I: A Night of Recklessness

The beauty of the night has been evident with the BGC's gleaming glass towers, as Chloe take a look of its endless parade.

Parang ang sarap namnamin ng mundo sa ganitong pagkakataon- na parang ang lahat ay payapa, at walang problema. Hindi gaya ng nasa isip ng isang Chloe Villanueva na matalim ang tingin sa paligid, nakatuon lamang sa mga ilaw ang paningin at buntong-hininga na lang muna ang kayang maiambag sa sariling pagkakanulo.

"One scotch on the rock, please." She went straight to the bartender and ordered the most common drink she takes whenever feeling edgy.

"Coming up, Ma'am."

The bartender skillfully made some exhibition before handing out the clear amber liquid.

Nilapit niya ang ilong rito upang isipin ang dahilan bakit siya narito ngayon, taliwas sa totoo nitong personalidad na taong-bahay at mas gugustuhing maburo sa sarili nitong kwarto kesa ang lumabas at makipag-socialize.

But tonight, she wasn't a senior architect; Chloe was just a woman in a little black dress that hugs her body perfectly showing curves, sipping at a bar with a breathtaking view that spreads out into a glittering infinity.

Not bad, she told herself while observing the srink in her hand.

The air was a mix of expensive perfume, cool air-conditioning and faint sound of a hundred conversations.

Ito ang sandaling pagtakas niya sa mundo, a rebellion- one night of letting go, one night of pure, unadulterated spontaneity.

O-order na sana siya para sa kanyang ikalawang inumin nang biglang may isang lalaking dumating sa tabi niya. Naglakad ang lalaki mula sa crowd ng walang kahirap-hirap at parang may sarili itong awra na hindi maintindihan ng dalaga.

The man was tall, looked effortlessly crisp in his custom-made suit. Panandaliang iginala nito ang kulay tsokolate nitong mga mata, sa buong paligid at bahagyang napapitlag ang dalaga ng dumako ang mga ito sa kanyang mukha na may kakaibang intensidad.

And he found what he was looking for. As if pulled by an unknown gravity, his eyes landed on her. There's no smile, but a glint of something unreadable sparked by his gaze.

Lumapit ang binata rito ng walang pag-aalinlangan. He did not stop or ask for permission; he just stood beside her and signaled the bartender.

"Two more of the same," he said with a low voice, na dahilan ng pagkakatindig ng mga balahibo sa braso ng dalaga.

Aiden turned to her and the ghost of smile finally made its way on his lips.

"I saw you from across the room, and I knew I had to meet you. Pasensya ka na, but I don't believe in wasting time."

Napatigagal si Chloe sa narinig.

Did this man just admitted that she is attractive? That she caught his attention? Isip-isip ng dalaga habang nakatingin sa mukha ng misteryosong estranghero sa harapan niya.

She internally rolled her eyes bago sumagot.

"And I apologize, pero hindi ako basta-basta and I don't believe in accepting drinks from strangers na parang alam kung ano ang gusto ko. You've already made two assumptions, what's the third?"

Unti-unting napangiti ang binata sa response ng magandang dalaga.

Impressive.

"The third is that you're going to like this conversation more than you think." He glance to the drinks on the table while thinking how interesting this woman can be.

Chloe takes a sip of her drink, tumitig ng nakakahamon sa lalaking kausap. There's no way this guy can outwit her.

Hindi pwede, pogi.

"And what if third assumption is wrong?"

Aiden lean closer, his voice dropping at sumenyas ng pabulong sa dalaga.

"I'm a man who lives by results at sa ngayon ang result na gusto kong makita.. ay ikaw."

Bahagyang napalayo si Chloe hindi dahil sa narinig, but because of the intensity between them. It is electrifying her core, plus the respond he whispered.. it sounds engaging, she couldn't believe her ears wanted that!

The world around her fading into a blur, na parang nakapokus lang ang lahat ng kanyang senses kay Aiden. There is an unspoken invitation hang in the between them.

Inayos niya ang sarili at pagkakuha muli ng buwelo ay inangat na muli ang tingin mula sa kanyang inumin.

"You said you don't believe in wasting time," then she leaned closer at bumulong rin rito.

"So let's not. And again, I am not easy."

The man who chuckled and let his curiosity reign in his system.

He simply placed a gentle, possesive hand on her lower back.

"I never said it would be easy," his voice suddenly became intimate, " I just said you would like it."

Chloe continued sipping her drink, never leaving her gaze to this guy, while thoughts of excitement seep in her head.

"I'm a man who lives by data. Yung naunang dalawang assumptions? That is based on my instinct. And the third one? Is based on the fact that you haven't walked away." then touched her nape in a sensual way.

"You are so sure of it, Mister. I think you got it wrong."

Aiden raised his glass in a silent toast, his eyes roaming around her face.

"I believe in results, babe. At ang gusto ko lang na resulta na makuha ngayon ay isang oras ng uninterrupted conversation with you."

She raised her eyebrow, questioning.

"Oh, an hour?", and leaned close to inhale his perfume, "What will you do if you fail to impress me?"

Kinabig pa niya ang dalaga ng mas malapit pa ito.

"Failure is not in my vocabulary. I simply adjust my strategy. Pero maniwala ka," saka bumulong sa tenga ng kausap,"you're going to want to see where this conversation leads."

Chloe, a very organized architect, had a hard time collecting her thoughts upon hearing this guy. Her mind is chaotic in a good way. Her body felt a strange, thrilling numbness. Hindi siya makapag-isip ng tama, simula ng dumating ito.

Mali! Hindi na siya nag-isip pa ng tama!

"I don't know your name, but I already know that I don't want to waste another minute without you," tahasan pang pahabol nito sa kanya.

"Let's get out of here."

She didn't have a choice. Her heart is throbbing painfully at ang isip ay parang may sariling utak ang kanyang katawan na sumama rito ng yakagin siya nito patayo, while clinging to her purse . He placed his gentle hand on her back, guiding her out of the bar and straight to a waiting black BMW.

This night was something else entirely, or maybe the alcohol is already poisoning her system. But one thing is for sure-- she needed to figure it out why this night is special, and why this man, holding her close, made her feel so completely out of control.