LILY'S LIPS STRETCHED HER SIGNATURE WICKED SMILE. Although wicked, instead of fear, it stirs excitement within any man's chest... and pulsing arousal. That particular smile spelled danger, the kind of danger that happens in the bedroom. The kind that men like Stuart enjoy.

Gabi na. Medyo stressful and bungad ng Lunes kay Lily sa trabaho, kaya pagkaalis ng office diretso club siya para mag-unwind. Other people find quiet, aesthetic cafés relaxing, but for her, it's more relaxing in places like this club. Maraming tao. Halos lahat ay masaya- nagtatawanan, naghaharutan, at nagsasayawan. Samantala sa mga café, mas nako-conscious siya. Natatakot na kaunting ingay lang na gawin niya ay sa kanya na ang punta ng tingin ng mga tao roon. Kumpara sa club kung saan halos hindi siya pinapansin ng mga tao. Everyone mind their own business there, get drunk and party. And that's it.

People stereotype clubs as chaotic places, when for Lily, every corner of it is just like the real world. Be smart and careful about the people you talk to and the drinks you take. If you played your cards right, the payoff will be enjoyment and a memorable experience.

"Come on," Stuart drew himself closer. "Your name, sweetie."

His fingers tickled her beneath the chin. Napapangiting inihilig niya ang ulo, dahilan para sa pisngi niya lumapit ang mukha ni Stuart. Sumilip ito sa kanyang mukha.

"You already called me sweetie, Stuart. What would you need my name for?" ngisi niya habang nakatitig sa hawak na martini glass.

Hangga't ganito kalapit si Stuart, hinding-hindi aalisin ni Lily ang mga mata sa kanyang inumin. Mabuti na ang maingat.

The music kept on booming. The lights were sharp, colorful and playful on the dance floor while it remained a mellow and soothing purple and red within the bar area.

Ngumiti ang lalaki, pero sa loob-loob nito ay sobrang nafu-frustrate na sa kanya.

Paanong hindi? He had been flirting with her for almost half an hour. At parang wala pa rin silang patutunguhan. Lily played along with his shallow compliments and inquiries how she was enjoying the club, the music or her drink.

And yet, she seemed uninterested.

"I don't think you came here just to leave alone, don't you?"

Tinitigan niya na ito sa mga mata. "Stuart, baby, listen," binagalan niya ang pananalita para tumimo sa isip nito ang mga sasabihin niya. "Hindi por que nagpunta ang isang babae sa club ay dahil gusto niyang may kasama siyang lalaki paglabas. Okay?" She gently pushed him with a point finger by the chest to create a distance between them. "I just want to be alone. I just entertained you because I don't want to be rude. Not sure if you're too stupid to get a hint, o abusado lang talaga kayong mga lalaki."

His face distorted in a blend of upset and disappointment.

"Just say it. You're just playing hard to get."

"Reasoning ng mga lalaking hindi makatanggap ng rejection," she scoffed with her head held high. Nilapag na niya sa bar counter ang martini glass at inalis ang clutch bag na pink mula sa pagkakaipit sa ilalim ng braso.

Bago pa nakasagot si Stuart, naglabas na siya ng cellphone. Sinadya niyang bukas ang flash niyon nang itapat sa lalaki. Galit na tinabig nito ang kamay niya. But too late, she already snapped a photo.

"What the hell!"

"Try to do something I don't like, and this photo will go somewhere you don't like," banta niya bago ito tinalikuran.

Lily just got to do that. May mga lalaki kasi sa club na makulit. Na kung anu-anong kabastusan ang nagagawa lalo na't lango na sa alak. She encountered way a lot of those kind of men, sometimes women too, that fending for herself has already become a routine.

Habang palayo sa bar, naramdaman niya ang pag vibrate ng cellphone sa kamay. Nang masilip ang caller ID ni Walter sa screen, binilisan niya ang mga hakbang. Mas malapit ang ladies' room kaysa sa exit ng club, kaya doon muna siya dumiretso.

"Walter," sagot niya sa tawag.

In her background were a group of girls fixing each other's make-up. Umiiyak sila sa hindi niya malamang dahilan. May dalawang babae rin sa bukas na cubicle ng isang palikuran. Inaasiste ng isa ang kasama nitong panay ang suka sa toilet bowl.

Kabadong hinintay niya ang sasabihin ni Walter sa kabilang linya. Kabado dahil hindi naman siya tinatawagan ng lalaki. He only calls her phone during emergencies. Most emergencies involve Beta. It could be little things though, such as Beta asking Walter a favor to call her. Para magpasama sa kanya sa mga pupuntahan ng kaibigan.

You okay? I hear people crying.

"Oh, yes. Heartbreaking, right? Women don't deserve to cry," she smiled bitterly at her own reflection in the mirror. Her figure is sexy, hugged tightly by a hot pink tube, body-con dress. Napakaganda ng kanyang make-up at blonde-dyed na buhok, pero walang buhay ang ngiti at mga mata.

Natahimik si Walter. She decided to laugh a little to relieve any tension or worry she caused him.

"Sorry. I'm in a ladies' room in this club, so..." she sighed. Her other hand gripped on the clutch bag she was holding.

Okay. I just called to let you know that Jared wants to meet you.

Parang kumupas ang kulay sa kanyang mukha. "Jared?" she slurred, as if awakened too soon from a deep sleep.

Ah, yes. That's the name of the guest who wore the dick costume.

She was speechless. Si Jared? Pumayag makipagkita sa kanya?

Walter convinced Jared to do that?

Napalunok siya.

Teka. Ano ang mga pinagsasasabi ni Walter kay Jared? Nabanggit ba nito ang mismong mga dinahilan niya rito kaya gustong makita si Jared?

Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.

From the Halloween party, basag ni Walter sa namagitang katahimikan sa kanila. Remember? The Halloween party at The Org?

Akala yata nito nakalimot siya kaya natahimik. She faked a laugh.

"What? Remember?" she stumbled upon words before she managed to say something. "Of course! Of course, I remember." She shook her head and saw how tensed she looked at the reflection in the mirror. "I remember..." panghihina ng kanyang boses... at loob. "I remember him."

Sa restaurant ng The Org kayo magkita. Sa Sabado raw. I'll also send you his number, so you two can talk about what you want for your first meeting.

Habang nagsasalita si Walter, kitang-kita ni Lily ang pagluluha ng mga mata. She bravely handled her emotions. Hindi niya hinayaang pumatak ang mga luha. Lalo na kung para lang iyon kay Jared.

Never. She will never shed a tear for any man, ever again.

I also forgot to tell him your name, so I guess, it's better if you introduce yourself to him. Hindi ko muna binigay kasi, baka magbago ang isip mo tungkol sa pakikipagkita sa kanya.

Kaya pala... Kaya pala pumayag makipagkita si Jared.

"Sige." Medyo nanginig ang kanyang tinig kaya lumunok siya. When she spoke again, the strength of her voice returned. "Sige, ibigay mo na lang ang number niya sa akin."

So, it means... you are still interested to meet him.

Bakit? Parang kakaiba ba? Hindi ba usual dahil nakilala siya ng mga ito na makalipas lang ang isang araw o ilang mga oras ay nawawalan na agad ng interes sa isang lalaki? Her bitter smile became so broken and pained it reached her teary eyes.

"Yes. What's wrong with it, Walter?" she challenged.

Well, as Beta's friend, I am giving you a heads-up. Baka hindi siya 'yung tipo mo.

Walter is right. Si Jared... hindi ito ang tipo niyang lalaki...

"We'll find out when we meet again," she dryly replied. "Thank you, Walter," Lily dismissed him.

Willkommen, paalam nito.

Dumiretso ng uwi si Lily pagkatapos niyon. She occupied the cushiony sofa in her living room, half-sitting with a short glass of beer in her hand. Nakatitig lang siya sa kawalan, dumadaan sa kanyang mga mata ang nangyari noon sa Belgium.

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•••

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SABADO. Papunta na si Jared sa The Org. Habang nagmamaneho, pabalik-balik sa kanyang isip ang mga analysis nitong nakaraan.

All I need to know from this woman is if I successfully broke the pattern for her. I am hoping the costume did that to this one this time. Kay Lily kasi... hindi.

She remained horny that night, which was her current state that time.

Because if she's not in the mood for sex, why hang around The Org?

Napatiim-bagang siya sa isiping iyon.

She already warned me before, right? Nasa Belgium pa lang kami... binalaan na niya ako. Na iyon lang ang nasa mood siyang gawin sa buhay niya.

Sex.

Sa gigil na naramdaman, dumiin ang pagkakaapak niya sa gas ng sasakyan. Buti na lang at nasa loob na siya ng subdivision kung nasaan ang lokasyon ng sex club. Kung hindi, nahuli na siya agad sa pago-overspeeding.

He only remembered to slow down once the mansion was in sight. Matapos ipakita ang ID at deluxe card na napanalunan sa Halloween Party, pinagbuksan ng gate ang kanyang sasakyan.

There are more to life than just sex, Lily.

Ah, what was he even thinking? Ano pa ba ang pakialam niya sa babaeng iyon?

Binalik niya ang focus sa psychology.

Ah, hindi. Malamang tulad siya ni Lily. The weirdness of my costume that night did not break a pattern for her. If it did, she'll lose the horniness she's feeling- the very reason why she's in The Org in the first place...

Unless, it's not sex she's after that night. And my costume changed her intentions that night.

Nang makapasok sa mansyon, nasaktuhan niya si Lily. Papaalis na ito ng receptionist desk nang masalo ang kanyang mga mata.

He felt a clench tightened around his chest.

Lily stood there, with a body to die for and a vicious red for her lips. Nakaladlad ang blonde nitong buhok na humahalik ang dulo sa makinis nitong mga balikat. Suot nito ang isang sleeveless lettuce blouse na puti. The top was cropped short enough to showcase her flat upper abdomen. What followed was her high-waist denim shorts in faded blue with slight fringes. Sa ikli ng shorts nito, kita ang bilugang mga hita ng dalaga. Her stance was strong and sexy because of her two-inch red, peep-toe wedge shoes.

And Jared hated the fact that even if the lettuce blouse is high-necked, the fitting made her breasts look swollen.

So swollen, he clenched a fist. He had to before the urge to squeeze those breasts consume him.

This is really bad. Hindi siya bastos na tao. Pero sa tuwing napapatingin siya sa babaeng ito, sunod-sunod na censored images na ang tumatakbo sa kanyang isip.

Siya ang naunang nag-iwas ng tingin dito. Dumiretso siya sa receptionist para mag-log in.

Habang hinihintay matapos ang receptionist sa pagtitipa sa computer nito, nagnakaw siya ng sulyap kay Lily.

She already had her back turned on him. The red drawstring bag called Pleasure Kit swung as it hung on her left wrist. His jaws tightened as he watched her walk with such grace and sway, her bubble butt against those jeans waving at him as she headed to the doors of the restaurant.

Why the restaurant too? Fuck, nagtitimping balik na lang niya ng tingin sa receptionist.

Hindi siya mapakali kaya dinukot ang cellphone sa back pocket ng suot na pantalon.

"So, Sir," ani receptionist, "confirm ko lang po. Today niyo na ike-claim ang napanalunan ninyong deluxe package?"

"Yes, please," walang buhay at seryoso niyang sulyap dito bago napunta sa cellphone ang tingin.

The mystery woman texted him days ago. Nagpakilalang Rosalie. Pumayag itong magkita sila sa restaurant ng The Org ng Sabado. Gusto lang niya ito i-text para itanong kung nasaan na.

"How many company are you having, Sir?"

"Just one," hindi niya tinapunan ng tingin ang receptionist.

Bumalik na ito sa pagtitipa, palipat-lipat ang tingin sa monitor at sa deluxe package card ni Jared na hawak nito.

Sa totoo lang, wala siyang pakialam kung ma-consider na claimed na ang package at hindi niya talaga magamit. Ang mahalaga sa kanya, matanong lang ang misteryosong babae na nagkainteres sa kanya kung ano ang palagay nito sa kanyang costume. If he broke a pattern in her behavior that night.

The concept of Breaking Pattern in Psychology is quite basic for him already. Yet, Jared kept coming back and studying it. Naghahanap lang siya ng ibang anggulo kumpara sa mga nangyari nang studies noon.

He just wanted an answer as to why some patterns are broken so easily. As fast as a snap of fingers...

Kaya iyon ang hinahanapan niya ang feedback sa eksperimentong ito. 'Yong mula sa taong na-break niya ang pattern nung gabing iyon...

"We'll have the rooms arranged and reserved for you, Sir," abot ng receptionist ng Pleasure Kit sa kanya. Kasama rin doon ang natatakan niyang deluxe package card. "All-access kasi kaya bawat klase ng kwarto gagawin naming available para sa inyo, para ma-experience ang iba't ibang facilities at equipments."

"Thanks. I'll be in the restaurant first."

"Okay, Sir," magalang nitong ngiti. "Expect everything to be all set by 8:30 tonight."

Sinilip niya ang hawak na cellphone para i-check ang oras- 7:25. Nakabukas ang message app niya, naiwan ang text na nasa screen sa kalagitnaan ng pagkakatipa niyon.

Hi. I'm already here, where are|

Binalik niya ang tingin sa receptionist. "Noted. I'll be back here later, to know kung anong mga rooms ang pwede naming pasukin."

"Alright, Sir." At magiliw siya nitong tinanguan bilang pagpapaalam sa kanya.

Jared turned away, deleting his incomplete text message as he headed to the doors of the restaurant.

Napagpasyahan niyang tawagan na lang ang misteryosong babae na kikitain sa The Org.

This will be the first time he will call her. Pa-text kasi siya nito kinontak nitong nakaraan, kaya sa ganoong paraan siya nakipag-usap noon para mapagkasunduan ang detalye ng pagkikita nila sa The Org.

As he tapped the green phone option, Jared placed the smartphone close to his ear.

Nang mag-ring iyon, pumailanlang sa tahimik na restaurant ang ringtone mula sa cellphone ng isa sa mga customers doon. His eyes were quick to locate where the sound was coming from.

It came from a woman who sat on a table near an open door. Nakaharap ang kinauupuan ng babae sa pinto kung saan masisilip ang hardin at gazebo sa labas. He knew that it was her cellphone ringing, tinaas kasi iyon ng babae nung tumunog. Gulat na napatitig ito nang mabasa sa screen ang caller ID. Nagtatalo ang isip at damdamin ng babae kung sasagutin ba ang tawag o hindi. She was clearly having a hard time deciding.

Hindi na rin nito nasagot ang kanyang tawag. Naramdaman kasi nito ang presensya ni Jared.

Lily pushed back her seat but Jared's free hand immediately caught it, stopping the seat to give her a way out. Sinundan siya nito ng tingin nang ikutin ang mesa para okupahin ang isa pa nitong upuan. Her phone stopped ringing when Jared disconnected the call.

"So, it's you," he glared at her, yet spoke with a low, firm tone.

Lily's tensed look faded. It was replaced by her cold stare. Pero kilala na ito ni Jared. Alam niya sa klase ng tingin nito na nagmamatapang lang ang dalaga. At ang ganoong klase ng titig nito ang sobrang nakaka-challenge sa kanya. He wanted to already slap the truth to her face again that she wasn't as tough as she thinks.

Na sa mga bisig niya, lalambot at lalambot pa rin ito.

Para itong bigas na walang labang nadudurog ng kanyang bawat bayo.

"Yes," Lily replied sharply. As if that would intimidate him.

Mataman niya itong tinitigan. He knew what kind of gaze could melt this woman's insides. And he was already smoldering her with that gaze from his dark eyes.

"Tell me, why?" he remained composed. "Because I don't want to think you want to fuck me."

"I just want to know things, Jared."

"Such as?"

"What a man like you is doing in a place like this?"

And fuck it. She sexily crossed her legs, his eyes caught those thick thighs place themselves atop each other. He involuntarily parted his legs in his seat before piercing her harder with his gaze.

"Why does that concern you? As far as I remember, Lily, we're not involved with each other."

"Look, Jared," she sighed dramatically, "although we did not end in good terms in Belgium, I still have some humanity left in me."

"Humanity?" he smirked mockingly.

She remained unfazed. "Hindi mo kakayanin at ng mga prinsipyo mo ang mga masasaksihan mo rito sa The Org."

"What about my principles? What does that have to do with me not supposed to be here, Lily?"

"Alam mo kung ano ang prinsipyo mo," taas-noo nito. "You're a hopeless romantic. You believe in true love and marriages. That virginity is only reserved for your spouse. In happily ever afters. Shits like that. At wala niyon dito sa The Org."

"I know because this is a sex club."

Napailing ito. "Alam mo naman pala, eh. Kaya bakit naghahanap ka na lang ng tatambayan o mapaglilibangan, eh ito pang-The Org ang napili mo?"

"Ano ba ang pakialam mo?"

Hindi na bumalik ang pagkakaharap ng mukha nito sa kanya.

"You can't even answer."

"Natatakot akong sagutin ang tanong na alam mo naman ang sagot, Jared," irap nito sa kanya. "Alam ko na kasi 'yang technique mo. Papaikut-ikutin mo lang ang usapang ito hanggang sa madaan mo ako sa psychology at makuha mo ang gusto mong resulta."

"You're still accusing me of manipulation," he hissed. Ni hindi maalis-alis sa masungit at nakakaputang-inang maganda nitong mukha ang kanyang paningin. "Sige nga," hamon niya rito sa mababang boses, "ano nga ang alam kong sagot sa tanong mo?"

"See?" she blurted at him."You're doing it again!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"'Yang tanong mo! You're baiting me, Jared! You're asking me what I think you're thinking! Then that will be exactly what you'll assume that I am actually thinking about this matter!"

"Ano nga ang pakialam mo?" usig niya rito.

"Hindi ka bagay dito. That's all," pagtitimpi nito.

"Baka naman," tuwid niya ng upo, "tinataboy mo lang ako dahil kung magpapabalik-balik ako rito, makikita ko ang mga pinaggagawa mo rito. Correct?"

Jared coolly stared at Lily, waiting for her answer as he leaned against his chair's backrest.

By the way her face crumpled, Jared could imagine Lily already biting the insides of her cheeks.

"I thought you're proud of it? Of being liberated and sexually aware? This is your choice and your lifestyle, right? Kaya ano ang nakakahiya kung makita ko ang mga pinaggagagawa mo rito?"

"Kailan ka pa rito sa The Org? Have you been watching me all this time?" paglambot ng mga mata nito, pero hindi pa rin sumusuko si Lily sa pagpapalabas na matigas ito at matatag.

"What's it to you? Lahat ng nakakasama mo sa lugar na ito, napapanood ka maliban na lang kung gagamit ka ng kwarto. What's the big deal if I ever happened to see you here one time? Or weeks ago?"

"Just don't come back to this place anymore, Jared. Iyon lang ang gusto kong ipakiusap sa'yo."

"Mabuti at marunong ka nang makipag-usap ngayon." He collected himself. "But for now, I can't. I have a deluxe package card to use."

He stared at Lily, but she remained speechless. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mararamdaman, kita niya ang pagiging problemado sa maganda nitong mukha. He had to leave before he changes his mind.

"Kung wala ka nang sasabihin, aalis na ako," tulak niya paatras sa kinauupuan bago iniwan sa mesang iyon ang babae.