HOW DO I CONVINCE HIM to accept our company’s offer? Lily tapped her fingers on her lips.

Nakapalumbaba siya sa pang-isahan at bilugang bar table. Nakatitig sa kawalan. Bahagyang nakatuwad dahil nakakangalay tumayo ng tuwid sa suot niyang peep-toe high heels na pula. For her comfort, tinukod niya sa mesa ang mga siko.

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng shift ni Lily sa trabaho, sa malapit na bar siya dumiretso. The old school rustic bar she headed to has a quiet warm ambience to it. Low lights, detached servers (since they do not ask a lot of informal questions) and peaceful customers.  She had a few drinks because they effectively calm her nerves. On her third flute of a finely bubbled champagne, she was finally ready to brainstorm a solution to her dilemma. Iyon ay kung paano magagawa ang iniatang sa kanya na trabaho ni Miss Jackie.

I can’t even convince him to fuck me. What more about this team building thing?

Umalis siya sa pagkakapalumbaba at dinampot muli ang flute ng champagne. She tiny bubbles fizzing in her drink.

“You texted me,” tayo sa tapat ng mesa ni Jared.

Napamulagat siya. Sa gulat, hindi malaman ni Lily kung ano ang gagawin. Dadamputin ba niya ang nilapag sa mesa na blazer para isuot ulit? Iinom ba muna siya ng kaunti bago magsalita? Susuklayin ba niya ng mga daliri ang buhok?  Maybe she should pull down her skirt a bit. Or should she check the straps of her top?

Ah, fuck it.

“You’re early!” tuwid niya ng tayo.

He eyed her from head to toe. How she wished this beast would show even a very little hint of appreciation for her pink pencil skirt and sleeveless, satin cowl neck top that was tight around her waist. Her shoulders were smooth and bare, since she took off her pink blazer that rested neatly at the side of the table.

She just could not help herself. Her talking went on as she picked up her champagne flute.

“To be honest, I am more of expecting that you’ll never come,” she took one sip for additional courage.

Additional courage because Jared was right. Kailangan niya talaga ng kapal ng mukha para lang makaharap ito.

“You said it’s about work.”

“And that is enough to convince you to see me?” taas niya ng isang kilay dito.

“I am here now. Isn’t this what you want?”

Napatitig lang siya sa panlalamig nito sa kanya.

“If so, why are you still complaining?” patuloy ni Jared. He also stole away the flute from her hand.

Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mga mata.

“I don’t trust people who drinks while I talk to them,” lapat nito ng flute sa mesa. “Let’s go somewhere else.”

“What place do you have in mind?” she smirked playfully.

“Not the one you’re thinking,” masungit na lagpas nito sa mesa.

“Jared, wait!” kumahog ni Lily, muntik pa niya maiwanan ang blazer sa mesa.

Sinundan niya si Jared. At dahil nakapwesto ang pinanggalingan nilang bar sa isang shopping centre kung saan magkakatabi lang ang iba’t ibang kainan, mabilis na nakahanap si Jared ng malilipatan nila. He stopped by the door of a dainty chocolatier café flooded by warm mild yellow and beige as seen through the glass walls that surrounded it. Nang lingunin siya nito, abala na si Lily sa malaking bear na nakaupo sa isang upuan. Stuffed toy iyon na display sa labas ng mismong chocolatier café. She bent down and smiled while eyeing it. Was it a typical girl thing to automatically stop by when something cute caught their eye? Age doesn’t matter. If it’s cute, a girl or a woman like her would drop everything and take a look.

She felt the weight of Jared’s stare. Nang masalo ang matiim nitong mga mata, naalala niyang nandito siya para sa Variant, hindi para mamasyal at mas lalong hindi sila nagde-date ngayon ni Jared.

Nagde-date? Goodness, Lily Celeste! Kung saan-saan na naman napupunta ang imagination mo!

Iniwan niya ang higanteng bear at lumapit sa binata. Isusuot sana ni Lily ang blazer nang pagbuksan siya ni Jared ng pinto.

He turned to her, giving a look that wordlessly meant she should get in.

Binalik niya ang blazer sa pagkakasabit sa kanyang braso at taas-noong pumasok sa café.

Lily walked in and stopped in the middle of her tracks.

Her nose immediately wiffed in the scent of warmth. And coffee. And milk. And chocolate.

The scent of them altogether is heavenly.

No. It is more like… homey. It felt so cozy, so warm… so comfortable.

Pigil niya ang paghinga nang maramdaman sa kanyang siko ang kamay ni Jared. Tinangay niya nito, inalalayan papunta sa kulay beige na vinyl seat katabi ng salaming pader. As soon as he gently released her elbow, Lily immediately occupied the seat. Meanwhile, Jared took the other across the table.

Habang naghuhubad ang lalaki ng maroon nitong suit, ginala ulit ni Lily ang mga mata sa paligid.

“This reminds me of Belgium,” her face brightened, still looking around. “I mean, the scent of this place. It’s warm and chocolatey and fuzzy.” She returned her eyes on him. “You know what I mean?”

Doon lang niya napansin ang makahulugan nitong titig. For some reason, Jared seemed to soften. Nawala ang bakas ng panlalamig at pagsusungit sa mukha nito.

Nginisihan niya ito. “Let me guess. Is this about Belgium?”

Nanghuhuli at nanunukso na ang tingin niya rito.

“I actually thought this is a wholesome place. Where you won’t get ideas to harass me. Kaya dito kita dinala,” walang gatol nitong wika.

Ah, too much for assuming. Lily decided to recollect herself.

“Should we place some orders? You might be in a hurry. If so, I can just get straight to the point,”  she crossed her legs then leaned against the backrest of her seat to angle her body in a position that would hint the shape of her thighs, make it visible in Jared’s line of sight.

“Ikaw ang bahala. You go ahead. Pagkatapos mo, ako naman ang oorder.”

She smiled at him graciously. Maingat lang siya kumilos ngayon sa ngalan ng trabaho sa Variant. As much as she hated her siblings and cousins there, Lily didn’t want to get fired. Kasi kung matatanggal siya sa Variant, paano pa niya maiinis doon ang kanyang mga kapatid at pinsan?

Oh, Jeanie’s annoying face. Lily shook it off from her mind the moment she reached the counter of the café. Binati siya agad ng staff na nasa likuran niyon nang mapansin niya ang glass display ng mga caramel apples.

“Wait,” taas niya ng isang kamay para silipin ang display.

Upon seeing the line of sweets inside the display case, Lily got an idea.

I actually thought this is a wholesome place. Where you won’t get ideas to harass me.

Sure. Magpapaka-good girl siya ngayong gabi. But that doesn’t mean, ititigil na niya ang Operation: make Jared fuck-me-so-good again. Ititigil na niya ang pag-harass dito. Kukunin niya ang loob ng lalaki sa mas low-key na paraan.

Ilang minuto pa at may pinggan na ng tatlong assorted caramel apples si Lily. He beverage of choice was an iced salted caramel served in a transparent hurricane glass. Nakalapag naman sa harapan ni Jared ang isang tasa ng kape.

“Americano?” Lily guessed from the strong aroma coming from his cup.

Ngayong wala nang suot na suit blazer si Jared, kitang-kita ni Lily ang navy blue nitong polo. Gustong-gusto niya ang fitting niyon sa matigas na… katawan ng lalaki. The way their sleeves were rolled up to his elbows just emphasized how strong and steely his upper arms are. She smiled at how his silver watch wrapped around his wrist… the slight hint of bulging veins on his forearm.

“Maugat ka yata,” salo niya sa mga mata nito.

She didn’t know where Jared was staring, but he was caught off-guard by her voice and shifted his gaze to meet her eyes.

“Maugat?” salubong ng mga kilay nito.

“I mean, your arms,” she playfully smiled before leaning toward the table to reach her hurricane glass.

Jared didn’t seem conscious, but checked his forearms anyway. Nakatitig pa rin siya sa mga mata nito habang dahan-dahang sinusubo ang may katabaang transparent bendable straw.

“I’ve been writing a lot,” dahilan nito at medyo nagulat nang mahuling nakatitig siya rito.

Lily did not back down though. Why would she? Her intent is to tantalize him with her gaze. She slowly moved her lips, gently sucking the straw like a proposal of how she will take good care of his dick if he gives in to her again. Then, she pulled a small smile from her lips.

Leaning on that table for a drink, Lily also made sure her chest was low enough to pull down the cowled neckline of her top. She had to show a hint of her cleavage to put her point across very subtly.

The point? She’s not yet giving up.

“Writing a lot about what?” she nudged. Kunwari, hindi siya aware na napatitig sa kanya si Jared.

“Work-related,” he dismissed.

But Lily would not let up that easy.

“Your hands sure are overworked…” double-meaning. Before Jared accuses her of seducing him again, Lily steered away. “Why not use a laptop?”

Dinampot ni Jared ang tasa ng kape. Pigil niya ang matawa sa isiping napapainom na ito. Wala pa nga siya masyadong nasasabi sa lalaki. And look, she already got him stiff. Hopefully, stiff within his pants too…

“Some things are better done traditional,” anito bago sumimsim ng kape.

“Speaks a lot about your preference when it comes to romance.” Tumuwid siya ng upo. “Because the contemporary ways burned you once?”

“I believe,” baba nito ng tasa, composed na ulit, “we’re here to talk about Variant?”

He smiled like a victor. Akala yata ng lalaki, kontrolado pa nito ang pag-uusap na ito dahil nakikisakay siya rito.

“Ah, yes,” hawak niya sa stick kung saan nakatuhog ang isang caramel apple na balot ng dark chocolate. She lifted it up, holding it like a lollipop. “Ini-insist ng magaling kong Kuya na ikaw ang ma-hire na psychologist sa pag-assess ng mga activities sa gaganaping team building sa December.”

“Is this by chance, involving something personal?”

“Pinagkakaisahan nila ako, Jared. So, the least you can do is… tanggapin na lang ang offer.”

“What will I get from it? Because, honestly, I am not motivated by money,” he maintained a sense of calm, almost ignoring his Americano.

Dinampi ni Lily ang caramel apple sa pang-ibabang labi. Panay ang padampi-dampi niya niyon doon at nahuli niyang pinanood iyon saglit ni Jared. When he realized what he was doing, he focused on her eyes.

Magaling talaga na lalaki.

Hindi siya makapaniwala sa self-control nito.

“I’ll stop harassing you.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito. Ni hindi man lang tinago ng binata kung gaano ito hindi kakumbinsido.

“Look. As much as I hate my brother and everyone in Variant, hindi ko na sila maiinis kapag natanggal ako sa company. I prefer that than harassing you.”

She did not really intend to harass Jared. It wasn’t even what Lily was doing. She only wanted to seduce him. But since, harassing is how Jared termed it, she’s using it so he wouldn’t contradict her.

And if a person cannot contradict you, he starts to lower his guard. At iyon ang puntirya ni Lily.

“I mean, there’s a lot of men in The Org.”

His jaws tensed. It was so sexy, Lily didn’t even hide her smile.

“And for your ease,” dagdag pa niya, “hindi ako a-attend sa team building. Para makasigurado kang hindi kita guguluhin sa oras ng trabaho mo para sa Variant.”

“No need for that,” his calculating eyes probed hers. Dama niyang sinisikap ni Jared himay-himayin ang posibleng tumatakbo sa kanyang isip ngayon. “Kapag hindi ka-um-attend, baka kung ano ang isipin ng mga tao. Just act normal. That there’s not a single thing between us.”

Hindi naman masyadong masakit ‘yon. Lily remained poised. Sa inis din niya kay Jared, walang anu-anong sinipsip niya ang tuktok ng caramel apple. Kung hindi lang ito masyadong malaki para sa bibig niya, sinubo na niya ng buo ang apple at sinipsip habang pinapaikot-ikot sa bibig niya na parang lollipop.

Lily licked her lips. Ah, the slight bitterness of the dark chocolate touched her tongue.

“Okay,” payag niya rito. “So when are you going to Variant? To finalize the deal?” she flipped her hair back before leaning back on her seat. Tinodo na talaga niya, muling pinagpatong ang mga hita sa kinauupuan. Sinadyang itagilig ng kaunti ang katawan para pansinin ng lalaki ang gilid ng kanyang hita. Then she began licking the caramel apple with her tongue. Slowly spinning it as if she was toying with her treat.

Jared remained stiff on his seat, not budging at all to her subtle hints. Her actions would only hold his attention for a few seconds then lose it without getting any significant reaction from him. The more Jared looked stern and grave.

“Kung si Miss Jackie ang magha-handle niyon, pakisabing hihintayin ko ang email niya. Paki-indicate kung kailan at anong oras at saan. She knows when my available schedules are. Kaya bahala na siyang mag-set ng meeting namin para diyan.”

Her mouth dropped open. Bakit mas alam pa ni Miss Jackie ang schedule ng lalaking ‘to!?

Inubos ni Jared ang kape. “I’m going now.”

Lily blinked. Ayaw niyang pigilan si Jared. Baka isipin na naman nito nangha-harass siya. She just promised him not to do it anymore, all for the sake of the goddamn Variant.

Ingat, piping hatid niya ng tingin sa lalaking nakatalikod sa kanyang direksyon.

His hand clutched his maroon suit blazer tightly as he left her there.

Tinitigan ni Lily ang hawak na caramel apple.

We can have great sex again, Jared. And when we do, that will mean you still love me and don’t care about the past anymore… That will mean we can start over again.

For the very first time, while staring at this poor dark chocolate-coated caramel apple, Lily started addressing her true feelings about this event. This is what she really feels. This deep longing. Some regrets. Being in love still and at the same time, all over again.

Sex is the thing that brought her and Jared together once. Now, it is inevitably the only thing she can use to get him back. Because it is easier to believe she's only horny instead of saying she loved him... and still feels the same after all these years. Kahit nga siya mismo, ngayon lang pinaniwalaan iyon. Ngayon lang kung kailan sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon naramdaman na naman niya ang pagkadurog mula nung muli silang nagkita ni Jared.

This crushed feeling as salty and sweet  as her iced salted caramel drink. As bitter as the dark chocolate-coated caramel apple she was eating alone, that replicates her heart accurately. He apple heart, coated by bitter deception, hiding the caramel truths that was so hard to just brush off of her history.

Sometimes, she wishes that she was only horny. Because that would be easier to deal with.

She bit the caramel apple, teary eyed as she looked at the glass door. Wala nang bakas ni Jared sa paligid.

Ang tanging naiwan na lang ay ang ininuman nitong tasa ng kape. Kapeng kasing pait ng pakikitungo nito ngayon sa kanya.
.

.

JARED GOT INSIDE THE TAXI. Pagkatapos sabihin sa driver kung saan siya dadalhin, nasuklay niya paitaas ang buhok. He panted under his breath in an effort to keep it low-key. Because damn, he could still feel himself harder than wood. Pagsayad ng likod niya sa sandalan ng sasakyan, rumagasa ang pag-alala sa mga nangyari kanina.

“To be honest, I am more of expecting that you’ll never come,” Lily took a sip from her champagne flute. Then her moist lips parted. Hot. Medyo nakatuwad pa ito para maitukod ang mga siko sa mesa. Sexy.

You think I can’t come without you, Lily? I just came. Two times this afternoon. Pagkauwi ko. Pagkatapos ko malaman kina Beta na gusto mo akong maka-sex, he thought before replying briefly.

“You said it’s about work.”

Then, it was followed by another flashback.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

“What place do you have in mind?” she smirked playfully.

The Org. The Org. The Org. The devil kept whispering that relentlessly in his ears.

“Not the one you’re thinking,” masungit na lagpas niya sa mesa ng dalaga. Nagmadali siyang maghanap ng lugar kung saan sila pwede mag-usap ng maayos.

Lugar na maglalayo sa kanya sa makasalanang imahinasyon.

As he closed his eyes, the memories became intense.

“Maugat ka yata.”

Hay. Uugatin talaga siya sa babaeng ‘yon.

“Pinagkakaisahan nila ako, Jared. So, the least you can do is… tanggapin na lang ang offer.”

“What will I get from it? Because, honestly, I am not motivated by money.”

Right now, he is motivated to have sex. Real, rough, slamming-the-wall, bed-creaking, back-breaking sex.

He remembered how she flicked back her short hair with air of self-assurance. How she leaned forward, so generous to share a view of her breasts to him. How she crossed those thick, sexy thighs. How she pulled different kinds of smiles for him throughout the interaction. How her gaze pulls him in. The way those lips sipped champagne, wrap around a bendable straw and pull a liquid out from the glass. The way she licked that dark chocolate-coated caramel apple.

She’s playing dirty. Trying hard to be subtle, but I know you, Lily. I know you…

Gigil na nasuklay na naman niya ng kamay pataas ang buhok. Nahilamos din niya dala ng matinding frustration ang sariling mukha.

“I mean, there’s a lot of men in The Org.”

 His jaws tensed again, the same reaction he didn’t know he showed when Lily actually said that.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mas nakakaturn-on. Ang isiping may katotohanan ang sinabi ni Lily, na maraming iba pang lalaki sa paligid nito na kaya nitong maka-sex. Such a turn-on because it only awakens the beast in him, the desire to prove her wrong by fucking her to death. O nakakaturn-on ba dahil isiping nagsisinungaling lang ang babae? Alam na alam naman niyang sa kabila ng dami ng pwedeng makaniig nito, siya at siya lang ang hinahabol-habol nito. Whether she loves him or not, the fact still remains that he would always be the greatest fuck she ever had and will ever have.

“Shit,” he hissed under his breath, feeling his cock slick with pre-cum.

He could not believe he was getting near to cumming. All because of thinking of that woman!

Tinuon na lang ni Jared ang tingin sa labas ng bintana. His heart, his head, his cock— they were all pounding… throbbing simultaneously and hard.