"Challenge accepted on one condition. You'll come back to me."
Surprised, I stood there a moment, trying to understand what he was saying. I couldn't speak because I was so shocked. I didn't see that one coming.
"You're used to getting everything you want, aren't you?" I asked even though I already knew the answer to that question.
Hindi ko lubos na naiintindihan kung bakit pinipilit pa rin ni Chase ang sarili nito sa akin gayong napakaraming mga babae naman ang umaaligid dito.
Isa pa, wala pa akong nakikitang babaeng more than twice na kasama nito. Sabagay, bakit nga ba naman ito magtitiyaga sa isa lang eh hindi ito nawawalan ng babae kahit saan magpunta which is weird and deeply confusing dahil gusto pa nitong bumalik pa ako sa kanya.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong isagot kay Chase. Kung magmamatigas ba ako o papayag sa kagustuhan nito. I think I am digging my own grave. Bakit ko pa kasi nasabi pa iyon?
"Not really." He smirked, his voice low.
My heart was racing and my mind was still a mess. It got worse when Chase started walking towards me and he kept walking towards me until he was right in front of me.
I didn't know what to say. He sniffed along my neck, his fingers on my skin cooling me down. My heart was pounding, pounding harder as he looked into my eyes intently.
Bago pa ako mawala sa aking katinuan sa ilalim ng mala-apoy sa init na mga titig ni Chase na nasa aking harapan ay mabilis na tumalikod na ako. I went to head for the exit when he swiftly grabbed a hold of my arm and pulled me back. He spinned me around and pulled me into him again.
"Hindi pa tayo tapos." He whispered, his tone seductive, never looking away from my eyes, holding me there intently.
I could not hear the music anymore, my body was filled with his scent and the feel of his body so close to mine. There were butterflies in my stomach as he held me up to him.
I swallowed hard, but still couldn't think of anything to say. His manipulation over the situation was not an intelligent decision. He acted on impulse.
"I... I can't." I barely managed. He leaned back puzzled, his eyes darkening.
"You can't?" ulit nito, his gruff voice full of sarcasm. "Most women would die to be where you're standing, Jas."
Blood rushed to my head in anger. That just turned me off and my confidence came back. Bumalik sa aking isipan ang mga nagawang panloloko sa akin ni Chase noon kaya unti-unting nawawala ang mahikang tila ipinukol nito sa akin.
I stepped back, trying to suppress my temper, but I shot him a piercing glare. I wanted to slap him but I didn't want to cause a scene in the middle of the dance floor.
"I'm not most women, Chase." I snapped at him. "I also like gentlemen, not flirts like you." I sounded so immature, but I was thinking on my toes. Kinukumpara ako ng lalaking ito sa mga babae niya.
I saw his mouth twitch, once, twice and then he let out a dry laugh and despite the anger I was feeling, his laugh was calming. He eventually stopped laughing and when his eyes landed back on me, his expression turned cold.
"I can be a gentleman if that's what you want me to be." Chase said with a straight face. I felt my face blush and my ears burning up. My stomach was an uncomfortable mess of knots making me sick. "I could open doors for you, pull a chair out for you, and bring you flowers and chocolates. I can be very romantic for you."
Naitaas ko ang aking kilay sa narinig. This guy was just so sure of himself. Come on, Chase, the player and a heart breaker willing to change just for me? Oh, please. I couldn't even imagine him being a gentleman and a hopeless romantic.
Kung saka-sakali mang totohanin nito ang kanyang sinabi, he will definitely need a lot of guide because being romantic is hard work. And no matter how hard he'll try to study the pointers, he can't be romantic enough. Malabong mangyari iyon. Ang alam lang gawin ng lalaking ito ay ang makipag-flirt sa iba't ibang babae at iwan pagkatapos pagsawaan.
He was still staring down at me, his expression impassive. I prayed he wasn't being serious. But I felt his hand on my lower back, pulling me towards him.
"Do you know how beautiful you are, Jasmin?" Chase's voice was dangerously sexy, his cocky smile spread across his face.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero mas lalong lumakas ang kabog ng aking dibdib. I could see in his eyes what he was trying to hide. He wanted me and he knew that he had an effect on me.
"Not to mention sexy, too. Especially when you're mad." He continued, his eyes burning in excitement. "I could kiss you right now."
I blinked at Chase, shocked at the last sentence. He reached up and before he could make another move, I shoved away his hands and immediately placed my hand on his chest pushing him back.
"Look, this was a mistake," My words barely convinced myself. Chase was smug. "I shouldn't have come here at sabihing gawin mo ang bagay na iyon. I think I should go." I spluttered.
"Sigurado ka bang hindi mo na kakailanganin ang tulong ko? Because I'd gladly do it just to have you back."
Huminga ako ng malalim at pilit kinalma ang sarili. Bukod sa ginawa nitong panloloko sa akin, isa sa pinakainiinisan ko dito ay hindi man lang ito humingi ng paumanhin at ipakitang sinsero nga ito na gusto nitong ayusin ang aming nasira at naudlot na relasyon.
I glowered up at him and he was grinning from ear to ear. I so wanted to kick him for actually being so cool about this na tila ba wala itong ginawang kasalanan sa akin.
He was still the same Chase I knew, player, heartbreaker, and a complete douchebag. Gugustuhin ko pa bang pumasok sa laro kung saan ito eksperto? I have too much shit going on in my life right now at wala akong balak ibalik na naman ulit ito sa aking listahan.
Chase's
"You're not listening to me." akusasyon sa akin ng babaeng aking kasayaw nang mapuna nitong malayo ang aking iniisip.
Tiningnan ko ito. She was pouting prettily at me as we danced slowly, her hands on my shoulders and my hands around her waist. Hindi ko narinig ang sinabi nito dahil ang aking utak ay naglalakbay sa babaeng ilang ulit na akong inaayawan at nilalayuan.
Nitong mga nakaraang linggo, I was avoiding to talk about Jasmin, about us. I tried to get her off my system but I was still thinking of her, craving for her touch.
Ano ba ang aking dapat gawin? Sa pagnanais na sagipin ang sarili, napagpasyahan kong tuluyan nang dumistansya dito. Ngunit simula noong nalaman ko na nagsinungaling pala ito sa akin, mag-iisang buwan na akong wala sa sarili.
"I'm sorry. I got distracted." Amin ko sa babae. Hindi ko na ipinaliwanag ang dahilan. "Anong sinabi mo?"
Inilapit pa ng babae ang katawan nito sa akin habang sumasayaw kami sa tugtog. Naglakbay ang kamay nito sa aking braso at hinaplos saka ngumiti. "I said why don't we go to my place? Mas komportable doon at walang iistorbo sa atin."
Malinaw kung ano ang inaalok ng babae. Ako lamang ang tumatanggi dahil hindi ko gusto ang komplikasyon na idudulot kapag pinatulan ko ito. Matalik na kaibigan ng aking pamilya ang mga magulang nito kaya ko ito pinapakisamahan. Subalit nang sandaling ito, gusto ko lang ay dibersyon dahil hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang kinikilos ko.
"Maybe later, Babe. I'll just go get us something to drink." I said dryly.
"Wait Chase." pigil nito sa akin. Her grip on my shoulders tightened as her movements became more smooth. I gave her a questioning look. She smiled salaciously at me and then whispered, "Do you love me?"
I was just looking at her, quite shocked at what I have heard. I admit, she was brave enough to say those words to me. She looked at me with inquisitive eyes; like she was waiting for my answer. I ran my hand through my hair as I felt my jaw tensed.
"You should know by now the set up I only want." I said in a serious tone but with a smirk on my face. "No commitments, no strings attached fun, just sexual relationship with no promise of anything more than that."
Ito ang kauna-unahang babaeng nagtanong sa akin niyon. Sa simula palang ay nililinaw ko na sa aking mga nakakasama ang set-up na gusto ko. Love? Am I capable of falling in love?
"Syempre hindi sa ganoong paraan." She replied as she moved her hips to the beat whilst her hands slid down my chest very slowly. "I mean, in a sexual way."
I closed my eyes and breath a small sigh of relief. I smiled, pulling her closer to me.
"Of course I love you, Len. Oops, Jody. Sorry, Shara?"
"Palabiro ka talaga, Chase. It's Kate!" tatawa-tawang saway nito sa akin.
"Oh." I laughed.
Love? I think it's a stupid, shitty lie that all of the fairytales caused children to believe. And if love exists, I don't think I'm capable of falling in love with anyone.
I've had several relationships, and found myself unable to have those supposed 'warm fuzzy feelings' for the other person, and I didn't even care when the relationship ended. Not until I met Jas--
I shook my head to get rid of the thoughts. Nagpaalam na muna ako kay Kate para kumuha ng inumin. Bakit ba sa kahit na anong sitwasyon ay bigla-bigla na lamang pumapasok si Jasmin sa aking isipan? How could I feel such guilt? Such pain? How could someone like Jasmin do this to me?
Turning around, I looked up to see the most beautiful sight I've ever laid my eyes on. At first, her face was hard and she looked angry but when she looked into my eyes, it switched instantly. She was now looking at me nervously and she was holding her breath.
She was a hot number in a little pink dress and high heels that showcased extremely nice legs. Iyon ang unang tumawag ng aking atensyon. Ang perpektong mga binti nito na umaakyat pataas sa mahugis na mga hita at napakaseksing likuran na perpektong hinuhubog ng maliit nitong damit.
Nakalugay at nakakulot ang mahaba nitong pulang buhok. She had those sexy waves which gave men an idea how she would look like in bed after a night of love making.
Nakuha nito ang aking kompletong atensyon kaya binalewala ko na muna ang isiping layuan ito. She was as interesting as the rest of her. Tiningnan ako ng magaganda nitong mga mata na bahagyang itinago ng mahahabang pilik.
Our surroundings disappeared and we were suddenly the only two people in the other's sight. I stayed focus on her; only focusing on us. Kahit na galit ito ay maganda pa rin talaga ito.
Hindi ko inaasahang darating ang araw na hihingi si Jasmin ng pabor sa akin. Kahit na ipinahamak ako minsan ng aking kaibigang si Matt ay hindi ko akalaing isa pala ito sa dahilan kung bakit nilapitan ako ni Jasmin ngayon.
I wanted her and I knew that she wanted me. The only problem that I knew with Jasmin was that she was stubborn and I know that she will give in before I do. Sasakyan ko na muna ang katigasan ng ulo ng babaeng nasa aking harapan ngayon.
"Sigurado ka bang hindi mo na kakailanganin ang tulong ko? Because I'd gladly do it just to have you back."
"No thanks. I think I'll just handle this myself." She said with a smile. I think she's trying to hide her annoyance from me but failed to do so. "And oh, let me tell you this, Chase. There's no way in hell I'm going to come back to you so please do me a favor. If our paths will cross again in the future, just step aside and pretend you don't know me. It's bad to know jerks like you."
With that she turned around and scuried off. I smiled to myself then I started counting mentally. One, two, three, four...
Jasmin stopped walking and slowly turned to face me. Lumawak ang ngiti sa aking mga labi. Hmm, that was fast. Akala ko ay aabutin pa ng sampung segundo bago pa ito lilingon. Nginitian ko ito ng nakakaloko.
She raised her eyebrows at me and held my gaze challengingly. Oh this was really fun. I stared her down, still smirking for as long as I could.
Alam kong nangngingitngit na ito ng galit sa akin. She was so bad at hiding her anger and irritation. Anyone could tell that it was clear on her face. Backing out, she rolled her eyes at me bago padabog na nilisan ang bar.
As I made my way to the bar counter, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and called Sebastian, our family driver, letting him know to pick Jasmin up.
Inilarawan ko si Jasmin dito at sinabi kung ano ang kasuotan nito. Sinabi ko din kay Sebastian na napadaan lamang ito. Masyado nang madilim at delikado sa labas at alam kong hindi papayag si Jasmin na ihatid ko ito sa kanyang tinutulayan.
Muli kong sinulyapan ang exit ng bar at ngumiti. "You'll come back to me, Love. And I can't wait for that day."