Jada was feeling high as she loved the DJ's playlist. She didn't stop dancing from the moment she stepped onto the dancefloor.
She noticed the pinks had come back to the table, poured themselves a drink, and downed them. After that, they came back dancing, while Jada hadn't stopped yet..
With a bottle of beer in one hand, she kept swaying to the music with her eyes closed. Jada loved dancing. Not as much as she loves singing, but she loves to dance. It makes her feel free.
When the next music played, she told herself that it was the last one. She needed to rest as her feet were starting to feel numb. It was mid-song when she felt someone wrap his arms around her.
Jada was used to men doing that, so she just ignored it and continued with her business. But the man managed to catch her attention when he whispered her name.
It was a very familiar voice. So familiar that it made Jada turn around to confirm if she was right. She was in the dark part of the dancefloor so she wasn't able to recognize him at first.
But when she looked closer, her lips broke into a smile when she confirmed that it was Kristoff Mercado. Former President of SMU's Psychological Society and her first-ever campus crush.
She smiled and drew the man closer. They were not dancing sexually but Jada felt hot when Kristoff placed both hands on her waist. In return, she hooked her arm around his neck.
The music switched from fast to slow, so he pulled her closer, placing both her arms on his shoulders. He was still smiling and so was she.
With that exchange alone, it felt like they'd already caught up with each other. Despite the years that came between them, she still felt comfortable with him.
Kristoff was one of her suitors in college. He's around 6 feet tall with naturally brown skin. He has sexy brown eyes with thick brows and long lashes. But what Jada loved the most was his nose.
He's as good-looking as NEVERMIND. The only difference between the two was that maybe if she said yes to Kristoff, he never would've cheated on her.
Although the man didn't really pursue the courtship, Jada still thinks about it sometimes. She would sometimes think whether he'd really be different or they'd all be the same. But his presence had this effect on her. 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.
Jada pouted at him and he seemed to understand. He pulled her closer and slowly leaned her head on his broad chest. It felt good. She felt secure.
Kristoff held her hand and walked her off of the dancefloor as the music ended. He looked at her as if asking where he should take her, so Jada pointed at the table where her friends were sitting.
They all looked shocked when they saw who she was with. "I hope you guys do remember Kristoff Mercado," re-introducing to them the guy that was about to sit next to her.
They all nodded at the man. 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.
She pulled him to sit next to her and so he did. Jada ordered a vodka and the rest did the same. The conversation at the table started over again and almost everyone started reminiscing about how they were back in college.
She was the only one who didn't join them because she still felt bitter. Jada won't deny that. She can't. She's been trying to do it for the past few years, but she still can't.
What happened between her and Lyken was painful. So much that even after almost three years, she still can't get over it. Not as much as before, but still.
It's only been an hour since Kristoff joined them, but he's already whispering to her that he needs to go. Although Jada felt sad, it was fine since they exchanged numbers and she could just contact him anytime for a date.
Thinking about it, her heart thumped but she chose to ignore it. She doesn't think it's the right time. Not this time and maybe not again.
Jada was so hurt by what Lyken did to her, that's a fact. She's not a bad person, everyone who knows her knows that. That's why she can't accept that someone can hurt her as Lyken did.
He may not have hurt her physically, but he destroyed her emotionally and she had a hard time coping when it comes to that kind of pain. She thinks it will take her years or... even forever.
Meanwhile, outside the bar somewhere in Morato. Lyken was watching. Kobe called him after their meeting to inform him of the outcome. He needs that for his Singapore meeting.
Kobe also told him that he and Honey are going out with some friends. Upon hearing that, unsure why, he suddenly felt excited. He knew she couldn't be there, but still, he was hopeful.
Out of excitement, he told Kobe that he might be back in Manila after the meeting and he'd join them. 'I need to be there whether she's there or not,' he thought to himself.
Outside the bar, he was about to call Kobe when she 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.
Lyken walked closer but the bouncer was blocking his view, so he decided to go in. He sat in the darkest corner and positioned himself in a way that he could watch her properly.
Stunned, Lyken realized that it was indeed the woman he was so in love with. The same woman who hurt him several times. The woman he wanted to see. It was Jada.
Anger surged in his heart. But at the same time, the feeling he's been trying to suppress resurfaced again.
'Damn! Why am I still in love with this woman after she ruined me?'
Jada left him without saying anything other than she fell out of love and it was goodbye, but he still longs for her. He still wanted to kiss her lips and hug her tight even though she left him devastated.
Lyken found himself gritting his teeth, but this time, it was not because of anger for what she had done before. It was a fit of anger at what he was seeing.
A man he couldn't identify approached Jada and hugged her by the waist from behind. She acted like it was nothing and just continued dancing.
He saw the man whisper something at her, 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.
Lyken suddenly wanted to break everything inside the venue, especially when he saw the guy pull Jada closer and make her lean her head on 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 Lyken realized that Jada was dancing with Kristoff Mercado, her first campus crush.
He felt like someone punched him as it suddenly felt painful. He looked at the bouncer standing near him 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 he saw Kobe, Robin, Steve, Honey, Ada, and Bambi.
'So, they're having some sort of reunion!'
Lyken watched the group as they talked and laughed. Then he noticed that Kristoff had handed his phone to Jada.
She typed something into 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 he realized he was leaving. That's his cue, it's time.
Lyken would have to face her sooner or later, but for him, it was best if it was sooner, and he meant now. To boost his confidence, he downed the glass of whiskey he ordered before walking towards the table.
He took a step back when everyone looked surprised to see him. All their eyes literally widened in shock but, of course, Ada and Bambi got jaw-dropping reactions.
Jada was facing the wall so she didn't notice it immediately. She was busy checking something on her phone.
After a while, she noticed 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 was happening, she turned around slowly, then their eyes met. Lyken was a bit startled and anger started boiling inside him when the woman smiled as if nothing had happened.
Back then, whenever she smiled at him, Lyken felt like his heart was dancing. Her smile alone could take his exhaustion away. It can easily complete his day.
While looking at Jada, he suddenly remembered the time when RJ told them that she liked her. Jada and Honey were passing by the gym when RJ pointed at her.
He was reading a book but he glanced at her too. Just one look at her made him crease his forehead.
He saw a woman wearing sneakers, ripped jeans, and an oversized tee. Her hair was tied in a bun and it was a mess.
'What's there to like? RJ's probably blind.' he even muttered. But when he went with Kobe to invite Honey to join their little party, he suddenly asked himself again.
'What's not to like?'
Jada isn't your average girl. He hated to admit that he didn't see her clearly when they were passing by.
Because when he saw her face to face, she looked way different. It's as if he wasn't the same girl RJ pointed out to them the other day.
Her hair was still tied in a messy bun but she looked sexy. She has natural brown skin but it turns reddish when the sun kisses it.
He 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 he first met her, she didn't talk much. Lyken could still recall how she would only talk during dinner back then when RJ asked her something.
He also liked how her eyes were so expressive. The first time he saw her eyes up close was when they were at the KTV bar and her phone vibrated without her noticing it.
He wanted to go with her outside when she excused herself to answer the call, but Kobe suddenly stood up to follow her, so he sat down again. Yes, Lyken Fontanilla felt shy at that time.
He was mesmerized when she was singing. It was as if an angel was singing next to him. He could see her glancing when she noticed that he was looking at her.
She's probably thinking that her voice irritates him, but she's dead wrong. Her voice alone could already make him fall for her.
When Lyken had the chance, he decided to court her. No second thoughts. Especially when he noticed that more and more men were approaching them in their hang-out spot.
He felt threatened that he might miss his chance, so he started making moves. They're starting to notice her and it's not a good sign for him.
Lyken was even more bothered when Bambi told them that Jada likes Kristoff. It seems like the man likes her too, as he heard from her conversation with RJ.
Despite that, he still pursued her. Besides, Kristoff doesn't really have a chance, since he's busy with school and his extracurricular activities.
That was why he celebrated when, after six months and eighteen days, Jada agreed to become his girlfriend. Finally, she gave him her sweetest 'yes'.
Everything was smooth sailing until he cheated on her. He kissed another girl when he got drunk but she forgave him.
It happened again and yet she still managed to give him her forgiveness. He was happy at the thought that she could easily look past his mistakes.
Lyken even thought back then that she loved him so much, she'd be able to forgive any mistake he'd committed. She loves him too much to let go.
That's why he felt devastated when he woke up one morning and he couldn't find her anymore. Lyken can't accept that she left him just like that.
And now, she's back, smiling at him as if nothing happened. Like she didn't hurt him before. Like he was nothing.