Love Beyond Shadows (Santiago #1)

Seven

Kabanata 7

Bar. I’m in the bar, and since it’s Friday, it’s my “Friyay.” Of course, I’m just a 28-year-old woman who’s living life and, as a woman, I love to have fun. I have boundaries when it comes to having fun. Thrice a month I’ll go to a club to have fun, and every Saturday I often go to the mall for some leisure. Even though I’m a CEO of a company, I am still a woman who loves to go clubbing.

Sayaw roon, sayaw dito—kahit saang banda may nagsasayaw. The lights are so painful to the eyes, but I get used to it because this is my favorite bar. Kasi nga, this is owned by Samantha, one of my dear friends. Napagdesisyunan kong magsaya dahil nga sa sunod-sunod na mga trabaho ko, and I know for the upcoming week I won’t be able to give myself a “relax.”

“Hey, Han, want to have some dance on the floor?” The voice of a sweet woman can be heard behind my back. I know who it is without looking. I finish the last liqueur I have and face her. As usual, she’s a woman who doesn’t give a damn, and that’s one reason why she’s my friend. With her silver backless tight dress paired with silver heels, she looks stunning. “Fuck off, Sam,” I answer as I shift my gaze to the dance floor.

“Napaka-killjoy mo naman, Han. Sayaw lang nga, at tsaka sayang yang OOTD mo pag di mo sinayaw yan,” she replies to me while giving me the ick look. I roll my eyes at her. “Wala sa suot ko ang mood ko, Sam.” I thought she would give up trying to annoy me, but I guess I’m wrong. Instead of leaving me alone, she grabs my hand and leads me to the dance floor.

“Let’s dance, bitch. Hindi ka na babata pa, so live a life!” she shouts at me while moving her hips and swaying all around. She looks like she’s having fun. Napakasakit talaga ng ulo nito, pero pasalamat na lang ako na siya lang ang naririto, dahil pag magsidatingan ang iba, alam kong mas sasakit ang ulo ko. “Hey, Hanna, just for tonight, let’s pretend we’re not businesswomen, okay?”

And all I could do was sway my hips and feel the melody. Di naman ganun ka-revealing ang suot ko since it’s just black leather jeans and a sexy crop top.

As the music pulsed through the bar, Sam and I found ourselves lost in the rhythm. The beat was infectious, and despite my initial reluctance, I was starting to enjoy the moment. We laughed, we danced, and for a while, I forgot about the looming deadlines and responsibilities that awaited me.

Hours passed, and the drinks kept flowing. I could feel the warm buzz of alcohol in my veins, making everything seem a bit more vibrant and a bit more fun. Sam, ever the life of the party, had already recruited a small group of regulars who were now dancing with us. The energy was electric, and it felt like a true escape from my high-stress life.

Shit, I’m drunk.

“Hey, Han,” Sam shouted over the music, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s play a game!”

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite being drunk. “What kind of game?”

“A game of daring and kisses!” she said with a grin. “It’s called ‘Kiss a Random Dude.’ We each take turns picking someone from the crowd, and whoever we pick has to get a kiss from us. Simple as that!”

I stared at her, half in disbelief and half amused. “Are you serious? That sounds… crazy.”

“Come on, it’s just for fun,” she insisted, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the center of the dance floor. “Let’s make tonight memorable!”

Despite my initial hesitation, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, alright. Let’s do it!”

We each took a deep breath, surveying the sea of faces around us. Sana nga lang di ko maaalala lahat ng kagaguhan kong ito. The alcohol had loosened my inhibitions, and the idea of playing along with Sam’s wild plan seemed less daunting.

Sam was the first to go. She scanned the crowd and spotted a tall guy in a button-up shirt who was grooving to the beat. With a determined stride, she approached him, tapped him on the shoulder, and said something I couldn’t hear over the music. He looked surprised but smiled broadly. Sam leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, causing a ripple of laughter and cheers from the crowd around them.

“Your turn!” she said, winking at me.

I took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline of the game. Kiss a dude? My eyes swept over the crowd until they landed on a guy with curly hair and a charming smile, dancing with his friends. He caught my gaze, and I nodded, trying to appear confident.

I walked up to him, my heart racing a little, and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, I’m Han. We’re playing a game, and you’re up. Do you mind if I give you a kiss?”

He looked surprised but grinned. “Sure, why not?”

With a mix of excitement and nerves, I leaned in and pressed a quick kiss on his lips. It was soft and fleeting, but it was enough to fulfill the dare. When I pulled back, he was smiling, and his friends were giving us thumbs-up.

Sam cheered and clapped, and I couldn’t help but laugh at how silly but fun the whole situation was. “Looks like we’re on a roll!” she said.

But I felt like someone was watching me from afar, as if he was eyeing me. It was kind of odd, but I just shrugged it off.

As the night wore on, the game became less about the kisses and more about the laughter. We danced and drank, lost in the joy of the moment. By the time the bar started to empty out, we were both a little tipsy, our faces flushed from the excitement. Parehong lasing ang mga gaga.

Eventually, Sam looked at me with a satisfied grin. “I’d say we made tonight unforgettable.”

I laughed, nodding in agreement. “Definitely. I needed this.”

We stumbled out of the bar, arms around each other, ready to face whatever came next—if only for a little while longer. Nagtatawanan na parang mga gaga. And I know I’ll question myself for being drunk. But the question for now is… WHO THE HELL WILL DRIVE ME TO MY CONDOMINIUM???!!!!

We’re both drunk, and as for Sam, she freaking owns the bar, so I know she has a room in here. But for me? Wala. I know she will share it with me, but I need to go home right away. I still have some work.

---------------------------------
AN:

Magalalasing muna siya bago ma ano hehehe alam niyo na :)