Chapter 3

Mausok at maingay ang kabuuan ng Party-Night Club, his favorite spot. Walang maski isa ang nakakilala sa kaniya dito at kung meron man, he's sure na walang paki ang mga ito sa mga pinanggawa niya. And like as usual, it's still crowded. Masigla at puno ng pag-iindayog, not to mention the exact place of a sinner, full of temptations.

Pero wala doon ang atensyon ni Blare ngayong gabi, he came here supposedly to have fun and get some laid tonight and shockingly, his advance thought swept away when he step inside. Instead, dumiretso siya sa bartender and ask the drinks he wants.

"It's miracle to see you here tonight, Alvarez." There's a hint of sarcasm in Xanders' voice habang nagsasalin ng vodka sa kaniyang baso. He didn't even surprise upon seeing him working as bartender of this club. Siguro meron na naman itong panibagong misyon. Blare wonder what it is. He tsk with the thought of him invest in his favorite club kaya lang isang malaking misteryo ang nagmamay-ari nito. It made him wonder kung paano ito napatakbo ng walang namamahala. Is that even possible? He shook his head. It's not his problem anyway.

"Ngayon ka lang 'ata muling nakabisita dito simula ng may bata lang binabantayan..."

"Can you shut the fuck up, Xander." He said like nothing. Umiling lang ito at binalewala ang iritasyon sa kaniyang mukha.

He and Xander Porces are friends. It started when Xander help them with his sisters' case. It was a very long process. Basta nalaman na lang nila na hindi totoong patay si Bella at nasa paligid lang. Melanie Bella is her name. The rape and murdered thing are just a cover of a real story made by Mitchell.

He thought— they thought that Mitchell is really insane to make a crime for Blaze, his brothers' attention.

That made him believed na kahit gaano pa kasama ang isang tao, hindi maaaring nawalan ito ng kabaitan. And Mitchell is a perfect example for it. She even sacrificed her life for her dearest happiness. That's very long story anyway.

"By the way, iniwan mo ata ang anak-anakan mo? So is it true that Kendrick has a new mom?" Nakataas pa ang kilay nito na tila binabantayan ang kaniyang bawat kilos. "Oh come on, don't fuck me with that look. Kendrick called me last night telling that he's very happy because finally he has a mom—"

"Really Xander?! Ano palang pakiramdam na mas pinili niya ako kaysa sa kinalakihang tatay niya?!"

Gotcha. Hindi ito nakaimik at tanging masamang titig lang ang ginawa nito. Well, si Xander talaga ang kinikilalang ama ni Kendrick before his brother then him, like what he said its a very long story to tell.

"Fuck you!" Xander snap. "I really can't believed that he chooses you over me."

"Well its obviously because of the fact that I'm more handsome than you." He even wink. Binato lamang niya ito ng tissue na hindi niya alam kung saan napulot. He shook his head at basta na lang umalis ng walang paalam.

Nakakasilaw ang disco light na sumalubong sa kaniya sa dancefloor. People are busy dancing wildly but take a glance when he start walking. Some even give him a flirty look. "Hey handome, wanna danace?"

And they did until they found themselves exchanging kisses, hot and needy inside the hotel room.

Ang kamay ng bawat isa ay wala sa sariling naglalakbay. Pumipisil, dumadama, at humahaplos sa kahit anong parts ng katawan ang madaanan.

"Uhmm. Ang sarap mo...sige pa..ahhh..."

Lumiliyad ang babae. Pikit mata itong sumasalubong sa bawat pag-ulos niya. Wala siyang pakialam kung masaktan man ito sa paraan ng pagpasok niya. He's so much aware of his gifted size. Some even collapsed after first round. Let's see what's this slut can make.

He chuckled by his with his evil thought. Linakasan niya pa lalo ang bawat patid niya habang marahang pinipisil ang dibdib nito ng pasalit salit. He even heard her moan in both pain and pleasure. Ipinilig niya ang kaniyang ulo nang nararamdaman niyang malapit na siyang labasan. Hindi alintana ang tagaktak na pawis sa boung katawan nito. He closed his eyes.

"Oh fuck, B.....I'm coming..." Blare unconsciously announced.

'B as in babe. You're my one and only babe.'

His in aftermath when those familiar voice echoed in his mind. Saglit pa siyang pumikit para makita ang kabuuan ng itsura ng babae sa kaniyang isipan. Her petite woman seems familiar pero bigla na lang ding naglaho. He even tried to closed his eyes tightly para ibalik sa eksenang iyon but unfortunately nothing happened mas lalo lang sumakit ang kaniyang ulo.

He opened his eyes at mabilisang itinaas ang boxer short na hindi niya pala nagawang hubarin ng tuluyan dahil sa pagmamadali. Isa-isa niya ring pinulot ang mga damit na nagkalat sa sahig tsaka sinuot. He then open the suit door and leaving the woman he don't know who's now sleeping, maybe because of losing a lot of energy. Weak.

Blare directly went to his room arriving in his house. He then twist the doorknob, darkness welcomed his vision. Kinapa niya sa gilid ang switch ng ilaw sa gilid ng pintuan. Umilaw ang kaniyang kwarto.

Hindi sinadyang napadpad ang kaniyang mga mata sa mismong kama niya. Nilapitan niya pa niya ito para siguraduhing hindi siya namalikmata.

Two persons are laying in his own bed, comfortably sleeping.

Kendrick and Mikkadaise—her name.

Ginawa pang unan ni Kendrick ang maliit na braso nito habang ang mga braso ng bata ay nakapulupot sa beywang ng babae. Kendrick is like securing Mikkadaise. Parang ayaw nitong pakawalan dahil pati mga paa nito nakapatong sa hita ng katabi.

He suddenly felt something inside. Guiltiness? Maybe

Saglit niyang nakalimutan ang bata dahil lang sa pansariling kaligayahan. How selfish he is! Should he would be thankful that Mikkadaise — her name is still not leaving? He sigh at dumiretso sa banyo.

"Talaga bang hindi mo susundin ang gusto ko?!"

Mikkadaise pause. Nasa harap na siya sa hagdan ng kanilang bagay. Wala sa plano niya ang makausap ang ina. But that doesn't mean that she love her family less. Sadyang nasasakal lang talaga siya sa pagiging over protected nito sa kaniya to the point that she only has one choice but to obey them kase nga anak lang siya. Utang niya ang kaniyang buhay sa mga ito. She slowly turn around to face her mother.

"Hi, mom." She kissed her mother in the cheeks and tried to do the act sweetly kahit halata sa mukha nito ang pagiging wala sa mood. An idea in her mind is waiting for recognition but she chooses to stay silent.

"You really don't have utang na loob that you chooses to do the things that you want than sa mga bagay na I want you to do?!"

Nakayuko lamang si Mikkadaise, thinking oppositely to her mothers' opinion, that if she really don't respect her parents, matagal na siyang umalis sa poder ng mga ito. "Mikka please cooperate! Para rin naman ito sa future mo! We need the Labazarte Company para tuluyan na tayong makagawa ng empire!"

Then her mother walked out. Tinalikuran siya nitong nakayuko pa rin. Umiling lamang siya tsaka patuloy na nagmartsa pataas.

She swallowed hard when she noticed that her room is inevitably open.

May nakapasok sa kwarto niya! The first thought in her mind at hindi nga siya nagkamali when she saw the man that her parents wanted her to marry. Xavier Labazarte is comfortably sitting at the edge of her queen size bed. Her stare unconsciously became deadly. She doesn't want to act rude. He's still a good friend of her.

She sigh deeply, sinadya niyang iparinig ang pagkadigusto nito dahil pumasok ito ng walang paalam. And fuck he's invading her privacy!

"What are you doing here?" Xavier remained silent without even blinking. Uneasiness and pain is visible in his eyes. Naiilang si Mikkadaise na umiwas ng tingin. She can't bear the pain of hurting her friend. Hindi niya naman ginusto na mahalin siya nito. And it's not her fault to love someone else.

"I saw you. Kissing War. And happiness is all over your eyes." Huminga ito ng malalim. "It made me wonder why can't you stick  on your decision and leave him alone instead. Masasaktan mo rin naman siya. In the end of the day, tayo pa rin naman ang magpapakasal."

"Because you tricked me." She can't handle her tears anymore. The thought of her and War slipping away makes her want to die instead. "You tricked me. You putted something in my drink para mawala ako sa katinuan. For what? Para mapadali mo akong mapapirma sa kontratang iyon?!" Nanginginig siya sa pagkamuhi.

She then remembered what was in the contract she unciously and didn't mean to sign, it stated there that she can enjoy her freedom until she reach twenty years old. She will leave everything behind including her freedom and remained no other choice but to marry Xavier Labazarte to fuse the strength of Chain of Osorio Hotel and Resorts and Labazarte Mall and Food Production or else War Alvarez life will be in danger.

"Guess what Xavier..."  She forcefully stop her tears and met his gaze using her stoic expression. "You won."

Tumayo si Xavier at naglakad papalapit sa kaniya. "Yes, I won." Walang emosyong tugon nito pagkatapos lumagpas sa kaniya at tuluyang lumabas ng silid.

Masakit. Nabigyan nga siya ng pagkakataon para makasama ang minamahal, pero hindi niya pa rin magawang magdiwang dahil may nakatakdang katapusan rin ang lahat. Dapat palang hindi na lang siya nagpadala sa emosyong dulot ng pagmamahal para iwasan ang sakit na dala ng bugsong iyon. Sadly, she only has three months left.