"twenty-sixth"

Prologue

“ID Ma’am” I handed my ID to get it checked by the security guard.

“Kaia… Agustin?” He furrowed his eyebrows. “Oh, you must be the famous Aya Agustin.” He smiled, gave me my ID back.

I let out a small smile and entered the club. Loud music pounds through my heart. It was very crowded because it was Friday. I walked towards our area where my friends and I usually sit.

“Hey girls!” I greeted at them and lightly kissed their cheeks

“What took you so long?!” Lily, my childhood best friend.

“Language please.” Joyce laughed.

“Ay sorry na, may isa kasing di nakakaintindi ng Filipino language dito.” I saw Kyle’s eyes roll.

“Hoy Kyle Jolie! Pakisabi ng kuya mo libre na ‘to.” Turo ni Lily sa lamesa na may mga order nila.

“Agh! Stop calling me Kyle, hindi ako lalake.”

Tumawa kaming lahat, “tanungin mo magulang mo!”

“Fine, Jolie.” I rolled my eyes.

“Papunta sila kuya dito.” Saad ni Jolie. Umorder kami ulit ng makakain at dalawang inumin.

“Bakit ba ang tagal mo? Nakaisang bottle na kami dito.”

“Nakipagmake-out pa ako doon” turo ko sa gitna. Hinampas niya ako. “Aray! Just kidding!” Sabay inirapan ko siya.

“The boys are here!” Sigaw ni Joyce dahil sa ingay ng music.

Bahagyang tumigil ang mga sumasayaw sa dancefloor at napalingon naman ang mga ibang tao sa kanila. Their aura screams rich Daddy. They know how to dress sharp and catch everyone’s attention.

“Pati ba naman kayo maglalaway sa amin?” Natatawang sabi ni Matheo.

“Ew no! Shut up, Teo!” Umirap ako sa kanila.

“Who’s that man in black, ang pogi ah.” Bulong ni Lily sa ‘kin. Siniko ko siya napakapit siya sa tagiliran niya, nakita kong tumawa siya.

Napatingin ako sa isang lalaki na kasama nila. New face. Ngayon lang namin siya nakita. Tumayo ako at bumeso kay Jaden at Teo. I remained where I was standing when Teo introduced this young, fine and hot gentleman in front of us. What was I even thinking?! Hot?! Umayos ka Aya!

“Ladies, this is Jaxon Vaughn Gadaza, anak ni Tito Mike, business partner ni Daddy.”

I froze when he stepped towards me. Now, he is infront of me. He placed a kiss on my cheek. This is bad. I’m not usually like this.

Bumalik ako sa huwisyo nang hinila ako ni Jolie.

“No feelings involved, madam Aya. Make out only.” Hinampas ko siya sa braso dahilan ng pagtawa niya.

Bumalik ako sa tabi ni Lily. “Jax, sit beside me.” Tawag ko sa kanya. Tinignan niya lang ako habang busy siya sa pag-greet sa mga friends ko.

He sat beside his friends. Whatever. Tinungga ko ang alak sa baso ko. We were busy with chitchats and at the same time drinking our shots, kahit madalas kami magsama ay maingay pa rin ang mga bunganga namin na tila ba hindi nagsama ng ilang mga taon.

I grabbed my shot glass and drank my liquor in one gulp. My vision got blurry, I’m a little drunk. I continued drinking my shot. I am feeling hot. Nagpaypay ako gamit kamay ko.

“Excuse me, punta lang ako sa dancefloor. Naiinitan na ako.”

“Mag-ingat ka! Remember our rule!” Sigaw ni Lily nang makalayo na ako sa table namin.

I walked towards the dancefloor and started dancing. Ang lakas ng music at tila bang lumulutang ako sa ulap sa saya. Nararamdaman ko ang mga katawan nila na sumasagi rin sa katawan ko. Well, that’s clubbing.

I grabbed someone, yes pumili ako ng gwapo. Kahit medyo may kalasingan na, alam ko pa rin gwapo ang isang lalaki. I started touching his lips at pumunta ang kamay niya sa bewang ko. Siniil niya ako ng halik. I kissed him back. He travelled his hands down to my legs and went up under my dress. Hinawi ko ang kamay niya at binigyan siya ng isang halik sa pisngi. I winked at him.

Pumunta ako sa may gitna at patuloy na sumasayaw. I felt someone touch my shoulder and travel down my arm. Nilingon ko siya at ngumiti sa kanya.

“I was worried kaya sinundan kita.” Jaden said and smiled.

Hinarap ko siya at hinawakan sa kamay. Slightly danced through the rhythm of the music. “We are no longer fubu, Jaden. Wala ka rin karapatang mag-alala sa akin, remember our rule, no feelings involved.” Ngumiti ako.

“Wala naman akong sinabing ganun ah. Tsaka don’t worry alam na nila.” Tumaas ang kilay ko matapos niyang sabihin yun.

“Paano?” Naguguluhang tanong ko.

“When we were so drunk, remember last month? They saw us in my condo kaya napatanong sila.” Tiningnan ko ang mga kaibigan namin at parang wala silang pakialam at patuloy sa inuman.

Tumalikod ako sa kanya at bahagyang lumayo. Naramdaman kong sumunod siya. I felt both hands on my shoulders.

“I missed touching it.” His other hand went under my dress.

“Jaden, stop. We are not getting there.” Hinawi ko ang kamay niya. Binigyan ko siya ng isang halik bago umalis. “Don’t do this, okay?” Ngumiti ako at iniwan siya.

I felt something down there. Pumunta ako sa CR. Pero bago ako makapasok may humila sa ‘kin at pumasok kami sa ‘Staff Room’ narinig kong nilock niya ang pinto.

“Who are you? What are you doing!?” Umilaw ang buong room. “Jaxon? Anong ginagawa mo?” Inis kong tanong.

“What was that? Is Jaden f*cking you?” Inis kong tanong sa kanya.

“Pake mo? Matagal na yun and we stopped. Why am I even explaining these things to you? We barely know each other, it doesn’t matter to you anyway.”

He pressed his hands against the wall that kept me cornered with his masculine biceps. I gasped.

“Yes, it does matter to me.” His eyes locked with mine, piercing through me.

I blinked. “Bakit?”

He did not say a word. My eyes widened, and I felt a chill run through me when he pressed his lips to mine. When his lips finally claimed mine, it was as if time stopped, his kiss was slow and deliberate, every touch of his lips leaving me breathless and yearning for more. Igniting a fire that spread through my body,

I slowly closed my eyes and moved to the rhythm of his kiss. I pressed my hips against his manhood. Naramdaman kong pumunta ang kamay nito papunta sa bewang ko, pababa sa loob ng dress ko. Napasinghap ako.

Binuhat niya ako at pinulupot ko ang aking mga binti sa bewang niya. Walang putol sa halikan namin. Naramdaman ko ang isa niyang kamay papunta sa loob ng panty ko.

“Ugh!” I moaned.