Prologue

Prelude

Some of the people's heads inside turned to me the moment I entered the fine dining restaurant. I remained unmoved by their curious glances and continued gliding as the waiter led me to the table my secretary reserved. Nakasunod ang dalawang bodyguard, tahimik na nagmamatyag.

But my mouth ran dry as soon as I saw the silhouette of the man I despise so much sitting in front of the table. Nakatalikod man sa gawi ko ay nasisiguro kong siya nga ang nakikita. Hindi ako puwedeng magkamali, dahil siya ang taong sumira sa buong buhay ko. He killed my soul, completely.

Ilang beses akong napabuga ng hangin hanggang sa marating ang mesa. I sat in front of him, trying to calm the anger I'm feeling for him all these years. 

His jet black eyes meet my gaze. He didn't look shocked, just like what I expected.

He's on his black button-down shirt topped with a black tux. Looking so formal and savage just like before. Ang kanyang mga mata'y blangko habang sinusundan ang aking mga kilos.

Nanginig ang aking kamay na nasa aking mga hita. It's trembling not because of fear but because of anger I'm trying so hard to contain. 

Pagkatapos ng ginawa nila, hindi man lang sila nakonsensiya? And now he's here for what? For his vengeance again? 

He's an asshole! A killer! At pinagsisisihan kong minsan ko siyang minahal. He didn't deserved it! He deserves to rot in hell together with his evil family!

I can still remember vividly how I first met him. And I regretted it. I regretted knowing him. I regretted loving him. I regretted everything.

"Cheers!" Tungga namin ng mga kaibigan sa inumin. Thanks to these people, somehow I don't feel alone.

"Ngiti ka naman diyan Des!" Si Louie.

"Oo nga! Huwag kang magluksa sa Harris na 'yon! Marami pang iba diyan, yung gwapo, mayaman at hindi ka lolokohin!" Saad ni Marie sa tabi ko.

"Sinong nagsabing nagluluksa ako?" I laughed a bit. "Ang mga kagaya niyang lalaki, hindi dapat pinagluluksaan. That guy should be badly cursed!" 

Nagtawanan sila na sinabayan ko naman.

"Ganyan dapat!" si Marcos habang inaakbayan si Lilian. Inisang lagok ko ang shot, walang pake kung ilan na ang nainom.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas nang mag-aya sila Marie na pumunta sa dancefloor. Of course, sumama ako. I'm here to enjoy myself and I think, dancing could help me. 

We stopped at the center of the crowd, napipikit ako ng sumakit ang ulo. Fuck, mukhang medyo lasing na yata ako. 

Binalewala ko iyon at sinabayan ang musika. I danced wholeheartedly, not minding the people around me. With the alcohol in my system, I feel so energized and alive.

Mas lalong dumiin ang pagpikit ko sa mga mata nang maalala ang nadatnan ko sa condo ni Harris.

I'm mad, very much. Naiiinis ako kung bakit kailangan ako pa talaga ang maloko niya sa lahat ng mga babae. Ganoon ba ako kamukhang tanga para lokohin lang ng ganoon? I am a fucking Fontana!

Harris Formentera is the ideal man for me. Two years siyang ahead sa amin. Although he has a reputation of being a playboy, simula ng maging kami ay wala na akong nakitang babaeng binibigyan niya ng atensiyon bukod sa akin. He's sweet and caring. And that's what I like about his personality.

Sosorpresahin ko sana siya sa kanyang condo. But he was the one who surprised me.

Hindi pa ako nakakadalawang hakbang patungo sa kanyang kuwarto nang may marinig akong kakaibang ingay. I went closer. Bahagyang nakaawang ang pintuan ng kanyang silid. And when the noise got louder and clearer, I froze.

Nabitawan ko ang dala. 

I was sure.

Those were freaking moans from a girl.

Imbes na umiyak doon, pinangunahan ako ng galit. I pushed the door forcefully. There, I saw him. Nakaibabaw sa isang babaeng kilala ko. It's one of my batchmates!

I cursed them in my mind so bad as I continue dancing my heart out.

Bahala na ang Harris na 'yon sa buhay niya. I'm sure I can replace him with a better man. Magsama sila ng kanyang hampaslupang babae!

I opened my eyes when I felt someone behind me, he's too close that I can feel his body's heat. I didn't push him, though. Ano naman ngayon kung makikipagsayaw ako sa iba? I'm single and very ready to mingle!

His warm hand held my waist. Sandali kong iminulat ang mga mata ngunit nang mapansing nanlalabo ang paningin, mabilis ko iyong ipinikit ulit. Inayos ko na lang ang pagsasayaw habang dinadama ang init ng haplos ng estranghero sa aking katawan.

"Damn." I heard him cuss softly.

This time, I turned around to face him. Sa nanlalabong mga mata ay tiningnan ko ang kanyang mukha. 

"You're handsome..." I whispered as I put my hands on his nape. If he's handsome with this blurry eyesight, how much more kung nasa normal na estado ang aking mga mata? He would surely look very handsome and hot.

He smiled. "You look beautiful, too," he whispered in such a husky voice that could turn on any woman! Hindi ko alam kung epekto ba ito ng alak o talagang nang-iinit talaga ako sa lalaking ito. I never felt so needy for a man's caress in my whole life.

Ipinikit ko muli ang mga mata at sumayaw. The next moment, I just found myself responding to the stranger's fiery kisses. Ang kanyang mga halik ay malalim at nakakapugto ng hininga. His hands caressed the sides of my waist, and by the way his tongue flicked inside my mouth, I can feel his thirst, hunger and overflowing need.

Hindi ko alam kung paano kami nakalabas ng bar, o kung paano kami nakapasok sa isang kotse. All am I thinking was his hot kisses and his warm touch on my body. 

Nakaupo ako sa kanyang kandungan habang nakaparte ang dalawang binti. I moaned softly when I felt his wet tongue on my neck, kissing and sucking it. He groaned when I started grinding on the growing bulge between his thighs with our clothes still on.

Hindi ako makapag-isip ng maayos sa nangyayari. Ni hindi ko na nga alam kung paano ko nagagawa ang mga bagay na ito. The nostalgic feeling is taking my sanity away. Nakakatuliro. Nakakawalang-lakas.

"H-Harris.."

I felt him stopped. Ibinuka ko ang mga mata at nagtaka nang makita ang mukhang dahilan ng sakit sa puso ko ngayon. Why am I seeing his face? Am I hallucinating?

"Harris..." Itinaas ko ang kamay sa kanyang mukha. Gently, I caressed his face. Ilusyon man ito o hindi, magpapaubaya ako sa nararamdaman ko... kahit ngayon lang. Bukas ko na lang ipagpapatuloy ang galit kapag nahimasmasan na ako sa kahibangan ko.

Inilapit ko ang mukha sa kanya. But just when I'm about to kiss him again, inilayo niya ang ulo.

"Fuck," he cursed hardly.

I felt a pang of pain in my head. Ramdam ko ang paghila sa akin ng antok. Pakiramdam ko, unti-unti akong nawawalan ng malay. I guess the alcohol hit me so bad this time. Inilagay ko ang ulo sa kanyang balikat, feeling extremely exhausted. My rapid breathing became calm. Meanwhile, I can feel his heavy breathing. I can still feel the traces of his touch. I'm on fire, alam kong siya rin. But with this kind of state, I don't know if I can handle him. Masyado na akong nanghihina sa kalasingan.

Sa huli'y hindi rin nakaya ng aking sistema ang alak. And all I can do was let the darkness swallow my consciousness.

Ramdam ko ang sakit ng ulo nang imulat ang mga mata. My eyesight was blurry at first. Pero nang maging klaro ang paningin ay agad na napabangon, shocked of the unfamiliar room. 

Tiningnan ko ang malaking kama, wala namang ibang nakahiga doon. Sunod ay pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili. My clothes last night are still on. Wala namang ibang sumasakit na parte ng aking katawan maliban sa ulo.

I felt relieved.

A few moments later, the image of myself making out with a stranger flashed on my mind. Umawang ang labi ko at nasabunutan ang sarili nang maalala ang mga nangyari kagabi. How I got drunk, how I danced with that man with blurred face... and how I almost give myself to a man I don't even know! 

Damn it!

Ano ba itong kahibangang nagawa ko?

Just when I'm on the verge of getting up from the bed, the door opened. Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa lalaking pumasok. My forehead creased. He looks familiar. 

Tiningnan ko siyang maigi. His eyes... his nose, his lips... jaw, even his matured built. Kahit malabo ang paningin ko kagabi ay hindi ako puwedeng magkamali.

He was the stranger I encountered last night!

"Mabuti naman at gising ka na." Nakapamulsa, sumandal siya sa nakasaradong pinto at suplado akong tiningnan.

"Who are you? Bakit mo ako dinala dito?! May ginawa ka ba sa akin-"

"Woah, hey you there. Ano, binibintangan mo ba ako? Slow down with your words, miss. Na-amnesia ka ba at hindi mo maalala ang nangyari, huh?" 

"Of course I remember. I got drunk... A-And you, dumbass took advantage of me!"

His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Took advantage? Seriously? Ginamit mo pa talaga ang term na 'yan? That's not what it seemed last night, baby. Hindi ko na kasalanan kung kumagat ka. You're even wild! Kung hindi ka nga lang nawalan ng malay, baka nga may nangyari sa atin-"

Natigil siya nang ibato ko sa kanya ang unan. "You pervert! Nakita mong wala ako sa tamang huwisyo, pinagpatuloy mo pa rin! At ano, dinala mo pa talaga ako dito ha?!"

He glared at me coldly.

"What do you want me to do? You lost your consciousness in my car. You don't have a cellphone or any identification card with you. Do you expect me to bring you back inside the bar? Magpasalamat ka pa nga at dinala kita sa isang hotel at hindi pinahiga sa kalye."

"Well, thank you!" sarkastiko kong singhal bago tuluyang umalis sa kama. 

"Ikaw pa ang galit? You're unbelievable." Napailing-iling ito. "You even mistook me for another man. Nasaan ba ang boyfriend mo at mukhang napapabayaan ka yata?"

"It's none of your business." I rolled my eyes. Kinuha ko ang stilletos saka muling umupo sa kama para maisuot ito. "And sorry if I mistook you for another person. Lasing nga ako, di ba?"

"I'm Reilan Mongreco, you woman. Not Harris and not just any random man you can call using other person's name." His surname sounds familiar. Ngunit agad ko rin iyong binalewala.

"I don't care who you are. Mabuti talaga at wala kang ginawang masama sa akin. Baka sa kulungan pa ang bagsak mo."

Tumawa siya. "Oh really? Ano ka, minor de edad?"

I stood up after wearing my stilletos. Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin at napataas ang kilay. Mukhang hindi naman pala ako nakipaghalikan sa kung sinu-sinong lalaki. Guwapo siya, matipuno rin ang pangangatawan. His tanned skin made him look like a savage playboy. Yun nga lang, ilang taon rin siguro ang tanda niya sa akin. He's between twenty-three or twenty-four, I guess.

"Why? Do I look like I'm on the legal age?" Kumunot ang noo niya. I combed my straight hair through my fingers.

"Well, you got it wrong Mr. Mongreco. I'm still seventeen." 

This time, his lips parted. 

"W-What did you say? You're kidding me, right?" 

"Desire Fontana, search for it, or ask some socialite. I'm sure you'll get the same answer," saad ko. 

Hindi pa rin nawala ang gulat sa kanyang mukha. He's even speechless. Maybe shocked of the fact that a minor made him horny. 

Well, totoo naman talagang seventeen pa ako. Though I'm turning eighteen next weekend, I'm still a minor at this moment. At sa pagpasok naman sa bar, my name was my passcode. It's not that hard to enter that place if you have connections.

I glanced at him once before going out.

Disgusting. That's the word that could describe that heated night. Mabuti na lang talaga at nawalan ako ng malay dahil sa kalasingan kung hindi ay baka pagsisihan ko iyon sa buong buhay ko. 

It's not my dream to fuck a stanger. Even with my lifestyle, I'm not the kind of girl who'll go for a one night stand. Magsasaya ako sa mga lalaki, oo. Pero hindi ko hahayaang umabot sa puntong 'yon. That's why remembering what happened last night makes me cringe.