Chapter 2

When I arrived at Laica’s bar, the guard stepped in front of me as if I were some lost civilian.

“Ma’am, closed po—”

I lifted my head just enough for him to see my face. Recognition flashed instantly, and he moved aside.

I walked in wordlessly.

My feet brought me straight to the counter—my usual spot. No bartender yet. Good. I didn’t want an audience.

I reached for the nearest bottle of whiskey, opened it, and poured.

One glass.

Two.

Three.

I didn’t even flinch as it burned down my throat. I was trained to endure far worse. But tonight… tonight, I realized something brutal:

Pagdating sa sakit, wala talagang training na sapat.

I loved him. God, I loved him so much. I never thought he’d cheat—most especially not with my own sister.

Of all people… why her?

I was pouring my fourth when Laica finally came out of her office.

“Kaz? Bakit ka umiinom? Anong nangyari?” she asked, worry written all over her face.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I kept drinking.

Time blurred. Faces blurred. Everything felt heavy.

“You’ve been drinking for hours,” Laica snapped, stepping closer. “Magpapakamatay ka ba?”

I closed my eyes. “Gusto ko lang malasing, Lai. Kahit ngayon lang… makalimutan ko kahit sandali.”

Her expression softened. “I won’t ask. Hindi ko ipipilit. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. But I’m here, okay?”

I nodded. “I’ll be fine. Gusto ko lang mapag-isa.”

“May aasikasuhin pa ako sa taas. Bababa ako later. Ako na maghahatid sa’yo. You sure you’re okay here?”

“Lai,” I said with the faintest smirk. “Walang makakagulo sa’kin.”

“True,” she sighed. “Still worried, though.”

She went upstairs.

And I kept drinking.

More people came in… I didn’t care. I just wanted oblivion. Just an hour without remembering their skin touching, their moans, their—God, stop.

Pero kahit anong inom ko, ramdam ko pa rin lahat.

It hurt even worse.

I rested my forehead on the counter.

Then someone sat beside me.

I lifted my head—and instantly regretted it.

A stranger. Smirking.

“Hey, Miss. Wanna go out with me? Lasing ka na. You can stay at my place,” he said.

“Leave me alone,” I muttered.

“Wag ka nang pakipot. Alam kong gusto mo rin,” he said, leaning closer.

Disgusting.

“Magsisi ka pag hindi ka umalis ngayon,” I warned without even looking at him.

He laughed. “Pakipot.”

Then he grabbed my hand.

And that’s when I snapped.

I was about to break his wrist when—

Someone shoved him—hard.

The idiot crashed to the floor.

“What the fuck?!” he growled, standing to throw a punch.

But the man who shoved him?

One punch.

Gerald hit the ground, unconscious.

I blinked.

Damn… he’s good. Better than me.

And then—something unfamiliar washed through me.

This is what it feels like to be protected?

My chest tightened.

“You okay?" the stranger asked, his voice low. Concerned.

First time. No one has ever asked me that before.

No… I wasn’t okay.

He extended a hand. “I’m Jhayden Cyruz Dela Costa. Call me Cyruz.”

I stared at his hand for a second before shaking it. “Kazmiyah Casabuena. Thanks… although I could’ve handled it.”

“You shouldn’t drink alone. Places like this are full of predators. Buti na lang nandito ako. You’re drunk, Miyah.”

I rolled my eyes. “You sound worse than my dad.”

Then I tried to stand.

Bad move.

The whole room tilted.

“Whoa—hey.” Cyruz caught me instantly. “I’ll drive you home.”

He guided me out gently. Too gently for someone who looked that dangerous.

A BMW 7 Series parked outside.

Of course he drives this.

He put me in the passenger seat, buckled me in, then went around.

My eyelids dropped the moment the car hummed to life.

I drifted.

Woke up again.

Warm.

My fingers tugged at my dress—

Strong hands caught mine.

“Don’t,” he muttered. “Stay still. You’re tempting me. I’m still a man, Miyah.”

My eyes flew open.

He was still driving.

“Where’s your address?” he asked. “May dinaanan lang ako kanina. Di rin kita ginising—ang himbing mo.”

“I don’t want to go home.”

His jaw tightened. He cursed under his breath. “You shouldn’t say that to someone you just met. What if I wasn’t me? What if someone else took advantage of you?”

I stared at him.

Then I said the stupidest thing I’ve ever said in my life.

“Can you kiss me? Have sex with me?”

He slammed the brakes.

Hard.

If he hadn’t strapped me in earlier, I would’ve flown forward.

“What. The. Fuck?!” he snapped, turning toward me in disbelief.

I met his eyes, broken and drunk and numb.

“I just want to understand,” I whispered. “Why men go crazy over sex. Why they cheat. Bakit ganun? Sapat na ba talaga ‘yon para lokohin ako?”

His chest rose sharply.

He turned off the engine.

“Miyah,” he said firmly. “We are not doing anything. You’re drunk. Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“Why not?” I challenged.

“Miyah…”

“Kiss me.”

I leaned in slowly.

And that’s when everything shifted.