In His Eyes

Chapter 1

August 2018

"Axel, sorry for being late," my friend called from afar. He's always late with his so-called Filipino time. Why can't he just be punctual for once?

"'kay Philip, let's just get inside," I told my friend, motioning towards the door of the bar. "I'm already thirsty from waiting, don't get on my nerves," I teased him by being a b***h and he's scared, not following the teasing tone of my voice.

"Sorry Axel, I got trapped in traffic," he said, trying to perfect his puppy eyes. This is Philip, my friend since high school, and here we are at Taft Avenue celebrating our new life as College freshmen. Philip is wearing a long-sleeved polo with shorts that shows his thighs.

"I'm just kidding, just don't be late next time," I said pointing at him, "now, let's party!" I said as the music gets louder the moment we entered the bar. I danced my way towards the crowd as we went towards the table of our other friends.

I saw James and Steven, our other friends, at our usual booth so I just went there and greeted them. "J! Steve!" I called them as I approached the table. They waved their hands as their table already had drinks. I sat on our usual booth and proceeded to look at the menu with Philip.

"Let's just have the usual, it's hard ordering," Philip suggested not looking at the menu but on his phone. "I also invited another friend, if you don't mind," he said smiling at me. I don't know why but those smile looks like he had a plan in mind.

"Whatever, you order for your other friend then, I'll order us the usual," I said as I went to the bar to order our drinks. As I proceeded to go back to our booth, while watching people dance with each other, my mood surely lifted at the scene of people not minding the sweats but just dancing to the rhythm of the music.

At our booth I saw a pretty man sitting beside Philip, drinking the alcohol of our other friends, with his other hand holding a vape. This man was overdressed for someone who's going to the bar. He was wearing a black long-sleeved turtle neck, and judging by his clothes, this man reeked danger.

I saw Philip gesturing at me to meet his friend, "There you are Axel," he gestured me to come. "He's at the same Uni as us, just different College department, Axel, meet Max," pointing at the person beside me.

I smiled at him as he showed his perfect smile. His cupid bow lips were one of the most beautiful lips I ever saw. Why am I admiring his lips? I'm not even drunk yet.

"Hi, I'm Axel from the Engineering Department," I introduced myself, shaking his hands. I motioned for Philip to move so that I can sit.

"Max, from the Accounting Department," he introduced himself, smiling at me. Why am I noticing his smile, anyway? "Anyway, do you mind if I vape?" he asked, gesturing at his vape.

"Go ahead," I said as our orders arrived. Finally, I thought it would take much longer. "Oi Philip, order's here."

Philip looked at me, smirking, "enjoying your time, pal?" he asked. I'm clueless to what he meant by that. Then it hits me, this is a setup.

My friend here set me up with his friend, why does he keep insisting that I need a boyfriend, I'm not even looking for one. I won't play with his games. I grabbed a cup and filled it up with alcohol.

I raised my cup and motioned for the others to cheers. Max silently laughed but he doesn't need to know that I heard him. "I'm off to the floor to dance," I informed them, bringing my cup with me.

Philip just laughed at me because he knows I loved to dance whenever we go to bars or clubs. I swayed to the music that the DJ is playing smiling at random strangers while drinking alcohol. How I wanted this scene to last. I jumped to the music when I bumped into someone. "I'm sorry!" I exclaimed as I look at the person who I bumped into.

"It's okay," it was Max. He smiled at me as he went towards my ear because of the loud music playing. "I'm going outside to smoke, do you want to come with?"

"No thanks, I don't smoke," I told him, rejecting his offer. He smiled at me and went outside. I returned back to dancing. I was feeling every beat of the music, bobbing my head to every rhythm while dancing with strangers. I know, people like me when I'm at bars.

I went back to the booth to refill my cup. "So how is he?" Philip asked. I rolled my eyes at him and he just laughed at me.

"What are you even planning? I told you I'm not looking for someone right now," I clarified, filling my cup. 

"I'm telling you, he's perfect for you," he convinced me, drinking his cup and filling it. "Anyway, I'll join you on the dance floor, quick let's go," he said grabbing my arm as I laugh at what he's doing. This is the Philip I know, accompanying me to the dance floor as he meets random girls to talk to. 

Philip wasn't one that can attract much attention, but he has an attractive face so that was enough to grab some attention from the ladies. I was dancing around when someone poked my back. I turned towards the person. Again, it's Max.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," he half-shouted. The music was loud because if it wasn't, I swore he could've heard my heart beating. I don't even know why is it beating this loud. Maybe it's because our bodies were too close. Then again, being this close in bars and clubs is normal.

"Of course!" I exclaimed, "we're at a bar, we should be enjoying life right now." I was never the optimistic kind of person, but I'm a different Axel when I'm at bars. I heard Max chuckled at what I said. "Why do you keep laughing at every word I'm saying anyway?"

"You're too cute for me," he pointed, shamelessly. I raised my brow at the person standing in front of me. I don't know what his deal is, but I won't play with someone that my friend brought for me.

"What's that?" I asked him, "what's your deal, anyway?" I really don't like it when someone's doing this to me. 

"I'm just saying what's on my mind," he pointed, dancing along to the music. I smiled at him and I don't even know why I'm smiling. I just let the music take me and danced with him. 

I went back to the booth with Max and left my friend on the dancefloor. I refilled my cup when an idea to get to know Max more popped in my head. "So Max, let's get to know more about each other, let's exchange questions."

"Sure," he accepted, "I'll go first." He drank from his cup as I waited. He looked at me. "How old are you?"

"19," I answered, bored at his question so I just returned it back, "what about you?"

"19 as well," he answered, seemingly amused of himself. "Here's a good one," he started, smirking, and by his looks, I knew that this question would be dangerous. "What's your sexuality?"

I almost spilled my drink because of that. Not to be a drama queen but that was very sudden to just ask someone. But hey, I was the one who wanted to get to know each other.

"I'm actually bisexual," I answered, not ashamed of myself. I mean it's 2018, things like this shouldn't be problematic anymore. "What about you Max, what's your sexuality?"

"I don't know, I don't like labeling myself anyway," he answered nonchalantly. A person like him? How pretentious. 

"Oh okay, whatever you say," I said, really bored on how this game was going, "let's get back to the dance floor," I said grabbing his hand and my drink. He chuckled at me but went with me anyway. I can feel James and Steven looking at us but I brushed off the feeling of their stares.

"I love these beats!" I exclaimed, bouncing up and down on the dancefloor. "The DJ is doing a good job."

I watch him finish his cup and threw it at the nearest. When he went back there was hunger in his eyes, or was I just imagining it. "Let's enjoy life tonight," his whisper sent chills all over me as he grabbed my waist. I raised my eyebrows at what he did but went along with it.

The DJ was playing an upbeat song but my mind was playing a different song, it was Sober by Lorde. It was different but it was for the moment. I asked myself what would he do if we were sober. 

"These are the games of the weekend, we pretend that we just don't care."

I brushed off the thought inside my head. This wasn't how my first love story should go. So, I played with him for a bit, because I won't let him be my love story. And I can play and play and pretend to not care. I look at him with lustful eyes and a wicked smile that I tried with every fuckboy that came into my life.

He seemed unbothered with it and went even closer to my ears, "that tactic won't work on me." It bothered me because he was taller than me, his build may not be perfect, but his height is. "Keep staring at me, I'll last longer."

"Wrong saying," I said, "It's 'take a picture, it'll last longer'," I corrected him.

"But I want to last longer for you," What is playing this time. I looked for my friend and he was staring at me, smirking at me, to be exact. This is just a game and I won't be a pawn.

"You know what," I looked up at him, smirking, "let's meet when we're both sober." The suggestion shocked him, but he regained his composure. I won't let this boy get to me, no matter how pretty he is.

"It's a deal," he said, smiling at himself. "I'll know where to find you," he whispered. I don't know how but I know he would. Boys like him always try to get what they want. 

I inhaled his cigarette scent. I hate the stench of cigarettes, but he smelled like strawberries and wine, and I'm sadly attracted by it.

"So long then," I said removing myself from his grip on my waist as I went back to the booth to drink more. I saw him went outside holding a cigarette. Sigh, one sign of dangerous boys is that they smoke. 

"How was it my dear friend, Axel?" Philip teased, placing his cup on the table. I looked at him, angrily.

"What game are you playing, anyway?" I asked him, "Why did you bring him to meet me anyway?"

"Who said I brought him to meet you, my friend couldn't make it," he said, confused at my words. "I think you drank too much alcohol, Axel."

~*~