PANIMULA

MADILIM at malamlam ang ilaw sa bar. Halo-halo ang amoy ng usok ng sigarilyo, alak at citrus. Sa likod ng mahabang counter, nakaayos ang mga bote ng alak at nagmimistulang mga collection dahil ang iba dito’y ilang dekada na ang tanda. Maaliwalas ang tunog ng tawa, usapan, at mahinang musika.

Isang kilalang surgeon ang nakatayo sa tabi ng bar. May hawak itong baso na nangangalahati na ang alak at bakas sa mukha niya ang tahimik na pagod. Napalingon siya nang muling tapikin ng dati niyang kaklase sa med school ang likod niya, kasabay ng pagtulak ng panibagong shot sa harap niya.

“Pre, one more shot!” sigaw ng ka-batch niya habang tinatapik siya sa balikat.

Damon gave a tight smile. “I’d rather be in the OR.”

“Wala kang pasyente ngayon, doc!” tawa pa ng isa. “Hindi mo pwedeng operahan yang scotch, ‘no!”

Pero hindi siya natawa. He barely blinked.

Honestly, ayaw naman sana niyang pumarito, kaso pinilit siya ng kanyang ama. Networking na din daw para sa pangalan ng ospital na mina-manage niya. He’d rather be in scrubs, inside a cold OR, doing bypass surgery than faking laughs in a reunion with people he barely respected.

Abala siya sa paglagok ng alak nang may biglang nahagilap ang kanyang mga mata.

Even through the dim lights and the chaos of the crowd, Luna Ferrer was unmistakable. Kahit sino ay makakakilala sa kanya. Sikat siyang artista at commercial model. Bonus pa na palagi itong trending sa social media. And tonight, she looked like she stepped straight out of a red carpet event — wearing a slinky black dress na parang second skin niya. Her hair flowed in soft curls, and her eyes sparkled every time she laughed.

Napakunot ang noo ni Damon habang pinagmamasdan ito. She was swaying slightly on her heels, clutching her drink too tightly. Her eyes were glassy — hindi lang basta lasing. Something was off.

Bigla siyang napatayo and excused himself, ignoring the teasing looks from his friends, and walked straight toward her.

Paglapit niya, mas lalo siyang nainis sa nakitang kalagayan ni Luna. She was disoriented, at parang walang may pumapansin.

“Miss?” he said, trying to keep his voice calm but audible over the music. “Are you okay?”

Luna looked up at him, blinking. “H-Ha? Who are…you?” Her voice was unsteady and words slightly slurred. She looked at him with confusion — no hint of recognition.

Damon leaned in a bit. “I think someone put something in your drink.”

Makikita may kakaiba sa kilos nito and he knew that it wasn’t just because of intoxication. He’s sure enough that someone must drugged her.

“W-what?” she asked, blinking faster. “Anong… sinasabi mo?” sinubukan pang itungga ni Luna ang hawak na alak pero kaagad din itong inagaw ni Damon.

“You need to sit down,” he said, catching her just in time before her knees buckled.

Luna tried to push him weakly. “Don’t touch me. I don’t even know who you are.”

“You’re drugged. You need help.” he replied firmly.

She tried to protest again, but her words slurred into gibberish as her body started to go limp.

Damon glanced around. No one — not a single person — was paying attention.

He let out a frustrated sigh.

“Hey,” mahinang sabi niya habang inalalayan ito pababa ng stool. “Let’s get you out of here,”

Pero bago pa man siya tuluyang makalakad palabas ng bar kasama si Luna, bigla siyang hinigit nito papasok sa isang hallway.

“Wait—”

Hindi na siya pinansin ng babae. Parang may sariling mundo ito at tuloy-tuloy lang sa paglalakad habang mahigpit ang kapit sa kamay niya. Ilang saglit lang, isang pinto ang bumungad sa kanila na may nakasulat sa itaas:

"VIP SUITE – RESERVED"

Hinila siya ni Luna papasok, at hindi pa man siya nakakaangal nang bigla na nitong isinara ang pintuan.

“This isn’t—” Damon tried to keep his voice steady, pero naputol iyon nang mapatigil siya sa eksenang nasa harapan niya.

Luna leaned against the velvet wall, her eyes half-lidded, cheeks flushed. Her breathing was shallow, and she was staring at him like he was the only person in the room.

“Ang init,” bulong ni Luna, habang hinahaplos ang leeg niya.

Damon swallowed hard. The rational part of his brain was telling him to stop. To take her home. To be the responsible one. Pero ramdam niya ang epekto ng alak. Umaalab ang dugo niya sa katawan, at masyadong malapit si Luna.

“You’re not—” he took a shaky breath, “—you’re not thinking straight.”

Ngunit sa halip na lumayo, lumapit pa si Luna. Tumitig ito sa mga mata niya, saka hinaplos ang dibdib niya at marahang bumaba ang mga daliri.

“Stay with me,” she whispered.

His grip on control faltered.

One second, he was standing still, trying to resist. The next—naghahalikan na sila na para bang uhaw na uhaw sa isa’t isa.

Sa loob ng eksklusibong VIP suite na iyon, nalimutan nila ang lahat—pangalan, reputasyon—na parang bang parehas silang nilamon ng epekto ng alak.

And in that fleeting, intoxicating night, the perfect surgeon and the famous actress became nothing more than strangers drawn by desire… losing themselves in a room built to keep secrets.