Chapter 3

I got to the bar early and pretended to be busy with work. Since all my friends were tied up because of Christmas break's coming, nothing was going to happen with us for weeks.

My phone rang. It was my mom while I was typing away on my laptop.

"Mom?"

[Can you come home for dinner tonight?]

I froze when I heard her. Where did that sudden invite come from? We're not okay. I'm not okay with them.

"For what?" I asked.

[Your dad wants you to have dinner with us—]

"Is it for his business again?" pinutol ko siya agad. Alam ko na kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng tawag nila. Hindi nila ako tatawagan dahil lang sa miss nila ako. Tss.

I heard her sigh heavily. That's why I left their house, because they kept using me for business. I left and we fought because I refused to follow in their footsteps and become CEO of our company. Because of that business, they lost time for me. They valued the company more than their child. And I hate it.

[Will you come?] she asked again.

"I don't know. I'm busy."

[Okay. I'll tell your dad. Call me if you change your mind.]

I didn't answer; Mom ended the call after a long exhale.

Nakatitig lang ako sa screen pagkatapos. Then I remember, they only remember me because of favors, because of business. Tsk. Nawalan na ako ng ganang tapusin ang ginagawa ko, kaya lumabas ako ng office at pumunta sa bar counter para umorder ng cocktail.

"Maaga pa po, Ma'am. May problema po ba kayo?" tanong ni Karlo, isa sa matagal ko nang bartender, habang nag hahalo ng alak sa harapan ko.

"As usual...my parents. But I'm fine, don't worry." I smiled at him as he worked.

There were a few customers even though it was early. We open at two p.m. and close at three a.m.

"Gaano ka na katagal hindi umuuwi, Ma'am?" tanong ni Karlo. Halos lahat ng staff ko alam ang  kwento tungkol sa pamilya ko at sa mga taong kasama ko mula noong magsimula akong mag business.

"As long as this bar's been open," I answered.

"Five years?!" Karlo gasped and stopped mid-mix.

"Yeah."

"Hi!" We both stopped when a voice spoke behind me.

"Magandang hapon, sir. Ano po ang order niyo?" tanong ni Karlo.

"A bucket of beer," the man behind me replied in a deep voice. The hair on my arms stood up at the sound, the voice sounded familiar so I turned slowly.

When I looked, he was already looking down at me; I was sitting.

"Hey!" he greeted with a smile, and I blanked for a second.

"O-oh hi! You came back? Are you with someone?" I asked, glancing behind him but seeing no one.

"Wala, ako lang mag-isa. Bawal ba kapag walang kasama?" Nakangiti niyang tanong.

"No, of course not!" mabilis kong sagot, at natawa naman siya.

"I thought it might be against the rules," he joked.

"Tss. You don't need to come in a group to go to a bar."

"Excuse me, sir, bucket of beer." Karlo set the beer in front of the man who was sitting on a high stool next to mine.

"Thank you!" the man said to Karlo before turning back to me. I nodded to Karlo so he could leave us alone, and he moved away.

"So, what brings you here this early?" I asked, taking a sip of my cocktail.

"Nothing much. I'm bored and a little in a bad mood. I need some alone time."

"Alone time? So I have to leave so you can be alone?" I teased. His eyebrows knit together and he paused, mid-sip of his beer.

"Leave?" he asked, puzzled.

"Eskapu? Go away? You said you needed alone time, so I thought you wanted to be left alone."

"Oh... no, I don't need that. It's actually better if there's someone to talk to. I felt a little unsatisfied with our conversation last time," he said.

"Really? Saan ka dun nabitin?"

Tiningnan niya ko ng ilang segundo, tapos ngumisi. "In general. I don't like being left hanging,  especially when it's the exciting part," he said seriously, still looking into my eyes.

I found him hot. Fuck. Why are my thoughts getting dirty? Is it just me? Tss.

"Alin ba ang exciting part doon na nabitin ka? Pwede naman natin ituloy," pagsakay ko sa gusto nitong usapan at nagpalumbaba paharap sa kanya. Madali naman ako kausap, gustong-gusto ko rin naman lalo na kung sa kanya.

He spun my seat so I faced him. He took my legs in his hands and playfully squeezed them..

"You told me last time you didn't have a boyfriend, right?" he asked softly.

"Yeah."

"And you don't make a commitment, am I right?"

"Yeah..." I replied.

He bit his lower lip and played with his piercing with his tongue. I watched him do it.

"Are you into flirting? Like, the no-label thing — doing couple-y things without actually labeling it?" he asked.

I knew where this was going. And I liked it.

"Of course. How about you?" I asked.

"Yeah, if it's with you..." his answer sounded like an invitation. I raised an eyebrow and bit my lip.

"What do you mean?" Tanong ko pa para masiguradong tama ang naiisip ko.

"I want to try the no-label thing,  flirting, but with you only. What do you think?" He squeezed my leg again, still playing with his piercing.

I stared at him for a few seconds before answering. Who would refuse that? Hello?! Just being with him would be enough!

"Siguro...pwede natin pag-usapan 'yan sa office ko habang umiinom. Gusto mo?" alok ko.

His eyes changed when he heard that; they were filled with lust. "Sure. Tamang-tama, kailangan ko ng masarap na pulutan. 'Yong hindi ako mauumay." Nakangiting sabi pa nito kaya napangiti rin naman ako.

We stood up with our drinks and headed to my office. I opened the door for him, smiling.

"Come in, welcome to my office slash bedroom," I laughed.

He went in, looking around. I locked the door right after.

"Bedroom?" he asked.

"Yeah, that door to your right is my bedroom here. Madalas kapag lasing ako, hindi na ako umuuwi sa condo. Dito na lang ako natutulog." Medyo awkward pero totoo.

"Oh... nice office." He sat beside me on the sofa and put his beer on the coffee table. He faced me and pulled me closer by my waist. "So, about what we were talking about earlier... are you in?"

"Hmmm... no labels?" I asked, nodding. "But we'll do the normal couple things, right?"

"Yeah..." he answered.

"Like holding hands, hugging, cuddling, kissing?" I asked again. He looked at me seriously.

"Yes. It can even be more than that. But the rule is: don't demand a label. Don't expect it. Don't fall in love."

That was fine with me, I didn't want commitment with anyone. I also didn't think I'd fall for him.

"One more thing," he added before I could answer. "This stays between us."

Secret? 

"If it's secret, can I still flirt with others? Since you have no right to me, and I have no right to you? Right?"

"Yes," he said.

"Sure! I agree!" I smiled. He grinned at my agreement.

"Okay then, let's start the agreement today," he said, and grabbed my lips in a kiss. I kissed him back. I felt his tongue probe whenever he slipped it into my mouth.

After that, the next thing I knew we were walking into my room with no space between us, kissing passionately.