Baseline

“What if Beast is a lady and she met somebody’s Prince Charming?”

PINK NEON LIGHTS that swayed in every single doom in the smokey cube room, the soothing smell of the strong liquors mixed with head-turning perfumes—it’s ecstasy.

Eight in the evening and for a graduating college girl, probably, you should be doing your home works or stressing yourself thinking about your thesis but... that’s not her type of routine. That’s not Ibiza Blessed Bartolome because she preferred to stay in this place to change the cruel agonies into desired fantasies.

She was oozing with sex appeal. She grooved and walked as if she was the queen to be respected, feared, and honored. Everyone could say that, indeed, she was a neck breaker as she wore her leather boots, denim skirt, pink sports bra and see-through cardigan.

“That’s it? They kissed again after Belle realized that the Beast is the prince of the biggest palace in their country or shit? Whatever!” Ibiza rolled her eyes as she laid back on the couch because she was tired of listening to Olivia’s bed time stories. Paulit-ulit na lang ang kwentong ito pero wala naman siyang magawa dahil ito ang paborito ng kaibigan niya. Kulang na nga lang pagawan niya ito ng rebulto.

“Can we just talk about something hot or thrilling?” Oshlov, Ibiza’s cousin, suggested and everybody laughed except Olivia and George. Ngiti lang ang isinagot ni Olivia dahil para sa kaniya, tuwing lasing siya, ito ang best to tell story na maibabahagi niya.

“Hey! Don’t bully our baby Oli!” George hissed as if she is Olivia’s elder sister. They stopped, shrugged, and just continued their session of drinks until George spoke, again. “Why don’t you just accept that she loves Disney?” she added with sarcasm and they started to laugh again. Matapos noon, sumandal na lang si George sa boyfriend niyang si Rashen dahilan para mapalingon sa kanila ang ilan na kasama sa inuman.

“Look! They’re like Beauty and Beast,” pansin naman ni Rasda sa kuya niya at kay George kahit na medyo ilang. “Beauty is George while Beast is Rashen!” dagdag niya dahilan para matawa na naman ang lahat.

Imbis na maasar si Rashen sa kapatid niya, hinalikan niya pa sa harap ng buong barkada ang girlfriend na si George. George did not resist and she even responded to that lustful kiss. His hands went down to George’s waist which made her moan a bit.

“Get a room!” Oshlov shouted to the air that made the couple stop. “Tularan niyo naman si Rasda at Nichole na cool lang kapag nag-iinuman tayo,” sabi pa nito sabay ngisi na parang may ipinaparating.

“They always make out, huh, it’s just that they’re cool off now,” Rashen announced. “Because Rasda is—”

Rashen wasn’t able to continue what he wanted to say because her sister, Rasda, walked out. Yung kaninang masayang ambiance ay nabago. Natahimik silang lahat, pinanuod si Rasda na umalis. Napalingon naman sila kay Nichole na kanina pa tahimik at nakikisali na lang sa tawa ng magkakaibigan. Napansin nilang wala rin ito sa mood at hindi umimik para man lang magpaliwanag.

Dramas. Ibiza rolled her eyes again because she was starting to hate the ambiance. She sat straight and called the attention of everyone. “I’m bored. Let’s play,” she commanded and got the bottle of brandy, the empty one.

“Spin the bottle! Great! Are you now old school?” Oshlov reacted. Hinamas ni Ibiza ang pinsan niya dahil sa sinabi nito at ngumisi na lang.

“This will be fun. May twist. Kung hindi magagawa ang dare, friendship over.” Excitement. Iyan lang naman ang nararamdaman ni Ibiza dahil kaganapan ngayon. Sa tagal ng pagkakaibigan nila, sa sobrang solid nito at sa pagsasamahan na walang makakapantay, alam niyang walang tatakas sa dare. No one. Never.

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Rashen, George at Olivia. Aayaw pa sana sila nang biglang may dumating. Napalingon sila sa dalawang makisig na lalaki na agad umupo sa reserved seats.

“Why are you late?” Oshlov asked Connor and Stephen but they did not answer. Nagkibit-balikat lang sila at nakisali na. Hinayaan na lang sila ni Ibiza na busy sa kung paano mapupunta ang dare kay Olivia at napansin naman `yon ni Oshlov.

They started. Ibiza spinned the bottle and—Holy neptunes—it stopped at Olivia so Ibiza smirked. Nanliit ang mga mata ni Oshlov sa pandaraya ng pinsan niya pero hindi niya na lang ito pinansin pa.

“I dare you to kiss Stephen,” Ibiza commanded. Napahiyaw naman ang lahat dahil sila talaga ang inaasar ng grupo.

“Yie! Future Olivia Olivar,” pang-aasar ni Connor at nagawa pa nitong pagdugtungin ang pangalan ni Olivia at apelyido ni Stephen.

Olivia raised her middle finger to Connor. “Shut the f*ck up, Connor D*ckhead!” she cussed.

“It’s Connor Dixon,” Connor defended his name. “You—” babanat pa sana ito nang unahan na siya ni Ibiza.

“Kiss Stephen or friendship over?” she smirked and Olivia gulped. Napalingon din si Ibiza kay Stephen na seryoso ang tingin sa kanya pero hindi niya na binigyan ng kahulugan ang isang `yon dahil ang gusto lang niya, magsaya ngayon.

“Fine!” Olivia exclaimed. Mabilis siyang lumapit kay Stephen at walang ano-ano, hinalik niya na ito.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven.

Stephen pushed Olivia which made them stop the kiss. Napansin ng lahat ang tulak na iyon kaya napatigil ang lahat. Walang imik na kinuha ni Stephen ang bote at pinaikot ito.

Tapos na ang dare, the bottle was spinning for the second one. And it stopped at Ibiza’s way.

Napangisi si Stephen at handa na sanang magsalita nang unahan naman ito ni Oshlov. “I dare you to cheat with the two-good-shoes gorgeous guy in our college,” she commanded. Napakunot-noo naman ang lahat at pati si Ibiza ay natahimik. She pursed her lips and seriously gazed at her cousin.

Kilala niya ang lalaking tinutukoy ng kanyang pinsan. Kilalang-kilala. She knew his scent, his features, his mannerisms, his personality, his skills and talents, his hobbies, his likes and dislikes, and even his allergies. Ibiza knew him more than anyone could possibly think.

“Why him?” everyone asked.

“Because Ibiza likes him,” she immediately replied with wide smile. Lahat sila ay nanlaki ang mga mata dahil kilala nila si Ibiza at malayong-malayo sa personalidad nito ang magkagusto sa isang boring na lalaking handang magpakaloyal sa babaeng asal-santo rin.

“Oh! No way!” George showed a disbelief face

“Yes way, Georgina Louise. Our badass baby secretly adores the ever good boy Cydeo Adams Izquierdo.”