Dalawang oras na ang nakalipas at nakahanda na si Ashanti papuntang nightclub. Thirty minutes left before 9 pm ay nagdesisyon na siyang bumaba at magpaalam sa kaniyang magulang.
What Harley sent to her is a fitted strapless red dress covering only her top and a few inches below her butt. It has a cut on the lower left side exposing more of her creamy leg. Her body curve was very obvious which makes her more appealing for a minor. She used the 8 inch red thigh boots Kenny gave to her as a gift. She's thankful na aksidente niyang nabuksan ang regalo nito para sa kaniya.
'Well, looks like it's destined to be used today.'
She picked some silver accesories to match her suit and lastly, a coat to cover her daring dress while she's still here in the mansion. It will be unlikely to her father to allow her if he will see the daring dress she's wearing right now.
Her long, straight hair swayed along with her hips while exiting the room. Maeann, who's waiting outside automatically followed behind her.
She went to her father's study room, only seeing him having a chitchat with her mom. She knocked on the open door thrice to catch their attention.
"Mom, Dad, I will go to my friend's residence. Pwede naman akong lumabas, diba?"
Her father's forehead creased. "What time will you go back?"
"Before midnight. Please, birthday ko naman ngayon." Before, hindi naman na niya kailangang magpaalam as long as Kalen is with her.
He sighed and nodded. "Alright. Be here before 12, I will talk to you and Cali tomorrow before my meeting."
She smiled and waved their hands to them before turning her body towards the hall. Nakasunod parin sa kaniya si Maeann at tinatanong kung saan siya pupunta. She honestly answered it and walked downstairs.
'For sure it's about the inheritance and marriage with Kalen. I'm excited.'
She saw Calista talking to some girls na sa tingin niya ay kaibigan nito. She's not familiar with the faces, so she didn't mind them and exit the mansion.
A Buggati Veyron Mansory Vivere she chose to ride is already outside. The driver is standing next to it opened the back seat door when he saw her. She stopped, which made the driver confused. She turned to Maeann.
She took of her coat and give it to her whose eyes widened because of what she did. Ashanti then turned her back to her and said a few words before getting in the car.
"Place it back to my room then you can take your rest. No need to wait for me to go back."
Nang makasakay na ay dali-dali nang sumakay ang driver. "Saan ang location Miss Ashanti?"
"Same place," she answered then took her phone from her purse. There's some notifications on their groupchat, nandoon na lahat ng mga kaibigan niya. They even send photos inside the club that made her more excited to go.
The car stopped infront of the entrance after a couple of minutes. She first glanced at the mini mirror she's carrying before giving the driver a signal to open the car.
Eyes automatically landed on her when she got out of a luxury car. There are some men who tried to approached her but she ignored them and proceed to the entrance. Hindi na siya nagtaka nang hindi hingin ng bouncer ang kaniyang I.D. It's ate Jacelle's club, Jaxon's sister.
Nine PM palang pero ang wild na sa loob. There's so many new faces she encountered pero napigilan niya ang sarili hanggang sa makita ang area kung nasaan ang mga kaibigan niya. She can't flirt to other guys lalo na't ang goal niya ay maipakasal kay Kalen.
She elegantly walked towards them and gave them a peck. Halatang kararating lang din nila dahil puno pa ang mga laman ng bote sa lamesa.
"The birthday girl is already here!" They said and she only smiled at them and took her seat. Si Cayser at Trishza ang nagsasalin sa mga martini glass. Si Jaxon may kausap na mga babae, while the other girls are starting to talk to some hot guys.
"Here, girl! You should be the one to drink first! I will look again for Gabi and Kenny para sa second shot sabay sabay na tayo!" Trishza raised her voice so she can hear her. Ashanti nodded then slowly drink what's on the glass.
She hardly closed her eyes. She can feel the burn running down her throat. It tastes like a cola with lemon and orange juice. What the hell. It's a Long Island Ice Tea for God's sake. She 's thinking if Jaxon is also with them dahil wala namang ganitong drink noong bago ang birthday niya.
' Kaya pala sila Cayser at Trishza ang umaasikaso, gusto nilang malasing silang lahat nang bongga ngayong gabi!'
' Shit, how can I go home in that state?!'
Hindi mababa tolerance niya sa alcohol pero hindi rin naman ganoon kataas. She's sure after five to seven glasses ay babagsak na siya.
She first talked to Cayser while waiting for the girls to come back. After a minute or two, nakita na niya si Trishza na hila-hila sila Gabi at Kennedy papunta sa area nila. She glanced again to the empty glass in her front. Iinom na naman ulit siya!
"Now that you guys are here, we should take a speech for Ashanti before taking our glass. She already drink her's so let's start from Cayden," Jaxon said after the girls he's talking awhile ago left.
"Ba't ako agad?!" Cayser looked at him with his creased forehead.
"Just in case you put a poison there, dumbass!"
"Wala namang nangyari kay Asha noong ininom niya yung kaniya. You asshole, napakabait ko para gawin yun sayo!"
Ashanti nodded and laughed at them. She remembered this part on the past. Ganitong ganito rin but the clothes they are wearing are different, and it happened not in her birthday, but days before she met Kalen.
"Just drink, Cayser! Masamang paghintayin ang beauty ko!" Kennedy crossed her arms in her chest while glaring at him.
"Beauty your ass. Ok, ito na nga." He lift up his glass then looked at me. "Happy Birthday bunso. Isang taon nalang di mo na kailangan ng ID para makapasok sa mga nightclub at di ka na magaala-cinderellang uuwi before 12 midnight. Stay who you are. Wag mo kaming kalimutan kapag nagkaboyfriend ka na di tulad ng isa diyan." He's reffering to Gabi na madalas missing in action dahil strict ang boyfriend. He then drink the whole soda-like drink after his speech.
"Ang lakas mo makabunso, eh kaka-eighteen mo palang naman last month," Ashanti commented.
"Now, it's my turn." Kenny picked up her glass. "Happy Birthday! Grabe ka naman makaflex ng regalo ko, baka magselos yung iba jan," she mocked her while looking at Ashanti's boots.
"Ah, maduga."
"Overreacting Trishza, tseke lang naman binigay mo."
"Shut up Jax, baka ipakain ko sayo regalo ko."
"Ay, pagkain ba niregalo mo?" Gabi joined them.
"Shhhh, guys stop na. Moment ko 'to, wait for your turns." Kenny stretched her arms to shut them. "I'm glad you like it, bawi ako mas bongga sa debut mo. Stay healthy, stay beautiful, stay brat like what you are right now. Ganda ng damit mo ah, kailan ka pa natutong magsuot ng ganyan?"
"True, I noticed it also since she came here. Mas nakakaattract ka ng audience oh." Trishza pointed their left side. Ashanti just rolled her eyes and didn't give a glimpse on them.
"Baka naghahanap ng boyfriend dito sa club," Jaxon said, then the others agreed. She shook her head and plastered a playful smile.
"Nah, my dad will arrange me to his business partner's son soon." She only give some lowkey info, trying to be humble.
Kalen likes someone who is humble, kaya nga niya pinili si Calista over me. Might change the fate now and be like Kalen's ideal.
"The who?" She only shrugged.
Next is Gabi. May lumapit sa kaniyang lalaki pero pinaalis muna nila Kennedy. They all laugh on Gabi's reaction because that man is a jackpot.
"Happy Birthday, girl! Enjoy your remaining year as a minor, find some boyfies before that fiancé thingy of your dad but don't turn to be like me- the mushroom of the squad. I wish you to be happy as always!" The she drink her part.
"Ehem ehem, happy happy happy birthday, sa'min ang inumin, sa'min ang pulutan! Kapag gumawa ng aksyon yang step sister mo babasagin na talaga namin mukha nun!"
Ashanti laughed at her. Nah, if this is the past, she will eventually agree on what Trishza said. But she now has the blueprint of what will likely happen to her up to their debut, she can handle Calista without her friends' help.
"Mic test, mic test." They automatically turned their heads to Jaxon, still sitting but now with a mic on his hand. Almost all of the people in the club stopped dancing, even the loud music faded. Ashanti glared at Jaxon and raised her brow. The hell he's up to?
"As you can see, our friend here, Ashanti, is celebrating her birthday. And because tonight is so special not only for her but also to her friends, we got your drinks. Continue the party!"
"Woooohhh!"
The crowd went wilder than before, habang ang silang magkakaibigan ay nakanganga habang nakatingin parin kay Jaxon.
"What?"
"You jackass, I'm in!" Gabi said then poured her glass another drink. She walked and joined the uproarious party on the dance floor. Looks like her boyfriend just allowed her for tonight so she's already giving her best to make fun again.
They also filled their's just like Gabi and approached people except for Ashanti, Jaxon and Trishza.
Jaxon is busy flirting with new girls and Ashanti is not in the mood yet to dance with others. She turned to Trishza who's having another shot again.
"What's wrong?"
"Asha..." Trishza looked at her with a worry face. "My ex boyfriend is here!"
"You mean Axel?"
She nodded. "Alam mo namang kakabreak lang namin last week, baka sabihin nun handa ko na agad siyang ipagpalit!"
She raised her eyebrow to her. "And so? You and him are already over, it's fine!" She covered her one ear to hear Trishza's answer.
"Yun na nga, itatry ko sana pero nakita ko na naman siya! Hindi ko pala kaya!"
"You know, ang rupok mo. Iinom mo muna yan bago ka kumuha ng bagong lalaki sa dance floor."
They stayed for four more shots. She's starting to get dizzy and to have a mood to dance on the center. They stood up and looked on Jaxon who has a bunch of girls on his both sides, but he shook his head and wave his hand to shoo them away.
"You guys can go. I still have some business in here."
They nodded and walked towards the people. May hawak pa silang martini glass at nakisali sa sayaw. They parted their ways as soon as the music changed. The party got wilder and wilder, maybe because of the time and the people drink more alcohol after Jaxon's sudden announcement.
The guys nearby started to dance with her. She didn't mind. Birthday naman niya and she's not sober anymore. She want's to party more!
"Oh, man. No touching please," she said while swaying her body along with the beat. After a minute, she walked deeper to the crowd. May nakakabungguan siya pero hinayaan nalang niya.
She saw Cayser not from afar surrounded by girls trying to get his attention. He even ignored the hands touching his body. She signed and swayed her body again. Kung may isang bagay na mapagkakasunduan nila Jaxon at Cayser ito ay ang pangbibingwit ng babae. She's thankful she and the other girls in their squad are excemption.
After a couple of minute, she found herself engulfed in the music and dancing unknowingly. She drank the whole glass of her drink and went wild. She can no longer keep up with her senses anymore.
"Cuz we gon' rock this club, we gon' go all night, we gon' light it up, like it's dynamite!" Ashanti sang the line while jumping with others. She can't barely see her surroundings but the beat is ringing in her ears. She more gracefully swang her hips and put the glass unto her lips, trying to scrape the last drop of her drink, but got none.
She scowled. She wants more! She walked, trying to get back to their area. She's even accidently pushed by the people dancing in many directions but still continued to walk.
Now she don't know where the fuck she is. This nightclub is one of the biggest in the town, so it's impossible for her to memorize the areas even she's been there for many times now.
"Shit!"
She tripped while walking. Goodness, she's wearing a stilleto, and she's completely dizzy this time. Fortunately, a pair of arms got her before she could fall.
"There you are."
Huh? Who the hell is this person? The words are cold and it swayed the hotness her body's releasing. She looked up to see who the man that got her, but her vision was completely blurred and the lights were dim.
She tried to stand up but failed and put back on the man's arms. She even heard him said 'tsk' while holding and taking her away from the people.
"Why the fuck is a minor doing here in the club?"
She chuckled and tried to look on his face again. Only some of his features are visible from her fuzzy eyesight. She can see his thick brows only an inch away from each other, and his black eyes glaring at her.
I'm sure it is black, I'm just sure.
Her forehead furrowed while looking at him. Galit ba ito sa kaniya?
"I'm asking you a question. Why the fuck is a minor-"
"So what? I'm here to party!" She raised her voice because of the loud music.
"With that dress?" She could see him eyeing her from top to bottom, then back to her face. Her lips parted in shock. This is the first time someone did that to her!
"How dare you!"
She tried to slip away from him but he tightened his arm on her back. Her body got stick to his', and she can hear her own heartbeat even with the loud beats on their surroundings.
'What the heck, pervert?!'
She wanted to scream, pero alam niyang walang makakarinig at makakapansin sa kaniya. Plus with his unintersted stare towards her, alam niyang wala naman itong gagawin sa kaniya.
"'Wag kang magulo. Para kang uod."
She gasped and looked up. Hanggang leeg lang siya ng lalaki, plus may suot pa siyang 8 inch boots. Hindi siya nito pinansin at kinuha ang cellphone sa bulsa. He's texting to someone for a couple of seconds before putting it back.
"Can you please loosen up for a bit? I don't know you pero ang lakas mong yakapin ako nang mahigpit. Gross."
Just like she said, he increased the space between them, but then he put his hands on her waist. Before Ashanti could react, he tugged some words out to his mouth and pulled her closer to him again.
"Jaxon said yes. I should take you to the hotel now before you dance with some men again like a hooker."