Karina Elyana Mendrez's pov.

I'm at the bar again, probably drinking. I'm so bored with everything around me. My job here is almost done, I'm just waiting for that one important thing to happen. Then I'll go back to New York with her.

When I woke up at Ryujin's, the house was already empty. She just texted me that she'll go out at kaya ko na daw ang sarili ko. Well she's right naman, pero naiinis ako hindi man lang nang gising. That's why I decided to go to this particular bar. It's my fave night club.

The said club owner is pretty but I didn't get to flirt with her since she's always in a serious mood, plus ang pag kakachika ko eh anak daw siya ng mafia boss. That's why I like it here. Kahit na mapasali ako sa gulo hindi masyadong lalala, dahil walang pwede mang himasok sa bar na ito. 

I look around and wave when I spotted the girl i've been waiting. When she saw me, agad siyang nagpunta kung saan ako nakaupo.

"Girl! Bakit ang tagal mo muntik na akong mabulok dito!" sabi ko nung maupo si Yeji sa tabi ko na nakabusangot.

Yeji and I known each other for only 6 months now, but we felt like we've known each other for how many years. We have the same vibe and rant to each other about things we don't like. We all have the same taste, kaya hindi mahirap na mag kasundo kami.

Nameet ko siya dito sa bar. She's drunk that time and she flirted with kasi na-dare daw siya and I just go with the flow. After nun, nag kita ulit kami dito sa bar. Then again and again, until we decided to stay in contact. Mabilis naman gumaan ang loob ko sa kaniya.

I don't trust people easily but I trusted her. We tell secrets to each other yes, but... there's this one thing I cant tell to her.

"Bwisit kasi ng parents ko, pinag part time ako dun sa cafe" Yeji said, rolling her eyes.

"Edi bait baitan ka sa mga stuff dun girl?" I asked and pour her a drink.

She look at me, nakataas ang isang kilay. "Gaga! Mabait talaga ako nuh! Kesa naman ipa-raid to ng tatay kong praning eh sumunod nalang" sabi niya at ininom ang alak sa harapan niya.

"I think tama! Ayoko mawalan ng happiness" I said and pour another liquid for us to toast.

"Kamusta naman don sa cafe?" sabi ko, to get her attention.

Kakarating lang ni gaga e nang s-spot na agad nang maiuuwi niya. 

"...hm? okay naman! Goods naman yung mga staff. Yung kasabayan ko ngayon, maganda siya" She said not looking at me then smile. may na spot-an na ata si gaga!

"Buti di mo pinormahan" pag bibiro ko at uminom ulit ng alak.

"Omygad, Ely no!"

"Wow mapili kana ngayon?" 

"It's not about the gender you know! Alam mo naman" she said finally facing me with a knowing look.

"Yeah, I know. Di tayo namimili, kung ano ang nakahain edi go! So bakit di mo pinormahan?" sabi ko.

"Girl, di ganon ang mga tipo ko! Gusto ko yung mga babaeng pogi ang datingan" she said and pause to drink another shot. "...look that one, ganyan. Mine ko yan!" she said pointing someone on the counter side.

I let out a soft laugh at tumingin kung saan siya tumuturo. When I saw who she's pointing, I automatically smile and bit my lower lip.

She's wearing a black muscle tee and a denim jeans. She's laughing and her indian dimples are so visible. tangina mo Ryujin bawal yan! Serrano, that's so ing illegal! Sino may sabi sayong mag suot ka ng ganiyan? Parang ulol!

"Ely, don't eye my girl!" sabi ni Yeji at tinakpak ang mga mata ko.

I got back to my senses and smile at her.

"Girl mo agad? Di kapa nga kilala" sabi ko at uminom nanaman. ako lang pwede mang angkin kay Xavier!

"Edi mag papakilala sus! Problema ba yun? Kelan pa naging problema sakin yon?" sabi niya at umakmang tatayo pero agad ko siyang hinala para maupo ulit.

I eyed her. "Saan ka pupunta kakarating mo palang?" 

"Edi lalapitan ko bakit?"

"No!" I said immediately.

"Why?" she said, at takang taka na nakatingin sa akin.

"Just... no" sabi ko habang nakahawak parin sa braso niya.

"Ay girl, di ko alam na may attitude ka palang mang-aagaw" 

"Gaga kaba?! Pinag sasabi mo! Mamaya kana kasi mang spot mag inuman muna tayo parang tanga naman"

"Tanga kasi baka umalis na yan! Sayang ang yummy pa naman. Tignan mo lang oh! Grabe natuturn on na ako braso palang yung nakareveal pano pa kaya dibaaaa! Isipin mo yun!!! Ayoko mag sayang Ely!"

I look to where Ryujin again and eyed her from head to toe. Side profile lang niya yung visible sa pwesto namin pero grabe. Totoo namang napaka sarap! I can't deny that she's really an eye candy. Hindi ko nga mabilang kung ilang beses ko na siya hinubaran sa isip ko, kaso mailap ang isdang ito.

"Calm down girl, hindi pa yan aalis" sabi ko at inabutan si Yeji ng alak.

"Nakakahalata na ako sayo, Ely ha!" she said eyeing me.

I scoff. "What? I just want to drink"

"It's either clingy ka o aagawin mo yung naspot ko? Nakita kitang kinakagat labi mo gaga ka!" Yeji said and position herself beside me.

Kung gusto kong agawin edi sana matagal nang nasa akin. "Yeji, kung ano sayo mang sspot nalang ako ng iba" i said and took a sip while looking at Ryu's direction.

"Bakit kilala mo ba yan?" she said interestingly looking at me.

I didn't answer and just took another sip.

"Ohmygad! Ely, don't tell me you know that meal?" 

"It's a person girl, not a meal. Can you calm down your hormones just this once?"

"So ano ngaaaa! Kilala mo?"

I took a sip again. Yeji's attention is all on me anticipating my answer. I just give her a nod and her face change into a frown.

"Ayaw pa sagutin parang siraulo naman!"

"Okay! ...parang ganun na nga?! Siguro?"

"Anong klaseng sagot yan! Bala ka jan girl" Yeji said as she emptied the glass shot and stand up from where we are.

I didn't stop her this time as she go directly to where Ryujin is. Inayos niya pa muna ang damit niya bago tuluyang lapitan si Ryu.

Tinitigan ko lang si Yeji. Tumitingin siya sa direksyon na naka-ngiti kaya tinanguan ko lang siya. Ryujin doesn't know I'm here, kaya tinignan ko lang siya kung anong magiging reaksyon niya sa gagawin ni Yeji.

Yeji look at me for the last time at naupo na sa tabi ni Ryu. okay eto na nga si gaga! 

Yeji get the bartender's attention and order a drink. She's eyeing Ryu na nakikipag usap dun sa owner ng bar. Nung dumating na yung drink ni Yeji agad niya itong ininom at nilapag ng malakas ang emply glass sa counter. Napatingin sa kanya si Ryujin at ang kausap niya. 

Napa-smirk ako nung hindi siya pinansin ni Ryu at bumaling lang ulit ng tingin sa kausap niya. ayusin mo desisyon mo sa buhay Xavier!

Iinumin ko na sana ang liquid na nasa harap ko but I instantly put it down nung harapin ni Ryujin si Yeji, naka ngiti pa! Parang tanga.

Napakunot ako. bwisit na Ryujin to pangiti ngiti kapa ngayon! Pag kausap ko sa sarili ko at umakmang tatayo sana nang may biglang maupo sa harapan ko.

"Hi, Ely!" bungad niya at isinandal ang likod niya sa couch.

I eyed him. I can barely see his face dahil sa medyo madilim ang bar. Nung nag smile siya, tsaka ko lang siya namukhaan and I rolled my eyes at him at lumakad papunta kung nasaan sa Ryujin pero hinili niya ang kamay ko at umiling.

"No, Ely! Not tonight" He said knowing kung sino ang pupuntahan ko.

Tinabig ko ang kamay niya at tinignan ng masama. "Karina!" I corrected him.

I only let people call me Ely if I trust them. If I don't trust you di tayo uusad sa second name basis.

"Ilang beses na ako nagpa-basag ng mukha para sayo tapos wala ka pa rin tiwala sa akin?" Yeonjun said giving a unbelievable smile.

"I didn't ask you tho!" sabi ko at humakbang na papalapit kay Ryujin pero humarang siya.

"I know but someone asked me so..." He said then point at the entrance of the bar. "Not tonight, Ely"

I look at the entrance and saw Winter entering. ! Bakit naman ngayon ka pa andito kung kelan nag lalandi si Yeji?!

Inis akong humarap kay Yeonjun na nakangiti sa'akin. "Mag inuman nalang tayo" he said at naupo na ulit sa couch kung saan kami nakapwesto.

Labag sa loob ko pero naupo na rin kaharap niya. With Ryujin here, sure ako na Winter will join her and as I promised. I'll never meet her again.

"Bakit masama loob mo?" Yeonjun, then pour me a drink. "kala ko ba hindi mo type si boss Ryu?" 

"Labas ka na don!" sabi ko at iniinom ang alak sa harap ko.

I look at Ryujin who's all smile talking to Yeji. Etong gaga kong kaibigan naman nakalimutan na, na ako ang pinunta niya dito. ako nga ba?!

"Di naman kita masisisi yung pinag nanasaan mo si boss Ryu" he said and chuckle.

I look at him with furrowed brows. "Bakit pinag nanasaan mo rin?"

"Of course not! Anong kala mo sa akin?! Di ako nantatalo noh" he said at ngumingisi siya.

"What?!" inis ko siyang tinanong

"Wala naman. Inamin mo lang naman na pinag nanasaan mo si Ryujin!" he said and laugh at me.

"Alam mo ikaw, putangina mo!" sabi ko at umirap sa kanya.

Uminom nalang ako nang uminom para mapawi yung inis ko. Tinitignan ko pa rin sila Ryujin. Ngayon kasama na nila si Winter at kinakausap si Yeji. 

Yeji slowly slip her hand arms on the counter para magtama ang mga braso nila ni Ryujin. When Ryujin felt the contact she look at Yeji smiling with a knowing look. putangina sinasabi ko sayo Xavier ayusin mo mga desisyon mo! Parang nakakalimutan kong may kasunduan tayo.

"Chill ka lang, Ely!" Yeonjun said while having a soft laugh. "Ryujin knows you're here, di yan gagawa ng ikakagalit mo. Alam naman nating dalawa" he changed into a serious tone. "...Winter comes first"

I rolled my eyes and look at Ryujin's location, Winter already joined them. bakit naman kasi nakikisabay tong si Winter dito. Ryujin is now facing Yeji. Nag usap lang sila saglit ni Winter nung umupo sa tabi niya, tapos humarap na siya ulit kay Yeji. Winter on the other side is talking the owner of the club. The way they talked to each other seems like they're very close.

"Hoy! Tagay Ely, ano ba?!" Yeonjun said grabbing my attention.

I irritably grab the shot glass in front of me and drink. I heard Yeonjun laugh kaya tinignan ko siyang masama.

"Anong tinatawa mo jan?!" sabi ko at galit na ibinaba ang baso. "...at, please 'lang di tayo close for you to call me Ely!"

"Grabe ka! Ilang beses ko na ngang niligtas buhay mo!" Yeonjun said taking a shot.

"Again, I didn't asked you!" I said.

"Ayaw ko rin naman nuh! May magagawa ba ako?!" sabi niya at tinagayan ako. "She's keeping you safe, at kaya mo nagagawa ang lahat ng to dahil sa'akin! Konting thank you naman jan!"

"I should thank her not you!" sabi ko at tumagay ulit.

Hindi ko alam kung nakaka-ilang tagay na ako pero nararamdaman ko na ang epekto ng alak sa katawan ko. Tinitignan ko pa rin sila Ryjin from time to time at mukhang wala ngang mangyayare. Maybe she really knew I'm here. Pero kahit na, she's free naman to do whatever she like.

Habang nakatingin ako kila Ryu, napansin kong nawala si Winter... si Winter... kung susumahin ko kaya andito pa ako sa kor dahil sa kaniya pero wala siyang kaalam alam. Ano kayang magiging reaksyon niya once na malaman niya ang lahat? Ano kayang mararamdaman niya... Curious ako pero hindi ko na dapat iniisip yon. Her sister cleared all the things to me. At first I don't trust her but as the time goes, I found something to put all my trust at her.

I look at Yeonjun in front of me, slumping on the couch then something hit me when I saw the bruises on his face. Matagal ko na gustong itanong to pero hindi ko nakaka tyempo. I don't know if I'm scared of his answer or what pero hindi ko matanong tanong. When I first met him, he throw himself in the mess I made kahit na muntikan pa siya mawala dahil nasaksak siya sa tagiliran ng dahil sa'akin. I just can't tell it pero sobrang thankful ako na anjan siya para sa'akin. Kaya rin siguro ako natatakot sa isasagot niya dahil hindi ko alam kung sincere ba siya na tulungan ako or ginagawa niya lang to dahil may nakukuha siyang kapalit.

I don't know. 

Since matatapos naman na ang kaganapang ito, kailangan ko na marinig ang sagot niya.

I took a deep breathe and called him.

He look at me, eyes slightly open. Tinatamaan na rin siya. "Whaaatt?"

"I want to ask you about-"

"Yes I tracked him I found his-"

"No not that!" sabi ko habang umiiling. I want to ask him about that too pero later na yan.

"Eh ano?!"

"If not for Chaewon..." umayos siya ng upo, upon hearing her name. "...would you still help me?"

I'm looking directly at his eyes and he's not cutting the contact.

"No" he casually said.

I scoff and drink another shot. I know it's the latter. People will not help me nga naman kung wala silang mapapala, sino ba naman ako-

"Joke lang!" Yeonjun, his smirk si visible. "Nag ooverthink ka nanaman" he laughed.

" you!" sabi ko at lalon