No one would think she was seventeen years old.
Rad let his gaze travel from her red high heels up to her long, toned legs. Her short black dress barely reached her mid-thighs, showcasing creamy smooth skin. He wondered what she would taste like if he ran his tongue over that soft creamy flesh.
His mouth curved into a smile.
She shouldn't be wearing that, he thought idly as he ran his eyes over the curve of her hips and narrow waist. Her dress was not made for barely eighteen-year olds. That dress was made for women willing to be f*cked long and hard. Yelena Florence Valderama may look like a sex siren in her little black dress and long wavy brown hair, but she was just a little bratty girl playing dress up.
"Hey, Rad, baka matunaw na 'yung babae n'yan."
Ibinaling niya ang titig kay Joshua. Nakangisi ito sa kanya habang tumutunga ng beer.
Nakataas naman ang sulok ng mga labi ni Patrick habang nakatitig din sa grupo nina Yelena. "That's one fine piece of ass," sulsol ng dating kaklase.
Tipping his head back, he returned his gaze to the girl. Tumatawa ito sa kung anong sinabi ng kaibigan nito. The pulsing lights danced across her face, splaying shadows and lights over her wide dark eyes and flushed cheeks. His eyes drifted to her full pink lips, and he lazily wondered what it would feel like to have those soft lips wrapped around his arousal.
He took a swig of his beer as his gaze flicked to the smooth column of Yelena's neck, down to the soft swell of her breasts. Patrick was right, he thought as put his beer down; Yelena Valderama was one fine piece of ass, and he would enjoy f*cking with her.
"So, ano na, Rad, may ibubuga ba ang mga babae dito sa mga babae sa States?"
Ibinalik niya ang titig kay Joshua, at nakitang mapanukso ang tingin nito. May curiosity din doon at kaunting inggit. Rich preppy boy, poster boy noon si Joshua. Eighteen years old ang mga ito pero mukhang gatas pa rin dapat ang iniinom at hindi beer. Physically, he was a year older than them, but in all other aspects, he had always been older than most twenty-five or thirty-year-olds. He never had the same innocence as most kids. Never had the same boyish excitement.
"I didn't come to the States to play ."
Tumawa ang dalawang kausap.
"Of course, of course." Tumunga ulit si Patrick ng beer nito. "But still, give us deets, bro. Come on, two years din tayong naging magkakaklase. Spill it."
Umiling si Rad sa mga ito at bumalik ang titig niya kay Yelena. Nakaupo pa rin ito sa may bar, may kung anong alcoholic drink na iniinom. Sarcastic siyang ngumiti.
The little princess sure was getting naughty. He wondered what her father would say if the bastard found out sweet princess Yelena was not as sweet and innocent as everybody thought.
Tinawag niya ang isa sa mga server at lumapit ito sa kanila. May ibinulong siya rito at pasimpleng itinuro si Yelena. Kunot-noong napatitig din ang server sa dalaga.
"Do it," utos niya.
Kahit lito pa rin, tumango ang server at umalis.
"What's that?" usisa ni Joshua.
"Nothing."
"Wow naman, Rad, ang damot mo naman. What was that?"
"Just a message from my father."
"Yeah, yeah, fine, 'wag mong sabihin. It must be nice to own a place like this." Inilibot ng dating kaklase ang titig sa paligid ng club.
Makabasag-eardrum ang tugtog ng banda sa stage, at matatalas ang ilaw na pumupulso sa dance floor.
"Kapag naka-graduate na tayo ng college, let's open a club like this. Tayong tatlo nila Patrick. Since your father owns this, you'd know the ropes, gawin natin, ha?"
Simple lang siyang tumango.
"Ba't di ka na nga pala babalik sa Ateneo? Ba't sa ibang high school ka pa papasok? One year na lang, bro, di mo pa tapusin kasama namin."
"I have some things to settle," sagot niya.
"Settle?" Tumawa ulit si Joshua. "Wow naman, ang bigat pakinggan. Ba't meron bang may utang sa 'yo sa school na papasukan mo?"
Utang. He ran his fingertips up and down the cool beer bottle as he stared at the girl laughing with her friends as if the whole world was created to please her. She looked so happy and pretty he wanted to smash something and spill dirt and blood all over her.
Mapait siyang ngumiti. Napakababaw ng salitang 'utang.' It was more than that. They took more than that from him.
"Something like that," mababang tugon ni Rad, nakatitig pa rin kay Yelena.
*****
"God, Des, 'wag kang kumuha ng pictures!" Tumatawang hinagilap ni Yelena ang smartphone ng kaibigan para pigilan ito sa pagkuha ng larawan. "Ebidensya 'yan, ano ka ba!"
"Come on, tayo-tayo lang naman. Wala namang ibang makakakita nito. Cheese, dali!"
Tumatawang tinakpan niya ang mukha para hindi siya makunan. "No! You'll never get evidence I was here!"
Binunggo ni Melissa ang balakang niya. "Ano ka ba, girl! Okay lang 'yan." Hinawi nito ang hanggang balikat na buhok at ibinaba ang boses para sila lang ang makarinig. "Safe ang fake ID natin, walang makakaalam sa school. And 'andito sina Kuya, we're safe here."
"Yeah, yeah." Inabot niya ang baso ng piña colada at uminom Kumalat ang lasa ng rum at pineapple sa kanyang bibig, at pinigilan niyang mag-squirm sa tapang ng flavor. She couldn't look awkward or inexperienced in front of the bartenders and bouncers. Tatadyakan sila ng mga ito palabas ng club at baka i-report pa sila sa school nila kapag nalamang underage siya. She'd die of humiliation if her school and her parents would find out about this.
"Chill out, girl!" sulsol ni Desiree saka hininaan din ang boses. "Okay lang 'yan. Your parents won't find out. Kakuntsaba natin ang maids nina Melissa. Sasabihin nila na natutulog na tayo kasi napagod tayo sa pag-aaral."
"Yeah, yeah." She waved her hand to dismiss her friend.
She didn't want to think about it. Lalo lang siyang kinakabahan. Ang akala ng mga magulang niya ay nag-overnight siya kina Melissa para mag-aral. But here she was, partying with her friends in a club.
"Come on, sayaw tayo!" Hinila sila ni Melissa. "It's my birthday tomorrow, let's just party!"
Ibinaba niya ang inumin at sumama sa mga ito sa gitna ng dance floor. The heat and beat of the music melted into her blood. Napaligiran sila ng mga nagsasayaw na katawan, at halos hindi na niya marinig ang tawanan ng mga kaibigan sa lakas ng pintig ng musika. She laughed and threw up her arms, letting her body move into the pulsing rhythm. Her eyes drifted shut, and she moved her head from side to side. Ramdam niya sina Melissa at Desiree sa kanyang tabi, sumasabay rin sa pulso ng tugtog. Drops of sweat slithered down her back and between her breasts as heat rose around her. It felt good to dance. To just close her eyes and feel the rhythm pumping into her blood.
"Sa susunod na buwan, you'll turn eighteen, too, and we'll all be legit!" tili ni Melissa sa tabi niya.
She laughed and jumped up and down. Music hummed in her blood, pounded in her head. The energy and heat felt like a drug blasting through her bloodstream. Tila dinadala siya ng alon sa paggalaw ng mga katawan sa paligid nila. It felt awesome. God, she could—
She felt a tingling sensation at the base of her neck. Wala sa sariling napamulat siya. Colors and lights pulsed around her amid the writhing bodies on the dance floor. Pero tila nakatayo pa rin ang kanyang mga balahibo sa batok. It felt as if someone was watching her.
Nakakunot ang noo, nagpatuloy si Yelena sa pagsabay sa pintig ng musika at iginala ang titig. She found herself staring into cool dark eyes. Sandali siyang natigilan, at bumunggo siya sa kung sino sa kanyang likuran.
"Sorry," mabilis niyang paumanhin sa nakabangga na parang hindi naman napansin ang nangyari. Patuloy ang lahat sa pagtalon at pagsabay sa tugtog. Ibinalik niya ang titig sa lalaki sa isang sulok ng club.
And there he was, his gaze still fixed on her. A smile played at the corners of his mouth as he stared at her, and she felt prickles of heat crawling across her skin.
What the hell, Yelena? she thought, suddenly feeling uneasy.
"Girl, pupunta lang ako ng restroom!" sigaw ni Desiree sa tainga niya.
Wala sa sariling tumango siya sa kaibigan kahit nakatitig pa rin sa lalaki. Even while curled in his seat, he looked like a big dangerous cat. Iyong tipong biglang tatalon at manghahabol ng biktima. Madilim sa puwesto nito at medyo malayo, pero aninag ni Yelena ang mga linya at anggulo sa mukha ng binata. Deep set eyes, strong nose, chiseled cheekbones and hard jaw, he looked like every painter's wet dream. He looked close to her age, yet he seemed... older, harder, stronger. Intimidating.
Nag-unat ito ng katawan at tumayo mula sa mesa nito. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at muntikan na siyang mapaatras.
Tall, lean and powerful, he had badass pulsing through the air around him like static electricity. Her body froze as she watched him walk toward her.
"Yelena, what's wrong?" sigaw ni Melissa sa tabi niya.
Bumuka ang kanyang bibig para magsalita, pero parang paos ang lalamunan niya. Tumikom siya at lumunok.
"Nothing," sagot niya sa kabila ng dagundong ng tugtog.
He wove through the throng of gyrating bodies, his cool gaze never leaving her face. May mga humawak at humila dito para sumayaw, pero nagawa nitong tanggalin ang hawak ng mga iyon nang walang hirap. Her heart thumped hard in her chest, and her blood roared in her ears. Tila nalunod ang musika sa paligid, at ang pintig ng kanyang puso at pagbugso ng dugo ang tanging naririnig niya.
He wore all black, and he could have been a fallen angel roaming the earth among mortals. Cheesy, she knew. Nahawa na yata siya kay Desiree na mahilig magbasa ng mga romance novel at manood ng mga telenovela.
Huminto ang lalaki sa harap niya, at tila magliliyab ang damit niya sa init na inilalabas nito. God, he was tall. 5'6" na siya at three inches ang heels niya, pero kailangan pa rin niyang tumingala nang todo para matitigan ito. And she was right, he was gorgeous. Dark eyes, a straight-edge nose, chiseled jaw and full sensual lips. Leonardo da Vinci would love this guy. She opened her mouth to say something, but he just shook his head, and cupped her hips with his palms. The heat of his palms seeped through the fabric of her dress, spreading across her skin and permeating her flesh. Napasinghap siya at napahawak sa biceps ng estranghero.
His coiled muscles flexed under her fingers, and a slight flush tainted his cheekbones. He bent his head, his hot breath gusting over her ear.
"Just dance with me." Hinila siya ng lalaki palapit sa katawan nito.
The naughty beat of drums vibrated through the dance floor, and shot up to her legs. Nakita ni Yelena sa gilid ng mata si Melissa, nakanganga at nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatitig sa kanya. Nilingon niya ito. Hr friend grinned and gave her two thumbs up.
Oh, shoot...
She felt his big hand splay across her back, searing her skin with the heat of his palm. Parang mahihilo siya.
"What are you–"
He pulled her harder against him, pressed her breasts against the solid wall of his chest.
"You're beautiful," he murmured against her cheek.
Ramdam niya ang pag-iinit ng kanyang mga pisngi.
The music continued to pound around them, and he held her close as their bodies pulsed into the beat. He was hard and warm everywhere. His arms around her, his body curved against her and his...
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Oh, my God. He was....
She couldn't even say it.
Gusto niya itong itulak pero parang naparalisa siya. A foreign heat pulsed low in her stomach, awakening something she couldn't understand. Her heart wouldn't stop beating so fast.
Sinapo ng malaki at magaspang nitong palad ang kanyang batok at itinaas ang mukha niya. His eyes were dark pools of liquid heat.
At the back of her mind, someone was screaming at her to stop it. Danger! Danger! sigaw nito. This was out of your league! tili nito. But she felt like a moth mesmerized by the flame. Beautiful, enticing, fatally compelling ...
She would burn, she could already feel the fire licking along her skin, but she could not stop it. He was beautiful in a wild, primitive way. Like fire, like the sea, like a freaking erupting volcano.
He leaned toward her and her breath hitched.
She knew self-defense. Her father had always been overprotective, so she knew how to take care of herself. It wouldn't get out of hand. She could handle it. And Melissa's brothers were around. Nothing could go wrong. She's safe. She's a big girl.
Just a taste.
His mouth brushed against hers and it felt like she was jolted with electricity. She gasped against his mouth, her hands fisting in his shirt.
His grip tightened on her nape, his fingers tangling in her hair. He tugged at her locks, and the bite of pain sent shivers of heat through her veins.
Oh, God...
His gaze bore into hers, and she was drowning, free falling...
His mouth covered hers and the world started spinning. Hot, wet, and soft. He tasted like beer and lemon. And mint. And him. Yelena was sure that strong, tangy flavor was all him.
Bumigat ang mga talukap niya at kusang sumara ang mga mata. She pressed harder against him, her arms winding around his neck. Hard, warm and solid, he surrounded her. He smelled a little like smoke and something cold and woodsy. His tongue tangled with hers, stroking her deep, and he groaned in her mouth. She felt the vibration across his hard chest, thrumming against her own breasts. Heat suffused her blood, flooded her head. And everything felt sharper, his scent and taste stronger.
His hand flexed against her back, pulling her closer, pressing her harder. Mas nakakalasing ang lasa nito kaysa sa piña colada.
"Oh my God! Yelena!"
Napatalon siya sa sigaw ni Desiree malapit sa kanya.
Hinila niya ang sarili mula sa yakap ng binata, at namimilog ang mga mata na napatitig dito. Hinihingal ito kagaya niya, namumula ang mga labi dahil sa halik nila. Hunger, iyon lamang ang maitatawag niya sa nasa mga mata nito. The wild lights gleamed across the hard lines of his face, sharpening the angles, highlighting the strong curves.
Oh, my God... Napaatras siya.
Then, his mouth curved into a smile, the hunger in his eyes fading into cold emptiness. Nakakaloko ang tingin nito sa kanya. "You're easy," he said. Iyon lang at tumalikod ito sa kanya.
Pakiramdam ng dalaga ay may sumampal sa kanya.
"Yelena!" sigaw ulit ni Desiree. Naramdaman niya ang paghawak nito sa kanyang balikat. May sinasabi pa ito at si Melissa pero hindi niya maintindihan. Pumipintig ang lahat ng ugat sa kanyang katawan, at ayaw tumigil ng pagbugso ng dugo sa mga tainga. Mainit na mainit ang mga pisngi niya at parang ang bigat ng ulo.
The cold eyes, the derisive smile...
You're easy.
Parang mag-aapoy siya sa hiya. Hinagip niya ang mga kamay ng dalawang kaibigan. Marupok ang tinig ni Yelena nang magsalita siya. "Let's get out of here."
Hinila niya ang mga ito palabas ng dance floor.
*******
He watched Yelena walk out of the club.
"F*ck, Rad! What was that?" bulalas ni Joshua nang makalapit sa kanya.
"The hell, bro. Ba't di mo sinabi sa 'min na kilala mo 'yung chic na 'yon. F*ck, she's hot," dagdag ni Patrick.
Hinanap ng mga mata ni Rad si Desmond, ang server na tinawag niya kanina. Nakita niyang palapit ito sa kanya.
"Nakuha mo?" tanong niya nang makalapit ito.
Tumango ang lalaki. "Yes, sir." Ibinigay nito sa kanya ang isang maliit na case.
Naglabas siya ng dalawang one thousand bill sa wallet at ibinigay sa server. Tumango ito at umalis.
"Whoa!" Tumawa si Joshua. "Ano 'yan?"
"Not drugs," malamig niyang sagot. He would never deal with drugs again. He had enough of that. Ibinulsa niya ang case sakto sa pagtunog ng kanyang cell phone. Inilabas niya iyon at nakitang Father ang nakalagay sa screen. His fingers closed around the phone. Yes, Renato Javier would always be the only man he'd call father.
Binalingan ni Rad ang dalawang kasama. "I need to take this." Naglakad siya palayo sa mga ito at tinungo ang staff room. "Papa."
"You saw her?"
Pumasok siya sa silid at isinara ang pinto. "Yes."
"What can you say about her?"
Naalala niya si Yelena. Ang mahabang buhok, ang malalaking mata, ang mapupulang labi. Her sweet heady scent, her soft skin, her honey-like taste.
He pursed his lips. "Rich, spoiled, privileged."
"Like the man who raised her."
Mapait siyang napangiti. "Like the man who raised her."
"He's going to try to sway you when he finds out about you. He's going to spin lies and lies to deceive you."
"I know he will."
"Never believe him. He's a monster."
Tumitig si Rad sa dingding. It was red and black, the color of blood and death; of misery and pain and nothingness.
Nakita niya sa isipan ang isang babae, pagod ang mga mata at payat ang katawan. Umiiyak, hirap na hirap.
Tumiim-bagang siya at kumuyom ang palad. "I know."
"Happy birthday, Rad."
Isa pang imahe ang nakita niya. Ang parehong babae, nakangiti, maliwanag ang mga mata, masayang nakatitig sa kanya. "Happy birthday, Rad!" He swallowed the lump of pain in his throat.
"Yes," he muttered, "happy f*cking birthday."