Chapter 11

• Jada •

I feel so high because I love the DJ's current playlist. I didn't stop dancing from the moment I stepped onto the dancefloor.

I noticed the pinks going back to our table to drink, but they came back for more dancing. Meanwhile, I haven’t sat down yet.

With a bottle of beer in one hand, while swaying the other hand, I keep dancing. Enjoying the music as much as I could. I love dancing. Not as much as singing but I love it when I dance. It feels free.

I was still dancing when I told myself that this is the last one. I need to rest as my feet start feeling numb. It was mid-song when I felt someone wrap his arms around me.

I’m used to men doing that so I just ignored it and continued dancing. But the guy caught my attention when he whispered my name.

It was a very familiar voice. So I turned around to see who it was. It was dark on the part of the dancefloor where I’m standing so I didn't recognize him at first.

I squinted my eyes and looked closer, it was Kristoff Mercado. Former President of SMU’s Psychological Society and my first ever campus crush.

I smiled at him then drew him closer. We're not dancing sexually but it feels hot because he was hugging me by the waist while I have an arm around his neck.

The music changed from fast to slow so he pulled me closer and place my other arm around his neck. He's still smiling and so am I.

It’s as if we’ve only caught up just by smiling at each other. Despite the years we’ve been apart, I still feel comfortable with him.

Kristoff was one of my suitors in college. As I said, he’s my first campus crush. He's around 6' feet tall with naturally brown skin.

His eyes are brown and deep-setted, with thick brows and long lashes. But what I love most about his face is his nose.

He's as good-looking as NEVERMIND. The only difference is, I don't know. Maybe if it was him, then he wouldn’t have cheated on me.

Though he didn’t pursue courting me, I still think about it sometimes. Or not, they're all the same. But his presence has this effect on me. Dancing suddenly feels better.

"You've been on the dancefloor for a while now, aren't you tired?" he whispered. He's still soft-spoken, typical Kristoff.

I pouted at him and he seemed to understand. He pulled me closer and slowly leaned my head to his broad chest. It felt good. I felt secure.

He held my hand and walked me out of the dancefloor as the music ended. He looked at me as if asking where he should take me so I pointed at the table where my friends are sitting.

They all looked shocked when they saw who I was with. "I hope you guys do remember Kristoff Mercado," re-introducing to them the guy that’s about to sit next to me.

They all nodded. Kobe reached out to him for a high five while Steve and Robin raised their arms for fist bumps. Honey just nodded and smiled at him, but the pinks were all smiles.

I pulled him to sit next to me and so he did. I ordered a vodka and the rest did the same. The conversation at our table started over again and almost everyone begins their reminiscing how we were back in college.

I was the only one who didn’t join them because I’m still bitter. I won’t deny that. I can’t. I’ve been trying to do it for the past years, but I still can’t.

What happened between me and Lyken was painful. So much that even after almost three years, I still can’t get over it. Not as much as before, but still.

It’s only almost an hour since Kristoff joined us, but he’s already whispering to me that he needs to go. Although I felt sad, it’s fine since we exchanged numbers and I can just contact him anytime for a date.

Thinking about it, my heart thumped but I chose to ignore it. I don’t think it’s the right time. Not this time and maybe not again.

I was so hurt by what Lyken did to me, that’s a fact. I’m not a bad person, everyone who knows me knows that. That’s why I can’t accept that someone can hurt me like that.

He may not have hurt me physically, but he destroyed me emotionally and I had a hard time coping when it comes to that kind of pain. I think it will take me years or... even forever.

• Lyken •

I was standing outside a bar somewhere in Morato. Kobe called me after their meeting to inform me of the outcome. I need that for my Singapore meeting.

He also told me that he and Honey are going out with some friends. Upon hearing that, I’m not sure why I suddenly felt excited. I know she can’t be there, but still, I was hopeful.

I told him I might be back in Manila tonight and if I arrive early, I’ll make sure to follow. I need to be there whether she’s there or not.

I was about to call him. When I turned around to look inside the bar I'm outside, I noticed a familiar woman happily dancing.

She's holding a bottle of beer in one hand while the other hand is swaying along with the music. She looked like she was having the best dance of her life.

I tried to look closer but the bouncer was blocking my view so I went in. I sat at the very corner of the bar and positioned myself in a way that I can watch her properly.

And I wasn't mistaken, it’s indeed her. The woman I am so in love with. She's the same woman I've hurt several times. The woman I'm longing to see. It’s Jada.

I suddenly felt the anger in my heart. At the same time, the feeling I’ve been trying to suppress resurfaced again.

‘Damn! Why am I still in love with this woman after she ruined me?’

She left me without saying anything other than she fell out of love and it's goodbye but I still long for her. I still want to kiss her lips and hug her tight even though she left me devastated.

I found myself gritting my teeth but this time, it's not because of the anger for what she did before. It's a fit of anger for what I'm seeing right now.

A man I can’t identify approached Jada and hugged her by the waist from behind. She acted like it was nothing and just continued dancing.

I saw the man whisper something at him then Jada turned around. She stared at the guy, squinting her eyes at him then she eventually smiled.

What’s even more heartbreaking is the sudden change of song. The DJ was playing some party music earlier but when the guy approached Jada, it suddenly switched to mellow music.

"Don't leave me in all this pain, don't let me out in the rain"

I suddenly want to break everything inside the venue, especially when I saw the guy pull Jada closer and leaned her head to his chest. ‘Why does she seem to like it?’

The guy tilted his head a bit and was hit by the strobe light. That's when I realized that Jada is dancing with Kristoff Mercado, her first campus crush.

I thought someone punched me as it suddenly felt painful. I looked at the bouncer standing near me but he was not moving at all. ‘Is he still alive?’

After a few more minutes, Kristoff pulled her away from the dancefloor and approached one of the VIP sections on the side. There I saw Kobe, Robin, Steve, Honey, Ada, and Bambi.

‘So, they're having some sort of reunion!’

I watched the group as they talked and laughed. Then I noticed that Kristoff handed his phone to Jada.

She typed something to it before giving it back then he moved closer and planted a kiss on her cheek which she more than willingly accepted. She was smiling happily.

Kristoff stood up and everyone seemed to be nodding at him, then I realized he was leaving. That's my cue, it's time.

I will have to face her sooner or later but I think it's best if it's sooner, and I mean now. I drank the whisky I ordered until the last drop before walking towards their table.

I was shocked too as they all looked surprised after seeing me. They all literally widened their eyes, even Ada and Bambi’s jaws almost fell to the floor.

Jada was facing the wall so she didn't notice it immediately. She was busy checking something on her phone.

She seemed to notice the sudden silence at their table so she lifted her head. Creasing her forehead, she was confused to see the reaction of the people around her.

Wondering what is happening, she turned around slowly, then our eyes met. I was a bit startled and anger started boiling inside me when she smiled at me as if nothing happened.

Back then, whenever she smiles at me, I feel like my heart was dancing. Her smile alone can take my exhaustion away. It can easily complete my day.

I remember when RJ told us that she likes Jada. She and Honey were passing by the gym when RJ pointed at her.

I was reading a book but I glanced at her too. Just one look at her made me crease my forehead.

A woman wearing sneakers, ripped jeans, and a tee that fits her slender figure just right. Her hair is tied in a bun and it was a mess.

‘What's there to like? RJ’s probably blind.’ I even muttered to myself. But when I go with Kobe to invite Honey to join our little party, I suddenly asked myself again.

‘What's not to like?’

She isn't your average girl. I hate to admit that I didn’t see her clearly when they were passing by.

Because now that she’s in front of me, she looks so different. It’s as if she wasn’t that same girl RJ pointed to us the other day.

Her hair is still tied in a messy bun but she looks sexy. She has natural brown skin but it turns reddish when the sun kisses it.

I saw how she blushed when Kobe mistook her for a tomboy. She looked shy but she still smiled at him, genuinely.

Jada, how can I describe her?

When I first met her, she doesn’t talk much. I remember back then, she only speaks when RJ asks her something.

I also like how her eyes are so expressive. The first time I saw her eyes up close was when we were at the KTV bar and her phone vibrated without her noticing it.

I wanted to go with her outside when she excused herself to answer the call, but Kobe suddenly stood up to follow her so I sat down again. Yes, Lyken Fontanilla felt shy.

I was mesmerized when she was singing. It was as if an angel was singing next to me. I can see her glancing at me when she notices that I’m looking at her.

She’s probably thinking that her voice irritates me but she's dead wrong. Her voice alone can already make me fall for her.

When I had the chance, I decided to court her. No second thoughts. Especially when I noticed that more and more men are approaching them in their hang-out spot.

I felt threatened that I might miss my chance so I started making move. They’re starting to notice her and it’s not a good sign for me.

I was even more bothered when Bambi told us that Jada likes Kristoff. It seems like the man likes her too, as I’ve heard from her conversation with RJ.

Despite that, I still pursue courting her. Besides, Kristoff doesn’t really have a chance since he's busy with school and his extracurricular activities.

That was why I celebrated when after three months and eighteen days, Jada agreed to become my girlfriend. Finally, she has given me her sweetest ‘yes’.

Everything was smooth sailing until I cheated on her. I kissed another girl when I got drunk but she forgave me.

It happened again and yet she still managed to give me her forgiveness. I was happy at the thought that she can easily look past my mistakes.

I even told myself back then that she loves me so much, she’ll be able to forgive any mistake I’d commit. She loves me too much to let go.

That’s why I felt devastated when I woke up one morning and I can’t find her anymore. I can’t accept that she left me just like that.

And now, she’s back, smiling at me as if nothing happened. Like she didn’t hurt me before. Like I was nothing.