An Angel's kiss.

Chapter four

" I had no idea what to order, so whatever Janice was having, I'd have the same."

"So...?" Jacob asked, flashing that ridiculously cute smile of his. Si Janice naman, halatang kinikilig habang nakatingala sa kanya.

"Hmm... I don't know," she said in her sweet, pabebe voice. "Something not too strong... I'll leave it up to you."

My eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. I couldn't help but scoff, rolling my eyes. For the second time, they snapped out of their own little world, both blushing like id**ts.

Seriously? Do I really have to witness this? Kinikilabutan ako sa sobrang ka-cheesy-han ng dalawang 'to.

Jacob chuckled. "I got you." Turning to the bartender, he leaned in and quietly ordered the drinks.

I let my eyes wander around the room. It was still early, but it was easy to tell that everyone was already having the time of their lives. Laughter echoed from every corner, conversations blended with the music, and the entire place buzzed with excitement.

As for me... I had no idea how tonight was going to turn out. I wasn't exactly the party type.

I guess I'd just have to go with the flow.

****

I had no idea what time it was anymore, and honestly, I couldn't even remember how many drinks I'd had—or what any of them were called.

Earlier, Janice had dragged me onto the dance floor. It was the first time I'd ever danced at a party. At first, I was hesitant and painfully shy, but after a couple of drinks, I found myself feeling a little more confident. My hips began to sway, and before I knew it, my body was moving naturally with the beat of the music.

I couldn't believe it. I was actually enjoying the night. I wasn't even sure if everyone here was legally allowed to drink, but no one seemed to care. The bartenders never asked for anyone's age before handing out drinks, and waiters kept walking around with trays full of colorful cocktails and glasses for anyone who wanted one. Not that I liked all of them.

Some tasted surprisingly good, while others were so bitter and strong that I had to force myself not to make a face after every sip.

I was now sitting alone in the bar. Well, Janice was having her best night. Jacob asked her hands for a sweet dance. So I have to walk away and don’t let my best friends night ruin. Watching them dancing. I could see how happy Janice is.

I turned and caught the bartender's attention. "The same drink, please," I said, raising my empty glass.

He recognized me immediately and smiled. Maybe it was the alcohol, but I found myself smiling back.

He leaned in slightly.

"Filipina?"

My face instantly lit up.

"Yes!" I blurted out. "Filipino?"

"Yes!" he laughed.

"Wow! Hindi ka mukhang Pinoy."

"Marami nang nagsabi niyan." He chuckled. "My mother is Filipina."

Although he spoke Tagalog, his accent was noticeably different. Still, hearing my own language in the middle of a crowded party in New York felt strangely comforting. We ended up chatting for a while and even exchanged names. He gave a few recommendations about places to visit around the city, restaurants that served authentic Filipino food, and little things about the culture that made living in New York easier. I didn't even realize how much I missed hearing Tagalog until that moment.

We were still talking when I suddenly felt an arm casually drape over my shoulder. Napatingin ako sa malaking brasong nakapatong sa balikat ko bago dahan-dahan akong tumingala.

A blond guy was standing beside me, flashing a confident smile that looked far too practiced.

"Hi, gorgeous." His smile widened. "May I have this dance?"

He looked completely convinced I'd say yes.

He wasn't bad-looking... but he didn't do anything for me. Besides, several guys had already asked me to dance tonight, and I'd politely turned every one of them down. I gently lifted his arm off my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, but I can't dance."

"Why not?" he asked with a grin. "Come on. Loosen up with me, babe."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero the way he said the last few words made me uncomfortable. Maybe he didn't mean anything by it... or maybe he did. Either way, it didn't sit right with me.

"No, really. I need to use the bathroom."

I stood from my seat before leaning in just a little. "But..." I whispered, subtly pointing toward the blonde girl who had been stealing glances at him. "I think the girl over there has been checking you out. You might have better luck with her."

His eyes followed the direction I pointed. "Oh?"

"Good luck," I said with a small, polite smile. Without waiting for his response, I turned back toward the bar.

"See you around, Hunter."

He simply waved with a smile before returning to work.

My body swayed with every step, and my vision had become slightly blurry. After bumping into a few people—and, embarrassingly, even the wall once—I still managed to make it to the bathroom.

Lasing na ba ko?

Some people were busy doing their own thing, while others stood in small groups chatting. I didn't pay any attention to them. Right then, I realized I really did need to use the bathroom. The strange feeling in my stomach had been bothering me for a while.

After relieving myself and flushing the toilet, I accidentally threw the stall door open with more force than intended, the loud bang echoing throughout the bathroom.

"...Oops. Sorry!" I blurted out, instinctively flashing a small peace sign with an awkward smile.

Every head in the bathroom turned toward me. A few girls blinked in surprise. Some rolled their eyes before looking away, clearly annoyed. A few let out quiet snickers. Some rolled their eyes in annoyance before turning back to their conversations, while the rest acted as though I hadn't interrupted them at all. Ramdam kong umiinit ang pisngi ko sa hiya.

I forced myself to act unfazed, swallowing my embarrassment as I walked over to the sink. I turned on the faucet at nagkunwaring abalang naghuhugas ng kamay, keeping my gaze fixed on my hands instead of meeting anyone else's reflection in the mirror. Hindi ko man sinasadyang makinig, hindi ko rin maiwasang marinig ang usapan ng ilang babae sa bandang dulo ng banyo.

"Girl, I saw you trying your luck with Colt too," one of them said, disappointment evident in her voice.

"What? That's not true." Bakas ang pag-aalangan sa boses.

"I thought we were friends. You know how much I like him."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I would never do that to you."

"Yeah... you're just drunk, Nikka," another girl defended her friend.

"See? You're just drunk, babe. I'm your friend. Besides, how could I even try my luck when Lola's always around him like Colt's personal security guard?"

A nest of vipers disguised as friends. Napailing na lang ako.

Their voices faded into the background as I forced myself to tune them out. Whatever drama they were tangled in wasn't mine. I remained by the sink for another minute, hoping enough time had passed for the dance floor to swallow everyone's attention. I wasn't exactly eager to become the center of another awkward moment.

Meeting my own gaze in the mirror, I blinked twice, willing the sting in my eyes to disappear. Surprisingly, Janice's so-called magic had actually worked. The smoky eyeshadow made my light brown eyes stand out, giving them a depth I never knew they had. Maybe makeup did suit me after all.