Kabanata 1

Ashton's POV

"Do you think Zarik is falling for that woman?" sabi ni Ulysses habang nilalaro ang basong may alak sa kamay niya.

"I think he is, and he will lose to me big time." Si Rajid, may ngisi sa labi.

Ashton shook his head. This man really loves to play a game. Pati siya ay hinahamon sa bagay na iyon.

That's impossible. He prefers enjoying life alone without anyone dictating him. Women are just painful in the ass. He hated clingy person. And he prefers one night stand. Swerte na ang babae kung umabot sa kanya ng tatlong araw.

"Parang nito lang, hindi raw siya maiinlove sa isang babae, pero ang gago halos sambahin si Thalia." sabat naman ni Landon.

His friends burst into laughter as Khaled rested his foot on his leg without shame.

Nagtaas siya ng kilay roon at sapilitang itinulak ito dahilan nang kamuntikan nitong pagkatumba.

"Gago!" Singhal nito, masama ang tingin sa kanya.

Ngumisi siya sabay kindat. Napangiwi naman ang kaibigan.

"Ano bang pakiramdam nang magmahal?" si Nero na mukhang nagde-day dream kaya nabato niya ito ng yelo.

Nagsitawanan sila maliban kay Nero na sinamaan siya ng tingin. At katulad ng ginawa niya kay Khaled, nginisian niya rin ito at kinindatan kaya halos masuka ang gago sa ginawa niya.

"I wish you luck, bro. Hope you don't eat that once you already experience that fucking feeling." Seryosong payo ni Vander na ikinangunot ng noo niya, tinatapik pa ang balikat ni Nero.

"Why bother falling inlove when you can get a woman anytime you want?" Nakangising sabat niya.

"And here's the playboy of the house!" si Callix na sinabayan ni Nero at panay chant sa pangalan niya.

"You really sure about that?" Tinig nanunuyang sambit ni Rajid.

Malakas siyang natawa.

He has proven many times that no woman can captivate him. Never in his life has he planned to make a fool of himself for a woman like Zarik.

"Huwag ka ng umasa sa kaibigan nating gago, Raj. Hinding hindi 'yan mabibihag ng kung sino!" Hiyaw ni Reeve.

"You knew him, bro. Ashton is a big asshole." Umiiling na sang-ayon ni Khaled.

Sumang-ayon ang mga kaibigan niya sa sinabi ng mga ito. Subalit hindi natinag si Rajid. Hanggang ngayon, nakatingin pa rin sa kanya, tila may malalim na iniisip kaya bigla siyang napangiwi.

Inakbayan niya ito.

"Come on, Raj! That's not going to happen. There's no fun in falling in love. I want to enjoy my life without a trouble. They're just pain in the ass." Paliwanag niya rito sabay sinalinan ng alak ang baso nito't ibinigay. "I can have women with me. Hindi ko na kailangan ng seryosong relasyon dahil kuntento na ako sa meron ako."

Nilagok ni Rajid ang basong nilagyan niya ng alak, tinanggal ang braso niya at tiningnan siya nang makahulugan.

"Let's just wait and see. Who knows, I might hear later on that you were the first one among us to go crazy over a woman," he said teasingly, causing him to burst into laughter.

"I fucking swear that moron!"

He shook his head, smirking. But Rajid still playfully looking at him with a grin.

He showed his middle finger and muttered a curse at him. Para kasing isinusumpa siya ng gago, at kinilabutan siya roon.

"Know what? Let's just wish Zarik all the luck in his love life. Cheers to Zarik!" ani Reeve na naupo sa tabi niya.

They each raised their glasses and drank from their alcoholic beverages, except for him, who sipped his juice due to his cursed low alcohol tolerance.

Iniwan niya muna ang mga kaibigan dahil nababanas pa rin siya kay Rajid. Hindi niya gusto ang mga sinabi at tingin nito. Pakiramdam talaga niya ay isinusumpa siya nito kaya pinili niyang umalis.

Nanatili siya sa may bar counter, nakamasid sa mga taong nagkakasiyahan sa loob ng bar. Siya rin muna ang tumao roon, nagserve sa mga taong nasa counter para humingi ng alak.

Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin, nakita niya ang isang babaeng nagsasayaw. She looked alone while dancing sexily.

Damn, Ashton! Looks like you found your flavor of the night, huh?

Ngumisi siya.

Agad niyang tinawag ang empleyado para pumalit sa kanya. Tinanggal na rin ang apron na nakakabit at preskong naglakad patungo sa babaeng may ibang kasayaw na humahawak sa iba't ibang parte ng katawan nito.

"Damn woman, you're mine." Bulong niya sa sarili at mabilis kinabig ang babaeng kanina lang ay pinapanuod niya.

Ashton couldn't help but lick his lower lip when he saw the woman's face. She looked angelic, yet effortlessly stood out amidst the crowd.

He began dancing with her, pulling her closer.

A groan escaped from him as her chest pressed against his.

He could feel the undeniable excitement growing, a quick and strong reaction to the impact this woman had on him.

"Hi." Fuck! Why does it sounds so sexy for him?

He tucked her hair at the back of her ear. Mas lalo niyang nasilayan ang ganda nito. Lumapit siya at mas lalong idinikit ang katawan nito sa kanya.

A gasp escaped at her as his warm breath sensually caressed her ear.

"Don't you realize just how gorgeously sexy you are?" He huskily said with a grin, and gently nibbled on her ear.

Tinulak siya nito. "Oh! Thank you!" Anito sabay humalakhak at mas pinag-igihan pa ang pagsasayaw.

Halos maputol ang litid ng pasensya ni Ashton dahil para siyang tinotorture nito.

Hindi siya nagpatalo. Sumayaw din siya, pinantayan ang intensidad ng paggiling nito na sinasadya niyang idanggil ang mga daliri sa magkabilang gilid ng dibdib nito dahilan ng pagsinghap nito.

He caressed the contour of her body while dancing with her sensually. Nang tumalikod ito sa kanya, sinadya niyang ipaglapat ang kanyang pagkalalaking nag-uumigting sa pwetan nito habang marahang hinahaplos ang katawan nito.

Lasing na ang estrangherang babae, iyon ang palagay niya. Pulang pula ang pisngi at tila walang pakialam sa ginagawa. Para itong babagong nakalaya sa pagkakakulong.

"Would you like me to take you somewhere?"

She turned to face him.

His brows furrowed as he noticed a hint of pain in her eyes.

A thought crossed his mind - was she recently dumped by someone? Is that why she's here?

"Take me anywhere you want. I don't mind. But there's one thing I'll ask of you – can you make me happy? I just want to forget everything, just for this moment."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course!" she replied with a laugh before pulling him closer and sealing the moment with a kiss that left him breathless.

Fuck!