Chapter 2 2

Chapter Two

"Sometimes the person you fall for, is not ready to catch you." - Pinterest

Later, Jerry and I met our bestie Julie at Burger King. We decided to grab some burgers before going to the bar. Jerry was at the counter ordering food for us when I told Julie about the deal.

"Hook up with a random guy? Oh gosh, Kate, you're in for a trap. When was the last time you entertain a man in your life? Four years ago?" Julie looked puzzled.

"Aha..."

"My goodness, I can't imagine. You could end up with playboy." Julie looked puzzled.

"You're right." My lips twisted with distaste. "With a probability of 99%"

"Exactly. Are you sure you're into it? You hate playboys."

Hate was an understatement. I really hated playboy's. My dad was a rotten playboy with strings of mistresses in every corner of the country. He used to be a book salesman and travelled as often as he could. He enjoyed his job, got good commissions and had the pleasure of hooking up with his customers.

Mom found out about his infidelity and talked to him about it, but he was the one who got so mad, cursing mom and calling her an ungrateful bitch. After too many arguments, he left us and totally cut off his relationship with us. No financial support, no contacts, visits or whatsoever. He easily forgot about us and after a year, he got married again to a filthy rich socialite. They even have a daughter!

Mom was heartbroken-- so did I. I was five years old at that time and being left by my dad who made me believe that I was his princess and most precious one was so painful. Every time I had a birthday, I kept on waiting for him to come, or to call or just send a note, but nothing. He forgot about me. He hated mom and he hated me.

Mom is right. He's a cheater, a liar and a rotten playboy.

"Kate?" Julie snapped her fingers in front of my face. "You're spacing out!"

"Sorry, I just remember something." I swept my straight black hair over my shoulders before I continued. "Don't worry, I'm positive I'll win again. Think of the two months rental in the apartment that I could save for a new car."

"I totally agree. You have to dispose that car, you spent too much already having it repaired all the time." Julie suggested.

"Just a few bucks more for the down payment."

"In case you'll win, I'm willing to give you my share of the apartment."

"Please no, Julie. You have a bigger problem. Your mom will need it for her medication."

Julie's mom suffered Lupus illness and recently, her condition was getting worse. Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue.

"Thank you, Kate. You've been very helpful to us from the very start. I don't know how I would survive without you."

"Don't think about it, we're sisters, right?"

"Absolutely. Sisters from different mothers."

We laughed and I could not help reminisce how our friendship started. Julie and I had been best friends since I entered university. We were both scholars and took the same course, Bachelor's Degree in Marketing. We've been classmates and shared the same struggle in life – the hardship of being raised by a single parent with no enough food in the table. It was so easy to relate to her. We worked and studied pretty hard to keep our scholarship program.

"By the way, this deal about Michael... what's the chances of winning?"

"101%."

"Good."

Both of us giggled, feeling victorious already.

****

To our disappointment, it didn't take too long to find out that Michael was gay. We opened the app Grindr, the world's largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans and queer people to connect. We saw Michael's profile, looking for a man.

"This is unfair. You know all along that Michael is gay. You already searched his profile on Grindr right?" I accused Jerry for tricking me into this deal.

"Of course not, bitch! Why would I do that? I'm not interested on Michael. To be honest, I go for a more manly look. Tall, dark and oozingly handsome. I don't waste my precious time on the likes of him. He's so pale... like a Zombie. Is it true that he auditioned on the Walking Dead movie?"

"You're so harsh, Jerry. The first time you saw Michael, you said he was your type. You're a fickle minded queen bitch!" Julie backfired at Jerry.

"That's right. Michael ignores you that's why you're salty." I seconded.

Jerry's eyes widened and we all roared into laughter.

"Don't torture Kate, she's your cousin." Julie said after we finished our burgers, bringing the topic back to the deal.

"Why would I torture her? In fact, I'm helping her get over her phobia with men." Jerry answered then sipped on his glass of coke soda.

"Excuse me? I don't have phobia with men." I defended myself.

"Okay, let me rephrase it. You hate men. You bitch is a certified man-hater."

"Nope, I don't hate men, mother bitch! I hate playboys not men."

"But you think, majority of the men are playboys. Right?"

"Come on, Jerry. You know damn well why. You were there... you saw it."

"Yeah... yeah... your dad is a playboy who left you and your mom miserable and penniless, then there's your pathetic low self-esteemed favorite teacher who attempted suicide because of her playboy ex, and your favorite celebrity couple who were both polygamous in nature broke up because of the same reason, and your first love, the narcissistic prince charming Toni Babinski who turned out to be a playboy..." Jerry flipped his ash blond hair then pointed at Julie, "and here comes this bitch... yes you Julie, your experience became an addition to her intense hate on playboys."

"Don't blame me." Julie glared at Jerry.

"Shut up bitch, of course I'm blaming you. You're so stupid you won't listen to us. Remember when we caught Ethan in the mall with another girl, you pretended that you haven't seen him."

"Okay! I was stupid, you don't have to point it out on me again and again. I learned my lesson now." Julie almost shouted at Jerry. "Can't you see I'm still hurt! Your constant reminder won't help me forget about that jerk!"

Yeah, they looked like they were fighting, but it was normal to us. We were brutally honest with each other, we called each other bitches, stupid, assholes and other mean words, but that's how we were as best of friends.

Jerry gave Julie an apologetic look. "Aww... sorry sister." His attention shifted at me easily. "Anyways, back to our topic, I just want to help you, Kate. Think of it... how many men you know personally are playboys? Not even ten. I don't understand why in the world you think that majority of the men are playboys? Literally, I don't see any logic there, that's why I want to help you get over that notion and start entertaining men."

"I don't want to argue with you now, or we'll end up going nowhere." I held my arms together under my chest and set my condition. "Okay, but I'll be the one to choose the guy."

"Sure, no worries." Jerry agreed. "And you have to get his number."

"Is that necessary?" Julie interrupted Jerry.

"Of course. How can they contact each other again?"

"Okay, I'll get it. I think that's easy." I was too sure of myself.

Jerry's eyes gleamed and answered. "Let's see."

***

We arrived in the bar at nine thirty in the evening. Jerry drove us there using his pink Mazda 3 2014 model.

It was an exclusive bar for very high-class people located within the vicinity of the New World Hotel. The parking lot was like a showroom of very expensive cars, mostly Bugatti, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

There was a lobby when we entered the bar with modern and elegant furnishings. Smaller chandeliers were placed in every corner of the ceiling and the biggest at the center near the main door. Big soft padded couches were at the sides with huge marble tables.

Jerry's boyfriend, Roy who worked as a bouncer greeted us. He showed us inside the bar where the action was. Loud music greeted us when he opened a double swing door that resembled those in the movie theatres. I could smell the combination of liquor, cigarettes, leather, perfume and food.

Immediately, I recognized the DJ onstage playing the music live. It was Zedd! Instantly, the three of us became very excited and euphoric!

"Let's dance!" Julie shouted behind the deafening music.

"Later!" I yelled back. "We have to find a table first."

We got a table and settled happily on the soft padded couch. Roy gave us complimentary ladies drinks then left us to go back at his job.

Later, we joined the people crowding upfront DJ Zedd, dancing and drinking tequila. The three of us forgot about the deal and just let the night flew. All we cared about was the fun that we were had and DJ Zedd.

At eleven, we were a bit tipsy so we decided to chill and go to the lobby. We need to clear our brain and relax our ears from the loud music. We sat down on the stools of the stand up table near the door where the party was going. We were talking and laughing when the main door suddenly opened. My jaw dropped open when the hottest guy I've ever seen in my whole life entered.

Oh my God...

Clean cut jet-black hair that glistened under the chandelier, looked like he was freshly out from the shower. He looked like a model... no a movie star, like the young James Bond in his very white shirt with the top button opened and black dinner jacket.

No, not James Bond... much much more. His sex appeal made me breathless. When he moved, he resembled a panther-- walking towards me in slow motion.

Is he walking in slow motion? Or I'm only imagining it.

His eyes were like of hawk, so dark and compelling. He had a chiseled face like that of a Greek god, so captivatingly attractive, a perfect nose and beautiful lips. I wondered how it felt to be kissed by that lips.

My heartbeat stopped when his eyes caught mine. Oh no... he caught me staring at him. But for some reason, I could not take my eyes off him, liked I was possessed by godly good looks.

He continued walking to the door to the party, but his eyes were on me. When he entered, I was able to relax.

"I saw that. I saw that..." Jerry snapped behind me.

"Me too. Oh girl... what's that all about?"

"You're a flirt! You're staring at that yummy specimen like you're going to have him for dessert!" Jerry giggled. "I thought you're a man-hater..."

"Shut up Jerry." I stopped him from talking by covering his big mouth.

"He's so gorgeous! Who is that guy? A celebrity?" Julie asked.

"I don't know. Maybe a model?" I answered.

"Yeah, he looks like a pin up centerfold model. Hmm... I think I saw him in a magazine in Calvin Klein brief." Jerry interrupted us.

"Really? Where? Let me see!" Julie giggled.

"Stupid, I'm just kidding. Come on, let's go inside and find that godly human being so we can worship him. Hurry girls!" Jerry snapped his fingers and we followed him towards the door of the party... the same door leading to my soul's death.