NO CHOICE /r18

PEER PRESSURE

Alex and Mylene got back to Manila and they were also back to their old routine.

Something has changed between the two after their unplanned 2nd honeymoon in Singapore. 

They unconsciously developed a deeper emotion and warmth towards each other but they were too blind to admit to themselves. 

There is understanding,

respect,

concern,

care,

and maybe, even love...

*****

ALEX

It has been a male bonding routine for Alex and his friends to meet every weekend for some activities. They would play basketball or golf, sometimes, they would go to the track to drag race.

Then after that, they would hang out in a bar or a club to unwind. 

This weekend was not an exception. 

As usual, they have gone for a night out and Jack made a VIP reservation.

That night,  they chose to hang out at Guess, a posh club that features a French and English-inspired, palatial décor, top-quality sound and lighting equipment, and plenty of comfortable VIP lounges, both around the dancefloor and in a mezzanine above it.

 They love this place, not only because of the music and crowd but also of the drinks and foods they serve, despite the expensive price.

Mylene was also out bonding with her friends. She told Alex about this but didn't tell him kung saan sila pupunta. Sina Doc Ogie na daw ang bahala sa kanya when he told Alex about it. So Alex wasn't worried at all.

Usually, pag lumalabas silang magkakaibigan, they would just usually go to a spa, beauty wellness clinics, resto-bar, or shopping ang bondings nila. It's a very rare occasion when they go to clubs para sa night outs. They always prefer places na hindi masyado maingay at makakapag usap sila.

On the other hand, GUESS was a well-known club in LaTiene Hotel and it usually swarmed by celebrities, models, and socialites.

Alex and his friends were their usual thing, inom, usap, sayaw, sight seeing sa mga babae...

"Mga bro!!!" sigaw ni Ryan na may akbay akbay na dalawang models, habang papalapi sa lounge nila. "Watch out for the body shots tonight!!!"

"Alright!!!" sigaw naman ni Anton.

Gimik ng mga club ang magpakulo ng kung ano ano during weekends. 

Here at GUESS, they also have a party every weekend and tonight, its a body-shot party. 

Just as when the crowd inside the club were having a good time and enjoying the night, the music stopped and a voice-over boomed the place.

"Sexy ladies and good looking gentlemen, its body shot time!!!!"

Naghiyawan ang mga tao sa loob.

"Here's how the game goes. The ladies will get to choose whoever they want to be their partners!!! For the gentlemen out there, whether you are single or taken, NO is not an option!!!"

"Prize for tonight will be an overnight stay for the winning partners at the suite room upstairs! So what are you waiting for?? Let the party begins!"

As soon as the music started to play again, people started grabbing each other to be their partners, almost all were eager to join the fun.

Alex remained in his chair not minding what was going on when Jessica approached him and grabbed his arms.

"You will be my partner Alex!" she declared.

He vehemently refused her but, "Come on bro, this is just a game! We have been doing this before!" sabi ni Ivan sa kanya.

"No, no, kayo na lang. I'm done with it. Graduate na ako dyan. Hahaha." he replied, shaking his head.

"Ano ka ba bro! What's wrong with you???" sagot naman ni Ivan.

"Hey!!! Don't tell me takot ka na sa asawa mo??? The great Alexander Montreal natakot sa asawa??? Guys, this is a surprise!!!! Hahahah." pasigaw ni sabi ni Jessica kaya't nagtawanan naman ang mga kasama nila.

"Come on Alex, its just a game!!" wika ni Ryan.

"Di na ako bilib sa kakayahan mo if hindi ka dito sasali! Hahaha" ani naman ng isa pa nilang kaibigan.

Alex was a bit offended by that. He was dared and challenged. He didn't like that. At wala pa syang dare or challenge na inuurungan.

Nag-igting ang mga panga nya, lalo na at bigla na lang tinawag ng DJ ang pangalan nila ni Jessica para pumagitna. May nagbigay na pala ng pangalan nila sa host.

His other friends pushed him too, instead na suportahan sya sa ayaw nya, ginuyo pa sya ng mga eto, so wala na syang magawa but to do it.

He took the full last shot of his scotch at one gulp before going to the center.

Cellphone cameras were on them, ready to record what will happen. Syempre, si Alex Montreal sya and Jessica is one budding commercial model too. Natural na pagpipiestahan sila ng mga tao at mag uunahang e post sa social media.

So the game began.

The lady will get to choose where the shot would be.

Jessica opened her top and put the salt on her chest, just a little above her n*****s. Naghiyawan ang mga tao and then, they started to count.

"three, two.... one!!"

Alex  licked the salt on Jessica's chest and took the shot as the music started to boom. Sabay ang sayaw at sigaw at hiyaw ng mga tao.

After some time, Jessica also took a shot at bigla nyang dinakma si Alex para ipasa ang tequila na nasa bibig nito papunta sa bibig ni Alex and torridly kissed him on his lips!

In front of many people!

Alex was surprised but sinakyan nya eto not wanting to look like a party pooper because for sure, he will be a laughingstock for declining that.

The crowd went wild at naghihiyawan sa ginawa ni Jessica sa kanya.

Andaming kumukuha ng mga pictures....

Andaming kumuha ng video ng mga kaganapan sa club...

Andami ring nag unahan na mag post sa social media....

Then the winner was announced. Since Alex and Jessica did the most daring and sensual act, they won!

A free suite room for that night!

*****

MYLENE

Mylene went home after nilang mag nightcap ng mga kaibigang sina Ann, Ogie at Rose. They went to spa, ate dinner at Shangri La, and then to Music 21 for videoke.

Before midnight, they all decided to call it a night and went home.

Wala pa si Alex pag dating nya sa penthouse nila and for quite some time, she also wondered kung bakit hindi ito nagtext or tumawag man lang sa kanya. She knew that he was with his friends. Sinabi ni Alex sa kanya na lalabas sya.

She didn't really care, dahil nakaugalian na naman nila yun. Meron lakad si Alex na kasama ang mga kaibigan nya, meron din syang lakad kasama ang mga kaibigan nya.

And part of their deal was walang pakialaman sa mga sariling lakad. She reminded herself.

She woke up at 5 am and Alex wasn't there yet.  Normally, pag lumalabas sila separately, its either sya or si Alex ang nauunang umuwi, or mga bandang midnight, pareho na silang nakauwi.

She git up and went to the bathroom to pee, pagkatapos, lumabas sya ng room nila to check baka kasi sobrang lasing na at nakatulog na lang sa sala. But still, he was not there.

 Baka lang napasarap at magdamagan ang inuman nila at dahil nalasing, di nalang umuwi. Ok lang, ay least di sya magda-drive ng lasing. Mas delikado yun.

*****

ALEX

Alex woke up and wondered where he was. The room wasn't familiar to him.

Nang lumingon sya, he saw Jessica sleeping beside him, naked at di pa na aalis ang make up sa mukha na nag smudge na ang eyeliner at lipstick nito. He too was naked, and he saw an open condom wrap on the bedside table. It was so evident na may nangyari nga sa kanila.

He looked at the time. It's already 1 pm.

shiiiit!!!! What have I done?

Dali dali syang bumangon, at deretsong nagbihis without bothering to take a shower anymore.

Umalis sya ng hotel nang di na ginising si Jessica.

He checked his phone.

10 missed calls from his dad.

Several missed calls from his mom.

Some messages from his sister Alice.

"Kuya, where are you?"

"Kuya, dad, and mom had been calling you, please answer."

"Kuya, pick up the phone please.."

But not even one from his wife. Not a single call or message.

He was battling whether to go to his parents' house first or to go straight to their penthouse. Parang emergency yung sa parents nya but he also wondered bakit di man lang nagtext or nag call si Mylene kung may emergency nga.

He called his sister but Alice rejected his calls.

Weird pero kanina lang ang daming messages tapos ngayon, nire-reject na ang calls.

Then he received a message from his sister. "Kuya, uwi ka sa penthouse mo now."

Bigla syang kinabahan. Bakit sya pinapauwi sa penthouse nya? May nangyari bang masama sa asawa?

Then guilt stepped into him. he bitterly regretted what he had done.

He drove fast to his penthouse.

*****

MYLENE

Mylene wasn't able to go back to sleep after she woke up kanina so she decided to jog around BCG. Medjo matagal na rin kasi syang di nakapag exercise.

Di nakauwi si Alex magdamag. She wondered where he was but she tried to brush it off her mind.

When she came back from her jog, she went to their kitchen to prepare breakfast and ate.

 Do I have to text him and ask?

Wag na. I don't want him to think na hinahanap ko sya.

She spent her morning relaxing at the poolside. Hanggang ngayun, di pa rin umuuwi ang asawa nya. She checked her watch. It's 10 am. Maya maya, tanghali na.

She then received a message from her friend Ogie and Rose.

 Ang aga ha!

TEXT MESSAGE:

Ogie:

Girl, gigil ang braces ko!!! Check i********:. #guessthebodyshot.

Rose:

My, please don't open your f*******:.

Ann:

Frenny, do you want me to come over? Please holler! I'm worried.

She frowned in confusion. Ano bang nangyari sa mga kaibigan nya? Si Ogie pinapa open sa kanya ang IG pero si Rose, pinipigilan syang mag sss.

Anong nangyayari?

At anong ibig sabihin ni Ann? Why was she worried?

Bakit???

And because she was dead curious to know what her friends were talking about, she checked on her i********: first. Di naman sya gaanong nag so-socmed kasi ayaw nya ng attention. Except sa mga tagged photos nya, her social media accounts were all boring, uninteresting and lifeless.

It was then that she also realized na di rin pala nya alam kung merong social media ang asawa nya. Later, she would stalk him but she will check what her friends were telling her first.

She was checking on the hashtag that Ogie gave and when she opened it, its as if blood drained from her face to what she saw!!!

She couldn't breath!!! She felt suffocated at napahawak sya sa kanyang dibdib.

She wanted to throw up!!! Her stomach is acting so strange na talagang nasusuka sya.

Suddenly she jolted when suddenly the doorbell rang. She tried to compose herself.

Mamaya na yang nakita nya sa IG.

But she was even more shocked when she opened the door and came face to face with her parents-in-law and Alex's sister Alice.

***

Dali daling pumasok ng elevator si Alex that will bring him to his penthouse. He hurriedly punche in the password and nang pumasok sya sa loob ng bahay nya, nabigla sya nang makita ang kanyang dad, mom at si Alice na nandun sa kanilang sala, wearing stern faces.

He greeted them pero iba ang pakiramdam nya nang bigla na lamang nagsalita ang ama.

"Would you care to explain what is the meaning of this Alexander???" galit at seryosong bungad ng ama nya sa kanya habang inaabot ang Ipad nito para makita nya ang ibig sabihin.

Alex was caught off guard and all blood drained from his tired face.

He was holding Alice's iPad, and on it were the pictures taken last night.

Pictures of him na nasa center with Jessica...

Him taking that body shot on Jessica's chest....

Him smiling while raising the shot glass and showing he finished it...

Jessica kissing him....

More angles of Jessica kissing him...

Him dancing with Jessica...

Him holding Jessica's waist while going out of the club...

Him with Jessica going inside the elevator of the hotel together...

Videos of body shot....

Videos of the kiss...

Videos of Jessica daringly dancing with him...

Videos of Jessica hugging him and him hugging her back....

And more....

Different people posted it. Mga di nya kilala ang karamihan.

Ang iba galing mismo sa mga kaibigan nya

Different captions on it.

"Alexander and Jessica turned sizzling hot tonight!"

"Hottest couple, Alex and Ica!"

"Most daring act of Mr. Montreal and Ms. Torrefranca! Where is the misis by the way???"

"Alex wouldn't be branded as hot guy if not for this."

At marami pang iba....

Kalat na sa socmed ang nangyari sa party kagabi. Yung ibang post, naka tag pa sa kanya.

Alex was guiltily dumbfounded... and shocked by what he discovered.

Di sya nakapagsalita...

Di sya nakasagot sa tanong ng ama...

Di nya alam ang sasabihin...

He saw dismay in his father's eyes...

He saw the disappointment in his mother's face.

But what bothered him the most was when he looked at his wife

Blank

Stoic

Expressionless

No reactions

But he felt like he was stabbed when he saw her eyes looking directly in his eyes...

And he saw only pain.

A kind of pain that she was trying hard to conceal...

A kind of pain that she was trying so hard not to show...

A kind of pain that was loudly cursing him without saying the words...

A kind of pain that showed only hurt...

"Ayusin mo ito." galit na sabi ng ama nya.

He didn't hear his father.

He didn't hear what he said

Nakatingin lang sya kay Mylene...

and the only thing he could hear was the furious beating of his guilty heart.

"Love.."  was all he could say.