LOUD music, blinding disco lights, and screams greeted Lien and her friends when they entered Daily Dews. It was always jampacked during Friday nights. Good thing they were patrons, so they managed to make a reservation.

“Why do you have to reserve a table for six?” Gigi asked upon reaching their table.

“I invited a friend, and he’s coming with his cousins.”

Vince asked her earlier if he could bring his cousins with him, and she said yes.

“Your friend is a he?” Unique’s eyes widened. “Is it Darren?”

Gigi slapped Unique’s arm.

“Do you think Darren would still hang out with her when he’s married?” Gigi turned to her. “So, Lien, who is he?”

“You know what, we should take out seats now and order.” Lien pulled a chair.

Soon after, Lien’s eyes caught a familiar build walking towards their direction.

“I’m sorry we’re late,” Vince apologized as soon as he reached them.

“It’s okay. The night’s still young, though.” Lien turned to the two guys who came with Vince. “Are they your cousins?” she asked.

“Ah, right. These are my cousins, Ford and Astron. They are here for vacation,” Vince introduced the two.

Unique and Gigi giggled as the two shook hands with them. Lien just shook her head and laugh.

“Have a seat,” she said. “You can order whatever you like. It’s my treat.”

She tapped the chair beside her, inviting Vince to sit. But he remained standing; she was surprised he took his jacket off and put it on her lap, covering her exposed thighs.

“You should not roam around in town wearing a skirt like that.” He finally took the seat.

So, he was a conservative type.

Gigi cleared her throat, shifting eyes on them.

“Ah, that was sweet,” Astron teased.

But they did not get any reaction from Vince. He just raised the menu that covered his entire face.

Then suddenly, the music stopped. Lights were turned on, and the manager came up on the makeshift stage.

“Good evening, everyone! Welcome to Daily Dews TGIF night. If you are a patron, you already know that we always had these little segments every day to give you a lot more entertainment and to give you a treat, right? So, for this Friday night, we will be having a karaoke night. But here’s the catch. Whoever got the highest score, your tables bill is on us!”

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! This is great!” Gigi said excitedly.

“Lien, you should sing,” said Unique.

“Me?” Lien pointed to herself.

“Yeah. Among the three of us, you’re the most thick-faced who can manage to sing in front of everyone.” Unique wagged her brows.

“That’s slander.” She pouted her lips and looked at Vince.

“Girls, you don’t have to worry. My hyung here will save the day,” Astron butt in. “Vince is a great singer.”

“Yeah. We better have him registered,” Ford said as he rises from his seat.

“Can you really sing?” Lien asked Vince.

“They’re liars,” he said.

She scratched a brow. “Maybe this is our last time coming here.”

IT WAS Vince’s turn to sing. Lien felt nervous because he said that his cousins are lying. But he pushed through it. Maybe he wanted to have some fun.

The music started playing. She was not that familiar with the song.

“You got holes in your jeans and a few in your heart. You don’t know what it means to me to watch you fall apart. `Coz you’re broken and bruised, but I can hold you, girl. I’ll take you in my arms tonight, just me and you…”

Lien’s forehead creased. It seemed to her that Vince was the liar and not his cousins. He hit the notes right, and he could sing really well.

“Baby, in a heartbeat, I’ll take you with me. I just wanna get to know ya. You’re throwing me offbeat, so I can’t breathe. I just wanna get to show you. If we’re fallin’ apart, I will fight for your heart. I can be your shield. I’ll fight on the field. Baby, when life gets colder, I’ll be your soldier… Na-na-na-na-na… I’ll be your soldier… Na-na-na-na-na…”

Her heart almost jumped out of her chest when Vince turned to her. Their table was too near to the makeshift stage; she could see him clearly. There was something in his eyes that makes her heart flutter.

“Just put up your arms, and you’ll be alright. `Coz, the world is like a battlefield. But I’ll be here to fight. I see the scars and your wounds. I’ll try to heal them too. I’ll take you in my arms tonight, just me and you…”

And why does it feel like he was talking to her through the song? Every word fitted her. Did he choose that for her?

Soon, Vince finished the song. When his score appeared on the screen, their tablemates rejoiced. He got the highest score among those who participated.

“Congratulations!” they greeted Vince in unison when he got back.

“So. Technically, this is Vince’s treat because he’s the one who wins the karaoke challenge,” said Gigi, who was now grinning from ear to ear.

“Right,” Unique agreed. “You should treat us differently, Lien. You promised!”

“Hey, I didn’t even know that this would be the case!” She turned to Vince. “And he’s a liar. He said he’s not that good.”

Vince just shrugged and took a sip of his beer.

“Let’s just say that the odds were in favor of me tonight.” He beamed.

“From now on, I won’t believe everything that you’ll gonna say.” She narrowed her eyes on him.

Vince laughed and patted her head.

Lien shoved his hand away. “Why do you always do that? I am not your pet. If you miss your cat, go home and pet him all day, all night.”

His brows furrowed. Vince looked puzzled for a moment. But soon after, he was able to recover from confusion.

If truth be told, Lien wasn’t offended that Vince pet her like that. The feeling was so rewarding, though. But there was one thing that bothers her the most. Each time Vince would do that, her heart would hammer hard against her chest. It scares her; she thought it would burst.