Chapter 1: One Night Stand With A Stranger

"Where the hell am I?" I said to myself when I realized that I'm not in my room. I just woke up and my head really hurts and I also felt kinda tired. 

I scanned the whole room to see if where the hell in the world am I at.

A few minutes of scanning the whole room, I felt something just moved in my left side. When I looked at it, I saw something that I think, a curved of a human body that is hiding from the blanket.

Dahan-dahan kong ibinababa ang tingin ko sa katawan ko at inalis ang kumot na nakabalot sa 'kin. Umawang ang bibig ko dahil laking gulat ko nang makitang wala akong ni isang damit na suot. 

"What the fuck?" 

That's when, flashback crossed my mind.

"Hey, I'm now here at the entrance. Where are you?" I heard a girl talking from the other line.

I closed the compartment of my car and putted the phone in my right ear and talked. "I'm on my way to the entrance, just wait for me in a minute, Yanna!" 

Despite of the high heels that I am wearing, I ran to the entrance of the bar as fast as I could to meet my bestfriend, Yanna. It's her birthday today and we planned that we're gonna celebrate it here.

"You're late, Sol. You promised that before 10:30 p.m., you're gonna be here already but now, you're late... again!" she ranted and crossed arms. Nagulat ako nang titigan niya ang mata ko ng mabuti. 

"Bakit mugto 'yang mga mata mo?" tanong niya.

"Duh, of course! Kagagaling ko lang sa taping 'di ba?" agad na depensa ko. 

I want to tell her what happened but I don't want to talk about it and of course, I don't want to remember it, maiiyak lang ako. I want to enjoy this night without stressing my self!

"Liar, it's Saturday today, wala kang taping gaga ka!" malakas na turan nito sa 'kin. "Okay nevermind, huwag mong ibahin ang usapan, why are you late?"

"Anong iniba ko ang usapan? Ikaw nga 'tong nag bring-up nitong mata ko eh," pilosopong sagot ko.

"Shut up," she rolled her eyes and raised a brow. "Bakit nga?"

"I'm late because I got stuck in the middle of the traffic," I explained to her but she just raised her middle finger at me.

She rolled her eyes and uttered. "Here we go with her petty little excuse again.... You know what Sol? Let's just go inside!" she grabbed my hand and pulled me inside the bar.

While she's holding and pulling me, I roamed my eyes to the people around me. Some of them are busy dancing, vibing and singing with the loud sound of songs and some of them are drinking and flirting, same thing as what you expected what the bar looks like and what the people around in it is doing.

"Oh my god, Solenn you're here!" I heard someone exclaimed and I flinched when she suddenly hugged me.

That was... That was unexpected.

"Hey Sol, how are you?" tanong niya pagkatapos niyang kumalas sa pagkakayakap sa 'kin. "I haven't heard about you after what happened last year!"

"Oh really?" tanong ko pabalik at pilit na nginitian siya.

The hell this girl doing here?

"Yeah and I just heard the news that you're now currently working with your first project as a main lead actress!" she seems amused by the way how she said it. "Sayang, if you just got to beat me back then... then you should've been in my position as an international actress now." 

I secretly rolled my eyes at her. The audacity!

"Maybe you just had the luck," I said to her. 

"Or maybe you're not distened for it at all," she whispered but I heard it.

What?! 

"Oh my god! I finally found you, Chloe!" someone exclaimed. I looked at her and she was holding a camera. "Can I take a picture with you? Fan mo 'ko! Buti na lang nakita kita rito!" 

Chloe turned to me and putted a fake smile.

"Could you please excuse me a minute, Sol? I just have to entertain a fan. I'll be back," Chloe said and I just nodded. 

"Kahit 'wag ka nang bumalik," sarkastikong bulong ko nang makaalis na siya. 

The fuck that bitch said? I'm not distened to pass the audition? Such a pity! She know that she couldn't and wouldn't pass that audition that's why she lured the judges with money. That freak! I should be the one in her position now!

"What the hell Chloe is doing here?" tanong ko kay Yanna nang lapitan ko siya. Sinenyasan niya pa akong umupo na muna kaya umupo ako sa tabi niya. 

"Hindi ko alam, hindi ko naman siya inimbitahan 'no!" sagot niya at lumagok nang isang glass ng bacardi.

"My god! I can't stand her! She's so full of herself! Kung nalaman mo lang talaga kung anong sinabi niya sa 'kin kanina, like, argh, I hate her!" Naiinis na sabi ko at nakabusangot na tumingin sa kan'ya. 

"You know what? Let's just enjoy the party, Sol. Mas-stress ka lang sa kakaisip sa bruhang 'yon! It's my birthday today, we should have fun!" she said and handed me a glass of bacardi. Kinuha ko iyon at ininom, dahan-dahan namang gumuhit ang lasa no'n sa lalamunan ko. 

"Here," Tinaas niya ang isa pang glass ng bacardi at akmang iaabot sa 'kin.

"Teka lang naman," Reklamo ko at tuluyang inubos ang hawak-hawak ko. "Atat na atat malasing ako 'te?" 

Tumawa siya at nagsalita. "Gaga ka ba? Ano pang purpose mo dito kung ayaw mong malasing?" 

Inismiran ko na lang siya at kinuha ang hawak-hawak n'yang isang glass ng bacardi at nilagok iyon. Nang maubos na ay nilagay ko agad sa table.

Nagulat naman ako nang makitang may tumabi kay Yanna na hindi naman pamilyar sa 'kin. Nakita kong may binulong ito sa kan'ya at tumawa naman ka agad ang bruha. Tatanungin ko na sana siya kung sino iyon nang tumayo silang dalawa. 

"Sol, dito ka na muna ah," mando niya sa 'kin  kaya tinignan ko siya ng may pagkalito sa mukha.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ko pa at tinuro niya ka agad ang entabladong nasa harapan namin. 

"Dance floor," sagot niya. 

"Bakit?" tanong ko ulit. 

"Anong bakit? Hindi ba obvious? Sasayaw kami, gaga!" anas niya kaya tumango na lang ako. 

In a minute, I found myself devouring all the alcohols that is placed in the table. I am now tipsy and I'm not in the right state of my mind already.

Plano ko pa naman sanang hindi maglasing para maalayanan ko si Yanna. That girl is so careless when she's drunk!

"Sol?" I heard someone talked. "Oh my god, there you are!" 

I turned to her and it was Chloe, again. I saw her sat in the sofa infront of me. 

"What?" I raised my brow and asked her. 

"Nothing," she shook her head and poured the two empty glass a vodka.

"Hey, Sol?" she called me again for the second time. 

"What?" I asked her. Natuon ang atensyon ko sa kamay niya na parang may kinakapa sa bulsa niya.

"What are you doing?" agad siyang natinag nang tanungin ko siya. 

"Look at Yanna," she pointed at my back and I automatically turned back. 

"Where?" I asked her when I didn't saw Yanna. She didn't respond so I turned my eyes back at her. A grin was plastered in her face and I don't know why I felt scared by it. 

I didn't mind it and asked her. "I thought you saw Yanna?" 

"Oh, I thought it was her. Sorry," she apologized and asked me. "Let's have a toast?" she handed me a glass of vodka and I took it from her. 

"For what?" tanong ko. 

"Because we've finally met after one year and..." she paused. "You're currently working on your upcoming project right? Yeah, that's right!"

Even though I was confused, I still raised a toast with her. I drank the vodka and was satisfied by the taste of it. 

In just a second, I felt weird and dizzy. I didn't felt this way before and this feeling seems new to me.

"Hey, where are you going?" I heard her asked when I stood up. 

I felt Iike I'm out of my mind and I am in the mood to dance at the dance floor.

"To the dance floor, I want to dance!" I giggled and I saw her, grinning. 

She laughed at me and I looked at her with a confused face. "Have fun, Sol!" she said and stood up.

Lumapit siya sa 'kin at may binulong. "Too much happiness might destroy you, honey. Be careful!" 

I didn't mind her and walked, heading to the dance floor.

"Whoah, party people!" I heard someone screaming at the top of his lungs.

I closed my eyes for a bit from being dizzy but then, someone bumped me so I immediately opened my eyes to see if what just happened.

"What the fuck?" I complained. 

He stopped from shouting and faced me when he heard me, cursing. 

"Ooh, beautiful," he covered his mouth from being amused. "Hey there Miss, wanna hang-out in our table?" 

I looked at him with disgust in my face. "No way!" I rejected him and rolled my eyes at him. 

The guy glared at me and smirked. He was like he's ready to kill me kaya natakot ako sa mukha niya. Agad kong isiniksik ang sarili ko sa mga nagkukumpulang tao nang akmang hahabulin niya ako.

Nang matagumpay kong maisiksik ang sarili ko ay inikot ko ang mga mata ko to see if he's still chasing me.

Nang mahagilap ko siya ay kasabay no'n ang paglingon niya sa 'kin at saka ngumiti ng nakakaloko. Agad kumalabog ng pagka-agresibo ang dibdib ko at kusang gumalaw ang mga binti ko papunta sa kung saan.

Saglit akong lumingon sa likod ko at nakitang papalapit na ng papalapit na ito sa akin. Kasabay nang paglingon ko sa harapan ko ay siyang pagkabunggo ko sa dibdib ng isang lalaki. Amoy na amoy ko pa ang matapang na pabango nito at ramdam ko ang pagkalabog ng puso nito. 

"Help! Someone's looking for me and I think he's crazy," I said in despair. He didn't respond so I tightly clinged into his polo. "Please!"

"Pare!" I heard someone shout and I'm sure that that's the guy who's looking for me. 

To my surprise, this guy held my waist and turned me around for me to see the guy who's looking for me. 

"Pare, akin kasi 'yan eh, hanap ka nalang ng sa 'yo ah," kaswal na sabi nito at lumapit sa amin. 

"Don't you dare go near us," kalmang sabi ng lalaking katabi ko pero kasing lamig ng yelo ang tono ng boses nito.

Mas lumakas ang kalabog ng puso ko nang makita ng lalaking kaharap namin ang kamay ko na nanginginig. Tinangka pa nitong abutin at hawakan ang kamay ko kaya mas nanginig pa ako ng todo.

"Touch her and you're dead," this guy beside me warned him in a serious tone of voice and glared at him angrily. 

In just a minute, the guy infront of us vanished.

"Are you okay?" this guy beside me asked and faced me.

I turned to him and his eyes met mine. I can only see his eyes because the whole room was just so dark that I couldn't see his face but for some reason, I felt safe. I don't know when was the last time I felt safe but I think, in my whole life, this is the first time. 

In an instant, I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck and kissed him with no hesitation. His lips are so soft when it's pressing against mine, it was.... it was so satisfying and suddenly, the pain that I am carrying vanished and nowhere to be found at the moment because of this one passionate kiss. Dala na rin siguro ito ng kalasingan ko kaya ko ito nagawa pero hindi ako makawala sa mga labi niya. It's like commiting a crime if I'll try to escape from his lips. 

From what I have gathered in my thoughts of what happened last night, we were just kissing passionately when he moved his tongue, trying to enter my mouth. I let him enter his tounge and—

"What happened next? Shit! What the heck was that, Solenn?" I asked to myself when the flashback ended. I'm still trying to figure out why did I ended up here when we were just kissing in my flashback. 

I was trying to think about it and gather my thoughts when the bed moved. My eyes widen and quickly picked up my clothes from the floor and ran into the comfort room. 

I groaned and asked my self while putting my clothes on. "How will I escape from this mess?"

I'm done putting my clothes on and I'm now currently peeking to where the guy was lying. His face were covered by the blanket so I couldn't see his face.

Nang masiguro kong natutulog pa rin siya ay dahan-dahan akong lumabas sa comfort room at dahan-dahan ding naglakad papunta sa pintuan. Pipihitin ko na sana ang hawakan ng pinto nang may marinig akong boses na nanggagaling sa likod ko. 

"Sneaking, huh?" 

Kumalabog ng pagkabilis ang puso ko nang marinig ang malamig na boses na iyon. Dahil sa pagkataranta ay hindi ko na nalingon ang lalaking nasa likod ko at dali-daling lumabas at tumakbo palayo sa kwartong 'yon. 

Natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili ko na kumakatok at naghihintay ng magbubukas ng pintong nasa harapan ko.

Ilang minuto lang ay bumukas iyon at bumungad sa 'kin ang kaibigan ko. "Where the hell have you been, Sol?" alalang tanong ni Yanna. 

"Can I go in?" I asked her and didn't mind responding her question. I entered her condo when she didn't answer me. 

"Wow! Solenn, okay ka lang ba ha? Hindi pa nga ako pumapayag, pumasok kana?" hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya. 

Hindi ako sumagot at inilagay ang bag ko sa lamesa at saka pagod na umupo sa sofa. 

"My god, can you answer my first question atleast?" Iritang sabi nito at umupo sa sofa na kaharap ko. 

"Why did you left me?" I asked her and still not minding to answer her question. 

"I thought you were having some, you know, hot streamy time with a guy and came back after but you didn't came back..." she said. 

"My god, Yanna! I'm not like that," I told her. "You left the bar without thingking of me? Pa'no kung na-rape na pala ako ro'n?"

"Sorry," she apologized. "I thought you came home already."

She gasp and continue what she wants to tell, "I called your Mom when I arrived here and asked if you're already at home but—" 

Napaawang ang bibig ko ng marinig sa kan'ya 'yon. "What?! You called Mom?" 

"Uh... Yes," she confusedly nodded.

"What did she said?" I asked her and my heart was beating so fast. 

"That you were not at home and she's asking me why am I asking her when we were the one who's together." Yanna said and pouted.

"Then?" pagpapatuloy ko sa kan'ya.

"Then, I said that I was wrong that I called her, that it was supposed to be the Mom of my other friend and she was convinced by it and said that I should pay attention to you." she continued.

Parang nabunutan ako ng tinik sa lalamunan ng marinig iyon. "Oh my god, that was too close, Yanna!" 

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa sandalan ng sofa at mariin na pumikit.

Pagod na pagod ako at gusto kong matulog.

"I know, you're not yet ready to tell me what happened last night but, I forgot to ask you something," wika ni Yanna kaya binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at hinarap siya. Tumaas ang balahibo ko nang tignan n'ya ako ng seryoso.

"What?"

She crossed her arms. "What happened between you and Troy?" she asked me in a serious tone. It give me chills knowing I was in fear. This is what I'm actually scared for.

Should I tell her?