"Kiss me."

My gaze broadened, and I beat him softly. "Hey, don't request like we are something." I unclasped my hand from him, but he grabbed it again and interlocked his fingers with mine.

"What do you mean? Aren't we getting married?" he bluntly said.

Napabuga ako. "Ikaw ha? Pinagsasamantalahan mo ako. Your taking advantage of this marriage for your excessive lust." I gave him a look of disgust.

"Tsk. You've got a lot to say. Come on, just kiss me."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Ayoko nga." I released his hand and zipped up my seatbelt.

"Bakit? Gusto mo ba ako ang hahalik sa 'yo? Kiss me now, Sheen May, while I'm still asking you nicely."

"Woah, was that a threat?" I laughed as I observed him and his appearance. Is he for real? Why sudden tantrums? Napakamanyak naman yata ng isang ito. Ano bang meron sa kiss at bakit gusto niya out of the blue? Sabagay, alangan namang manghingi siya sa iba, natural sa akin talaga.

"Give me a kiss." He pouted.

"Fine. Just a quick one." I gave him a peck on the lips.

"What type of kiss was that? Is that how you kiss your future husband?" It seemed like he was ready to throw a fit. Ano bang meron sa lalaking ito? Mas gusto ko siyang sakalin kaysa halikan. "Aren't you the one who loves me? Come on, kiss me right," he protested. What the hell?

He's so haughty. Really, he is abusing me and using my feelings for himself.

"You're such a pain in the ass. Fine, I'll do it the last time." I lean in and grip his nape to kiss him. I was about to part ways when he grabbed my waist and nape. I was caught off guard. Like before, he gave me a kiss. It was both soft and full of passion. The blood was rushing to my ears. The heat in here is palpable. I can't seem to stop now, and what occurred last night might happen again.

"Hmm... Ahh...Jhon Rey."

I was startled when he pulled me onto his lap and started sucking my lips again. His hand roamed inside my blouse and unclasped my bra.

"W-Wait, Jhon Rey." I pushed him.

He turned to me and said, "What?" He looked a little irritated because he was interrupted.

"We're still at our university. Someone might see us making out," I murmured in embarrassment. I felt uncomfortable when he caught me blushing while I was still on his lap.

He was still chasing his breath while staring at me. I'm too close to him, and sitting on his lap makes me feel shy even more. He can hear my heart, can't he?

My breathing started to progressively normalize again. Bakit ba siya nagkakaganito? Hindi ako sanay sa bigla bigla niyang pagbabago.

He put his head on my chest and said, "What should I do? I was really pissed off." Kumunot ang noo ko. Galit siya? Saan?

"Of what?" I asked.

I felt his fingers adjust my bra as he shook his head, seeming not to want to say why he was mad. I was shocked. Wow, he knows how to re-clasp it. He appeared to be really skilled when making out. How many women did he play with in this way for him to be skilled at this?

"Of you," he answered.

"What did I just do?" tanong ko na parang may pinaaamong bata. He brought me back to my seat and adjusted my seatbelt. His gaze can't seem to get off of me.

"Now let's head home."

Despite not knowing what I had done to offend him, I simply nodded. He took me home. The way he is looking at me gives off an air of melancholy that I can almost touch. I get the impression that he is struggling with something that he cannot discuss with me.

"Hey, are you sure you're fine?" I inquired, but all he did was nod his head.

"Don't worry about me. I'm just thinking that's why I became so silent, but I'm positive that everything is alright, so you can go in now."

I nodded and tried to smile at him. He smiled back a little and waved goodbye. I sighed. I want to know what's bugging his mind suddenly after what happened just a while ago, but I guess I need to give him time and space for now. Mas mabuting hayaan ko na lang kaysa magtanong pa ako. Hindi niya rin naman sasabihin ang sagot.

The day that Anne and I had planned to get together finally arrived. It was my bachelorette's party and it was just the two of us celebrating. It's classic. We are probably the only ones in history who have done this.

My phone rang, and the name of my best friend flashed on the screen. It was Anne.

I answered her call. Pagkatapos ng mahabang katahimikan, nagsalita na siya. "Nasa'n ka?" tanong niya.

"Malapit na 'ko. Why did you seem in a rush?"

"Nothing. I was in doubt that you were not coming here. Anyway, I'm here na. Just tell the receptionist my name so she can accompany you to our table."

"Alright."

The call ended.

"Are you sure of the address?" tanong ni Derrick sa akin.

"Yeah, Anne told me we'll be meeting at the restaurant named Teenvensé. We'll just eat there and go home after, I guess," I presumed.

"That's not just a typical restaurant, Miss Velasco. That was a bar."

A gasp escaped my lips. I asked, "S-sigurado ka?"

"Yeah. There is a restaurant in the lobby, but there was a bar down in the basement. There's a hotel right next door, too. It's owned by the same person, and both properties are connected."

Napanganga ako. I feel betrayed. Anne insisted we were just going to the restaurant, but yeah, literally, it was a restaurant unless we went down. Kakaiba talaga ang kaibigan ko. Mukhang may balak talaga siyang uminom.

"Let me know when you're leaving so I can come and get you."

"Alright."

Nagpaalam na ako kay Derrick bago pumasok sa Teenvensé. Katulad ng sinabi ni Anne, I told the receptionist my reservation was in Anne's name, and sure enough, she directed me to her.

My eyeballs rolled. "It looks like I've been fooled," I remarked.

"Why?" tanong niya.

"I know the floor lower here is a bar. Balak mo ba talagang maglasing?"

There was delight on her face. "Peace. I really want to have a drink. Sorry."

"Why?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Wala naman. Order na tayo."

Nag-order siya ng full-course meal. Sabi ko nga 'wag kasi gabi at lalaki ako kapag kumain ako nang kumain. I'm trying to maintain my figure pa rin kahit buntis ako. Marami akong napanood na videos on the internet na nahihirapan silang manganak kapag sumobra ng bigat 'yong baby sa loob. There were cases where an incision was made in the perineum or a cesarean section was performed to facilitate delivery. That was painful, so at least I wanted to have a normal delivery so I could maintain my eating habits as well as my figure.

"So what's our plan tonight?" I intend to inquire.

"Well, dahil dalawa lang naman tayo, we'll eat, and then I prepared some questions for you to answer. I also bought a cake to congratulate you on your wedding."

Ngumiti ako. "Sorry, I have no friend other than you, kaya ang timid ng atmosphere. I wish there were more of us so it would be more fun, and if I could also drink with you."

"Tsk. I'm fine. It's you that I'm worried about. Hindi rin naman tayo makapag-bridal shower dahil duh, would your parents hold such one? I think they're also busy preparing your sudden wedding."

"Yeah, they are. Lalo't marami na ring lumabas na articles that Jhon Rey and I are getting married. Yung mga natitira naming investors was kind of relief because of the sudden merge. The business is getting stable now and far enough to bankruptcy. Others are intimidated to also join the grand project planned by Dad; even Jhon Rey's father collided with my father's ideas. That's what I've heard from Derrick," I explained.

"I see, I think that's some kind of progress. Even though the wedding is not yet taking place, their businesses are now getting better. And napansin ko rin na parang you two are getting closer na. Are you taking this seriously na ba?"

I sipped my tea while she drank her expensive red wine. It's as if I've crashed a tea party and she's hosting a wine party.

"I think so. That's how I've been feeling about him so far. He has been quite kind to me," I admitted.

"Really? That's encouraging news, Sheen May. Mukhang tama ka nga. You found your soul mate in him, your Mr. Right," she said while nodding like she was impressed. Ngumiti lamang ako.

"Hey, can I ask?" Her tone began to be serious and curious.

"Yeah, sure. Is our question and answer starting now?"

"Yeah, you can say that. I've been wondering how the two of you did it."

I bugged out. Kahit hindi niya sabihin kung ano 'yong tinutukoy niya, alam ko na.

"What the hell, Anne?" Napapunas tuloy ako ng bibig kasi muntikan ko nang maibuga 'yong appetizer na kinakain ko. Natawa naman siya.

"Why? Am I not allowed to ask that? I'm your best friend."

"I invoke my rights."

"You're gatekeeping it! Since I lack experience, I naturally have lots of questions. Can you just answer me? I'm dying to know.""

"Really? Aren't you doing it yet?" tanong ko pabalik sa kaniya. Now, I am curious about her relationship with Aaron. She never talked about it with me.

"Inaasar mo ba ako? Eh hindi nga siya lumalabas sa academy niya di ba? Pero ngayon nasa galaan siya because of that freaking bachelor's party." I can see on her face that she was really annoyed with that thought.

Natawa naman ako. "Sorry, sorry. If you need some advice about that, well, it was my first time too, and I'm not an expert, so I really don't know if what I did was correct."

"Does it feel really good?" she asked again. This topic is now getting beyond my expectations.

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks and ears. "Hey, can you stop? Look how flushed I am now."

"So it feels really good. I see," sambit niya, bago muling uminom ng wine.

She looks so interested in that. It's not that I'm uncomfortable telling her about it; I'm just embarrassed.

"Did you do it again?" Nagulat ako sa tanong niya kaya nasagot ko siya nang pabalang. "How can we do it again when I'm pregnant?"

She smirked, seeming surprised by what she had learned. "Don't tell me, you did not know? You can do that even when you're pregnant. It's safe. So, isang beses niyo lang ginawa? Kaya pala. I see now why you reacted like that. Ang lakas pala ng semilya ng isang Jhon Rey."

I was shocked. Hindi ko inaakalang maririnig ko 'yon mula sa best friend ko. Kahit kailan ay hindi kami nagkaroon ng ganitong usapan. Ngayon lang! At napapaisip ako sa mga sinasabi niya.

Can we really do it again even if I'm pregnant?