A Child With A Stranger

(BROWN EYES)

It was a wild and crazy night for Cherry, because tonight is the start of the success of her acting career. After a half-decade in the acting industry, she will finally have her own series where she's the main lead. And this won't be possible without the people around her, especially her manager.

"Congrats, Cherry, this is one of the biggest projects in your acting career, and I know you will nail this project because I know how good an actor you are," her manager greets her as they start drinking and cheering.

"Thanks, Máma." She answered and gave her manager a kiss on the cheeks. "This won't be possible to happen without you."

Cherry wants to cry from happiness. She is really grateful to have them in her life. That's why she will never get tired of saying thank you to them.

They are in a private bar, where they are going to celebrate her new upcoming series. Since the set was finished earlier, they decided to do the celebration today.

"Máma, why are there other people here?" she curiously asks her manager. She thought this was a private bar, so she only expected the other staff from the set and the directors to be here.

"Don't mind them, ok? They are only here for business. People like them don't care about celebrities' lives, so don't worry about them, and let's enjoy the night." Her manager explained to her, and she only calmed down after what her manager said. She is really worried about seeing other people since her career was just only starting to succeed. She's scared to make any mistake that might ruin her.

Her gaze drifted to the bar, where a man was sitting on the bar stool and drinking alcohol. Even with the bright party lights, she can see his fair skin was striking. He clearly had some foreign blood in him, and she could feel that there was a certain aura about him. From head to toe, his features were perfect. His lips were especially captivating. She couldn't help but bite her lower lip as she found this man attractive and daring, lost in thought.

'Oh, Cherry, you're letting his perfection get to your head,' she thought.

But as she looks at the man again, their eyes meet, and she can feel that her heart starts racing. She couldn't stop looking at his brownish eyes. She feels like he's burning her alive with those eyes. Not a burn like fire, it's a burn like a desire where she can feel that he wants her, making her feel like she wants him too.

She quickly looked away, feeling the intensity of his gaze growing. She felt hypnotized by his stare.

His expression had shifted; his eyes were now openly seductive, his lips curled into a knowing smile as he watched her.

She hardly swallowed her drink as his image kept flashing back into her mind.

'Argh, bullshit! Was he trying to flirt with me? '

She couldn't answer her own question. Her muscles were trembling. Why does she feel so affected? It's infuriating.

Beep! Beep!

Her phone vibrated.

[From: Azia]

Message: I'm outside. I brought what you need.

[To: Azia]

Message: Okay, I'm coming. 😘

A smile touched her lips. She said goodbye to her manager before heading out of the bar.

"Hey, what’s up?” she greeted Azia while hugging her.

“Here. I got everything you asked for,” she replied, smiling, and handed her a box.

“Thanks, you’re a lifesaver.”

“Don’t mention it; I have to go, I’m swamped,” Azi said. She kissed her cheek before she left.

Pumunta siya sa parking lot at tinungo ang sasakyan niya para makaalis na ang kaibigan niya. Nang malagay niya sa backseat ang ibinigay ni Azia, napagpasyahan niya nang bumalik sa loob.

Hindi pa man siya nakakalayo ay may humatak sa kanya at isinandal siya sa isang sasakyan.

"Hi," bulong nito sa kanya habang nakapalupot ang mga kamay nito sa bewang niya.

Hindi niya alam pero parang hindi niya magawang tanggihan ang mga kilos na ginagawa ng lalaki sa kanya. Marahil siguro ay may tama na siya ng alak.

"H-hi," Alanganin niyang sagot.

"I couldn't help but see you looking at me earlier," sabi ng lalaki, bigla naman siyang nakaramdam ng hiya.

Baka marahil ay hindi ito naging komportable dahil sa titig niya kanina, baka nandito ito para magreklamo sa kanya…

'Ikaw kasi, Cherry, napaka-asumera mo,' sabi niya sa isip niya.

"Sorry, did I make you feel uncomfortable?" Nahihiya niyang paumanhin dito. Mas lalong humigpit ang kapit ng lalaki sa bewang niya dahilan nang malapit pa lalo ang mga mukha nila.

"Yes, you did, especially here." Saad ng lalaki at kinuha ang kamay niya syaka ito dinala sa ibabaw ng pantalon nitong naka bukol.

Hindi magawa ni Cherry na bawiin ang kamay niya dahil siya mismo ay idiniin ang pagkakawak dito.

Rinig niya ang mahinang daing ng lalaki, at para bang isang masarap na musika ang halinghing ng boses nito sa tenga niya.

At nang dahil lang doon ay mas lalo pa siyang nakaramdam ng pagka-desperado na marinig ulit ang nakakaakit na daing nito.

"Fuck," mahinang daing nito sa tenga niya.

"Do you want to come with me?" Alok nito sa kanya. Nag salubong naman ang kilay niya.

"Saan?" Tanong ko.

"Hmm, at my condo."

"Anong gagawin natin don?"

"We're gonna have some fun." Aniya at hinatak siya papasok sa kotseng sinandalan niya.

Pagdating nila sa loob ng isang gusali ay agad siya nitong sinunggaban ng halik. Marunong naman humalik si Cherry, kaya naman ay hinalikan niya pabalik ang lalaki na mas lalong nagpainit sa pakiramdam niya.

Alam niyang parehas silang wala sa wisyo, wala sa sariling pag-iisip, pero hindi iyon ang gusto niya munang isipin dahil masyado nang nag-iinit ang buong katawan niya dahil sa halik na ibinigay ng strangherong lalaking ito.

Nagulat na lang siya nang bigla siyang buhatin ng lalaki at ipinasok sa isang kwarto; bukas ang mga ilaw kaya naman mas lalo niyang nakita ang kagwapohan ng lalaki.

Hindi niya tuloy mapigilang mapatitig dito.

Nang tuluyan silang makapasok sa kwarto ay walang kaaberya siya nito ibinato sa kama. Buti nalangbay makapal ang foam ng kama kaya wala naman siyang naramdamang sakit ng ibato siya ng lalaki.

Nang tignan niyang muli ang lalaki, ay nakatitiglang ito sa kanya habang sinisimulan nitong tanggalin ang suot-suot nitong sintron.

Hindi niya mapigilan ang hindi mapalunok sa sarili niyang laway dahil nagsisimula na siyang makaramdam ng kaba.

Pero puno na ang desisyon niya, hindi siya papayag na matapos ang gabi na hindi nakukuha ang gusto niya sa lalaking ito.