The bass was loud. The lights—blinding. The air was thick with perfume, sweat, and lust.
Exactly how Ayla liked it.
She stepped inside the exclusive club in Makati wearing a blood-red satin dress that clung to every curve. Her long legs were wrapped in stilettos and sin. Heads turned as usual. Whispers followed.
But her eyes? Looking for trouble.
"Shot pa, Ayla?" tawag ni Camille, one of her rich brat friends, holding a tequila bottle.
Ayla didn't respond right away. She was too busy scanning the VIP section—until her cat-like eyes landed on him.
Sadiq.
The Ustadz Mafia himself, in a black silk polo half unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, rings on his fingers, and a cold drink in one hand. Three girls surrounded him—laughing, touching, flirting.
Pero ang mga mata niya? Nasa kanya lang.
Putangina. Bakit parang mas naging hot 'to sa dilim?
"Lapit ka lang d'yan," Ayla whispered to herself. "Let's see how calm you really are."
Without breaking eye contact, she smirked… then turned toward the dance floor.
She grabbed the first decent-looking guy she saw and pulled him close. Her hips swayed with confidence, her hands trailing up the man's chest. Then—
She kissed him.
Deliberately. Slowly. With a tilt of her head that she knew Sadiq would see.
And he did.
Pero hindi siya tumayo. Hindi siya nagwala. Hindi siya lumapit.
No, he just took a slow sip of his drink, watching her with burning eyes.
Challenge accepted.
Ayla broke the kiss with a smile, whispering "thanks" to the stranger, before walking off the floor like nothing happened. Tuloy lang ang lakad niya until someone suddenly stepped into her path.
Guess who?
Sadiq.
"Aren't Ustadz-es supposed to be at the mosque?" she teased, trying to sound unaffected.
"And aren't you supposed to be tired of pretending you don't want me to look at you?" he replied, voice low.
Ayla scoffed. "Bakit? Naapektuhan ka ba?"
"No," he said calmly. "Pero baka siya maapektuhan."
Sadiq moved slightly to the side… revealing the guy she kissed earlier, now being escorted out by two of Sadiq's men.
Shit.
"Sadiq—what the f—"
"Next time you wanna make me jealous, Ayla…" he leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear.
"Use someone who can survive it."
She swallowed hard, throat dry.
He walked away. Hindi siya lumingon.
Pero ang katawan ni Ayla? Nakuryente.
And for the first time… she wondered:
Who's really playing who?