A Valentine's Night in Cebu City Takes a Dark Turn
In the bustling district of Panaghiusa, Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City, Amador, a forty-year-old bachelor, has a routine of unwinding at the Dolce Vita Resto Bar every Saturday night. Working at a large industrial gas factory, he finds solace in the youthful and attractive GROs, having formed casual relationships with several. However, one GRO, Valentine, has captured his particular interest, leading him to orchestrate a meeting on this special evening.
The Allure of Valentine
According to a waiter he befriended, Valentine is of German descent, with her mother having returned to Germany, leaving her in Cebu under the care of her Filipino father, a soldier who died in an encounter with rebels in Negros. Amador, preferring a free-spirited lifestyle akin to a butterfly flitting from flower to flower, sees Valentine as his next conquest. On this Saturday, which coincides with Valentine's Day, he arrives early, ordering beers to pass the time as the bar fills with patrons.
Soon, the GROs emerge from their dressing room, and Valentine approaches his table, dressed in a tight black mini-skirt that accentuates her figure. Amador, having tipped the waiter earlier to arrange this, feels a surge of anticipation. She greets him warmly, insisting on using his first name, and orders a bottle of Champagne. They toast to friendship and her birthday, with Amador cleverly deducing the occasion from her name.
A Night of Intimacy and Horror
The band plays a soft sonata, and they dance closely, with Amador embracing Valentine without resistance. He whispers a suggestion to leave for a more private setting, and she agrees, mentioning they can go to her place where only she and her elderly grandmother reside. After returning to their table for more wine, Amador probes about her relationship status, and she admits to rejecting suitors, not wanting to be tied down. Encouraged, Amador sees an opportunity.
At Valentine's room, they share an intimate moment, with Amador satisfied by her skills. He falls asleep contentedly but awakens at midnight to the chime of a nearby church bell. To his horror, Valentine has transformed into an old woman with hair that has turned into snakes. She cackles, declaring her hunger for his blood, and embraces him tightly as the snakes bite into his neck, causing him to scream in agony.
