“IT’S A WRAP,” maluwag ang ngiti na deklarasyon ni Richard kasabay ng pagtayo mula sa kinauupuan.

Lily watched everyone stand up and collect their things— mostly notebooks and planners— from the table. Kinamayan ni Richard si Jared.

“Miss Jackie will see you next week, as agreed upon.”

“Yes,” sagot naman ni Jared. “Looking forward to it. Thank you.”

Sinamantala ni Lily ang pagkaabala ni Jared sa kapatid. She hugged her planned and quickly headed to the door.

Pagkalabas ng meeting room, doon lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag.

This building is already suffocating with my relatives and siblings present here. Idagdag pa ngayon si Jared…

Niyuko niya ang planner at binuklat.

Oh, well. Ano nga ba ang mga pinag-meeting-an kanina… nilipat niya ang ilang mga pahina. Kailangan kong mag-recheck ng notes. Daig pa ni Miss Jackie ang school teacher. After every discussion, laging may pa-quiz ‘yon. Tapos assignment na ang susunod.

Nang mahanap ang pahinang pinagsulatan ng notes sa meeting, pigil niya ang matawa. Una kasing pumukaw sa kanya ang mga doodle doon at kalokohang pinagsususulat.

Swallow me now, earth.

Research: Ilan ba ang psychologists sa Pilipinas?

Fine? Just fine? Edi wow.

May angry face pa iyon ng isang babaeng may maikling buhok na iginuhit niya ng manga style. Tapos, mga bulaklak. At isang bulaklak na tinusok ng ballpen na may label na Fine Pen sa katawan niyon.

Natatawag napailing si Lily. “Fine pen.”

Then her mind received an alarm.

“My pen…” buklat-buklat niya sa planner bago kinapa ang collar ng suot na damit. “Naiwan ko yata sa mesa.” Kinapa niya ang mga bulsa bago pumihit.

She bumped unto someone which made her step back. Mahigpit niyang niyakap ang planner kaya sumangga ang braso niya sa dibdib ng nabangga nang hablutin nito sa isang braso. Jared pulled her close to him, his instinct telling him that doing so would stop her from falling on the floor and keep hwr steady on her toes. Naghinang ang mga mata nila nang magtama.

Bago pa siya makapag-react, tinaas nito ang hawak na ballpen.

“Yours, right?”

Nakasimangot na kinuha niya mula rito ang ballpen. Mabilis din siyang lumayo rito habang wala pang nakakakita sa kanila sa pasilyo.

“Jared—” hindi na niya natuloy ang sasabihin dahil nilagpasan na siya ng lalaki.

She watched him in gray slack pants and button down polo stride away from her. His black shoes tapped commandingly yet subtle against the tiles of the floor. Sa pagkakatiklop ng itim na patterned polo nito hanggang sa mga siko, kitang-kita niya ang mahigpit na hulma ng mga braso nito.

Such sexy arms. So steely it reminded her of how tight those arms used to cage her… hold her… pin her against the wall… the bed… the floor…

“Fuck, fuck, fuck…” she muttered, looking away. Napalingon siya sa direksyon ng meeting room at nakitang kalalabas lang mula roon nila Richard at Jeanie. Richard caught sight of her and gave her a stern look. “Shit,” she sneered before turning away.

Binilisan niya ang lakad para hindi maabutan ng mga ito.

“Lily!” pa-dominante na tawag sa kanya ng intrimitidang pinsan na si Jeanie.

She didn’t listen, as usual. Lily tried to keep her face looking cool and calm, yet her strides were getting bigger. Hindi naman siguro siya tatakbuhin ng mga ito, maabutan lang.

Sa sobrang pagmamadali niya, naabutan na niya si Jared. Lily had this last minute idea.

“Jared,” walang-lingon niyang usap sa binata, “just this time, can you, at least, pretend that we’re talking to each other?”

“Aren’t they your bosses?” sagot nito sa mababang tono.

“What?” lapit niya rito dahil hindi narinig ito ng maayos.

Their shoulders brushed gently against each other’s.

Nanatiling sa harap ang tingin ng lalaki. “Boss mo sila. Bakit hindi mo hinaharap kapag tinatawag ka?”

“Bosses? Why? Did I even choose them to be my boss?” Lily scoffed.

“Then why work here? Deciding to work here means you chose them to be your boss.”

“You don’t know the whole story, Jared,” silip niya sa seryoso nitong mukha.

“Remember yesterday at The Org?”

Napalunok siya. Pinamulahan ng mukha.

“Why mention that here?” pabulong na panlalaki niya ng mga mata rito.

Hindi umimik si Jared kaya napilitan siyang alalahanin ang nangyari kahapon sa The Org…

“Lily,” pukaw nito sa kanya.

“Wala ka nang ibang sasabihin?” aniya para mapag-isip-isip na ng lalaming ito na yayain siyang magkita sila ulit.

“Wala na,” hindi apektadong sagot nito na kinadismaya niya.

Is this his revenge? Kinakabahan niyang tanong sa sarili habang pinapanood ang pag kolekta ni Jared ng mga gamit— ang Pleasure Kit at keycards.

As soon as she saw Jared heading towards the door, Lily quickly wrapped herself with a blanket. She almost stumbled while chasing him.

“Where are you going?”

Hinila nito pabukas ang pinto. “Hindi mo pa rin ba nakukuha? Uuwi na ako at may schedule pa ako mamaya.”

“So what happens after this?”
 
Napahinto ito. “Nothing.”

“Nothing? I don’t believe you. All that, for nothing?”

Kalmanteng hinarap siya nito. “Why? Isn’t that how you play the game too, Lily? All that happened in Belgium for—”

“Here we go again with Belgium. Nasa Pilipinas na tayo, Jared. Bakit nadadamay na naman ang mga nangyari sa atin sa Belgium?”

“At bakit kinakaila mo ang epekto sa atin ng mga nangyari sa Belgium?”

“Wala akong kinakaila.”

“If you say so,” ngisi nito pero hindi umabot ang pagkapilyo niyon sa mga mata ng lalaki.

“So, this is your revenge, huh? Dahil hindi ka pa rin maka-move on sa nangyari sa Belgium.”

Jared just scoffed and stepped out of the door.

“Bakit hindi mo na lang sabihing kalimutan na lang natin ang nangyari sa Belgium? To start over again? Why come back to my life just to mess it up this way, Jared?” sigaw niya habang sinisilip ito sa paglakad sa pasilyo.

Hindi huminto o lumingon man lang ang lalaki kaya lalo siyang nainis.

“I hate you! Huwag na huwag ka lang magpapakita ulit sa akin! This is your revenge already? How lousy! I can’t believe you’ll stoop so low! This low!”

But she failed to provoke him.

“Jared!” gigil niyang tawag dito.

Kung hindi kumot lang ang nakatapis sa katawan nila, hinabol na talaga niya sa pasilyo ang lalaki.

“Jared!”

“I remember,” sagot sa wakas ni Lily. She could not believe she was already cringing at how she acted that time. At sa lakas ng kanyang loob na humingi ngayon ng pabor kay Jared na magpanggap na kinakausap siya para makalusot kina Richard at Jeanie. “I remember, Jared. What about it?”

“During my next meeting with Miss Jackie, while negotiating the set-up and my fees, I’m thinking of turning down your boss’ offer,” sagot nito sa wakas.

Nabahala siya. Mapapamura sana siya pero pinigilan ang sarili dahil baka matampal siya ni Jared.

“’Yong pag analyze sa behavior ng employees sa mga team building activities?” silip niya sa mukha nito. Shit. Jared looked really serious. Lalo tuloy siyang kinabahan. “Bakit?”

“Ano ba ang sinabi mo sa akin kahapon, Lily?”

“I hate you! Huwag na huwag ka lang magpapakita ulit sa akin! This is your revenge already? How lousy! I can’t believe you’ll stoop so low! This low!”

Napalunok siya. “Jared, you have no idea how my brother gets mad—”

“Brother?” salubong ang kilay na sulyap nito sa kanya.

Lily paused. Then she bitterly admitted in a hushed tone. “Basil Marlon is my brother.”

Binalik nito sa harap ang tingin. “I don’t care if he gets mad.”

“You don’t care kasi hindi naman siya sa’yo magagalit,” nagtitimpi lang siya. “Sa akin!”

“Bakit? Ikaw ba ang idadahilan ko sa kanya?”

Bakit parang na-offend siya roon?

“Malamang ako pa rin ang sisihin niya.” Mas nagtaas-noo pa siya. “Wala naman talaga akong pakialam. Hindi naman talaga affected agad sa galit n’on. Pero minsan talaga, napaka-time consuming niya magalit. Ayaw na ayaw ko pa naman sa lahat ay ‘yung nai-interrupt akong gawin ang mga gusto kong gawin aa free time ko—"

“Gusto mong malaman kung bakit hindi ko na lang sabihing kalimutan na lang natin ang nangyari sa Belgium? To start over again?”

She calmed down, quite swayed and confused with Jared’s sudden change of topic. Worse, he could really persuade you to change topic anytime he wants to.

“And why you came back to mess my life this way,” she added softly with a blank look in her eyes as she stared at him.

For some reason, she could already foresee it. That Jared’s answers to those questions would break her heart…

“Lily,” his eyes suddenly had this softness, a hint of sadness that contrasted how grave he looked as a whole, “I did not came back to you. Ikaw itong unang lumapit sa akin sa Halloween party. At ikaw itong nagpakilala na Rosal para lokohin ako at i-meet ka ulit sa The Org.”

Binalik niya sa harap ang tingin. Sabi na nga ba. Sabi na at hindi niya magugustuhan ang mga sasabihin nito.

Ano? You want honesty, right? You want honesty in everything and in every area of your life, Lily. And look what honesty gives you in return? Pain. Truths that hurt.

“I should be the one asking questions,” Jared continued. “But I didn’t, because it’s not up to you to decide what I’m going to do with my life. But to me. At iyon ay ang huwag kalimutan ang nangyari sa Belgium. Because I am not interested to start over again.”

Huminto siya sa paglakad nang marating na nila ang receptionist area ng Variant na katapat ng main door ng gusali. Tinanaw niya ang pagdiretso ni Jared palabas. Lily could finally feel her flesh chill and her hands shake.

.

.

ABALA NA SI LILY SA KANYANG DESK nang mag-ring ang cordless phone. She picked it up and pressed it against an ear while her other hand was busy using the computer mouse.

“Good afternoon. HR Department,” she answered lifelessly.

Lily. In my office. Now. 

Her eyes narrowed. She knew that crisp, loud voice. Hindi rin siya hinintay nitong makasagot. Ni hindi na rin nag-effort pang magbuka ng mga labi si Lily dahil alam naman niyang bababaan din siya agad ng phone ng CEO ng Variant— ang kapatid niyang si Basil.

Ilang minuto pa at nasa opisina na siya ng kanyang Kuya Basil. It was a sleek, contemporary-styled office. Walang kabinta-bintana sa silid. May ilang indoor plants doon at puting floating shelves na may lamang mga file folders, libro o ‘di kaya’y mga awards o naka-frame na certifications.

Walang anumang litrato na may kinalaman sa personal na buhay ni Basil ang makikita roon.

The walls were white and clean. Furnitures were dominated by those made of black-colored materials.

Nakaupo sa desk nito si Basil, may ilang hibla ng puti ang itim nitong buhok na alon-alon at maikli ang trim. Hinubad na nito ang asul na blazer ng suit na suot kanina sa meeting. He was left with his white long-sleeved polo on, with ita first two top buttons undone. He gave her a scan before he completely shifted into an approving look.

“Take a seat,” anito bago sinalanaan ang mga folder sa desk at inipon ng magkakapatong sa isang tabi.

Namewang lang siya sa kapatid. “No, thanks. I am not planning to overstay here, Kuya Basil.”

Naningkit ang mga mata nito. “Excuse me, Ms. Marlon. But I called you here not as my sister, but as an employee at Variant.”

Napailing na lang siya. Such arrogance reeked in her aura, a hand still on her hip. “If this is about me, being late at the meeting, you should have told Miss Jackie to get me reprimanded or whatever.”

Basil wore a scowl that forced Lily to sway her hips as she headed to a visitor seat. She lazily occupied the chair and crossed her legs.

“Basil…” 

“What is wrong with you?” panenermon na nito. “Kung hindi lang kita kapatid, matagal ka nang tanggal dito sa Variant.”

“I didn’t ask to be your sister,” mapang-asar niyang ngisi rito. “Kung hindi mo nga ako kapatid, I bet, you won’t have the guts to make fun of me in this company. All of you. All of you, Basil.”

“It’s your fault kaya napapahiya ka, Lily. Umayos ka.”

She just made a side-eye. “Are you done?”

Hindi makapaniwala at dismayadong napatitig ang lalaki sa kanya. His eyes were still on her as he slowly shook his head.

“You’re a hopeless case, Lily.”

“Yeah, sure,” pabalang niyang bulong sabay iwas ng tingin dito.

Hindi pa ba siya tapos? Marami pa akong trabahong gagawin. Nasermunan na rin ako ni Miss Jackie. Ano pa ang gusto ng mga ‘to sa akin?

“I was about to think of that,” dugtong ni Basil. “But then, I suddenly had an idea. Kanina ko lang naisip nung katatapos lang ng meeting."

Natigilan siya. What is he talking about this time?

“Maybe, you just need someone to talk to,” anito at may kinuha mula sa pagkakasipit sa planner nito. “Someone who can probably help you out with your issues.”

“Issues?” she scoffed, a sarcastic smile on her lips. “What issues?”

“Come on, Lily,” tusok ng card na pilit inaabot ni Basil sa kanyang braso. “All of us in the family knows it. We thought years can heal but in your case, it doesn’t seem like it.”

“How can I heal? Kung lahat ng mga tao sa paligid ko, walang ibang ginawa kundi husgahan, pagkaisahan at pahiyain ako?”

“Ikaw ang may ginagawa kaya ka napapahiya,” mahigpit nitong saad.

Nilingon na niya si Basil. She snatched the card from his hand. “What have I even done wrong?”

“Isipin mo,” nagtitimpi na lang ang lalaki.

Aburidong tiningnan niya ang business card na inabot ni Basil. May bumara sa kanyang lalamunan nang mabasa roon ang pangalan ni Jared.

Ang address ng opisina nito. At contact numbers.

But Basil took her reaction differently. He leaned away from the table and pressed his back against the swivel chair.

“Seeing a psychologist doesn’t have to mean you’re already ill or—”

“I know,” she interrupted breathily, still absorbed at the business card she was reading.

Para niyang nadiskubre ang Yamashita treasure, ang Bermuda Triangle, ang secret ingredient ng Krabby Patty… Lahat ng iyon, nasa maliit na puting business card na kanyang hawak. She gently held both ends with the tips of her fingers, pulling the card closer to her face.

She just had to make sure. Hindi sana siya namamali ng basa.

Jared Guillermo… Jared Guillermo… paulit-ulit niyang tsek sa pangalang naka-printa roon.

After a short moment of excitement, an inexplicable joy, she began remembering what Jared sis to her at The Org. Naalala na naman niya ang mga pinagsasasabi nito.

Oo, malaking pagkakamali ang pag-ghost niya rito sa Belgium. But why did he have to be so, so cold and cruel? Why can’t they be on good terms? Or just…

Don’t be so stupid, Lily. Kasalanan mo ito. Worse, posibleng nakita na niya ang mga pinag gagagawa mo sa The Org. And worst, kung anu-ano ang pinagsasabi mo sa kanya…

She frowned. But still. How dare that beast! How dare him! Gawing experiment ba naman ang pagse-sex namin? Experiment!

“Lily,” pukaw sa kanya ni Basil, nahahalata ang gigil niya. “I didn’t tell him that I’ll recommend his services to you. So might as well not mention that to Doc Jared. Clear?”

Hindi niya ito hinarap man lang. Nakatulala pa rin siya sa hawak na business card.

“Now go. Marami pa akong kailangang i-check at pirmahan,” taboy ni Basil sa kanya.

As she stepped out of her brother’s office, Lily pocketed the business card. Doon na niya hinayaang sumalamin ang lungkot sa kanyang mga mata.

Kuya Basil is right. All these years, all I needed is someone to talk to. But why can’t it be them? Kung alam nila na kailangan ko ng kausap… bakit hindi nila ako tulungan? Bakit ibang tao pa ang gusto nilang gumawa niyon para sa akin?

A pained smile appeared on her softened face.

Of course. They don’t have the time of the day to do that. Masyado silang busy para… para lang makipag-usap sa akin.