Red String of Fate [PUBLISHED by Bookware]

Chapter 1: Instant

"Do you need a ride?" Alexander asked as he stood up too and Alexa looked at him. Anong akala nito sa akin? Poor? 

"I can afford a car. I actually have one but I hitched a ride with my housemates on my way here and stupidly left mine at home." She answered haughtily and Alexander laughed.  

"I don't doubt that you can afford to buy a car." He said in an appeasing tone and Alexa bristled as she walked quickly towards the bar doors. Alexander followed her and she turned and arched her brow. 

"Are you following me?" She asked and he smiled and shook his head. Rapist pa yata tong isang to. She mumbled to herself as she walked faster. 

"Wait..." He called but Alexa ignored him. They reached the swinging double doors at the same time and Alexander bowed his head a little before he opened the door for her.  

"Thanks." She murmured and groaned aloud. Of all the nights to rain, it has to be tonight. She thought in exasperation. 

Alexander smiled as he saw the corners of her mouth droop. Nice lips. The thought drifted casually in his mind and he nearly rolled his eyes. She doesn't look a day over eighteen, you dirty old man. He admonished himself quietly. He smiled at the uniformed valet as he brought his rented car to the entrance. "Do you need a ride?" He asked.  

"No." Alexa stubbornly replied. She glanced quickly at him before she trained her eyes on the the very wet street. Bwisit talaga yung mga babaeng yun! Makakatikim talaga yung mga yun sa akin pag nakauwi na ako! Paano kaya ako uuwi nito? Dapat dinala ko yung kotse ko!  

"Are you sure?" Alexander asked again as he quelled the urge to smile at the indecision visible on her face. "Come on, I won't bite..." He cajoled. "I have a sister too..." He lied and Alexa uneasily glimpsed at him. Mamaya manyakis ka kahit ba gwapo ka. Ang dami kayang manyakis sa Boston. Pero paano ba ako makakauwi?  

"Yes. Thanks for the offer though." She answered before she looked away. 

"I promise I won't do anything. I'll give my card to the guard and if something happens to you, he can look for me." He said and paused. Why would I do that? Ano naman pakialam ko sa babaeng to? He murmured to himself as she worried her lower lip. 

Pag pinatay mo ako mumultuhin talaga kita. She dizzily thought. The alcohol was already affecting her and she shook her head trying to clear her mind. Bakit ka ba uminom, Alexa?! She scolded herself. Kailangan ko nang umuwi! She peeked at the man's face again and sighed. Bahala na. Kung oras mo na eh di oras mo na. She went to the guard and gave him her name. 

"If you read that they found my dead body somewhere, he's the culprit." She said pointing at Alexander. The guard laughed and nodded his head. 

"You came with Michelle and Sheila, right? They're regulars." He informed Alexa and she felt a little relieved. 

"I'm their roommate and I'll be hitching a ride with..." She looked at Alexander and he immediately came forward. 

"Alexander Sandoval." He recited. Sandoval? Pinoy ba to? Alexa wondered. Alexander. Hm... Kahawig ko pa ng pangalan. "This is the hotel where I'm staying at and this is the receipt of the car I rented." He added as he showed the receipt to the guard who took it and wrote something down in his log book. 

"Sure thing." The guard muttered with a wink. "Make sure that the lady gets home." 

"I will." Alexander replied with a smile and Alexa's drunken mind nearly sighed. Ang gwapo naman nito. "Let's go?" He asked.