"Why are we here, Zaye?" I immediately complained as we were entering the City Bar in Puerto Princesa.
It was my first time to enter a bar like this. Because I know the place is filled with noise and chaos. Zaye only brought me along this time because she needed to do something. I don't even know if this path we've taken is right.
"Just follow me!" she immediately snapped back while Lindzey and I simply trailed behind her.
The people in the bar we entered were really noisy. Well, it is a bar, it can't be denied that there were all sorts of noise inside. There were people shouting, people drinking and constantly laughing, songs that were so cheesy to listen to, and especially the couples making out everywhere.
"Zyonn, Tita Daisy already texted me, she's asking where you are! She said she can't reach you!" Lindzey told me. Her voice was louder than her natural one, because otherwise, all I'd hear was the noise of the people there.
"Just tell Mom I'm on my way home," I scratched my head, knowing I was going to get scolded again.
While the three of us were standing near the side of the Wine area, Harper suddenly approached Zaye and tried to kiss her. Before his lips could even touch her, she slapped him hard.
"How dare you, cheater!" Zaye was seething with anger after she said that.
"What? What's wrong, babe?" Harper replied as if nothing happened.
"You already know what I mean. I don't want any excuses from you, I already knew that you were just using me!" Zaye took a breath and sobbed a bit before saying, "After all these years, it all meant nothing!" She paused briefly. "Let's break up, I won't take this anymore!"
"I'm easy to talk to, so let's break up," Harper replied without hesitation, then laughed.
"Wow, the audacity? Zyonn, stop me or I might punch this guy," I held her back because she might cause a big commotion.
Before we could leave, we suddenly heard the laughter of some guys.
"Oh, buddy, what now? You lost another girlfriend! You lose again!" said the guys who approached Harper, laughing. We couldn't make out who they were because it was too dark inside.
"What a poor girl!" said one of his friends.
Zaye walked out, and we hurriedly left because my head was heating up because of those guys—I might actually follow through with what my mind was planning.
"Zaye! Those jerks have been fooling you for a long time?" I asked.
"I know, right? We would have been two years next month, but this is better than dragging it out!"
As we turned into the hallway leading to the bar's exit door, I suddenly bumped into someone.
"Watch your move, bro! Don't look all over the place. What a stupid!" He raised his eyebrow as he stared at me.
"S-sorry, why me? Was I the only one who bumped you? Didn't you also bump into me?" I raised my eyebrow at him too, raising my voice.
"Well, tough luck, 'Cuz I'm not the type of person who begs for someone like you. Sorry? Nah!" he smirked at me.
He really got on my nerves. If I weren't with my friends, I probably would have punched him already, I just didn't want them to get involved.
"Why are you guys staring blankly!?" I stammered.
"It feels like I'm watching a BL in real life. I know this already—you bump into each other and then you suddenly stare at each other. Then one of them is suddenly grumpy and gets angry. Oh well, mark my words..."
"Lindzey, stop with all your BL stuff. That's why you're still single, because manhwa has consumed you," I chuckled briefly.
"Oh, look who's talking!"
"Shhhh, stop it, there are three of us here!" Zaye interjected.
"But Zyonn, I'll take care of you if that kind of scene happens again," Lindzey winked at me and laughed again.
"Lindzey, shut up! If I really lose it, watch out! You're making me look gay," I was truly annoyed with her. People outside started looking because of how loud we were on the side.
"Well, aren't you?" she chimed in.
"Don't challenge me, Lindzey Yves! I might just kiss you right here!" I stammered.
"Shhhh, okay, stop now! Your argument might lead somewhere else," Zaye stopped us. She was always the chill one in our circle of friends. "Can't you see the person is broken? You're just adding to my headache!" she complained.
"Oh, let's zip our mouths!" Lindzey stammered.
"If Jannah was here, she'd probably lecture us," I laughed because Jannah is the one who sometimes lectures us even though she's the youngest among our friends.
"Good thing she's not, because she might be the one to punch Harper over there, she's such a brat," we laughed together.
"But to be honest, it really hurts when this happens," Zaye said.
"Can you just have your relapse at your house, babe? I'm sleepy! It's already midnight," Lindzey complained!
"There's a ride now. We'll go first, Zyonn! Chat us when you get home, okay!" They left. They could ride the same vehicle. I, on the other hand, had to go the opposite way, so I still had to wait for a ride.
"Bye, be careful!"
I walked along the road, hoping for a tricycle to pass by. There weren't many parked jeeps or vehicles, especially going to Bataraza at midnight.
I kept walking, and in the distance, "Hey bro, nowhere to go?"
A familiar muscular voice from a car parked at the corner was suddenly before me. I kept walking until the car pulled up beside me and stopped.
When the car's window opened, I saw the blonde-haired guy staring at me. He looked so snobby as he leaned his head on his Mustang's window.
"You wanna join me? Looks like you can't find a ride, huh!" he said boastfully.
"No, thanks!" I pushed him away and walked a bit further. I felt irritated as he smirked at me like that.
"Are you coming or not! What an ungrateful attitude, how stupid! No one ever refuses to ride in a car like this. I offered you a ride, and you're the one refusing," he retorted.
The nerve! I was planning to cross the street, but I had been walking for a few minutes already and couldn't find a ride. I immediately thought about it because I might get caught by the sun waiting for a ride here.
This is all their fault, they insisted on bringing me here, and now look.
"Are you going with us? Tell me, I'm easy to talk to," he started the engine and closed the car's window.
I hesitated a bit, but before he could leave, I just took the plunge and got in, swallowing my pride just to get home.
As soon as I got in the car, I immediately felt the unusual coldness. "Hey, Are you okay?" he asked before he drove off.
I just nodded because it was obvious I wasn't. I had no choice. The air conditioning was an extra burden that I couldn't handle. It was so cold that it reached a point where I couldn't feel myself anymore.
I didn't even notice what happened. My eyes were half-closed, and I didn't even know where I was. All I could see was a room full of drawings and paintings. I couldn't help but wonder where I was.
"Wait, where am I?" I was shocked to see a topless guy sleeping next to me. Wow, even if he just turned over, you could see how muscular he was. I admire those guys who have a perfect body. But self! Never mind, 'cuz you're in the middle of confusion. He's really attracting attention, though.
I hurriedly got out of bed and was even more surprised to see that my clothes had been changed.
Why?
What really happened? All sorts of thoughts were going through my mind.
Did something happen between us? Tsk, what was that, just fencing? That sounds crazy!
I couldn't be calm anymore, so I just let whatever happened go, as long as I could get home. I immediately left before the guy in bed woke up.
When I got downstairs from the room, I clearly saw the huge chandelier above. I swear this house is sleek and stunning. The open-concept living area is flooded with natural light pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving it a bright and airy feel. It feels like I'm walking into a design magazine spread. I went down the stairs, which were very high, and the things there were very expensive.
Stepping down from the stairs, I could see how wealthy the owner is, because it looked like a palace. It was big, but it seemed quiet. I didn't see anyone except for the house helper busy preparing food on the table.
I had no intention of saying goodbye because my family was surely looking for me. Just as I was about to open the door, one of the house helpers who was cleaning outside suddenly called out.
"Oh sir, you're awake, come eat inside first," she approached me and immediately ushered me in. "Aling Nena, please prepare his food!" she called out.
"No need, thank you, I'm going home anyway, I'll just eat at home!" I said, trying to resist.
"Go on, eat there, don't refuse the food," said Elly, one of the house helpers.
I was seated at the table and didn't hesitate to ask them where I was and all the other questions on my mind.
"Ate Elly, Elly, right? Where am I? Who brought me here?"
"Ah yes, Sir Brix brought you here. We were so busy with you because you lost consciousness."
I stopped eating because I really didn't know what happened that night. "Sir said you might have had an attack, you suddenly fainted in the car, he even took you to the hospital."
"You know, sir, you might even be the one who stayed in his room!" Aling Nena added.
"No way, impossible!"
"It's true, sir. Usually, he doesn't even let his friends into his room," Elly narrated.
"But why?"
"Stop asking so many questions. You two! Get back to work," he raised his voice as he walked down the stairs and sat across the table. His voice was really annoying, always sounding angry.
"Thank you, by the way!" My voice was flat and low.
"For what?" he retorted, taking a bite of his veggie salad.
"For helping me last night, I'm prone to attacks when it's too cold, especially air conditioning," I added.
"So it's my fault!" he said, staring at me. He kind of intimidated me because he used to stare at me with those crossed eyebrows. And with that tone of his voice, ugh, I felt irritated, what a snob!
"I didn't mean it like that, I was just saying that..." I tried to be calm.
"Eat up fast, then leave immediately," he started to leave the table and went into the bathroom.
He's so harsh. If he hadn't helped me last night, I probably would have snapped back at his snobbish behavior.
"Aling Nena, Ate Elly, I'm leaving now!"
"Wait, your clothes, I already washed them, I just put them in the dryer so they'd dry quickly," Ate Elly handed them to me.
"But wait, Ate, don't tell me, you were the one who changed my clothes," I asked hesitantly.
"No, actually it was Sir Brix. The doctor said you might have had an attack because of your tight clothes, you have asthma, right?"
"Oh my, how embarrassing, he was the one who changed me. I thought something happened. Oh well, it was just him," I said secretly. "Alright then, I'll go now, thank you." And I left. It's really different when you're rich, isn't it? Their house is really huge.
And that's where I ran into trouble, because I forgot to ask where I could get a ride to Bataraza. I had never visited this place ever in my life.
When I reached the crossing road, I started asking around what kind of ride I could take. But they said I should take a van because the trip to Bataraza from here takes a few hours.
Where in the world did that guy bring me? Why is it so far? I just scratched my head.
As I was crossing the pedestrian lane, I was suddenly startled when a car almost hit me.
"Hey, you almost ran me over," I tapped the car.
The familiar face immediately got out, "It's you again, Brix. Are you following me?"
"Wow, the nerve, who are you?" he raised his voice at me again. "What are you still doing here, get in!"
"No, I'm just waiting for someone."
"Alibi! I said get in!!" Brixle sighed a bit.
When I got into the car, I noticed that the air conditioning was no longer on. "Where will I send you?" he asked.
"Bataraza."
"What?"
"Yes, why?"
"That's way too far!"
"Did I force you? No, right?" I said with emphasis. "If you don't want to, I'm leaving!"
He started the engine before I decided to get out. After a while, my phone suddenly rang, and when I answered it, "Zyonn, where are you? We're so worried about you, we looked for you, you're not even at City Bar?"
"Oh no, I'm in trouble. Tell Mom I'm on my way home."
"Hurry up! Tita scolded us earlier!" Lindzey stammered.
"I'm really sorry, okay?"
"Keep us updated when you get home, okay! Take care."
"Okay, bye," as soon as I hung up the phone, he suddenly asked.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"Huh? No, she's my friend! I'm an NGSB, though!"
"NGSB?" Brixle shrugged.
"No Girlfriend Since Birth, do you get it?"
"You're such a weakling then," he smirked again. I was starting to get annoyed again.
"Bro, you never knew what I've been through. You'll never understand me because you're rich, unlike you, I still have dreams I need to achieve."
"Don't tell me, you don't know how to court a girl or maybe— do you want someone to court you?"
"What did you say?" He was startled when I pulled his shirt upwards. I was so annoyed then. This urge to lash out at him had been building up since last night, so I finally reached my limit.
"Wait, wait, that was just a joke, bro, obviously," he stammered.
I calmed down and sat back down after I regained my composure.
Why was I offended? It was just a joke.
Jokes were half meant. Because of that, I remained silent until we reached the alley. It took several hours because we live in the province. I only ended up there because my friends invited me, and then all this happened.