Chapter 2

HALATA ang pamamaga ng mga mata ni Madison, at hawak niya ang tasa ng malamig nang kape na hindi niya halos nagalaw. Kakatapos lang niyang ikuwento ang buong nangyari kay Jane, ang masakit na eksenang nakita niya sa apartment ni Leo.

Biglang napataas ang boses ni Jane, halos mapatapon ang iniinom niyang iced coffee. "EH GAGO PALA 'YANG LEO NA 'YAN EH!" Napalingon ang ilang tao sa kanila, pero wala siyang pakialam.

Madison tried to calm her down, her voice weak. "Jane, huwag kang masyadong maingay... nakakahiya."

"Anong nakakahiya? Dapat siya ang mahiya! Grabe, Madison! Sa lahat ng sakripisyo mo para sa pamilya mo, tapos ‘yan ang igaganti niya sa’yo? Walang kwentang tao!"

Madison lowered her gaze, staring at her coffee. "Akala ko kasi naiintindihan niya ako... akala ko sapat na ako kahit busy ako sa trabaho. Pero siguro... may pagkukulang din talaga ako."

Napailing si Jane, halatang naiinis. "Hoy, huwag mo ngang sisihin ang sarili mo! Oo, busy ka, pero para saan ba ‘yon? Para sa future niyo rin, hindi ba? Para makatulong ka sa pamilya mo. Kung may reklamo siya, bakit hindi niya sinabi nang maayos? Bakit kailangan niya pang magloko?"

Madison's tears started to fall again. She quickly wiped them away, embarrassed. "Hindi ko alam, Jane. Mahal ko siya, pero parang hindi ko na siya makilala. Siya yung taong iniisip kong safe space ko, pero ngayon parang siya pa yung sumira sa akin."

Jane leaned forward, her face serious. "Alam mo, Madison, minsan kailangan mong piliin yung sarili mo. Hindi pwedeng palaging ikaw yung nagbibigay. Kung hindi niya kayang intindihin ‘yan, siya ang may problema, hindi ikaw."

Madison bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly. "Pero paano? Paano ko sisimulan ulit? Saan ako kukuha ng lakas?"

Jane reached out and held Madison’s hand. "Simulan mo sa pagtanggap na hindi mo deserve ‘yung ginawa niya sa’yo. Deserve mo ‘yung taong hindi ka ipagpapalit kahit gaano ka ka-busy. At andito ako, Madison. Hindi kita iiwan. Hindi kita pababayaan."

Madison looked at Jane, her lips trembling into a small, thankful smile. For the first time since the breakup, she felt a tiny spark of hope. "Thank you, Jane. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko kung wala ka."

"Eh, syempre! Ako pa ba?" Jane said with a grin, her tone lightening to cheer Madison up. "Alam mo, ang mga tulad ni Leo, basura lang ‘yan. Ang ginagawa sa basura? Itinatapon! Kaya ikaw, move on na, ha? Iiyak mo ngayon, pero bukas, ikaw na ang magsha-shine!"

Napatawa ng bahagya si Madison, kahit papaano ay gumaan ang pakiramdam niya. Jane’s fiery words and unwavering support reminded her that even if Leo failed her, she still had people who truly cared.

Habang pinupunasan ni Madison ang luha sa pisngi niya, biglang nagsalita si Jane, ang tono nito puno ng determination. "Gusto mo ba mag-unwind na muna? Para kahit paano mabawasan 'yang bigat na nararamdaman mo." She leaned closer, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Gusto mo magwalwal tayo? We can go to the bar or club, let's party!"

Napanganga si Madison, halatang nagulat sa biglang suggestion ng kaibigan niya. "Ha? Parang hindi ko kaya, Jane. Parang wala ako sa mood."

"Huy, Madison! Saktong-sakto nga na wala ka sa mood, kasi kailangan mong gumalaw, gumimik, at mag-enjoy. Hello? Kahit isang gabi lang, itapon natin 'yang problema mo at magpakasaya!"

"Pero—" Madison hesitated, staring at her cold coffee. "Parang ang weird naman. Kakalabas ko lang sa relationship, tapos biglang clubbing?"

Jane rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Madison, this is exactly why you need to go. Seryoso, kung hindi ka magpapahinga sa overthinking mo, lalo kang lulubog sa sakit. Hindi mo deserve 'yon. Let’s reset your brain, girl! Ilang oras lang ‘to, okay?"

Madison sighed, her fingers nervously playing with the rim of her cup. "Edi ikaw ang bahala sa akin, ha? Ayoko magmukhang tanga sa bar."

Jane grinned, clapping her hands together. "Yesss! Trust me, Madison. I'll make sure you'll have fun tonight. Saka, maganda ka naman, kahit iiyak-iyak ka pa diyan. A little makeup, tapos ayos na!"

Mayamaya, Madison found herself inside Jane's car, heading to one of the trendiest bars in the city. Dressed in a simple yet flattering black dress Jane forced her to wear, Madison felt nervous but slightly excited.

"Okay, Madison, rule for tonight," Jane said as they parked. "No sad talk about Leo. No overthinking. Just fun, fun, fun! Gets?"

Madison chuckled nervously. "Gets. Pero sana hindi ako maiyak sa loob."

"Kung iiyak ka, edi inom lang agad! Pero huwag kang mag-alala, andito ako. I'll make sure na walang drama, puro saya lang!"

Pagpasok nila sa bar, agad bumungad ang vibrant na lights, pulsing music, at ang amoy ng alak at energy ng mga tao. Jane grabbed Madison's hand excitedly, guiding her toward the bar counter.

"Two tequila shots, please!" Jane called out, winking at Madison. "Game ka, right?"

Madison hesitated but nodded. "Fine. Para sa reset na sinasabi mo."

"Good girl!" Jane handed her a shot glass, and they clinked their glasses together. "Cheers to a new chapter, Mad. Kalimutan mo na ang toxic na Leo na 'yan. Tonight, it's all about you."

Madison started to loosen up. They danced to the beat of the music, laughed at Jane’s silly moves, and even tried a few more drinks. For the first time in days, Madison felt a bit lighter.

Habang umiikot siya sa dancefloor, napansin niya ang sarili niyang tumatawa, nakikisabay sa energy ng paligid. She realized na kahit papaano, tama si Jane—kailangan niya rin palayain ang sarili, kahit isang gabi lang.

But at the back of her mind, alam niyang ito pa lang ang simula. Tomorrow, she would have to face reality again. But for now, she allowed herself this one moment to breathe, to let go, and to start picking up the pieces of her broken heart.

"Pupunta lang ako sa rest room." Aniya kay Jane. 

Pasuray-suray siya habang naglalakad patungo sa rest room. Patuloy siyang naglakad ng pasuray-suray hanggang mabuwal siya sa pagkakatayo. Napasubsub siya sa semento.

'Shit naman oh!'

May tumulong sa kanya upang makatayo siya pero tinulak niya ito. 

Mag-isa siyang tumayo at akmang maglalakad muli ng tumuon ang paningin niya sa lalaking nakaupo sa bar at sumisimsim ng alak.

Her lips parted. Her heart hammered inside her chest.

Everything inside her comes alive at the sight of a male

god in front of her. Halos lahat ng kababaihan ay nakatingin sa lalaki. He oozed with sex appeal. He sits with confident. He sits there like he's compelling every woman to drool over him. He drank the liquor from the glass like it's nectar from Olympus.

The man was wearing a gray t-shirt and rugged blue faded jeans. From behind, his biceps looks delectable. She wanted to feel them in her hands.

Marahas siya napailing ng maramdamang may nabubuhay na bahagi sa katawan niya habang nakatingin sa lalaki. Hindi pa naman siya masyadong lasing para ito ang halikan niya. Alam niyang hindi niya ito ka-level. He's oozing with sex appeal and she knew that she's not appealing. Pero bakit parang may sariling isip ang paa niya at naglalakad iyon palapit sa lalaki.

She stops just inches away from his back. Huli na para tumakbo siya palayo at magtago dahil lumingon ito sa dereksiyon niya. His deep brown eyes captured her. Hindi siya nakagalaw at nakatitig lang sa mga mata nito kulay tsokolate.

My god! Being this handsome should be a crime!

Tuluyan na itong humarap sa kanya. "Yes?"

Lihim siyang napalunok. What a deep baritone voice he had! Her stare hopped into his slightly parted lips. It looks lush and inviting... inviting her to kiss him... she wanted to nip and bit his lips. Oh god, what's happening to me? Her body tingled... her body felt alive! Hindi niya alam kung epekto ito ng alak o talagang ganito ang epekto ng lalaking ito sa mga kababaihang tulad niya.

Inisang hakbang niya ang pagitan ng katawan nila. Nawala ang inhibisyon sa katawan dahil sa espiritu ng alak na nainom at walang sere-seremonyang sinapo niya ang pisngi nito at sinakop ang mga labi ng lalaki.

She moaned at the taste of him. He tasted like rum, but sweet. Madison slid her tongue insider his mouth and she whimper when he gladly accepted it. When she nips his lips, the man groaned. She was turned on when she heard him moan. Parang nagliyab ang katawan niya sa isiping nagustuhan nito ang ginawa niya. Bumaba ang kamay niya sa leeg nito at mas inilapit pa ang katawan sa katawan nito.

Pakakawalan na sana niya ang mga labi nito dahil naguumpisa ng mag-init ang katawan niya pero hindi siya nito pinayagan. Ipinalibot nito ang braso sa bewang niya at mas lalo siyang hinapit palapit dito. Sa halip na itulak ito, parang may sariling isip ang mga braso niya na pumulupot sa leeg nito.

Mas lalong pinalalim pa nito ang halik na pinagsasaluha nila. Nag-umpisa na ring maglumikot ang kamay nito. Napigil ang hininga niya ng hawakan nito ang dibdib niya at pinisil iyon. Kusang lumabas ang ungol sa bibig niya.

He bit her lower lip and pulled away. "Damn, woman. What power did you possess to turn me on like this?" He said, huskily.

A small seductive smile appeared on her lips. "You do the same to me."

His eyes darkened with lust. "Oh, yeah?"

She nodded then leaned in to bit his lower lip. "Hmmmm. You made my body tingle."

He smiled then captured her lips again. Alam niyang nasa kanila ang ilang mata ng mga kababaehan sa bar pero wala siyang pakialam. She kissed him back with the same ferocity. Inggit lang kayo!

He dropped three sweet little kissed on her lips before pulling away. "Want to dance?"

She nodded and smiles seductively. "l love to dance."

He smiled then led her to the dance floor. Pinaikot siya nito bago niyapos ang katawan niya at hinapit palapit rito. His arms were wrapped around her waist and she like the feeling of their body touching.

Napangiti siya ng may pilyang naisip.

Madison turn her back on the man and grind her ass over his groin. When she heard him give out a moan, Madison was turned on. Nang akmang ititigil na niya ang ginagawa, he clutched her waist and pulled her closer to his now erect manhood.

"You're making me horny." Anito sa mahinang boses habang sumasabay sa mahinang indayog ng musika.

Madison turns around to the man and stared at him intently. She bit her lower lip and started moving her body in a seductive manner. She doesn't know if it's the liquor dancing but she felt like dancing in front of this man's hungry look. No man had ever looked at her like that. Full of want... lust...

Her ass was touching his erect penis and she moan at every touch. It's turning her on and she can't stop the lust building inside her.

The man seized her waist and whisper on her ear.

"Want to go out and continue this on my car?"

It was an invitation for something more. Madison knows that but she said yes anyway. Salamat sa alak na nainom niya, wala siya sa tamang pag-iisip. All she could think about was kissing and touching this man. Hinawakan niya ang lalaki sa kamay at hinila palabas ng bar.