Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 2

"Body shot, body shot!"

Our cheers boomed along the loud music. Instead of enjoying each other's company, we joined Hannah's circle and joined in the fun. I couldn't say that we're close with them but it's fine. Mas sanay lang talaga kami na magkakasama palagi, hindi namin tipo sumama madalas sa malalaking grupo.

But tonight is different, so we agreed because we all wanted the same thing. And it's to have fun.

Umiling ako at ngumisi, inabot ang isang shot ng tequila at lemon mula sa kamay ni Hannah. I neared Juarez who's well-known by his last name. He's a multimedia art 3rd year student. Really—popular guy, dahil halos lahat ng nagiging modelo niya ay sa kama ang bagsak. The payment for being his model.

Magaling raw.

I wink at him, abruptly pulling him by the collar. I cupped his jaw, titling it myself. ibinuhos ko ang asin sa kanyang leeg at pinadaan ang dila ko rito. I swiftly drank the shot and sucked the lemon that he handed me. I mouthed my thanks, lightly tapping the tip of his nose.

Naghiyawan ang lahat sa aking ginawa. Crazy people. Sinadya pa akong itinulak ni Ayon, kaya nawalan ako ng balanse mabuti na lang at mabilis akong inalalayan ni Juarez. Marahan na namahinga ang kanyang kamay sa aking likuran.

Wala ako sa hulog ng tumawa malapit sa kanyang tenga. Marahas kong nilingon ang kaibigan nang makabawi. I rolled my eyes when I saw them laughing.

Malikot ang ilaw, sumasabay sa sayawan ng bawat tao. Ang iba't-ibang kulay nito ay nakatulong sa pag-ikot ng aking paningin. Nahihilo pero alam ko pa ang ginagawa ko. I walked through the sea of people dancing and grinding against each other. Some were already making out on the dance floor.

"Fuck!" I almost tripped.

It didn't help that the lights flickered obscenely. Binaybay ko ang hagdanan paakyat ako sa roofdeck balcony ng bar. The moon lit the place; this served as the smoking area. Nakalat ang mga upuan at bean bag sa sahig, ngunit mas pinili kong dumiretso sa railings na ang taas abot hanggang dibdib ko. Isinandal ko ang sarili nang mas lumala ang pag-alon ng aking paningin.

Tinungga ko ang smirnoff na hawak. Sige, inom pa kahit mamamatay na. I grunt, fishing out a box of cigarettes in my back pocket.

Malalim aking paghinga nang hindi ko mahanap ang lighter ko. Not far from where I stood, the neon lights peeked slightly through the open metallic door. I languidly tossed the empty bottle of smirnoff to the side after chugging its last drop.

I placed the cigarette between my lips, hoping it would help me ease the alcohol's effect on my body. I leaned my head back, falling behind the railing whilst tightly closing my eyes.

Ilang minuto ang nanatili sa naturang pwesto hanggang sa makarinig nang pagbukas ng lighter, hindi maipagkakaila na malapit lang ang presensya nito sa aking kinatatayuan. I stayed in my place as I opened my eyes, staring at him in a lazy manner.

Nang makuha niya ang gusto kong iparating ay inilapit niya ang lighter sa akin, mabagal kong hinithit ang sigarilyo ng sinindihan niya ito. Ibinuga ko ang usok sa kanyang mukha at inipit ito sa pagitan ng aking mga daliri. I squinted my eyes looking at his face, the first thing that I noticed was his slanted eyes—his slits were so defined that it seemed like he'd have a hard time seeing.

Hinarap ko siya at pumangalumbaba sa railing kaso dahil sa biglaang paggalaw ko ay mabilis rin akong napapikit. Umiling ako bago nagmulat ng mata.

"Are you a chinese?" smokes came out of my mouth as I spoke. Inalok ko siya ng sigarilyo na sinagot niya lang ng marahang pag-iling.