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Simula

"Quincy, come on!"

Kanina pa ako niyaya ni Ayla na sumayaw pero wala pa ako sa mood. I held my hand up to signal her to wait while I drink another shot of liquor. Gumapang sa lalamunan ko ang init ng alak. It feels so good.

"Uuwi na ako kapag hindi ka pa sumama!"

I rolled my eyes and stood up. She laughed and grabbed me towards the crowd. The club is packed today with familiar faces from our university. I guess, hindi lang kami ng mga kaibigan ko ang nandito para mag-celebrate. After four years of hard work, we are finally graduating. I'm not a frequent club-goer but I allowed myself to enjoy tonight because I deserve it. Besides, my parents won't get mad at me for partying.

Some people greeted me as I walked past them while walking towards the heart of the dance floor. Binitiwan ni Ayla ang kamay ko nang nasa gitna na kami. Nagsimula siyang sumayaw sa tugtog ng club. Tumawa ako at nakisabay na rin sa kaniya.

The DJ changed the music into a more upbeat one, so the crowd went wilder. Sumikip na rito sa parte namin ni Ayla. People are already grinding their body on mine kaya't nilapitan ko si Ayla na sumasabay sa mga tao.

"I'll go now!" I shouted at her.

Tila hindi niya yata ako narinig dahil nasa lalaking kasayaw niya ang atensiyon niya. I shooked my head and weaved my way out of the crowd. People are getting wilder, dahilan para maapakan na nila ang paa ko. I shouted in pain when a heel stepped on my foot. I glared at the lady but she doesn't seem to realize what she's done.

Malapit na ako makaalis sa dance floor nang bigla akong mapatid. I thought I'm going to hit my face when a strong arm caught me. I stood quickly and fixed my dress na umangat yata nang kaonti. Siksikan pa rin dito kaya naman halos magkadikit ang katawan namin. I faced the man who helped me so I can thank him.

"Thank you..."

The man smiled at me. His eyes almost disappeared and dimples showing.

Fuck, ang gwapo.

Inilapit niya ang bibig niya sa tenga ko. My breath hitched when he did that. Amoy na amoy ko rin ang pabango niya. I looked down and saw a tattoo on his collarbone.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Y-yeah. Yeah," I said while nodding my head. I smiled at him. "Thanks..."

He nodded at me and I slowly back away out of the crowd. He was looking at me until I finally got out of the dance floor.

Who was that?

Bumalik na ako sa table namin. Most of my blockmates are gone. Maybe they went to the dance floor after me and Ayla. Umupo ako at agad na kumuha ng inumin.

Xander, my blockmate, stood up from his sit and sat beside me. "Pagod ka na agad?"

"Nah. It's too crowded there," I said and took another sip on my drink. I heard him laugh. I looked at him, raising one eyebrow. He only shook his head and smiled.

He emptied his glass and leaned towards me. "You looked great tonight." He said.

"Thanks! You look great as well."

"Are you having fun?"

"Yeah. Ikaw?"

He licked his lower lip and layed his head on the backrest of the couch. "Quite bored." He said while looking at the ceiling.

I was about to ask him when some of my blockmates stood up and called Xander. Niyayaya nila siyang pumunta sa dance floor but she just waved them off. Ilang ulit siyang pinilit hanggang sa napilitan na siyang sumama.