Date

DUSTIN and Asherah's wedding was set in Cebu. Hindi lang basta kung saang isla sa Cebu sila ikakasal dahil sa mismong cruise ship gaganapin ang mismong kasal nila. The ship was in Cebu, sailing.

Their wedding venue was very special because Dustin was one of the designers and builders of the cruise ship.

All the guests are wearing white. There are only three bridesmaids, which are Dustin's cousins. The groomsmen were Duke and Dustin's male best friends.

Asherah and Dustin invited me personally to be the maid of honor. The best man? It was no other than Dwight Altamirano.

"Hindi man araw araw na nakangiti

At ilang beses na rin tayong humihindi

Di na mabilang ang ating mga tampuhan

Away bati natin di na namamalayan

Heto tayo"

We all stood up and spun in the direction where the bride was about to enter when the wedding song began.

When the white sheer curtains opened, Asherah is revealed at the end of the red carpet, wearing an elegant wedding dress.

She looked exquisite. Her gown was simple but screamed elegance, suiting the location of the wedding.

Nangilid ang luha ko nang magsimula siyang maglakad kasama ang kapatid niya. I'm so happy for her and Dustin. It's heartwarming that they made it together.

"Ngunit sa huli

Palagi

Babalik pa rin sa yakap mo

Hanggang sa huli

Palagi

Pipiliin kong maging sayo"

A tear streamed down my cheeks when she reached the altar, where she met Dustin, who was teary-eyed.

I tilted my head to the side when I felt someone was watching me. My heart did a summersault when my eyes met the best man's gaze.

Our eyes lingered on each other.

I swallowed hard when I noticed the emotion in his eyes. Dwight's eyes were washed with overflowing longing. Bakit ganiyan siya makatingin sa akin?! Sa paraan ng pagtitig niya, parang pinaparating niya sa akin na na-miss niya akong makita... pero alam kong hindi mangyayari 'yon.

I immediately looked away and wiped my tears when my heart was about to explode with his stares. My eyes were no longer on him, but I could still feel how deep and firm the way he stared at me. Damn it.

"Nais kong malaman mong iyo ako,

Palagi Palagi

Kung balikan man ang hirap, luha't lahat

Ikaw ang paborito kong desisyon at

Pag napaligiran ng ingay at ng gulo

Di ko pagpapalit ngiti mo sa mundo"

Mas nag-iyakan ang lahat nang magbitaw na ang dalawa ng vows. Dustin and Asherah confessed they were not each other's first love, but the love they have for each other is the greatest love of all.

"Will you take Asherah Zoleigh, to be your lawfully wedded wife to have to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"

Dustin smiled and answered, "I do, father."

"Will you take Dustin Bentley to be your lawfully wedded husband to have to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"

Asherah's tears fell. "Yes, I do."

The priest smiled, "I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride."

Nagtawanan at hiyawan ang lahat nang biglang takpan ni Thunder ang mga mata habang nagpapalitan nang halik ang mga magulang niya.

Dustin and Asherah were talking to the guests, but they were still holding each other's hands. Dustin's eyes were sparkling with happiness while staring at her. It was like the stars came down from the skies and landed in his eyes. They looked so lovely!

I smiled immediately when a familiar girl came up to me.

"Rara! Hi!" she greeted me.

"Oh, hi! Hazel Altamirano Jung, right?"

She covered her mouth, "Oh my gosh! You remembered my full name?! I'm so glad to see you!"

A gasp escaped my mouth when she hugged me, but I still hugged her back.

"How are you? It's been two years since I saw you on the screen! Hindi kana rin active sa instagram account mo. I was so sad when you left the industry,"

A smile crept on my lips despite how the topic was a bit awkward to me.

"I'm good. Yeah, I was inactive on my main account," I paused. "I actually created a new one for my real-life feed. I am going to activate my main account when the right time comes,"

Her eyes widened. "Kaya pala! Can I follow you sa new account mo?"

"Sure," I nodded and grabbed my phone. "It's Rareriroru."

When I saw her username on the screen, I followed her right away.

"Hazel..."

My breath hitched when I heard the familiar voice behind me. His familiar scent made all the pulse I had in my body beat ten times faster. Nakaawang ang labi ko nang lingunin ko siya at sinalubong niya agad ako gamit ang namumungay niyang mga mata.

"Kuya D, why? I'm stll talking to Rara,"

Mabilis akong nag-iwas ng tingin nang marinig kong nagsalita si Hazel. Napalunok ako't parang bigla yata akong pinagpawisan dahil sa presensya ni Dwight!

"Hayes was looking for you," Dwight said. "Puntahan mo muna,"

"Okay! Rara, let's resume our talk later!"

I nodded, "Sure,"

Nang umalis si Hazel, gusto ko na rin umalis at lapitan ang bagong kasal dahil ayokong makasama sa iisang lugar si Dwight. My lips parted as my head cocked to the side when I felt Dwight's hand on my face.

"You are sweating," he said in a low, sheepish voice.

I watched him carefully wipe the sweat on my forehead using a white, small cloth. Then, I felt the cloth brushed into my cheeks. I bit my bottom lip as I noticed how serious he was.

"I-I can wipe my own sweat, you know," I answered, almost stuttering.

"I know... but I want to do it for you," he answered without looking at me.

My heart skipped a beat with his answer.

"T-thanks, Dwight," I said when he finished.

He only nodded at me. I saw him pocket the cloth he used for my sweat on his chinos. Hindi pa rin kumakalma ang puso ko dahil nandito pa rin siya sa gilid ko.

"Can we talk?" he asked huskily.

"Okay lang," I answered shortly.

"Let's talk privately, Rashaiah."

"Sa loob tayo?"

He licked his bottom lip and nodded. "Yes, if that's okay,"

Sasagot pa lang sana ako nang dumating ang bagong kasal at niyaya nila kami sa gitna para sa picture taking. Kahit nang natapos ang picture taking, hindi na kami nakapag-usap ni Dwight dahil dumating si Hazel at dinala ako sa mga kakilala niya.

Kasama ko si Hazel at Duke nang pumasok kami sa loob para sa reception. Nasa table ako ng magpipinsan na Altamirano na ipinakilala sa akin ni Hazel kanina. Hindi nagtagal at nagsimula na ang program. Habang nagsasalita ang bagong kasal para sa kanilang speech, nagsimula na rin ang pag-serve ng pagkain sa bawat table.

After the speech, they cut the three-layered cake I made and spoon-fed each other. The next on the program was the bouquet toss, where Asherah tossed the bouquet. I was filled with anxiety as I didn't want the bouquet to come in my direction.

Pero laking gulat ko nang sa mismong harapan ko babagsak ang bulaklak. Because of reflex, sinalo ko 'yong bouquet. My eyes widened as my lips slightly parted when I realized what I did. Naghiyawan at palakpakan ang lahat.

My cheeks immediately seared up because of awkwardness and embarrassment. I don't want this! Pwede bang i-rewind?!

"At ayon na nga ho, ladies at gentlemen! The winner is no other than Miss Rashaiah Morrison! Napakagandang bata, parang manika! Sana all, may sariling ring light!" The host announced, and the audience immediately went wild.

Nilapitan ako ng host at pinaupo sa tabi ng bride at groom. I couldn't do anything, so I just followed.

"I'm sorry, Rara. I didn't know the bouquet would be tossed in your direction," Asherah said apologetically.

I shook my head, not wanting to ruin her special day.

"It's fine, Asherah. It's just a game," I even smiled at her.

Napatingin ako sa mga kalalakihan na naglakad papunta sa gitna. I spotted a few familiar faces in the middle. Kahit ang kapatid ni Asherah, nandoon din.

I could feel the anticipation in my nerves as I watched the game start. My eyes widened when all the men moved to get the garter. But before they could even touch it, someone already grabbed it.

Everyone gasped, and so did I, when I witnessed who possesively grabbed the garter. My heartbeat went wild when his gaze waltzed in my direction. The corner of his lips tugged with a small smirk.

"I got it," I saw his lips move as if he was talking to me.

Shocks! Dwight Altamirano grabbed the wedding garter!

Three weeks had passed like a blink of an eye. Even from sleep, my thoughts from what happened at Dustin and Asherah's wedding still bothered me.

I still couldn't believe that Dwight kneeled in front of me while sliding up the garter on my thighs using only his teeth. The feeling of his lips and teeth brushing my skin made my system all haywire.

Until now, I still couldn't remove it from my mind.

Hindi na kami nakapag-usap noong araw na 'yon dahil umuwi na rin ako agad nang mag alas diyes na ng gabi. Hindi na ako umabot sa after party at parang sasabog na ako kung magtatagal pa ako roon lalo na't nandoon si Dwight.

"Happy 24th birthday, Rashaiah!"

Shea and Ivy greeted me with a chocolate cake and a heart-shaped balloon. My eyes sparkled when I saw how creative the cake was! I shut my eyes and start wishing in silence.

Hinipan ko agad ang kandila nang matapos mag wish. Binaba ni Ivy ang cake at dinamba agad nila ako nang yakap. Bumungisngis ako nang halikan nila ako pareho sa pisngi.

"You are officially twenty-four!"

"I know! I hope no one calls me kid anymore!" I hissed.

They laughed out loud.

"We are glad your father said yes to our mini party!" Shea loudly said when the music volume had risen.

I nodded, "I know, right?! Pumayag naman akong isama natin si Dawson, kaya okay lang sa kaniya! Anyway, thank you, girls, for the birthday present!"

I already opened their gifts for me. Binigyan ako ni Shea ng wallet at may kasamang five hundred pesos 'yon. Si Ivy, binigyan niya ako ng sandals na may kasamang birthday letter.

Sa malayong parte ng bar nagbabantay si Dawson at ayaw niya raw sirain ang gabi ko't birthday ko nga raw. Kahapon pa kaya ang birthday ko!

"Let's dance, birthday girl!" Shea took my hand and pulled me to the middle of the dance floor.

As someone who loves dancing but hasn't danced for years, I gushed all my longing for dancing. When the song switched to a sensual one, the three of us squealed in excitement. We started swaying our hips side by side, synchronizing the beat of the music.

The strobe lights were blinding our eyes, but we didn't care. We kept dancing sexily, Shea twerking and me giggling when everyone hyped her up.

Ivy poured strawberry-flavored booze into my mouth, and my energy redoubled. When the song changed, the three of us jumped while chanting the lyrics of the song.

A few moments later, I went back to our table when Shea already found the man of her night. On the other hand, Ivy walked out when she saw her stepbrother in the crowd. Mukhang galit nga sila sa isa't-isa kaya lumayo muna si Ivy at babalikan na lang daw kami mamaya kapag lumamig na ang ulo niya.

I surveyed the area, looking for Dawson, hoping to invite him to join me, but I couldn't see him. Naupo na lang ako mag-isa sa table namin.

My eyes widened, and as if everything stopped when I spotted a familiar man. His back is leaning on the black silk couch. His left arm is spread at the top of the sofa, and his left leg is placed on top of his right thigh. He is holding a bottle of beer in his right hand.

His cold and intense sunset eyes are trained on me. He's wearing a white button-down short-sleeved polo that was hugging his body.

Totoo ba 'tong nakikita ko? Dwight Altamirano is really here?!

Nagsimulang tumambol ang dibdib ko nang tumayo ang lalaki at naglakad palapit sa akin. It's not a hallucination, but a reality!

"Why are you here alone? Where is the girl you were with?" he bombarded me with questions the moment he occupied the space beside me.

Mabilis na nanuot sa ilong ko ang mabango niyang amoy.

I remained silent as I looked up at him. My heartbeat pounded louder. Hindi na ako magtataka kung marinig niya ang pintig ng puso ko na siya naman ang dahilan.

"Rashaiah,"

His voice was the one that pulled me out of the daze.

"Dwight..."

I swallow, trying to calm my nerves.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm drinking," he raised the bottle of beer he was holding.

"I-I mean... dito, sa table namin," I paused and licked my bottom lip. "Paano mo nga pala nalaman na may kasama akong babae?"

I saw him lick his bottom lip. "I saw you... earlier."

"Where? Right here?"

"Dance floor," he said shortly.

"You were watching us dance?!" My voice slightly raised because of surprise.

"Not them..."

My lips parted with his revelation. "You were watching me dance?!"

He didn't respond, but the way he licked his bottom lip proves that Dwight Altamirano really watched me dance sensually!

"D-did you like what you saw, though?" I taunted.

Napaayos nang pagkakaupo si Dwight. His gaze went darker and his jaw clenched.

"What do you think?" he asked dangerously.

"I think you did,"

Namungay ang mga mata niya't gumalaw ang panga.

"Don't do that again... unless I'm your only audience," he said in a possessive tone of voice.

My lips rose. I tilted my head up as I chuckled, "Huwag mo akong utusan," I uttered, looking back at him.

His face blanches, all pigment leaking away. His lips parted for a few seconds before he shook his head and drank his beer.

Naguguluhan akong nagrefill ng tequila sa baso ko. I drank it all at once. Narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagsinghap at ang kamay niyang pumigil sa akma kong pagsalin ulit sa baso ko.

"Pinayagan ka ba uminom?" Dwight hissed.

Medyo nainis ako sa hindi malaman na dahilan.

"Duh?! What do you think?! Pupunta ba ako sa bar kasama ang mga kaibigan ko, kung hindi? And for your information, I'm twenty-four na po!"

"Hey, calm down," he said in a calm tone.

Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin. I drank a shot of tequila all the way again. He groaned and took the shot glass away from me.

"Stop. You'll get drunk," saway niya pero umirap lang ako.

"Don't tell me what to do, Dwight!" I smirked when I saw him stunned when I called him in a serious manner.

"Rashaiah..." he warned me.

"Rashaiah," I mimicked him.

Dwight bit his bottom lip as he watched every move I made. I only shut up when I got tired of teasing this attractive but grumpy millionaire!

"Your silent is killing me," namamaos na komento niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Then, leave," I said, breaking the silence.

He tightly shut his eyes, flicking his tongue on the inside of his cheeks.

"No, I'll stay here..."

"Why? What do you need?"

He licked his bottom lip again.

"I-I want to talk to you,"

I crossed my arms over my chest as I looked at him. "Okay, talk,"

Dwight took a deep, shaky breath. His eyes were glistening in an unknown emotion I couldn't determine. My back straightened like an iron when his eyes captured mine.

"I don't like you for what you did to Dustin. You left him. You broke my brother's heart. I hate you, Rashaiah, but I wonder why my brother likes you so much. I fucking wonder why, and then, you showed up, and I instantly find out why he's into you."

Tumambol ang dibdib ko at napaawang ang labi. "Dwight..."

"I hate the fact that you confuse me so fucking much. I don't like that every day of my life-I keep on thinking about you. I don't like that I constantly worrying over you."

My eyes widened at him. I was dumbfounded.

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya at ang pagpungay ng kaniyang mga mata. He licked his bottom lip as his tongue trembled.

"I don't like how fucking close you're with Dustin. Especially with my best friend, Leoniel, it bothers me that you're with him because of me. And yes, setting you up with him was the biggest mistake I had ever made."

All the pulse I have in my body beats ten times faster.

"I am busy hating you that I forgot to protect my heart from falling for you. I fell for you first-hard and fast."

I was speechless.

I studied him for a moment, looking for a hint of humour in his face, but found nothing. My heart skipped a beat as I saw how serious he was.

"But I already moved on. I don't like you anymore, Dwight."

My words were like a bomb exploded in front of him. That was a lie. I just want to confirm by myself if Dwight seriously likes me.

His reaction darkened. Mabilis na umigting ang panga niya. I froze when his strong arm slid and encircled around my waist, pulling me closer. Naramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko.

"Who?"

"You probably know him. But I won't say his name," I said nervously.

"Tell me,"

"Ayoko sabihin. Basta gwapo siya, matangkad, may sariling kumpanya, mestizo, mabango, matalino-"

"Shut up," he hissed but in a gentle tone.

Isa sa mga gusto ko talaga sa lalaki 'yong suplado sa lahat. Sa akin lang hindi.

"Ang hina mo," hindi ko na napigilan sabihin, natatawa.

"I hate how jealous you make me," he growls.

My mouth lips parted with his bluntness. Drunk words are sober thoughts. Is he sober or just drunk?

I smirked, mocking him even more. "And I love seeing you jealous-"

I wasn't able to finish my sentence when he crushed his lips to mine, hard and demanding. I felt a sensation travelling through my entire body. My eyes immediately closed, and my breath went shallow.

So, this is what Dwight Altamirano's lips taste like. He tasted beer, mint and a bit of sweet.

I don't know how long we kissed because he took all my senses away when our lips met. I opened my eyes when he pulled back. He then lifted my chin and kissed me again, but this time, it was quick.

Para akong hinihingal na tumingin sa kaniya.

"Are you addicted to my kisses now, huh, Altamirano?" I asked bravely.

"Yes," he answered without hesitation.

"Good. Because that's my goal in the first place." I grinned and pulled him on his neck, kissing him again. It was just a smack because I didn't know how to kiss longer.

I giggled when I caught him closing his eyes. When he felt that I was staring at him, his eyes slowly opened. Our eyes lingered on each other.

"I know I'm not good at words. I suck at telling my real feelings, but I would like you to know that I want to date you, Rashaiah. So, please, date me..." Desperation was in his voice.

I felt a kindled sensation in my stomach.

It wasn't painful but it was wild and scorching trampolining inside me.

This kind of heat was the only heat I would be glad to get burned with. Only Dwight can make me feel like this.

"It's a yes. I'm going to date you," I replied right away, without hesitation.

His eyes widened as his lips parted. A few seconds later, I felt his strong arms around my body, embracing me.

"Dwight," I called him, chuckling when his hug tightened.

"Rashaiah, you won't regret dating me..." He whispered, and I felt his lips over my hair.

╰┈➤ Author's Note:

Finally, may label na! Another version of Dwight is coming, hmm ;)