An Angel's kiss.

Chapter three

Mas lalo pa itong naging kahanga-hanga ngayong gabi. Mula pa lang sa labas, rinig na ang mahinang tugtog, halakhakan, at masayang usapan ng mga bisitang nasa loob.

"Ready?" tanong ni Janice.

I simply nodded. Pero kahit si Janice, mukhang kinakabahan na rin. I took a deep breath before looking myself over one last time. I was wearing a metallic pink halter-necked, backless top that hugged my figure, paired with a blue denim miniskirt that showed off my long, fair legs and strappy high-heeled sandals.

Earlier, Janice had let out a low whistle as she looked me over, telling me she loved the shape of my legs. Well, I wasn't used to wearing skirts this short, especially in public. The outfit revealed far more skin than I was comfortable with, leaving me feeling both self-conscious and completely out of my element.

Janice had tied my long hair into a sleek ponytail, exposing my neck and shoulders. She had made me feel confident before we left the house, and for a while, I actually believed I looked good enough for this party. Pero ngayong nakatayo na kami sa harap ng napakalaking mansion ni Jacob, all that confidence slowly faded away. habang nakatitig ako sa engrandeng bahay sa harap namin, pakiramdam ko mas lalo lang akong kinabahan.

Janice took one last deep breath before finally walking toward the entrance. I silently followed behind her, my heartbeat growing louder with every step. But before we could even reach the massive double doors, they slowly swung open.

"Good evening. Welcome,"

isang matangkad at super payat na lalaki ang bumungad at bumati sa amin. He was wearing a blue tuxedo. He stood impossibly straight, his hands clasped neatly behind his back, his expression calm and unreadable. Every movement he made was slow, precise, and almost mechanical as he motioned for us to follow him.

Hindi ko namalayang napatingin ako sa hugis oblong niyang ulo. I suddenly remembered the servant from Cinderella—the cartoon I used to watch all the time. He looked exactly like him. Marahan akong siniko ni Janice. Paglingon ko, nakita kong kagat-labi siya habang pilit na pinipigilan ang tawa. She was probably thinking of the exact same thing I was.

She gave me a knowing look and silently mouthed, "You're bad."

Kinagat ko rin ang labi ko para pigilan ang sarili kong matawa at agad na ibinalik ang tingin sa paligid. Kung napahanga na ako sa labas ng mansion, mas lalo akong namangha sa loob.

The grand foyer stretched before us like the lobby of a five-star luxury hotel. A breathtaking crystal chandelier hung from the soaring ceiling, its thousands of crystals catching the light and scattering a warm golden glow across the polished white marble floor. Towering white columns framed the entrance, while twin curved staircases swept gracefully to the second floor, their intricate wrought-iron railings adding to the mansion's timeless elegance.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako unang titingin. Everything around me looked impossibly expensive. The luxurious furniture, enormous paintings framed in gold, fresh flowers arranged in oversized crystal vases, and intricate architectural details blended together so perfectly that the mansion didn't feel like someone's home—it felt like a place where only the extremely wealthy belonged.

Grabe... Ganito pala kayaman si Jacob. Bigla kong naisip si Janice. Wow, Kapag sila talaga ang nagkatuluyan... jackpot, ang best friend ko.

The man led us through the mansion and toward the back of the house. With every step, the bass from the music grew stronger, blending with bursts of laughter and excited chatter. When he pushed open the tall glass doors, I instinctively stopped walking.

Holy...

For a split second, both Janice and I simply stood there, completely mesmerized by the sight before us. We had been so distracted that we didn't even realize the man had quietly stepped aside. Only when he gave us a small, polite bow did it hit me.

"Oh! Thank you,"

Janice and I said almost at the same time. The man responded with a courteous nod before silently walking away.

The backyard was enormous. At the center lay a breathtaking infinity pool, its crystal-clear water glowing beneath hundreds of warm lights strung across the open sky. Music echoed throughout the estate as dozens of university students filled every corner. Some were lounging on luxurious pool chairs with cocktails in hand, completely absorbed in conversation. Others danced barefoot around the pool, laughing as they sang along to the music. A few had already jumped into the water, splashing each other without a care in the world.

Beautiful women in elegant bikinis and designer swimsuits walked confidently through the crowd, while groups of athletic-looking guys casually mingled nearby, their laughter rising above the music. My gaze drifted farther across the estate. On the left stood a stunning pool house surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The entire building pulsed with flashing lights. Through the glass, I could see a professional DJ behind an enormous booth while students crowded the dance floor, their hands raised as the music shook the room. Everywhere I looked, people were laughing, drinking, dancing, taking pictures, and simply enjoying the night. For a moment, I wondered if I had somehow walked into a celebrity party instead of a university house party.

I barely recognized anyone. Aside from a handful of familiar faces from campus, everyone else was a complete stranger.

"Hey, there you are!"

The familiar voice pulled me back to reality. Jacob emerged from the crowd with an easy smile that somehow managed to outshine the lights surrounding him.

"Hi!" Janice's entire face lit up the second she saw him.

"I'm glad you made it. How are you? I was starting to think you weren't coming."

Her smile widened. "We're great. Sorry we've been busy with odds and ends," she replied cheerfully. A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she did her best to sound calm and composed.

A faint chuckle escaped Jacob. "See? I told you I would've been your chauffeur."

I couldn't help but smile, though I rolled my eyes. She's completely hopeless.

Jacob's eyes shifted toward me, the same warm smile still on his face. "I'm glad you came too." He reached out his hand for a handshake. "You must be Angel. Janice talks about you all the time."

"Hi! I mean... it was out of my hands," I said, giving him a knowing look with a small laugh as I gestured toward Janice before accepting his hand. "I hope you don't mind that she brought her plus one. And yeah, I'm the Angel she's been talking about." I smiled politely.

Jacob laughed. "That's perfectly fine, your best friend can be pretty persistent sometimes," he said with a grin, "but she's lovely." He turned his gaze back to Janice, and the admiration in their eyes was impossible to miss. They looked at each other for a brief moment, both wearing smiles they couldn't quite hide.

I cleared my throat, reminding them that I was still standing right there. Here I am, the third wheel. Seriously? Did they already forget I existed?

The two of them immediately snapped out of it, looking slightly embarrassed. Jacob, awkwardly scratching his nape, "Uh! Come inside the pool house, let's get you ladies some drink… "

"Sure," I said.

He let us walk ahead first. Towering over us, he looked even bigger up close. Sanay kasi akong makita siya mula sa football pitch, kaya ngayon ko lang talaga narealize kung gaano siya katangkad at kalaki.

"Well, I hope you're ready to have some fun." He led us to the bar," What would you like to drink ladies? "