The not so wild music filled my ears as we roamed around the club Mirae chose. Hindi iyon masyadong mausok at maingay tulad ng ibang napupuntahan namin. At hindi rin naman kami pupunta sa ganoong klase ng club lalo na at kaming dalawa lang ni Mirae ngayon at hindi kasama sila Archer.

I don't know what's with Mirae. Bigla na lang siyang nagpasama.

I looked at her silver bodycon dress. Hanggang kalahati ng hita niya ang haba noon at napapangiwi ako tuwing umaangat iyon dahil magalaw siya. I'm also wearing a bodycon dress, a black one. Mas mahaba iyon sa suot ni Mirae, one inch longer, I think. Muntik na akong matawa sa aking iniisip. I shrugged. The point is my dress is longer, a bit.

"Mirae, where are we going?" I asked.

"At the counter. Doon na lang tayo," Sambit niya na agad ko namang sinangayunan. Mabuti nga iyon ng mapirmis kami. Besides, I think I'm a bit drunk already 'cause I'm hallucinating, I think I saw someone familiar.

We sat on the bar stool as Mirae ordered our drinks. Wala sa sariling pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang buong lugar. The place is a bit crowded but its okay than the other clubs.

Napako ang tingin ko sa table malapit sa gawi ni Mirae. My jaw fell opened when I saw Vynz with Ryder beside him and a two familiar built facing them. And I'm a hundred percent sure that Hoax is one of that and Callum is the other.

I felt my heart ramming when the guy in front of Ryder tilted his head and I saw him. Hoax, my ex husband. He still looks the same the only different is his stubbles, it suits him, it makes him looks more manly.

Its been a year but he still have the same effect on me, I guess. Four months after I personally send him the divorce papers, I asked Archer about the video.

Noong una ay nagtataka pa si Archer dahil wala siyang alam sa relasyon namin ni Hoax. I just told him that someone I know is girlfriend of Hoax and I think he's cheating on her, mabuti ay naniwala siya. I don't know what magic he made and he got a copy of the videos. Parehas sa kung ano ang nasa loob no'ng flash drive. Then I remember, he and Mirae are hackers so, that's what they do.

Sabi niya sa unang video, putol daw iyon at baka sinadyang putulin. While the second one, I can still remember his reaction when he saw the video. Hindi raw niya iyon tinapos dahil agad niyang nakita ang mali roon, at wala talaga siyang balak tapusin. He told me he doesn't want to remember that video every time he'll see Hoax. He said the date of the video was edited, but what the two's doing is not. He was able to retrieved the original video and said it was dated two years before the date on the edited one. Means, we still don't know each other that time.

After that, I felt everything crumbled down, for the second time. I cried and cried until I got tired of it.

A few days after I learned that the video's date was edited, I went back to Archer. I asked him if he can find out if someone is married. Then he said yes. I told him to find if I'm married or not.

Ayaw niyang pumayag, ilang araw ko siyang pinipilit hanggang sa nakulitan siya sa akin at walang nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag. He call me after a day asking what the hell's happening with me. Hindi raw ako kasal, wala raw record. Alam naman daw dapat niya iyon. He even asked if I'm bored in my life.

I don't know why until now I feel disappointed because of what he said. I just want to know if Hoax signed and filed our divorce papers, and he did. Fuck, he did.

Agad akong nagpaalam kay Mirae at hindi na hinintay ang sagot niya. If not Hoax, Vynz can see me. I'm not hiding but I'm not yet ready to face Hoax, if ever.

I walked towards the dance floor but someone blocked my direction. "Excuse me," I said.

"Astrid?" Nagangat ako ng tingin nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses.

"Kuya!" I kissed his cheek as a greeting.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as I felt his hand on my waist. Kung ibang tao siya ay agad ko ng tinampal ang kanyang kamay.

I shrugged. "I'm with Mirae."

"How about you, who are you with?"

"Friends. Wanna come on our table?"

"Sure." Sana lang ay malayo ang pwesto nila sa table kung nasaan sila Hoax.

Iginiya ako ni Kuya sa table nila at nakita kong pamilyar ang mga kasama niya roon. Then I remember, they're his friends. I once met them.

"Tofer, Lano, you both still remember Cel? My sister," Bungad ni Kuya.

Tofer nodded at me while Lano smiled.

"Cel, Tofer Zaldivar and Milano Dela Francia."

"I know, Kuya. I still remember them." Sandali akong tinitigan ni Kuya Clyde bago tuluyang nagsalita.

"Yeah, stay with us, you're already drunk. I'll drive you back to your condo later," Sambit ni Kuya bago ako pinaupo sa tabi niya habang nasa harap namin ang dalawa niyang kaibigan.

I frowned, I'm drunk? "'Wag na, babalikan ko si Mirae mamaya."

"Lozano?" Milano asked and I nodded.

I saw him smirked. "Just call your friend and ask her to join us."

"Lano," I heard Kuya called. Napatingin ako sa kanya at nakita na bahagyang inilingan ang kaibigan.

Milano raised both of his hands. "Fine, not Mirae," He chuckled and I saw Tofer shaking his head while smirking at Lano.

"Maybe some other time," Pahabol niya at humalakhak nang makita ang reaksyon ng mga kaibigan.

Dumako ang tingin ko sa shot glass sa tapat ng aking kapatid. Wala sa sariling kinuha ko iyon at inilapit sa aking mga labi.

"Hey, that's-" Hindi na natapos ni Kuya Clyde ang sasabihin niya dahil agad ko na iyong ininom.

"Fuck," Kuya whispered.

Napangiwi naman ako sa lasa noon. Nakita kong natigilan si Milano habang si Tofer naman ay napalabi.

"What the hell was that?" Tanong ko matapos makabawi sa pait ng lasa ng aking ininom.

"That's for Clyde," Mabagal at marahang sambit ni Milano.

I just shrugged as I leaned on my brother's shoulder. Hinayaan naman ako ni Kuya sa ganoong pwesto. He even asked me I want to go home already but I declined. Hahanapin ko pa si Mirae.

Naririnig ko ang paguusap nila Kuya at ng mga kaibigan niya ngunit hindi ko na iyon pinansin.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nasa ganoon sitwasyon. Wala na rin si Milano sa table namin.

I want to go home. Mabigat na ang aking talukap ngunit hindi ko pwedeng iwanan si Mirae.

I rose up and felt my knees wobbled. Agad naman akong naalalayan ni Kuya. "Where are you going?" Kunot noong tanong niya sa akin.

"I'll find Mirae."

"I'll come with you-" He rose up, balak pa yata na iwanan magisa si Tofer. Napabaling ako sa kaibigan niya at nakita ng nakapikit na ang mga mata nito. Is he asleep?

"Kuya, stay." I don't want him to roam around with me.

"No. You're drunk, Celestina," Mariing sambit niya sa akin, kasabay noon ang pagtunog ng kanyang telepono.

He glanced at his phone and immediately answer the call when he saw the caller.

"Papa," I heard him said, pertaining to her mother's husband. I was about to go somewhere to find Mirae but he immediately caught my wrist.

Marahang kumunot ang kanyang noo. "What happened to Mama?"

"Fuck, alright. I'll go there." Agad niyang tinapos ang tawag at bumaling sa akin.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Sinugod daw sa ospital si Mama," Problemadong sambit niya. "Now, come with me."

"No, I'll find Mirae." I won't leave her in this place alone.

He sighed. Iginala niya ang tingin sa kabuuan ng lugar bago muling bumaling sa akin. "There's Mirae." He pointed somewhere, agad ko namang nakita roon si Mirae.

"Come on, let's go to her."

"No, I can handle. Just go to Tita, she needs you right now." Kaya ko pa naman, I think.

"No-"

"Kuya!" Napahilot ako sa aking sentido. God, my head hurts.

"See? You can't-"

I gave him a bored looked and his phone started ringing again. Tinignan niya iyon at napabuntonghininga.

"Fine, go straight to Mirae. Don't talk to anyone you don't know. Don't accept drinks, understand?"

"Yeah," Sagot ko at agad na siyang nilagpasan. I walked towards the direction he pointed but I can't find Mirae. Is Kuya kidding me? Wala naman doon si Mirae. I looked around but I really can't find her.

Lumakad ako sa kung saan ako dalhin ng aking mga paa habang patuloy pa rin ang paglibot ng tingin.

May humarang sa aking paningin at inis kong tinignan kung sino iyon. I frowned when I saw a familiar face. Hindi ko siya maayos na makita dahil sa pagbigat ng aking talukap.

"Hoa-"

"Miss, wanna have some?" He asked and I frowned. He's not Hoax, he had a different voice. But why does he looks like Hoax? Or I'm too drunk? What the hell!

I gave him a dismissive wave. Agad ko siyang nilagpasan.

"Hey! Astrid, here!" I looked around when I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

I almost rolled my eyes when I saw Mirae. Finally! I immediately walked near her.

"Mirae! Nandito ka lang pala, kanina pa kita hinahanap. You know what? I have something to tell you," Bungad ko nang makalapit sa kanya. I sat beside her.

"We're surrounded by drunk ladies," I heard someone muttered but maybe I'm too drunk to mind it.

"About what?" She asked as she leaned on someone who looks like my ex husband's brother. I almost rolled my eyes 'cause I'm sure I'm hallucinating. Mirae leaning on Vynz? That's something impossible. Mas posible pa na magkabalikan kami ni Hoax kaysa sa sumandal si Mirae kay Vynz. Bigla akong natigilan sa iniisip. What the hell, Astrid? Why are you even thinking of that?

"I saw my ex," I said and I remember something. We doesn't have a reservation for table. Whose table is this? Wala sa sariling napatingin ako sa mga kasama namin. I frowned when I saw someone who looks like Callum in front of me.

Napabaling ako sa lalaking nasa tabi nito at bahagya akong natigilan nang makita ang mukha niya. He's also looking at me while giving me a cold stare.

"That's why you're drunk?" Narinig ko na nagsalita si Mirae ngunit hindi sa kanya nakatuon ang aking pansin.

"You looked like my ex," I said while pointing a finger on someone who looks like my ex husband. Bakit ang dami kong nakikita na kamukha ni Hoax? What the hell's happening with me. Am I missing him? Fuck, no.

"Ex mo?" I heard someone asked but I'm just looking at the man who looks like Hoax.

"You!" I rose up and walked towards him.

He rose up as he faced me with a cold expression on his face. "You're drunk. I'll drive you home," He said in a firm voice. I almost shiver in it.

Sinubukan niya na hawakan ang aking braso ngunit agad kong hinawi iyon. "No! Don't touch me!"

"You're drunk, Astrid." Even his voice sounds like Hoax. Mabilis na umigkas ang kamay ko papalapit sa kanyang pisngi at gumawa iyon ng ingay. Para bang natahimik ang kapaligiran dahil sa aking ginawa. Bahagyang tumagilid ang kanyang mukha.

I raised my brow up on him. "Anong pake mo?!" I asked when I saw his jaw clenched.

"I'll bring you back to your home," He muttered as he held my arm and started pulling me. Narinig ko pa ang pagangal ni Mirae ngunit para bang walang narinig ang lalaking kamukha ni Hoax.

"Hey, stop--shit!" I cursed when I stumbled on something.

"Careful." I almost rolled my eyes when I heard him. Careful pero hila siya nang hila sa'kin.

Para bang narinig niya ang iniisip ko at agad na pinulupot ang braso sa aking baywang. "We'll go home."

Nang makalabas kami ng club ay hindi ko na alam kung ano ang nangyari. He carried me as we started walking towards the parking lot. Naramdaman ko na isinakay niya ako sa kanyang kotse. I want to push him but I have no strength to do that. Unti-unti na ring bumigat ang aking talukap at hindi ko na iyon napigilan.

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