[REVISED EDITION, 2026]
˚ˋঌ˖˚ˋঌ˖˚ˋঌ˖
Simula
Playing With Fire
"THE FIRE THAT warms us can also consume us; it is not the fault of the fire," I read the quote on the vandalized wall outside the bar. It was a quote from Swami Vivekananda.
Ngumuso ako habang pinagmamasdan iyon at hinawi ko ang aking buhok.
That's only if you let it consume you. I won't be that foolish.
"Serafine! Come back here! Let's party!" tawag ni Jesusa habang kumakaway pa.
Sumunod ako sa mga kaibigan ko papasok sa bar. Nakita kong nando'n na si Gino, kinawayan ko siya at naglakad ako palapit sa kanya.
"Hi, Gino!"
He smiled handsomely and extended his arm, kaya lumapit ako't yumakap.
"I missed you!" I exclaimed.
He chuckled. He kissed my hair first before catching my gaze.
"I missed you, too. How are you? Lalo kang gumanda, ha?"
I smirked. "I know, right? How was the States?"
"Still the States. You?"
"Still pretty," sagot ko sabay ngiti.
We ended up laughing. Lumayo ako at pabiro ko siyang pinanliitan ng mga mata.
"May pasalubong ba ako?" I shot my brow up.
"Of course! Ikaw pa ba?" He wiggled his brow and showed me his phone. "I know you won't accept gifts if it isn't money, so sent!"
Wow...
He offered me his hand. "Can we dance?"
I accepted it with no hesitation. He led me to the dance floor, where we danced our hearts out.
Maski ang mga kaibigan ko ay nagkasiyahan sa dance floor. They were with their boys, too. They waved at me, and I chuckled and winked at them.
Humigpit ang hapit sa 'kin ni Gino, kaya natawa ako at bumaling sa kanya.
"Missed me?" I asked.
"Yeah. So much."
The night was young, but socializing had already been tiring. Sama-sama ang barkada na sumakay sa sasakyan ni Gino, siya kasi ang maghahatid sa amin pauwi. Kakagaling lang niya sa States kung saan ilang linggo siyang nag-stay.
"Sera, when are you going to tour us around your school?" Jenny asked from the backseat, referring to the prestigious university they know I was enrolled.
My back stiffened, but I let out a rehearsed smile before looking at her from the passenger seat.
"Soon, Jen." I chuckled. "Kakaibiganin ko muna ang guard para makapasok kayong lahat."
She gave me a thumbs up. Ngumisi ako sa kanya at muli akong bumaling na sa harapan. I tapped my fingers against the window, watching the city lights fade.
"Are you free tomorrow night?" tanong sa akin Gino kaya nilingon ko siya.
Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Sorry, I already have an appointment. Maybe next time?"
He nodded in understanding, something I was grateful for. As much as I wanted to join him, I couldn't—I have too much on my plate.
"Dito na lang ako," I said when I saw a familiar subdivision nearby.
BINABASA MO ANG
Dancing With Fire (TO BE PUBLISHED)
General Fiction[REVISED EDITION, 2026] Lost Island Series #4: Dancing With Fire "A love that risked everything, knowing it might leave ashes behind, yet choosing to burn anyway." Money. For Serafine Veronica Mendez, money is everything. A self-proclaimed rich ki...
