Karlos Samonte

I LOUNGED in my seat as the whole place negotiated heavy background music. Disco lights keep on stroking through my eyes, making me blink repeatedly. I sighed heavily at the realization that we can always like anyone we want but we couldn’t like them enough to give them everything they wish for. “Bella, come on! You’re no fun.” Kyla, one of my friends tried to pull me up. By now, I already know what she wants. She wants to drag me to the dance floor and get wild. “Enjoy yourself, Kyla. I’m fine here.” “Are you sure?” I nodded with a small smile on my lips. Hindi naman na siya namilit pa. Binitawan niya agad ang kamay ko at agad na nagpunta sa dance floor habang naghe-head bang pa. I hardly closed my eyes as the thought of Mark, my long time boyfriend crossed my mind. We’ve been together in a secret relationship for almost three years. He’s being link and ship with Amanda Silva, the actress he worked with numbers of titles already. Their fans are getting crazy as s**t and wilder even more if one of them is being link by just some random—anyone. That’s mainly the reason why for almost three years, he kept me as his secret. He wants nothing but to protect me. Kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit walang pwedeng makaalam na may relasyon kami. Mark Esquivel, well, I must say that he’s indeed every woman’s dream, one of the hottest male actors of our generation. He’s giving me almost everything, I want to do the favor in return but what he’s asking is too much. Kailan lang no’ng kasama ko siya, hinihiling o hinihingi niya sa akin ang bagay na iyon. Ilang ulit na rin pero hindi ko maibigay. Matagal na kaming may relasyon pero ni minsan ay hindi sumagi sa isip ko na gawin ang bagay na iyon sa kanya. I’m not the kind of girl who will sleep with a man just because we’re in a relationship. I need to have a strong push of emotion to do so. For me, love and s*x are welded. “Miss Celebrity is alone.” I didn’t have to ask who the person must be. Based on his voice, I already know who he is. It’s obviously Karlos Samonte, one of the rudest creatures I’ve ever known in my entire existence. “I’m obviously not in the mood, Karlos. If you’re here out of your brazen attitude, get lost.” Marahan siyang humalakhak at agad na umupo sa tabi ko. Hinayaan ko na lang kesa makipagtalo pa ako sa kanya. “Woman, I’m here to accompany you. Ganyan ba talaga ako kasama para sa ‘yo?” I rolled my eyes and didn’t answer. You’re worst, Karlos. Gusto ko mang sabihin sa kanya ‘yan ay wala talaga ako sa mood na makipagtalo sa kanya. I noticed a bunch of girls, which are not far from our table, who are obviously talking about us. This is not new when it comes to show business. My privacy is long gone. My freedom to go anywhere I want is long gone too. But this is my dream ever since and yes, I can say that I’m finally living in my dream and so I’ll never, ever regret any of my decisions. “Waiter!” Karlos got my attention as he waved his hand in the air while calling for a crew. “A bottle of black label, please. What do you want to have, pretty?” I feel like my throat run dry as I heard him said it. Hindi ko na kailangang itanong pa kung sino ang kausap niya kasi obvious namang ako. “They’re dating!” Again, I closed my eyes real hard as I heard a girl said it despite of the heavy disco music. Isang bagay na hindi ko maintindihan sa mga tao kung bakit patuloy sila sa pakiki-alam. Oo, kilala kami dahil sa trabaho namin pero mga tao rin naman kami. Para saan ang pakiki-alam nila? Para makagawa ng usapin at hilain kami pababa? I just… don’t get it. I threw Karlos a glance and found him staring at me with his appalling dark eyes. It sent shivers through me. It feels like if you stare at those eyes for another second you’ll just found yourself drowning. “I-I’m good, Karlos. Don’t mind me.” I couldn’t find perfect words to spill. “That’s it.” The crew made his way to the counter to get Karlos’ order. “I never thought that I’ll see you in a place like this, Bella.” “Am I not allowed to have some fun? Unlike you, I’m a human, Samonte.” “I’m not a human, I see.” The mockery on his voice is evident. “If you want fun I can give you some.” I faced him and found him biting his lower lip. Damn. I must admit that this brute is smoking hot. I didn’t know what he means with that fun word but I’m pretty sure it’s something I wouldn’t want to hear. “I’m not like the other girls who will beg for you, Samonte. Don’t hope up too high.” He just shrugged his shoulders. “Just trying my luck.” “How about you, what are you doing here? Ah! You don’t have to answer. It’s pretty obvious that you want to get laid.” “You think so lowly of me, pretty.” The crew came and put the black label on our table. Karlos didn’t waste time to open it and pour some on his shot glass. I grimaced as I saw him drink it straight and without any hesitations. “Ah! Heaven.” He said dreamily. “This is life, Bella.” He then again, poured some of it on the shot glass and he hand it over me. “You want some fun? Let’s drink and have some fun, pretty. Let’s get wasted!” So this is what he means by fun. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay ako lang ang nagiisip ng ibang bagay. I softly laughed and accepted the shot glass. The bitterness of it drew a line down my throat and I winced at it. Karlos took another shot, and then another shot for me, until we lost on count. I found myself laughing at his humor. He’s actually not that bad to be with. Maybe I’m just used by the fact the he’s not nice to me when we were little. Noong mga bata pa kami ay wala akong kawala sa araw-araw na pang-aasar at pagpapaiyak niya sa akin. Pero kahit na gano’n ay pinrotektahan din niya ako na parang kapatid, tinuring niya ako kung paano niya itinuring si Karma, ang kapatid niya na matalik kong kaibigan. Pagkatapos niya akong paiyakin ay ibibigay niya ang lahat ng gusto ko, sa katunayan ay ginagawa naman talaga niya ang lahat ng hiling ko noon. I grew up with my grandmother and I grew up craving for attention, thing that I never had with my very own parents. Most probably that’s also the reason why I wished to become an actress. Ibinigay ni Karma ang atensiyon na iyon sa akin noong mga bata pa kami, maging si Karlos, nangyari lang na ang paraan ni Karlos na pagbigay ng atensiyon sa akin ay nakakainis at nakakapikon. “I think we have to get out of here, pretty. There are eyes that are waiting for you to do something news-worthy.” “f**k those social media bashers, f**k those paparazzi, just… f**k them all!” I laughed. “You’re drunk, Bella. I’ll drive you home.” Karlos stood up and he pulled me with him. I am damn dizzy but yes, I know that I’m still sane. We walked our way to the parking lot, he opened his car’s door for me and I wobbled in. “B-But my friends—” “They’ll understand.” he gagged. “Saan tayo? Sa condo mo? Or do you want me to ask Karma to let you sleep over?” I stared at him for a moment. From his long lashes and dark eyes, down to his pointed nose and down to his cherry red lips. His muscled jaw just added to his prominent manly features. I swallowed real hard as I felt something that rises inside me. “I… I thought you want to have some fun?” I asked in a low girly voice. He threw me a glance and I saw how his jaw literally dropped. “Y-You’re drunk, Bella. Don’t say things you’ll regret once you got your sanity back.” “I’m sane!” I nearly dash my head in front of the car out of my stupidity. Damn! This is not me. Get a hold of yourself, Bella. You keep on telling yourself that you’re not the kind of girl so prove yourself wrong—er—right. Ah! This is crazy. Karlos didn’t say a thing. He just drove his car pronto bound to his condo unit. You’re a dead meat, Bella.