So this was the captain of Centrex University. The guy na laging bukambibig nitong si Anjo dahil isa sa ultimate crush niya raw, the very same guy na super kinaiinisan ng mga kapatid at pinsan ko, na lagi rin laman ng Facebook at kung ano-and pang university files.

When they said he was handsome, they weren't kidding. Boy, it wasn't even an exaggeration because he just was. It wasn't only his features that were really striking but the way he carried himself in general. Tahimik lang siyang pumasok sa bar pero ramdam kagad ang commanding aura na nakapalibot sa kanya. His posture was sure and confident, at ease, but he also looked like a quiet creature, the type to be subtle, if his light respectful nods to the people around him were anything to go by.

That confused me a bit. Kasi kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ilang beses nang nakaengkwentro nina Kuya Jacob 'tong grupo nina Racel at ayon sa kanila, mahangin at nakakairita nga raw. I couldn't see any of that right now.

But I could see na aloof siya. Hindi niya masyadong in-entertain ang flirting ng mga babaeng nakapaligid sa kanila, unlike his friends na halatang gustong-gusto ang atensyon na nakukuha nila. He even looked uncomfortable, which I found interesting for a guy na high profile na.

I winced when more girls came in and started bombarding him with picture requests, pushing him in the process.

He didn't get upset — instead, he righted the girl that stumbled against him and helped her get her balance.

"Shit, ang hot niya sa malapitan," bulong ni Anjo for the third time. Kumapit siya sa 'kin, medyo nanginginig pa nga ang mga kamay.

I chuckled. Minsan lang matameme si Anjo. Most of the time, dahil sa mga crushes niya, as if she wasn't the type of girl who'd never back down from a fight, whether verbal or physical.

I nudged her arm. "Sige na, magpa-picture ka na."

Hindi ko alam kung namumula ba siya dahil sa strobe lights but Anjo furiously shook her head.

"Nakakahiya. Kinakabahan ako," she said, chewing on her lower lip.

"Samahan ka na lang namin," Hiro suggested.

"Yeah. Ikaw din, sayang yung chance."

"Eh, ang daming babae sa paligid niya. Ayokong sumiksik. Pagod na 'kong pagsiksikan ang sarili ko." At nagawa pa talagang humugot.

Pero sabagay, may point siya. Puro pa taga-Centrex ang mga nando'n. And those Intersci students that I recognized, tahimik lang na nanonood from the sidelines.

"If 'di ka magpapa-picture, alis na tayo?" pag-aya ko kasi nabubunggo na kami ng mga dumadagdag pa sa crowd.

Bumaling siya ng tingin kay Racel, nag-iisip nang malalim. "Wait lang muna. Can't decide pa."

Pinanood ko na lang muna yung nangyayari sa bandang entrance habang hinihintay ang decision niya.

Pumayag na si Racel sa mga nagpapa-picture sa kanya. 'Yon nga lang, hindi siya masyadong ngumingiti. Kung ngumiti man, slight lang. Pero bakit gano'n? He looked rather good with that aloof expression. There was a tinge of edge there.

Napansin ko kasi sa kanya, soft ang features niya. Matangkad, medyo fair-skinned din. Halata na athlete dahil sa well-toned arms at lean physique niya pero kahit na rugged ang over-all appearance niya, kapansin-pansin pa rin ang soft features ng mukha niya. What made him looked like a badass though was that dark fringe almost falling over his eyes. Medyo mahaba din kasi ang buhok niya pero kept in place naman. Malinis at smooth tingnan.

"Okay, 'di ko talaga keri. Balik na tayo," Anjo decided after a while.

"Sure ka? We can wait kumonti yung tao."

"Oo. 'Wag na," she said, pouting.

Ahron raised her brows at us when we got back. Gamit ang cell phone, inilawan niya ang mukha ni Anjo. "Why are you blushing again?"

Maxxie snickered. "Tomato 'yan?"

"Basta," sagot niya, sabay takip ng mukha sa kahihiyan.

Cutiepie.

Kinwento na namin sa dalawa kung ano ang nangyari. Sinabayan pa kami sa pang-aasar nina Maxxie at Ahron kaya lalong namula si Anjo. Fudge, natawa ako lalo. Ang cute niya talaga.

"You girls wanna go dancing na?" tanong ni Ahron sa 'min after a while.

Nag-pass sina Anjo at Maxxie.

Nilingon ko ang phone ko. Wala pa ring text sina Kuya. Si Lhyle, nando'n pa rin sa kabilang table at panaka-naka lang kaming nililingon.

"Sunod ako, babe. Take ko lang shot ko."

"Okay, then," sabi lang ni Ahron at iniwan na kami para magpunta sa gitna ng bar.

Several men followed her with their eyes pero wala siyang pinansin ni isa. My babe had a world of her own — and it showed in how she confidently strutted across the floor.

Ahron kasi had been a model for years na kaya talagang naalagaan niya ang figure niya. With long curly hair and well-endowed body, Ahron could have any guys she wanted anytime, anywhere, but she could be really picky, though. No boys would get lucky tonight, sure ako.

"Psst, Jan," tawag ni Maxxie, taking my attention.

I glanced at her, lifting a curious brow.

"'Yung guy from our left, tinitignan ka oh," sabi niya.

"Ayeee, oo nga! Patulan mo na," gatong naman ni Anjo. "Pwede! Mukhang mabango! Bet!"

Tumingin ako sa tinutukoy nila and totoo nga. I caught him stealing brief glances at us.

Napangiwi ako sa girls.

Seryoso ba sila? Binebenta nila ako, alam naman nilang ayoko sa ganitong mga encounters. I couldn't help it. After my two heartbreaks in high school, nangako ako sa sarili ko na mas mag-iingat na ako ngayong nasa university na kami.

"Pass," mariin kong sagot.

"'Di mo type?"

"Ayoko sa ganitong encounters, babe. I prefer natural meetings."

"Gano'n?" sagot ni Anjo. "Sa klase n'yo ba, wala kang bet? Sa dance troupe? Mga tropa ng DV boys? Natural encounter din naman yung gano'n ah?"

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. "Pwede ba. Instead na ako ang pinag-iinitan n'yo, love life n'yo na lang ang atupagin n'yo."

"Wala ngang nanliligaw, e." Anjo pouted.

"Paano kasi, ang dami mo kasing gusto," hirit ni Maxxie.

Laughing at them, I downed my shot in one go. When I felt confident and tipsy enough, nagpaalam na ako sa kanila.

"Sundan ko lang si Ahron," dagdag ko, "iwan ko phone ko, a."

And so, I got wild and crazy.

***

I had this uncanny feeling that someone was staring at me. Nasa dance floor na ako kaya mahirap alamin kung sino. Hindi ko na rin hinanap dahil medyo nahihilo na rin ako dahil sa dami ng tao.

"Hey," a dude came up to me from behind, his hand snaking around my waist. "Cool dance."

It was the same guy from earlier.

I ignored him, but I made sure na mapapansin niyang lumalayo ako sa kanya so he could take a hint.

The guy was persistent, though. Lumapit siya sa gilid ko at bumulong sa tainga ko.

"What's your name?"

"Sorry, I'm not interested."

His brows shot up. "Why not? I'm just asking for your name." Lumapit ulit siya, but this time, he grabbed my arm and traced his palm down the length of it.

I snapped.

"Dude, I said no. Please back off," matalim kong sabi. I shrugged my arm away from him, threw him a warning glance, and disappeared farther into the dance floor. Panira ng mood. Nakita ko sa gilid si Ahron na may kausap na babaeng nakasuot ng letterman jacket ng Intersci. Close to them were the starting players of Centrex and their friends.

Napansin na 'ko ni Ahron. She nodded at her friend and started walking toward me.

I glided my gaze around just to be sure na wala na nga yung nakakairitang dude. He was nowhere in sight. Good.

Remember, if a guy is interested at ayaw mo, you have to make it show. Or else, iisipin nilang pa-hard-to-get ka lang. Body signals are important.

Lalo na sa mga players. Kabisado na kasi nila 'yan. Well, most of them. Kumbaga, 'yan ang cue nila kung advance ba or retreat. Body signals can make or break. It's important to know that you can ward them off the same way you lure them in.

It was one valuable lesson I learned after I got my heart broken. By some undeserving fucking guy. It was late when I realized what he truly was. Kailangan pang mag-disappearing act muna siya bago ko malaman na manloloko nga.

"Careful now," rinig kong bulong ni Ahron sa 'kin nang makalapit siya sa 'kin. "Gutierez is checking you out."

My brows rose in surprise. Sinundan ko ang direksyon ng tingin niya. And there he was, the Centaur Captain, staring straight at me while he was casually lounging on the booth near the dance floor. May mga babaeng nakikipag-usap sa kanya. Tumatango siya pero sa 'kin nakatuon ang mga mata niya. What was his deal?

I looked away. He may be sinfully attractive, but he was forbidden to me. Nirerespeto ko ang mga kapatid at pinsan ko. Yeah, bro code.

"I wouldn't call that checking me out. Baka namumukhaan niya ako. Family resemblance and all."

"Please. Hindi kayo magkamukha ni Jacob."

"Kamukha ko kaya si Kuya Andrei."

"Whatever. Just be careful," she said with a shrug.

Lumingon ulit ako pabalik kay Racel pero wala na siya do'n. Pati yung mga babaeng nakapaligid sa kanya. Aayain ko na sana pabalik si Ahron nang biglang may lumapit sa 'min. A tall dude wearing the red Centrex letterman jacket. Agad ko siyang namukhaan.

This was Justin Mercedez, the guy that contributed a lot to his team's win kanina.

"Hey," bati niya kay Ahron. "Nice seeing you again here."

Ahron just stared at him. Obviously, nakikilala niya rin. But another obvious, hindi niya type.

"Can I offer you a drink?" he asked, flashing a broad, easygoing smile. "I'm Justin nga pala."

Tumango lang si Ahron. "No thanks. We have our own." Then she turned to me. "I'll go back to the booth na, Jan," she said before walking away. That left me alone with the guy. What the hell, babe?

I heard a low rumble. Justin was chuckling, looking at where she took off.

"Sungit talaga kahit kailan." He grinned and then slid his gaze back to me. "Hi, you're. . . ?"

"Javee," tipid kong sagot. I should get going as well.

"Cool. So are you girls here alone or are you with other friends?" dagdag niyang tanong.

"May kasama pa kami," sagot ko. Napansin kong naghihintay pa siya ng kasunod. "Excuse me, sundan ko lang."

Justin lifted a brow at that, his smile looking somewhere between amused and intrigued. "I'll see you around, I guess."

Hindi na ako sumagot. I left the dance floor and returned to our table. Nagkakatuwaan sina Maxxie at Hiro nang makabalik ako. Namumula na sila parehas. Si Anjo naman, lasing na at natutulog sa table. Ahron was busy with her phone. I suddenly remembered mine and checked it, too.

Holy shit.

Ten missed calls. Five text messages.

Ang daming missed calls ni Gian, pinsan ko. I quickly checked my inbox.

Kuya Nick: Tara shot.

Kuya Chris: Where you at?

Kuya Travis: Answer your phone, Jav.

Kuya Andrei: Why aren't you answering?

Gian: Huy, nasan ka ba?

Hoshet. Ilang minuto ko lang iniwan, may ganito na. The last of the texts were sent ten minutes ago pa lang naman. Makakahabol pa 'ko if I wanted to. Lumabas ako para mag-return call kay Gian. Nagulat pa ako nang si Kuya Jacob ang biglang tumawag.

"Kuya?" I said into the phone.

"Be ready. I'll be there in a few."

I panicked. "What? How did you know where I am?"

"I texted Lhyle."

DRAT! That ass, hindi man lang ako sinabihan!

"Sige, Kuya," ang sabi ko na lang bago tinapos yung tawag.

Nagmadali na ako. Bumalik ako sa loob para kunin yung gamit ko at magpaalam. Pagkaraan ko sa counter, nadaanan ko si Racel Gutierez na kasama na si Justin. Our eyes met, but I was the first to break the contact, putting on my poker face.

But then, something clicked in my head.

Nandito si Racel. He won the game. At papunta ngayon si Kuya Jacob. They weren't on good terms. That could only lead to one thing.

Oh, shit.

Ramble.