Chapter One

JAMPACKED ang The Club ngayong gabi. Nasa kotse pa lang ay rinig na rinig na ni Amanda ang sumisigabong na musika mula rito. Medyo mahaba ang pila ng mga party goers well it doesn't bother her. Ang kaibigan niyang si Reese ang may-ari ng The Club. Ang pangalan ng club ay The Club. Wierd pero hindi na iyon iba sa kanya. Sanay na siya sa kawierduhan ng kaibigan. Ang main branch nito sa Ortigas ang madalas nilang dayuhin dahil mas may privacy dito kumpara sa ibang branch. Well,Reese make sure of that.Dumaan siya sa VIP entrance. Ginagamit iyon ng mga performers at ng mga kagaya niyang may koneksyon sa loob. Red and blue light beams dangling in mid-air greeted her. Sinabayan ito ng malamyos na tinig ni Piper. Her sweet melancholic voice makes her heart ache. Malungkot ang kanta. Piper has this effect on people making them sad hearing her songs. Contrary to that, Piper is a tough girl. Isa itong leading neurosurgeon sa Sacred Heart Hospital . Lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat, ang pamilya nito ang nagmamamay-ari ng Salcedo Pharmaceuticals ,isa sa sikat na manufacturer ng de kalidad na gamot. Imbes na magtrabaho doon a y mas pinili nitong itaguyod ang sariling pangalan bilang isang doktor. Nang matapos ang performance nito ay kaagad na bumaba ng mini stage si Piper. She waved her hand at her and she spotted her right away. Nagpaalam ito sa mga kabanda at dumeretso sa kinaroroonan niya.Napalitan uli ng upbeat na music ang paligid. Everyone became so hype and began rocking their bodies into the wild rythm.

"Mandi,congrats!" ngiting ngiti ito ng salubungin siya. She gave her a tight hug. "You just won that case!Ang galing mo."

"Nahh..its no biggie.Ako pa ba?" she mused confidently. Nang kumawala siya rito ay napansin niya ang pamumula ng pisngi nito. "Did you drink?"

"Konti lang mapilit kasi si Natalie."

"Nagpapapilit ka naman?" aniya. "You know how persuasive that girl can get."

"Yeah. I know. Pero anong magagawa ko ?It sounded so tempting."

Napahalukipkip si Amanda. "Don't tell me nag-away na naman ba kayo Dani?"

Sa kanilang lahat, ito lang ang may disenteng love life. The rest of her friends,well thats debatable kung lovelife talaga ang matatawag sa mg escapades ng mga ito. At siya?hindi siya interesado. She doesn`t want to be romantically involved with men. Period. Umiling ito but she knew her too well that she could tell if she's definitely lying.

"Sinungaling," she teased her. "I know that look,Piper."

"Feeling ko talaga mas bagay sayong maging manghuhula sa Quiapo.Ang galing mong manghula eh."

"Hindi yun hula.Its just that kilalang kilala na talaga kita. Dinagdagan ko lang ng kaunting logical reasoning and voila."

"Oh shut up, Mandi! You and your jokes are just..."

Inakbayan niya ang kaibigan at iginaya sa hagdan paakyat sa ikalawang palapag ng club.

"Sa taas mo na lang yan ituloy. Were going to have alot of fun tonight," she mused again. May isang kwarto na taas na nakalaan lang sa mga members ng sorority nila. Tinted glass ang ding ding niyon kaya kitang kita nila ang nangyayari sa baba. Idagdag pa na soundproof ang buong silid. Tinatawag nila itong The Hub.

Surprisingly kumpleto silang lahat. Madalas kasi busy sila sa kaniya kaniyang buhay at propesyon. Reese is taking sips from her glass looking grim. Natalie looks like she just finnished a catfight and well, Candy look so grumpy. Walang bago roon, mga young professionals sila naahilig sumubsub sa trabaho. She took her sit in a red velvety sofa, next to Reese. Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay sunod sunod na pumasok ang mga waiter dala dala ang ibat ibang drinks at pagkain. Judging from her friends faces, it gonna be long long night.

"Whats with you guys?" Natalie plastered her usual smile, the michevous one. "Ba't parang pinagsakluban kayo ng lupa?"

Parang si Natalie lang ata ang masaya sa kanilang lima. Natalie Young is a socialite. Sikat itong vlogger at modelo. Hindi man halata pero isa itong psychologist. Her clan is old rich. Simula pa lang siguro ng panahon ng mga Espanyol ay malaki na ang sakop nilang lupa sa Negros. May malapad na taniman rin sila ng sugarcane. Hindi ito kailanman namrublema sa pera. She is a free soul in deed. Her skimpy red dress hugged her curves in right places. Habang siya, suot niya parin ang blouse at skirt na ginamit niya kanina. She was too tired to change her dress.

"And you look like you just..just laid," naaasiwang kumento ni Candy dito. Candelaria Beltran ang may hawak sa Beltran Media Incorporated, isang malaking chain ng media and communications. Ito ang pinakabago at pinakabata sa grupo.

Wala namang bago dun. Natalie is known a playgirl. Pwede ganitong gumawa ng sariling harem sa sobrang haba ng pila ng mga ka-fling nito.

"What can I do?Frank is really good in bed," malanding turan nito.

"Si Frank?" Mandi's eyes grew in disbelief. "As in Frank De Vera? Leslie's fiance?!" tanong niya rito. She can't believed her friend is screwing some soon to be married guy. Tumango-tango ito and seductively licked her upper lip. Napaamang naman silang lahat.

"Leslie should thank me for saving her from that jerk."

"And speaking of the witch…." Reese mumured. The infamous Reese Kylie Posadas is a self-made business woman. Marami pang branches ang the Club sa buong bansa. As of now, plano nitong subukang pasukin pati na ang international market.

Leslie was standing in the doorway, gusto nitong pumasok pero agad na napigilian ng mga bouncers.

"Let me go! I'm gonna rip that bitch face!" sigaw nito at pilit na kumakawala sa hawak ng mga bouncers.

"Ang tapang naman ng apog niyang sumugod dito," Si Piper ang nagsalita. Mandi likes this side of her. Fiesty. "Her fiance is trying to hit on me kanina. The nerve of that guy!"

"Ano bang sinabi ko?He is no good," tumawa pa si Natalie na parang pinariringgan si Leslie. Napangiwi si Mandi. She smells trouble. Hindi ito ang "fun" na tinutukoy niya.

Reese flicked her fingers, "Let her go boys. Might as well have aome little chitchat with her."

Leslie strode over their table. Masakit ang tingin nito kay Natalie na para bang lalamunin niya ito ng buo.

"Tell me, Natalie your fucking my fiance are you?!"

Ibinaba ni Natalie ang baso nito at lumapit kay Leslie.

"Yeah ,your right," she replied coyly, as if taunting her. Walang paligoy ligoy na umamin nito. Muntik na siyang mapahagalpak ng tawa ng makita ang reaksiyon ni Leslie. Her face turns so sour. "And I must say he is a good fucker. Gusto mo i-detalye ko pa sayo ang ginawa namin sa kotse niya kani-kanina lang?"

Akmang sasamplain ni Leslie ang kaibigan niya pero maaagap na napigilan naman ng isa.

"Dapat nga magpasalamat ka pa eh ,I am saving you from that a-hole. Your marrying that kind of a-hole?Go on waste your life." Nababadya na ang luha ni Leslie. Maybe it was slowly kicking in,first the pain then the humiliation. "You really think he loves you ,Leslie? Im sure ikaw ang pang isang libong babaeng nasabihan niya," Natalie let out an evil laugh. "He is just like those dudes out there, Leslie dear .Think of it that I`m saving you from being a masochist."

"You ..your really good at ruining people's lives, you bitch," Leslie hissed at her.

"Oh come one! I don't ruin their lives, Leslie dear." Binigyan niya pa ito ng nakakalokong ngiti. "Me? I'm just too willing to do charity case----like yours."

Kung hindi lang sa galit at sakit na namumutawi sa mukha ni Leslie, natawa na si Amanda. Natalie and her infamous lines were just too hilarious to handle.

"Are you happy wrecking my marriage?!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Alam kong wala kang pake, Natalie pero I've been trying for so long to make him fall for me and you just.... pumasok ka sa eksena at sinira lahat ng yun!"

"Leslie...Leslie,bulag ka ba? Hindi naman di ba? Blame your fiance. He was the one who flirted first not me."

Amanda tried to focus her attention to her drinks. But the rest of her friends are quietly enjoying the scene. Animo`y isang eksena iyon sa isang soap opera at live show pa. Napailing-iling na lang siya at nilantakan ang mga nakahain sa mesa.

"You are so sick! All of you are sick," Leslie finally erupted like a ranging volcano.

"And you, Amanda! How dare you sent Andrei to jail?" dinuro siya nito ---natigilan siya. She almost forgot the bitch belong to that circle of spoiled rich kids and bastards in the neighborhood. "You think your so goddamn upright, Amanda? You`re just some obsessive sociopath," binigyan diin nito ang salitang sociopath.

Goodness! Ang tagal na niyang hindi naririnig ang salitang yun. Coming from Leslie's mouth it sounded surreal. A wicked smile formed in Leslie's lips, "Now how does it felt like huh? Binigyan ka nila ng imbitasyon di ba?"

Her jaw clenched. So everyone else except her forsaw this is coming. Suddenly, she felt like tearing Leslie --- apart. The audicity of this girl to shove it in her face! Tumayo siya at naglakad palapit dito, hawak niya sa kanang kamay ang wine glass. The liquid inside it whirled with the clicking of her shoes on the floor, Leslie step aback---alarmed.

"Acting scared now,Leslie?" aniya. "And oh yes I am still that freak sociopath you know in college .Gusto mong makita?" Beads of sweat started forming in Leslie's forehead. Binasag niya ang wine glass sa dulo ng mesa, lumikha iyon ng matinis na ingay. Red liquid squirted on the floor. She held it right in front of Leslie's eyes.

"Do you mind if I show you'?" She can feel truimph when Leslie staggered back some more hanggang ma-corner niya ito malapit sa pintuan. "Maybe I could gauge that eyes of yours because you can't even see things clearly, ano sa tingin mo?" She gave her a loopsided grin.

"You..you f-freak," nahihirapang sagot nito. Oh! how she loves the glint of fear in her eyes. "I'm going to sue you for attempted murder, makikita mo! Makikita nyong lahat!"

"Go on. Sue us at sisiguraduhin kong bukas ipupull-out ko na ang stocks ko sa kumpanya nyo. Tingnan natin kung saan kangkungan ka pupulutin," Candy cut her off. Major stakeholder kasi ng kompanyang pagmamay-ari ng pamilya ni Leslie at nalulugi na ito. She stormed out of the room crying.

They all laugh after Leslie left. Tumayo si Reese at pumalapak para sa isang napakagandang live show. Natalie was grinning ear to ear.

"And that`s how you trampled a very bad bitch everyone!"

Nagbow pa ito. Amanda just shrugged her shoulders, minsan na nga lang magkasundo ang dalawang 'to sa ganitong paraan pa. Bumalik siya sa upuan at kumuha ng bagong baso at pinuno iyon ng wine bago tinungga ng walang pag-aalinlangan.

"You, Amanda Lois Benetiz is ...really something." Sinabayan ito ng pagtaas-baba ng mga kilay ni Reese

"Narinig ko ding tatanggap daw ang Stellians ng mga bagong neophyte," tukoy nito sa sorority na kinabibilangan Leslie.

"Good for them," si Candy. "Siguradong pag-iinitan na naman nila tayo sa ginawa ng isa jan," pagparinig pa nito kay Natalie na busing busy sa pagmimix ng drinks.

"Oh come on, parang di niyo kilala ang mga slapsoils na yun. All they know is to throw a fit. Walang bago dun," Natalie snorted back at her.

"Knowing Leslie, she'll prepare something. Something evil."

"Let them waste their time. It won't work at all."

She doesn't want to butt in their conversation so she just quitely drank her wine.

"By the way anong sinasabi niyang imbitasyon, Mandi?" Muntik na niyang maibuga ang alak na nasa loob ng bibig niya.

'Damn Piper and her sharp memory'

"Well..."

"Well what?"

"Someone sent me an invitation to Kyle and Ira's wedding next month."

"A what?!" hindi makapaniwalang sigaw ni Natalie. "They sent you a fucking wedding invitation? Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nila."

"Unbelievable.Pagkatapos ng ginawa nila sayo? They can get married without you. But this? Sending you an invation feels like they wanted to shove it in your face," si Reese.

"Hindi ko alam. Maybe," she exhaled sharply. "Kyle and I didn't end nicely. He was the one who cheated on me and the worst si Ira pa talaga sa kinarami rami ng babae sa paligid. Si Ira na pinagkatiwalaan ko all along."

"Santa santita talaga yang si Ira. Kala mo kung sinong matino sa loob naman ang kulo. Did you see her latest commercial sa isang brand ng shampoo? She is some kind of goddess. Like duh mas bagay sa kanyang maging dyosa ng mga bitchesa sa mundo no!" segunda naman ni Natalie.

Nilagok niya ang isang baso ng tequila. The pain was bearable, if only it could take away what happened in the past.

"Don't tell me bothered ka pa rin sa kanila?" nakataas- kilay na tanong ni Reese while she poured her another shot .

"No way! Its just.... I'm just furious," sagot niya. "I mean for what ? Para isampal sa mukha ko ang katotohanang masaya sila sa isat isa at ngayon happily ever after na sila? Na after what happened, they are still together? I just can't make sense out of it---"

"You have a point. But you know what?ginagawa lang nila yan kasi they felt threatened by you," binigyan pa siya ni Reese ng makahulugang tingin.

"Me? A threat? Come on, as much as possible ayoko ngang ma-involve sa kanila."

Inakbayan siya ni Natalie. "We understand what you feel. Sinong bang hindi magkakaganyan ?Let's not give them the winning streak of making you feel miserable."

"What are you trying to imply?" May pinaplano ang mga kaibigan niya for sure. The way they exchange glances, there is something ,something she does not want to get involve.

"Kailan ka huling nakipagdate, Mandi? Let's be honest here ok?"

And the hotseat began. Her fingernails dug into the cushions of the chair. Pakiramdam niya tuloy magsitaasan ang lahat ng balahibo sa katawan. Her loveless lovelife is off limits. Ayaw niya itong pag-usapan lalo m sa harap ng mga kaibigan niya.

"I never dated anyone after Kyle," amin niya. Napa-ooohh si Candy. Binigyan niya ito ng matalim na tingin pati na si Natalie na malapad ang ngisi. They enjoy making her feel unconfortable.

"See? Yan ang sinasabi ko.You never let yourself loosened up. Kulang na lang asawahin mo yung firm mo," Reese said, giving her an accusing look.

"Pero pinaghirapan ko yun!" she said in defense .

"Yeah, yeah.That's a given.You have worked your ass up for the whole 6 years.It's just that you never gave yourself a break that's why iniisip nilang affected ka pa rin hanggang mgayon,Natalie paused for a long time. "O baka naman tama sila?'

Napailing siya.

"Hindi kaya.I am most definitely over him.Come on guys,let's not talk about this," she almost pleaded pero parang masayang masaya pa ang mga itong nakikita siyang nawawalan ng control sa sarili. Dapat kasi hindi na siya magpunta rito. Ugh. Tinapik ni Piper ang balikat niya as if cheering her up.

"I mean mas productive naman ang ginagawa ko kaysa makipag date sa mga lalaki di ba?" Nagthumbs up sa kanya si Candy.They are on the same side,they are both overworked.

"Pero girl, walang kathrill-lthril ang buhay mo kung ganun. Have some fun naman," udyok pa Natalie.

"But I'm having fun with my job!" she insisted

"Ha-ha-ha. Makakatawa ka talaga ,Mandi.And you even name your building Wilson?What a joke!"

"What's wrong with Wilson?Bakit si Reese nga pinangalanang The Club yung club niya,"himutok niya dito.Reese gave her a fiery look.

"Iba yun.Wala lang siyang maisip na pangalan sa club niya .Ang pangit naman kung Reese's Party Club its so ..childish kaya."

"Yung totoo may problema ka ba sa pangalan ko ,Natalie?" si Reese.

"Basta yun na yun. Loosen up ,Mandi." Natalie ignored her remarked. "Go date guys have sex with them. Make your life romantic."

Amanda just scowled at her. Romantic?Natalie has this confusion between romance and sex which is actually a two different concept. Siguro yan rin ang dahilan kung bakit wala itong sineseryosong lalaki..ever.

Napatango-tango si Piper. Bakit Ang kaisa isang taong mapagkakatiwalaan niya sa puntong iyon ng buhay niya eh ,bumaliktad pa. "Natalie has a point , Mandi. I mean we've only see you going in and out of the firm." Napaismid siya sa tinuran nito.Traitor.

"Of all the people, ikaw pa talaga ang nagsabi niyan." She pursed her lips together. Bakit gustong gusto nilang pagkaisahan siya lagi? "I knew it!," palatak niya. "So your saying I should hook up with some guys?Is that it?"

"Uhuh,"chorus nila.

She frowned.

"I can't believe you!Binubugaw niyo ata ako eh"

"Hindi ka namin binubugaw ok? We're just trying to spice up you life. Ba't ba ang tigas ng ulo?" Si Reese ang sumalo.

"Spice up, my ass! May nakita ka bang malambot na ulo?"

Si Natalie ang sumagot. "Oo --- a dick"

Napahagalpak sila ng tawa---except her. A shadow appeared in Mandi's face

"Fine whatever.I'll do it when have have a time."

Alam niyang wala ring patutunguhan kung aayaw siya sa mga ito. It will be pointless. Her friends can be really---really persuasive sometimes. She takes another shot.

"O kelan naman yang time na pinagsasabi mo?"

Mandi shrugged her shoulder bago lunukin ang wine sa loob ng bibig niya. "Next month, maybe. Basta kapag nagkatim ako ,I'll be very mich willing to date. I`m not not so sure. I'm busy."

"Palagi ka namang busy eh "Singit ni Reese.

Natalie' face glowed."Why wait next week. Lets start tonight--Girls "

"Nooo---"

Bago pa siya makaumang ay hinawakan na ni Reese at Candy ang tigkabila niyang braso. She tried to break free pero animo may magnet ata ang pagkakahawak ng mga ito sa kaniya at ayaw siyang bitawan. They started dragging her out of the room. Piper just helplessly stare at her and Natalie is certainly enjoying her little evil scheme. Damn it ! Hindi ito ang definition niya mg 'fun'. This is more like a mess.