CHAPTER 2

I went to the bar section to get something to drink. The host lately announced to open the dance floor. Now I can see couples dancing along the ballroom music. Kitang kita ko rin sa 'di kalayuan ang pagsulyap ni Dad sa 'kin kasama ang matalim na tingin. I just laugh inside my head. Natatakot s'yang makita nila kung gaano kalakas uminom ang magaling n'yang anak?

Don't worry, Dad. Wala akong balak maglasing ngayon, not this time, not in this kind of clothes, not in this kind of footwear. My wavy hair even fell down to my shoulder, and I'm extremely not comfortable. I should bring my hair string.

It also sucks how people giving me strange look as I passed near them. 

I can see Desmond walk towards my direction but I ignored him. I just asked the bartender for another drink and gazed back to the dance floor.  

"Here ma'am."

I took the cocktail and gulp of it. 

"Lakas mo naman uminom," a baritone voice spoke behind me. His strong smell crept my nostrils down to my lungs and it irritates me. Sinadya n'ya ba talaga pumunta dito para pakialaman ang ginagawa ko?

I glanced at him. Nakalagay ang dalawang kamay n'ya sa bulsa. I gave him a lazy look. "Why do you care?"

"Are you still in sober?" he asked, ignoring my statement.

"I'm not like anyone else who's turned into monster after drinking plenty of alcohols," I answered. "And my soberness is none of your business."

He chuckled. "Okay, so it means I can still have your hand for a dance?"

The audacity.

"No." I drank the cocktail straight. 

"Of course, you'll decline. But you know what? I just can't believe it... you're the first one I know who found me annoying."

I know he's just boasting that everyone likes him, aside from me. 

I nodded. "I stepped your pity ego, you deserve that, arrogant bastard."

"Whatever you say, rude arrogant-walking lady," he mimicked my tone while making-face.

"Ano sabi mo?" 

He shook his head and smiled ng amusement. "Nothing, napansin ko lang na ang angas mong maglakad. It doesn't suits your..." He looked and me from head to foot. "... gown, and your body."

Napansin kong malagkit n'yang  tinignan ang dibdib ko. 

"Look at me that way again and I'll break your bones," I warned.

He chuckled at look back at me. "I'm just kidding!"

I hissed.

"Pero 'di ko babawiin sinabi ko." Mas nilapit n'ya ang kina-uupuan sa 'kin at agad naman akong lumayo. "Isama mo na boses mong mala-kargador." He shook his head while chuckling.

"I wonder what's the deal between you and my Dad why you're doing this."

"Just think na mahal na mahal ka ng Dad mo."

I winced and shook my head. "Sino ang niloloko n'yo?"

He chuckled and pulled a chair to sit beside me. "Tito Franco loves you, because look, he gave you a very gorgeous man to marry with. You should feel the honor, sweetheart, everyone dreams of that."

He drank his glass while smiling a bit. I will never really marry this man. I will never.

"You're twisting the fact that this marriage is for the business, and not for me. Stop being an arrogant dumbass, Aldeguer," I rudely uttered.

I really want to shut him up and leave. Nakita kong umigting ang panga n'ya at nag-iwas ng tingin. I think he already losing his temper. He nodded at gaze back at me.

"Yeah, you're right..." He paused. Matalim n'ya akong tinignan. "... but I'll still marry you. And I will devour even the tiniest fragment of courage that is left on you, just to make you marry me."

He's pointing himself and wickedly smirked. I have no idea why he was so determined for this. 

Screw him, screw all the people behind this arrange marriage. 

"I think the one who'll end up dissapointed here is you." I took the cocktail straight and stood up to leave, but Desmond suddenly grab my hand and interlock our fingers. He pulled me towards the dance floor. 

I stared at our hands for a seconds. 

"Let go of my hand, fvcker," mariing saad ko at hinila ang kamay pero mas hinigpitan n'ya ito. 

He grabbed my waist as we reached the dance floor, my left hand on his shoulder, while our other hand still clasp together. I felt harassed. I can feel the danger of Desmond's sudden action. We started dancing along the rhythm of ballroom music.

"You will regret this." 

He grabbed my waist closer and inclined my body. 

"Make me regret this, then," he whispered. I can sense the scent of mint of his breathe and it gave me goosebumps. 

He go back to the usual dance step and reached the other part of the dance floor. He let go of my waist again and twirl me around with his other hand I was holding. Muli n'yang sinakop ang bewang ko at muntik na akong natumba. 

"Fvck!" 

His hazel brow eyes met mine. Some strand of his hair faintly falls down to his face. There is only inch between us.  A mischievous grin slowly forming on his lips. "Bad mouth, sweetheart." 

We repeated what we're doing. He's like controlling my body to move, to dance. We reached every side of the wide area of the dance. 'Di pa rin s'ya tumitigil kahit minsan ay natatapakan ko ang paa n'ya. Punong puno na rin s'ya ng mga mura ko at tuwang tuwa naman ang demonyo habang nakikita akong nagugulat sa mga pinaggagawa n'ya.

From the bottom of my dead, cold heart, screw him!

The music was almost done as he inclined my body again. But unlike the previous pose that we did, he held waist to support my balance. His other hand is lifting my right legs that touches my skin. Until it slowly landed up to my butt and my eyes grew bigger as I can feel he squeezed it.

This is freaking harassment!

My fist clenched, I pushed him away with my all force, and gave him one, hard punch on his jaw. He collapsed.

Desmond is lying on the dance floor. His eyes are shut. I took a one step backward. He got unconscioused in just one punch.

The couples who were dancing stopped in surprise. The crowd on the side stood up in unison, the whole venue filled with a buzzing voice of people around us, and a series of cameras flashed against my face.