loud music, people dancing in every corner and alcoholic drinks keep pouring in. that's the scene karina saw when she entered the venue hall. she made her way inside, scanning through the crowd and every table, greeting everyone who greets her.

"hi karina! you look dashing!""

hey, galing mo kanina sa stage!"

"fan mo 'ko, karina! i watched your latest movie!"

the occasion was an after-party of the prestigious award ceremony she attended, it was held in las vegas. na-invite siya as an award presenter kasama ng kanyang kaibigan na si giselle at sumama naman sa kanila si yeji. their other friend, hyewon, didn't make it dahil sa schedule conflict. kaya eto siya ngayon, searching for both ladies in a sea of crowds.

she checks her phone once again only to see it having no signal reception.

karina breathed deeply, annoyance slowly building up. this is why at times like this, they—she needed hyewon with them. paniguradong makakarinig ng sermon sina yeji at giselle pag nalaman ni hyewon ang nangyayari ngayon. medyo protective pa naman sa kanya ang nakakatanda.

she continued to walk around, bumped into everyone and just when she was about to ask herself why she doesn't know or recognize anyone in the room, a friend called her name.

"rina!" relief washed through her when she recognized who it was.

"hey yizhuo!" she greeted, karina kissed her cheek briefly.

yizhuo ning or ningning, a friend from high school, na member na ngayon ng isang sikat ng banda—Velvet Lights. she plays as vocals and holds a guitar, pardon her as she doesn't know much about a bands positions

"are you alone? saan si giselle?"

"i think i lost her and yeji or they lost me, same difference."

ningning let out a chuckle, "sama ka na lang sa'kin, pakilala kita sa mga ka-banda ko."

dahil sumasakit na rin ang paa at talampakan niya, nagrereklamong magpahinga naman at dagdag pang gusto nang mahaguran ng alak ang kanyang lalamunan, pumayag na si karina sa alok ni ningning.

saka na niya hahanapin at poproblemahin ang mga kaibigang nawawala at nagwala sa kanya.

she was then ushered to a corner table, not too far from the food section but secluded enough to the people around the table to hear themselves without needing to raise their voice or shout.

"guys!" pagkuha ni ningning sa atensyon ng kanyang mga ka-banda.

"sa wakas bumalik ka din!"

"what took you so long? nag number two ka pa ata."

"yizhuo, alaga mo oh ginagawang tubig yung alak!"

sabay silang dalawa ni ningning na napatingin sa tinuro ni chaehyun, if she remembers it correctly but she's not really sure about the name. the girl's face is just familiar since she resembles a lot with chaeryeong, a photographer and a close friend whom she worked with in the past.

there she laid her eyes to another girl, nakayuko ito at nakatitig lang sa basong hawak, swirling its content around the glass. mukhang whiskey pa nga ata ito. 

"winter!" the girl flinched and looked at ningning, "umayos ka, maaga flight natin bukas." marahang tumango lang ito kay ningning at tumingin kay karina.

ningning noticed at saka naalala ang kasama, "by the way," addressing everyone at the table, "pretty sure you know her but this is karina. she's a friend of mine from high school."

karina smiled at everyone, "magpakilala kayo." utos ni ningning.

naunang tumayo ang nasa malapit ni karina, "hello! i'm eysel yena, pinaka-cute sa kanila. bassist." nakipag-kamay naman ito na agad tinanggap ni karina.

"wag kang maniwala dyan kay yena. ryujin arthemis pala, drummer. are you open-minded?"

"nambudol ka na naman, art! hi, my name's chaeyeon, keyboardist. naikwento ka na ng kapatid ko."

"you're chaeryeong's sister?" tumango naman si chaeyeon. make sense, karina thought.

chaeyeon then tapped winter's forearm, signaling her that it's her turn to introduce herself.

"winter. lead guitarist." maikli nitong sambit.

napailing na lang ang mga kasama, hindi na rin naman bago sa kanila ang inaasta ng kaibigan. everyone settled down after the short introduction, karina sat between ningning and winter.

"i'll go get you guys drinks. what do you want, ning? karina?" yena asked, "art, samahan mo 'ko."

"i'm good with anything." ningning answered.

"thanks, yena. i think i'm gonna go with vodka for starters then we'll see from there." sagot naman ni karina.

some time in the night, karina found herself enjoying the band's company. hindi na rin niya namamalayan na napaparami na rin ang inom niya.

she feels the alcohol started to hit her system.

when ningning's attenti