CHAPTER 1

"Alya! Wag mo kasing itaas! Off-shoulder nga, ‘di ba?" suway ni Jamaica sa akin nang makita niya akong itinataas ang sleeve ng suot. Katabi ko siya habang nakasakay kami sa SUV nila.

I rolled my eyes on her.

"Kapag ako nahuli Jamaica sa pinaggagawa mo. Saan ba kasi tayo pupunta? Ang paalam ko sa simbahan ay may importanteng pupuntahan," I told her, feeling a bit uncomfortable of what I am wearing.

She made me wear a revealing shirt which is prohibited on my part as a novice. White floral off-shoulder top, and tight-fitting jeans.

She looked at me and winked.

"Basta akong bahala sa’yo!" she excitedly exclaimed.

Pinabayaan ko na lamang siya. Besides, I can't say no. Ngayon na lang rin kami nagkita ulit kaya pagbigyan ko na. Maya-maya pa ay huminto ang sasakyan. Jamaica went out of the car first, sumunod naman ako. Tinignan ko ang lugar na aming pinuntahan matapos makalabas ng sasakyan at halos lumuwa ang aking mga mata nang makita kung saan ako dinala ng kaibigan.

She immediately noticed my reaction and disapproval.

“Come on, Alya. One night lang,” Jamaica insisted, pulling me toward the entrance of the private club. “Hindi ka naman makikilala dito.”

Hindi na ako nakapalag sa kanya, I hesitated to go with her when the doors opened. But still, she held my hand at pumasok kami sa loob.

Loud music filled the air, lights flashing across a crowded room filled with strangers laughing, drinking, and dancing too close to each other.

“This is a bad idea,” I murmured.

Sa dami ng tao sa loob ay nagkabunggo-an na kami. Jamaica did not care of whomever she bumped into. Nakarating kami sa isang sulok, may malaking sofa at inumin sa lamesa.

"Here, upo ka dito," Jam said saka niya ako pinaupo.

"Jam, you know exactly what I am. This is not a good idea," I complained. Jam only smiled and pushed a drink into my hand before disappearing into the crowd without a word.

Tatawagin ko pa sana siya kaso hindi ko na nahagip. Dinala niya ako tapos iiwan lang?

I stared at the glass.

I rarely drank, kahit noong nasa tamang edad na ako'y hindi ko pa naisip ang ganitong bagay.

But tonight already felt like a mistake.

So I risk it. I took a sip.

Hindi umayon sa aking panlasa pero hindi ko na lamang inalintana pa.

I took another.

Grabeng pait naman nito!

The music became louder. The room is warmer. I feel like I was being fried because of the hotness I am feeling.

And that’s when I noticed something. Nilingon ko ang banda ng bar counter.

Across it, leaning against the bar like he owned the place, was a man watching me. He's tall with broad shoulders. Wearing a dark suit slightly loosened while holding a glass of whiskey in his hand.

His eyes stayed on me.

Napalunok ako at umiwas ng tingin. Baka nasa likuran ko lang ang tinitigan niya, assuming mo naman alya! Because of that, nilingon ko ang aking likuran. Wala namang tao ah! Or namalik-mata lang ako?

But when I glanced again, he was already walking towards me.

Nanlaki ang aking mata! What should I do?! Baka mamaya niyan, masamang tao siya! Asan na ba si Jamaica?!

“First time here?” he asked, when he got closer.

His voice was deep, calm, but slightly rough like he had been drinking too. Malamang!

I gulped when he sat a meter away from me.

I nodded. “Yes.” I remained compose. Hindi ko pinahalata na nagpapanic na ako.

“I can tell.”

I frowned slightly. “Why?”

“You look like you don’t belong here," he pointed out. His Aura screams power. Na sa kahit konting galaw mo hindi niya dapat mapansin.

“I don’t,” I admitted.

He nodded after hearing that. Actually, hindi ko talaga makita ng buo ang mukha niya. Madilim kasi itong puwesto namin kaya hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang anyo niya, but I can tell he's handsome.

“Cameron.”

He held out his hand. Nabigla ako sa biglaan niyang pagpapakilala.

After a moment of hesitation, I took it.

“Alya.”

The moment our hands touched, something strange passed us, warm and electric. I pulled away. My heart is beating so fast.

Cameron noticed my uneasiness after I pulled away.

“You’re nervous,” he said, brows furrowed.

“I’m not," giit ko. Uminom ulit ako ng alak at hindi pinansin ang masamang lasa.

“You are.”

I looked up at him then, meeting his dark gaze fully for the first time. Binawi ko rin ang tingin nang maramdaman ang pagkahilo.

And suddenly the loud room felt quieter.

“Dance with me,” biglang sabi niya.

“I don’t dance.”

Ayaw ko. Gusto ko ng umuwi. Nahihilo na ako.

“I’ll lead.”

Hindi na ako nakaalma nang kunin niya ang baso sa aking kamay at ilapag sa lamesa saka ako hinila sa dancefloor.

His hand rested on my waist, warm through the thin fabric of my top. I stiffened at first, but the alcohol and the music made it harder to think clearly.

Wala namang nakakakilala sa akin diba? Si Jamaica, nasaan na kaya yun? I don't think I have a right para bumalik ng simbahan matapos ko itong gawin?! Saan ang hiya?

“Relax,” Cameron murmured near my ear.

His voice sent a small shiver down my spine.

“You’re thinking too much.”

“Maybe you’re not thinking enough,” I replied, medyo nairita narin sa kanya. Dala siguro ng pagkakahilo ko.

Narinig ko ang kanyang mahinang pag tawa.

We moved slowly with the music, our bodies closer than strangers should be.

I could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing. The warmth of his hand. The way his fingers tightened slightly when I tried to step back.

“Why are you here?” he asked quietly.

“Why are you?”

“Fair question.”

Humina ang music.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Cameron lifted his hand and brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face.

I froze. Naghuhumintaryo sa kaba ang aking puso.

His fingers lingered near my cheek. Naramdaman ko ang matinding init sa aking katawan. My eyesight became blurry, kahit dito hindi ko maaninag ang kanyang mukha. Dala narin siguro ng alak.

I stared at him in the eye, but I only saw its darkness. The intense rush on my system spread like wildfire. At dahil narin sa matinding init ng aking katawan, I couldn't help but to suddenly pull him in a kiss.

My mind went blank. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang ginagawa ko pero sa oras na iyon ay tumugon siya.

The kiss deepened, slow but hungry, like neither of us expected it but neither wanted to stop.

Cameron’s hand moved to the back of my neck, holding me gently but firmly. His other hand travelled on my body, bumaba ang halik niya sa aking panga hanggang sa aking leeg. I don't even care anymore if someone sees us.

"C-cam—"

Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay tumigil siya sa pag halik. I thought we'll stop there but little did I know he had other plans for tonight. Cameron pulled me out of the club and drove me away. We then arrived in a private hotel near the club.

Lumabas kami sa sasakyan. He booked a room for us and pulled me. Nang makapasok sa loob ng elevator ay mabilis niya akong inangkin. Kinarga niya ako, I wrapped my legs around his hips. I moaned when his hard on touched my center.

He was busy kissing my neck. Someone whispered to grind on his hard on, kaya ginawa ko. Nahinto siya.

"Stay still," he ordered.

I did not listen, I grinded faster making it more bigger. I felt something in my center explode making me moan louder. Cameron stopped me from moving, hinawakan niya ang aking baywang.

"Fuck! Stop Alya!" he growled loudly.

Hindi ko namalayan nakapasok na pala kami sa hotel. Nilapag niya agad ako sa higaan at dumagan sa akin. He started kissing me on my neck while removing my top.

I was lost. Hindi ko na namalayan ang mga nangyari. I have crossed a door that should keep closed.

A mistake.

A moment of weakness.

A night I believed would remain a secret.

But it was the beginning of something far more dangerous than either of us realized.