A Love Like This

PROLOGUE I put my cellphone in my pocket when I saw the message my mom sent me. It's all about meeting her friend's daughter. "So, what's the plan? finally back for good and decided to manage your business?" I shrugged, I placed both my arms on the railings, my right hand holding a glass of liquor and looked down watching the kaleidoscope of bodies swaying. "Haven't decided but yeah...back for good." Sumimsim ako sa inumin ko. My gaze drifted, then snagged. Across the room, a vibrant splash of color in the dim light, was her. She was dancing, arms thrown up, hair whipping around her face and hips swaying to the beat. "Y'know Estella's itching to see you." Humalakhak siya sa tabi ko. "She really missed you, huh? She says she's been calling and texting you, hindi mo raw sinasagot." "You know I have no interest." "Do you think she's the girl the video?" "Hindi ko alam," "Roberto's f*****g her behind kaya hindi natin masabi kung siya ba talaga. At ang usap-usapan... Roberto's the one who leaked it, apparently, the i***t wants her back." I groaned. "Hayaan mo sila. Wala akong pakialam, problema na nila 'yon." Adler shrugged, clearly enjoying the gossip. "Yeah, well, people are talking. Some are saying you and Estella had a thing when she was still abroad." I turned to him with a scoff. "She's out of her damn mind if she's spreading that." He grinned. "Probably. But dude, rumors don't need truth to spread. Hindi ko alam kung baliw na baliw ba sa 'yo o ano, matagal ka na ring naiibigan no'n e." I glanced back down, her friends, equally uninhibited, stumbled around her, their own shouts and giggles adding to the chaotic symphony. She looked...gloriously, beautifully drunk. A low hum escaped my throat, a sound I hadn't realized I was making until Alder nudge me with his elbow. He exhaled, following my gaze down at her with a slight smile curling his lips. "She grew up nice, isn't she?" Hindi ako sumagot. "I heard she rejected your cousin," Ngayon ay Nilingon ko siya. It's probably Marfel or Jarius. "Lapitan mo na," he said, his voice a sly murmur, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Ngayon ko lang nakita yan dito, he's with the boy Alcanza and her friends I guess." I shook my head, the motion slow, it was a bad idea. My eyes were still on her, drawn by an invisible current. Her wavy hair bounced around her as she spun, her dress a shimmering blur of emerald green. She stumbled, giggled, and then straightened, her face flushed with alcohol and exuberance. She's allowed to clubbing now, huh? How old is she? Seventeen? Eighteen? She's five years younger than me so I guess. I grinned when I saw the man who had been watching her from earlier lurking at the edge of her group. He'd been there for a while, a predatory stillness about him that set my teeth on edge. Now, he was moving, Slowly, like a shark circling its prey. My breath hitched. "She's drunk," si Adler, doon rin pala naka tingin. He suddenly moved on over his gossip. I straightened up my back, unable to handle it anymore. Ayaw ko makialam pero kilala ko ang lalaking 'yon. That mother fucker. I got down and pull him. He turned, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes, but before he could register me, I pulled Yuan's sister away, not gently, but with a firm, almost desperate tug. She twirled, the green fabric of her dress swirling around her like a blur. For a moment, she seemed lost her eyes wide and unfocused. As she stumbles, her face came close enough for me to catch the sweet tang of cocktail on her breath mixed with a sweet scent of her perfume. "Hoy! Saan mo dadalhin 'yan?" Nilingon ko ang babae niyang kaibigan na papalapit. Umiling ako at hindi pinansin, bakit ko ba ginawa 'to? Nagkaroon pa ako ng problema, I should've just rested in my penthouse. She stopped in the middle dance floor, nag pupumiglas pa siya at gustong mag sayaw. Her drunken eyes landed on my face and a slow, drunken smile spread across her lips. Her hands found my chest, her fingers traced against the fabric of my shirt. Mariin kong hinawakan ang dalawa niyang kamay para pigilan, she swayed and then she began to move. A slow, languid sway, her body pressing against mine, a sensual rhythm that was entirely her own. Natigilan ako, what the f*****g hell is wrong with me? I should've pulled her out of here but I just can't f*****g move myself! "You're...tall," she mumbled, her words slurring together like melted butter. "And...strong. Ang bango bango mo." She continued to sway, her body warm and her hips swaying against mine. I finally pulled her out when I came back to my senses and saw a several cameras pointed at us. "Come on," I muttered, my voice rougher than intended. "Take her home, man." Yuan's voice echoed the moment I called him. "Make sure to take her home, not to your penthouse." Why would they even allow an eighteen-year-old girl to drink alcohol and go to clubbing? Her family is way too lenient. Kung ako ang kapatid nito itatali ko 'to para mag bait. I sighed, glancing at the girl slumped in the passenger seat. "Why would I even do that? She's dead drunk, man. If she weren't... well, maybe." I threw in a half-heartedly joke. "Gago, pre! Ipapasundo ko na lang," aniya na ikinatawa ko. "But for now, bantayan mo muna," "Do you really think I'd take advantage of your sister?" "Ewan ko ba sa 'yo," He burst into laughter, "I'm just messing with you. But hey, good luck, it's gonna be a long drive bringing that kid home." I threw my phone in the back seat after hearing that and started driving. "Hmp," she mumbled, a soft, almost a kitten-like sound. "Who are you? You're so hot." Nilingon ko siya, her eyes remained shut, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. "Saan mo 'ko dadalhin...hmm? If you're going to f**k me hard, this is just a reminder, huh, I'm still a virgin and I'm willing to give up my virginity on you, tutal ay gwapo ka naman... and besides, I also want to experience sex...hard, rough..." "Shut up, kid..." I shook my head and returned my focus to the road, gripping the steering wheel tighter. Minasahe ko ang sentido ko at napabuntong hininga. Umayos siya ng upo, I thought she's going to throw up. But no. Instead, she rested her hand on my thigh, subtle at first, until it wasn't. In one swift movement, her hand slid up and cupped me over my pants. Sa gulat ko ay muntik ko nang mailiko ang sasakyan, I feel like I'm having a heart attack! I caught her wrist immediately, gripping it firmly with one hand. Her lips parted, and a soft moan escaped her throat. "What the hell, Malia?" I hissed under my breath. Thank God we were stuck in the middle of traffic or I might've slammed on the breaks. I adjusted her seat, pushing her back against the headrest before she tried anything else. She had just grabbed my c**k for f**k's sake! What the hell was she thinking? Her lips curled into a wicked smile as she whispered, "I feel it... you're big. And hard...hmm?" "s**t," I muttered, slamming my foot on the gas as soon as the road cleared. I gripped the wheel tighter, jaw clenched. This girl was driving me insane. She really shouldn't be drinking if this is how she acts when she's drunk. Paano na lang kung ibang tao ang kasama niya at hindi ako? #ALLTPrologue