Miss Perfectly Imperfect

HOTEL

Gavin's POV

Sa may di kalayuan, may nadaanan akong isang bar—hindi pamilyar ang pangalan, at malamang ay hindi ito pinupuntahan ng mga katulad ko. Walang glitz, walang kilalang mukha. Perfect.

I haven’t heard of it before, which made it all the more inviting. I guess I’ll settle there for a moment. Kahit sandali lang.

Kahit hindi ko alam kung ano'ng hinahanap ko—basta’t malayo sa mundong pilit kong tinatakasan ngayong gabi.

As I got closer, I noticed how quiet it was compared to the other bars I had been to earlier. The signage was made of simple neon LED lights—no flash, no gimmicks. Just a warm amber glow against a dark backdrop. Konti lang ang pila sa labas. Walang bouncer. Walang red ropes. Just a door, slightly ajar, like it knew someone like me might need a way in.

Pagpasok ko, agad akong sinalubong ng mahinang jazz. A slow, steady rhythm—saxophone over soft piano, the kind that doesn't demand attention but somehow pulls you in. The lighting was low and warm. Not dim in a sketchy way, but comforting.

Parang yakap ng tahimik na gabi.

The place was modest. Wooden floors, worn smooth by years of footsteps. A long mahogany bar with a polished top that had definitely heard more confessions than most therapists. Walang chandeliers, but there were pendant lights—small, round, glowing softly like they belonged in an old photograph.

Framed black-and-white photos of old Manila lined the walls. Escolta, Luneta, Avenida. Nostalgia, in frames.

No loud voices. No egos on display. Just the subtle music of conversation—occasional laughter, clinking glasses. A crowd that looked like they came here not to impress, but to exhale.

I took a seat at the far end of the bar—‘yong pinakadulo, tucked away in a quiet corner. No one paid attention.

I nodded once at the bartender—tall, early 30s, no-nonsense look, but with kind eyes.

“One scotch. Neat. Anything aged more than twelve.”

He raised an eyebrow—impressed, maybe—but said nothing. He turned, reached up the shelf, and pulled down a bottle without asking follow-up questions. He poured expertly, the liquid amber catching the dim bar light like melted gold, then slid the glass towards me with a quiet, professional nod.

“No name?” he finally asked, eyes flicking to mine.

I gave a half-shrug. “Let’s skip the introductions.”

“Fair enough,” he said. “Some people come here to talk. Others just want to disappear. You look like the latter.”

“Maybe both,” I replied, then took a sip. It was smooth. Warm. Just enough burn to remind me I was still alive.

Tahimik sa loob. No loud music, no chattering crowds. Only the soft clink of glasses. I stared into the drink. Then glanced at the door. I knew I wasn’t staying long. This wasn’t a destination—it was a stopover. A moment of pause.

Kahit gaano ka tahimik ang lugar, I couldn’t silence what I was running away from. The echo of my father’s words.

The image of her dancing. ’Yung lalaking sumusunod sa kanya. ’Yung apoy sa mga mata niya. At ’yung gulong nakatago sa ngiti niya.

I lifted the emptied glass towards the bartender and then placed it before him. His a brow raised once more. “Another?

I shook my head. “No. I think I’m good.”

“You sure? Para ka kasing may sakay na buong convoy ng multo.”.”

Napangiti ako, tipid lang. “Sanay na kong mag-drive kahit nasa likod sila.”

Tumawa siya habang pinupunasan ang bar. “Well, kung magsisigawan na sila, may tequila kami.”

I laughed softly for the first time that night. Then I was on my feet, ready to head out. The sound of urban events and the wet asphalt welcomed me again as I pushed the exit door a little.

I was about top stepped out, just then the near entrance door opened.

May pumasok—isang babae. I wouldn’t have noticed her if it weren’t for the way the warm light caught her face the moment she stepped inside. Parang eksena sa pelikula. But it wasn’t just the lighting. It was her.

Siya ‘yon.

Yong babae sa bar kanina. The one who danced like fire. The one who brushed off strangers like dust and disappeared into the dark hallway. The same woman who held my gaze long enough to make me forget where I was.

Her hair was tied up now, messier. Her makeup was lighter. She wore a loose denim jacket over that sexy dress, and a tote bag hung casually on her shoulder. She looked... softer. Less untouchable. But still unshakably confident.

My grip on the door loosened. I told myself to walk away. I meant it, too. But when I saw her…

I stepped back inside. Quietly. Like something had snapped and pulled me in. Nagulat pa yong bar tender sa pagbabalik ko.

"I thought you're leaving," he commented.

"I thought so too," I shrugged, smiled and then settled myself.

Pasimple ko siyang tiningnan. She hadn’t noticed me yet. She moved with ease—seems familiar with the space. She approached the bartender "Cosmo... " as I heard her. The bartender gave her a nod as she settled. As she waited for her drink, I took a moment to study her features, the way her hair caught the light and framed her face. There was an air of confidence about her that drew me in, making it hard to look away.

This isn’t the end of the night, I guess.

Then her eyes scanned the room—slowly, casually—until they landed on me. She blinked. Tilted her head slightly. And then—that smile. The same teasing curve of the lips from earlier, like she remembered exactly who I was and exactly what I didn’t say.

She walked over.

I froze, not sure if I should wave, nod, or disappear into the glass in front of me.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” sabi niya, habang umuupo—sakto lang ang distansya, parang may tanong na hindi tinatapos.

“I didn’t expect to be here either,” I replied.

“Sinusundan mo ba ako?” she asked, half-joking.

“No,” I said. “But maybe I would’ve, if I knew where you were headed.”

She laughed—just a breath of sound, but it stayed in the space between us like static. Habang nakatitig ako sa kanya ay mas naaaninag ko ang kanyang gandahan.

“You always talk like that?” isa pa niyang tanong.

“Only when I’ve had half a drink and a full regret.”

“Hmm.” She nodded to the seat beside me. “Mind if I join you?”

Tinapik ko ang stool. “It’s yours.”

She sat, adjusting the oversized denim jacket that now looked more like armor than style. The bartender slid her usual drink in front of her without asking.

She took a sip and turned to me. ““So… are we keeping this anonymous? Or are you the type na nagra-ramble ng buong LinkedIn bio sa first meeting?”

Napatawa ako. “Definitely not the LinkedIn type.”

“Good,” sabi niya, sabay tap ng baso niya sa akin. “Mystery looks better on you.”

Itaas ko ang baso ko pabalik. “What do we toast to?”

She thought for a moment, then smirked. “To nothing serious,” she said. “Not tonight.”

I nodded. “To forgetting names. And remembering moments.”

She smirked. “Cheers to that.”

I leaned in slightly, elbow on the bar, eyes dancing. “Let’s make a deal.”

She tilted her head, lips curving with interest. “I’m listening.”

“No questions about the past. No real names. Just… one drink. One night.”

She chuckled, low and knowing. “Mukhang may tinatakasan.”

“And what if... tama ka?”

She held my gaze. “What if… ako rin?”

The music had softened. The bar had thinned. We weren’t exactly alone, but the world felt blurred—like the moment had folded into a quiet pocket, just for us.

“Then get lost with me,” I said.

She didn’t flinch. “And what happens after?”

I smiled. “We walk away. Like ghosts. Like this never happened.”

She clinked her glass gently against mine. “Then let’s make it worth forgetting.”

And just like that, we sat there—two strangers with secrets, slowly unraveling a night we’d both pretend not to think about tomorrow.

She paused, and for a second, I thought she’d stand and leave. But instead, she leaned in—close enough for me to catch a whiff of her perfume: jasmine, smoke, and something else I couldn’t name… something that smelled like summer rain on warm pavement.

“You’re trouble,” she whispered.

I smiled. “So are you.”

Her lips curled into a wicked grin. “I think we’ll get along just fine.”

“Come on,” bulong niya habang marahang inilapag ang baso. “The night’s too good to waste indoors.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Where are we going?”

She smirked, eyes sparkling under the dim light. “Do you always ask that much, or do you sometimes just let the night lead?”

I laughed softly, finishing the last drop of my scotch. “I usually lead.”

“Then lead,” sabi niya habang tumayo, her jacket slipping slightly off one shoulder, like even gravity wanted in on the moment.

Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko, but I stood up. Maybe it was the way she looked at me—confident, sure of herself, like she already knew I wouldn’t say no. Maybe she was right.

Tahimik naming tinahak ang daan palabas ng bar. Nagpasya na akong iwanan ang sasakyan sa parking lot. I could use some walk with this lady. The air was warm, medyo humid, or epekto lang siguro ng alak sa aking katawan. And there was also a breeze that made it more bearable. Sa labas, tahimik ang kalye. A few cars passed. The city was still alive, pero hindi na kasing ingay ng kanina. She walked ahead by a few steps, turning once to look back at me.

“Anong pangalan mo, really?” tanong niya, medyo pabulong.

I shook my head. “Didn’t we agree? No names.”

“Right,” she said with a teasing smile. “No names. Just stories.”

We walked side by side, our shoulders brushing now and then. Walang malinaw na destinasyon, pero pareho kaming parang hindi nagmamadali.

“Do you always do this?” tanong ko. “Walk into bars, enchant strangers, and walk off into the night with them?”

She tilted her head, eyes playful. “Do you always follow women who clearly look like trouble?”

I grinned. “No. Not intentionally.”

Tumigil siya sa tapat ng isang closed café, its glass windows reflecting the city lights behind us. She leaned back against the wall, arms crossed.

“You know what I like about tonight?” tanong niya.

“What?”

“No expectations. No pressure. ”

I nodded. “Just a bit of mystery. A bit of fun.”

“And maybe,” she added, “a bit of danger.”

Tumahimik kami sandali. The kind of silence that doesn’t ask to be filled.

She looked at me again. “I don’t want the night to end yet.”

“Neither do I.”

“Then don’t let it.”

“Tell me where we’re heading.”

I smiled, stepped off the wall, and whispered, “Just follow my lead”

And just like that, we kept walking—two strangers pretending they weren’t pretending, slipping into a night that suddenly felt wide open.

“You don’t want the night to end, right?” I asked.

She smiled. “Mmm-hmm.”

“Then… stay with me.”

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad. “Stay with you?”

I nodded, slowly. “Walang expectations. Nothing... complicated. I just—” I paused. “I just need a companion.”

She tilted her head, trying to read my face. “You always say that to girls you barely know?”

“Not all the times.” I said, chuckling softly,

Napangiti siya, ‘yong tipid na ngiting parang sinasabi niyang alam niyang delikado, pero gusto pa rin niyang marinig.

"Only when you're drunk and full of regrets?" Muli niyang tanong na sinagot ko ng isang malakas na tawa.

Bumaling siya sa akin, then took a slow step forward. “What are we even doing?” she whispered.

“Escaping,” sagot ko. “Or maybe... just finding something real even if it's not meant to last.”

Sandali siyang hindi nagsalita. Then, she reached for my hand. “Lead the way, mystery man.”

I held her hand gently. No words. Just a silent agreement.

We turned a corner, our footsteps steady against the quiet pavement.

That night, it didn’t matter who we were.

Only that, for a moment, we chose not to be alone.

Tahimik pa rin kaming magkahawak ng kamay habang naglalakad. Neither of us was in a rush. Parang pareho naming gustong namnamin ‘yong bawat segundo. The city had softened, the air cooler, the streets less chaotic. Nang marating namin ang intersection, I paused and looked at her.

“There’s a boutique hotel a few blocks away,” sabi ko in a low voice. “Discreet. Cozy.”

She raised a brow, a teasing smirk playing on her lips. “And you’ve been there before?”

I gave her a half-grin. “Maybe once.”

She chuckled. “Interesting.”

“Still want to escape?” I asked, tilting my head toward the quiet street.

She nodded slowly. “Only if there’s good coffee in the morning.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” I replied, half-joking, half-promising.

At hindi na kami nagsalita. We just walked—closer this time, our shoulders brushing. The quiet hum of the city became our soundtrack.

Pagdating sa lobby ng hotel, the receptionist gave us a polite nod. Walang tanong. Gavin simply handed over his card and whispered something about a corner room with a view.

Nang maibigay na ang susi, we took the elevator in silence.

Inside, neither of us said much. No declarations. No expectations. Just two strangers choosing not to be strangers, for one night.

As the elevator doors slid open, we stepped into the hallway... together.