JARED CLASPED HIS HANDS.

"And we're done," ngiti niya sa lalaking nakaupo sa sofa couch sa tapat ng kanyang desk.

Ibinalik ng kliyente niyang si Walter ang ginawad niyang ngiti kanina. Kasunod niyon ang pagbasag ng mahina nitong tawa sa tahimik na silid bago mas tumuwid ng pagkakaupo.

"Ang bilis ng oras," ani Walter.

"I'm glad that's what you think. Most of my clients are itching to leave that seat," usog ni Jared ng okupadong swivel chair para iwanan iyon.

"I guess, I just got too comfortable."

"No," butones ni Jared sa bandang ibaba ng grey na blazer. Nakapatong iyon sa suot niyang puting polo. "You've recovered. If you can't be comfortable to talk about some bad experience, it means you haven't moved on from it yet. This assessment is not applicable to everyone because I based this on your behavior and personality."

Tumayo na rin si Walter. Siyang tutok ni Jared ng mga mata rito.

"Do you know what makes a person uncomfortable when they talk about something?"

"What?"

"The negative feelings they have attached to it," taas ng sulok ng labi ni Jared. "At the back of their mind, they know how they'll feel if they talk about an experience. And revealing that feeling or just a hint of it is what makes them uncomfortable. Especially when they know that they shouldn't feel that way anymore."

Walter considered before nodding. "I see what you mean."

Matamlay ngunit sinsero ang naging pagtawa ni Jared. He just found it funny that he's now oversharing. People paid him for what he knows as a psychologist and here he is, giving free knowledge to somebody else. Or was it because... he got too comfortable with Walter as well? After all, this man is Clint's--his younger brother--best friend. A man who was sitting pretty, earning millions from the passive income he gets from investing in stocks. At sa loob ng ilang taong session ni Walter sa kanya ay mas nakilala ni Jared ang lalaki. Nakita niya kung ano nga ba ang nakita ni Clint kay Walter para buong pusong ituring ito na kaibigan. At iyon ay ang loyalty ng lalaki sa mga taong pinapahalagahan nito. If Walter says he's your friend, he is, and he will be through the years, just as long as you wanted him to be your friend.

Nilapitan ni Jared si Walter.

"Coffee?" anyaya niya rito.

Kapwa patungo na sila sa pinto palabas ng kanyang opisina.

"Ah, no," may kakaiba sa ngiti ng lalaki. Walter brightened up a bit, his movements were lighter as they walked. Bahagya pa itong napayuko na parang nahihiya. "Beta is waiting at home."

Napangitisi Jared. Nababasa niya kasi sa kilos ni Walter ang sinisikil nitong excitement. Jared had no idea what plans his client had set with his wife, but he could sense that it was something too intimate to share. No wonder, Walter did not bother to elaborate why he could not join him for a coffee. 'Tapos, bahagya pa itong napayuko kanina... medyo nahihiya.

The reason behind his declination must be something kinky.

Jared came up with that conclusion knowing that Walter also owns The Org--an exclusive, low profiled sex club. Hindi na lingid sa kanya na sa club na iyon din mismo unang nakilala ng lalaki ang napangasawang si Beta. Sekswal ang unang naging rason na nauwi sa pagka-develop ng feelings ng dalawa para sa isa't isa. Tatlong taon na rin ang nakakalipas mula nang mangyari ang pagtatagpo nilang iyon. Kahit kasal na ang mga ito, patuloy pa rin ang operations ng club. Nakakamanghang isiping hindi nagkakaroon ng malisya kay Beta kapag napaparoon ang asawa nito nang hindi ito kasama. Why would she even have any trace of doubt? Walter had already proven that he's a one-woman-man. And looking at Walter right now is enough evidence that they still got that thing going on.

That sexy thing. That true love thing.

Pagkalabas ng pinto, kinandado iyon ni Jared. Sunod na bumungad ang maliit na desk na nagsisilbing receptionist area ng maliit na rental office. Nakaupo roon ang babaeng assistant ni Jared na kinamusta niya saglit bago ito binilinang siguraduhing naka-lock lahat ng dapat na naka-lock bago umuwi. Walter patiently watched before Jared rejoined him again. Narating na nila ang pasilyo sa labas ng opisina nang harapin siya nito.

Siyang abot ni Walter ng isang itim na envelope kay Jared. Binigyan niya ito ng nagtatakang tingin bago sinalo ang titig ng lalaking kaharap.

"We're having a Halloween party," magaang paliwanag nito. "I want to invite you there."

Pigil niya ang matawa, pero hindi napigilang manulas ang maliit na ngisi sa kanyang mga labi.

"Do I look like I am overworking myself here?" natatawang tanggap niya sa itim na envelope.

"Well, let's just say I am doing someone a favor here, someone who's really concerned with you."

"With me or my dick?" he mused, finally letting out a low chuckle. Yumuko si Jared para silipin saglit ang laman ng itim na envelope. Pinadulas niya pataas ang card na nakapaloob doon. Naunang lumitaw ang logo ng The Org- isang pulang rosas na nabibilugan ng kulay ginto na ring.

The Org welcomes Jared Guillermo for one night only access at the annual Halloween Party.

Sa ibaba niyon, may nakasulat sa mas maliit na font na detalye:

Costume is required. Check list of costumes to avoid wearing on the back of the card.

Lingid pa kay Jared na ang listahan ng mga bawal isuot na costume ay dahil iyon ang susuoting costume ng mga empleyado ng The Org. Magsisilbing uniporme iyon ng mga ito sa event kaya kailangang maiwasan ang magkalituhan pagdating sa pag-identify kung sino ang staff ng The Org sa hindi.

Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ni Jared. Kumpirmadong seryoso nga si Walter sa imbitasyon nito.

And what the heck, he should wear a costume?

Invited by: Walter Jakob Eberbach - President

Claimed access on October 31...

"I'll expect you there," putol ni Walter sa pagbabasa ng kanyang mga mata. Napaangat tuloy si Jared ng tingin dito. "Kung hindi, lagot ako."

"Kanino, kay Clint?" Siguradong-sigurado si Jared na ang kapatid niya ang nasa likod ng lahat ng ito.

Walter just smiled politely. Nasa mga mata nito ang pagsuko, na wala na itong balak pang itangging si Clint nga ang nakiusap dito.

"That jerk," silid niya sa itim na envelope sa front pocket ng kanyang blazer.
.
.
AN HOUR LATER, Jared was already finished with his cup of coffee.

Nakaupo siyang mag-isa sa mesa ng pinakamalapit na café sa kanyang opisina. Routine na niya kapag inaabot ng gabi na tumambay doon saglit para panoorin ang mga tao roon.

Jared enjoyed sitting inside cafés or coffee shops because there were so many kinds of people there. If he were to be a better psychologist, he believed he should keep on learning.

Sa mga café, mas malaki ang tendency ng mga tao roon na magpanggap. At iyon ang pinaka-challenging para sa kanya.

Nakaka-excite obserbahan ang ilang mga tao at habang lumilipas ang mga oras, nadidiskubre niyang tama nga ang hinala niya tungkol sa behavior ng karamihan sa mga ito. Tulad na lang ng babaeng iyon. She looked so glammed up but only dropped by the café to take pictures before she left. He instantly knew that she went in that café for a source of ego boost- for picture taking. Tapos, may dumating naman na isang lalaki. Pormal na pormal ang suot nito. Nagmamadali ang mga hakbang hanggang sa makapila sa counter. Pasimpleng pinagmasdan ito ni Jared habang sumisimsim ng kape. May pag-aalala sa mga mata ng nakapilang lalaki. Malayo pa lang ito pero tinatanaw na ang menu board ng café.

He just wanted to try the drinks here. He's not really in a hurry. His movements are flighty out of worry. Anxiously checking the menu board... He's just worried about his budget. If he can't afford it here, he wanted to hurry out of the door. He should, before someone who knows him see him here...

Ilang minuto pa at umalis na ang lalaki sa pila nang hindi pa nakaka-order.

Binaba ni Jared ang hawak na cup at napakibit ng balikat.

I'm still sharp as hell, maingat niyang punas ng mga labi gamit ang sariling panyo bago iyon binulsa. He coolly left the place.

Pangalawa sa mga lugar na lagi niyang dinadaanan para mag-obserba ng mga tao ay ang train station. Jared could really afford a car. But even if he could, he would rather take a train ride.

Hindi pwedeng hayaan niyang pumalya siya pagdating sa pagkilatis sa mga tao.

Parte na iyon ng trabaho niya.

Nakakatulong din sa personal niyang buhay.

Or maybe the real reason lies way too deep, like at the back of his mind or an unconscious resolve to a past experience he didn't want to happen again...

Nang marating ang tinitirahang condominium unit, tinanggal niya ulit ang butones ng blazer. Dahil sa ginawa, napansin niya ang namimintana mula sa bulsa niyon na envelope. Kinuha niya iyon at nilapag saglit sa coffee table. Nang maisampay ang blazer sa arm rest ng leather sofa, umupo siya at muling nilabas ang card mula sa envelope.

Jared released a weary groan as his back fell against the backrest of the sofa. Umunan sa ibabaw niyon ang kanyang ulo, nakatingala habang binabasa ang hawak na card.

What is going on in my brother's mind? Why suddenly concerned about my fucking sex life?

Hindi niya alam kung maa-appreciate ba itong invitation card o maiinsulto.

O baka a-attend sila ni Nena kaya naisipan na imbitahin din ako?

Napalunok siya.

Now isn't that awkward... me being with my brother and his fiancé in a sex club... me with his best friend... and his best friend's wife...

Tumuwid ng pagkakaupo si Jared. Mas lalo siyang nakaramdam ng pagod sa mga naisip.

What does this really mean... Clint? his eyes narrowed as he began to be succumbed by overthinking.

No wonder he enjoyed being a psychologist- there was something about overthinking that he enjoyed. Something about digging deep into a person's way of thinking. Something fulfilling about discovering what runs on a person's mind behind their action, their reaction and emotion. Something about helping them understand what they couldn't- not because they can't, but because they were blinded by their own emotions or mental blocks that they can't see what's actually happening.

Pero masyado siyang pagod sa trabaho at biyahe. Wala siya sa mood ngayon mag-overthink, lalo na kung si Clint lang naman pala ang dahilan niyon. Hinagilap niya agad ang telepono para tawagan ang kapatid.

"At bakit mo naisipang ipa-invite ako kay Walter sa Halloween Party na ito?" bungad niya matapos ang pagbati ni Clint sa kabilang-linya.

Medyo natawa ito bago sumagot. Well, I just thought that'll be a good excuse.

"An excuse?" kunot ng noo niya. Mas lalong lumalim tuloy ang ilang guhit doon.

Yeah, pagbaba ng tono ni Clint. Nakakaramdam si Jared na may seryosong bagay na gumugulo sa isip ng kanyang kapatid. Hindi kasi kami makaka-attend ni Nena. So to compensate, I told Walter na ikaw na lang ang yayain.

"Something really serious came up, hm?"

Well...

"Is Nena pregnant?"

It was the first thing that came to mind because Jared knew his brother. He wouldn't miss a fuck with Nena for anything else in this world. His brother loves her that much he would grab every single opportunity there is to get close to her and her body, mind and soul.

Natahimik saglit si Clint. Hindi rin nito napigilan ang mahinang pagtawa.

"So, she is."

Yeah, masayang kumpirma nito. There was a slight strain in Clint's voice over the phone- that assured Jared that his brother wasn't just happy but emotional as well.

But in all fairness, he was surprised that his first assumption was right.

"At mukhang wala pa kayong planong ipaalam sa amin."

Sa November na lang sana, paliwanag nito. Ayoko namang mabaling ang excitement niyo para sa Halloween Party sa magiging baby namin ni Nena. I want you guys to look forward to the party first.

"Wow," may panunukso sa tono ni Jared habang nilalapag sa dark-tinted na salaming coffee table ang card. "Kailan ka pa naging ganyan ka-considerate?"

Magaang tawa lang ang sinagot ni Clint sa kanya.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Jared. "Sige na nga, pupunta ako. For your sake."

Aw, come on. Stop that crap. Alam ko namang namimiss mo na ring magpunta sa The Org. Tulad noong kailangan mong pumunta r'un lagi para kulitin si Walter.

Tipid ang ngiti ni Jared, napailing. "At ano naman ang mamimiss ko sa pagpunta sa The Org?"

The naked bodies? tawa ni Clint.

"Siraulo," natatawang panlalaki niya ng mga mata rito kahit hindi kaharap.

Napapalatak ang kanyang kapatid ng tawa.

"Pupunta lang ako roon para hindi ka mapahiya sa pagpapa-invite mo sa akin, Clint," paglilinaw niya, mas binigyang diin ang tono para seryosohin siya ng nakababatang kapatid. "All I will do there is observe people for my stock knowledge. Which I know could be really creepy for the majority because they don't like being secretly eyed on-"

Geez, Kuya. Trabaho pa rin? Hindi ba nangungulubot iyang ano mo sa sobrang tagal na hindi nagagamit? Paunat-unatin mo rin naman iyan paminsan-minsan, at binuntutan iyon ni Clint ng nakakalokong tawa.

"Bastos ka. At wala ka na r'un. Bye," paalam niya na rito at baka mabuwisit pa siya.

Pakialam ba nito sa ari niya? He was already damn 44, for Pete's sake. Napaglipasan na. Tinatayuan pa naman, lalo na tuwing umaga o kapag naiihi, pero wala na siyang interes pagdating sa sex. He had this one last chance years ago to have eternal sex but that was already gone and it is for good.

Tumawa muna si Clint bago nagpaalam na rin. Maganda ang mood ng kapatid dahil sa pagbubuntis ng fiancé nito kaya hindi na nakipag-asaran pa sa kanya.

"Now, what costume to wear..." sandal ulit ni Jared sa kinauupuan habang nagba-browse sa internet gamit ang kanyang smartphone.