Elusive Heart (Eligible Heiress #2)

Chapter 2

A large dimensional oval elements are offset from entrance walls and highlighted by dynamic color-changing LED backlighting, creating dramatic shadows, illumination, produces a rich "halo" glow around the 'SQUARE EIGHTS' logo is the one you will see that greets guests as they enter the bar.

"Kuya, puwede pa-picture kami please." Si Mayin na nakiusap sa isang guard.

She smiled and pulled us all in front of the logo saka binalikan ang guard para turuan ng tamang angle sa pagkuha.

"Smile!!" She said nang makabalik sa amin.

We smiled at the camera and the guard said one more, so Sam shouted.

"Fierce!"

We posed like a super model on a high fashion magazine, looking at the camera fiercely.

"Seductive! Malandi ganon!" Sunod niyang sigaw.

Nagside ako ng kaunti, showing my back and angled my legs to the camera sabay tingala ng nakapikit, kagat-kagat ang labi.

"Okay, Last one, Kuya. Si Sam sabay taas ng hintuturo niya sa guard. "Say Happy birthday, Mayin!"

Lahat kami sumigaw sabay yakap sa kaibigan na may kaarawan ngayong araw.

"Alright! I'm gonna post these pictures on my IG." Maya said happily while looking at our pictures.

In fairness, nakuhanan kami ng maganda ng guard. The pictures turned out great kaya hindi ako umangal sa pag-post ni Mayin ng pictures.

It is my first time to go in here, and I can see how high class this bar is.

The place is beautifully conceptualize. Pinag-isipan ng maigi ang floor plan at nakakaengganyo ang sumayaw sa dance floor kung makikita mo ito. The light is glowing on the elevated platform.

Inikot ko pa ang mga mata ko at napansin na hindi pa ganoon kadaming tao, sakto lang at hindi siksikan.

Arianne got us a seat on the mid-right side of the bar. It's near the dance floor and the bar area, which is great. Hindi rin ito malayo sa restroom.

"First round guys!" Mayin shouted and placed four tiny glasses of tequila shots on our table.

Ang bilis niya at naka-order siya kaagad. She really wants to start this night with a bang.

I licked the part of my left hand where my thumb and pointing finger meet and poured in salt on that part.

Sam gave me a lemon, and we all licked the salt on our hand at the same time before downing the tequila in one shot. Then, sucked the lemon after.

All four of us are having a good time; trading stories, catching up, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.

Arianne is still with his long-time boyfriend since college and works in an US airline service here in the Philippines together with Mayin.

"How's Anhelo?" I asked Sam.

Ininom pa muna niya ang hawak niyang tequila bago sumagot. "Busy sa gown mo." Sabi niya na natatawa.

Kinareer na talaga niya ang pagiging assistant fashion designer niya kay Anhelo. He said hindi niya na naisipan na magsarili at gumawa ng sariling pangalan sa fashion industry dahil masaya na siya sa pagtatrabaho niya kay Anhelo.

Malaki na rin ang pangalan ni Anhelo sa industriya at isang karangalan ang makapagtrabaho sakanya. Kaya naging loyal na rin ako sakanya bilang dsigner ko. He's good at making gowns and dresses, I love his style.

Nakailan na rin kaming rounds of tequila before Sam invited us to dance. Dinala niya kami sa dulo ng dance floor malapit sa bar area at nagpatinaod lang kami.

Dumoble na ang bilang ng tao simula ng dumating kami. This bar is a hit.

Most clubbers would drink first to boost confidence, at mukhang halos nakainom na rin ang lahat dahil madami na ang malakas ang loob na sumasayaw sa dance floor.

The girls are super game to dance and the DJ is on his element. Ang ganda ng mga remix niya ng kanta na napapasabay nalang ako sa beat ng music.

A lot of guys and even some of the girls are obviously looking at our direction but we just ignored them and danced like no one is looking. We are here to enjoy and we will make the most out of this night.

Patuloy ang pagsasayaw namin. Nakaharap ako sa stage kung nasaan ang DJ at unti-unti ng sumabay ang aking katawan sa kanta.

I swayed my hips and put my hands up in air slowly, moving sexily.

"Whoo! Kill 'em all girl!" Hiyaw ni Sam.

Natawa ako saka itinuro ang birthday girl. "Show us some moves!"

Si Maya hiyang-hiya kumembot, pero ng sinabayan siya ni Arianne ay go na go na. May sarili kaming mundo at hindi namin pinansin ang ibang tao sa dance floor.

Ang ibang lalaking nakikisayaw sa amin ay tinataboy ni Sam, at kung hindi lang siya napipikon ay aasarin ko pa siya na na nagbabalik loob na.

Maya-maya pa ay nagpaalam ako na pupunta lang saglit sa restroom.

"Bathroom break." I said.

Sumama ang dalawa sa akin at si Sam naman ay nagpunta sa bar area para bumili ulit ng drinks.

Ihing-ihi ako pagkadating sa restroom dahil sa dami ko ng nainom na tequila at tubig kanina kaya mabilis akong pumasok sa bakanting stall.

A woman dressed in a leather pants and cropped shirt approached me after I went out the stall while my friends are re-touching their face.

She smiled at me and showed her phone. "Puwede pa-picture?"

"Uh. Yeah, sure." Ngiti ko.

I'm not a snob naman at hindi naman ako busy kaya pinagbigyan ko na.

"Oh my God, thank you! Sobrang ganda mo sa personal. I'm following you sa IG. Sobrang like ko ng fashion mo." Masayang sabi niya na nakayakap sa kanyang phone.

Ngumiti lang ulit ako at nagpasalamat.

Posting my outfits on IG is also one of my jobs as a socialite. You become a social influencer, it becomes more relevant than ever.

With those followers comes real perks, and not just in the form of of free clothes.

Narinig ko pa na pinagsabihan niya ang kasama niya na hindi naman ako masungit habang palabas sila ng restroom.

People say I am a b***h, a flirt, snob, etc. narinig at nabasa ko na lahat 'yan.

People have already preconceived notions of who I am. There's a public perception of me that's created, and that what makes things hard. But, I just try to be myself, and hang on to that.

I don't care what other people say. Ang mahalaga sa akin ay ang opinyon ng mga taong malapit sa akin and nothing more.

Hindi naman nila ako kilala para husgahan nalang. They only see and hear a tid bit of information about me from the media, and media, most of the times, are just making out stories. Kung baga sa ulam, marami silang sahog but not all are edible.

Sam is nowhere to be seen when we came back on our table.

I looked around and saw him at the bar area na kausap ang isang bartender. Hindi ko naman mamukhaan dahil malayo at medyo madilim.

Ang tagal naman umorder. Nakikipaglandian lang yata at hindi naman umoorder.

"You're staying the night at my apartment right?" Mayin asked.

Tumango ako. "Yes. Is it okay?"

Nakalimutan ko kasing sabihan si Ate Hope na ngayon ang punta ko ng Manila at siguradong tulog na iyon kaya bukas ko nalang siya tatawagan.

Nagmamadali kasi ako kanina at balak ko talaga na tawagan nalang siya ng maaga kinabukasan.

"Of course, ikaw pa. Kahit sa akin kana tumira okay lang." Natatawang sabi niya.

Wala kasi siyang kasama sa kanyang apartment dahil nasa probinsiya din ang kanyang pamilya, kaya madalas ay nagyayaya siya mag-overnight sakanila.

"Arianne! Don't tell me, boyfriend mo parin 'yang ka-text mo hanggang ngayon." Saway ni Mayin sa kaibigan namin.

Kanina pa kasi busy sa pagtetext. Her boyfriend is kind of clingy.

Ayoko ng clingy and touchy guys, but I won't judge her. It is just my own preference, though hindi pa ako nagkakaboyfriend so, I really don't know.

"The name is Anton!" Malanding sigaw ni Sam kabalik ng aming lamesa, hawak ang apat na shots.

"Who?" I asked.

He gave me another shot and I downed it in one go.

"The bartender." He said and smiled flirtily.

Napatingin ako pabalik sa bar area and squint my eyes. Hindi ko talaga makita dahil madilim at nakakahilo ang mga tao dahil sa dami. Isa pa, how many bartenders are there?

"Four." Si Sam na nagpabalik ng tingin ko sakanya.

Tinuro niya kami isa-isa habang nagbibilang. "One, two, three, four. Four bartenders at apat din tayo. Perfect!"

Kung ano man ang iniisip niya ay parang hindi ko nagugustuhan.

"Next round is on you, Serene. Pick your poison!" Dagdag ni Sam.

Umiling-iling ako at pinag-ekis ko ang pareho kong hintuturo. "No, no, and no."

I will not play this pick your guy thing. I will not flirt with those bartenders. Over my dead, sexy body.

"Sige na, Serene. Pambawi mon a rin sa absences mo." Pilit ni Arianne.

Kahit anong pilit nila, hindi ako lalandi ng bartender.

"Okay, okay. We give up!" Pagsuko ni Mayin. "Just buy us a drink, please. Pa-birthday mo na saakin 'to oh." Habol niya.

Wala na akong nagawa doon kaya tumayo na ako para pumunta sa bar area at mag-order.

"Pumili kana rin ng bartender mo!" Sigaw ni Sam ng makatalikod na ako sakanila.

They all laughed and I just rolled my eyes.

Let's verify kung gaano ba ka-guwapo 'yang bartenders na sinasabi nila.

Umupo ako sa barstool sa harapan at naghanap ng bartender. Lahat sila na nasa loob ay nakasuot ng balck polo shirt. I think it's their uniform.

Matagal-tagal din akong nakaupo lang dahil they are all busy sa ibang customers, kaya pinagmasdan ko na muna sila.

In fairness, matangkad ang mga bartenders nila dito. Extra points for handsomeness. Maganda rin ang katawan, check.

Suddenly a bartender is in front me while I'm busy looking at the others on the other side.

"What do the lady wants?" He asked, smiling widely.

He looked okay. A 6 or a 7 maybe?

"Four straight shots of tequila please." I answered.

"Coming right up." He said and turned his back on me to do his job.

After just a minute or two, may lumapit ulit na bartender sa akin and asked for my order, but I already said someone is already tending on my order kaya ngumiti nalang siya at pumunta sa ibang customer.

I noticed a man, sitting on the other side of the area, staring at me not very nicely. Mukha na siyang lasing dahil ang pula na nga mukha niya at iba na ang itsura niya. He should go home while he still can.

Hindi ko nalang din siya pinansin dahil baka isipin pa niyang nagpapapansin ako kaya itunuon ko nalang ang pansin sa bartender na kumuha ng order ko.

Why is he taking so long? Nasaan na ba siya?

"Miss?" Another bartender came to me. Pangatlo na siya na nagtanong sa akin.

"I'm just waiting for my order. Thanks." I impatiently said.

Ang tagal naman kasi at hindi na ako makapaghintay na umalis dito dahil sa lalaki sa gilid. At kapag lumapit iyon, ay aalis na talaga ako dito kahit wala pa ang order ko.

Pagkaalis niya sa harapan ko ay tumingin ako sa banda ng mga kaibigan ko para kung sakali ngang puntahan ako 'nun ay mabilis akong makakatakbo sa sakanila.

"Uh. Four tequila shots?" I heard a man's sexy voice asked.

Napabalik ang tingin ko sa aking harapan at bahagyang natigilan pero mabilis ding nakabawi.

It was a different bartender again. Pang-apat na siya.

He has a taut masculine body and firm chest that his shirt stretches across it and on his biceps. His face too is perfect, with high colored cheeks, and eyes that actually twinkled. Oozing sexiness.

Tumayo ako ng marahan at kumuha ng pera sa bag saka inilagay iyon sa island.

Inipit ko ang aking bag sa aking kili-kili at kinuha ang apat na shot glass.

"Careful." He said at inalalayan pa ang mga hawak ko.

"Let me help you put that on your table." He offered when I didn't answer him.

"I got it." I said, rejecting his offer.

"East side, Dex!" Sigaw ng isang bartender sa likuran.

"Got it!" He answered back while still looking at me.

Mabilis akong tumalikod at umalis with poise pabalik ng aming table dala-dala ang apat na shot glasses.

If he thinks, that his sexiness would affect me that much, then his wrong. Very wrong. Super wrong.

"So?" Excited na tanong ni Mayin ng makalapit ako.

Umupo ako sa aking upuan at nilagay ang shots sa lamesa. "So what?"

She rolled her eyes on me. "That last bartender is sexy." Turo niya sa bar area.

"Hot damn bartenders in the house!" Sam said, fanning himself.

The girls burst out laughing and I just shook my head. May tama na talaga ang isang 'to.

They were okay, I guess. The other one is sexy, I admit. But, they are just not my type. No hard feelings.

Napaisip tuloy ako. What is my type really? Is that sexy guy my type?

I have met and seen a lot of guys already. Ang dami rin na nanliligaw at nagpaparamdam, but I am not just into them. Hindi ako interesado at wala pang nakakakuha ng atensyon ko ni isa sakanila.

Hindi naman ako pa-hard to get, I just know my worth. At, hindi palang kasi talaga siya dumadating.

"Let's dance once more. The night is still young!" Aya ni Arianne.

Bumalik kami sa dance floor at sumayaw ng parang hindi pa pagod sa lahat ng pinaggagagawa namin simula kanina.

Nakakarinig ako ng mga catcalls and all pero hindi ko iyon pinansin dahil siguradong kapag sinita mo sila ay lalo lang silang magpapapansin at feeling nila nagpapacute ka pa. I just rather enjoy the night with my friends.

My feet hurts so bad from all the crazy dancing that Sam made us do kaya nagsabi muna ako na uupo sandali.

They still want to dance kaya mag-isa akong nagtungo pabalik sa aming lamesa pero napatigil ako sa paglalakad when I saw the man who is staring at me on the bar area a while ago, sitting on our table. Lumilinga-linga siya kaya nagtago ako ng bahagya.

Tinignan ko ang paligid. Everyone has their own world at kung sakaling uupo ako kasama ng lalaking iyon at may gawin siyang hindi kanais-nais sa akin ay baka hindi ako masaklolohan kaagad.

Lumiko ako at dumiretso ng restroom para magpalipas ng oras sandali. Aalis din siguro ang lalaki doon maya-maya.

Napahinto ako pagkapasok ng banyo when I heard someone on the toilet stall said my name.

"She's here. Nakita ko na nagpost sa IG yung kaibigan niya."

"I can't let her steal the limelight." Another girl answered.

Narinig kong bumukas ang stall kaya tumalikod nalang ako at lumabas. Hindi ko naman fully naintindihan ang kanilang pinag-uusapan pero mas maganda na hindi na ako magpakita at umalis nalang.

Ayoko ng away and as much as possible, ako na ang iiwas.

Pagsilip ko sa aming lugar, ay nandoon parin ang lalaki.

I sighed and head to the bar area instead.

Umupo ako sa bakanteng stool sa dulo para hindi mapansin.

A bartender, the one who got my order first a while ago, came to me.

"4 tequilas?" He asked, smiling.

Hindi pa ako lasing, but I have to stop drinking already dahil magdidrive pa ako pauwi.

I can't let my friends drive my Audi, bigay sa akin ni Lolo 'yun at baka mapano pa at mukha na rin silang may tama.

"Just water please." I said.

Inabutan niya ako ng isang baso na puno ng tubig. "Having fun?"

All bartenders are skilled on my making small talks. They make you comfortable and feel relaxed. It's part of their job, I believe.

"Yes." Tipid kong sagot.

He smiled and nodded his head once to the direction of the dance floor. "Tired of dancing?"

Tinignan ko ang mga paa ko. They still look pretty at hindi pa naman namumula pero nararamdaman ko na ang sakit.

"Yeah. Kinda." Wala sa sarili kong sagot na nakatingin parin sa aking mga paa.

"Give her your special bro."

Narinig ko siyang nagsalita kaya napa-angat ulit ako ng tingin sakanya.

Akala ko ako ang kausap niya at tinawag na 'bro' pero nagulat nalang ako nang katabi na niya ang sexy na bartender.

He is looking at me with those twinkling eyes of his.

My bitchiness was instantly turned on. I don't like the way he looks at me and it's annoying the hell out of me.

I did not gave him the satisfaction of making me feel awkward kaya tinitigan ko lang din siya sa normal kong masungit na mukha at hindi nagpatalo.

"Bzzzttt!!!" Ang kausap kong bartender kanina ay umarte na parang nakuryente. "Intense bro. Na-feel ko. Lakas!" Sabi niya sabay dugdog sa kanyang dibdib.

The sexy bartender who is looking at me just smirked. "Wait here." He said to me and turned his back.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ko. Kung hindi lang masakit ang paa ko ngayon ay umalis na ako dito. Maswerte siy mabait pa ako nagyong oras na ito.

Feeling siya masyado.

Nakabalik din siya kaagad at nilagay sa harapan ko ang isang cocktail glass.

"I did not order anything." I said, looking at him directly in the eye.

Ngumiti siya pero pigil. "It's free."

"I didn't know that this super elite club gives special drinks for free."

Tinukod niya ang kanyang siko sa island. His face is so close to mine pero hindi ako nagpakita ng pagka-ilang at matamis pa akong ngumiti sakanya.

"I don't just give free drinks, especially my special drink, to just anyone."

He knows that women finds him sexy kaya siguro siya malandi. It's obvious. But, his charm is not working on me. He need to change his style of flirtations dahil nakukuha ko lang na mainis sakanya.

I rolled my eyes and look at his so-called special drink of his.

It looks off white to me with a brownish drizzle on the sides of the glass.

Kinuha ko iyon at inangat sa aking bibig.

Tinignan ko pa muna siya at siya naman ay mariin lang na nakatitig sa akin. Ininom ko iyon habang nakatingin sakanya.

A sweet taste of brown sugar coated my mouth when I drank it and I instantly put the glass down.

"What in the world is that?!" Diri kong sabi sabay punas ng aking bibig at labas ng dila. "Yuck!"

Nakakasuka.

Mabilis niya akong inabutan ng tissue.

"You're kidding right?" Hindi niya makapaniwalang tanong.

I was about to say that it's the worst drink I've ever tasted, when I heard my friends called me.

Sam puts his hand over my shoulders. "This is not a 'me-time'. Order us a drink too."

"I did not order anything. Just water." I answered.

"Then what's this?" He asked. Hawak ang cocktail glass.

Pinakita ko sakanya ang eww face ko. "All yours. It's free."

Ininom niya iyon and his face shows contentment.

"Sarap. What's this? I want to have this again."

"Sorry. I don't just give my specials to just anyone." The sexy bartender said and smiled sexily at my friends before leaving us to tend on the other customers on the other side.

Kinilig naman ang mga kaibigan ko sa ngiti niyang iyon samantalang nanatili lang akong poker faced.

"Let's just dance guys and then let's call it night." Yaya ko at hinila sila pabalik ng dance floor.

The dance floor is so crowded. Hindi naman ganito kanina pagdating namin.

"This is all because of you." Maya said.

Tinuro ko ang sarili ko. "Why is this my fault?" Pagtataka kong tanong.

Ako pa talaga ang sinisi niya. Hindi naman ako nag-promote.

"They know you're here." Ngiti niya sa akin.

Hinarap ko papunta sakanya ang hintuturo ko. "That's your fault birthday girl. You posted our pictures on i********:. They gatecrashed your birthday party."

Natawa lang siya saka ako sinayawan.

I'm enjoying dancing with my friends when someone grabbed my waits from behind.

Napahinto ko sa pagsasayaw and froze in place at sunod kong naramdaman ang paglapit ng kanyang mukha sa aking tainga.

"Time to go home babes."