Chapter 1: The Kiss

Chapter 1: The Kiss

"Come on, Sam! Ipakita mo ang tapang mo! Just kiss the first man who'll walk in front of us tonight," paghahamon sa akin ni Jane na nasundan ng tudyuan mula sa buong circle namin.

Tinignan ko naman sila ng nakakunot lamang ang noo. "Can we spare ourselves with those dares tonight? I just wanna enjoy it, guys." I replied, indirectly declining their games.

Abby—the most attitude one— rolled her eyes at me, "Come on, Sam! That's so simple! We're not even daring you to hook up with some random guy here, we just want for you to kiss him! It's just a kiss, wala namang mawawala sayo. And, you act as if kissing isn't a normal thing in your family, duh?" Abby commented, followed by the agreement of others.

I gulped because of the sudden nervousness. Based on what they looked like, It seems that they are all serious about their requests. Mukhang mapapa-subo ako ngayong araw dahil wala silang balak na pagbigyan ako.

"Sam, It's just a kiss. Ano ba naman ang isang halik sayo, diba? We know that you—and everyone here—have done more than that! It's not entirely a big deal. We just want to heighten our excitement. Ang tagal na since our last bond with you, we just want to make a good memory tonight," Philip said, supporting the idea of Jane, whose love of his life.

I breathed deeply as I stared at the pool of people in front of our table. Napaka-daming tao sa bar na pinuntahan namin. Tama naman si Philip. This is the first time that we have met this year. Madalas kasi silang apat lang ang magkakasama dahil naging busy ako sa pag-aayos ng family ko, who recently faced several issues.

I want to decline their requests but I don't want them to get disappointed at me. I mean, they thought that since I grew up in a foreign family and I have Italian blood with me, they think that I am also as liberated as them.

But none of them knew that I didn't have any experience in kissing—and more than that!

I'm still a virgin, even my lips. I haven't even had a boyfriend. So their dare, is making me nervous. Pero kapag hindi ko naman iyon ginawa, magiging tampulan ako ng asaran.

I cleared my throat as I held onto the wine glass. "Sure then, iyan lang ba aatrasan ko na? No way." I said, trying my very best not to show my nervousness.

Hays. Ano ba naman itong pinasok mo, Sam!

Piping usal ko sa sarili ko. Philip, Jane, and Abby applauded because of what I said. Halata ang saya sa mga mukha ng mga ito dahil nagtagumpay sa mga binabalak.

"Then, the first guy who walks in front of us, no matter what the physical appearance is, should receive a kiss from you, and take note, I don't just want a peck on the lips, I want something hot," Abby added which made me frown.

"I thought I just needed to kiss that man?" I argued.

Abby smirked. "Wala namang thrill kung simpleng pagtama lang ng labi diba? You should make the kiss last even for 10 seconds? hmm? right, guys?" Abby said before asking for support from our other two friends, who of course immediately nodded.

I sighed. "This is embarrassing,"

"It's not! It is actually exciting!" Philip said before drinking on his wine glass, followed by a giggle from Jane and Abby.

Wala na akong nagawa pa kung hindi ang tahimik na mapalunok at mapalagok ng wine. Halos maubos ko na iyon sa kaba, lalo na't pansin 'kong naka-abang din sila Jane sa kung sino 'mang lalaki ang dadaan sa aking harapan.

Inside my head, I kept on murmuring and thinking and praying that no man would walk in front of us so I could no longer do their dare.

But being unlucky... I just saw a man cross in front of us.

The three yelled in happiness. "You're lucky, Sam! The one who just walked is a hottie! I'm sure na magiging mas memorable ang dare na 'to sayo!" Jane teased. Nilingon ko naman siya.

"I didn't even see the man's face. Malabo ko na siya—"

"No need. He's coming back! You should be ready, Sam," Abby said, while looking in front of us.

Wala sa sarili akong napasunod ng tingin sa tinatanaw nito, at bumungad sa akin ang isang matangkad na lalaki na kasalukuyang nakatayo di kalayuan sa harapan ng table namin, habang nakadikit ang hawak na cellphone sa tenga nito at may kausap. May hawak din itong baso ng alak sa kaliwang kamay.

I scanned the physique of the man. By the look of it, my friend's we're right. The man looked smokey hot, and a bit foreign. Halatang may lahi. I looked at his clothes. He looked too formal with his suit.

Mas lalo tuloy akong nakaramdam ng kaba at hiya sa naiisip na gagawin ko sa lalaki. Mukha itong presentable, kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung magagawa ko ba talagang halikan ito bigla. Baka mamaya itulak pa ako nito.

I immediately scanned the hand of the man—especially its fingers—to find something important, that could be a reason for me to back out from the deal. But sadly, wala akong nakita.

The man is not married.

Meaning...I should really do the dare.

"Come on, Sam. You should do it while the man is distracted. Tatayo ka lang naman, lalapit, tapos yapusin mo agad ang leeg at hilahin para halikan. That's just an easy step. You could do that," Jane insisted.

I was reluctant so I looked at them. "Hindi ba nakakahiya? Parang ang busy 'nong tao tapos iistorbohin ko para lang sa dare? If you want, you can change the dare. Iba na lang..."

Abby rolled her eyes at me. "Good God, Sam! Ang easy na nga lang ng dare namin sayo. Tsaka hindi ka naman na lugi, hottie na 'yung mahahalikan mo. And if you're worried that maybe he'll react negatively, well I'm telling you, he won't. Kaya nga nandito sa bar 'yan, tiyak naghahanap ng makakasama," anito pa.

I still shook my head. "But, upon looking, I could tell that he's here for a formal reason. I mean, look! He's even wearing a suit!"

"Hmm, maybe he just got off from work," Philip reasoned out. "You're chickening out, huh?"

"You're afraid? Gosh. Ikaw lang pala ang sisira sa image nating magkakaibigan. We've done our share of dares before. Mas okay pa rin pala talaga si Gwen kesa sayo, 'e." Jane said, before grabbing her wine and drink it.

I felt a pang of pain after she mentioned the name of my twin—Gwen. I looked down because of it.

Yes, I know that. Gwen was so much better than me. Wala naman talaga ako sa kalingkingan ni Gwen, 'e. That's why, I don't understand why I was the one was left behind here.

Sana nga ako na lang ang nawala.

Because I am no one's favorite.

My parents—and even these friends I have now, is all originally Gwens.

Philip, Jane, and Abby was Gwen's bestfriend. Kaya lang naman ako nasama sa kanila dahil sa guilt, and I somehow want to do everything that can make me remember Gwen. Kaya nga kahit na ramdam 'kong hindi ako belong, pinilit 'kong makasali sa grupo nila. Kahit ramdam 'kong hindi nila ako ka-level.

I grew up always doing my best to be better for them. Lumaki ako na ang laging goal ay patunayan ang sarili ko, na kaya ko.

It's kind of frustrating and tiring, but I have to. I need to do it.

With that mindset, I drank all the wine I have in my wine glass, then immediately stand up and walked towards the man's direction. Side view lamang ng lalaki ang nakikita ko ngayon dahil halatang may pilit na hinahanap ang mga mata nito habang nagsasalita dahil may kausap pa rin ito sa cellphone.

On that moment, all I have in my head is to fulfill the dare and show that I can be in the same level with Gwen. That I can also do what Gwen could.

I want to show off myself. I want to prove that I am better.

I just focused my eyes on the man...few more steps and I know that I could successfully finish what I have to do.

Nang halos isang pulgada na lamang ang layo ko sa kanya ay huminto na ako. Agad 'kong ini-angat ang braso ko, at iniyakap sa leeg ng lalaki na agad na napalingon sa direksyon ko nang maramdaman ang pagdampi niyon sa kanyang leeg.

When our eyes met, I am immediately smitten to see his warm blue eyes. Tila nakatitig ako bigla sa dagat o ulap dahil sa kulay asul niyang mga mata. Somehow, I felt something inside me that releases things which made me feel mesmerize.

I looked on his lips—he's very red kissable lips, and I know that a lot of woman are dreaming to have a taste of that lips. And I should be happy because I can experience that. I have the chance.

The guy's forehead showed a frown. "Who are you? And what are you do———,"

He didn't finish his words because I immediately tiptoed and kissed him fully in the lips. I immediately can feel the softness and warmness of his lips, brushing against mine. Somehow, I can feel somethings happening inside my stomach and heart. Its beating —in a doubled fast pace!

For an instance, I had the urge to deepen the kiss—but when I felt the man's hand suddenly held my arm hardly, para akong nagising sa imahinasyon ko at agad na napamulat ng mata. Alam 'kong kailangan ko nang itigil iyon. Nagawa ko na ang dare. Ayos na iyon.

Akmang aalisin ko na ang pagkakadampi ng labi ko sa lalaki nang maramdaman ko ang tila pahilang pwersa ng kamay nito na nakahawak sa balikat ko, dahilan upang mas magdikit ang labi namin sa isa't-isa. My eyes widened because of what happened!

Good God, what is happening now?!

I should pull away, but suddenly, I sense a wet thing started savoring my lips, which sent shivers down my spine. Nang mapagtanto kung ano iyon ay napaawang na lamang ang labi ko, dahilan para makapasok iyon sa loob.

And at that moment, I felt a very unfamiliar sensation rushing in my veins. Its very new, and very soothing. Para akong hinihila nito upang magpaanod na lamang sa mga mangyayari.

And that actually happened.

Nang hindi ko namamalayan, tuluyan na rin akong nalunod sa halik ng estrangherong iyon. Ibinabalik ko ang kaparehong lebel ng halik na ibinibigay nya sakin, habang mas lalong inilalapit ang katawan ko sa kanya.

And from that on, I knew that this night would forever change my life.