CHAPTER FOUR : Tonight Is The Night [P2]

I swallowed hard. His voice was deep, carrying a certain warmth in his tone that I couldn't quite explain. Pero mas kinilabutan ako nang mapansin kong hindi pa rin niya binibitawan ang kamay ko kahit pilit ko nang hinuhugot ito mula sa pag kaka-hawak niya.

"My hand, Mister Drew," I said firmly, giving him a pointed look. Like, bruh—handshake pa ba 'to o holding hands na?

And then, finally, my drunken brain caught up to what he had just said. "Wait—paano mo nalaman name ko?"

Finally, he let go. But it was weird—parang may dumaloy na kuryente mula sa kamay ko, a sharp jolt that left a tingling sensation. Napakunot-noo ako at kinusot ang palad ko, trying to shake off the lingering feeling. Pero siya? Walang reaction. He just took another shot of his drink, finally looking away for the first time since our conversation started.

Napailing ako, sabay buntong-hininga. "Alam mo, bastos 'yung hindi sumasagot sa tanong ng iba."

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable—or maybe I was just too drunk to figure it out. "Oh, may tinanong ka ba? Sorry, hindi ko narinig. What was your question again?"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Lakas mag-deny amp. Pero wala akong balak makipag-debate, lalo na't pakiramdam ko umiikot na 'yung mundo ko. kaya imbes makipagtalo pa, kumapit na lang ako sa bar counter like my life depended on it. 

"I asked, paano mo alam ang pangalan ko?"

"Who doesn't know the stunning heiress of Theo Varganis?" simpleng sagot nya

"Ah..." I let out a bitter laugh. Of course. Of course. How stupid of me to even think, even for a second, that he knew me as me—not just as my father's daughter.

"So," he said, voice dripping with casual amusement. "Kamusta naman? Masakit ba panoorin 'yung lalaking mahal mo na ikinasal sa iba?"

"I didn't—" Napahinto ako, realizing I was this close to admitting something I shouldn't. Instead, tiningnan ko siya nang masama. "And where exactly did you get that conclusion?"

"I have eyes, Miss Vitalis," he said dryly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Napairap ako. "Nagkakamali ka," I denied before taking another sip of my mojito. The last thing I needed was for this stranger to pity me. "You're just imagining things."

Then, out of nowhere, he leaned in, his voice dropping into something dangerously low near my ear.

"I know a way to make you forget about Luke."

Napaatras ako, putting distance between us as I clutched my ear. Napa-pikit ako sandali, trying to shake off the unexpected sensation."Why did it feel like there was a spark on my skin when I felt his breath? First time 'to ah. "I think this is the first time a guy has come up to me this casually, and in such an intimate way."

I avoided his gaze, trying to gather myself. "I—uh, hindi kita gets. Kung pwede, paki-elaborate para maintindihan ko nang maayos.?"

His lips curled into a wicked smile. 'Like I said, I know how you can forget the pain you're feeling right now—if you want.'

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang tuluyang mag-sink in sa'kin ang ibig sabihin ng sinabi niya.

Kung nasa tamang wisyo lang ako, never ko 'to i-entertain. I mean, seriously? Some random, although super hot na stranger na nag-ooffer na to make me forget my heartbreak? Sounds like a walking red flag.

But tonight—I'm drunk, broken, and just desperate to forget. So instead of pushing him away, I couldn't help but smirk at him and tilt my head slightly. "Oh? So how exactly are you going to help me move on, Mister Drew? You wanna sleep with me?"

"Damn. Hindi ko akalain na ganyan ka ka-straightforward, Miss Varganis."

"I raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. 'So? Are you in or not? No strings attached, just one night.'"

Instead of answering, he stepped closer, almost invading my space. His leg slid between mine, positioning himself deliberately while I sat on the bar stool. The way his presence loomed over me sent a shiver down my spine, pero imbes na matakot ako, mas lalong na-excite.

"There's a guest house," he murmured, voice smooth like sin. "It's owned by the Veltrano's family pero bihira 'tong gamitin. Wanna come check it out?"

I tilted my head, squinting at him kahit ang labo na ng paningin ko. The alcohol had fully kicked in, and my world was spinning—but even through the haze, I could feel his intense stare boring into me, like a predator eyeing its prey.

I should've been scared. Pero sa halip, I felt nothing but exhilaration.

A wicked grin spread across my lips. "Tara."

His eyes widened for a fraction of a second as if he didn't expect me to actually say yes. "Sigurado ka?"

"Unless ikaw ang nagbago ng isip?" I taunted, smirking at him playfully. "Ayaw mo na ba akong tulungan makalimot?"

Napailing siya, tumatawa nang bahagya, but there was something dark and amused in his gaze.

 "Let's go before you change your mind."

I grabbed his hand, and just like that, we were running across the sand, hand in hand, like two wild souls escaping everything. My heart was racing, a mix of alcohol, adrenaline, and something totally new—freedom. Ngayong gabi, hindi na ako si Lexie Varganis, yung perfect daughter ni Theo Varganis. Hindi ako yung babaeng iniwan at nasaktan. "Tonight, I just want to try being someone else—even if it's just for one night."

Nakarating kami sa isang maliit na beach house at the edge of the shoreline. Mukhang matagal nang hindi nagagamit—There was a bit of dust on the doorknob when he unlocked it., but the moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted.

He barely gave me a chance to take in our surroundings bago niya 'ko isinandal sa pinto, "His hands gripping my waist, and he gave me a hot, passionate kiss."

Shit.

Napapikit ako as my knees buckled beneath me, a gasp slipping from my lips. a dangerous mix that sent a thrill up my spine. I grabbed onto his shoulder, returning his kiss with just as much intensity.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless. He pressed his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my lips. "Last chance," he whispered, voice husky. "Sigurado ka?"

I stared into his eyes, my fingers trailing over the firm muscles on his shoulders. "Oo," I breathed. "Gusto ko 'to. Gusto Kita. Help me forget him tonight."

"Tonight lang?" He scoffed softly, something unreadable flashing in his eyes.

I wanted to ask what he meant, pero bago pa 'ko makapagsalita, hinalikan niya ulit ako—this time deeper, hungrier, as if he was starving for me.

"I felt him lift me effortlessly, and even though it was dark inside the guest house, he moved with certainty, like he knew the place by heart. He didn't trip or bump into anything—it's like he knew exactly where we were going."

At sa sandaling 'to, hindi ko na inisip kung ano'ng mangyayari bukas.

Because tonight, I was going to let myself be reckless.

Dahan-dahan niya akong inihiga sa kama, his weight pressing down on me just enough to make my breath hitch. His fingers grazed the hem of my dress, slowly tugging it upward—but before he could go any further, I reached for his hands, stopping him.

"Uh... wait." My voice came out softer than I intended."Before we go too far... there's something I need to say."

Napatigil siya, his brows furrowing slightly. "Ano 'yon?"

I swallowed hard. My pulse was racing, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. "First-time ko 'to." Napalunok ako bago nagpatuloy. "So... if we're really doing this, please be gentle."

His expression shifted in an instant. Para bang hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig niya. His stormy gaze flickered with something unreadable—shock, maybe even hesitation. "Wait, seryoso ka?"

"Yeah." I nodded, giving him a small, shy smile.

Napanganga siya saglit, It felt like what I said was still sinking in. "And gusto mong gawin 'to... with me?"

I arched a brow, challenging him. "Yeah. Bakit? May problema ba?"

His jaw tensed slightly as he studied me, his gaze searching mine. "Sure kang hindi ka lang lasing? Alam mo talagang ginagawa mo?"

Napatawa ako, a small giggle escaping my lips. "Tipsy lang, hindi lasing to naman. I still know what I'm doing ano kaba." I hooked my arms around his neck, pulling him a little closer. "So, ano na mag u-usap nalang baa tayo?"

For a moment, he just stared at me, and then a slow, wicked smirk curled on his lips. "Damn... hindi ko alam na ganito ka ka-demanding, Miss Varganis."

And just like that, words became unnecessary.

His mouth crashed onto mine, his hands roaming, exploring, igniting something inside me that I had never felt before, His touch sent heat straight to my core, making my breath hitch, my body shiver. I closed my eyes as his palm brushed against my bare skin, leaving tingles in its wake. A soft moan escaped my lips.

Tonight, I wouldn't be Lexie Varganis, the heartbroken girl watching the man she loved promise forever to someone else.

Tonight, I won't think about the pain, the sadness, or the man I've loved for so long but who was never mine.

Tonight, I would let myself be a woman—desired, wanted, and claimed by this man who saw me, not as someone's daughter, not as a fragile little thing, but as a person who needed to feel something real.

And most of all—

"Tonight, I would finally give myself away. Not to Luke, the man I saved myself for all these years. But to a stranger, a man who, even just for one night, could make me forget that Luke Veltrano would never be mine."