He glanced at me briefly before looking out the window. "Basta, malalaman mo rin," he replied casually. I nodded, understanding that he wasn't quite ready to share his destination yet. It was clear that he had his reasons for wanting to keep things private.
We continued the journey in silence, the hum of the taxi's engine filling the air. I stole glances at him from time to time, trying to decipher his thoughts. He seemed lost in his own world, deep in contemplation.
As we reached a familiar part of the city, I couldn't help but speak up again. "Ba’t parang papunta tayo sa BGC, ah."
He glanced at me, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Sharp observation."
I grinned back. "Well, considering I spend a lot of time organizing your schedules and events, I've become quite familiar with the city's routes."
He chuckled. "I know. You probably know more about my daily schedule than I do."
Nang nakarating na kami sa maliit lang na bar, napansin kong Mini Bar ang tinutukoy niya. "Dito tayo pupunta?" Sabay turo ko sa lugar.
"Hindi ka ba makikita diyan? Baka may mga fans ka diyan, d-dumugin ka," dagdag ko ulit, na may kaunting pag-aalala sa kanya.
Napahinto naman siya sa harapan ko: "Zaniyah, calm down," sabi niya. "Kaya nga, mag-face mask ka at ako na bahala."
Dali-dali siyang pumasok sa loob ng Mini Bar, at sumunod naman ako sa kanya. Sa pagpasok namin, marahang nag-angat siya ng kamay para batiin ang mga kasamahan niya. May mga ngiti at kaway ang ibang tao sa bar, na parang sanay na rin sila sa kanyang mga bisita.
Pinilit kong maging natural ang aking pagkakatayo, ngunit nararamdaman kong may mga mata na sumusubaybay sa amin. Maging siya ay may mga tingin mula sa mga tao sa paligid.
May isang vacant na mesa sa gilid ng bar, kaya't doon kami nagtungo. Binuksan niya ang menu, at ako naman ay sumunod sa kanya.
"Ano'ng gusto mong inumin?" tanong niya, na sa totoo lang ay naguguluhan ako sa pag-aasta niya. Parang iba siya ngayon, at hindi ko alam kung paano haharapin ang kanyang mga banyagang kilos.
Binuksan ko rin ang menu at nagsimulang mag-isip. "Kahit ano, basta't hindi matapang."
Agad siyang tumango at tumawag sa waiter. "Dalawang iced tea, please."
Habang naghihintay kami sa aming order, napansin kong masayang nag-uusap ang mga tao sa bar. Parang isang maligayang lugar ito na puno ng buhay. Kakaiba ang aming naging eksena rito, isang tahimik na personal na pagkikita na tila'y nakatago mula sa madla.
After a few minutes, three guys approached us, appearing to be Jackson's friends. They each had distinct looks.
One guy had a confident demeanor and a casual but stylish outfit that suggested he was outgoing and approachable. (NATHAN) Another had curly hair and a charming smile that exuded charisma. His trendy attire indicated a combination of playfulness and sophistication. (CALIX) The third guy was wearing a simple t-shirt and had a relaxed yet friendly expression, giving off a laid-back vibe. (KYLE)
"Son, sup?" the first guy greeted, offering a high-five.
"Doon tayo sa kwarto, VIP," the curly-haired friend whispered to Jackson, suggesting they move to a private room.
I stood up, observing their interaction without saying anything.
“Oy, may kasama pala si Jackson na chicks,” saad no’ng curly hair
"Baliw, personal assistant ko," Jackson retorted with a chuckle. "Zaniyah, these are my friends, Calix, Kyle, and Nathan."
I gave a polite nod and a small smile as I greeted them, "Hi, nice to meet you all."
They responded with friendly nods and smiles, seeming to appreciate the introduction.
"Hi, Zaniyah, pagpasensyahan mo 'to si Calix, baliw lang talaga 'to," Kyle teased, giving Calix a playful pat on the shoulder.
I chuckled, feeling at ease with their friendly banter. "No worries; I can handle a bit of craziness."
Calix grinned mischievously. "Oh, you have no idea. Wait 'til you hear Jackson's embarrassing childhood stories."
Jackson's eyes narrowed at Calix, a warning in his gaze. "Don't you dare."
Nathan chimed in with a chuckle. "Come on, we're all friends here. We won't judge."
"Doon nalang tayo sa VIP room baka may makakita sa akin dito," sabay bulong ni Jackson sa mga kaibigan.
Calix held up his hands in mock surrender, still grinning mischievously. "Okay, okay, we won't spill the embarrassing secrets, Jackson. For now."
Nathan leaned back in his chair, a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, come on, Jackson, you can't keep those stories hidden forever. Sharing is caring, you know."
Jackson rolled his eyes, but I could tell that beneath his feigned annoyance, he was enjoying the light-hearted banter. "Manahimik kana."
"Okay, okay, tara Zaniyah." pag-aaya nila
The atmosphere in the VIP room was relaxed and jovial, a stark contrast to the earlier silence during our taxi ride. It was clear that these guys had a long history together and were comfortable in each other's company. As the night went on, their stories and laughter filled the air, creating a warm and welcoming ambiance.
As I sat there, they began to drink alcohol, and I listened to their conversations while occasionally joining in. I couldn't help but feel grateful for the chance to experience this side of Jackson's life. It was a glimpse into his world outside of work, a world filled with genuine friendships and shared memories.
As the evening drew to a close, Jackson's phone buzzed with a notification. He checked it briefly and then looked at his friends. "I hate to cut this short, but I have an early start tomorrow."
Calix raised an eyebrow playfully. "Early start? Or are you just trying to escape before Zaniyah spills more secrets?"
Jackson chuckled and stood up. "You'll never let that go, will you?"
Harix stood as well, clapping Jackson on the back. "Thanks for hanging out, man. We should do this more often."
Nathan nodded in agreement. "Definitely. And nice meeting you, Zaniyah."
I smiled at them. "Nice meeting you all too. Thanks for letting me crash your night."
As we left the bar and stepped out into the cool night air, Jackson turned to me with a grin. "Well, that was an unexpected turn of events."
I laughed softly. "Definitely. But it was fun. Your friends are great."
He nodded, his expression reflecting a mixture of contentment and amusement. "Yeah, they are."
"Hindi ka pa ba lasing?" I asked playfully as we walked down the sidewalk. The alcohol was definitely having an effect on the group.
Jackson chuckled. "No, I'm good. I know my limits."
We walked in comfortable silence for a moment before he spoke again. "Thanks for coming tonight. I know it was a bit spontaneous."
I shrugged, a smile playing on my lips. "No problem. It's nice to see a different side of you."
He glanced at me, his eyes warm and appreciative. "You're the only one who gets to see all sides of me, it seems."
I chuckled. "Lucky me, I suppose."
He chuckled too, the sound carrying a hint of something deeper. "Lucky us, I'd say."
As we continued walking side by side, I couldn't help but agree with him. Lucky us, indeed.