Prologue
“Come on, Nat. Just pick and get over it!”
I chuckled as Dani repeated herself after I said no to their stupid dare. I didn’t expect them to actually push me into doing these silly things. I mean, we were here to have fun and drink to celebrate my birthday.
Why do I have to suffer through these stupid consequences just because of a pointless game of spin the bottle? If it were up to me, I would have gone home ages ago. But I knew they wouldn’t let me, and it would just give me a bigger headache to leave early. My parents think I’m out with my friends tonight, celebrating my birthday.
After all, I was the one who told them I’d prefer to celebrate this way rather than their initial plan, which was to throw me a grand party. And when it comes to throwing a party, my mom and I have completely unique definitions of “simple.”
I’m just not ready for that yet. I don’t think I have the energy to socialize and plaster on a practiced smile for our relatives, their friends, business partners, politicians, and whoever else they decide to invite. In other words, I’m not ready to fake pleasantries with people who pretend to show concern—asking if I’m okay when, in reality, they couldn’t care less about me.
I’d rather be alone than talk to those people. It’s only important for them to show they care, so my parents will grant them favors, especially since my parents are close to the president.
I glanced at the people at our table who were drinking, talking, and having fun. It was better to be with them, even though I knew they were just enjoying each other’s company rather than actually being here for my birthday.
Well, at least if my mom asks for proof of my birthday celebration, I can send her pictures of it, and she’ll believe I’m having fun.
“Nat!” Dani called my attention again. I looked at her and offered a small smile.
Danielle Suarez, or Dani, is the daughter of the owner of Suarez Homes. Her family owns several subdivisions in Metro Manila, and her parents plan to expand across the country. That’s the reason we connect, even though I don’t really want to be around her. Add to that the fact that she’s my cousin, leaving me with no choice but to invite her.
Actually, there isn’t a single person here I genuinely want to be with. But I know that if I hadn’t left the house today, my parents would have forced me into whatever they had planned. I just got back from my vacation, and I’m still not ready to dive right back into my old life.
I’m not ready. I can’t be ready yet.
Inviting Dani was the best idea—or so I thought—that I could come up with to have an alibi for going out tonight and coming home late. I still haven’t been able to move back into my condo since the ambush. My parents won’t allow me until I agree to their terms. I’m stuck staying at my parents’ house, a decision I’m dangerously close to regretting.
They have so many conditions for me after what happened almost five months ago.
I drew a deep sigh, feeling a heavy weight press against my chest. I really should have just stayed in a hotel.
“Don’t be such a killjoy, Nat,” Vanessa said, looking at me. She reached for her drink, took a sip, and turned back to me. “We all did our consequences,” she added, as if trying to guilt-trip me into doing it just because they did. The others at the table nodded in agreement, persistently urging me to do what they wanted.
That was your stupidity. Why drag me into it?
Despite my thoughts, I smiled at her and shook my head politely. I had no intention of doing what they wanted.
“You know what? I’ll just pay for everything, and you guys can order whatever you want, okay? Sounds fair?” I asked. I called the waiter over and placed their additional orders. I didn’t even know half the people at the table anyway; they were Dani's and Vanessa’s friends. They tagged along because I didn’t have any friends of my own to bring.
I don’t have siblings, and I don’t talk to most of my college classmates anymore—I don’t even try to. I have cousins, but we’re not close. It feels like we only ever gather because tradition demands we show off a perfectly united family.
“Killjoy!” they teased, but I didn’t take the bait. I just let them drink while they gossiped among themselves.
I looked around. The bar was actually a decent one. I was thanking the heavens that Dani didn’t drag me to a club with pole dancers or something similar. I had specifically told her to choose a respectable place, so it was a relief she actually listened.
“You’re not having fun, are you?” Dani asked, handing me my drink from the table.
I looked at her and managed a small smile. “I’m fine,” I replied, turning my attention back to the crowd. Even the crowd looked... disciplined. They were dancing and having fun, and it didn’t look like anyone was wasted enough to start a bar brawl.
Good thing, too.
“Come on, Nat. It has been what?” Dani asked, giving me a pointed look. “Eight months? Nine months? You need to go back to your old life now.”
I stared at her. Sometimes I wonder if there’s an actual brain inside her head or if it’s just filled with absolute nonsense. She really is habituated to speaking without thinking.
“Almost five months,” I corrected her coldly.
She didn’t look the least bit apologetic for the mistake. Instead, she shrugged and smiled at me again.
“Even so. Five months is already far too long. You should have moved on after a week or two, Nat. I really can’t understand Uncle and Auntie for babying you so much,” she added, before downing the rest of her drink.
I forced a tight smile and opted to just stay quiet. It was better to keep my mouth shut before I said something that would humiliate my cousin. If I started an argument, no one at the table would take my side anyway, since they were all her friends.
Even Vanessa, her sister.
Thankfully, Dani’s friends called her over, leaving me alone at the table. I just let them be. They didn’t even bother inviting me as they headed straight for the dance floor.
I chuckled to myself. That was exactly what I expected. They were only being nice to me because I’m an Alcantara. If we were being completely honest, none of them actually wanted to be my genuine friend.
I fished my phone out of my bag and scrolled through my social media. There were messages greeting me for my birthday, some comments, and a few texts. As much as possible, I keep my accounts strictly private.
I just couldn’t understand the satisfaction people—like my cousins—got from craving likes, comments, and online validation. More often than not, they base their life standards on what they see on social media, even when it’s completely unrealistic.
Well, that’s just my opinion. If it makes them happy, good for them. I just hope they use their clout for something worthwhile.
Suddenly, I felt like someone was watching me. I quickly scanned the room. The sensation wasn’t new to me; ever since I was a kid, someone had always been guarding me. That only stopped about three months ago.
Though I’m pretty sure they aren’t completely gone. They’re probably lurking somewhere, watching me from afar, exactly how my dad wants it.
I frowned slightly, my eyes sweeping across the entire bar. The music was loud, but not to the point of being deafening or irritating. It was just loud enough for people to enjoy themselves while still being able to hold a conversation.
I had been like this for a while. Sometimes I’d get paranoid that someone was staring at me, but whenever I looked around, there was no one. It felt like I still couldn’t shake the fear since the ambush.
I just shook my head, grabbed my drink from the table, and took another sip. I watched my cousins and their friends having the time of their lives on the dance floor.
When they finally got tired, they returned to our table.
“Let’s play again! And this time, no more killjoys, okay?” Vanessa said, looking pointedly at me.
I looked back at her and just offered a small smile, letting them do whatever they wanted.
Some of them were dared to dance alone on the dance floor. Others were dared to beg the bartender for a free drink. There was even one girl who accepted a dare to kiss her boyfriend’s best friend right in front of him.
What the hell?
I’m not naive, and I’m no saint, but that’s... that’s just messed up. But then again, that’s just my perspective. No one asked for my opinion, so I kept it to myself.
“Nat!” Dani yelled loudly when the empty bottle spun and landed directly pointing at me.
I stared at it and cursed silently. They wouldn’t leave me alone unless I gave in. I couldn’t just bribe them with more alcohol this time; they were clearly already drunk, which explained the stupid stunts they were pulling.
“I’ll just take a shot and–”
“No!” Vanessa interrupted quickly, grabbing my hand. “You got away with avoiding the consequence earlier. Now, you have to do it!” Her friends cheered and celebrated my cousin’s ruling.
I glared at her, fully intending to say no again, but Dani interrupted me.
“Just look around, find a guy handsome enough for your taste, and kiss him for five seconds,” she instructed, as if what she was asking was the simplest thing in the world.
“Dani–”
“Come on, Nat! You can do it!” they started chanting.
I clenched my fists.
Oh, hell. Fine. Just to get this over with!
“Fine, fine,” I snapped, which only made them cheer louder.
Idiots.
I looked around while they excitedly pointed guys out to me, telling me who looked good. But none of them were my type. I mean, if I were going to kiss a random good-looking stranger, I might as well pick someone who was actually my type.
I scanned the room again until I froze. My eyes landed on a man sitting at the bar counter, facing the dance floor as he took a sip of his drink. He was wearing a dark shirt—I couldn’t quite tell under the flashing lights if it was navy blue, black, or something else.
Whatever. Here goes nothing.
“I found one,” I told them, standing up and making my way toward the counter. I could feel my heart hammering wildly against my chest.
It’s just a kiss. A stupid dare.
A five-second kiss won’t hurt me. And it will finally shut my annoying cousins up.
I walked in his direction. Hell, he was good-looking from a distance, but he was undeniably hotter now that I was only a few steps away. He took another sip from his glass, said something to the bartender, and chuckled. He glanced back at the crowd, but the moment our eyes locked, he froze too.
Just a kiss, Natalia. Just one, and you can go back to your table and suffer in peace.
“Yes, Miss? Do you need something?” he asked. I noticed his voice was incredibly deep and sexy. Or was that just the alcohol in my system talking?
I took a deep breath, nodded, and stepped right into his space. Before I could overthink it, I grabbed him by his nape and crashed my lips against his.
Just a short kiss…
One… Two… Three… Four… Five.
I was about to pull away, but suddenly, his large hand gripped my waist. He pulled me flush against him and actually started kissing me back.
My eyes flew open in shock. I pushed against his chest and scrambled back, staring at him in disbelief.
“What—”
Without thinking, my hand flew out, and I slapped him hard across the face. The people nearby gasped, clearly stunned by the sudden turn of events.
The force of the slap whipped his head to the side. He slowly turned his face back to me, looking utterly bewildered by what had just happened.
I clenched my fists, spun on my heel, and marched back to our table. Finding it empty, I hastily grabbed my bag, threw down enough cash to cover the bill, and practically ran out of the bar.
This is just great.
I really should have just stayed home and let my mom throw me that stuffy birthday party. At least she wouldn’t have dared me to kiss a total stranger.
And damn it, I could still feel the heat of his lips lingering against mine.
