"Oh, my god?! Nakita niyo ba si Willimar do'n?" Nanlaki ang mata ni Daia nang lumapit sa mga kaibigan nito. "Hindi ko siya kinakaya!"

"Ano ba ginagawa? Nakikipag-away na naman ba?" tanong pa ni Dom.

Daia shook her head while her eyes were still wide open. "No, it's far worse than that! Napadaan lang naman ako sa tabi nila, pero nakikipaglaplapan siya ro'n? Hindi ko kilala 'yong babae, pero mukhang lokal—basta, Pinay rin. For sure naman kasi na walang papatol na foreigner sa kanya."

"Sinukuan na niya si Ley," sabi pa nito saka tinuro ang kaibigan. Napanguso naman si Ley. "Alam mo ba, Mando, pinopormahan kasi ni Willimar si Ley simula no'ng magkakilala sila. Na-love at first sight ata, pero dahil in love na in love pa rin naman sa 'yo ang dalagitang ito, ayun ang napala ni Willimar. Umasa lang."

Napangiti si Willimar at sinilip ang mukha ni Alleah. Tiningnan siya ni Alleah ay may pagtaas pa ito ng taas.

"Oh, 'wag masyadong confident," sabi pa ng babae.

"Sus! Kayo rin naman pala ang end game," dagdag pa ni Daia. "Now, gusto ko na ng rhum and coke."

"Alright! Ano bang gusto niyo, boys? Beer lang?" Tumango naman sina Dom at Kenny sa kanya. "Rhum and coke na lang din for you Cara. Ley, samahan mo ako sa bar counter."

"Yes naman! Magde-date sila," pang-aasar pa ni Cara. "Sige, gora lang! Hindi namin kayo pipigilan."

Tumuloy ang dalawa papuntang bar counter habang naiwan ang apat sa kanilang pwesto. Nang makarating sila sa bar counter ay hinintay lamang nila na kunin ng bartended ang mga order nila. Habang hinihntay nila na ma-serve ang mga ito ay kinalabit ni Alleah si Mando nang makita si Willimar at ang tinutukoy nitong pakikipaglampungan sa tabi.

"Oh, he was really getting on it," komento pa ni Mando. "Did he really hit on you?"

"He was trying to," sagot ni Alleah. "Pero wala akong sa mood na i-entertain siya. Hindi ko rin naman siya type."

"Yeah, I know." Ngisi pa nito. "Alam ko naman kung anong type mo, e. You're looking at him now."

Hindi napigilan ni Alleah ang mapangiti at hampasin ng mahina si Mando sa balikat. "Loko-loko ka talaga, 'no? Honestly, I wouldn't be entertaining anyone else after what happened to us. It's been a month. Matanong kita and please answer mo honestly rin. What made you stay? Ako ba talaga or naawa ka lang sa akin?"

Mando scoffed. "Hindi ako naawa, Ley. I hurt you and that caused me pain, too. We've been together for so long and moving forward my life without you was something I never thought would be so easy. That was the huge mistake I made. You were my strength and my number one supporter. I can't leave you again."

"What about your plans? Your dreams?"

"Kasama ka sa mga plano at pangarap ko," pag-iintindi nito sa kanya. "I made a huge mistake of setting you aside to focus on it alone, pero mas okay pala kung kasama kita. Mararating ko rin naman ang pangarap ko na maging artista someday. Pero baka nga imposible pa na mangyari 'yon."

"'Wag ka mawalan ng pag-asa. Everything is possible naman."

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure it is. . ."

Nang isinerve sa kanila ang tatlong bote ng beer at baso ng rhum and coke ay bumalik na sila sa mga kasama nila. Pagdating nila ay naabutan nilang pinag-uusapan na hindi sumunod sina Morriah at Rik sa kanila.

"Baka nagka-catch pa 'yong dalawa," komento ni Daia. "Isang taon din naman kasing hindi nagkita 'yong dalawa so I think they can have all the time na mag-usap. What if, Kenny babe, hindi rin tayo magkita ng one year?"

"That won't happen," sagot ni Kenny. "Hindi naman tayo magbe-break so let's take note of that."

"Ganyan dapat ang mindset," dagdag pa ni Daia. "I love you so much, babe! Hanap tayo ng single room natin mamaya."

Nakatanggap naman ng batok si Daia mula sa kapatid nito. "Nandito ako, oh? Medyo kadiri ka, pero kung gagawin niyo 'yon ay magproteksyon kayong dalawa. Ayoko pa maging tito. Ang bata-bata ko pa maging tito."

"Gago ka rin, kuya? Ang bata ko pa rin naman para maging nanay, 'no?!" usal ni Daia. "Baka nga maunahan niyo pa kami ni Cara, e."

"We used condom," pagtatama pa ni Cara. "Safe na safe kaming dalawa so let's be clear to that."

Napatingin sila kina Alleah at Mando. "Girl? Mas lalo naman kami? Duh?"

Natawa na lamang sila sa isinagot ng kaibigan.

"Whatever! Let's cheer and make the most of our vacation here in Baler," sabi pa ni Daia at kanyang itinaas ang baso at itinoss sa mga kaibigan nito.

For the rest of the night, every one of them joined the party in the club. Sa bawat drop ng beat ng DJ ay hindi rin magkamayaw ang sayawan. Napupuno ng hiyawan ang paligid. Habang lumalalim ang gabi ay iba't ibang kaganapan na rin ang masisilayan sa bawat sulok ng club.

When Daia went into the restroom, nagulat na lamang siya na may lumabas na dalawang lalaki sa boys restroom. Ang restroom ay may tag-iisa lamang cubicle for male and female. Tumuloy na lang din siya sa loob ng restroom. Nakabantay naman si Kenny sa kanya hindi kalayuan sa restroom habang ang ilan sa mga kaibigan nila ay na sina Dom at Cara ay nahuli ni Alleah na naghahalikan sa gilid. Hindi naman siya lumapit sa kanila para pigilan ang mga ito. They were old enough to get wasted and wild.

"What's going on with everybody?" Natatawang sabi pa ni Mando.

"I guess the alcohol's starting to kick in with everyone else," sabi pa ni Alleah. "I hope I won't have a bad headache tomorrow. Tama lang talaga na isang baso lang ang ininom ko. You shouldn't drink more beer, Armand. Tama na 'yang dalawa."

"Okay, okay. I will. I won't," sabi pa ni Mando. Ipinulupot pa nito ang kamay sa baywang ng dalaga. "What do you think if we should get out of this place?"

"Hm? And where should we go?"

"In my room?" he suggested.

She shrugged off. "Pwede. It's quieter there."

"What do you think?"

Alleah nodded. "Sure. . . Let's go. Everyone's occupied naman. I don't think they will notice us gone."

Mando and Alleah find their way out of the club. He was shielding Alleah with his both arms as they head to the exit. Nakahinga rin sila nang maluwag at nakalanghap ng preskong hangin matapos makalabas ng club. Natawa na lamang sila dahil sobrang init din sa loob ng club at nanlamig ang kanilang katawan sa bawat lakas ng hangin na humahawi sa kanila.

Nilakad lamang ng dalawa ang daan pabalik ng hotel. Naabutan pa nilang walang tao sa reception desk at naisip nila na nagpapahinga na rin si Morriah, pero patungo ang dalawa sa kwarto ni Mando nang matanaw nila si Rik at Morriah sa isang tabi. Nagtago pa ang dalawa sa pader at pinapanood nilang maghalikan ang dalawa.

"So, they're back together?" pabulong na tanong ni Mando.

"It seems like it," sagot pa ni Alleah. 

Patuloy pa nilang pinanood ang dalawa hangga't sa binuhat ni Rik si Morriah at naglakad papasok sa isang bahay. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa dahil alam na nila kung anong sunod na gagawin nila. Hindi naman napigilan ni Alleah ang matawa. Kinuha na lamang ni Mando ang kamay niya at saka sila tumuloy sa kwarto nito.

Agad na hinubad ni Mando ang damit at hinagis lang ito sa kama niya. "Pinagpapawisan ako."

"Mahina pa ang buga ng aircon," sabi ni Alleah. "Babaan natin ang temperature. . ."

Humilata naman si Mando sa kama nito. "Do you want to sleep here tonight, Ley?"

"Hmm?" she hummed, turning to face him.

"Cara and Daia's good now. Hindi na nila kailangan ng referee so they should be fine," pagpapaliwanag pa nito. "What do you think? Just for the night? It's my first night in Casa Casillas. Let's make it more special."

"What do you mean?" Alleah's eyes squinted.

Bumangon sa pagkakahiga si Mando at naupo ito. "Halika. Lapit ka rito. . ." anito sabay pag-aksyon ng daliri na pinapalapit nito sa kanya.

Napangiti si Alleah at sinunod ang sinabi ng lalaki. As she stood in front of him, he patted his lap and told her to sit on it. Hindi rin nagdalawang isip na gawin ni Alleah ang sinasabi nito. Mando wrapped his arms around her waist as they slowly leaned their faces together. Even though it was starting to get cold, the heat between them started to ignite. He started to leave traces of kisses on her neck down to her collar. She knew at that moment it turned her on so much.

Nang hinubad ni Mando ang damit ni Alleah ay dahan-dahan namang tumayo ito para ihiga ang babae. He was on top of her and all his kisses craved for something else. Nang muling magtama ang kanilang mga mata ay sinunggaban na ng babae ng halik ang lalaki. All those kisses turned into desperate touches. Naglakbay ang mga kamay nila sa iba't ibang parte ng katawan ng isa't isa hangga't sa isa-isa na nilang hinubad ang saplot sa katawan.

Mando looked at Alleah with no clothes at all. The smile on his grew as he invited him to make the night more special for them. Inilapit ng lalaki ang katawan sa babae hangga't sa magdapo ang init ng kanilang katawan. The next thing she knew, she was holding her breath as Mando made his way inside of her. Pigil na pigil ang paghinga nito habang dahan-dahan namang ipinasok ni Mando ang kanyang pagkalalaki. As soon as he made all of his lenth in her, he pinned himself so deeply that brought Alleah to moan so hard.

Napatakip na lamang siya sa bibig niya dahil maaaring marinig pa sila ng ibang tao sa mga kalapit na kwarto nila. It was all they did. Bed creaking and moaning left their mouth. When Mando changed their position and put Alleah on top, she was shy about how she would do it, but Mando hold her waist as he guided her to get her butt to go up and down slowly. When she got the momentum, he let her do it by herself. Pigil na pigil si Alleah sa kung ano mang ingay ang magagawa niya. When Mando found Alleah heaving out of breath, he thrust his hips while he was lying down, rapidly tiring himself out. Later on, Mando pulled her back to bed and lay down on her side. He wrapped him around his arm while his hips were thrusting against her. He did it slowly and made sure it would be worth it. 

"I'm about to come," he whispered. "Do you want me to pull it out?"

"No," Alleah responded, stopping Mando to move himself out.

Hindi na rin napigilan ni Mando ang sarili at na-hit na nito ang climax. His body twitched as he released himself inside of Alleah. Nanatili sila sa gano'n posisyon ng ilan pang mga minuto. Nang hinarap naman ni Alleah si Mando at hinalikan ito ay natawa na lamang sila matapos.

"That was unexpected. . . and unprotected," sabi pa ni Mando.

"Ooops." Hagikgik pa ni Alleah. "Let's just keep it to ourselves and don't tell the boys we did it. Alam mo naman sila. . ."

Napangisi naman si Mando. "Of course. I won't. This is special for me. . . you are special for me."

"Yeah, I know that. I hope nothing will change again. . . I love the way we are. . ."

Niyakap na lamang ni Mando ang babae at hinalikan sa noo. "I promise you. I won't ever leave you again. I can't hurt you. I don't want to see you in pain again. It was such a mistake for me to do that. I regret leaving you and now that I got you back, I won't let you go. I promise. . ."

"Even after Baler?"

Mando nodded. "Yes, even after Baler. . ."

"Alright. . . I will hold on to that. I trust you, Armand. . . No one in this world made me feel like this, but you. . ."

"I do, too," he uttered. "So, you're going to stay here with me in my room?"

Alleah chuckled. "As if I have a choice? Yes, I'll stay here with you. . ."