Glittering Gold | ONC 2024

Chapter 3: Evening Pleasure

CONTENT WARNING

This chapter contains mature themes and sexual scenes that may not be suitable for a very young audience.

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Danilo got on a jeepney going to the city center. By sundown, Baguio became a town for nightlife, with the famous Session Road cutting through its middle from the top of a high hill to the valley that sustained a vast market. All restaurants and shops became brightly lit and merry with music.

In a cold month like this, with fog bringing down humidity, the light of street lamps created a whimsical glow, making everything shimmer.

Danilo used to admire these nights, for they only came when the seasons changed. But not anymore. He ignored the beauty and liveliness of the city, making his way down to Harrison Road--the road beside Burnham Park.

He kept his eyes on the street, not wanting to look in the park's direction, afraid to see the spirit he'd seen the night before. It was just a dream. It was just a dream, he told himself. Despite the evidence he'd felt around his ankle, he didn't want to believe.

He dropped by a stall to buy a pack of Durex and a cheap shirt to change the sweat-smelly one he'd worn since yesterday. Then, he continued to walk until he found his way to a club near the park.

It was only past seven, and he knew the club wouldn't be busy on a Tuesday night. But there was always a big chance that someone was looking for relief like he was. On weekends, there would be the tourists looking for fun, but on weekdays, there would be the city's stressed-out population of college students.

Danilo waited outside the club until 10 P.M. before going inside. Some customers had already gone in before him. And though the club wasn't full, most standing tables were occupied. A couple of students were jumping to the beat on the dance floor, already drunk.

He positioned himself at a table away from the center, where he could see most of the room, ordering a Red Horse Stallion despite his head already spinning from all the alcohol he had earlier with Miguel.

Sipping his beer slowly to make it last, he scanned the room, waiting for the perfect girl to extend an invitation.

He kept combing his hair with his fingers, trying to ensure he didn't look like he'd just gotten out of bed. He wasn't the best-looking guy in the club, with skin sunburnt from working all day under the sun without sunscreen, but he had the body to work it--biceps built from rowing boats when tourists requested it.

An hour in, his drink was nearly done. He clenched his teeth, starting to get disappointed when five girls came in and made their way to a standing table across from his. With their uniformed blue skirts, he figured they were mall clerks who had just ended their shifts and were looking to relax.

Perfect. Danilo smiled, staring at their table. Glancing at them one by one, checking out the prettiest one, though he knew he'd never get her.

He set his lips like he had practiced in the mirror, making himself look sexy-brooding. His eyes jumped from one girl to another.

Come on. All it took was one look--one eye-to-eye contact.

A girl in a ponytail who was laughing looked up from her drink and caught on to Danilo's gaze.

Gotcha. Danilo smiled, locking onto her.

The girl looked down, bashful. But she was smiling, clearly liking the attention. It took a few seconds before she looked up at him again, round eyes wide and cheeks flushed.