T HE DINNER was going to be great. Napapangiti si Connor habang pinagmamasdan ang porchetta. Parang chicharon ang balat niyon, habang ang amoy ay napakabango. Kailangan niya ng tinapay para doon. Of course the wine would complete the meal as well. He took a shower and headed out.
Mabilis niyang narating ang panetteria o bakery at bumili ng tinapay, saka tumuloy sa enoteca para sa paboritong wine ni Nadia. Sumakay na rin siya sa sasakyan, saka umuwi. Binubuksan niya ang pinto ng apartment nang makadama ng malakas na paghataw sa kanyang batok. Hindi niya iyon inasahan kaya hindi siya nakaiwas. Nang bumagsak, agad sana siyang pipihit, pero mabilis ang kalaban. Isang sipa sa sikmura at may dumiin na paa sa kanyang batok.
“Where’s my money, bastard?”
Hindi makapaniwala si Connor. Mabilis hulaan kung kanino ang boses na iyon, dahil iisa lang naman ang nag-aakusa sa kanyang may utang siya rito. The woman from Sphere, Alexandra.
Nagkandasamid-samid siya nang hindi nito alisin ang paa sa kanyang batok. Gumaan nang bahagya ang paa nito sa kanya at sinamantala niya iyon. He grabbed her foot and pulled her. Bumagsak sa sahig ang babae at agad niyang kinubabawan. Lumaban ito, pero marunong din siyang lumaban. He took lessons.
“How did you find me?” tanong niya.
“`Cause you’re an idiot.”
“Tell me.”
“Give me my money.”
“I don’t have your money—”
“I see you’re gonna have a dinner date. When is she coming over, stud?”
“What the hell?” sabi niya. The woman was good.
Pumipiglas pa rin ang babae kahit hawak ni Connor sa magkabilang braso. Tumaas ang sulok ng mga labi nito. “You’re trying to figure out how I would know? It’s not rocket science. You are textbook asshole.” Bahagya nitong iginalaw ang ulo at tumingin sa bote ng alak na gumulong papunta sa pader. “Wine, huh? She must be some girl. A cheap one like you buying good wine? Oh, well, who’s to say it’s not a guy coming over, huh?”
Kung bakit kahit alam niyang nang-iinis ito, naapektuhan naman siya. She was saying he was gay, obviously. Personally, he had no issues about the sexual preference of other people or how they want to live their lives. Kaya hindi niya malaman kung bakit siya nainis bigla. How the hell could someone so small be so annoying? Hindi sa sinabi mismo ng babae siya nainis kundi sa expression nito. She was acting as if she had every right to be there, without actually taking into consideration the fact that he did not owe her anything. Bakit ba ayaw nitong maniwala? They were in the con business and she was not smart to trust anyone. Fifty percent down payment was absolutely necessary. Kasalanan ba niya kung na-con ito ni Francine? Sa isang banda, paano rin niya masisisi ang babae kung beterana na si Francine?
“I can wait for your date… or you can pay me now and I’ll leave.”
“I already told you, I don’t have your money. You’ve been conned by Francine.”
“I don’t care. Just give me my money. Fifty grand, and I go.”
“Fifty grand, what the fuck! I don’t have fifty grand lying around, are you kidding me?”
“Let’s check out your apartment. Maybe you have fifty grand stashed somewhere.”
“I don’t have it!” Inis na inis na si Connor. Of course he was lying. Of course he had fifty grand in his house. He had more than that in case of emergency. Kailangan sa kanyang trabaho. Pero wala siyang balak ibigay iyon sa babae.
Noon nag-ring ang kanyang phone. Alam niyang si Nadia iyon. Muntik na siyang mapamura.
“Aren’t you gonna get that?” nang-iinis na tanong ni Alexandra.
“Shut up.”
“We can keep on talking while you also talk over the phone. We can do that.”
“Do it and I won’t give you a dime,” sabi ni Connor, saka sinagot ang phone. “Mio cara.”
Ang sabi ni Nadia, parating na raw ito dahil maagang nakaalis sa trabaho. Darating daw sa loob ng sampung minuto. Ibig sabihin, sa loob ng sampung minuto, dapat nang maidispatsa ni Connor si Alexandra.
Nang matapos ang tawag, isa-isa niyang dinampot ang mga gumulong na bote ng alak. Salamat at hindi nabasag ang mga iyon nang bumagsak sa carpeted na sahig ng hallway. Tumuloy na siya sa apartment. Sumunod si Alexandra.
“Look, I’m gonna call Francine and have her tell you that I don’t have your money so you can leave me the hell alone, all right?”
“Oh, tough guy talk to intimidate the woman he scammed,” nang-iinis na sabi nito.
He had no idea how she got into the business, but it was no place for emotional boys and girls. She was a mystery somehow. She did not fit the profile of a career criminal. Kunsabagay, may ilan siyang kilalang ganoon. Dad Richard was one of them. Mas parang CEO si Dad Richard kaysa con artist.
Nagpatuloy ang babae, mas mariin ang boses sa pagkakataong iyon. “Unfortunately, I won’t leave until I get my money.”
Pinagmasdan niya ito, mabilis na binalikan sa isip ang mga pangyayari nang araw na iyon, saka sinabi, “You were at the airport when you called me, right?”
“Obviously,” nakaismid nitong sabi.
“Nagpunta ka ng Italy nang hindi mo sigurado kung may makukuha ka sa akin. That’s a foolish thing to do.”
“Well, seeing that I’ve found you, it doesn’t seem so foolish now, is it?”
Tama si Alexandra. Alam din ni Connor kung paano siya nito nahanap, madaling mahulaan. Alam ng babae na nasa Italy siya. Ang hindi nito alam ay kung nasaang bahagi siya ng Italy. It was a combination of smarts and luck. Tumawag ang babae mula sa airport at nagkataong nasa wine shop siya. Kinausap siya ng tindero sa wine shop at sinabing wala nang stock ng alak at puntahan na lang niya sa isa pang tindahan. Alexandra obviously heard the conversation. Nagkataon lang na marunong mag-Italian ang babae at minalas din siya dahil hindi niya alam na nasa Italy na ito.
“Of all the airports in Italy, how did you choose Milan?” tanong ni Connor, out of curiosity.
“I called you the other day and noticed your Milanese accent. I took my chance.”
“Ah.” Napatango si Connor. The woman was very smart, he had to give her that. May tumawag nga sa kanya noong isang araw, pero phone company. O inakala niyang phone company. How was he to supposed to know she spoke Italian? It looked like he indeed underestimated this woman and it looked like she was going to stay. “Very smart.”
Isa lang ang problema—ayaw niyang ibigay rito ang pera. Hindi dahil sa wala siyang pera, kundi dahil sa prinsipyo.
“Listen,” sabi ni Connor. “I don’t have your money right now but you can come back tomorrow and I will give it to you.” Another con, of course. He would never give her anything. Pagkatapos ng ginawa nito? Isa pa, anong klaseng pagsasamantala pa ang gagawin ni Francine kung pagbibigyan niya ang babaeng ito? He might be giving out his own money to Francine’s “employees” without earning from them. Not good for the business.
“No dice,” sabi ni Alexandra, prenteng naupo sa sofa, itinaas ang combat boots sa coffee table, walang pakialam kahit madumihan iyon.
“Will you get your feet off my table? I just cleaned this place and you’re messing it up.”
Pinalungkot nito ang mukha, umarteng parang naaawa sa kanya. “Oh, poor guy. Did you just wipe this?” Ikiniskis nitong lalo ang sapatos sa mesa, saka umiba ng puwesto. Itinaas nito ang mga paa na siguradong sa kutson ng sofa babagsak kapag ibinaba nito. “How about the pristine white covers of the sofa, did you just wash them?”
“Stop it. Stop it right now.”
“Are you gonna pay me or what?”
“I don’t have the money!”
“You want me to search the house?”
Napabuntong-hininga si Connor, hindi alam ang gagawin sa babae. Kumuha siya ng basahan at pinunasan ang coffee table. “Look, I think I have about five grand. I can give it to you. That’s all I have, I swear it. Go back to Francine and let her pay you. I don’t have any money.”
“You are a liar. I want my fifty grand and then you talk to Francine to settle it. Kayo ang magkakilala.”
Damn Francine, sa isip-isip ni Connor. “You stay there.” Nagmamadali siyang nagpunta sa kuwarto. Wala siyang choice. Hindi aalis si Alexandra at hindi niya rin ito puwedeng itapon palabas ng apartment. Kailangan na nitong umalis. Wala siyang balak sirain ang gabing iyon kasama si Nadia. Kumuha siya ng pera at inilagay iyon sa sobre. Noon siya nakarinig ng pagkatok sa labas. Nagmamadali na siyang lumabas ng kuwarto, pero huli na ang lahat. Nabuksan na ni Alexandra ang pinto at nakatayo sa labas si Nadia.
Bitch! sa isip-isip niya, gustong pitikin si Alexandra. Ibibigay na nga niya ang gusto nito, nakialam pa. Sana naghintay na lang ito at hinayaan siyang dumiskarte. Bakit kailangan nitong buksan ang pinto?
“Nadia, I would like you to meet my cousin,” she told his girlfriend, in perfect Italian.
“Oh, your cousin?” balik ni Nadia sa parehong lengguwahe, nakangiti. Hindi ito magaling mag-Ingles, kahit nakakaintindi.
“Yes, she is from…”
“The Philippines,” pagtutuloy ni Alexandra.
“Oh, Philippines!” Mukhang tuwang-tuwa si Nadia, sinabing noon lang nakakilala ng isang kamag-anak ni “Michael.” Muntik nang napangiwi si Connor. Hindi niya masabi kay Nadia ang totoo niyang pangalan. Isa iyon sa mga bagay na kasama sa trabaho. What the hell was he supposed to do, avoid all women just because of his job? No way!
“Would you like to join us for dinner?” tanong ni Nadia kay Alexandra.
“I think she has to do something,” sabi ni Connor, inagapan ang lahat.
Pero ngumiti si Alexandra. “I will really appreciate it. I’m hungry. With Michael here preparing dinner, it’s bound to be delicious. Do you mind if I join?”
“But I thought you’re meeting someone?” giit ni Connor.
“Oh, he can wait. So, Nadia, tell me about you. Where do you work?”
Shit, sa isip-isip ni Connor. Inaalam ni Alexandra ang mga bagay tungkol kay Nadia at magagamit nito ang lahat ng iyon laban sa kanya. The little bitch was very cunning, so sneaky. Hayun at babayaran na nga niya kahit hindi siya ang may atraso, pero siya ang apektado. Kailangan na niyang maidispatsa ang babae, pero wala siyang magawa. Naghain na lang siya at mayamaya, tinawag na ang dalawang babae na sige pa rin sa pagkukuwentuhan.
It was obvious that Alexandra could be a good friend to any girl. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa rito si Nadia. Nagpatuloy ang kuwentuhan ng dalawang babae hanggang sa hapunan. Malayo ang nagaganap sa romantic dinner na inasahan ni Connor. Mukha ring hindi nagsisinungaling si Alexandra nang sabihing gutom ito. Nakailang ulit sa pagkuha ng pagkain, walang diet na nalalaman. But she was a very slender woman. Buff, actually. Halatang sanay sa physical training, base na rin sa kanilang bakbakan kanina.
Masakit pa rin ang sikmura at likuran ni Connor, kung saan siya napuruhan ng maliit na babae. Pero mefenamic acid lang ang katapat niyon. He could still salvage the rest of the night. He planned to do some seduction and that was still the plan. Kung sana ay umalis na si Alexandra.
Nagpaalam si Nadia na pupunta sa banyo at sa wakas, naiwan sina Connor at Alexandra sa komedor. Iniabot ni Connor ang sobreng may lamang cash. “Now, leave.”
“Are you sure it’s all here?” tanong ng babae, halatang nagdududa.
“Everything is there,” mayabang niyang sabi.
“Good. Because if I count this and it’s not fifty grand, you know I’m gonna come back and ruin things.”
“Of course. Like you haven’t yet. Go. I will tell her you left.”
“That wouldn’t be nice. Your cousin would want to say good-bye personally. Unless you wanna tell her I’m really not your cousin.”
She was obviously playing a game. Nang-iinis ang babae dahil hindi niya agad naibigay ang gusto. Nagkataon lang na nasa mga kamay nito ang alas. Kung sana talaga hindi napaaga ang dating ni Nadia. Kung naiba-iba ang sitwasyon, mas pipiliin niyang puntahan si Nadia sa kung saan, kaysa bigyan ng pera ang babaeng maliit. But it was a lost cause now.
Naitanong bigla ni Connor sa sarili kung ano kaya ang motibo ni Alexandra kung bakit iyon ang napiling trabaho. It was her first job, but she was already very good at it. Her finding him was really impressive. Kahit ang self-defense na alam nito, mahusay. She knew karate and krav maga. Unfortunately for her, he also knew how to fight. Marami siyang physical training noon pa mang bata siya sa Sta. Cruz, kabilang doon ang makipaghabulan sa mga pulis.
“Do you have a job now? A new contract?” tanong ni Connor.
“No.”
“Maybe I can call you so we can work together.” Hindi niya alam kung saan galing iyon, pero aminadong nakita ang potensiyal ng babae.
Sarkastikong tumawa si Alexandra. “Like I will trust you with my life and my money.”
“A job is a job. Like I said, Francine scammed you. Not me. How much did you get for that job, total?”
“None of your business.”
“How much?”
“One hundred.”
God , sa isip-isip niya. Ni wala pang five percent ang ibinigay ni Francine para sa kontrata kahit ang madalas na usapan ay thirty-seventy, pabor sa gagawa ng trabaho. Pinakamahina ang seventy-thirty na pabor sa middleman, at iyon ay mga tipo ng trabaho kung saan ibibigay na sa contractor lahat ng detalye. Luging-lugi si Alexandra, lalo na at ito pa ang kumuha ng kabuuang bayad sa kanya. Malaki ang kinita ni Francine. Pupuntahan niya ito para bawiin ang singkuwenta mil niya.
“Tell me about your next job,” sabi ni Connor. Gusto niyang payuhan si Alexandra. Hindi puwede sa kanilang trabaho ang maliit na singil. Sila ang lugi. Sila ang nagsusugal ng buhay. Gusto niyang makatulong kahit paano sa isang baguhan sa industriya.
“Even if I do have a job, which I don’t, what makes you think I will tell you about it?” Ipinasok na nito ang sobre ng pera sa loob ng coat. “You’re an asshole, not to be trusted with money. You and Francine.”
He did not take it personally. “So you have another agent giving you jobs?”
“No. I’m retiring.”
“Yeah? Just after one job?” Halos hindi siya makapaniwala. Wala pa siyang kilalang ganoon na agad na nag-retire sa labas ng selda matapos lang ang isang trabaho.
“I don’t have to explain anything to you. You know why? `Cause you’re an asshole.”
Bago pa nakasagot si Connor, bumalik na si Nadia.
Tumayo si Alexandra at nagpaalam na kay Nadia. Nagpalitan ng beso-beso ang dalawang babae. Kumaway kay Connor si Alexandra, saka naglakad papunta sa pinto, kasama si Nadia. She went out of the apartment—with his fifty grand.
Si Connor na ang nagsara ng pinto at saka hinarap si Nadia. Sinabi niyang wala sa kanyang plano na isali ang kanyang “pinsan” sa hapunan. Bale-wala iyon kay Nadia dahil gusto nitong makilala ang isa man lang sa kamag-anak niya noon pa.
He wondered how life would be with Nadia. Tulad pa rin ng dati, mga babae ang kanyang kahinaan. But this time he thought that Nadia might possibly be the one for him. Hindi nga lang niya nasabi rito kung ano ang kanyang totoong pangalan. Hindi niya alam kung masasabi niya.
Matutulad din ba siya kay Dad Richard na kapag nakatagpo ng isang babae, hindi pa rin magagawang iwan ang trabaho? Hindi niya alam. For some reason, that job was something he came to enjoy. Pero gusto rin niya ang pagkakaroon ng girlfriend. What was it about women like Nadia that made him want to give them everything? Hindi niya rin alam.
“I have something for you,” sabi ni Connor, saka ibinigay kay Nadia ang isang maliit na kahon.
Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang buksan iyon. It was a charm bracelet from Tiffany & Company. “Bellisima.”
“It fits you perfectly,” sabi niya matapos isuot sa girlfriend ang bracelet, saka ito hinagkan sa mga labi.
Soon, he was seducing her. It was rather easy. They started making love. Walang ideya si Nadia na tuwing hahawakan siya nito sa mga bahagi ng katawan na nadale kanina ni Alexandra, muntik na siyang mapangiwi. Damn that bitch for making this night painful when it was supposed to be romance in art form. She got away with his money to boot. Damn.