CHAPTER 20.

THE DAY OF OUR Business Week came. Everyone was so excited and happy to attend. There were a lot of booths, as usual, and everyone's enjoying but I couldn't.

Ako ang may hawak ng attendance para sa morning program, at kanina pa akong naiinis dahil kada segundo may lalapit sa akin para magpalista. Hindi nga ako sumali sa pagpaplano about sa event na ito, ako naman ang binigyan ng task na ito!

I could easily ditch this event, the hell I care! But I just couldn't, dahil dalawa kami ni Roa ang may hawak sa attendance. Siya ang sa panghapon.

It was a very busy morning. Ni hindi nga kami nakakaalis sa pwesto namin. I wouldn't leave this spot either, mas magandang dito lang ako nakaupo kaysa habulin ako ng mga kaklase para magpapirma.

The evening program's the exciting part for this event for me. There would be live bands tonight until 1AM, and our class president decided to through a drinking party at her house tonight sincd hindi pwedeng sa school mismo uminom.

The sun has already set, nagsisimula na ang program para sa gabi. The student council was busy preparing for the live band that will start half an hour from now. And, while I was sitting at the top of the bleachers, watching them move like busy ants during summer, a realization hit me.

I have never experienced going to school like a normal girl. What I mean is... pumapasok naman ako ng school, but people would always avoid me when they find out I'm Quincy Deanne Azarcon, the daughter of Lazarus Azarcon, and the heiress of the Azarcon Empire. The people who talk to me and tried to get close to me were either wanting to get on my good side so they could lure me into a business deal once I'm old enough, or they just treat me nicely because of some social heirarchy shit.

And, bodyguard's would always tail me, lalo na noong elementary pa ako. I only asked dad to lessen the numbers of bodyguards when I was in highschool.

Pretending to be Kyrazine Ellie Amorata has grew on me. And for the past weeks, I admit, I liked how normal my life is whenever I'm inside this school. And, somehow, it made me think... what if I was born in a normal family? What if I was raised like a normal child?

I quickly shook my head, in hopes of removing those thoughts inside my head. This mission has been stretched out too long, that it's already turning me into some kind of a soft and sentimental person. Hindi na ito pwedeng mas tumagal pa.

"Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot!"

Pagkapasok ko kaagad sa bahay ng class president namin. Malawak ang sala ng bahay niya, at may hagdanan papuntang second floor sa bandang dulo ng silid. Kahit nakailaw ang chandelier, mas lamang ang party lights na galing sa nakasakdak na LED sa pader, na kumikislap-kislap at nag-iiba pa ng kulay.

The program at school hasn't ended yet, pero walang attendance kaya halos lahat ay nandito na sa bahay niya. Mukhang kasisimula lang nilang mag-party dahil maayos pa at sober pa ang lahat, at marami pang laman ang mga alak na nakabukas.

Come to think of it... it has been a while since the last time I went to a club and enjoy. I missed drinking and doing those club stuff. Maybe, this simple and small party, will suffice for now. I'm Kyrazine right now, not Quincy, so I really had to tone down my liquor and my behavior here.

Everyone was screaming and shouting while dancing to some popular hiphop music. Habang naglalakad ako, inabutan pa ako ng isang baso ng hindi ko kilalang brand ng alak. Hinahanap ko si Roa, kaya nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa nakarating ako sa mahabang sofa na nakadikit sa pader ang likod.

He was sitting there, like a lost child, still wearing his white t-shirt and black pants. His hair was disheveled, like he did it on purpose out of frustration or something. He was holding a glass with white liquid in it, probably some light alcohol, or soft drinks.

"Nandito ka pala," sabi ko pagkaupo ko sa tabi niya. He was so lost in thought that he only noticed me when I talked and sat beside him.

He cleared his throat. "I didn't want to, pero pinilit nila ako."

Natawa na lang ako. "Enjoy-in mo na lang. Consider this as you experiencing something you've never done before." I raised my glass and gestured to the one he's holding. "Alcohol or soft drink?"

"Some type of... rum," sagot niya.

Napatango naman ako. "Firs time?"

He shook his head. "No, but I'm not used to drinking."

Oh. This wasn't his first time? Sabagay, baka sinasama siya ni Luciano palagi kung saan-saan kaya baka maaga rin siyang na-expose sa mga ganito, kagaya ko.

We fell silent after that, but the silence between us wasn't awkward. I've learned to get used to him going silent like this for the past weeks we've been together, kaya hindi na awkward. And, we have nothing else to talk about, anyway.

Actually... there's supposed to be something we need to talk about. I need to find something to talk about with him, dahil kailangan kong tapusin na ang mission ko at nang matapos na rin ang lahat. But... a part of me wanted to just stay here longer, and savor the moment more, because I knew I won't be able to feel this after all of this is gonna be over. I won't feel like a "normal" girl.

The song changed to something more tempting than earlier. Nagpaalam na ako kay Roa, dahil gusto kong mag-enjoy ngayong gabi. Who knows, this night might be my last night with everyone.

I wasn't really close with my classmates, but at that moment, we danced and vibed like we were long-time best friends having a party. Palipat-lipat pa ako ng grupo dahil may gustong bigyan ako ng alak, na tinatanggap ko naman agad. I'm a heavy drinker, kaya kahit ilang baso na ang nainom ko, hindi pa ako tinatamaan.

Habang sumasayaw, napabaling ako sa sofa kung saan nakaupo si Roa kanina. He wasn't there anymore, but I froze for a second when I saw the guy who was sitting there now, staring at me as if I just did some sort of crime and he caught me, and he wants to punish me. He was holding a glass of rum, and he's making a circling motion with it.

What's Kace even doing here? Hindi namin siya kaklase. Maybe he's here for Roa? Pero hindi nga namin siya kaklase. I didn't remember our class president saying na pwede pumunta kahit sino?

Before I could even open my mouth to ask him where Roa was, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the rectangular glass table in the kitchen. Someone was lying on top of the table, and he's naked, and they're pouring a drink and salt on his abs.

"Body shot! Body shot! Body shot!" they kept chanting while I was getting near the table.

Siguro, tipsy na yata ako at unti-unti nang sinasakop ng alak ang utak ko. Napangiti kaagad ako at malakas ang loob na lumapit sa table. The guy even smirked, and used his arm as a pillow while waiting for me to start.

I laughed. "Alright!"

I quickly bent down to lick the tequila and salt on his abdomen. I purposely slowed down, which made everyone scream and chant louder. The guy even laughed before he put a piece of lemon in between his lips. After licking his abdomen dry, I quickly bit the lemon from his mouth. May balak pa yata siyang halikan ako, pero mabilis akong nakalayo bago pa dumampi ang labi niya sa akin.

"Woah! Wild naman pala itong si Amorata!"

Kaliwa't kanang body shot ang ginawa ko, dahil nagustuhan nila ang ginagawa ko. At first, gusto nilang ako naman ang humiga, pero tumanggi ako. Pero ngayong may tama na ako, kung aayain ulit nila ako, paniguradong maghuhubad na ako nang walang pagdadalawang-isip!

Puro malalakas na yata ang mga inuming nilalabas nila dahil nakakaramdam na ako ng pagkakahilo, gumagalaw na rin ang katawan ko nang kusa. Sabi ko pa naman ime-maintain ko ang image ni Kyrazine Ellie hanggang dito, pero hindi ko mapigilan.

May mga naghahalikan na sa kung saan-saan dahil sa kalasingan, at may iba pa yatang hindi lang hanggang halikan ang gagawin.

Biting my lips, I kept saying my hips to the music like a stripper. Lasing na nga talaga ako.

"Kyrazine! Halika!"

I was too drunk to even see who pulled me again. Doon naman sa sala papunta.

"Body shot ulit!" they chanted, and raised a bottle of Black Label. "Pero ikaw naman hihiga!"

"Sure!" mabilis na sagot ko habang tumatawa.

I was laughing and kept on dancing while slowly raising the hem of my shirt. And before I could even remove my shirt, I felt a strong grip on my hand.

"Tama na 'yan," I heard a familiar deep voice. "Lasing ka na?"

I tilted my head to the side, then I looked at him. "I am?"

Hindi nagsalita si Kace. He stared at me, his eyes darkening both from the dim lights, and from an emotion I've never seen before.

"Iuuwi na kita," aniya at hindi pa nga ako nakakaangal, hinila niya na ako palabas doon.

"Aw! KJ talaga ang mga may jowa!" I heard someone say in the middle of the boo's and curses from people who probably didn't want me to go.

"Iuuwi?" I asked while we were walking. "Do you know where I live?"

"Then you tell me where," mariin pa rin ang boses na sabi niya. "Basta, iuuwi kita. Lasing ka na."

I chuckled. Naiinitan ako kaya gamit ang isang kamay, sinikop ko ang buhok at hinawi papunta sa kaliwang balikat. "Ayoko. Dalhin mo na lang ako sa hotel. O kahit saan."

Hindi na ulit siya nagsalita.

We stopped in front of a black car. I was too drunk to even recognize what car it was! Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto sa back seat, at humiga kaagad ako ro'n pagkapasok ko at saka pumikit. A few seconds later, the car moved.

Nakatulog yata ako kaya hindi ko namalayan kung gaano ba katagal umaandar ang kotse at kung saan niya ako dinala. Basta nagising na lang ako na nakahiga na ako sa malambot na kama, suot ko pa rin ang damit ko. Nakabukas ang ilaw sa bathroom, at naaamoy ko ang pamilyar na amoy ng sabon na ginagamit ng mga hotel.

He's probably taking a bath. Gusto ko rin maligo, naiinitan ako.

Bumangon ako at umalis ng kama. At habang naglalakad ako papuntang bathroom, isa-isa kong tinatanggal ang suot kong damit at tinatapon lang sa sahig kapag natanggal na. And when I reached the bathroom, I was already completely naked.

Naabutan ko si Kace na pinupunasan ang buhok. Sakto ring paglingon niya ay nakita niya ako.

"Jesus Christ!" sambit niya nang makitang hubo't hubad ako. "Bakit ka nakahubad?!"

"I want to take a bath," I managed to say, but my voice was sluggish due to drunkenness. "Go out."

Hindi pa nga niya ako nasasagot, tuluyan na akong pumasok at dumiretso sa ilalim ng shower, binuksan 'yon, at naligo na para bang wala siya ro'n.

"Ilo-lock ko ang pinto," aniya bago siya lumabas ng bathroom.

Hindi ko alam kung ligo ba talaga ang ginawa ko, o nagbabad lang. I was just standing there, letting the cold water run down my body, since I was too drunk to even move my fingers. Nag-decide na lang akong tumigil nang maramdamang nangangalay na ang mga paa ko.

There was a bathrobe on top of the sink, baka nilagay niya ro'n. Sinuot ko 'yon bago ako lumabas ng bathroom, tumutulo pa ang tubig mula sa buhok at katawan.

Kace was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back was facing me, and I could see a black dragon tattoo at the center of his back. The tattoo wa familiar, but I couldn't remember where I saw it. I smelled the smell of the cigarette brand I always use, kaya lumapit na ako sa kaniya.

I crawled on the bed, towards him. And when I neared him, the instinct told me to kiss his tattoo, and that was what I did. Napaigtad kaagad siya at napalingon na sa akin.

"Kyrie?" Ihinarap niya na ang katawan niya sa akin. "Matulog ka na. Lasing ka."

I pouted. "I don't want to." Umalis ako ng kama. Akala niya ay kung saan ako pumunta, pero nagulat siya nang bigla akong kumandong sa kaniya.

"Pota--" Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil dumampi na ang labi ko sa labi niya.

He groaned, as if it was a way to stop himself deom unleashing what he's been hiding. I was about to insert my tongue inside his mouth, but he pushed my face away from him.

"Tumigil ka," mariing sabi niya. "Lasing ka."

I didn't listen. I even smirked, then I started grinding myself on top of him in excruciatingly slow. "I feel hot."

His adams apple moved up and down. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang bewang ko para ipirmi ako. "Stop. Please."

I groaned. "What did they even give me back there? I feel horny," sabi ko at saka yumakap sa kaniya.

I heard him whisper the different names of any saint he could think of, which made me laugh.

"Why are you stopping yourself?" Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. Sinalubong ko ang mga mata niyang ngayon ay nakatitig na sa akin nang may pinaghalong inis at pagnanasa. "I'm already serving myself in front of you like a dish in a platter. Why are you stopping yourself?" I teased.

His eyes darkened more. "What did I tell you before? Stop teasing me. Stop, or I'll devour you like a fucking animal right here, right now."

"Then do it," hamon ko. I leaned closer, and whispered, "Devour me like a fucking animal right here, right now."