In a RelationTrip

Chapter 2

“Dara! Ano ba? Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap, saan ka ba nanggaling?” It was Debbie, their transgender friend who asked her when she entered the room. Isang taon na ring tunay na babae ang kaibigan nilang dating kilala bilang Deniro. They were at Debbie’s pad in Greenhills where they usually hang out.

“I met someone at the restaurant during lunch and we hooked up for a bit. Masyadong maginaw, eh. Nagpainit lang ako sandali.”  She saw how her friends looked both amused and irritated by her response. Sabay-sabay pang namewang ang tatlong kaharap at tinaasan siya ng kilay. 

“Kapag ikaw nagka STD ka sa mga pinagagagawa mo, hindi ka namin dadalawin sa ospital!” She just rolled her eyes at Jackie, her best friend na papasang madre kung hindi lang sa suot nitong high heels, micro-mini skirt at deep V necked fitted blouse all in black.

“Ikaw naman, magsasara ‘yang Vjayjay mo dahil hindi mo ginagamit.” Napairap lang si Jackie sa sagot niya habang nagtawanan naman ang iba pa nilang barkada. They were only four in the group at masyadong mataas ang standards ng friendship nila para magdagdag pa. All of them came from rich and influential families, they are all physically attractive and real head turners. Hindi rin sila magpapahuli sa katalinuhan. All of them graduated with honors. They are also down to earth. Minsan tuwing nag-uusap sila ay hindi aakalain na mga nagmula sa mamayamang pamilya dahil sa mga salitang ginagamit. They’re cowboys. Mga mayayaman na pang-masa. Complete package sila, ika nga.

“So, where to?” It was Fiona who always asks that question. Marahil dahil siya lang ang wala talang ginagawa sa buhay. Being filthy rich can do that to a person. She seemed to be always bored. Kung hindi siguro sila ang barkada nito ay matagal na itong naluluong sa drugs dahil walang mapaggamitan ng pera. At least silang magkakaibigan, puro party, shopping at quarterly travel abroad lang ang ginagawa.

“My father’s manager friend invited me to his party. Of course, I have invites for all of you. Nakita ko kasi the other day, dumalaw sa bahay when my parent’s arrived from Greece.”  Si Jackie naman talaga ang source ng mga gimick nila at high profile parties. Being the only daughter of one of the biggest and sought after producer of the country has its perks.

“Baka naman puro guranggutans at thunders ang nandoon, ha.” Debbie asked the dreaded question.

“No. Miles is still young and he assured me that there will be men present, real men as he said. Bukod sa gay si Miles, he told me he manages male dance groups. May bago nga raw siyang minamanage ngayon, mga rich guys raw na bored sa buhay kaya nagsasayaw. Trending raw ngayon sa YT. Baka nandoon ang mga forever ninyo.”

“Ikaw lang ang naghahanap ng forever kaya ‘wag mo kaming idamay. I’m happy with my life. I’m way too young to look for forever, not that I believe in that crap.” Umakto pang nasusuka si Dara dahil sa terminong forever.

Fresh out of college silang magkakaibigan. They’re on a sabbatical before they start their own careers. Dara being the Magna c*m Laude from the prestigious university will be taking over her family’s airline company but she wanted to try being a flight stewardess first as part of her bucket list. International Relations ang course nilang apat at doon sila nagkakilala at naging magkakaibigan. May side courses din for Business so they would all have ideas how to run their own empires.

“Do you have to change pa or we could go na?”

“The party starts at 8 so we still have some time. It’s 7:30 and the party is only at Valle Verde.”

“Oh, Dara, sa village nyo pala, eh. Let’s sleep at your place na lang after the party.”

Dara pouted at Fiona. She knew they wanted to hang out after the party like they normally do, drinking wine and staying up late so they could all have hungovers together in the morning.

“Okay, kung wala kong ka-hook up. But, I think if you said that the party have real men, maybe I won’t be able to join our mini after party banlaw session.”

“You assume too much. Come on, I have the new fashion line up on my closet. Pili na kayo. I have to take some pictures to post on my IG once you’re dressed up.” Debbie is a fashion designer by heart and she’s really talented. Maswerte rin siya dahil suportado siya ng mga magulang at nag-iisang kapatid sa lahat ng ginagawa nito. She will be launching her own fashion boutique in two month’s time.

“I’ll be first dibs on the outfit. Baka mapunta na naman sa’kin ang mga revealing na damit.” The three friends groaned at Jackie.

“Kunyari ka pa, eh gusto mo nga kita ang singit mo at kuyukot.” They all laughed. Gumulong pa sa sahig si Fiona kakatawa dahil nag-model pa si Jackie sa harapan nila.

“Virgin na nga ‘ko pati ba damit virgin pa rin, syempre sa damit na lang ako lumalandi, lulubusin ko na.”

“Fine, let’s get dressed, then.”

After an hour and a half, they were at the front porch of the house party. They could hear the music and saw some people pouring in and out of the house, holding bottles of beer and some champagne flutes. Waiters are also roaming around with wines and hors d'oeuvres. Dara’s friends left her side the moment they stepped in. Alam na nila ang drill. When they’re at a party. They’re there to meet other people and not spend time with each other. Masyado na silang madalas magkasama-sama kaya’t tuwing lumalabas ay may silent agreement sila na gumalaw as if they were alone in a party.

“Hi, Miss, would you like to dance?” Nakakaisang hakbang pa lang siya ay may lumapit na sa kanya. She looked at the stranger from head to toe, he looked nice but too nice. She shrugged and smiled.

“I came with someone. Oh, there he is now.” She wanted to turn down the guy without hurting his ego so she took the easier way out. Pretend to know another guy. She saw one hell of a good looking guy stepped on the floor and he was the perfect candidate to be her pretend date.

“I see. Alright, then. Have fun.” Nang umalis ang lalaki ay sakto namang paghakbang sa tabi niya ni perfect candidate. She smelled his perfume and she approves. Mabango. Just like how she wanted her men to smell. She’s waiting for him to notice her but he took out his phone and dialed a number. He did not even glanced at her.

“Dude, I’m here na. Where the hell are you?”

“What!? Cut that s**t, Oz. You’re feeling well and I can hear someone moaning at the background... The hell that I’ll be staying here on my own. I’ll just say hi to Miles, then go back home. I don’t feel like partying, anyways.” She walked farther from the guy. She could feel the irritation start to brew up. He didn’t even noticed her. Was there something wrong with the way the dress molded her body? Was her low back and short dress not attractive enough?

“Miss, nakita mo ba si Miles?” He finally acknowledged her presence but it was her turn to ignore him.

“Miss, I was asking you something...” He was reaching for her shoulder and that’s when she faced him. Imbis na ang balikat ni Dara ang nahawakan ng estranghero ay napakapit ito sa kaliwang dibdib niya. They were both shocked by what happened but the darkened eyes of the guy did not escape her. Grabbing her breast may have been hell of an experience for him because he was frozen in place.

“Baka gusto mo nang bitiwan once you’re done feeling me out?” Nakadakma pa rin ang lalaki and with Dara’s bored expression, he looked amused.

“Wow. It’s real. Madalang na ang may malaking dibdib ngayon tapos tunay.” She rolled her eyes. Pati ang breast size niya naging topic pa ng unang paguusap nila. Kung conservative na tao si Dara ay baka sinungalngal niya ang lalaki at pinalipad sa ere.

“I’m glad you find my breast real and at an average size. Baka pwede mo nang bitiwan bago ko paduguin ang ilong mo?”

“Oh, sorry, I got carried away.” She rolled her eyes dahil ang carried away ay ang pagpisil pa nito sa dibdib niya. His hand even grazed at her nips. Her peaks reacted by instinct and he was now staring at them. Wala kasi siyang suot na bra underneath the short revealing royal blue dress.

“I haven’t seen the host if that’s what you were asking earlier. Excuse me, I have to go.” She lost interest. Sa iba na lang ibabaling ni Dara ang atensiyon niya dahil mukhang mas playboy pa sa lahat ng lalaki ang kaharap niya.  Sino bang matinong lalaki ang maglalamas ng dibdib ng kakakilala lang? He could have just said sorry and get on with his life but he chose to feel her out.

Akala ni Dara ay tapos na ang enkwentro nila but she was wrong. He followed her.

“Miss, I didn’t get your name. I’m Stone by the way.”

“What?” She pretended not to hear because of the loud music. But she heard him alright.

“Sabi ko, I’m Stone.”

“Kung addict ka, huwag mo akong idamay. Hindi ako nagbabato.”

“No! I’m not stoned, stoned. My name is Stone. f**k this. I’m Dash.” Narinig naman talaga niya. She was just trying to piss him off para tantanan na siya.

“So, ano naman kung Stone at Dash ang pangalan mo?”

“I just said my name, now, tell me yours.”

“Nope. I won’t. Excuse me.” Sinubukan niyang umalis ngunit hindi siya hinayaan ng lalaki. He pulled her towards him and her body pressed to his. With her killer heels ay ilang pulgada lang ang pagitan ng mga ilong nila. He must have been 5’11” dahil 5’7 siya at ang takong niya ay 3 inches.

“Nobody ignores me.” Tumaas ang kilay ni Dara. Gusto niyang sabihin na likewise but she stopped herself. Hindi dapat malaman ng lalaking iyon na nauna siyang magkainteres noong hindi pa ito nandadakma.

“I don’t f*****g care. Let go or I will make your feet bleed with my heels. O baka naman gusto mo basagin ko na lang ang itlog mo?” The guy smirked before slowly letting her go. Akala ni Dara ay tapos na but he pulled her again towards his body and pressed his mouth on her ear.

“I’ll find out who you are one way or another and when I do, you’re mine.”

“f**k you.” Was her response and he just laughed.

“Might as well do, when the time comes.” He released her after he grazed his lips on her cheek. Umisa pa ng halik ang gago.

Kinilabutan si Dara. For the first time in her life, she felt excited because of a threat. Sino ba ang Stone Dash na ‘to at bakit ba ang kapal ng gwapong mukha niya?