Tanaw pa lang ni Ace ang bar na pupuntahan ay na-excite na siyang lalo. It's been so long since he's visited a place similar to this. He'd miss the booze, the noise, the deafening music, the blinking, blinding lights, and the crowd. He surely is looking forward to squeezing in between the grinding bodies on the packed dancefloor.
"Sabi na sa inyo, mas masayang lumabas tayo kesa doon natin ubusin ang magdamag sa condo ni Aris," ani Luigi, pinsan niyang namilit sa kanila na lumabas dahil boring daw ang party na ginagawa nila sa condo.
Nang malapit na sila sa entrance ng bar ay naagaw kaagad ng mga naggagandahang babae ang atensiyon niya. Some were surely in their teens, most in their early to mid-twenties. In his defense, with their body-hugging, skin-baring outfits, kahit sino naman ay tiyak na mapapatingin sa mga ito.
Humagikgik ang ilan sa mga ito, habang nakatingin din sa grupo nila. Several girls straightened their outfits and toyed with their hair while giving them the eye. Mga pinsan niya ang kasama, sadyang magaganda at gwapo ang lahi ng Ismael, kaya hindi na siya nagtaka.
"Hello, ladies," nakangiting bati ni Aris.
"Hi," nakangiting sagot naman ng isa sa mga ito.
Pero bago pa man magkaroon ng mahabang interaction ang mga ito ay tinapik ni Van ang balikan ng pinsan nila.
"Usapang matino. Ipapaalala ko lang na hindi tayo pwedeng magpakalasing. Walang babaeng ite-table. At maximum na dalawang oras lang tayo rito," ani Van. "Malalagot ako kay Wendy kapag nalaman niya 'to."
Tinapik ni Jude ang balikan ni Van. Isine-celebrate nila ang birthday nito sa condo ni Aris, pero pinagkaisahan nila ang pinsan hanggang sa napilit nila ito na pumunta sa bar. Ang totoo ay hindi pa man nag-uumpisa ang party nito ay pinagplanuhan na talaga nilang magpipinsan ang pamimilit dito. Kaya nga walang naglasing sa kanila sa condo dahil plano na talaga nilang sa bar gawin 'yon.
"Relax, bro. Selyado ang bibig ng bawat isa. Walang maglalabas ng cellphone. Bawal mag-text, tumawag o sumagot ng tawag. Lalong bawal ang pagkuha ng litrato. Wala tayong iiwang kahit anong ebidensiya, 'di ba?" anito na tiningan pa sila isa-isa.
Halos sabay-sabay naman silang nag-confirm sa sinabi nito. In fact, hinantay muna nilang makauwi ang mga kaibigan ni Van, maging ang mga pinsan ng girlfriend, nito bago nila ito niyayang mag-bar. Ginawa nila iyon para na rin masiguradong mga pili at mapagkakatiwalaang tao lang ang kasama nila sa 'extra activity' para sa party ni Van.
"Good. Mabuti na'ng malinaw." Muling tumingin si Van kay Aris. "Ipagpaliban mo muna saglit 'yan plano mo, Aris. Sa ibang araw mo na 'yan gawin."
Tumawa ang pinsan nila saka muling bumaling sa mga babae. "See you later, ladies," anito bago tumalikod at nagpaunang pumasok sa bar.
Ang nakabibinging tugtog, kwentuhan, tawanan, at tunog ng mga baso at bote ang unang sumalubong kay Ace. Inikot niya ang paningin sa paligid. Malamlam ang liwanag, patay-sindi ang ilaw sa dance floor, pero hindi naging handlang ang mga iyon para hindi niya mabistahan ang naggagandahang babaeng sumasayaw sa dance floor.
Exactly the scene he'd imagine. The scene he'd been missing.
"Ang ganda ng kislap ng mata mo, insan," halos pasigaw na salita ni Luigi. Sa ingay ng paligid ay kailangan nitong gawin iyon para magkaunawaan sila.
"Talagang magniningning ang mga mata niya," natatawang sagot ni Aris sa malakas din na tinig. "Mahigit isang taon ba namang mapugal sa kabundukan 'yan."
Commissioned officer na may ranggong Second Lieutenant na siya pagka-graduate sa PMA. At nang dumating sa Abra ay nawalan na siya ng oras para sa ganitong mga kasiyahan. Kung pagbabatayan ang schedule ng bakasyon, dapat ay pagkalipas ng ikatlong buwan, may two-week break siya, pero madalas na hindi iyon nasusunod dahil kailangan ding ikonsidera ang bilang ng mga sundalong maiiwan sa kampo.
Oo nga't may ranggo na siya, pero meron pa ring mas nakatataas sa kanya. Meron silang tinatawag na ERHOP: Every rank has its own privilege. At kahit na siya ang dapat na magbabakasyon, kung biglang nagbago ang sitwasyon at may senior officer na kailangang umuwi, walang choice, mamo-move ang bakasyon niya.
"Kung hindi mga sundalo, mga makakabilang grupo ang madalas ka-engkwentro nitong si Ace, kaya hayaan niyo nang magsaya 'yan ngayong gabi," ani Ross.
Ngumisi si Mark. "Lalo na't hindi natin alam kung kelan mauulit 'to. Baka sa susunod na pagkikita natin, nakabalot na ng watawat ang isang ito."
Tawanan ang naging tugon ng ibang kasama nila.
"Fuck you, bro!" tumatawang sagot ni Ace.
Pero hindi naman niya napasubalian ang sinabi ng pinsan. Kanina'y napag-usapan nila na nalagasan na kaagad ang batch nila kahit na noong isang taon lang sila naka-graduate. Bilang second lieutenant, sila ang madalas nagle-lead sa tropa tuwing may patrol. At dahil laging nasa frontline, madalas talagang sa ranggo nila may nadadali sa field.
Tinapik ni Luigi ang balikat niya. Nakangisi ito. "Dahil do'n kaya ikaw lang ang nag-iisang exempted sa rule na walang babae, 'insan."
"Sige na. mamili ka na," nakangising ani Ross na sumulyap sa gawi ng dance floor.
Ace grinned. Pleased. Iyon naman kasi ang totoong pakay niya kaya sinigundahan niya ang pamimilit ng mga pinsan kay Van kanina. It's been so long since he'd experienced nightlife—since he'd been with a girl.
A girl wearing a red off-shoulder midriff blouse and a black miniskirt caught his attention. She's in the middle of the dancefloor with other girls circling and hyping her. And he is well aware that he's not the only one interested in her. The sensual way she dances made a lot of hot-blooded men stare at her. He noticed several men were trying to be near her. They just can't succeed due to the girls who made sure she could dance uninterrupted inside the circle they made.
"Sige na. Lapitan mo na bago ka pa maunahan ng iba," udyok ni Mark. "Do'n kami pupuwesto sa may gawing dulo," anito na itinuro ang booth na inookupa na nina Van.
Tumango si Ace bago muling ibinalik sa dancefloor ang atensiyon. Pero imbes na sa babaeng unang nakakuha ng atensiyon niya, ang buong focus niya ay nalipat sa iba.
The world seemed to slow down, the noise died down, and everyone else seemed to vanish as he stared at the girl walking towards him. Her oval face is framed by ringlets of hair that perfectly fall right at her shoulders. Her rioting, curly hair catches the blinking colorful lights, and it casts a beautiful glow on her, like she's sparkling. Her round eyes twinkled, and her full and inviting lips smiled as if excited to see him.
Ace breathed deeply when she stopped right in front of him. He looked at her, mesmerized, as her inviting scent infiltrated his senses. Her gray eyes looked at him intently, as if piercing his soul. He wondered if that was her real eye color, but if it wasn't, gray eyes perfectly soothed her. She has a cute little nose. She has flawless skin; not a blemish or any imperfection can be seen. He thought she had full lips, but this close, he can tell she has thin lips. Her skillfully applied make-up made her lips so full and inviting.
The girl smiled some more before she moved closer to him. She smelled of sunshine with a hint of booze in her breath—a combination that made Ace feel as though he'd been intoxicated. But her next move caused the wind to get knocked out of his chest; she tiptoed and landed a hasty kiss on his surprised mouth.
Sa isang iglap ay muling nanumbalik ang pandinig ni Ace. Ngunit sa halip na ang tawanan at tugtog sa loob ng bar, ang malakas na tibok ng puso ang biglang bumingi sa kanya.
"Fuck," Ace murmured as he was suddenly thrust back into reality. He grabbed her waist before she could move away from him. The contour of her soft body perfectly fitted his. He lifted her face and looked into her eyes. Ace kept his focus, refusing to be thrown into the wonderful abyss as he stared at the enthralling beauty inside his arms. "Let me show you how to properly give a kiss, baby."
Bago pa man lumapat ang labi niya rito ay umiwas ito kaya sa malambot na pisngi lang niya ito nahalikan. Yumapos ito sa kanya at saka bumulong. "I need your help. A guy's been pestering me. He simply won't accept the word no. I told him I was just waiting for my boyfriend. I didn't see a girl with you when you entered, so I grabbed the opportunity. He's actually looking at us right now."
Luminga si Ace. Sa gawing kanan ay may lalaking nakatingin sa kanila. Nang titigan niya ito nang matiim ay bigla naman itong nagbawi ng tingin at nakipag-usap sa isa pang lalaking katabi nito.
She then interlaced their hands together and tugged him towards the bar. Nang makita nitong iisa na lang ang available na bangko doon ay tumingin ito sa kanya. "Will you stand behind me?"
Ngumiti si Ace. "Sure, baby."
Nang maupo ito sa stool ay umangat ang skirt na suot nito. Ace had a perfect view of her shapely legs. She put his hand on her waist before she leaned on the counter. "One Cosmopolitan, please." Lumingon ito sa kanya. "How about you? What do you want to drink?"
Ace grinned, fighting the urge to inappropriately touch and squeeze the soft body he was holding. "You, baby."
She grinned back before she purposely leaned on him. "Are you single?"
"I am. And you?"
"Same. I would rather be in a casual hook-up than in a relationship."
"Really? You didn't come across as a casual hook-up girl."
She shrugged her shoulders. "I've seen so many cases of infidelity on my field of work. Kaya ayon, mas pipiliin kong makipag-casual hook-up na lang. Mas okay 'yon kasi walang commitment. It's easier that way. Iwas heartbreak."
Nagpasalamat ito sa waiter nang iabot nito ang order niyang cocktail. Matapos sumimsim ng Cosmo ay itinakip nito ang kamay sa ibabaw ng rim. "I'm Shyra, by the way. I work as a call center agent, letting off some steam before I go home to an empty condo."
Kumunot ang noo ni Ace. "You went here alone?"
"No. I'm with my officemates. But they're with their partners." She once again sipped the drink before she offered it to him. Matapos sumimsim sa baso nito ay muli nitong tinakpan iyon gamit ang kamay. "What's your name? What brought you here?"
"I'm Ace. We're celebrating my cousin's birthday."
"What do you do for a living?" She tucked a wayward ringlet behind her ear and once again sipped her drink.
"I'm a soldier."
One of her perfect eyebrows rose. "Oh. So, you literally have to live pala to continue earning." A smile formed on her inviting lips. "Now, I'm having second thoughts about whether you're actually single. It's common knowledge naman na hindi lang sa call center talamak ang kaliwaan, pati sa mga sundalo."
Tumawa si Ace. "Single at ready to mingle talaga ako, baby."
Imbes na sumagot ay itinaas na lang nito ang kopita, Habang iniinom ang natitirang laman niyon ay nakatitig ito sa kanya. Nang ibaba nito iyon ay tumingin ito sa waiter. "One more Cosmo, please."
Pagkasabi niyon ay bumaling ito sa kanya. Hinawakan nito ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa bewang nito. Gayon na lang ang pagpipigil ni Ace nang ipatong nito iyon sa naka-expose na hita. "That would be my last cocktail. I still want to be sober when we get out of here."
"You want to leave here with me, baby?"
She smiled seductively. "Don't you want me to, Daddy?"
Ace grinned. Pinangahasan niyang damhin ang hita nito; pinisil niya iyon. "Let's go."
"I may be living alone, but I can't bring you into my condo."
"A hotel room will do."
She grinned but held on to what she was about to say when the waiter served her drink. She removed his hand from her leg and used it to cover the rim of her drink. She then leaned towards him and murmured, "I'll just go get my bag and let my colleagues know that I'm about to head out. You better make sure my Cosmo won't be laced with drugs. I'm a whole lot freakier when I'm sober."
She purposely bit his earlobe, then grazed her lips on his cheeks until she reached his lips. Ace eagerly opened his lips to deepen their kiss. He felt electrocuted when her tongue played with his. He used his free arm to pull her body closer to his. He's about to dominate the kiss when she pulls back.
She grinned wickedly as she removed the traces of her lipstick from his face. "I won't remove all of it. I like to leave a little warning to all the girls here that you were taken."