Aaron
"Levi..." I murmured, tracing the rim of my tequila glass with my finger. "Levi, Levi, Levi..."
"That was his name, right?" Inangat ko ang mga mata ko to meet Kieran’s gaze beside Landon. Tumango siya.
We’re at our usual spot tonight, called Black Dog. Kung tutuusin, baka mas kilala pa kami rito kaysa sa mga staff mismo. Sa katunayan, we’re basically friends with the bartender-slash-manager of the bar, Kuya Marcello.
I’ve probably burned a small fortune here already, but whatever. The drinks hit hard, the vibe’s always lit, and you can never go wrong with the ladies. Lagi't lagi kang may mabibingwit.
"Does he have… someone?" tanong ko, leaning back in my chair. "Friends… admirer… lover, perhaps?"
Kieran just shrugged, taking a swig of his drink. "Siguro… wala na ’yan sa book ko. Pero minsan nakikita ko siyang may kasamang babae sa campus. Ba't ba?"
Part of me was just curious. But more than that, it’s always useful to know someone’s weakness. You could never go wrong targeting what matters to them.
Umiling ako, can’t help but let a smirk slip. "Nothing."
Turns out, the fucker’s just a freshman at El U. Kaya naman pala ngayon ko lang napansin, even though we literally live next door. Then again, I don’t really give a shit about most people. Ni mga naka-one night stand ko, hindi ko alam ang mga pangalan. Siya pa kaya? Siya pang completely irrelevant to me, at least before he fucked up.
But Kieran... He's a different breed. Kilala niya ang lahat. From the curve of someone’s hip to the shape of their jaw... hell, baka pati fingerprints pa nila, kilala niya.
And not just from talking to them either. Sometimes, he just picks things up from gossip.
"Are you planning to get back at him again, Aaron?" Landon asked, brows furrowed.
I just shrugged. "Wala akong sinabi."
"Well, you act like it," sagot niya. "At kung hindi naman, baka naman interesado ka sa kaniya."
I glared at him, glad I wasn’t wearing shades right now. The dim lights and neon glare made the bruise on my eye look less obvious anyway.
"Fuck you, bruh!" I snapped, tossing him a slice of lemon.
"What?" Landon chuckled. "You’re practically digging up his entire background. Even asking if he’s got a lover?"
"Shut up, Landon." I rolled my eyes, then downed my drink.
"Pero, seriously," he went on. "If you’re planning something, huwag na. Nakabawi ka na kanina, sapat na ’yon. Baka lumala pa."
Here he goes again, with his damn moral compass. Tinaguriang Prince Charming nga naman. Ang anghel na naligaw ng landas at napadpad sa pugad naming mga basagulero.
"He wouldn’t have punched you in the first place if you hadn’t provoked him," he added quietly.
"What do you know, Landon?" I snapped. "Please, let me do my thing. I’m not a kid anymore. Alam ko ang ginagawa ko."
He let out a sigh, almost disappointed. "Tss. You’re older… but you sure as hell ain’t wiser."
I didn’t answer. Tumingin na lang ako sa dance floor, kasi alam kong pag nagsalita pa ako, baka lalo lang uminit ulo ko.
Then my eyes landed on this sexy fella.
Eyes locked on mine habang umiindayog siya sa tugtog. She wore a body-hugging dress that stopped right at her knees, showing off every curve she had.
