"Hi, Vince!"

Ngumiti siya sa isang kaklase na bumati sa kanya pagpasok sa isang malaking bahay. Punong-puno ng tao ang buong sala. Nasa gilid ang mga upuan. Pasyahan sa pagpapatugtog ang DJ sa isang tabi. The expensive marbled table was laid with liquors.

He should not have come. Hindi siya sanay sa ganito. Apat na taon din siyang umiwas sa ganitong sitwasyon. Pero dahil graduate na siya, napagpasyahan niyang paunlakan ang pag-aaya ng mga ka-batch niya.

Amelia, one of the popular girls of their batch, hosted the party. Nag-iisang anak ito ng isang buisness tycoon at isang former actress. They went away for the weekend and loaned her the house for the said party.

Katatapos lamang ng graduation nila kanina at karamihan ay sa party na dumiretso. It's been the talk of their school since January. Excited ang lahat sa party na ito. They even cancelled their plans with their own families just to be there.

One big final bash na nga raw kasi. After that, real world na. No more partying.

Tinanggap niya ang isang plastic cup na may lamang alak. Iniabot iyon ng kaklase niyang si Ashton.

"Overflowing drinks, p're!" nakangiti nitong sabi sa kanya.

He nodded and moved to the side. Labas-masok ang mga tao. May naghahalikan sa may hagdan. May naghahalikan sa sofa. May naghahalikan sa may pintuan. Kahit saan siya lumingon, may naghahalikan. Sa gitna ng sala ay nagsasayaw naman ang mga babaeng hindi niya mamukhaan. Napapalibutan ang mga ito ng mga lalaki sa party.

Some were grinding their hips to the rhythm of the music and their partners. Nailing na lamang siya.

"Hi! Vince, right?"

A girl in a sequined black dress approached him. Plunging ang unahan ng dress nito na parang kinulang sa tela. She's not wearing any bra, by the looks of it.

"Yes."

"I'm Carla!" pakilala nito.

Nakipag-kamay siya.

"I'm Junie!" singit ng isa. This one's wearing low-cut jeans and a cropped top.

"Hello," bati niya saka siya naglakad palayo.

Hinanap niya ang mga kabarkada niyang namilit sa kanya sa pagpunta. But in the sea of people, it seems impossible to find them.

--

"Here, babe!"

Pilit na ngumiti si Moira nang makita ang ka-date niya. Nasa pool side ito, may katabing babae. It's not that she minds. Hindi naman niya ito talagang gusto. She just went out with him because the party's not open to everyone. Kailangang kasali ka sa kaga-graduate na batch, o ka-date ka ng sinuman sa batch na iyon.

Good thing there was Drew, her neighbor. Medyo close niya ito kaya nang nag-aya itong dalhin siya bilang date ay hindi na siya nag-atubiling sumama. Isa lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit gusto niyang pumunta.

But there are too many people around. Mahanap kaya niya ito?

--

Doon na lamang sa veranda nagpunta si Vince. Marami pa ring tao. Parang sa lahat yata ng sulok ng bahay ay may tao. But at least, the people there weren't making out. Some are simply dancing. Ang iba naman ay tahimik lang kagaya niya.

He peeked at the pool area when it became noisy down there. May isang grupo ng mga lalaki na sabay-sabay na naghubad at tumalon sa pool. He groaned. Those are his friends. Mukhang nagpapatanggal ng tama ng alak ang mga ito. Pababa na sana siya para puntahan ang mga ito nang makita niya ang isang pamilyar na mukha.

He knew that face so well.

--

Moira felt the tingles on her nape. That could only mean one thing. He has to be somewhere near. Iyon kasi ang palatandaan niya. She looked around, hoping to see his face. Wala ito sa pool area. She looked at the house. Mukhang wala rin ito sa may pintuan.

Then, she looked up... and met his gaze.

Awtomatiko siyang napangiti.

"Drew, sa loob lang ako ha," paalam niya sa ka-date.

She ran inside the house bago pa ito mawala ulit. Pababa na ito ng hagdan nang makasalubong sila. Nagulat sila pareho.

"Vince!"

His jaw clenched. "Moira."

She felt giddy inside. He called her by her name! It was probably the first time. Kahit parang hindi ito natutuwang makita siya, masaya pa rin siyang makita ito. This will probably be the last time na makikita niya ito.

Ilang araw bago ang graduation ay halos hindi na siya pumasok dahil sa sobrang depression. Magda-dalawang taon na rin siyang may gusto kay Vince. Almost two years of chasing after him... Just the thought of not seeing him again breaks her heart.

"I thought you wouldn't come!" she told him.

"Well, I'm here, aren't I?"

"Can we talk somewhere else?"

Vince nodded. They headed upstairs and searched for an empty room. The first three they checked were already occupied. Sa third floor na sila nakakita ng bakanteng lugar.

Pagkasarado ng pinto ay sumahod ito sa kanya.

"Bakit ka nakasahod?" taka niyang tanong.

"Your gift. Sabi mo may ibibigay ka."

"O-Oh, right."

Pinamulahan siya. The only reason why he went to the party was because she begged him to. One last time, sabi pa niya. I'll just give you my gift. He asked her if she will stop kung tatanggapin nito iyon. She had no choice but to agree.

Mukhang wala rin namang mangyayari sa one-sided love niya.

Vince had been annoyed with her ever since. Palagi siyang nakatambay sa department nito. She knows his schedule. She stalks him everywhere. Halos araw-araw din siyang may regalo rito, na hindi naman nito tinatanggap. It hurts to be rejected every day, pero hindi siya sumusuko.

Pero dalawang taon na ang nakalipas, he still wasn't softening up to her. And now he finally graduated. After this party, he will be going to the U.S. to train for their business. God knows when he'll come back. Or if he will come back.

"Can we make this quick, please?" pakiusap nito.

Lalo siyang pinamulahan. How can she tell him that she will be giving herself as gift? At paano na lang kung hindi siya nito tanggapin? What then?

--

Pilit ni Vince na pinahaba ang pasensya. This girl has bugged him for two years. She's been labelled desperate by their schoolmates and even that didn't stop her from chasing after him. Ilang beses na ba niya itong ni-reject? Hindi talaga niya gusto si Moira. Ayaw niya sa mga babaeng habol nang habol sa lalaki. It makes them seem easy.

And Moira was always throwing herself at him.

Pinagbigyan nga lang niya ito dahil sabi nito ay huling beses na. You just have to accept my gift, and then I'll stop. I promise I'll stop. She even cried while saying that.

"Where's your gift?" tanong niya. He was getting impatient. Wala naman itong dalang kahit ano.

Napakunot ang noo niya nang magsimula itong maghubad.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"I-I'm giving you my gift," halos nakayuko nitong sabi. Pulang-pula ang mukha nito. Hiyang-hiya. He was even more disgusted.

Nilapitan niya ito. He put the straps back on her shoulder.

"Don't do this."

Moira bit her lip as her eyes moisten. "I-I want to."

"Moira."

Pinahid nito ang luhang pumatak. "Please, Vince. J-Just this once."

"Why are you doing this?"

She placed her hands on his waist. Unti-unti nito iyong iniikot sa katawan niya hanggang sa nakayakap na ito ng tuluyan. She looked up to him with teary eyes.

"You really don't know why? Are you that numb to not feel it? Kulang pa ba lahat ng ginawa ko para hindi mo malaman kung bakit?"

He couldn't answer her.

She cupped his face. "I love you."

He wanted to say that she just might be exaggerating. Baka infatuation lang. It's too early to conclude that she's in love with him. But he wasn't able to say those words, because she already covered his mouth with hers.

Ikinawit nito ang mga braso sa batok niya, deepening the kiss. Awtomatiko siyang napahawak sa bewang nito. Moira parted her lips and gave him all the access he needed.

Hindi naman siya bato. It was as if his very instinct dictated him to take advantage. He kissed her with equal gusto. Her moans sounded like music to his ears.

You just have to accept my gift, and then I'll stop. I promise I'll stop, he remembered her say. I just want her to stop, dahilan niya. But he won't deny the fact that Moira tastes so sweet. Kahit walang lasa ng alcohol sa labi nila ay parang nalalasing pa rin siya.

His hand found the straps of her dress. He pulled them down and began kissing her neck, then took a whiff of her perfume. She smells like vanilla.

--

Moira could feel her heart pounding against her chest. She could not believe that Vince would actually do it. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba iyon sa kasunduan nila or if he's just taking advantage. Both prospects hurt. She wanted to think that he's doing this because he finally loves her back, pero alam niyang imposibleng mangyari iyon.

Vince removed his shirt and looked at her with languid eyes.

"Take off your dress," he commanded.

She obliged with trembling hands. It felt like she was removing the last strip of her dignity. But there's no backing down. She already lost that dignity the moment she started running after him.

She stepped out of her discarded dress, embarrassed. Gusto niyang takpan ang sarili.

Vince tilted her face upward. "Look at me," he said.

Nag-init ang mukha niya nang matitigan ang mga mata nito. He lowered his face to kiss her. This time, it was gentle, almost feathery. She moaned out his name. While his lips were busy pleasuring hers, his hands expertly took off her underwear. He lifted her up and took her to the bed. He removed the rest of his clothing after that.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

Vince joined her on the bed. Pumaibabaw ito sa kanya. She could feel his manhood on her belly and it made her so flustered. Gusto niyang takpan ng unan ang mukha. It's going to be her first time and she knows that it will hurt. She just wants it to be over, but a part of her wants it to take longer than it's supposed to. Alam kasi niyang pagkatapos nito, wala na siyang babalikan pa.

She will have to let him go completely.

--

Vince placed his elbow on the side of her face.

"Last chance to back out," he whispered, though he didn't really mean it.

Napadako ang tingin niya sa leeg nito nang lumunok ito.

"I'm not backing out," she said firmly.

He knew she was scared. Nanginginig pa nga ito. But she's not wavering and he's quite relieved. He was on the verge of considering taking her by force if she backs out. Hindi niya alam kung ano'ng problema. Marunong naman siyang magpigil. And he certainly wasn't turned on by girls that he doesn't even like.

But Moira... there's something about her that pulls him in. His intense dislike turned into a burning need in an instant.

"All right."

Hinalikan niya itong muli. Moira moaned again. It made him harder. He's never met a girl who's so responsive. She reacts with every touch, whimpers with every kiss...

Dumako ang mga labi niya sa leeg nito. Pinagsawa niya ang mga labi. After feasting on her neck, he went down on her breasts. He kneaded one with his hand while sucking on the other. Napasabunot si Moira sa buhok niya.

She arched her back, offered him more. And he did get more.

--

Moira's eyes flew open when she felt his hand between her thighs. Napaigtad siya nang mapalitan iyon ng dila nito. Kumuha siya ng isang unan at kumagat doon. She's never felt this way before. The pleasure was enough to make her head spin. She bit harder on the pillow when she felt the urge to scream.

Maya-maya ay hinila nito sa kanya ang unan. Then he kissed her again and again and again, hanggang sa manlambot na ng tuluyan ang mga tuhod niya. He then parted her legs with his thighs. Napapikit siya when he entered.

Masakit nga, but she was more shocked than hurt.

"Shit!" Maang na napatingin sa kanya si Vince. "Is this your first time?!"

"I-I want you to be my first..." she said, flushed.

Akala niya ay hindi na sila matutuloy. She thought that he would back out. But he didn't. He claimed her that night. Hindi lang isang beses.

Habang maingay at magulo sa sala, nandoon sila sa loob ng kwarto, gumagawa ng sariling ingay. Was she happy? Not totally. May parte sa kanya na natutuwa dahil kahit paano, may pinagsamahan na sila ni Vince, but a part of her was also saddened by the fact that she had to act cheap just for that.

She was still lying on the bed when Vince decided to go. Bumangon na rin siya at nagbihis. Laking pasalamat niya dahil tumalikod ito. Good thing, he didn't feed her with that crappy 'Nakita ko na rin naman yan' line. She would definitely be embarrassed if he did.

"Are you dressed?" tanong nito.

"Yeah," mahina niyang sagot.

He turned around to face her. Blangko ulit ang ekspresyon nito. It's as if nothing happened earlier. But what was she expecting, really? Imposible namang mahulog ito kaagad sa kanya dahil lang doon.

"I'll go first," paalam nito.

He was already at the door when she called him back. Kunot-noo itong lumingon sa kanya. He must be itching to go home, maybe take a shower to get rid of her completely.

"Can you take me home? Please?"

Vince sighed. Pero pumayag naman ito. He said that he'll go first, saka siya nito aantayin sa labas. Naghintay siya ng limang minuto bago lumabas ng kwarto. Maingay pa rin sa sala. People were already drunk. May mga nagkalat na damit kung saan-saan. May mga lalaking wala nang shirts. She looked around, but Vince was nowhere to be found. Hindi naman nito sinabi kung saan siya nito aantayin.

She went outside the house. Wala rin ito sa pool area. Naglakad pa siya ng kaunti, papunta doon sa mga nakaparadang kotse sa tabi ng daan.

She saw him standing beside his car. Agad itong sumakay nang makita siyang paparating.

It was a disappointingly short drive from the party to her house. Wala pa yatang labinlimang minuto. And within that time, ni hindi man lang silang dalawa nakapag-usap. Mukhang ayaw nitong makipagkwentuhan sa kanya, at sya naman ay nahihiyang magsalita.

Ilang segundo nang nakaparada ang sasakyan nito sa tapat ng bahay niya ay ayaw pa rin niyang bumaba. Vince thought that she was just waiting for him to open the door. Bumaba kasi ito ng sasakyan saka siya pinagbuksan ng pinto. He even removed her seatbelt.

Napilitan siyang bumaba kahit ayaw niya.

"Salamat sa paghatid."

This is it, Moira. Hanggang dito na lang talaga.

She didn't want to get over Vince, but she has to. Maybe it's a good thing na pinatulan nito ang pakiusap nya. That way, alam niyang hanggang doon na lamang talaga.

"Moira."

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad. But is this really it? She bit her lip. She could still taste his lips on them.

Naramdaman niya ang kamay nito sa balikat niya. She almost flinched at the contact. Dahan-dahan siyang iniharap nito. She could clearly see his face, thanks to the lamppost nearby.

He gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I'm sorry," he told her.

Hinalikan siya nito sa noo.

She closed her eyes. She didn't want to see his face, lalo na't nagsisimula na namang pumatak ang mga luha niya. She just stood there, until she felt him remove his hand from her shoulder. She remained standing, until she heard his car's door opened and closed.

Iminulat lamang niya ang mata nang masigurado niyang nakaalis na si Vince. Huminga siya nang malalim at saka pinahid ang luha. This will be the last time that she will cry because of him.

Goodbye, Vince.