PROLOGUE

IN SOME random high-end café, Reigo was sitting at a table for two with his eight months girlfriend—now soon-to-be ex-girlfriend—and listening to her talk about the things she hated about him and the reason she wanted to end their relationship.

"Hindi ko lang nararamdaman na mahal mo talaga ako. Palagi ka na lang busy sa trabaho. Ni hindi ka makapag-text sa 'kin ng 'good morning' o kaya naman 'good night'. As your girlfriend, I am ashamed to tell my friends that you don't have time for me. All you do is work and you can't even take me on vacations like my friends' boyfriends. I mean, you're Reigo Vasquez, but you gave me a locally-made bag when you can afford a branded one and I feel ashamed to show it to my friends! They always think that you don't love me enough because of your lackluster gifts! I just feel like we're not meant to be, Reigo. Please, understand me."

Reigo didn't even blink. Sanay na siyang naririnig ang mga salitang binitiwan ni Shania. 'Yon ang palagi niyang naririnig na rason sa mga naging girlfriend niya.

He was so used to it. It didn't bother him anymore, and he went straight to the point. "Why don't you just admit to me that you found someone else and that you're cheating on me?"

Shania's went pale, and it took her a couple of seconds before she could pull herself together and try to reply as sophisticatedly as possible. "I don't know what you're talking about. Gumagawa ka lang ng kung ano-anong kuwento sa 'kin para sa 'kin mo ibunton ang sisi ng paghihiwalay natin. You're just trying to destroy my name—"

With a bored sigh, Reigo placed his phone on the table in front of Shania to show her his proof. "I'm working so I have little time for you, but that does not give you the right to cheat on me. Gaano ba kahirap sabihin sa 'kin na 'break na tayo'? It's not like I will oppose."

From pale of worry to red of anger, that was the change that happened on Shania's face. "Roman is good to me! And you're not there when I needed you the most!"

"And when was this?" Reigo replied indifferently.

Shania glared at Reigo. "When you were busy."

"You could've called me and told me you need me."

"I did!"

"When?" Reigo's voice had become interrogative. "I still have my call logs."

It infuriated Shania. "Fuck you!"

Reigo looked at Shania, uninterested. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you? You're the one who cheated."

"I did that because of you...!" Shania shouted and everyone in the café was eavesdropping while trying not to look at their table. "Kung binigyan mo lang ako ng oras, e 'di sana hindi ko 'yon nagawa!"

Reigo was as calm as ever. "Bakit ako ang sinisisi mo sa ginawa mo? It was your choice."

"Bastard!"

Reigo's eyebrows rose and indifferently asked. "Should I call you a bitch, then?"

Nanlilisik ang matang umangat ang kamay ni Shania at malakas na dumapo iyon sa pisngi ni Reigo. Ang ingay na nilikha ng malakas na sampal na 'yon ay halos nagpatigil sa buong café maliban na lang sa mesa na katabi lang din nina Reigo at Shania na may argumento ring nagaganap.

"Why, Zehan?! Explain to me why you don't want to accept my proposal? Ayaw mo ba akong makasama habambuhay? Ayaw mo bang makasal tayo? Tell me!"

Rommel was in turmoil while holding the engagement ring in his hand. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Zehannah, was as calm as an untouched lake after saying 'no' to Rommel's proposal. "Makasama habambuhay? Gusto. Makasal? Hindi."

Mas lalong nasaktan si Rommel sa narinig. Para dito, ang hindi pagtanggap ni Zehan sa inaalok nitong kasal ay pruweba na hindi ito mahal ni Zehan. "Am I that worthless to you, Zehan?"

"No. It's not about your worth to me, Rom." Kalmadong nagpapaliwanag si Zehan sa isang taon nitong kasintahan. "It's about marriage. It's a no for me. I'm sorry."

"Why? If you really love me, you will say yes."

That angered Zehan, but she remained calm. "Hindi ako o-oo sa kasal na inaalok mo para lang patunayan na mahal kita. That's just childish and very manipulative. Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo? Bakit? Kapag kasal na ba tayo, habambuhay na tayong magsasama? That's bullshit reasoning and you know that."

"But we're already at the marrying age, Zehan!" giit ni Rommel. "Halos lahat ng ka-edad natin, nagpapakasal na at may mga anak na."

Hindi na napigilan ni Zehan na hindi tumaas ang kilay. "E 'di sabayan mo sila. Huwag mo lang akong isama."

"Zehan!"

"What?" Zehan was trying to reign in her frustration that Rommel was not listening to her and only thinking about himself. "Wala akong pakialam kung lahat ng ka-edad ko sa buong mundo ay kasal, may-asawa, at may anak na. Ang mahalaga sa akin ay makatulong ako sa mga magulang ko na nagkandakuba-kuba para lang mabigyan ako ng magandang buhay at siyempre, ang kasiyahan ko. At sa pagkakataong 'to, masaya ako sa buhay ko, Rom, kahit wala akong asawa, kahit hindi ako kasal, at kahit wala akong anak. So what if my age is already near the end of the calendar? My priorities differ from theirs. My life, my decision."

Rommel's lips parted in astonishment. He knew Zehannah was not enthusiastic when it comes to marriage, but he didn't know the extent of that. And now that he did, he felt so worthless in front of her. He felt small that Zehan didn't even think about him and a future with him.

"How about me, Zehan?" tanong ni Rommel. "Am I not part of your priorities?"

Zehannah looked into Rommel's eyes. Eye to eye. No lies. Zehan gave it to Rommel straight. "You are like a bonus in my life, Rom. I'm happy that you're with me and staying with me even though I'm far from being perfect and I can't give you a lot of things. But if you pushed marriage unto me with a bullshit reasoning of 'being together forever', it will hurt me, but I will not dislike it if you left."

Napatanga si Rommel sa mga sinabi ni Zehan at kahit alam ni Zehan na nasaktan niya si Rommel sa sinabi niya, hindi siya nag-iwas ng tingin. She didn't enjoy hurting Rommel or talking about marriage. For her, married or not, if a couple wanted to stay together forever, then they will make it happen even without 'marriage'. Her parents were a great example of that.

To Zehannah, marriage was a powerful paper—a paper that could bind someone without a viable exit. And it was scary for her.

Marriage here in the country was like entering a building without a way out. If that building got burned and collapsed, they had nowhere else to go because they were stuck inside without an exit.

Well, there was a way out called an annulment, but aside from consuming a lot of time, it consumed a lot of money, too. And there was no guarantee that the annulment case would go well and be approved. Normal citizens like her who had no money to burn should be wary of marriage. She's happy for those who decided to get wed and be together, but that didn't mean she wanted to get wed herself.

She just didn't see herself getting married. Not even with Rommel, whom she liked the most out of all her boyfriends.

"Kung sasabihin ko ngayon na makikipag-break ako sa 'yo kung hindi mo tatanggapin ang proposal ko, hindi mo pa rin ba tatanggapin?"

Tumango si Zehannah. "I will use the same words you used to me earlier. If you love me, you won't force me."

Bumagsak ang balikat ni Rommel. "I really want to build a family with you, Zehan. But if it's a no, then I will look for someone else who would prioritize me more."

Zehannah understood, so she nodded. Hindi niya pinakita na may kaunting kirot sa dibdib niya dahil sa desisyon nitong maghanap ng ibang babaeng pakakasalan dahil umayaw siya.

Hindi si Rommel and unang nag-propose sa kaniya na hindi niya tinanggap. Pero lahat sila na 'ayoko' ang naging sagot niya, lahat ay umalis at iniwan siya na para bang dahil sa pag-hindi niya ay hindi na niya gusto ang mga ito at wala na siyang maramdamang pagpapahalaga sa mga ito. Ayaw lang naman niyang magpakasal, pero hindi ibig sabihin ay hindi na niya gustong makasama ang mga ito. Pero palaging 'yon ang nangyayari. It was sad that they always thought that way, but marriage was really a no for her.

Or maybe her exes who proposed to her were right. She just didn't love them enough to change her belief and say 'yes'. Like at that moment, she felt a tinge of pain in her chest that Rommel was breaking up with her, but that pain was not enough to make her sulk or sob in the corner. She would be just fine without Rommel in her life, and that was a fact. It would not be hard for her to move on and be with someone else again. She was used to it.

"I'm sorry that I'm not the woman you're looking for." Zehannah was really sorry that she couldn't be the woman Rommel wanted her to be, but she would never force herself to be someone she didn't want to be just to please him. "If you found a woman who would say 'yes' to your proposal, please treat her well and don't give her a reason to think that marriage is just a sham because if that happened, you're going to prove me right and that would suck for you."

Rommel said nothing and just left.

And just like that, Zehannah was single again.

Nang tuluyang makalabas si Rommel sa café, napatingin si Zehannah sa lamesa at napabulong, "Ang gago, hindi man lang binayaran ang kinain niya." Ang mahal pa naman dito. Tangina. Tapos broken hearted pa ako—well, not really broken, but still...

Zehannah was so tempted to get her phone and call her friend, Cassia, but decided not to. Baka imbes na makapaglabas siya ng sama ng loob, ang ulo niya ang sasakit dahil sa isip nitong kakaiba.

Napabuntonghininga si Zehannah kapagkuwan ay napaigtad nang biglang nagdadabog na umalis ang babae sa katabi niyang table.

Curious as to why the woman left so dramatically, Zehannah glanced at the table beside her and her eyes landed on the man sitting across from her with an 'I'm done' expression on his handsome face.

Zehannah felt like they're both going through the same thing and she felt a little camaraderie with him, so she spoke to him. "The break-up is that bad?"

The man stilled before he glanced at her with a frown and their eyes met.

Such tantalizing eyes. Zehannah commented inside her head.

"What did you say...?" he asked with a frown.

"I said 'the break-up is that bad'?" ulit ni Zehannah. "You have an 'I'm done' expression on your face."

"Oh. Not really. I'm just done with all these cheaters who only know how to complain when you catch them and then they'll blame you for it while playing the victim card."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Zehannah sa narinig. "Seriously? She cheated on... you...?" She didn't believe him one bit.

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay ng lalaki. "Why? Do I look so handsome that you didn't believe they cheated on me?"

"... kinda."

"Well, she cheated on me." The man paused, and then added, "And so did my previous girlfriends."

"Damn..." What an unlucky guy. "Must suck to be you."

He chuckled humorlessly. "Yes, it sucks. All I want is to find a good woman to marry and have a family."

Inilahad ni Zehannah ang kamay sa lalaki. "I'm a good woman, but not someone to marry. Marriage is a no for me. The name's Zehannah Sevil," pagpapakilala niya.

Reluctantly, the man reached out his hand and accepted Zehannah's hand. "Reigo Vasquez. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Zehannah pulled back her hand back and smiled. "Want to go club hopping? My boyfriend just left me as well. Want to celebrate being single again?"

Reigo frowned at Zehannah as if she said something weird. "Being single is something to be celebrated and happy about?"

"Oo naman." Zehannah grinned. "More time for yourself and you can love yourself to your heart's content. Not only that, being single is peaceful."

Reigo was still looking at Zehannah weirdly. "You said club hopping, but"—tinuro nito ang labas ng café—"it's just ten in the morning."

"Then let's go coffee hopping and drink our bitterness away." She really felt camaraderie with Reigo and at that moment, she didn't want to be alone and think about her previous failed relationships which was going to happen if she went back to her condo now.

Pinag-isipan naman ni Reigo ang suhestiyon ni Zehannah ng ilang segundo bago tumayo at inilahad ang kamay kay Zehannah. "I know lots of cafés. My ex-girlfriends always bring me to cafés when they want to break up for some reason."

Mahinang natawa si Zehannah saka walang pangingiming tinanggap ang kamay ni Reigo at sabay silang lumabas.

And so, the café-slash-coffee hopping began, and Reigo and Zehannah used Zehannah's old-model car to go around and visit the cafés that Reigo remembered. Reigo had a car but decided to ride with Zehannah to lessen the traffic.

Zehannah seemed like a swell woman. Very witty and a breath of fresh air for Reigo. They enjoyed the coffee and food while talking about their failed relationships—they called it talk, but it's more like complaining.

Enjoying each other's company, the two didn't realize how time was passing by fast and the next thing they knew, it was already dark out when they stepped out from the café they last visited.

"Huh?" Hindi makapaniwala si Zehannah na wala nang araw sa kalangitan. "Where did the day go?"

"That was fast," Reigo commented.

"Yeah."

"Want to go club hopping now?"

Zehannah glanced at Reigo. "After all that coffee, you're still thirsty?"

Reigo shrugged. "May naka-save na ibang space ang alak sa tiyan ko."

Natawa si Zehannah. "Lasenggo ka, 'no?"

"Not really."

"Sus..." Natatawang naglakad patungo si Zehannah sa sasakyan niya. "Come on. I know a good nightclub, though no club hopping. I want to drink and we don't have a designated driver."

"Only one club it is," Reigo declared with his always-so-serious face and followed Zehannah to her car.

Inside Zehannah's car, she narrowed her eyes at Reigo. "Mister, my car is not moving unless you put your seatbelt on."

"So strict..." Reigo mumbled under his breath, but he still put his seatbelt on.

Seeing that her passenger was now secured, Zehannah started maneuvering her car out of the café's parking lot and drove towards the bar she sometimes visited and liked.

Out of nowhere, Reigo randomly asked, "Don't you have a nickname? Zehannah is too long."

"Most call me Zehan."

"Still too long."

Zehannah throws a glare at Reigo. "Hey! My parents gave me that nickname."

In their café-slash-coffee hopping, Reigo learned how much Zehannah adored her parents, so he said nothing about her nickname. "Can I make one?"

"Make what?"

"A nickname. For you."

"Bakit?"

"I feel like making one. Used only by me."

Zehannah clicked her tongue. "Pasalamat ka kanina pa tayo nagka-café-slash-coffee hunting. Kahit papaano, may pinagsamahan na tayo. Fine. Make one."

For the first time, Reigo smiled, but Zehannah was driving so she didn't see it. "Hmm... how about just Zee?"

"Wow. So fucking creative," puno ng sarkasmo na sagot ni Zehannah.

That did not deter Reigo. "From now on, I'll call you Zee."

Zehannah sighed. "Sa dami-dami ng nickname na puwede mong ibigay sa 'kin, 'yon talaga? Masama ba ang loob mo sa 'kin?"

"It suits you."

Zehannah just clicked her tongue and continued driving until they reached their destination. After expertly parking her car, she and Reigo went inside the club and occupied a table, and then they ordered a drink. Tequila since she really wanted to forget what happened with Rommel today and she knew that liquor could help her with that.

It was a harmless 'drinking' at first. Zehannah and Reigo were even cursing their exes and celebrating their single life, but after one bottle of tequila, everything started getting messy.

Zehannah and Reigo found themselves on the dance floor, dancing to the rhythm of the loud music while their bodies were rubbing against each other. Reigo's hands were on Zehannah's waist and Zehannah's arms were around Reigo's neck.

They danced naughtily and sexily while drowning themselves in liquor. They did not care about anything but themselves. They stuck together, not leaving each other's side and doing all the naughty stuff that Zehannah and Reigo wouldn't do with each other if sober.

But the tequila was in full effect.

It was fun. It was satisfying. Until it became so hot that Reigo and Zehannah ended up in the club's private bathroom, making out like they couldn't get enough of each other—and they couldn't.

They were kissing, sucking, and licking each other's lips while carelessly undressing their lower garments to do more than just a kiss. Both wasted and out of their minds, Zehannah just bit her lips and moaned when she felt Reigo enter her from behind while she was holding on to the sink not to fall.

She did not care about anything other than the pleasure that was blowing her mind at that moment. Nothing else. Just the pleasure that was curling her toes and eliciting a cry of pleasure from her throat.

Reigo was not gentle. No. He was rough. He was groaning as he thrust deeper into Zehannah's wet, tight, and throbbing core.

She was wet and aching. He was rough. She was moaning. He was groaning. Both were drunk, wasted, and out of their minds with pleasure.

"Ahh... ahh! Ah! Ah!" Gripping the bathroom sink, Zehannah's moan filled the small space. "Reigo...! Ah! Uhh! Fuck. Ah, shit! So good..."

"Fuck," Reigo cussed as he slammed his cock harder inside Zehannah. "So fucking tight—fuck!"

"Ahh...! Reigo! Ahh...! Uh..! More. More! Sige pa. Isagad mo pa. Sige pa." Zehannah was begging and she was moving her hips.

Reigo obliged, and he thrust so hard that Zehannah's whole body was shaking at the impact and she was screaming with ecstasy.

"Oh, shit! Reigo! Fuck! Good—fucking good! Fuck! Ahh! Fuck! Harder! Fuck me harder—yes, yes, like that! Yes! Ahh...!" Zehannah did not care if someone could hear her lustful pleas. She just wanted more. Her body felt so hot and needy that she wanted Reigo to fuck her senselessly until the heat inside her dissipated.

Yes, she wanted to be fucked senselessly, and she didn't even know where this 'want' was coming from. She just wanted that thick, long cock inside her throbbing core.

"Holy... fuck...!" A chain of cusses escaped Zehannah's lips as she felt a blinding pleasure explode inside her. It shook her whole being.

That was the first time she ever felt that kind of blinding pleasure that took her breath away. Literally. She never knew that sex was that good and mind-blowing and she wanted more even after Reigo had his release.

At mukhang ganoon din ang nararamdaman ni Reigo dahil balik na naman sa mapusok na halikan ang dalawa. Parehong walang pakialam kung may malakas na kumakatok sa labas at sumisigaw na lumabas na sila.

Zehannah and Reigo did not care about anything but themselves. They made out, touched each other, and fucked again.

And when they finally stepped out of the bathroom, cusses and glares were thrown at them, but they only laughed and went back to the dance floor and danced while their hands were on each other.

And it seemed like their lips couldn't bear to be away from each other. They found their lips locked again and making out heavily in the middle of the dark dance floor, where no one cared if you're making out or being fucked.

Drinking. Dancing. Making out. And fucking multiple times in the bathroom throughout the night like hungry animals that couldn't get enough of each other. Zehannah did all that in one night with one guy who was nowhere to be found when she woke up alone in her car the morning after, hungover and sore beyond belief.

Softly placing her hands on her sore and aching vagina, Zehannah wanted to smack herself as she muttered in disbelief under her breath. "Why the fuck... Did I do all that last night?"

Yes. She remembered, but no answer. No. There was one answer—no. Two.

She was drunk and stupid. Yes. That's it. Drunk and stupid.

Reigo Vasquez ... I hope we won't see each other again.

Yes. A girl could hope. 

CECELIB | C.C.