CHAPTER 3

TRENT'S POINT OF VIEW

I MUST be going crazy to see Mike in a different person. No, they couldn't possibly be the same person. He was dead. Mike left me... I saw his dead body and there's no way that he was alive no matter how much I wanted that to happen. In the first place, the band vocalist had a very different personality compared to Mike. One look at him and you could only say one thing: bad news!

"He's so handsome, isn't he?" Mariela said who was so proud of her brother.

"Yeah." It was too late for me to realize what I just said. When I turned to her, she was already giving me a teasing I-knew-it kind of smile. "What?"

"Nothing."

"He's not my type."

"Did I say anything?"

"Your eyes and your smile says a lot of things."

"If you like him, just say so. I won't judge you. I mean, it's natural to like someone like my brother. He's so perfect. Imagine, he's so hot and handsome and he can sing pretty well. He's a perfect catch!"

"Are you selling him to me?"

She chuckled.

"No, of course not. He's straight, sorry."

I didn't know why I felt disappointed. Yeah, I should've known that he's straight. He would never notice a gay like me. Well, I don't give a fuck. As I've said, he wasn't my type. Yes, he looked like Mike but that's it. He could never replace him in my heart.

"Okay," was my nonchalant reply and drank my beer.

"But I could introduce you to him."

"No, thanks."

"Well, he's on his way here. I guess you have no choice but to meet him."

Shit.

He was, indeed, walking towards our direction. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by his every move. Almost all gays and girls inside the bar was looking at him as if he was some masterpiece. I couldn't blame them, though. He was indeed a sight to behold.

I gulped when he stood in front of us. He was probably an inch or two taller than me. Now that he was near me, I couldn't help but feel intimidated. He had a well-toned body which made me imagine (or fantasize) inappropriate things.

"Hey, are you okay here?" he asked Mariela without giving me a glance.

"Yup, I'm cool here," she replied enthusiastically and then held my hand. "I met a new friend here. He's... what's your name again?"

"T-Trent."

My heartbeat tripled when he turned to me and gave me an intense gaze. It felt like I was about to hyperventilate just because he looked at me. God, what was wrong with me? I acted like a teenage fool who caught the attention of his crush.

"Hi," he said with a neutral tone. He didn't sound or looked interested in meeting me. It felt like he just greeted me out of courtesy. "I'm Marco." He extended his right hand to me and all I did was stare at it. Fuck, I was acting stupid.

"Hey," Mariela pinched me which brought me back to reality.

I quickly accepted his hand and shook it.

"N-nice to meet you."

"Same here." If he meant it, I wouldn't know. "Mariela, you stay here until our last set and then I'm taking you home."

"It's too early to go home. I know you guys are going somewhere after your gig. I wanna come with you."

"Nope, not gonna happen."

"You're unfair!"

"I already brought you here, and now you're asking for more? Who's being unfair here?"

It was awkward listening to their conversation but I acted like I was cool with it. I drank my beer again and took out my phone to distract myself. But I couldn't help listening to them. Marco sounded like an overprotective brother who would do anything for his sister's welfare. I found it sweet and touching. How I wished I had someone like him who would care for me and would protect me at all cost. Well, I had one. Until I lost him.

"You're coming, right?" Mariela said while holding my hand.

"H-huh?"

"I said, you're coming, right?"

"Where?"

"We're going to party with the band. It's going to be really exciting, so I hope you could come."

"W-well..."

"You're welcome to join us," Marco said, still sounding so serious.

"I-I'm not sure about that. I just came here to chill for awhile and then I'm gonna head home to sleep."

"That's boring," Mariela commented. "My brother's band know how to party and I'm sure you're gonna love it!"

I didn't know how she managed to make him change his mind, but she did. She was really going to party with his brother's band... and she's taking me with them. Fuck, is this really happening? It's still my first night in Cebu and I already felt like my life was about to turn upside down.

"O-okay," I found myself agreeing.

"Great!"

Marco left us to finish their gig and I was still spacing out. What have I done? Why did I agree to come with them? I barely knew them. What if they're bad people? Well, Mariela looked harmless. But Marco? I swear, he screamed danger!

Before I knew it, we were already at the parking lot of the bar and I was introduced to the rest of the band. They were all very friendly and welcoming but I still felt uncomfortable with them. I don't easily warm up with people. It would take some time for me to trust or get comfortable with someone.

"Don't worry, we're harmless. We don't bite," said Chris with a playful smile. "Unless you want us to."

I laughed softly. When I looked at Marco's direction, I found him still giving me an intense stare while smoking a cigarette.

"Let's go?" said Clyde who was already inside the car.

I sat beside Mariela on the backseat. Luckily, the car was big enough to accommodate all of us.

Clyde started driving and then played a popular rock song which set the mood for the whole drive. Everyone's singing at the top of their lungs, except for me... and well, Marco. He was on the backseat, silently gazing at the window. I couldn't help but feel like he didn't really want me to come. But who cares? I was already there and maybe it was just a one-time thing. I have no interest in being involved with them, anyway. In fact, we might not see each other again after tonight. So I'm just going to enjoy and ignore his cold treatment towards me.

We reached a high-end bar after a ten-minute drive. There were a lot of party-goers inside even though it was a weekday. Everyone was partying so hard, sweats and all. I wasn't used to that kind of scene since I didn't usually go to parties. The lights made me feel dizzy and the crowd was suffocating me. The loud music also didn't sit well with me but I acted like I was okay. I didn't want to spoil the fun especially since I was an outsider in their group.

"Are you okay?" Mariela asked when we sat on a sofa in the VIP section.

"Yes," I lied.

I looked at the drunk people who were dirty-dancing in the dance floor. I didn't know what's gotten into me but I suddenly imagined myself doing that to Marco. I felt my cock hardened at the mere thought of touching his body while grinding in front of him. But I mentally slapped myself for imagining that. No, no! I couldn't think of flirting with him. I shouldn't get attracted to Marco. He wasn't good for me and I wasn't good for him either.

Hard drinks were served and I took one shot just to take my mind off of Marco. I shouldn't be fantasizing him. We just met. I barely knew him, for pete's sake!

Everyone's having a good time. The band members were really party animals because it looked like the club was their natural habitat. Like they were born to party and drink hard. Of course, I wanted to be like them even just for a night. So I took another shot and then another until I lost count of the shots I took. Before I knew it, I was already dizzy. My head was spinning and it was hurting like a bitch.

"Excuse me, guys. I need to go to the comfort room."

I didn't wait for their response and just got up and walked towards the rest room. It was hard since I could barely walk because I was too dizzy. I gave a sigh of relief when I finally reached the rest room. I shut the door and faced myself in the mirror.

"Shit, I'm so drunk." I took my cellphone out of my pocket to book a Grab car. I should just go home and rest. I shouldn't have come with them. Partying was a bad idea since it wasn't really my thing.

"Going home?"

I froze when I heard a familiar voice behind me. When I looked in the mirror, I saw Marco grinning at my reflection. Damn, he looked so fuckin' sexy I could cum just looking at him. But I need to get my shits together. Yeah, I was drunk but I shouldn't let logic leave me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, facing him.

"I followed you."

Why did he have to be so straightforward?

"W-why?" I was growing nervous.

"You know why." He stepped closer to me and then held my hips. I've uttered several curses in my mind because of our proximity. I could feel his breath already... a mixture of mint, cigarette and alcohol. Fuck!

"M-Marco..."

"You want to kiss me, right?"

"W-what are you talking about?"

"James... I'm going to kiss you so hard. But before that, I want you to know that when I kiss, there's no room for breathing. So brace yourself."