*****
Naglalakad palabas ng kanilang bakuran si Pierce para katagpuin ang mga kabarkada sa isang bar. Nauna nang umalis ng bahay si Clarisse para sa dinner appointment nito. Based on the usual boring outfit she's wearing, he's quite sure na work related nga ang pupuntahang dinner ng abogada. Kaalis din lamang ng babae at inutusan pa nga siya nitong ilabas ang kanyang sasakyan na nakaharang sa driveway. Dahil may lakad na rin siya di na siya nag-abala pang ipasok muli ang kotse sa garahe sa halip ay ipinarada na lamang ito sa tabing kalsada.
Before he entered his car, inilabas niya muna ang cellphone upang tawagan ang isa sa mga kaibigan.
"Pierce."
He stopped dialing at mabilis na nilingon ang pinanggalingan ng medyo pamilyar na boses. He almost couldn't believe for what he saw. Scarlet is standing right accross the street beside a post light while looking at him intently. Napakurap siya ng ilang beses upang masiguradong hindi siya dinadaya ng mga mata. At nang matiyak na ang babae nga ito, napapangangang lumapit siya dito.
"W-What are you doing here?" hirap maniwalang tanong niya.
"H-Hi!...I came to see you," she said with a hesitant smile.
Pierce gazed at her beautiful face keenly. Down to her luscious neck, to her slim body and to her sexy long legs. She's wearing a button pink and white floral blouse, turquoise flowy short skirt and a pair of white wedges. Damn! The missing goddess is truly making an apparition in front of him.
Gusto niyang imbitahan ito sa loob ng bahay subalit naisip niyang baka biglang bumalik si Clarisse at mahuli sila. Iginala niya ang mga paningin sa paligid upang tiyaking walang mga matang nakatingin. Then he held her wrist and invited her inside his car. Binuhay niya muna ang makina at aircon saka hinarap ng maayos ang tahimik at kiming katabi.
"How are you?" he asked in a gentle manner.
"I'm okay.." she answered with bit of uneasiness.
Ngayong nasa tabi na ni Pierce ang babaeng hinahanap-hanap, he can't deny that excitement starts to engulf him. And just by the mere thought na kasama niya ito sa loob ng sasakyan, unti-unti niya nang nararamdaman ang pagtaas ng temperatura ng kanyang katawan. But as much as he wanted to express his desire, pinili niya munang magpakagentleman. Pagkatapos ng hirap na pinagdaanan niya sa paghahanap sa dalaga, he'll not do anything na ikaka-offend nito sa mga sandaling iyon. Iiwasan niyang umalis na naman ito nang walang anumang ibinibigay na impormasyon tungkol sa sarili.
He decided to listen for what she has to say. Ramdam niyang may rason kung bakit kusa siya nitong pinuntahan. Binuhay niya ang ilaw sa sasakyan matapos mahalatang naasiwa ang babae sa may kadilimang paligid. The car is darkly-tinted so he doesn't worry much na may makakakita sa kanila sa loob.
"Why do you want to see me?"
Hindi agad nakasagot si Scarlet. Ano nga ba ang ginagawa niya sa tapat ng bahay ng lalaking mahigpit niyang ipinagbilin sa sariling kailanman ay hindi na pwedeng makita? She fought hard against her longing to see him again but the impression he left was unfathomable. Hinahanap-hanap niya ang lalaki at walang araw na hindi ito sumagi sa kanyang isipan. And everytime she thinks of him, she could feel her blood rushing into her viens. She hates herself for this. That one night stand was supposed to be a mistake she should condemn as well as the man who lured him to it. Pero hindi ito ang nararamdaman niya. Her heart is thumping whenever she thinks of that steamy night they had.
Ayaw niyang isiping may namumuo siyang pagtingin sa lalaking isang beses niya lang nakita. She loves Lance deeply and there's no chance that a mere stranger can be his rival to her heart. Pakiramdam niya habang patuloy niyang iniisip si Pierce ay patuloy siyang nagiging masamang girlfriend sa lalaking totoong iniibig niya. Plus the fact that Pierce is involved to a woman who's connected both to Lance and herself would only make the situation worse.
Napagdesisyunan niyang makipagkitang muli sa taong nagpapagulo sa kanyang isipan. What she'd gone through was a big mistake kaya once and for all tatapusin niya na ito. She wanted to prove to herself na wala siyang nararamdaman sa isang estranghero. Maybe everything happened out of curiosity at kapag nasatisfy niya na ang sarili ay kusa nang mawawala sa utak niya ang lalaki.
Pero ano nga ba ang nararamdaman niya ngayong nakita niya nang muli si Pierce?
The moment she set her eyes again on his manly face, agad na naglaro sa kanyang isipan ang maiinit na mga sandaling kanilang pinagsaluhan. When he grabbed her wrist earlier, right then ramdam niya na ang umpisa ng panghihina ng kanyang mga tuhod. At ngayon ngang katabi niya na ito, she's aware that everything inside her is starting to melt. There are two words that can only describe her now. Captivated again.
"I talked to your wife..." she started while trying her best to conceal her nervousness.
"Who? Clarisse?" kaswal na tanong ni Pierce.
"B-Bakit may iba ka pa bang asawa?"
Natawa ang lalaki sa tanong at pagkuway bumuntong-hininga. "What a misfortune. Ah! Bakit ba naging kaibigan pa niya ang isang espesyal na babaeng nakilala ko?" kunway sabi nito sa sarili nang puno ng panghihinayang.
Napalunok si Scarlet. She could feel the warmth in his sigh. At tila nakakahawa ang init na yun dahil dahan-dahan itong lumilipat sa kanyang katawan.
"Is that what she only told you? That I'm her friend?"
"Yes. Besides hindi magsasabi yun ng anumang bagay tungkol sayo because she definetly won't give me the chance na mahanap ka. She strongly warned me not to see you again."
"So is it a big mistake to see me again now?"
Napatitig bigla si Pierce sa kausap. Her question seemed to be flirtatious in his ears. But after seeing her shy face, he knew he got it wrong. Napatingin siya sa mapupula at tila'y nang-aanyaya nitong mga labi. Right there and then, may nagtutulak na sa kanyang halikan at tikmang muli ang mga ito. But he reminded himself. If he wants her to become his regular woman, he needs to act nice and gentle. Mabilis niyang iniwas ang mga mata bago pa man siya tuluyang matukso. He turned his head to his left and looked at the window. Pagkatapos ay pasimple siyang bumuga ng hinga.
Nang medyo humupa ang nararamdamang init, saka lang siya muling humarap sa babae nang may tatawa-tawang reaksiyon.
"I will never consider seeing a lovely woman like you as a mistake. I take it as a privilige instead," sagot niya sa huling tanong nito.
Sumagot ng tipid na ngiti si Scarlet.
"You don't love your wife, right?"
Natigilan siya sa diretsong tanong ng babae.
"And I think she doesn't love you too," dugtong pa nito.
Pierce was dumbstruck for a moment but later on natawa siya sa kaprangkahan ng kausap.
"What makes you say that?" He smirked.
"Dahil kung mahal mo siya you won't feel comfortable sleeping with other women. And also when your wife talked to me, although she told me not to meet you again, I didn't see any ounce of jealousy from her eyes."
Bahagyang nasagi ang pride niya sa huling binitawang komento ni Scarlet. He inclined his chair a little and leaned comfortably habang diretso lamang ang tingin sa harap. He's starting to get displeased sa itinatakbo ng kanilang pag-uusap.
"And also how can a married couple have two separate rooms?" malumanay na dagdag pa ng babae.
Napapabuntong-hiningang tumingin si Pierce sa kausap. "Is this the reason why you wanted to see me? To lecture me about my unfaithfulness to your friend and to discuss about our unusual marriage relationship?"
Scarlet slowly shook her head. "N-No...I just want to hear something that could help me ease my guilt."
"Then what else is your reason for suddenly showing up in front of me?" he asked directly.
"I-I'm here because..I-I think I miss you," mahinang bigkas ng babae habang diretsong nakatingin sa mukha ng kausap.
Napaangat ng likod si Pierce mula sa kinasasandalan matapos marinig ang matapang na pag-amin ng dalaga. He was speechless for a while as he stared her blushing face. Tinitigan niya ng ilang sandali ang babae upang pakiramdaman kung nagsasabi ito ng totoo until he noticed some sparks of fire from her eyes. At that moment, alam niyang wala ng dahilan para magkunwari pa siya.
"Same here," he replied.
He held her nape without hesitation and pulled her closer. Agarang hinalikan niya ito ng malalim and relished the sweetness of her lips na kaninang-kanina pa niya gustong matikman muli. He could hear his heart pounding at ramdam na ramdam niya ang mabilis na pagkalat ng apoy sa kanyang katawan. Pinatay niya ang ilaw sa loob ng sasakyan. And when she kissed him back, his aggressiveness started to grow. Sa tindi ng pananabik niya sa babae, he thinks that there's no room yet for him to be gentle. He took out his tounge and explore every part of her mouth. And as she took out her tounge too, he tasted it while halfly sucking it.
Scarlet wrapped her arms around his neck. Heavenly! Why is he so good even in kissing. His kiss alone is enough to make her brain locks. She doesn't want him to stop. She's in full admission now na hinahanap-hanap niya ang mga haplos nito. She longed for his touches that glided all throughout her body. Gusto niya uling maranasan ang nakakamamatay sa sarap nitong pagroromansa.
Hindi mapaghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi na para bang sinusulit nito ang pagitan ng mga araw ng hindi pagdampi sa isa't isa. But Pierce couldn't wait to do more. His hand cupped her breast and unbuttoned her blouse. Bumaba ang mga halik nito sa kanyang leeg and lick every part of it.
"Ooooh Pierce..." she moaned with eyes closed.
Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Scarlet sa lalaki. Palipat-lipat ang mga kamay niya sa ulo at batok nito. He fully unbuttoned her top nang hindi man lamang ito tumigil sa paghalik sa kanyang leeg. And then she felt his hand unhooking her bra while the other is crawling down in her thigh. She's wearing a strap bra so he couldn't removed it easily.
"Undress your top," he commanded with heavy breathing.
She followed without hesitation. Tinapon niya sa sahig ng likurang upuan ang hinubad na blouse. While she's still taking off her bra, he lifted her skirt and drew her closer to him. At bago pa man niya tuluyang matanggal sa katawan ang hinuhubad na saplot, napaigtad siya nang maramdamang nasa pagkababae niya na ang kamay ni Pierce.
"Ooohh..." ungol niya habang itinatapon sa sahig ang hinubad na panloob.
He slid his hand inside her underwear and slowly rubbed her womanhood. Scarlet started to become feverish when his lips went down to her breast kasabay ng pagbilis ng naglalarong kamay nito. He licked the top of her breasts in circle with the same motion and rhythm as how he played with her clit. Napasabunot siya sa lalaki. With the pleasure she's giving her, paano gagana ang natitirang katinuan sa kanyang pag-iisip?
"Ah!" she gasped as he sucked her nip and slid his two fingers inside her.
He thrusted his finger inside and out habang palipat-lipat ito sa paghalik sa magkabilaang tuktok ng kanyang dibdib. She wanted to scream in pleasure but she couldn't. Alam niya kung nasaan sila kaya't napapakagat na lamang siya ng madiin sa labi habang kumakawala ang kanyang mga impit na daing.
He removed his finger inside her at marahang ibinaba ng dalawang kamay nito ang kanyang underwear patungo sa kanyang tuhod. Then his hand went back between her thighs at muling ibinaon ang mga diliri sa kanyang pagkababae. Nababaliw siya sa tindi ng sensasyong nararamdaman. She put down her panty on her own and opened her legs wider. His hand is moving faster.
"D-Don't stop..." she begged.
His lips moved to her ear. He kissed and licked it wildly. Gosh, everything he does is perfectly in rhythm. She's totally on fire at ilang sandali lamang ay tanging ang nangingibabaw na lang sa nararamdaman niya'y ang nakakabaliw na sarap na hatid ng naglalarong kamay ng lalaki. Dahan-dahan niyang iminulat ang napapapikit na mga mata at noon ay nakita niya si Pierce na tumigil na sa paghalik. He's silently watching her enjoys what he's doing. Naaninag niya ang nakakapasong mga titig nito habang pinapanood siya.
"Like it?"
"Aahh yes..."
"Open your legs wider," he whispered seductively.
Sumunod naman agad siya at kasabay ng pagbuka niya sa mga hita ay ang pagbilis pa ng kamay ng lalaki.
"Ahhh..."
"Faster?"
"P-Please," she begged habang napapaarko ng katawan.
But he slowed down and teased her instead.
"What's your name?"
"S-Scarlet..."
"Your whole name."
"Ahhh I can't give to you."
Unti-unting bumilis ulit ang galaw ng kamay nito.
"Bakit hindi pwede?"
"B-Because it's not right ahhh," she answered while arching. " W-What we're doing is not right ahh..."
"Is it because you're Clarisse friend?"
The speed of his hand is making her wild again. Napapaindayog na rin siya upang salubungin ang galaw nito.
"Ahh not only that but this is cheating....a-and I know everything is going to be temporary."
"Do you want it to become permanent?" he teasingly asked habang lalong binibilisan ang paglabas-masok ng mga daliri.
"Aahh oh my.... t-that's not possible...ahhh Pierce!"
"Why not? My marriage to Clarisse obviously won't last that long. You can wait, right?"
He slid another finger inside her at muling isinubsob nito ang mukha sa kanyang dibdib. She almost screamed for what he just did kaya naman hindi gaanong pumasok sa utak niya ang huling sinabi nito.
"Does it hurt?" he whispered with worries while licking back her nipples.
"A bit but it feels even better ahhh," she gasped as the pain and pleasure is mixing inside her.
Bumilis ng bumilis pa ang galaw ng kamay ng lalaki and she knows she's coming closer to her peak but before it happens, Pierce stopped.
Muli siya nitong hinalikan ng malalim sa mga labi. He lifted her and asked her to sit on his lap. She willingly obeyed. Medyo masikip ang espasyo kaya't mas i-dinecline pa nito ang upuan. He made her unbuttoned his pants and unzip it. She could feel how hard he is already. She slid his hand inside his underwear and stroke his manhood. He's enjoying it since she hears some moans from him. Now it's her chance to return the favor. She didn't stop stroking him until he told her to stop.
Ibinaba nito ng bahagya ang pantalon kasabay ng underwear. He grabbed her from behind and made her sit on his hardness. She hesitated for a while and he noticed it.
"Don't worry I won't get off inside," kusang sabi nito.
She trusted his words so she did what he asked.
"Ahhh!" she moaned as she feels his hardness inside her.
He touched her behind and pulled her even closer.
"Do the movement honey," he instructed.
She understood what he meant kaya't dahan-dahan siyang umindayog.
"Ohhh god you're good," mahinang ungol nito while stroking her breast.
"Faster honey," utos ulit nito.
She followed and she's getting crazier as he's perfectly meeting her rhythm while sucking her breast. He even slapped her bottom's cheek if he wanted her to go faster. Bumilis lalo ang pag-indak niya and he's starting to get wilder too. He's biting her nip and his grips in her breast are getting tighter. It's slightly painful but sensually enticing.
"Ahhhh.. Give me your number...Ahh I want to see you again Scarlet."
"Ohhh later," she answered habang mas lalo pang binibilisan ang galaw niya.
His phone rang but no one minded hanggang sa paulit-ulit nang may tumatawag dito.
"Ohhh Pierce I think someone is calling you," she said however it didn't make her stop moving.
"Don't mind it. Mga barkada lang yan ahhh..."
He gripped her behind hardly and didn't stop licking her breast. Scarlet feels that the fire inside her is about to blast. Binilisan niya pa lalo ang pag-indayog until she thinks nothing can make her stop anymore.
"Ooohh my... I think I'm coming Pierce."
"Ahh go ahead but please don't stop."
Napakagat ng mariin sa kanyang labi si Pierce upang pigilan ang sarili na huwag sabayan ang pagsabog ng babae.
"Oh...ohhh, oh my god Pierce! Ohh my ahhhhhh!...."
Tinakpan ni Pierce ng kamay ang bibig ng babaeng nasa rurok ng kaligayahan. Kinagat nito ang kanyang kamay upang makaiwas sa pagsigaw. Her body is in full arc and she's gasping for breath. At nang maramdaman niyang tapos na ito'y saka naman pinagbigyan ang sarili. He started pounding her again her while pulling her from behind.
"Ahhh keep moving honey," utos niya habang walang pag-aatubiling sinusunod pa rin siya ng babae. "Oooh faster."
"Y-Yes Pierce..."
"Ahhhh..."
He's about to explode. Mabilis niyang iniangat ang katawan ng babae and removed his manhood inside her. He let her stroke it until he climaxed. And then he unhesitantly spread his juice on her stomach.
"Ahhh....Scarlet, your awesome honey," impit na ungol niya habang dahan-dahang humuhulas ang matinding sensasyon naramdaman.
Scarlet slowly climbed down from his lap at tahimik na bumalik sa upuan. Both had taken an amount of time para makabawi sa matinding pagkahingal. And in a while, inilabas ni Pierce ang isang box ng tissue mula sa glove compartment and he gave it to her.
He quietly pulled up his pants at pinunasan naman ng babae ang sarili. She put on her clothes at pagkatapos ay muling sumandal sa upuan nang may seryoso ng mukha. It's obvious that her guilt is starting to engulf her again. She sighed many times.
Napansin ni Pierce ang agad na pagseseryoso ng kasama. Binuksan niyang muli ang ilaw at tinitigan ito.
"Guilt?" kusang tanong niya.
Tumango ang dalaga nang may mapait na ngiti.
"Don't think too much about my wife. She won't definitely mind it that much even if she'll learn. Kaya lang siya nagkakaganyan ngayon not because I'm having an affair but because she's more worried that as her friend you might involve yourself to a wrong person. All we need is be careful. Ni hindi mag-aaksaya ng gintong oras ang taong yun para pagdudahan tayo."
She sighed again at sabay tawa ng malungkot. Humalukipkip siya at tumingin sa kausap. She wanted to tell him it's not his coldhearted wife whom worries her but it's the man who's beside his wife most of the time now.
"Can we keep seeing each other?" Pierce boldly asked.
Sumagot lamang ng matamlay na ngiti si Scarlet. She can't say yes but she can't say no too. She doesn't trust even herself anymore.
"Scarlet..."
"I don't know Pierce. What's happening right now is something that I'd never thought na mangyayari sa buhay ko."
"I'm not asking for a commitment. All we need is to meet whenever we miss each other."
"Let's see if we'll both miss each other again. After tonight, who knows na baka mawalan na rin tayo ng gana sa isa't isa," nakahalukipkip na sagot ng babae.
Muling tumunog ang cellphone ni Pierce at hinayaan na naman itong mag-ring.
"Aren't you going to answer your phone? Kanina pa may tumatawag sayo."
"Mga kaibigan ko lang yan. They're waiting for me in a bar but why would I go kung kasama ko na ang taong naging dahilan kung bakit gustong kong lumabas tonight," ngingisi-ngising katwiran ng lalaki.
"Shouldn't you check it at least?"
Walang ganang tiningnan ni Pierce ang cellphone para matigil lamang ang kausap. He received several calls from same unknown number. Nakatanggap din siya ng text mula sa nasabing numero. Tanging nakasaad dito ang pangalan at address ng isang restaurant.
Nagsalubong ang kanyang kilay. Were they distracted simply because of a wrong calls? Ilalapag na sana niya ang telepono ngunit muli siyang nakatanggap ng text.
'Atty. De Silva is having dinner with a man right now in that place.'
Natigilan siya sa nabasa. At pagkuway natawa siya ng bahagya. So? Why would he care about that woman having dinner with another man? She's always eating outside with men. It's part of her job. Besides, he won't waste his precious time with Scarlet para lamang puntahan ang babaeng mamaya lamang ay makikita niya na uli.
Muling may dumating na isa pang text.
'She's having dinner with Kurt Barredo.'
Pansamantala siyang napamaang. Kurt Barredo? Of course he knows who he is. He's Clarisse ex-fiancee. According to her family, he was the man she loved the most but hurt her the most too.
Unti-unti siyang napaisip. Why would she meet with that man suddenly?
"Who called? Is it important?" tanong ni Scarlet.
Binitawan ni Pierce ang cellphone at napipilitang ngumiti. "Nothing. It's one of my peers asking about something."
Hindi makatiis na muli niyang dinampot ang telepono at kunwa'y tinitext ang nabanggit na kaibigan.
'Who's this?'
Agad namang may dumating na sagot.
'Lance Perez.'
Wala sa sariling naibato niya ang cellphone sa harap ng manibela. Medyo nairita na siya sa naunang nabanggit na lalaki ngayo'y mas lalo siyang napikon sa huling pangalang nabasa. Why would this assistant care that much kung nakikipag-dinner man ang boss niya sa ex-boyfriend nito? Dinampot niya ulit ang telepono at inulit basahin ang mga natanggap na mensahe. Pagkatapos ay muli niyang inihagis ang cellphone sa tapat niya sabay hawak sa kambyo ng kotse.
"Care to go to another place?" may bahid ng pagkairitang tanong niya sa kasamang babae....