Where nobody knows

"Let's go," I whispered softly.

We lay comfortably on the bed in the hotel where we had spent our first night together. He looked at me, confused. I laughed and playfully tugged his arm around me.

"Where to?" he asked, propping his head up with one hand while the other played with my hair.

"Somewhere... where nobody knows our names," I giggled.

He chuckled, his eyes sparkled with mischief, reflecting my own.  "But I don't even know your name."

Right. I almost forgot where I was. And I definitely didn't know who he was.

We met the night before at a club in Puerto Galera, where I had gone with two girls I barely knew. We danced until our feet hurt, drank until the world blurred, and flirted without consequences. I remembered how drunk I had been, how reckless... and how unbelievably happy I felt. Happier than I had ever been.

Puerto Galera, on the island of Mindoro, was famous for its beaches, crystal-clear waters, and wild nightlife. The ocean breeze alone made it feel like an escape from Manila's suffocating heat and routine. It was the perfect place to disappear — even if just for a while.

The last clear memory I had was walking to the restroom and accidentally bumping into him. He was tall, white, and undeniably handsome. He insisted I apologize by letting him buy me a drink. One drink turned into conversation. Conversation turned into laughter. Laughter turned into a kiss.

Then... blackout.

And now I was waking up in a strange room beside a stranger.

"It doesn't matter," I said, kissing him slowly while looking into his hazel eyes. "We're having fun. That's all that matters."

"The name's Nick. What's yours?" he asked.

"Kate," I replied.

"Is that your real name?"

"maybe" I answered mysteriously  "But I like it. So you can call me Kate."

"Alright, Katie..." he said as he stood up, completely naked, revealing his lean body that made me bite my lip. He glanced at me as if he knew exactly what he had started. "Don't you plan to go back to your hotel?"

"Nope." I pulled him closer and straddled him. "I want to stay here for a while, if you don't mind," I said, nibbling lightly on his ear.

"Sounds like a plan to me." He smiled. "Did you come here alone?"

"No. I'm with some friends."

"So where are they?"

"Probably fucking around with some dude."

He laughed softly. "So... do you want to go on a date?" he asked.

"Really? You want to go on a date?"

Nick shrugged. "I mean, I love what we're doing, but..."

"But?" I prompted.

"I guess I just want to know you a little more." He hesitated. "Aren't you curious about me?"

"No, not really," I answered without thinking.

He blinked, caught off guard. "I mean... do you do this often? Going somewhere and just hooking up with random guys?"

"Are you judging me?" I pulled away from him.

"Of course not," he said quickly, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm just... curious."

"Curious about what?"

"Well..." he rubbed the back of his neck. "Most Filipinas I've met usually prefer dating first before... this."