The team gathered at the bustling Lamp Quarters in Marikina, the evening air filled with the chatter of diners and the mouth-watering aroma of street food. The warm glow of string lights hung overhead, casting a soft light over the table. Though most of the team was relaxed, enjoying their night out after a long day at the headquarters, a bit of tension lingered between Dominic, Glaiza, and Dezer.
Dominic, leaning close to Glaiza, whispered, "Hey, about earlier… I'm sorry, okay? I got carried away."
His voice was low, barely audible over the lively atmosphere of the bazaar.
Glaiza, her expression still showing a trace of irritation, didn't look directly at him.
"You should've thought it through before pulling something like that. Do you even realize the trouble you could've caused?"
Her tone was sharp but quiet, not wanting to draw attention.
Dominic, shifting slightly, nodded quickly.
"Yeah, I know. It won't happen again. Promise."
He glanced at her, hoping to ease the tension.
Glaiza, still clearly annoyed, sighed.
"You better make sure it doesn't."
She turned her eyes briefly toward Dezer, adding,
"And don't think I've forgotten about you either. Next time, be smarter."
Her words were indirect, but the meaning was clear.
Dezer, trying to defuse the situation, grinned sheepishly.
"Got it. I'll be more careful next time."
His tone was light, attempting to keep the conversation from getting any more uncomfortable.
Looking for an escape, Dezer smoothly shifted to the other end of the table where Hiro and Ricardo were deep in conversation about music. He jumped in, eager to change the subject.
"So, what's this about Asking Alexandria?"
Hiro, glad for the new participant, grinned.
"We were just talking about how 'Reckless & Relentless' still slaps. Ever try playing any of their stuff?"
Ricardo, nodding, added, "Or Alesana's 'The Emptiness'? That album was chaos in the best way. I've been hooked for years."
Dezer, eager to fully immerse himself in the lighter topic, grinned.
"Man, don't get me started. I've been trying to nail their solos for months. Impossible, but worth it."
He mimicked a guitar riff in the air, earning a few chuckles from Hiro and Ricardo.
While Dezer joined the rock band conversation, the rest of the table was caught up in their own activities. Roy was busy showing Danilo guitar tutorials on his phone.
"Check this out," said Roy, holding his phone up for Danilo to see.
"If you practice these basics, you'll get the hang of it in no time."
Danilo, watching intently, asked, "Think I can pull this off by the weekend? I've got something to prove."
Roy laughed lightly. "You'll need more than a weekend, but you'll get there. Just don't rush it."
He patted Danilo's shoulder as they both continued talking.
Meanwhile, Angelica sat engrossed in her phone, watching an episode of Tulfo in Action. Her face showed a mix of disgust and disbelief.
"Sick bastard got his own daughter pregnant," she muttered, loud enough for those near her to hear.
"At least they caught him."
At the same time, Zark remained quiet, scanning the crowd at the food bazaar with his usual detached air. His focus never seemed to waver from his surroundings.
Noticing this, Jojo leaned over and nudged Zark.
"Hey, man, relax. Jason Cheng's people aren't even in Manila anymore. You're safe."
Without taking his eyes off the crowd, Zark responded coolly.
"It's not about them being gone. It's about staying ready."
Jojo chuckled and shook his head.
"You're too tense. No one's after you here."
Further down the table, Lawrence caught a bit of Dominic and Glaiza's conversation and decided to jump in.
"What are you two whispering about? Mind if I join?" He smirked as he leaned closer.
Glaiza shot him a teasing look.
"Think you can handle a girl like me, Lawrence? I'm not exactly tame."
Lawrence, grinning, replied, "Depends on what kind of wild we're talking about."
Dominic, now more relaxed, leaned back with a grin.
"Trust me, Lawrence, you're not ready for this conversation."
The group laughed as playful banter spread around the table, the light-hearted atmosphere of the food bazaar helping them unwind after a long day. As their conversations continued, the team found themselves relaxing into the night, enjoying each other's company with no immediate worries to pull them away.
Jobert's Night Escalates
Meanwhile, across the city, Jobert's night was taking a different turn.
As the night at The Revel progressed, the energy between Jobert and the two women intensified. Leading them toward a more secluded corner of the bar, Jobert smirked, fully aware of the direction the night was headed. His earlier conversation with the second woman had already set the tone for what was to come.
With a playful grin, Jobert leaned in closer to both women and said,
"How about we take this party somewhere more private? My hotel's just around the corner."
The suggestion came smoothly, with an air of confidence that hinted at the night's escalation.
The woman he had arrived with chuckled softly, her hand sliding up his arm.
"Your hotel? You think you can handle the both of us?"
She shot him a teasing look, daring him to follow through on his boldness.
The second woman, who had been the one to suggest the threesome earlier, raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"I hope you're ready, Jobert. We don't do things halfway."
Her voice was low and sultry, laying down the challenge with a gleam in her eye.
Jobert, grinning, leaned back slightly, looking between the two of them.
"Wait, wait—let's get this straight. I wasn't the one who suggested this."
He let his eyes flicker between them playfully.
"You two came up with this idea. So whatever happens, you better be satisfied with my performance."
He laughed, the teasing lilt in his voice clear.
The woman next to him giggled, lightly tapping his arm.
"Don't worry, we'll be the judges of that."
Jobert smirked, confident as ever.
"Let's see what the night brings."
He signaled to the bartender, paying for their drinks quickly.
"Let's get out of here."
As they stepped out into the cool night air, the lights of BGC glittered around them. The women continued to tease and laugh as they slipped into the back of a taxi. Jobert sat between them, the anticipation building.
The woman closest to him leaned in, whispering in his ear,
"You'd better not disappoint us, Jobert."
He smirked, leaning back into the seat with confidence.
"Trust me, I won't."
The taxi sped toward his hotel, the city lights flashing by as the night continued to ramp up in intensity.
Late-Night Temptations – Lamp Quarters
As the night deepened at the Lamp Quarters, the group's playful banter continued, though Lawrence couldn't shake his curiosity about the earlier whispered conversation between Glaiza, Dominic, and Dezer.
Leaning in with a grin, Lawrence asked, "So… what would I need to do to get in on the 'secret activity' next time?"
Dominic laughed, shaking his head.
"Man, you really want to know?"
Dezer smirked. "It's not as simple as you think, Lawrence."
Glaiza, enjoying the teasing, leaned closer.
"First, drink more pineapple juice. It'll make everything sweeter."
She winked, clearly still referring to their morning encounter.
"Trust me, I learned the hard way with these two."
Lawrence, looking confused, raised an eyebrow.
"Pineapple juice? Why not just keep things… inside?"
Glaiza's smile faltered slightly, her eyes narrowing playfully.
"Inside? You think that would've made it better?"
Her tone was sharp, though still light-hearted.
Lawrence, realizing he'd stepped into tricky territory, quickly raised his hands.
"Okay, okay, I get it. Pineapple juice it is."
Dominic chuckled. "Smart choice."
As the group finished their meal, the atmosphere relaxed once more. One by one, the other members made their way back to their respective hotels, leaving just Glaiza, Dominic, Dezer, and Lawrence behind. Exchanging knowing glances, the four of them slipped away to the nearest hotel to continue their 'activity,' away from prying eyes.