CHAPTER 2

Ethan Alexander Reyes Point of View

"Bro, kung gusto mong ma-reset ang utak mo, mag-tequila ka. Huwag mong pigilan."

Mike raised his shot glass at me with that teasing grin of his, then downed the drink like water.

I barely touched mine.

The bar was dim, bathed in warm golden lights—quiet inside, compared to the busy streets outside. It was already 10 PM when we arrived at one of the most expensive bars in the city. People were laughing, drinking, letting the night take over. But me? My mind was somewhere else.

Still stuck on one person.

Still stuck on her.

"You're unusually quiet tonight," Mike said, leaning back in our corner booth. “Hindi ikaw ’to.”

I let out a dry laugh and finally drank half the shot.

“Mira,” I muttered. “Mira Dela Cruz.”

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Who's she? Hindi si Anna? Or that girl from Marketing?"

I shook my head. “No. She’s different. I met her  – no, actually, I insulted her yesterday. Sa park.”

“She has this fire in her eyes, bro,” I said, sipping again. “Hindi siya 'yung typical na yes-girl. She stood up to me. Ang tapang. She embarrassed me. And I... kinda liked it.”

Mike chuckled. “That’s new. Ethan Reyes, liking someone who challenges him.”

“She wasn’t just challenging. She was real.” I leaned forward. “I followed her.”

Mike paused mid-sip. “You what?”

“Not like that,” I defended. “After she walked away, I followed her secretly. I just wanted to make sure she got home safe. She looked exhausted. Ang bigat ng mga mata niya. You could tell—bad day.”

“You followed her, Ethan.”

“Wala akong nilagay na GPS or whatever, okay?” I raised both hands. “I kept my distance. Gusto ko lang malaman kung safe siyang nakauwi.”

He squinted. “Alright, so where does she live?”

“Two-storey wooden house. Boarding house type. She's renting the upstairs room. May maliit na tindahan ‘yung landlady sa baba. Pulang ang gate and medyo luma na ‘yung bahay.”

Mike stared at me. “Alam mo na agad lahat ng ‘yan?”

“I watched her go in. That's it. I didn’t knock, I didn’t approach and I just left right away.”

Mike smirked. “So stalker-lite lang pala?”

I groaned. “Don’t say it like that.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Okay. So, what now?”

I looked at my now-empty glass, rolling it between my palms. “I don’t know. I just want to see her again. I want to talk to her properly without all the misunderstanding. Without making her feel like she’s worth a price tag.”

“So go talk to her. Say sorry… but wait—how did you even approach her? Kinda sus, bro.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, sighing. “Okay, don’t judge me, pero… I may have hmm—kind of implied na I was offering her a night.”

Napaatigil siya, hawak pa ang baso ng alak. Tapos dahan-dahang binaba ito. “Wait. What?”

“I know, I know! Mali, okay? It wasn’t planned. I just saw her sitting there, looking tired, and I thought… I don’t know what I thought. I made a stupid move.”

“Putang—Ethan!” Tumawa siya pero may halong gulat at inis. “Bro, that’s not sus. That’s straight-up offensive! You basically offered her money for sex?”

Napayuko ako, tinakpan ang mukha sandali. “Hindi ko naman sinabi ng diretso! Pero I asked if she was available for the night. Akala ko… alam mo na. I read the situation wrong.”

Nag-head shake siya, trying to stop himself from laughing more. “No wonder she looked at you like you crawled out of a trash bin. And now you’re obsessed with her?”

“I know I messed up. But it’s not like that anymore. Gusto ko lang siya makilala ng totoo. Wala nang offer, walang assumptions.”

“You made a first impression as a walking red flag and now you're aiming for a redemption arc? Angas. Ikaw na talaga.”

“She’s not like anyone else, Mike. That girl looked me in the eye and told me off like I was the most disgusting thing she’s ever seen. And somehow, that made her unforgettable.”

“So, what did you do next? Did you talk to her properly this time? Asked for a second chance, maybe?”

“I tried twice.”

“Then?”

“Sa mall.” I let out a breath. “She was going around, passing out resumes. Trying to get hired as a grocery cashier. I was just there to buy apples, then boom—bigla ko siyang nakita. Our eyes met but she turned around and ran away.”

Mike blinked. “She ran away?”

“Yeah. As in, parang multo lang ako. Hindi ko pa nga siya nilalapitan.”

“So what did you do?”

“Sinundan ko ulit. I know, I know—don’t give me that look.”

Mike gave me that look anyway.

“She went into a fast food. I followed, tried to play it cool, like I just happened to be there. Pero the moment she saw me again? Umalis agad. Parang nag-panic.” 

Mike shook his head, his voice a little softer now. “Maybe she’s scared, man.”

"Yeah. I noticed it too—that shift in her eyes from curiosity to hesitation or maybe fear. And to be honest? It hit harder than I expected."

Mike gave me a look—half disbelief, half concern. Then he leaned in, his voice low but dry with sarcasm.

“Bro. You’re thirty. A grown-ass man. A CEO, investor, founder and yet, never had a real girlfriend? Just hookups. You’ve had it all—money, power, women lining up like it’s a damn audition. But this girl? Mira? She probably hates your guts. She doesn’t even know who you are. And yet, here you are, talking about her like she’s the missing piece in your perfectly structured life.”

“You know what’s crazy? I never even believed in that crap. Love? Soulmates? I always thought it was a distraction—something that made men weak and made them lose focus.”

Mike raised a brow, intrigued. “And now?”

I let out a quiet laugh, one with no humor. “Now? I’m starting to think maybe I’ve been too focused. Obsessed with building, proving something—being the guy who has it all together. I didn’t want to feel anything that could pull me off track.”

He nodded slowly. “But she did.”

"Yeah," I admitted. "Mira happened. Ngayon lang ako nalito ng ganito. I used to think staying focused meant avoiding all this relationship stuff pero ngayon, I'm not even sure kung ‘yun pa rin ‘yung tamang desisyon. Ayoko naman mahulog just because I’m curious but at the same time, ayokong bitawan ‘yung something that felt real. 

Mike studied me for a moment, then let out a half-smile. “Damn. You really are falling for her.”

I let out a quiet sigh. “Hindi ko rin alam, bro. She’s just different. I like how simple she is, pero may paninindigan at may prinsipyo. Hindi siya madaling matibag.”

“Ah, kaya pala. So na-turn on ka sa rejection? Classic Ethan Reyes move,” Mike teased, grinning.

“No, gago,” I said, laughing. “I was humbled, okay? She’s not afraid to call me out. Tinawag pa nga niya akong baboy at kadiri, can you believe that?”

Mike burst out laughing. “Grabe ka! Na-roast ka na, kinilig ka pa? You’re unbelievable!”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Maybe I needed that. Kasi sanay ako sa mga taong oo lang ng oo. Mira doesn’t care kung sino ako or kung magkano laman ng account ko. She made me feel like just a guy. Wala akong title. Wala ring special treatment.”

Mike gave me a mock-serious nod. “Bro... you’re catching feelings. And honestly? Nakakatakot ‘yan. Next time marinig kita, baka nagpa-playlist ka na ng love songs.”

I snorted. “Hindi pa ako ganun ka-lost pero malapit na siguro.”

‘We both laughed, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t a joke anymore.’

Just then, a woman in a body-hugging black dress passed by our booth and did a double take. She smiled, then confidently walked over.

“Hi,” she said, placing a hand lightly on my shoulder. “I don’t usually do this, pero you look like someone interesting. Mind if I join you for a drink?”

I looked at her for a brief second, polite but unmoved.

“Sorry,” I said with a small, tight smile. “I’m actually with someone. Just catching up.”

She blinked. “Ah… Okay no worries.” She gave Mike a nod, then walked away with a disappointed shrug.

Mike stared at me, amused. “Grabe, Ethan. Dati ‘pag may ganyang dumaan, ikaw pa nagyayaya.”

“Wala ako sa mood, bro. Hindi ko na ma-push sarili ko sa mga walang kwentang usapan. That kind of attention doesn't do anything for me right now.”

“Damn,” he said, dramatically placing a hand over his chest. “The great Ethan Alexander Reyes is now loyal by emotional attachment.”

“Bro, seriously, shut up.”

Mike burst out laughing. “Bro, legit ka ngayon ha. Parang teenager na naka-first love! Like—this is it, love at first sight na ‘to?”

Napakunot ako. “Hindi naman…”

“Come on,” he grinned. “You’re thirty, never had a legit girlfriend, puro fling, tapos biglang one girl na hindi ka pinansin ng maayos, boom—obsessed ka na. That’s textbook first love behavior.”

“Hindi ako obsessed,” protesta ko, kahit ako mismo parang hindi kumbinsido.

“Sure ka?” he raised an eyebrow. “Kasi kung ako ang tatanungin, bro you just got hit by Cupid straight to the ego.”

“Shut up, hindi ka nakakatulong.” I groaned, shaking my head.

“Okay, okay, real talk.” He leaned in a bit, suddenly more serious. “You’re not chasing her just because she said no, ‘di ba? Kasi kilala kita, Ethan. You hate losing. Minsan, ‘yung ‘challenge’ lang talaga ‘yung hinahabol mo.”

I shook my head. “I’m chasing her because she made me feel something real. You know that weird feeling? Na parang matagal mo na siyang kilala kahit ngayon mo lang siya nakita?”

Mike blinked. “Damn. That’s deep. Bro, ikaw ba ’to?”

I smiled a little. “Maybe I’m finally ready to meet someone for real.”

“Wow. Growth arc unlocked,” Mike said, mock clapping.

“She saw me, Mike. Not the lifestyle, not the title, not the tailored suits—just me. And for the first time, I didn’t hate the way someone looked at me.”

Mike’s teasing expression softened. He rested a hand on my shoulder.

“Then don’t mess it up. Pero tandaan mo be patient. Hindi lahat ng babae madaling pasukuin. Hindi mo siya ma-mi-meet sa isang swipe or champagne party.”

I nodded. “I know. This one... this one's gonna take effort.”

Mike raised his bottle, finishing the last drop of beer.

“And less stalking, ha? Baka sa susunod, sa police station na tayo magkita.”

I laughed. “Noted.”

Mike leaned back and sighed. “And anyway, bro I can’t always join you in bars like this.”

“Why? You getting old?” I teased.

“Hindi. Mica’s watching my every move now. Engaged na ako, remember? Ayaw na niyang palagi akong kasama sa ‘Ethan Bar Nights’ mo.”

I chuckled. “You love it.”

“Of course. Pero when you’re committed, you don’t just think for yourself anymore. Every action matters. Especially for someone like my beloved Mica.”

Tahimik siya sandali. Then he looked me dead in the eye.

“Kung seryoso ka kay Mira, don’t just chase her. Earn her trust. Girls like her, they’ve been through a lot. Hindi mo alam ‘yung mga sugat na dala nila. So if you really want her—be patient. Be understanding. Don’t try to control the pace.”

I clenched my jaw slightly.

“Hindi ako sanay na pinapaikot but yeah  —,” I admitted.

“Then maybe it’s time maranasan mo rin. Kasi, Ethan sa business, you lead. Sa babae, you listen. Hindi mo pwedeng i-fast track ang puso.”

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

“Tang*na,” I muttered.

Mike grinned. “There you go. May epekto na rin ang babae sa’yo.”