CHAPTER 1

AMARA'S POV

“Ms. Amara, ano ba kasing ginagawa natin sa ganitong lugar? Tiyak na mapapagalitan tayo ng Daddy mo, kapag nalaman niyang nagpupunta ka sa ganito...” Mabel rants with an annoyed expression on her face while looking around inside the bar.

She's so reklamdor talaga! Like Duh! Ang sakit niya sa ears!

Kanina pa ako naririndi sa mga reklamo niya. Yeah, maingay sa loob ng bar pero mas nakaririndi ang mga rants niya. Kesyo mausok, maingay, at ang mga people daw here ay puros pakawala and once Daddy finds out na I make tambay here for sure na mapapagalitan ako.

I make irap at her.

“No one told you na sumama ka here, Mabel. You can go home if you like. Here's the money – go grab a taxi and leave.” kumuha ako ng pera mula sa sling bag ko and put it on the top of our table.

Dinampot ko ang wine and took a sip sa laman niyo'ng alak.

Ugh! She's kinda irritating! It's better pa nga if she go home na lang para wala ng nega sa pagliliwaliw ko.

Sinisira niya ang pag-eemote emote ko dito!

Kaka-break lang namin ng boyfriend ko because he wants me to give myself to him even though we aren't married yet!

Like duh, does he think I'm that stupid para gawin yon? I may be happy-go-lucky in their foolish eyes, pero alam ko ang limitations ko.

I still want to preserve my womanhood for the man I will marry and be with for the rest of my life.

Minahal ko naman si Greg - my ex boyfriend. Pero I cannot give him na lang basta ang pagkababae ko sa kaniya. I don't even see him intending to marry me at all. Because sa three years naming pagsasama, ni kahit kailan, hindi namin napag-usapan ang tungkol sa planong pagpapakasal.

Should I be the one to bring that up? He's the guy, siya dapat ang nagpapakita ng initiative sa relationship namin.

Mas nauna niya pa ngang i-insist ang tungkol sa kagustuhan niyang mag sex kami kesa sa kasal!

No way!

So the moment I refused to do what he wanted, he instantly threatened to end our relationship. Fine! Hiwalay kung hiwalay, But I will not give him only what he wants from me! Hindi ako gaga para isuko ang virginity ko sa kaniya!

So here we are! Wala pa kaming one week simula nang maghiwalay but then, nabalitaan ko na lang na sila na ng cousin kong snake!

Eh, di magsama sila!

Sa bagay, wala naman ginawa ang cousin kong si Geneva kundi saluhin ang mga bagay na pinagsawaan ko na.

That's how desperate and insecure she is to me! Lahat na lang gusto niyang agawin. Lahat na lang ng meron ako, gusto niyang maging kanya.

Walang originality at inggetera!

But what I'm most upset about, and the reason why I'm here at the bar right now, is to forget everything and have fun. Because hindi ko matanggap na iilang days pa lang kami ng ex ko, since we broke up pero nakuha na niya agad akong ipagpalit, at sa cousin ko pa talaga!

Is that how men really are, huh? Kapag Hindi mo naibigay ang gusto nila they'll immediately replace you? Pakikipag sex na lang ba talaga ang basis ngayon para masabi mong mahal ka ng isang tao?

Kasi I loved Greg naman, pero hindi pa ko ready na isuko ang womanhood ko because I'm scared na once he claimes it, hindi naman niya ako panagutan!

“Ms. Amara, kahit na gustohin kong umalis sa lugar na ito ay hindi pu-pwede dahil ako ang PA mo. Kabilin-bilinan ni Don Armando na kahit saan ka pumunta ay dapat nandoon din ako.” It was Mabel's voice that snapped me back to reality.

Hindi niya in-accept ang money na ibinigay ko sa kaniya Instead, she even put both of her hands underneath the table.

“Yon naman pala eh, so shut up ka na lang dyan sa tabi. Just watch me na lang while I'm having fun on the dance floor!”

She drew in a deep breath and released it roughly. It looked like she was being forced to agree as she slowly nodded her head.

“Oo na, Ms. Amara.” labas sa ilong niyang tugon.

I was already a bit tipsy, so when I stood up, I felt dizzy and muntikan pang ma-out of balance kung hindi lang ako maagap na naalalayan ni Mabel.

“Ms. Amara, mukhang lasing ka na.” she said, looking worried.

I brushed off her hands that were holding both of my arms and stood up straight. I'm not lasing, Okay? Kaya ko pa.”

“Pero—”

I put my forefinger against her lips. “Shhh..” I cut her off and smiled.

“Come on, let's just dance in the middle... Your life seems so boring, look at you...” I added, then scanned him from head to toe.

Sya nga pala si Mabel Sta. Ynez - my personal assistant na kasing edad ko lang. Actually, she's the daughter of my father's secretary.