Chapter 3: Captivated

A coy smile tugged at my lips when I returned my gaze to the two. “Dapat ko ba kayong batiin sa panlolokong ginawa niyo?” I asked, unable to hide the sarcasm in my voice. I looked at Chel and let out a deep sigh in disappointment. She avoided my gaze.

Sinayang niya ang limang taong pagkakaibigan namin. Mas nanghihinayang ako sa mga taong ginugol namin sa isa’t isa kaysa sa relasyon namin ni Arkin. Sa halip na maging kaawa-awa ako sa harap nila, ako pa ang naaawa sa kaniya.

“Mavi—”

“Hindi mo naman sinabing may gusto ka pala sa lalaking iyan, eh ’di sana nagkusa na akong magbawas ng basura’t sa ’yo ko itinapon,” putol ko sa sasabihin niya at inalis ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin.

“You didn’t even tell me you’re into people’s leftovers. How can you even call me a friend?” Umiling siya’t pakuwari ay humihingi ng tawad gamit ang mga tingin, pero hindi nabago ang nararamdaman kong galit sa kaniya.

“Watch your mouth,” Arkin cut in. The guy clicked his tongue.

“And me? A gold digger?” I pointed at myself, scoffing in offense. “Wala nga akong napakinabangan sayo. Kung pera lang din ang usapan, kaya kitang bilhin bilang alipin ko,” pang-aasar ko pa na lalong nakapagpula ng mukha niya. I bit the inside of my cheek, savouring the moment.

Anyone can buy a man like him who’s not even worth a single coin. He doesn’t deserve to be bought. Trash can’t cost much, people like him are meant to be thrown away.

“Don’t you think you’re being way too arrogant if you think I came here for you?” Kumunot ang noo ni Arkin sa sinabi ko. Marahan akong natawa nang makita ang naging reaksyon nito bago ko tignan ang pinsan niya.

I looked at him, Viscenzo, whose gaze is also fixated on me meters away. “Have I forgotten to mention that I’m already engaged to someone else?” dugtong ko pa habang nakatitig sa mga mata ng lalaking hindi ko naman kilala.

“How foolish of me to forget to tell you that I’m already engaged to your cousin.”

I don’t know where the courage came from to say that, but there’s one thing I’ve been praying for—that is not to regret everything once I come to my senses tomorrow.

I can still see no expression from Viscenzo, as though he was bored and forced to go to this kind of event. Hindi naman nawala ang magbulong-bulungan ng mga kamag-anak niyang nakarinig.

I’m drunk, I know that. But I can still balance myself and walk towards Viscenzo even though I’m praying to all the saints above not to leave me unconscious here. Nang makalapit sa kaniya ay wala pa ring emosyon ang kaniyang mga mata. Now that he’s in front of me, I can clearly see how those hazel eyes shine more perfectly than the lights around.

It was encircled by lavish lashes that any woman would envy. Strong jawline, chiselled cheekbones, noble nose, captivating lips—Hell, his wealth and influence reflected his godlike attractiveness. The entirety of his stunning and well-defined body was nothing less than heavenly.

This is the first time I was caught off guard by a mere form of male perfection. His gaze is still unreadable, but the amusement took a glimpse behind those eyes. Sa lakas ng tugtugan ay tanging mabilis na tibok ng puso ako ang naririnig, nagdadalawang-isip kung tama ba ang naging desisyon kong lapitan ang lalaking hindi ko naman kilala.

T*nginang alak, apat na baso pa lang naman ang naiinom ko, ah?

I was catching my breath as if I had run miles away and couldn’t take my eyes off him. I blinked twice.

“You’ll take responsibility for me, right?” I unconsciously asked. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya.

“Those hazels,” makahulugang tukoy ko sa mga mata niya. They seemed captivating. “You should take responsibility.”

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako kumuha ng lakas ng loob na lumapit sa lalaking ito at sinabi iyon. Siguro dala ng kalasingan dahil para na akong sinusundo sa umiikot na paningin. Sana lang bukas ay hindi ko pagsisihan ang lahat.

Saglit akong natigilan nang makita ang mahina niyang pagtawa. Hindi ko alam kung nakita rin iyon ng iba dahil sa mga sumasayaw na ilaw sa paligid namin na siyang nakakapagdagdag hilo sa akin.

“You have only had four glasses but you’re already drunk,” he chuckled.

I blinked multiple times, trying to clear my dizzy vision.

He can count?

Nakaramdam ako ng pananakit ng ulo kaya mariin akong napapikit at napahawak sa sentido. Lalo akong nahilo, kaya naman nang mawalan ng balanse ay hinayaan ko ang sariling matumba. Pero sa halip na sa sahig tumama ang katawan ay naramdaman ko ang bisig ng lalaking umalalay sa baywang ko.

I opened my eyes, only to find myself in Viscenzo’s arms. Nakapatong ang kamay ko sa kaniyang dibdib. Sa sobrang lapit namin ay nanuot sa ilong ko ang kaniyang amoy. Hindi iyon alak, kundi nakaaadik na pabango. His grip tightened as he pulled me closer to him. I bit my lower lip, trying to calm the heart thumping wildly against my chest for some unknown reason.

What’s wrong with this organ?

“Uhm...” I inwardly breathed, don’t know if I should say what’s inside my thoughts, but, “...ang bango mo.”

“Can you explain the meaning of this, Viscenzo?” Lumapit ang matandang lalaki sa amin na kanina lang ay kausap ng dalawa. Bakas din ang awtoridad sa presensya nito kaya kahit umiikot ang paningin ay napatayo ako nang tuwid.

Siya iyong lolo ni Arkin kanina, kaya hindi ako nagkakamaling lolo rin ito ni Viscenzo.

I tried to remove Vizcenzo’s arm around my waist but he even got it tightened, pulling me even closer to him. “Stay like this if you don’t want to fall, you’re drunk,” he softly whispered, giving me chills on my body.

Hell.

Even his voice was like a wave of bliss in the air.

Why the hell do I lose all sense of control in front of him? May halo ba ang ininom kong alak? A drug, maybe? It's making me irresistibly insane.