I always remember the stories I was told when I was a kid. That somewhere in the dark, a monster with huge, sharp teeth is waiting to lure someone so he could eat and kill it in the slowest and most gruesome way possible. That this monster takes a favorite and picks the children who refuses to listen. The way it was narrated to me gave me enough reason to follow rules, to become obedient, to be a good kid.

Maybe it was fear or my wild imagination. Maybe I was just naïve to believe that monsters really exist. Because after all of the stunts and sneaking I do in the night, I can now convince myself that there is no such thing as monsters. Just... daredevil kids who sneak out because of their strict parents.

"Confirmed. Nasa party na sila. You better brace yourself, princess. Lorein and Eleazar in one place." Nagbabanta ngunit mapaglaro ang boses ni Meredith. She sat in front beside her boyfriend, Roman, while I occupied the wide seat in the back. I ignored her and continued applying another swipe of lipstick. Muli kong inanggulo ang salamin upang makita ang buong mukha.

We are on our way to our friend, Vinnie's, party. Alas diez ang simula pero dahil hinintay ko pang mawala ang mga bantay sa bahay, halos alas-onse na ay nasa daan pa rin kami. Pasalamat na lang talaga ako dahil hindi kagaya sa kaibigan, mas mahaba ang pasensya ni Roman. Vinnie, on the other hand, has been bombarding our phones asking where the hell are we as if the place is wide enough for us to get lost.

"Remind me why Lorein hates you so much again?" ani Red habang binabaybay namin ang madilim na daan. She does this whenever there's a possibility that my hair gets pulled, para raw may motivation ako na makipagsabunutan.

Umirap na lang ako. Eleazar was my boyfriend when I was in junior years. Anak siya ng kakilala ni Papa sa Klestive, a Lieutenant to be exact. Kaya paminsan-minsan ay nagkakasalubong kami sa mga pagtitipon. I was a curious kitten that time and I thought we are a match since he was good at making me feel worthy. Not knowing that he is in a relationship with Lorein.

Of course, the girl thought I am head over heels on her guy, especially when a picture of me holding Eleazar's necktie was sent to her. Ni hindi man lang inalam ang kwento at agad na lang pinakalat na mang-aagaw daw ako. Eleazar said I tempted him and such, which I won't ever do. Hindi niya lang alam kung gaano ang pagtitimpi ang ginawa ko nang sinugod niya ako sa eskwelahan. Pasalamat siya at kailangan kong magpakabait alang-alang sa pangalan ng mga magulang ko.

"I heard some kids from Klestive are there, too," ani Roman habang hindi pa rin tinatanggal ang tingin sa daan. Of course, it is going to be attended even by outsiders. Vinnie has the largest crowd amongst us. Ironically, siya rin ang pinakamay-ayaw sa tao. I guess it really comes with the name and title. When you're the only daughter of one of the wealthiest clans in the district, you will be known even by people you never crossed paths with.

Tahimik na nag-uusap ang dalawa sa harap habang nakatingin lang ako sa daan. Tall trees line the side of the road. Magkakalayo ang bahay sa parteng ito ng Lair, kagaya ng sabi ni Vinnie. There are no streetlights, too. Just a vast space of darkness. I don't even know what's on the side since I only come here when it's nighttime. Isa pa, madalang naman kaming pumunta sa bahay nila. It's only now again since her parents are out of town.

I peeled my eyes off the road and glanced at the cloudless sky. In between the tree branches, the full moon shone at its brightest. A familiar feeling started to crawl from my stomach. Isinantabi ko iyon at sinalpak ang earphones sa tainga bago pumikit.

Ilang sandali pa ang ay tumigil ang sasakyan sa parking lot. Unang bumaba si Roman, pinagbuksan ang kasintahan habang nanatili ako sa loob. By this time, nakarating na sina Mommy sa bahay. I can imagine their reactions already which made me smirk. I shut my phone off before leaving it on the vacant seat beside me.

Meredith knocked on my window. I slipped out of the car and combed my hair with my fingers. Dressed in a red mini skirt that reveals a good amount of my chest and my long legs, I felt the cold wind brush against my skin. I shivered and my throat immediately demanded a hot shot.

"You better stay out of trouble. This is our friend's party." Red reminded me from the side. I gave her an offending look which she laughed at. Roman hooked his arm on my friend's waist and kissed her temple.

"Don't mind her. I'll drag her away and you can go pull someone's hair," he added which made them laugh both.

"What I'm saying is, try your best to be nice. They came here not only to party, but also to find a way to irk and ruin you," Meredith added. Now that we are nearing the entrance, I can hear the loud boom of the speakers. May ibang mga napapatingin samin at ang iba naman ay piniling huwag na lang.

"They better be ready, then. It's my place, Red. Baka nakakalimutan mo, I rule this District." I answered and walked before them.

People immediately greeted us on the driveway. Roman went with some guys. Nang tuluyang nakapasok ay nasa amin na ang atensyon ng lahat. I heard gasps and grunts, mostly from the girls. I adjusted my eyes on the sight of neon colors dancing around the place as we made our way to the house. There are tables scattered on their wide lawn, surrounded with people I barely know. May mga waiter na nagpapasyal ng mga inumin. I picked a cocktail for myself and thanked the guy before walking.

"Gazelle!" Pagtatawag ni Vinnie sa 'kin mula sa isang dako. I turned to her direction and saw her making her way towards us. Behind her is Lorein who didn't bother to hide her glares. And Eleazar, wide-eyed and drooling.

I gulped my drink and threw the glass on the bushes. Meredith smirked at my arrogance and kissed Vinnie's cheek first.

"I'm gonna walk you to the backyard. It's more private." Bulong nito pagkatapos akong hinalikan sa pisngi. Nauna na siyang naglakad na sinundan namin. The stone path is well-lit with white bulbs which makes it easier to arrive at our private place.

Nang akala ko'y madadaanan ko si Lorein ay nagkusa na itong umalis sa kanyang pwesto. Eleazar stayed but when his air-headed girlfriend shouted, he followed her.

"Don't worry. I made sure you are far from them." Si Vinnie nang siguro'y napansin na napapatitig ako sa pinangalingan niya.

"Make sure though. Baka makalimutan kong pinsan mo 'yon." I teased and she rolled her eyes. She still has this grudge on her uncle having an affair. She won't acknowledge Lorein as her cousin but she still treats her right. A good-mannered spoiled kid really.

Dumaan kami sa gilid ng kanilang bahay papunta sa likod. True enough, their backyard has fewer people than the front lawn. It has a pool on the far side while the tables we'll be having is on the cemented floor. It's a bit formal since the music isn't that wild yet, or maybe Vinnie's mom made it that way.

We had dinner first. Roman was at our table already together with Keanne, a colleague I've turned down so many times that he became a friend. I settled on a vacant chair beside Meredith and scanned the place. Well-lit with warm fairylights but the pool is a bit dim, siguro'y hindi iyon balak gamitin. Mostly, the people in here are her friends from the seniors, some are his brothers teammates from the college, occupying three tables with several chairs each. Ang dalawang lamesa ay sa mga pinsan niya habang kasama ko naman ang mga kaklase namin.

The dinner was served right away. Napag-usapan ang iba't ibang mga plano para sa college. After all, we only have a few months left before we finish adult school. Meredith plans to pursue something related to medicine. Roman would enter the Army. Keanne wants to travel. And I?

"I'd walk out of that house." I joked and they laugh.

Then the good food turned into hard drinks. I went with Meredith to retouch on Vinnie's powder room.

"Screw you two. Sa banyo na lang kayo. I prepared two brushes even if you won't ask for it." Ani Vinnie nang nakitang nagulo na namin ang kanyang gamit. Tinawanan namin ang kanyang pagmamaktol at dumiretso doon.

Meredith and I brushed our teeth on separate sinks. Nag-retouch din kami gamit ang itinakas na make-up ni Vinnie. That girl has the most expensive lipsticks and highlights ever and she has tons of it. Hindi niya rin naman mamamalayan na kumuha kami, but we don't plan to steal though. Itinabi namin ang mga make-up sa hanging cabinet pagkatapos.

The effect of the drinks are starting to kick in. Ngunit hindi nito napigilan ang pagsasayaw namin sa bakuran. The music even gets louder by the hour and I'm spinning. I lost count on the number of my drinks already. Minsan, cocktail, madalas ay mga hard drinks nalang. One time, I feel someone's touching my waist and the next second I'm dancing with a random guy in the crowd. I even did a bodyshot to a senior I've never met but when he wanted to return the favor, I shoved him away.

"I wanna pee!" I shouted in Vinnie's ear. She pointed on the second floor of their house, maybe on the guestroom.

"It's spinning! Hindi na ako makalakad!" I shouted again, fighting the loud music with my voice. Bago pa man siya makasagot ay nahila na siya palayo sa 'kin. I grunted and started to walk away from the dance floor.

But everything is spinning and I fell off countless times already. Himala nga lang na hindi pa ako bumabagsak sa lupa dahil naiaangat ako ng mga tao sa paligid. Nang tuluyang makalayo sa alon nga mga tao ay doon na ako bumagsak. But even before facing the hard floor, someone was early to catch me by my waist.

"Drop me." I murmured. Ngunit hindi nakinig ang kung sinong nasa likod ko. Instead, a strong arm carried me in a bridal style and I was too weak to protest. Or maybe I don't want to.

I am being held by a random guy, close enough that his body became an armor against the cold wind. His warmth made me at east. His scent is attacking my nose that I don't know if it's still the alcohol that makes me sleepy. I kept my eyes open as long as I could. Hindi naman siguro ako ganoon kalasing dahil naramdaman ko pa ang pagtama ng ilaw ng sala sa akin. He was bringing me inside the house, away from the huge crowd and music.

"Where do you plan to go?" He asked with a deep and soothing voice.

"Second floor, please. Any room on the right will do." I managed to answer even if my senses were starting to fade. I closed my eyes as we made our way to the stairs. Few more steps before I felt the tiled floor on my feet.

Bago ko pa man siya maharap ay sinarado na niya ang pinto. I just did what I was supposed to do and did a quick scan of myself in the mirror. My cheeks are rose-coloured and my fox-shaped eyes tell that I already had enough to drink. I popped my lips to make sure it still has color.

I opened the door and saw the man leaning on the wall. Napaayos ito ng upo nang makita akong lumabas. I squinted my eyes, trying to remember if I knew him from somewhere.

"Thanks," I started, "for bringing me here." I continued as I scanned his facial features. Ngunit dahil siguro ay nakainom ay hindi ako makapagpokus.

"You drank a lot," he stated the obvious. Natawa ako, hindi lang dahil sa kalasingan, kundi dahil sa unang pagkakataon ay hindi ako nainis sa katotohanang iyon. My parents would always tell me that it is not good that I drink a lot, considering I'm a woman and just turned twenty. They make it sound like I'm too young for it. But this... stranger, who I don't know if is reprimanding me or telling me the same thing, made me laugh about it.

"It's a party, so yes, I can drink as much as I like," I answered. His jaw clenched as he continued to stare at me.  Napawi ang ngiti ko at napalitan ng ngisi nang inalis niya ang tingin sa akin.

"I don't think we've met," I said when I can no longer rack my brain about who he is. I never ask a guy's name, especially when I only met them at a party. I learned how easy it is for people to leave so I don't bother making connections. Besides, if I don't know him from anywhere, he must not be from here.

"Are you a friend of Ismael?" I started to guess when he didn't reply. Based on his height, I am certain he's older than me. Even with a four-inch stilettos, my forehead only reaches his chin. I would have also noticed him if he's from our school. Most of the tall guys play sports and I dated... well, a lot of them, and I'm sure he doesn't belong to my list.

"Maybe Kean's?" I prompted and stared at his sharp jaw. Kitang-kita ko rin ang perpektong tangos ng kanyang ilong. Binaybay ng paningin ko ang mahaba niyang pilik-mata. I even noticed the piercing on his left ear.

Just my type, I told myself and smirked. Kaya lang, ang sungit. Sayang naman.

"Fine. If you're not up to talk, I'll go back to the party and look for someone to make out with," I said as I started to walk away.

Hindi pa nakaka-dalawang hakbang ay natigil ako dahil sa paghila niya sa akin. I gasped, shocked at how my body easily obliged to be stopped by him. Kunot ang noo niyang tumitig sa akin na tila ba wala akong karapatang umalis.

"You're drunk," he said in a cold voice. Muli akong natawa. There's something in his tone that I like and hate at the same time. Lasing na yata talaga ako.

I sighed, a little bit disappointed. As much as I find him appealing, I don't need another person telling me what I can't do or who I cannot be. Anong silbi ng pagtakas ko sa sariling bahay kung magpapaalipin lang naman ako sa labas?

"We are done here," I said and walked out. This time, he didn't try to stop me. I shrugged the annoyance and made my way back to the wild crowd. I took three consecutive shots before rejoining the dance.

Hindi ko na alam kung ilang tao ang gumiling sa likod ko. I just partied like I never partied before. After all, I came here to escape, to have fun, and to never think about anything.

Kaya lang sa pang-ilang inom ko ay hindi pa rin maalis sa akin ang kuryosidad tungkol sa lalake. I like him... or maybe not. I am used to the interest and attention that when he showed he lacks it, I think I was offended. Or challenged.

Kabilaan ang pagpapaunlak ko sa mga gustong makipag-usap para mawala ang utak doon. I even tried kissing someone but he's bad at it. Or maybe I wasn't really interested.

I excused myself to go to the washroom. If I was just tipsy a while ago, I am definitely drunk now. I struggled to find a vacant area on the ground floor, so I decided to go upstairs and end the night.

One wrong step and I fell on my knees. I made a silent curse to myself. Muntik pa akong mahulog sa hagdan kung hindi lang ako nahawakan ng lalake!

"You're a stalker," ani ko nang maaninag na parehong lalake ang tumulong na naman sa akin. Walang imik niya akong kinarga kagaya kanina papunta sa parehong kwarto. The way he carried me made me feel something I never felt before. It was as if he was too scared that he carries me incorrectly because as much as his arms look tough, his touch was gentle.

Dahil umaalon ang paningin ay pumikit na lang ako. The logic of him causing me harm flew out of the window. I convinced myself that I am too drunk to protest, but I knew as much that I can still try to escape. I don't even know why I'm not doing it. He could be planning something dangerous for heaven's sake!

The overthinking ended when I felt the soft mattress on my back. It was so good that I can be pulled into a deep sleep in a minute.

I heard the guy sighed. Napadilat ako at naabutan siyang nakatingin pa rin sa akin. I pushed myself to sit so I could face him entirely. I am well-aware that my mini dress went up higher but even that became the least of my concern!

The room is a bit dim. Hindi niya yata nabuksan ang ilaw dahil karga ako nang pumasok. But with the moon light entering from the window, I can see his silhouette not far from me. It's almost like I can feel him looking through me. The thought of it made me shiver in excitement.

I blame the alcohol for the next move I made. Filled with curiosity and recklessness, I stood up and he remained unmoving. I pulled him by the nape and attacked him with a kiss, my tongue seeking entrance on his mouth. It only took a soft curse from him before my mind went haywire.