The Advances

Life goes on even if you're not ready for it. My reality is playing right now and there's no button for me to pause and take a breath. The only thing left for me to do is to accept it and enjoy the moment for I can never go back once I miss it.

Looking outside while savoring the fresh air caressing my face makes me smile. The inside of a club is meant for people who wants to be there with the lights and the beat of the music. People who surround themselves with drinks and friends. And maybe those who want to have an unforgettable night.

Long gorgeous hands snaked on me which took me by surprise. "Ano'ng iniisip mo?" Joaquin's sexy voice made my heart skipped a bit. So close. I can feel his heart beating. I buried myself deeper in his embrace to be enveloped by his fragrance. I sighed. This is where I belong.

"Ikaw." I curved my lips. "You didn't even mention that I'll see you here kuya." biro ko. He chuckled then went beside me.

"Yeah. Pero ako ang nagsabing isama ka ngayong gabi. Have I paid my debt now Lilliana?" I held his hand and laughed. This man never likes losing. That's one of the things I like about him.

"Barely. May natira pa din." I held his gaze not fighting its pull. The night did not even diminish his charm. He's a dangerous man hiding behind his laid back portrayal. "Napansin ni diko iyong kanina." medyo nahihiyang sabi ko.

His lips curved slowly. "I see."

"That's it?" he raised one of his dark brows. "Ano'ng gagawin natin?" I said waiting for his reply.

"Let me handle it Lilliana. I wronged you in this part. Hindi dapat itinago lalo na sa kanila." I smiled widely. Letting your man take care of the things that bother you feels satisfying but I remind myself not to expect him to fix all my problems. He can do this from time to time. I don't want to be a puppet controlled by a man. "Let me do these things for you."

"My privelege?" ihinilig ko ang ulo palapit sa kaniya.

He held my eyes in a lazy, teasing look. "Lover's privelege." he whispered. I blushed at his remark. Joaquin Percival Lopez is now flirting with me. I squinted my eyes and kissed his palm. "You're playing with fire." he stepped towards me. I giggled.

"You can't. Nandiyan sila kuya." paalala ko. Testing his limits will be a fun thing to do. This can be our new thing. Joaquin and me.

"Tell me everything I can't and see if I'll still do it." he mumbled dangerously. Umiling ako. My pulse lunged. I cleared my throat.

"Why don't we head inside?" distracting him as I mentally shake my head. Feeling the warmth of his hands as he guides me through the dark corridor, I melt inside. "A glass of-"

"Water." he pinched my hips lightly, warning me. "You don't want to be drunk right now Lilliana." a thrill of suspense shot through me. I nodded. No more alcohol for the night. I'm already drunk by his company.

"There you are!" bati ni sangko. Some of their friends have arrived. Nandoon din si Isabela. She looks more seductive now compared to her looks during her high school days. Sa isang iglap lang ay lumapit na siya kay Joaquin. Kita ko ang pagpulupot ng kamay niya sa bisig nito. My brothers just laughed at them. Mukhang sanay na sa inasta ng babae. Tumikhim ako at kinontrol ang sarili.

"Lilliana." lumapit siya papunta sa akin habang tinatanggal ang kamay ni Isabela.

"What?" inis na tanong ko. He can hear the annoyance in my tone. I leaned away from him. Bagay na hindi niya nagustuhan. Ipinatong niya ang kaniyang kamay sa aking likuran. Declaring his stance, I tensed. How can he be this confident? My brothers are here yet he didn't even mind them.

"Behave." I squinted my eyes at him. I'm a good girl, as always. "Dito ka lang. And don't mind the girl. I don't even know her." he whispered to me. I shrugged.

"I'm not mad." kaila ko. Pretend, Lilliana. Keep pretending. It's not entirely a lie tho. Hindi naman ako sa kaniya galit. I can't do that everytime someone likes him or else our relationship would soon crumble. Hindi naman pwedeng sa kaniya ko isisi ang sitwasyon. Maliban na lang kung binigyan niya ng dahilan ang mga ito para gustuhin siya. "Maybe a little bit uncomfortable. Masasanay din siguro."

"She's nothing to me. You know it." he whispered to me. I nodded happily.

"We should go home." I looked at diko's direction. There he is - ready to go. "It's getting late." sabay turo sa akin. I groaned. Oo nga pala. I'm your modern day Cinderella.

'Be home before 12.' I can hear dad's reminder in my head. 'The danger is at its peak during the silent night. Do not be deceived.'

"You can't drive now." paalala ko sa kanila. Hindi man sila lasing, nakainom pa din. Ayaw kong gamiting dahilan na malinaw pa ang kanilang pag-iisip at kaya pang magmaneho. The Severinos should be responsible. Not following a simple rule is the same as not following a major one. Choosing which rules to follow and which rules to not is wrong. It can never be justified.

"Tumawag na ako ng magmamaneho." Joaquin held my hand and left. It looked like he's just leading me outside but I know it is far from the truth. My heart felt ticklish at the sudden intimacy. Are we announcing it now?

"Where will you sleep?" I blushed realizing my question.

"Do you have any suggestion Lilliana?" he fixed his eyes on me amusedly. Inirapan ko lang siya.

"You can book a hotel." or my room? I shushed my inner demon. That is moving too fast! But still, what's wrong with a little cuddle here and there? I just want to sleep beside him. Just sleep. I swear. Or not.

"May bahay pa kami dito. Nakalimutan mo na ba?" I paused momentarily to ponder. "Nandoon pa din sila Manang Lita at ang pamilya niya." their maid became a part of their family due to their long service and loyalty. Ang sabi niya noon, ito pa raw ang nag-alaga sa daddy niya simula noong bata. "Why? Are you inviting me?"

"Of course not!" I denied quickly. Itinago ko rin ang namumulang mukha. There's no need to tell him the truth. Aasarin lang ako pag nagkataon.

Someone pulled me out of Joaquin's reach. I glanced at the man smiling at me. John, my former suitor, is now a scouted athlete of a prestigous university.

"Esperanza! It's really you. Akala ko nagkamali ako ng tingin." Wearing his white fitted shirt and washed jeans emphasized his toned body, that of an athlete.

"John." bati ko sa kaniya.

He chuckled lightly. "Still so cold."

"This is how I am." I smiled a bit.

"Only to me. You better stop it or I'll start to think that I'm special." His grin froze when he saw who's beside me. "Lopez." he said curtly. His eyes went to my waist which is currently being held by Joaquin.

I nudged him to say something, his lips in a straight line. Tumango lang siya.

"He's a schoolmate." pakilala ko kay John. Joaquin just focused his attention on his hands that keeps caressing me in a slow, sensual way. A prickle run down my spine at the contact.

"He is…"

"Her man." Joaquin said with pure confidence. I blushed at his declaration then nodded at John's inquisitive eyes. My man. Parang pinipiga ang aking puso.

Mabilis namang nakabawi si John. He masked his disappointment with his mischievous smile. "Then I should stop courting you." natawa ako ng maalala ang pangako niya. Ang bilis ng panahon. Those days seem so distant now.

'Hindi ako titigil manligaw hanggang wala ka pang nagugustuhan.' that's what he said while we were surrounded with my classmates when he gave me the teddy bear that went to Georgina in the end.

"Lies. We didn't even talk after graduation." Joaquin squinted his eyes and held me tight. "I mean, long time no see." agap ko.

"Glad to know you keep tabs." he remarked playfully.

Walang sabi-sabing hinila ako palayo ni Joaquin. I waved at John. Sa bilis ay hindi ko na namalayang nakarating na pala kami sa parking lot. Lumingon ako para hanapin ang aming sasakyan pero ng hindi ko ito makita ay tinignan ko siya.

"Joaqui-" he pushed me at the corner and caged me with his arms above my head. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Alarm bells were ringing inside me. I tried to push him but he didn't even budge.

His dark mysterious eyes were focused on me. Bigla akong kinabahan ng mapagtanto ang gagawin niya. Someone will see! He inched closer and smashed his lips aggresively, biting my lower lip. I can feel something twirling inside of me. He tasted me like the first meal he had after a long time of hunger. I groaned at the pain and pleasure mixed together. He stopped his assault and lick it slowly. Rewarding my lips with gentle kisses after punishing it. Somewhere along the way, my hands were wound around his neck. I blushed, realizing myself pulling him. Knowing what I want, he deepened the kiss while savoring it slowly. I drowned intoxicated at his sweetness.

He ended it abruptly, breathing closer to me, his face on my neck. I sob at the sudden loss. He chuckled sexily. "Someone's coming." he said huskily then peck my neck. Natauhan ako ng marinig iyon. Mabuti na lang at narinig niya ang mga paparating.

Seeing my clothes all wrinkled, I frowned and fixed it. See what you have done! He chuckled lightly and pinched me.

"Kuya!" lumapit ako palapit sa kapatid at iniwan si Joaquin sa kaniyang kinatatayuan.

"You're blushing. Are you drunk?"