Saturday Nights

It has always been the darkness that enticed me. The black background amidst the sudden flash of light blinding me as I groove on the dance floor. That invisible fluid carrying a distinct aroma of combined smoke, sweat and perfume emanating from people all around. Yes, it's the anonymity of a Saturday night out in a place where strangers gyrate their bodies together, forming one pool of temporary bliss, that keeps me high and upbeat.

***

There's nothing like feeling the conditioned air as the bouncer checks out your pockets, as you part that thick curtain separating the world outside from that within, as you scan the dance floor for people you know and people who you might be interested to know, as you climb that staircase to the bar on the second floor, as you order that first bottle of beer before heading to your usual place, and just hanging out while exuding an aura of both confidence and shyness.

There is something to be said as you begin to settle down and become aware of the new surrounding, as you begin to take notice of what track is being played, as you begin to move your body to the beat like it has been programmed ever since.

Then just as suddenly, subtle movements become insufficient. You take your next bottle of beer and your body begins to sway more, your words come out too slow, your movements become careless, and yes, carefree.

Then you gulp your next bottles of beer without you noticing it, until you become tired of your usual hang out place. Then you decide to descend the stairs and dig in the dance floor just beside the ledge, where you dance like you've never danced before, hands up in the air, whole body swaying with the beat, feet step dancing, lips mimicking the song, and jumping up and down with careless abandon as you and the people around you shout at the top of your lungs when the music reaches its chorus.

The whole place rocks as you feel your whole world rock with it. Then you feel the sweat trickling down your eyes, caressing your cheeks, kissing your lips.

And you realize that it's time to rest.

So you retreat from the dance floor, and head to your favorite spot upstairs, near the walkway where everyone passes by. The best place to see and be seen. You compose yourself, wipe the sweat off your face, tug on your clothes and resume being both confident and shy.

Until you see that one person at the corner of your eye.

That one person you know you will want to get to know more that night. You stare as that person stares back, feeling the sexual tension between you, romancing the electrifying tug of that two meters in between.

Then the music slows down, the people around you fade in the background. All you think about is bridging that distance between you and that hot person giving you the sexiest look you have ever seen. You take one step, the person another, and like the swirling lights of that club that night, you take that person deeply entwined in your arms.

And then you kiss.

Hard. Passionate. Euphoric.

The black background amidst the sudden flash of light has given you the dance floor. The invisible fluid of combined smoke, sweat and perfume has led you to the one. The anonymity of a Saturday night out, in a place where strangers gyrate their bodies together, has kept you high and upbeat.

All else is forgotten. Nothing exists but the hit of the alcohol and the fleeting allure of the moment. Nothing remains but the darkness that enticed you in the first place. Only this time, it has served its purpose.

You have sealed your conquest for the night.