Nicole

I sat at the table, sipping my pineapple juice and feigning interest in the conversation. My mind, however, was elsewhere.

Suddenly, Karla's voice cut through the haze, snapping me back to reality. "Nicole! Akala ko pa naman nakikinig ka!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

Before I could respond, Joshua came to my defense, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Hon, let Nicole be. Huwag mo na siya masyadong pansinin baka may iniisip lang 'yan. You talk too much anyway," he said with a chuckle.

Harry chimed in, echoing Joshua's sentiments. "Yeah, let Nicole enjoy herself however she wants. Kayo kasi ni Donna, paano naman siya mag-e-enjoy kung maya't maya niyong pinupuna."

Inirapan naman ito ni Dona. "Knowing Nicole? She can't enjoy on her own. Tignan mo nga, oh! Napaka-kj ayaw uminom!"

"I don't really drink," I replied matter-of-factly. Kinibitan ko pa ang mga ito ng balikat.

Karla sighed in frustration, her eyes locked on me with a mixture of concern and annoyance. "Even just this once, Niks! Try to enjoy life!" she pleaded.

But I stood my ground, meeting their gazes with unwavering resolve. "Karla, Donna, and everyone else who cares," I began, my voice calm but firm. "This is how I enjoy my life. If I seem uptight to you, that's okay. For me, it's normal. Please stop worrying about me. I'm fine, I promise."

With that, the conversation shifted as their boyfriends intervened, steering the discussion in a different direction. I sank back into my seat, grateful for the brief respite from their scrutiny. Yet, despite their reassurances, a nagging feeling lingered in the back of my mind, a silent reminder of the internal battles I continued to wage each day.

Mag-iisang oras na rin akong tulala sa basong nasa harapan ko nang maramdaman kong may nakatitig sa akin. When I lifted my eyes, I was met with a pair of honey-brown eyes. Eyes that seemed to pierce through me, sending unwarranted thrill down my spine.

The intensity of that hot stare sent a chill through my body, and I involuntarily clasped my hands together, my mind flooded with memories of what had transpired earlier. The memory of that unexpected encounter, that sweet assault on my senses. It was almost too much to bear.

I couldn't help but wonder if I was imagining things or if I had actually seen it—a faint curve of his lips, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. Before I could dwell on it further, he turned and walked away, blending into the crowd.

Who was he?

A guest at the resort, perhaps? It seemed like the most plausible explanation. But there was something about him, something mysterious and intriguing that lingered in the air long after he had disappeared from sight. I couldn't shake the feeling that our paths would cross again, and when they did, hindi ko na alam kung ano na namang katangahan ang gagawin ko, o hahayaan gawin nio sa akin.

"Nicole!" Karla's tap on my shoulder jolted me back to reality. I hadn't even realized they were already standing. Nakataas ang kanilang mga kilay na nakamasid sa akin, para bang hinihintay ako. Sa kung ano ay hindi ko rin alam.

"What?" I asked, hindi ko pinahalata na lumilipad kung saan ang aking isip.

"Come on! Let's dance. I saw Zanti, nasa dance floor! Oh, my God! He's here! I want to see him up close and personal, hindi 'yung puro sa magazines na lang ako aasa!" Karla exclaimed excitedly.

"True! Naka-ready na rin ang phone ko para makapag-selfie tayo sa kaniya mamaya," Donna chimed in, accompanied by an eager squeal.

Their boyfriends couldn't help but roll their eyes in response. Paano'y kung sinu-sino ang mga crush nilang dalawa, mostly celebrities. Pumupunta pa nga ang mga 'yan sa kung anu-anong mall shows at fan meet at ni minsan ay hindi nila ako nayakag na sumama.

"Mayaman lang 'yun. Pero kung sa paguwapuhan pihadong mas panalo naman kami ni Harry sa Zanti na 'yun!" Joshua quipped with a smirk.

Napangiti ako pero hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Walang katotohanan ang sinabi ni Joshua, Zanti Dela Paz was a powerhouse. Kung mahilig lang rin akong humanga sa kung sinu-sino kagaya nina Karla at Donna ay malamang na crush ko rin iyon. I saw him in some magazine the one time I was browsing, and boy, he was darn too good looking for glossy pages.

"Oh, come on, hon," Karla chuckled, wrapping her arm around her boyfriend's waist. "You're being jealous again. Crush lang namin 'yun si Zanti! Besides, he wouldn't even notice me, and even if he did, I was not about to give in! I'm all yours."

Joshua's sullen expression melted away as Karla hugged him.

Seeing them like that brought a warm smile to my lips. Karla and Joshua had been childhood sweethearts, and I had witnessed their relationship blossom over the years. When they decided to settle down, I couldn't have been happier for them. Seeing them so deeply in love, living out their happily ever after was heartwarming.

I pushed aside any thoughts of him, not wanting to dwell on the 'should've beens' of my own life. This was meant to be a vacation, a time to relax and enjoy myself.

Have fun, Nicole. I silently encouraged myself, determined to make the most of the moment.

"Nako ha! Nakaka-umay na kayong dalawa! Halika na nga, Niks!" Donna pulled me up from my seat, leaving me with no choice but to step onto the dance floor if I didn't want my arms pulled out of their sockets.

As we danced on the floor, I suddenly felt a force pulling me by the waist. My face collided with a hard chest, and before I could comprehend what was happening, he began grinding his hips against mine, passing it off as dancing.

"Ano ba?!" I protested, trying to wriggle free from his grasp, my discomfort growing by the second. "Let go of me!"

The man looked down at me with a smirk, his grip tightening, showing no signs of releasing me. The strong smell of alcohol emanated from him, indicating he had indulged in more than a few drinks. Tumingin ako sa paligid baka sakaling makita ko sina Donna, kaya lang masyadong madilim at magulo ang mga nagsasayawan sa dance floor, hindi ko alam kung kita ba nila ako o abala rin ang mga itong magsaya. Fuck.

I attempted to push him away, but he persisted in drawing me closer, his movements becoming more invasive. Despite my rising panic, I tried to maintain composure, not wanting to attract unnecessary attention. However, the sensation of his body pressed against mine was becoming increasingly unbearable.

"Bitawan mo ko!" I demanded, straining my neck to scan the surroundings for my friends, hoping they could help. But amidst the darkness and the bustling crowd, they were nowhere to be found.

A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I prayed silently for someone to intervene and put an end to this inappropriate behavior.

"C'mon, it's not as if you're not enjoying..." he whispered into my ear, mas lalo akong nandiri. Kadiri!

"Damn it!" I snapped, my patience wearing thin as I felt his hand inching towards my buttocks. Hindi ko gustong gumawa ng eksena at makatawag ng atensyon mula sa ibang mga naroon rin na siyang mangyayari once I kneed his balls. Pero konti na lang ay mawawalan na ako ng pakialam.

Was it my fate to encounter such indecency today? Kanina sa falls, ngayon naman ay dito. The only disparity was that I hadn't experienced this level of resistance during the earlier events.

I was on the verge of screaming in frustration when a forceful hand from behind me pulled me out of danger. I was about to turn around to express my gratitude when another man appeared from behind, intervening with the persistent dancer.

"Man, we respect ladies here," the newcomer said in a lazy drawl, his voice exuding authority. Recognition dawned on me—it was Zanti Dela Paz, the man Donna and Karla had been eyeing all night.

Nandito siya sa harapan ko. Totoong tao 'yung dating tinitignan ko lang sa magazine. He stood tall and exuded a strong, masculine presence. Saktong-sakto sa mga nababasa ko sa libro, 'yung mga hero na sinusulat nina Karla at Donna sa mga nobela nila.

"Z-Zanti," the persistent dancer stammered, his eyes widening. His voice trembled with fear. "We don't have any problem. We're just dancing," he explained hastily, his words causing my eyes to widen in surprise.

"Hindi ko gusto—" I began to defend myself, but the man who still had a grip on my waist spoke up before I could finish. Not that I needed him to speak for me. Kaya ko naman, kung hahayaan lang sana niya akong magsalita. Lilingon sana ako para makita ko ang kaniyang mukha, ngunit mas ipinirmi niya ako sa aking pagkakatayo.

"Well, that's not how I see it. Are you sure you're dancing with someone who shares your interests?" His voice, with its deep timbre, triggered a sense of déjà vu within me.

Kilala ko ang tinig na iyon! Narinig ko na!

"Do that again, and you'll never set foot on my land," he added firmly before turning his attention back to Zanti. "You know what to do, Z."

Before I could even think, the stranger dragged me away.

"Aray!" Reklamo ko dahil wala pa rin siyang pakialam kung nasasaktan ba ako o ano sa puwersa ng paghila niya sa akin.

I felt like my arm would be torn off with the way he dragged me. Ano bang akala niya? Magkasing laki kami ng katawan?

"Where are you taking me?" I continued to protest, but it seemed like he couldn't hear me as he kept walking until we were out of the bar, heading towards the parking space.

Bigla akong kinabahan dahil hindi ko naman siya kilala, baka mamaya ay kung saan niya ako dalhin. Mas nag-umalpas ako, tinodo ko na talaga ang paghilang pabalik sa kamay kong kinakapitan niya.

"Hey, I appreciate your help back there, pero may mga kaibigan akong kasama sa loob na malamang ay hinahanap na ako ngayon. Babalik na ako, hindi na ako pupunta sa dance floor so I wouldn't create another trouble if that was what you were worrying about." Tuloy-tuloy kong sabi, pilit na kinakalma ang aking tinig.

As the dim light illuminated the parking area, revealing his silhouette, a sense of recognition dawned on me. My eyes widened in disbelief as I realized who he was. It was him, the same man who had insulted me at the falls earlier.

I couldn't believe my words as they escaped my lips in a whisper, "You?"

His presence felt surreal, like a twist in a plot I never saw coming. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me momentarily speechless.

With a jolt, I withdrew my arm from his grasp, the reddened skin a testament to his firm hold.

Pinagtanggol ako ng lalaking tahasan rin naman akong ininsulto? Anong kalokohan 'to?

He slowly turned to me, seeming unfazed by my astonishment. "Get in the car," he ordered, already stepping into the vehicle parked in front of us.

Kung mag-utos siya'y halata mong sanay na sanay mag-mando sa mga nakapaligid sa kaniya. Animo'y hari na lahat ay bastang magpapahinuhod sa anumang sasabihin niya.

I wasn't an expert in assessing material things, but I knew that this car was something only the affluent could afford.

"I said get in the car," he repeated impatiently from inside the vehicle when I hesitated.

Suddenly, I felt flustered, though I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why. I don't know what came over me, but upon hearing him raise his voice, agad akong tumungo sa passenger seat at sumakay.

Kahit pa alam ko na walang kasiguraduhan ang kaligtasan ko sa lalakeng ito, I strangely didn't feel afraid of him, unlike the man from the bar earlier. It was as if there was nothing to fear.

As we drove in silence, my mind raced with questions and confusion. Why was I allowing myself to be in this situation with a man I barely knew? What compelled me to obey his command, despite the uncertainty of our destination and the potential danger?

The man behind the wheel remained focused on the road ahead, his expression unreadable. I stole glances at him, trying to decipher his intentions, but his stoic demeanor offered no clues. It was unnerving, being alone with him in the confines of his luxury car.

Despite my reservations and the nagging sense of unease, I couldn't shake the feeling of calm that washed over me in his presence. It was peculiar, considering the circumstances, but there was an inexplicable sense of security that emanated from him, dispelling any fear or apprehension I should have felt.

Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, I gathered the courage to break the tension. "Where are we going?" I ventured, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, and I couldn't help but steal glances at him. He exuded an aura of undeniable attractiveness, the kind that could easily captivate any woman's attention. His features were strikingly handsome, with a firm jawline and an upturned nose. Artista siguro siya, hindi ko lang kilala.

I found myself mesmerized by his appearance, unable to tear my gaze away from him. It was as if he possessed an innate magnetism that drew me in, despite my best efforts to resist.

"It's rude to stare..." His voice cut through the silence, his tone admonishing yet tinged with amusement.

A blush crept onto my cheeks, and I quickly averted my gaze, focusing my attention on the passing scenery outside the window. How embarrassing! How many times would I embarrass myself in front of this man? It seemed as though he had a knack for putting me in humiliating situations.

I could have sworn I heard a faint chuckle escape his lips, further fueling my embarrassment. It was as if he took pleasure in my discomfort, relishing every moment of my humiliation.

"To answer your question, we're headed towards paradise," His response was cryptic, leaving me with more questions than answers.

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