Chapter Text
“Seriously, who would even reject Ali?” Sashmita asked, sabay tawa nang mahina, as if the idea alone was already the funniest thing she’d heard tonight.
I only smirked while raising my beer bottle, the bitter taste grounding me. I could still picture the look in Kian’s eyes kanina—’yung priceless mixture of hope and humiliation—after preparing that ridiculously grand promposal, only for me to shut him down without hesitation. Not my fault he didn’t pass the vibe check.
“Ang sinasabi ko lang, if Ali continues to do that,” Max chimed in, rolling her eyes dramatically as she leaned back on the couch, “wala talaga siyang mahahanap na date for party.”
Nasa bar kami ngayon, exactly 1AM, and surprisingly wala pa ring nalalasing sa amin. Hindi mataas ng alcohol tolerance namin and honestly, with nothing better to do, inom was the only logical plan.
“What if tayo na lang maghanap ng date for Ali?” Yana suggested, her voice tinged with mischief. “The person who will enter that door will be Ali’s date. The challenge is kailangan siya ang mag-ask.” Tumawa pa siya after, kaya napairap ako.
Paano kung matanda? Or worse, may asawa at anak? Edi lugi ako nang sobra.
“Basta halos kaedad natin, g ako. Pero if matanda at may asawa’t anak—pass. Wala akong balak maging kabit.”
They all laughed, nodding in agreement like this was the most normal rule to set for a dare involving my love life.
“Kapag napapayag ni Ali, I’ll give her 5K,” Cali smirked.
“Ang baba,” Max scoffed. “Kapag naging sila ni Ali, 20K.”
Napangiti ako. Mga baliw talaga. Uubusin nila pera nila para sa date ko? As if. Like anyone would reject this face.
Dzuh. Ako na ’to.
“And if tumagal kayo ng one year, 50K. Hati kami ni Yana,” dagdag ni Sash, raising a brow as if challenging me personally.
“Gago, ayokong mag-commit!” I immediately protested.
“Oh come on,” Yana laughed, “hindi ka bibigyan ng mommy mo ng ganyang kalaking money—with your grades?”
Naghalakhakan silang lahat, and I just chugged the rest of my beer before sighing. Whatever. Bored na rin naman ako sa buhay ko. Might as well let chaos entertain me.
We waited.
Maraming lumalabas—mga pogi, mga may dating—but not a single soul walked in. Nakakainis. Ang taas-taas pa naman ng standards ko then this is how I’m supposed to find a date? Seriously?
Another hour passed before someone finally entered the bar. Hindi namin agad makita ’yung mukha but she was undeniably tall. ’Yung tipong papansin kahit hindi namamansin. The way she walked was… cool. Confident. Hindi pilit. And her track?
Diretso sa direction namin.
Wait… what?
“Do you know her?” Yana whispered to Max.
“Nope. Hindi ko pa nakikita ’yan.”
We all exchanged confused looks as the girl stopped right in front of our table. She didn’t even hesitate.
“Let’s go home, Alessian. Pinapasundo ka na ng mommy mo.” Her voice was cold—flat, bored, not even a hint of being impressed sa ganda ko.
“Who are you?” I asked, brow raised.
She rolled her eyes. Rolled her eyes at me.
“Come on. Anong oras na ako nakarating and I badly want to sleep. I don’t have time for your jokes.”
Napataas ng kilay si Sash, instantly on guard.
“If I know you, I swear, I could’ve remembered you,” I said, standing up from my seat para humarap sa kanya.
And then I saw her properly.
Pretty.
Cute.
My type.
Unfortunately.
“Are you drunk?” she asked, still so done with the world.
“Nope.” I smirked and wrapped my arms around her neck, leaning in just enough. “Now tell me your name, hottie.”
She rolled her eyes again before letting out a slow, frustrated sigh.
“Jae.”
And right then, my world stopped spinning.
What the fuck?
No way.