Inis na kumawala ako kay Rance, hindi pa tapos ang tugtog. Sumasayaw pa ako at gusto ko pang sumayaw ulit. Tapos babanatan niya ako ng "Let's go" na parang kailangan ay sundin ko siya. Excuse me?

"Huwag kang epal, Rance. Nagsasaya 'yung tao, eh." Sinubukan kong lumayo sa kaniya ngunit agad niya akong nahilang pabalik sa kaniyang mga bisig, this time ay kaharap ko na siya. "Nasan na ba 'yung kausap mo? Busy ka, 'di ba?"

"You're wearing a dress with plunging neckline," hindi niya pinansin ang tanong ko, sa halip ay pinagtuunan pa ng pansin ang suot ko. "Isan maling galaw mo'y makikita ang hindi dapat nakikita!"

Eh? Siya naman ang bumili nito, 'di ba? Anong problema niya ngayon? "Kung conservative ka naman pala, 'di sana'y hindi ganitong klase ng damit ang binili mo sa akin!"

"I chose that dress because I was sure it would look good on you. And it did!" Mariin niyang sagot. "Ano bang malay kong sasayaw sayaw ka pala? Had I known I would've chosen the one with high neckline."

Napairap ako. Hindi makapaniwala sa itinatakbo ng usapan naming dalawa. We were arguing about the cut of the dress I was wearing, na siya namang pumili.

"Sandali lang akong nawala kung anu-ano na ang pinaggagawa mo!" Galit pa rin siya, hindi ko nga talaga alam kung bakit, eh, siya nga itong bigla akong pinabayaan nang may humarang at kumausap sa kaniya.

"Ano bang problema mo, Rance?" Sininghalan ko siya at kakawala sanang muli nang higpitan niyang lalo ang yakap sa akin. His hand lowered to the small of my back, firmly keeping me in place.

"Our date isn't over yet, tapos nakikipagsayaw ka na agad sa iba." Mahina pero may paninisi niyang sabi na biglang nagpa-init ulo ko. Our date isn't over yet, pero may kinakausap na siyang iba. Bakit parang nabaliktad pa yata?

Imbes patulan ang pang-ga-gaslight nito'y kalmado ko siyang tiningala ng tingin. Ang ganda ganda ng gabi namin tapos mauuwi lang sa buwisitan. Isa pa'y ni hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ba ako naiinis sa kaniya at siya sa akin. Hindi naman dapat, 'di ba?

"Look, Rance," I sighed, placing my arms around his neck to make our position a little less awkward. Para kasi akong presong ikinulong niyang basta sa kaniyang mga bisig. "I appreciate your help tonight, really. Pero hindi na para kunin ko pa ang buong oras mo. Malaya kang gawin ang gusto mong gawin at hindi kita pipigilan."

"Am I really?" Bitin niyang tanong.

His question cut through the air like a knife, his voice low and intense as he held my gaze.

Bigla akong napalunok dahil parang may bumara sa lalamunan ko at napipilan ako. Ang kaninang tapang na meron ako'y unti-unting natutunaw sa paraan ng paninitig ni Rance. His intense stare shifted to my slightly parted lips. I licked my bottom lip, trying to steady my breathing as I waited for him to continue.

"Allowed to do whatever I want, Sam?" His voice was barely above a whisper now, filled with a raw intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

I couldn't find the words to respond, tanging marahang pagtango na lamang ang aking nagawa habang hindi pa rin maalis ang tingin sa kaniya. My heart pounding in my chest, hindi ko alam pero bigla akong kinabahan, o mas tamang sabihing na-excite sa kung ano ang susunod na gagawin ni Rance. I must be crazy, but damn, I was hopeful too.

With that silent affirmation, Rance lowered his head, his lips capturing mine in a savoring kiss. I closed my eyes as the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the sensation of Rance's lips against mine.

It was my first real kiss, and I was both nervous and exhilarated. Hindi ko alam kung gagalaw ba ako o ano. Kung itutulak ko ba siya o mas hihilahin pang papalapit sa akin. Labis labis na kaba ang nadarama ko ngunit mas na ginawa ko ang huli.

Rance groaned against my lips when I started responding to his kisses. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung tama ba itong ginagawa ko, basta sinusundan ko lamang ang galaw niya. I was new to this, hindi ko alam. Nakakahiyang twenty-seven na ako pero ni wala akong experience sa ganito, pero iyon ang totoo.

Rance's lips were soft and gentle as he pulled me closer, his mouth moving against mine with a tenderness that took my breath away. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng mahalikan... mahalikan niya. When his tongue prodded at my lips, sandali akong natigilan. I never had someone else's tongue in my mouth before, and just the thought of it was enough to bring shiver down my spine.

"Summer, make me stop, baby..." namamaos na bulong ni Rance, parang hirap na hirap siya sa pakiusap niyang iyon.

But I didn't want him to stop! So, instead of doing what he said, I parted my lips willingly, allowing him to deepen the kiss. As our tongues danced together in a slow, sensual rhythm, I felt a wave of desire wash over me, igniting a fire deep within my core. I'd never felt this way, ever. Ni sa hinagap ay hindi ko naisip na mararamdaman ko ang ganito. Yet, it was happening.

With Rance, of all people! Gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko para lang patunayang totoo ito, na ginagawa nga namin ito. Pero paano? Ni hindi nga ako binibigyan ni Rance ng pagkakataong makahinga man lang.

Dahil sa ginawa kong tugon ay muling napaungol si Rance sa pagitan ng bawat halik, the sound sending a jolt of electricity through my body as I responded eagerly to his touch.

I had no control over what happened next. Para na akong nahibang at ipinaubaya na ang lahat sa kaniya. Rance guided me through the crowded club, shoving aside anyone who dared to get in our way, all the while never breaking our kiss. Malaki ng tao si Rance kaya malaya niyang nagagawa iyon, samantalang ako'y ngawit na ngawit nang tingalain siya. And yet, for the love of God, I couldn't stop kissing Rance!

At that moment, it was like we were in our own little world, oblivious to everything and everyone around us. Before I knew it, we were in the back office, a small, confined space that offered us a moment of privacy amidst the chaos of the club. Rance pinned me against the closed door, his warm body pressing against mine as he continued to ravish me with his lips.

Kung may nagsabi sa akin kahapon na mangyayari ito'y baka tinawanan ko lang. But, fuck, this was really happening! Intense and fast too.

I ran my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer as I moaned loudly, lost in the intoxicating sensation of his touch. His lips trailed from mine to my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake as his hands gripped the back of my thighs, lifting them up to part them so he could press his body against mine even more firmly.

Sa buong pagkakakilala ko kay Rance ay hindi niya ako kailanman binastos ng ganito. Ngayon ay gusto kong pagtakahan bakit ngayon niya lang ako pinagtangkaan, because it felt so damn good.

"Itulak mo ko, Sam... I couldn't help myself. Baby, you feel so fucking... wow." Patuloy niyang bulong habang pinapaliguan pa rin ng halik ang aking leeg. Hindi ko rin siya kayang itulak. No, mali. Hindi ko siya gustong itulak. Gusto ko ganito lang, halikan niya lang ako. Halikan niya akong mabuti. Halikan niya ako ng husto dahil hindi ko gustong matapos itong nararamdaman ko.

Damn, Rance.

Alam ko ang posibilidad ng patong patong na hindi magandang kalalabasan ng ginagawa namin ni Rance ngayon. Pero hindi ko muna iyon gustong isipin. Consequences be damned. I was so drunk with the sensations I had never known I was capable of feeling that I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. I surrendered myself completely to the passion and desire that consumed us both, and let tomorrow took care of itself.

Wala na, tuluyan na akong nagpatangay. Matalino akong tao pero sa ngayon ay hindi ko na alam kung saan na napadpad ang utak ko, and frankly, I didn't even care.

"Sam... We can't..." iyon ang sabi niya, pero iba ang ginagawa ng kamay niyang marahang pumipisil sa aking mga hita underneath my dress. Itsura nito ni Rance, kunwaring nagpipigil pa pero ramdam na ramdam ko naman kung gaano niya kagusto itong posisyon naming dalawa.

He liked what was happening. He liked it so much that he carried me to the table. Sa kabila ng lahat ng pinagsamasamang init, kagustuhan, bahagyang takot na nararamdaman ko'y hindi ko maiwasang mapangisi nang mapansin ang malinis na lamesang pinagdalhan niya sa akin. Damn Rance for being so organized. Before I could comment, he kissed me again, his hands slowly wandering from my thighs to my hips, then to my waist and higher, until they reached my breasts. Damn Rance for being so quick too. Mahihiya panigurado si Flash kung sakaling nakikita siya nito.

I couldn't help but groan at the warmth of his palms against my skin, arching my back slightly to encourage his touch. My nipples reacted quickly, hardening under his touch, eliciting a low groan from him.

Abruptly breaking the kiss, Rance looked down at me, his gaze lingering on my now slightly exposed breast, the nipple slipping through the plunging neckline of my dress. Pinakatitigan niya iyon sa paraang gusto kong mahiya at takpan na lang iyong basta. Naramdaman niya sigurong iyon ang gusto kong gawin kaya muli siyang nagsalita, hindi pa rin inaalis sa dibdib ko ang tingin, it was as though he was mesmerized. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit, eh, hindi naman malaki ang dede ko!

"They were so damn pink, baby..." He commented, and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. No one had seen my nipples since I was three years old!

As Rance's fingers reached for one of my nipples, starting to play with it, I couldn't help but gasp at the sensation. I had never experienced anything like it before, ang sarap pala. Ni minsan kasi ay hindi ko ginawa iyon sa sarili ko. I mean, virgin ako pero hindi ako tanga. I knew the concept of 'pagsasarili' but was never really desperate enough to seek pleasure by my own. I had nothing against those who opted for it, besides masturbation can actually be good for one's health, both mentally and physically. And it's pretty much the safest sex out there—there's no risk of getting pregnant or getting an STD. Hindi lang talaga iyon para sa akin dahil ito, ito ang gusto ko.

There was more to this than I had ever imagined, and I was eager to explore it further. With a newfound boldness, I reached up to grab Rance's shirt, pulling him closer as I pressed my lips against his hungrily, craving more of the intoxicating sensations he was awakening within me. It was as if we couldn't get enough of each other's taste.

Rance groaned against my lips, his hands roaming my body with an urgency that matched my own. Suddenly, he laid me down on the desk, his kisses trailing down to my exposed chest.

I gasped as his lips closed around one of my nipples, sucking softly yet hungrily. The sensation sent waves of pleasure coursing through my body, igniting a fire within me that I had never known before. It was both exhilarating and overwhelming. At higit sa lahat, gustong-gusto ko.

Habang patulog akong pinaghahalikan ni Rance na tila ba wala ng bukas para sa aming dalawa, I could feel his arousal growing against my lower body. It was a heady feeling, knowing that I was the one causing such a reaction in him. Despite my lack of experience in matters like this, I felt a surge of confidence knowing that I was able to elicit such a passionate response from him.

Sa kalagitnaan ng lahat ng iyon ay biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Rance, it vibrated against my thigh. Sa una'y pareho naming hindi iyon pinansin, but as the ringing persisted, growing more insistent with each passing second, I knew we couldn't ignore it any longer.

Hindi ko man gusto ay itinulak ko si Rance palayo, I forced him to withdraw from the warmth of my body, his lips reluctantly leaving my nipple. Kung sino man ang tumatawag ay nasisiguro kong may mahalagang kailangan kay Rance dahil kung hindi ay sumuko na ito matapos ang ilang ring na walang nakukuhang sagot.

"Sagutin mo na, baka importante," namamaos kong sabi. Miski ako'y nabigla sa sarili kong tinig, I never thought I sounded sexy. Pero baka sa pandinig ko lang 'yung tunog sexy, mamaya pala'y mukhang tanga ang dating kay Rance.

Really, Summer? Iyan talaga ang pagtutuunan mo ng pansin ngayon?

Rance cursed under his breath, clearly torn between the desire to stay and the need to answer the call. With a heavy sigh, he reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone, glancing at the caller ID before answering. "What?"

I watched as his expression shifted, his features tightening with concern or annoyance—I couldn't quite tell which. It was clear that whatever was happening on the other end of the line was not good news.

As Rance listened to the voice on the other end, his jaw clenched. "I'll be there."

When Rance ended the call, I pulled myself up from the desk, smoothing down my dress and trying to compose myself despite the turmoil swirling inside me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened, something that had shattered the fragile bubble of intimacy we had shared just moments before.

Rance glanced at me, his expression unreadable, before he finally spoke. His voice was broken, unrecognizable, as if weighed down by an immense burden. "Lola Anastacia died,"

My heart plummeted at the news, a sharp pang of sorrow piercing through me like a knife. Lola Anastacia—Rance's beloved great-grandmother, the matriarch of his family—was gone. It felt unreal, as if the world had suddenly shifted on its axis, leaving us reeling in its wake.

Sure, she was eighty-nine years old, but we all wanted to believe she was immortal. The old lady was kind and sweet.

"Oh, Rance," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "I'm so sorry."

Rance nodded, his eyes distant as he grappled with the enormity of his loss. I wanted to reach out to him, to offer him some semblance of comfort, but I knew that there was little I could do to ease the pain he must be feeling.

"It happened so suddenly," Rance said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye."

I could see the raw anguish etched on his face, the grief and disbelief warring for dominance in his eyes. It was heartbreaking to witness, mahal na mahal ni Rance ang Lolo at Lola niya. He was really close with both Don Vicente and Doña Anastacia, na halos bisitahin niya ang mga ito noon linggo linggo, o tuwing may pagkakataon. Kung minsan pa'y sinasama niya ako sa Alta Roca para kumustahin ang mga ito. They were really old, at sabi niya sa akin ay hindi niya gustong maramdaman ng mga ito na basta na lang silang napabayaan, na wala nang may pakialam sa kanila.

"Is there anything I can do?" Marahan kong tanong nang tuluyang humiwalay sa akin si Rance. I knew the feeling of losing someone close to your heart, hindi ko rin maipaliwanag ang sakit na naramdaman ko nang mawala si Uncle Dansen. And Rance never left my side during those time of grief.

Rance looked at me, his expression weary. "Just don't leave me..."

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