"Hindi ko din alam. Ipinanganak na ata iyong may sama na agad ng loob sa akin." He said while laughing, although he wondered why the girl was hot-headed towards him.
"Baka naman may gusto sayo?" Marco asked.
Clyde gave their friend a little jab.
"Wag kang maingay, marinig ka noon siguradong bukas ikaw naman ang pagiinitan noon."
"Anong gagawin niya sa akin? Hamunin ng debate? Wala siyang mapapala sa akin! Yes, your honor! Agad ang isasagot ko sa kanya." Marco said laughing.
Not long after, the three of them laugh their hearts off, trying to forget his embarrassment earlier.
***
"SHE looks familiar," Erick said.
Marco looked at him confused. "Who?" Tanong niya dito habang patuloy pa din sa pag-scroll sa kanyang cellphone.
"The lady you swiped a moment ago."
Marco stopped scrolling on his phone and looked at him.
"Are you looking at my phone? Stop being nosy, man!" Natatawang sabi pa nito sa kanya.
"Then stop scrolling your phone that way." Sagot niya dito.
Ibinaba ni Marco ang braso na nakatukod sa lamesa at binaling ang tingin kay Erick na nakaupo sa kanyang tabi.
They are at a bar, finalizing their surprise bachelor party for Clyde. Whose wedding has been postponed 7 times! And they are hoping that this time, matuloy na talaga ang kasal ng kaibigan.
"What's with the album of women on your phone? Don't tell me… that's disgusting, Marco!" Erick said with eyebrows rising on his friend.
"Hold up, Attorney! This," he is pointing into his phone. "Is an application for Golden Night. It was called, The Angel's Book, you can book an Angel through this. And I am currently trying to book an Angel for Clyde's bachelor's party."
The mention of Angel's book took his attention.
"Golden hour? Angel's Book? What's that?"
Marco leans closer to him as if he is afraid that other people will hear their conversation.
"It's a special hour at Route '77 that offers wonders and magic," Marco said while moving his eyebrows up and down.
Erick pushed Marco, he's not in a mood for silly things. Nagtanong siya ng maayos!
"I'm dead serious here, Marco." He was about to leave when Marco stopped him.
"Golden Hour is a special hour at Route '77, they are offered to people who qualified for the screening and hold the Golden card." He said as he took something from his wallet and showed it to Erick. It's a blank gold card, unlike credit or debit cards that are made from PVC, this one aside from its color which is gold, looks like it was made from something as precious as gold. "During Golden Hour, there are different performances. Different kinds of Angels will entertain you. And of course, the highlight of the night, you can book an Angel through this app."
"What for? As your personal entertainer? Ano naman gagawin niyo?" He asked curiously.
Marco shrugged his shoulders. "Ewan ko. Ikaw. Kung anong gusto mo." He puts his phone on the bar counter and faces him. "You want to talk to her the whole night, you want to take her all night. It's up to you."
Erick once again frowns.
"Like an extra service?"
Marco nodded his head.
"How can I be a member?" Seryosong tanong ni Erick dito.
Erick frowns as Marco bursts into laughter in front of him.
"Seryoso ka?" Tanong ito sa kanya pagkatapos nitong tumawa.
"Muka ba akong nagbibiro?"
"Erick, the whole country knew about your whole family being a family of lawyers. Your father is a well-known human rights lawyer. Not to mention your mom is a woman's rights lawyer. And this," Marco is pointing at his phone, "is close to human trafficking. What made you think Hershey would accept your application knowing that one way or another authorities would raid her bar for human trafficking? Of course, Hershey's smart enough to not let you."
Erick shook his head and sighed.
"Look, Marco. I am a business lawyer, unlike my mom or dad. Or even my siblings! I work as a corporate lawyer for money and to earn a living. I always believe that we can't solely live with just principles. And I know Hershey also knew that."
Marco just shrugged his shoulders once again.
"Well, if that's what you want. Just go to Route '77 before midnight and talk to Hershey, just whisper to her the word Golden Hour and she will know instantly what you want."
Erick nodded and gave his thanks to his friend. He needed that membership A.S.A.P.
***
"I'M sorry, Atty. But can't disclose everything to you, not until you passed the tests and interviews and signed the N.D.A. But one thing is for sure, Atty. We are operating within the law and we follow the law. We don't force our Angels to do things they don't want to do." Hershey said as he was applying for a Golden Hour pass.
Erick stared blankly at Hershey as she was smiling at him.
"I am looking forward for a positive response with my application, Hershey." Seryoso niyang sabi dito.
Hershey stared back at him.
"May I know why you are so eager to be a Golden Card holder, Atty. Diokno?" Hershey asked curiously.
Erick stops for a second and looks at Hershey before leaving with his dead eyes.
"I just need to confirm things."
~~
"Pagod na ako! Pagod na pagod na ako!" She said as her tears kept on falling down her cheeks. Erick is just staring at her while she is breaking down in front of him. "Bakit ba hindi pumabor sa akin ang tadhana? Bakit ba lagi na lang akong talo? Wala naman akong ginawang masama! Lumalaban naman ako para mabuhay. Pero bakit kahit minsan, kahit isang beses lang, hindi ako panalunin ng tadhana?" She said between sobs.
"Pagod na ako. Pagod na pagod na… ako!" Hindi na niya pinag aksayahang punasan ang mga luha. She's tired. Tired of everything.
Erick closed the gap between them and held her face, then left a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Tahan na. Nandito na ako, pwede ka nang magpahinga."
~~
"Bakit ba ang hirap sayong paniwalaan ako? Kasi dati akong pokpok? Kaya akala mo nagpapagamit lang ako kung kani-kanino?" Akusa nito sa kanya.
Erick pinch the bridge of his nose. He doesn't want to explode and say things he will regret later.
"Kailan kita binigyan, kahit konting dahilan lang, mag-isip na ganyan ang tingin ko sayo? Dinala kita sa pedestal!" He can't keep his composure, hence, the raise of his voice at the last statement.
"Pero hindi ko hinihingi iyon!"
"Hindi mo nga hiningi pero binigay ko! Kasi ganoon kita kamahal!"
The whole area fell silent.
***
"THEY will never accept me, Erick!"
"Why?" Erick asked her, almost shouting. "Because of your past? And so what?" Erick sighs in frustration, masyadong matigas ang puso nito. He can't penetrate her heart and mind.
"Look at you! You are a well-known lawyer, you achieve everything people expected you to achieve! Nasa taas ka ng pedestal! Habang ako ano? Habang ako nasa pinaka ibaba! Lugmok! Madumi! walang narating at napatunayan." She said while crying, she is frustrated with herself and the things that happen to her.
Erick hugged her tightly, caressing her head as a form of lullaby. Her sobbing stops, but not her silent tears. Erick held her face and looked her in the eyes. He kisses her tears away, and when a new tear falls, he immediately wipes it away.
He kisses her forehead, her tear-stained eyes, her nose, down to her lips. A peck sends a million volts of electricity throughout her whole body.
"Stop crying, I don't want to see your tears. It hurts me… big time." He whispered between their lips.
"Erick…" She said his name in protest while trying to break free from his arms. "This is a mistake. Being with you is a mistake. Loving…loving you is a mistake." She said between sobs.
"Shhh…" Erick once again wipes her tears. "You are not a mistake. And even if you are," he kissed her once again. "You're my favorite mistake."
Bakit 'di ka makawala sa kadena?
At sa gabi gabi ikaw ay nasa selda