Simula.
The music was loud, the lights dimmed and pulsing in shades of blood-red and shadowed purple. Halloween was in full swing at the bar, packed with people in costumes—vampires, witches, zombies, and even a few superheroes squeezing past the crowd. Pero kahit ang daming tao at lahat naka-costume, ramdam ko pa rin yung lungkot ni Julian sa tabi ko, despite his flashy, makeshift Dracula cape and red wine that stood in for "blood."
The whole gang had gone all out. Briana was a seductive cat, complete with black leather pants and glittering ears perched on top of her head, paired with smudged dark eyeliner and a red lip that practically screamed, *Don't mess with me*. Eloise, meanwhile, was a wicked witch, dressed in a slinky black dress that was a little too short, with a pointed hat and a broom prop she kept waving around, pretending to put hexes on people.
Si Julian naman, tahimik lang sa tabi ko, occasionally sipping his drink with that glazed-over look. Playboy Dracula, as Haze called him, but right now, he looked more like a vampire nursing a broken heart. I knew him well enough to know he wasn't just drunk—he was feeling the weight of his recent heartbreak, that kind of feeling that even the buzz of Halloween couldn't shake.
As for me and Haze, we'd coordinated our costumes. Vampires. A bit of a cliché, but Haze had suggested it, grinning like it was the most genius idea ever. He'd even picked out a sleek, all-black outfit with a fitted jacket and pointed collar, fake fangs glinting whenever he smiled. And to top it all off, he'd put in red contacts, giving him a mischievously dangerous look. I'd gone with a similar style—a black silk shirt and dark pants, my hair a little messy, fangs in, and a thin line of red "blood" dripping from my lip. Somehow, we matched perfectly.
And right now, Haze was practically draped over me, leaning against me like his own personal throne. His arm hung over my shoulder, the fake fangs making his grin look even sharper as he glanced over at Julian. "Bro, just accept it. You're the one that got dumped!" Haze said with a teasing smirk, then looked at me with that twinkle in his red-tinted eyes, sharing the joke.
It was honestly hard to focus with him so close. Sobrang lapit niya na I could smell the faint hint of his cologne mixed with a bit of alcohol. My heart did that weird skip, kahit sinubukan kong magpaka-cool lang. Sanay na ako sa pagiging clingy niya, but tonight, with our matching costumes, it felt like we were more than just friends—even if that was all in my head.
"Ayan ka na naman eh, Juli!" Eloise chimed in, swirling her drink as she gave him a deadpan look, the judgment only she could pull off, especially in those cat ears. "Playboy ka na nga, nagmahal ka pa. Sino ang may kasalanan ngayon?" She laughed, though there was a softness to her tone.
"Hoy, ang harsh mo naman, Elo!" Briana cackled, waving her long tail around. She leaned toward Julian, poking him. "Hindi naman deserve ni baby boy, ginawa mo no? Deserve mo 'yan. Di na siya babalik," she said, laughing, making us all crack up.
But Julian just shook his head, his dark eyes staring into his drink like it held some kind of answer. Under the costume, his usual swagger was gone. Sure, he had his red Dracula cape and slicked-back hair, but tonight, his vibe was anything but confident.
"Hoy, Julian, listen to me," Briana said, planting a firm hand on his shoulder. "Ang tanga mo kasi nandyan na nga, ginago mo pa."
"Like you're the expert?" Julian shot back, finally speaking, his tone a mix of sarcasm and sadness. "At least I tried. You, you're just playing games."
"Excuse me?" Briana raised an eyebrow, pretending to look hurt. "I don't play games, Julian. I'm just beautiful not like you, panget and stupid!" She smirked, drawing a burst of laughter from everyone, even Julian.
