The blinding lights were getting wilder and the loud music made it obvious that the night is already at its peak. 

I sighed while sitting at one of the bar stools in front of the counter upon emptying the wine in my glass and everything feels the same.

Even the loud music of this club can't pacify the thoughts running in my head. 

I am here, still lost in my... freaking thoughts. My mind can't help but remember him.

Why among the four men in this generation of the Zaldivars, it is Chaos that I chose?

Maybe one reason is because among his cousins, he's the one who looks genuine. At siguro, dahil siya ang pinakamadaling lapitan. 

Gremian is too young... He's older than me but seems he has no interest in settling down yet. So he probably won't give millions just for his bitch.

Same as Wymond but he's a little bit distant than Gremian.

I'm wondering why I didn't choose Guerdon instead? He's the eldest in their generation, the next head of the family. At siguradong mas maraming mamanahin kaysa kay Chaos. 

Maybe it's because, I know that If I did it to Guerdon, at the end of everything I'll surely rot in jail. Or worst... hindi kaya mapatay ako ni Guerdon kung sa kanya ko ginawa iyon? Kidnapped his girlfriend and steal millions?

Well, probably just steal money. Guerdon is single so no kidnapping. 

At isa pa, siguro dahil kamukhang-kamukha ko si Rieselle, who happens to be Chaos's girlfriend reason why I chose to fool him instead.

And at the top of everything, maybe... maybe Chaos is really the one who caught my attention. 

I'm just denying it to myself, not minding it thinking it's just something that should be ignored.

And now, I am so damn foolish to realize it this late. Now that what I'm feeling is already slapped right in my face.

I shouldn't give a damn that Chaos loves Rieselle. Dapat, wala akong pakialam kung ikasal man sila. I shouldn't care like what I used to.

Why can't I do it right now? I don't want to feel any of these. But heck, how can I not?

This is the first time I find myself thinking about things like this. I never thought I would. 

I never thought I would think about someone and feel content just by remembering the ample time we shared. Yet sorrowful that he'll marry the woman he loves without knowing that there's... me.

I'm suddenly feeling much more bitter than the wine I'm drinking.

How lucky I am.

"Another glass, please," I muttered when the bartender glanced at my direction.

He instantly gave me one when a man stood beside me and spoke, ordering a glass of hard drink.

I have no intention to turn to his direction but I felt him inclined his body near me.

"What was a stunning lady doing here... alone?" 

I came here, trying to divert my attention but kept on failing. Maybe, whoever this man is the diversion I am looking for?

I readied a sultry smile and turned my head towards the man. But my eyes instantly turned into slits while the smile in my lips froze as I recognized the man standing beside me. 

Oh, fuck. 

I want to fucking forget. But definitely not with another Zaldivar.

He intently stared at my lips before meeting my eyes. "Damn, you looked like a wild version of my cousin's fiancee," he huskily whispered in my ear.

A wild version, huh? My eyes were smokey while my lips were in bold red. I'm wearing a satin bodycon dress in champagne that's revealing the top of my bosom. While the hem is in the middle of my thighs. Lalo pang umurong ang damit dahil sa aking pag-upo.

Definitely something Rieselle wouldn't

wear.

"Which do you prefer then? The wild one or..." I trailed off and crossed my legs upon averting my eyes away from him.

I felt the tip of his nose brushed against the side of my jaw. "The one in front of me," he whispered before pulling himself away. "Mind telling me the name?"

I licked my lower lip before tightly pressing it. "Rieselle." 

His lips parted in amusement. I can see a ghost of a smile visible in him. Like he's expecting that I was joking when I told him I'm Rieselle.

"Gremian," sambit niya sa sariling pangalan nang makabawi. 

I simply nodded. "A Zaldivar." 

He hummed. "Rieselle? Probably not a Serrano," he smirked. 

"How do you say so?"

"I just know." He shrugged. "Miss Serrano is too good to pass her time in places like this."

I smirked and slowly shook my head while staring at my glass.

"Besides, I don't mess with my cousin's woman," he stated as I felt his hand crawling in my leg. 

I glanced at him as I rested my hand at the top of his own hand that's in my leg and slowly put it away. "I don't mess with cousins too," I muttered in a playful tone and smirked. 

He let out a low chuckle and raised his hands, accepting defeat with a smile in his lips. "If you say so... then just accompany me for tonight?"

Ngunit sa alok niya at pati na rin sa ngisi sa mga labi, sigurado akong hindi pa rin siya naniniwala na ako nga si Rieselle.

My brow raised and tilted my head towards him. "A Zaldivar, alone? Must be an unfortunate night."

"The woman I want declined. I'll probably just sit with her tonight then," he smirked and raised his glass for a toast. "To an unfortunate night." 

I held my wine glass and did the same before sipping on it. "Unfortunate night indeed," I seconded.

Our conversation went on for an hour. Mukhang wala nga siyang balak umalis sa aking tabi. He's not doing anything though, just conversing with me and I have no problem with it. Wala rin naman akong kasama. Hindi na rin siya nangulit sa pangalan ko kahit halatang hindi siya naniniwalang ako si Rieselle.

I started ordering hard drinks as the wine doesn't seem to have any effect on me. 

"Leticia's really here with Chaos? I thought he's engaged?" I heard a voice behind me.

Sandali akong napalingon sa aking likuran nang marinig ang pangalan ni Chaos ngunit agad ding bumalik sa harap ang aking tingin.

Chaos is here? How come? And with Leticia. 

I left after hearing a bit of his conversation with his mother earlier. Hindi na ako nagpakita pa sa dalawa. I don't think they have to know that I heard them. I'm not in the mood for awkward conversations right now so no. I could just pretend that I didn't go home earlier. 

I went to Flavio's condo instead and changed my clothes before going here. Though Flavio saw me leaving and he'll probably fetch me here later.

"Yes! If only you saw them. They kissed!" Another voice from one of the women behind me giggled.

Gremian is telling me something but my full attention is on the three women behind me.

I stopped myself from chuckling with mockery in my tone as I kept listening in their conversation. 

They kissed? I thought he loves Rieselle? I thought he'll marry her? What is he doing with his friend who's lowkey simping over him? 

"Good for them. Leticia's prim and proper too but she's more bolder than Chaos's fiancee. His fiancee seems... timid. Boring in bed, not enough for a Zaldivar," one of them stated in a suggestive tone.

"Reason why Chaos cheated. And worst, he got the mistress pregnant." 

If I were Rieselle, I'd give these girls a good slap. Really? The girls were a bit familiar, probably invited to one of the Zaldivar's celebrations. Kung ganoon, they must be from an elite family yet their attitude stinks.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I don't know what annoys me more. These girls or the fact that Chaos and Leticia kissed. Whatever.

Nag-iwas ako nang tingin kay Gremian na mukhang hindi naririnig ang mga sinasabi ng mga babae sa aking likuran. 

"Or the mistress is lying? To lure a Zaldivar perhaps?" I raised a brow when I heard them chuckling.

"For how long will you sit here?" I asked as I turned to Gremian. 

"Huh? I was saying—"

I rose and tilted my head before raising a brow on him. "Come with me?" 

"To where? I thought you're not—"

"Just to the dancefloor." The smirk in my lips widened. "Though, nevermind. I can go there alone." I emptied my glass before turning my back on him. 

Ngunit hindi pa ako nakakailang hakbang ay naramdaman ko na ang pagsunod ni Gremian sa aking likuran. 

He held my elbow to stop me from walking and leaned closer for me to clearly hear what he'll say. "You're drunk already." 

I eyed him with a mocking expression on my face and smirked. "I'm not," I stated as I removed his hand on my elbow. 

My eyes roamed around the place and even in the dark, my gaze caught Chaos. And those girls were telling the truth as I saw him with Leticia. He's guiding her on the couch, helping her sit while she's caressing his face. The woman seems too drunk to even handle herself.

I slowly shook my head before walking away, trying not to mind what I saw.

I stopped in the middle of the dancefloor as I can still feel Gremian following me. Tama ako nang humarap ako sa aking likuran at nakitang naroon nga siya. I cling my hands in his nape as I swayed my body.

"Aren't you too drunk for this, lady?"

I smirked. "We're just dancing." Is there something wrong with that? 

I felt someone pressing behind me reason why I pulled myself nearer Gremian. Mukhang napansin niya rin iyon kaya't hinapit niya ang aking baywang at bahagyang iniba ang aming pwesto upang mailayo ako sa kung sino mang dumidikit sa akin.

"If you aren't a Zaldivar then we can probably go somewhere..." I placed my hand on his chest as we're too close.

He grinned. "I wouldn't decline. But not when you're this drunk, lady. Maybe earlier when you're still sober."

"Gremian." Despite the wild sound of music, I heard a baritone voice firmly called.

Sabay kaming napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. 

"Chaos! Bro, you're here," bati ni Gremian sa pinsan niyang ngayon ay nasa aming harapan. Not minding the dancing crowd around us, sa lamig ng titig ni Chaos, para bang kami lang ang nakikita niya.

"Oh, you're here," I nonchalantly muttered when our eyes met.

My hands on Gremian loosened as we faced Chaos but his arm remained in my waist.

"What are you doing with her?" Chaos demanded for an answer, his voice was almost savage. 

"Fuck!" I cursed as he carefully snatched me from his cousin's arm.

"What's wrong? We're—" Gremian trailed off as he shifted like he knew why Chaos is being like this. He huskily chuckled. "Bro, she's not your fiancee," he defensively said.

"Right, I'm not. So get off." Itinulak ko siya ngunit hindi man lang ako nakalayo. I groaned when he firmly fixed his hand on my waist.

"I'm going home with her," he said with finality. Para bang sigurado siyang ako ang taong tinutukoy niya. 

"Ano ba! I'm not Rieselle so go back to your friend." With my brows furrowed, I rolled my eyes as I forcefully pushed him but he didn't budged. "Kiss her again! Hindi 'yung ako ang pinakikialaman mo!"

"What?" nahihiwagaang baling sa akin ni Gremian. He slowly shook his head before turning to Chaos. "Let's talk about this in a private place but I'm telling you she's not your fiancee," giit ni Gremian.

But Chaos turned his full attention on me, ignoring his cousin in front of us. "What are you talking about? I didn't kiss anyone."

"Yeah, you didn't." I widely smiled at him with a hint of sarcasm in my tone. 

He eyed me as his lips parted in awe. "I didn't," mariing sambit niya habang igting ang panga.

He then moved to get out of the crowd while he's still holding my waist.

"Hey! She's not Rieselle," pahabol ni Gremian na hindi naman pinansin ni Chaos. 

Mabuti pa si Gremian, alam na hindi ako si Rieselle. I don't know if Chaos is an idiot or what. I said, I'm not Rieselle! Isn't it obvious?

"Shit!" I cursed when we're finally out of the crowd and Chaos is still firmly holding me beside him, walang balak na pakawalan ako. 

"Get off! I can manage!" But I didn't get anything from him. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands. I can handle myself!"

Binitawan niya lamang ako nang nasa labas na kami. I looked around the parking lot. 

Agad na nahagip ng paningin ko ang bulto ni Gremian na nakasunod sa amin. "Bro, saan mo dadalhin? She's not your fiancee, come on."

"This is our problem, Gremian. Leave us alone and let me talk with her." Chaos placed his hand in front of me, stopping his cousin from getting near me.

"She's drunk—" 

"Follow your cousin. I can manage." My tone remained nonchalant as I cutted Gremian.

He seems hesitant, ayaw akong iwan kay Chaos na para bang may masamang gagawin sa akin ang pinsan niya. Ngunit wala ring nagawa sa huli. 

"Don't do anything, she's not Rieselle," sambit niya kay Chaos bago tuluyang umalis. 

My gaze followed Gremian as he went back inside the club until he vanished from our sight. 

Matapos ay mataman akong bumaling kay Chaos. "Go back to your woman inside. I can go home alone," walang emosyong sambit ko. Tinalikuran ko siya at nagsimulang maglakad palayo.

Ngunit agad akong natigilan nang nahuli niya ang aking braso. At natulos ako sa aking kinatatayuan nang marinig ang mga salitang nagmula sa kanya. 

"We're alone here. Whatever your reason is, you can stop pretending like you're fucking jealous, Marcia," he coldly muttered that made shiver ran all the way down my spine.

__________