Unexpected Desires

Chapter 7: Dancing in the Shadows of Desire

Chapter 7: Dancing in the Shadows of Desire

Mayari Calleope's Point of View

The pulsating rhythm of the music throbbed in my ears, each beat pushing the adrenaline through my veins. Multicolored lights danced around the club, casting enchanting shadows upon the sea of swaying bodies. Amidst this lively chaos, my friends couldn't help but notice the captivating presence that had caught my attention.

"Who's that hottie, Mayari?" Amara's voice rang out above the music as I returned to our table, carrying a tray of drinks. I carefully placed the glasses down and slid into the seat beside Sophia, trying to act nonchalant.

"Sino?" Takang tanong ko. Ngumuso naman ito paturo kay Riley na abala sa pag-aabot ng mga inumin sa kaniyang mga customer.

"That guy," I replied, and my friends exchanged knowing glances. They'd clearly noticed him too.

"Oh, never mind him. He's Riley," I said nonchalantly, sipping my drink, attempting to sound dismissive.

"Where did you guys meet? I don't remember you having a guy friend, especially one this hot," Ashley's curiosity got the best of her. I shook my head, trying to downplay the encounter.

"Never mind him, girls. We're not even friends. I don't know him either," I replied, trying to steer the conversation away from Riley.

"Hindi raw kilala pero ang tagal niyong magkausap kanina." Nang-aasar na pahayag ni Alex sa akin, a sly grin on her face.

"Yeah! I even saw him leaning on you!" Ashley chimed in, her excitement fueled by one too many drinks.

"Umamin ka na, Mayari. Sino iyon? Aba'y kalilipat lang natin dito sa Manila at mukhang may nakakuha na agad ng atensiyon mo," Nakangising pahayag ni Amara.

Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ko naman silang lahat. Seriously?

"Oh c'mon! Wala sa isip ko 'yan, girls! Parang hindi niyo naman ako kilala." Saad ko sa kanila. Oo aminado akong attractive si Riley, gwapo siya and oh-so-charming, but for Pete's sake! Walang something sa amin. Naiinis pa nga ako sa presensya ng lalaking iyon eh.

"Yeah! It's like we don't know you at all. We've never seen you talk to a guy like that before," Sophia added, gesturing toward Riley. We all turned to look at him, seeing him cheerfully serving patrons. "So, sino siya?" Sophia added.

Tinignan ko ang mga kaibigan ko at hindi ako makapaniwala nang makita kong nag-aabang sila sa magiging sagot ko. Seriously? Oh God!

"Girls, c'mon. We're nothing. I swear, hindi kami magkakilala. We just met each other the day na dumating tayo dito sa Manila." At doon ay sinimulan ko nang ikwento sa kanila kung paano kami nagkakilala ni Riley.

"And that's it! Hindi ko alam na rito pala nagta-trabaho ang lalaking iyan." Naiinis na saad ko sa kanila pagkatapos kong magkwento.

"I think hindi lang accident ang pagkaka-meet ninyong dalawa." Saad ni Amara pagkatapos nitong sumimsim sa kaniyang inumin.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I feel like you two are meant to be," Amara replied, making me roll my eyes. Meant to be, my foot. The world was just small.

"I think he has his eyes on you," Alex added, pointing subtly towards Riley. I glanced at him, catching him in the act of staring at me. Nanglaki naman ang mga mata ko ng kindatan niya ako dahilan upang maghiyawan ang mga kaibigan ko sa kilig.

"Oh my God, Mayari! I agree with Alex! That Riley guy has something for you!" Ashley exclaimed, holding her drink precariously. She looked pretty tipsy already.

"Mukhang dito mo ata sa Manila makikilala ang magiging first boyfriend mo, Mayari." Nakangiting saad ni Sophia. Napairap naman ako.

"Seriously, Sophia? Pati ikaw. Oh, c'mon! Wala 'yan sa isip ko." Sagot ko sa kaniya. She laughed gently.

"Don't speak too soon. Who knows, right?" Amara added, and I just shook my head. What had gotten into them, teasing me about Riley? For heaven's sake, we were all in our mid-twenties, but we were acting like high schoolers.

"Whatever! Sumayaw na nga lang tayo! Sayang ang gabi kung hindi tayo sasayaw!" Saad ko sa kanila at tumayo na ako upang igaya sila sa dance floor.

Naiiling na natatawa naman ang mga kaibigan ko na sumunod sila sa akin. Andito kami para sa birthday celebration ni Ashley, hindi para hanapan ako ng love life.

As we joined the pulsating crowd on the dance floor, we moved in rhythm with the music, losing ourselves in the euphoria of the night. We clutched our drinks, occasionally taking sips, and as minutes turned into hours, we barely noticed how much we'd had to drink.

"Happy birthday, Ash!" I shouted over the music, leaning in close to her as we continued to dance. The alcohol had brought a slight dizziness, but it was nothing I couldn't handle.

"Thanks, Mayari! Thank you for making my birthday here in Manila an enjoyable one!" she yelled back, her voice filled with joy. I smiled, feeling a warm connection with my friends.

"My pleasure, babe!" I replied, swaying to the music. After a few more minutes of dancing on the crowded floor, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I looked around to see Riley, his intense gaze fixed on me.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa kalasingan pero imbes na irapan ko siya ay nakipagtitigan din ako sa kaniya habang sumasayaw.

Kita ko kung paano mag-iba ang mga titig niya sa akin at kung paano siya mapalunok. His gaze seemed to intensify, and the atmosphere around me suddenly heated up, the world narrowing down to just Riley and me.

"Mayari, you okay?" Sophia's voice cut through the trance I had fallen into. Agad naman akong natauhan at bumaling sa kaniya.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I said.

"Babalik lang kami sa table. Lasing na lasing na si Ash." Saad ni Sophia at nang mapatingin ako kay Ashley ay kita kong halos hindi na ito makatayo ng ayos sa sobrang kalasingan.

"Do you want me to help you?" I offered. Si Ashley talaga ang pinaka-mabilis malasing sa aming lima. Mababa ang alcohol tolerence niya pero siya ang malakas uminom sa amin.

"No, it's okay. Just enjoy the rest of the night. I'm with Alex," Sophia replied, and they both helped Ashley make her way back to our table.

Now, it was just Amara and me left on the dance floor. Speaking of Amara, nasaan ba ito? I looked around, searching for her, and almost frowned when I spotted her engaged in a conversation with a guy not too far away. Classic Amara, I thought. She was already in her flirting mode.

I sighed and just decided to return to our table when someone suddenly grabbed my waist, pulling me closer.

"What the..." Startled, I was about to protest when I turned and found Riley there, his magnetic presence commanding my attention.

"Let's dance," he invited, his voice a low, seductive purr. Before I could react, he swiftly pulled me back onto the dance floor, leading me towards the center, and we started dancing together.

"Hands off," I warned, my voice trembling as I felt his hands on my waist.

"Okay," he replied, lifting both his hands in a surrendering gesture. I rolled my eyes at his attempt to appear innocent.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito? Aren't bartenders supposed to stay behind the bar counter? Oras pa ng duty mo ah?" I questioned him, our bodies swaying in time with the music as we danced face to face.

"Who said I'm a bartender?" he retorted, a mischievous glint in his eyes. I narrowed my gaze.

"Then what are you? Why were you behind the bar counter mixing drinks?" I asked innocently.

"Well, you're right. I'm a part-time bartender here," he admitted, his playful demeanor returning. I scowled at him. So, he was a bartender!

"Tss. Ang gulo mo rin kausap." Pagtataray ko.

I heard him chuckle.

"Well, technically, I'm part-time because I'm the owner of this bar," he confessed, his laughter lingering in the air. Halos mabilaukan ako kahit wala naman akong kinakain sa narinig ko.

"What?!" Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ko siya habang siya naman ay natatawa sa reaksiyon ko.

"I am the owner of Paradiso. Riley Del Fierte Middleton, at your service, my lady," he said, chuckling. My eyes widened in disbelief as I suddenly realized the significance of his middle name and last name. Riley wasn't just some guy; he was from one of the most well-known families in the Philippines.

"You are one of the youngest billionaires in your empire!" I exclaimed incredulously. Agad naman niya akong hinila palapit sa kaniya at sinenyasan na huwag maingay.

"Shh, I'm trying to maintain a low profile," he whispered to me. I quickly distanced myself from him, perplexed by his secrecy.

"Low profile my ass! Sinong hindi nakakakilala sa'yo?" I shot back, my irritation seeping through. It was ludicrous to assume that anyone could be oblivious to him, given his dual heritage from two affluent and distinguished families.

"Ikaw. Hindi ba't sabi mo hindi mo ko kilala?" He responded with a teasing grin, his eyes dancing with mischief. I glared at him, my patience waning.

"Well, frankly, I couldn't care less about your identity," I retorted, attempting to dismiss the topic.

"Unfair. Samantalang ikaw kilala ko." Anito at parang bata na ngumuso ito. I poker-faced.

"And how, may I ask, did you manage to recognize me when my family's reputation isn't exactly headline news?" I inquired skeptically.

While it was true that my family possessed substantial wealth, courtesy of our extensive fragrance manufacturing empire both locally and internationally, we remained eclipsed by the grandeur of the four preeminent wealthy families in our nation: the Castillo's, Del Fierte's, Middleton's, and the Buenavista's.

In contrast, Riley hailed from the Del Fierte and Middleton lineage. Dalawang malaki at mayamang pamilya sa bansa. Damn!

"You are a Guevarra, and your family happens to own the most colossal fragrance manufacturing conglomerate within and beyond our borders," he divulged. His revelation left me astounded. Evidently, he was far more informed about my family than I had anticipated.

"And who wouldn't recognize the beautiful princess of the Guevarra's, Miss Mayari Calleope Guevarra?" he added, his voice silky and flattering. I couldn't help but blush at his words. This guy sure knew how to charm!

"W-whatever R--- oh!" Sasagot na sana ako nang biglang may tumulak sa akin dahilan upang mapasubsob ako sa dibdib ni Riley.

"Are you okay?" Mabilis na tanong ni Riley sa akin habang nakahawak siya sa bewang ko upang alalayan ako. I was about to reply when the DJ announced happy hour, igniting cheers and wild excitement on the dance floor. Dahil doon ay natulak kaming parehas ni Riley patungo sa isa't isa at sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari ay nagtagpo ang aming mga labi.

My eyes widened in astonishment as the world momentarily faded away, leaving only Riley's lips pressed firmly against mine. It was an electrifying moment, a collision of fate neither of us had anticipated.

As quickly as the kiss began, I regained my senses and pulled away, my heart racing like a wild stallion and my cheeks aflame.

"Damn..." Riley muttered, his intense gaze locked onto mine.

"W-what?" I stammered, my flustered state refusing to abate.

"I'm sorry, Mayari, but I couldn't resist you. You're simply irresistible," he confessed, pulling me closer for another kiss.

My heart thundered like a drumbeat, its rhythm competing with the pulsating music of the bar.

Mas lalo pa akong kinabahan ng sinimulang igalaw ni Riley ang mga labi niya sa akin. Oh God! Nakakahiya mang aminin pero hindi ako marunong humalik! For Pete's sake, this is my first kiss!

Naramdaman ata ni Riley na nag-aalinlangan ako kaya naman huminto siya at bahagyang lumayo sa akin. Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa at halos mahigit ko ang aking paghinga sa bigat ng mga titig na binibigay niya sa akin. His eyes aflame with desire.

"I-I don't know how..." I began to protest, but Riley gently pressed his index finger to my lips.

"Sshh. Just follow my lead, baby," he whispered, and then he kissed me again, this time with an even greater fervor and intensity.

I surrendered to the moment, closing my eyes, allowing myself to be carried away despite my nervousness. Our kisses deepened, and I felt his hand tracing the curves of my waist, sending electric currents down my spine.

"Riley..." I couldn't help but murmur his name as he reluctantly ended our kiss, his gaze still smoldering with desire.

"Let's leave this place, Mayari," he declared, taking my hand and leading me towards the fire exit.

As we stepped outside, the cool night air hit us, and I could still taste his kiss on my lips. I didn't understand why I was allowing myself to be swept up in the whirlwind of this newfound connection, but one thing was undeniably certain — I couldn't deny that there was a strong attraction between us, and I was eager to find out where this unexpected encounter would lead.