Started with a Dare

Chapter 2-at the club/start of the deal

"Cheers!"the sound of clinking glasses and bottles and a couple of congratulatory messages were heard when ate Zen proposed a toast para sa naging promotion ni Lyka. Ilang pagbati pa at tuksuhan at kwentuhan bago isa isa ng nagsitayuan and joined the crowd dancing in the middle of the place. May ilan na ring tipsy sa kanila kaya medyo nagiging wild na ang ilan at nawawalan na inhibition sa katawan. Ang iba naman ay napapa straight a ng English. And one of them is Bubbles.

"You know, bebe girl I am super duper happy about your promotion. You really deserve this achievement of yours. And of course I am also very thankful that you finally kicked miss-ex-marketing-head b****y a** out of the office," she downed the remaining beer in her bottle before she continued to mumble something.

"Hey, that's enough,"inagaw niya ang bote mula rito. "Lasing ka na. Baka mahirapan ka nang umuwi."

"Ay sus, doooon't worry. Nagpaalam naman na ako sa hubby ko na suuuuper hot na,napaka understanding pa. Kaya loooove ko ang gwapong mokong na yon,eh. Tapos tanggap pa niya ako at love niya ako. Ayiiieehh,"kinikilig nitong sabi. She even blushed adding redness of her already flushed face.

"But still,hindi ka dapat magpakalasing masyado. Malayo pa ang byahe mo pauwi. Hindi ka naman masusundo ng asawa mo dahil siya ang bantay sa baby ninyo, diba".

"Don't worry. Don't worry. Nagpaalam naman na ako kay hubby na sa bahay mo ako mag oovernight. Actually pati sina ate Zen at Shanna din". casual na sagot nito sabay tungga ng bote nito.

Hindi makapaniwala si Lyka sa sinabi nito. Her mouth went slack for a moment and unbelievably look each of her three friends.

"Wow. Just wow. Napagkasunduan nyong mag overnight sa bahay KO ngayong gabi. At wala man lang akong alam tungkol dito na MAY ARI mismo",she commented with sarcasm.

"Pag pasensyahan mo na sana, Lyka. Pinagsabihan ko naman na sila na magpaalam muna sa iyo pero ayos lang naman raw sa iyo. Kung hindi naman pwede, eh sa amin na lamang-"

"Bestfrieeend". Bubbles hugged her arm like a child to her mom while pouting and giving her that puppy eyes. Gustong matawa ni Lyka sa hitsura nito. Mukha kasi itong cute na bibe na may matambok na pisngi. Pero pinigil niya ang sarili at pinatili ang kunwa'y naiinis na mukha.

"Do you really have the heart to just let us sleep on the street or some hotel? Paano na lang kapag masamang tao pala yong nasakyan naming taxi? O di kaya may pumik ap sa amin ha-shhaaray. Mashakish".hindi nito natapos ang pagdadrama at napadaing na lang sa sakit ng kurutin ni Lyka ang pisngi nito.

"Oo na. Tumigil ka na sa pangungonsensya mo. As if naman matitiis kita o kayo. Kaya itigil mo na yang pagnguso mo. Nagmumukha ka tuloy bibe", saway ng dalaga rito sabay irap pero nangingiti naman.

"Huhuhu. My poor, cute, chubby cheeks", naiiyak na turan ni Bubbles habang hinihimas ang namumulang pisngi na kinurot ng dalaga.

" Tumigil ka nga diyan. Mas childish ka pa kaysa sa anak mo eh",saway ni Lyka sabay tinuktukan sa noo ng mahina na nagpa aray uli rito.

Napapailing at napabuntong hininga na lamang ang dalaga. Lumalabas na talaga ang pagka childish nito at pagkaOA pag nalalasing. Napapaisip tuloy siya kung paano to natitiis ng asawa nito eh sa pagkakakilala niya kay Aidan ay may pagkastrikto at seryoso yon. Well, yon nga siguro ang nagagawa ng tunay na pag ibig- tanggap ka sa kung sino ka o kung anong ugali ka.

"Just let her be. Saka paminsan minsan na lang rin naman tayong nakakapag enjoy at relax ng ganito",sabat ni Shanna saka siya inakbayan. "And you... You should relax and enjoy too dahil para sayo ang okasyon na to. And loosen up a bit will you? Here," inabutan niya ng isang bote ng alam ang dalaga," drink up then let's go to the dance floor and dance to our hearts content. Find some guy who can accompany us for the night. At baka malay natin dito mo na makikita ang kaforever mo,diba? Hindi ka na bumabata beh,ha. Baka akala mo. Sige ka baka kumunat na yang matris mo at hindina makabuo ng bata. Aba sayang lahi mo nyan", pangungumbinsi pa nito.

"Oo nga naman bestfriend",sang ayon naman agad ni Bubbles. " At buti nasabi mo ang tungkol dyan, Shanna. Naalala ko tuloy yong usapan natin two years ago. Diba usapan natin na if you still have no boyfriend bago ang thirtieth birthday mo ay kailangan nating magcelebrate sa isang club and you must find a guy and ask him to accompany you and have a date with you? Total hindi naman tayo makakapag clubbing the night before your birthday dahil bukod sa natapat sa working days yon ay doon ka pa mag istay sa bahay ng kuya at sister-in-law mo dahil request nilang doon ka mag sicelebrate."

"Oh my g. I almost forgot about that. Ngayon na nga lang natin yon gawin. Tara na", excitement was visible in Shanna's voice. Saka hinila na patayo ang dalaga. Pati si Bubbles ay nakihila na rin. Pero sinaway sila ni ate Zen. Telling them it's not right to force her. Muntik nang makalimutan ng dalaga na kasama pa pala nila sa upuan si ate Zen kung hindi pa ito nagsalita.

"It's ok,ate Zen. I think it is time na rin to loosen up and be less intimidating. Nakakarindi na rin minsan ang pangungulit ni papa na kung kailan raw ako magdadala sa bahay ng ipakikilalang boyfriend o kahit kadate man lang raw. Tapos si kuya pa,palagi nalang akong tinutukso na tatanda na raw akong dalaga."

"Ikaw bahala. Basta kilatisin mo munang mabuti. Pag ramdam mong hindi maganda ang intensyon ay layuan mo agad."

"Don't worry. I can take care of my self, ate Zen. Salamat sa paalala."

All four of went to dance floor,kasama na si ate Zen dahil hinila narin nila ito.

They dance along with the crowd to the wild beat of the music. Nakatulong ang nainom nilang alak para mabawasan ang inhibisyon nila sa katawan. They dance and laugh and enjoy themselves.

Habang nag ienjoy ang lahat ay ilang beses na natitigilan si Lyka dahil pakiramdam niya ay may pares ng mga matang nakakatitig sa kanya. I mean intensely staring at her. Nilibot niya ng tingin ang paligid and find no-one suspicious kaya iniignora na lamang niya ito.

Nang mapagod at mauhaw ay pumunta siya sa may bar at umorder ng maiinom. While waiting for her drinks ay humarap siya sa may dance area. Nilibot niya ng tingin ang kabuuan ng lugar and the people enjoying themselves. Mayroon ding ibang nagpapakalunod sa alak para makalimot sa sakit at problema. Mayroon ding nag ienjoy lang, may pumunta para mabawasan ang tension sa trabaho o buhay nila. Iba ibang tao, iba ibang dahilan.

Natigil siya sa pagmumuni muni nang maramdaman niyang may lumapit sa kanya. But she just ignored it, thinking that maybe it's one of the customers who wanted to order some drinks.

She could still feel that intense stare from someone. Kaya nilibot niya ulit ng tingin ang buong lugar. Until her eyes landed on the second floor area where there are private rooms with glass walls para makita parin ang mga ganap dito sa baba. Sa isip niya para siguro yon sa mga VIPs at VVIP customers nitong club.

Yong kwarto na nasa pinakasulok,doon niya nararamdaman ang presensya ng taong kanina pa nakatingin sa kanya. She tried squinting her eyes para makita niya ang mga tao roon. Pero hindi niya makita ng maayos dahil may kadilim at sa pantay sinding makukulay na mga ilaw.

She decided na pasimple siyang aakyat at lalapit doon para mapatunayan ang hinala niya.

She was about to stand when she flinched and was startled when someone grabbed her arm and muttered loudly to her ear. Muntik na nga niyang masiko sa sikmura at masapak ng hawak niyang baso ng alak. Buti napigil niya ang sarili.

"What?" hindi niya napigilan ang tarayan ang asungot nang hinarap niya ito na nakataas ang kilay. Binawi rin niya ang braso mula sa pagkakahawak nito.

"Sorry to have startled you. Gusto ko lang namang makausap ka at have some dance with you or buy you some more drinks. Hindi ko intensyong gulatin ka." The man who stopped her explained with a sheepish smile on his face.

"Sorry but I'm not interested. So, if you'll excuse me." She was about to turn her back again when the man grabbed her arm again. His hold this time is tighter than first and not so gentle anymore.

''Come on miss. Wag ka ng pakipot. I know you're looking for some fun. And I can surely give that to you,'' he then shamelessly rake her body up and down with his malicious stare and smug look on his face. ''Kaya sumama ka na lang sa akin okay.''

Mas nairita ang dalaga. Ang pinakaayaw niya sa lahat ay yong pinipilit siya and man-handdling her. That's a big no-no for her. And she felt the urge to smack the man's face to wipe that malicious and smug look on his face. But she doesn't want to make a scene so she controlled herself to be calm.

''Sinabi ko nang hindi ako interisado. So, could you please let go of my arm while I'm still being nice,'' she said with a blank and cold look on her face. She tried to tug her arm free again. But the obnoxious guy just tightened his hold on her. And what he said next made her bloods boil and snapped her patience.

"Stop with the sh*tty act, b*tch. I know you just want to have a good f*ck and I can surely give that to you. You should be flattered ," her breathing is getting heavy as she gritted her her. That's it! Then she snapped and was about to smacked him hard on the face.

"Kaya sum--aaghh!!"

But before she could do anything the guy suddenly stopped blabbering and groaned and his hold on her arm loosened. Then someone gently pulled her. Everything was so fast. The next thing she knows is someone holding her protectively. Her sight is blocked by a well defined ,broad shoulder which is clad with an expensive looking three piece suit and an expensive brand of cologne-that's not too strong for her smell, tamang tama lang sa pang amoy niya. And her back is against the scumbag na kanikanina lang ay gumagambala sa kanya.

She was stunned for a few moment. Gaping and her mind shouting, what the heck just happened??

''You dare to lay your hand on my woman?'' a cold demanding baritone voice pulled her from her trance. The man's voice is ice peircing cold with thick English accent to which any woman could find sexy and hot. Well it is for her.

"M-mr. Romanov?!" bakas ang takot sa mukha ng lalaki nang mapagsino ang kaharap. Literal na nanginig ito sa takot at namutla ma animo'y nakakita ng multo. O mas tamang sabihin ay demonyo.