SUOT NI JARED ANG ROBA. He set aside bathing, reeking with scent not of his own. Declaring that loud that his body was already marked by someone else. Hilamos at mumog lang ang ginawa niya, kalmado pa noon bago inatake ng kaba. Binagtas niya ang pasilyo, magulo pa rin ang buhok.

He was wishing this was another one of his overthinkings.

He was wishing his hunch was wrong.

But was it really his instincts? Or was it past experience that was bugging him that things were happening all over again?

Tsinek niya ang lockers. Tsinek niya ang receptionist.

“Wala na po rito ang susi ng kotse niya, Sir.”

And that was enough to confirm his nightmares.

Lily left.

Nanlulumong tinungo niya ang lockers. Kinolekta ni Jared ang mga gamit doon. Inuna niyang silipin ang cellphone bago naligo.

Walang iniwang text si Lily para sa kanya.

He called her phone. He sent some texts. Napatambay siya sa lockers kakahintay ng sagot sa mga iyon.

Pero wala rin.

Bago pa siya pangunahan ng pag-init ng ulo, naligo na siya.

After he got his shower and dressed up, he returned to their room. Hangga’t hindi pa niya nababalik ang keycard, wala pang nagagalaw o nalilinis na mga gamit doon. Sinuyod niya ang paligid. Baka nag-iwan ang babae ng note. Ng sulat. Ng kahit ano.

Pero wala.

Napaupo na lang si Jared sa sahig, napasandal sa gilid ng kama. Nakataas ang mga tuhod kaya halos yakap niya ang kandong na bag. He ran his left hand upward, combing his fingers through his messy heap of a damp hair.

Then, clutched a handful of his hair. Nakatukod ang kanyang noo sa mga umbok ng kanyang palad.

Maybe there had been an emergency.

Pagbaba ulit ng hagdan, sinipat ni Jared ang suot na relo. It was already 9:19 in the morning.

Did she rush to work without me? Lalo siyang nalungkot dahil alam niyang imposible iyon. Hindi ganoon ang karaniwang ginagawa ni Lily, kaya hindi niya maja-justify anuman ang dahilang maisip niya para ipagtanggol ang dalaga sa mga pago-overthink niya.

Bumagal ang mga hakbang ni Jared nang matanaw ang pagsulpot mula sa paliko ng dalawang pamilyar na tao. Nagmadali siya para makalapit sa mga ito.

Dahil walang mga guest, napukaw agad ng ingay ng kanyang sapatos ang atensyon ng mga ito.

“Jared,” gulat na bati agad ni Walter sa kanya.

Katabi nito ang kanyang kapatid na si Clint.

He gave Walter a polite nod before turning to his brother.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ako yata ang dapat magtanong niyan. Anong—” Clint stopped mid-sentence. Gasped inaudibly at a realization. “Oh, no. Oh, no, you didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?” kunot-noo niya.

Pinanlakihan siya ni Clint ng mga mata. “That woman brought you here! She tainted your pure, innocent, virgin soul!”

He gave Clint’s exaggeration a bored look. Dahil doon, nasira ang pag-arte nito at humalakahak. Clint really believed he was so funny, he pulled his head back laughing before slowly calming down.

“So, how did your night go? Did she introduce you to something? You’re her little slave now, I bet?” He cocked his head to the side. “Where’s the collar and leash?” he said jokingly.

Alam ni Jared na tinetesting lang siya ng kapatid. Nang makitang hindi siya nito mapangiti, nagseryoso na rin ito.

“What did that woman do?” Clint worried, yet his expression looked more pissed.

Naningkit ang mga mata niya rito. “Have you guys seen Lily?”

“She ghosted you again?” Clint was shocked. Minsan masarap dagukan ang kapatid niya. He was always on-point when he says something… worse, very tactless about it too.

“Hindi,” sagot naman ni Walter. “Kakababa lang namin ni Clint. Sa opisina kaming apat natulog kagabi.”

Nakalimot siya saglit sa sariling problema. Nakasanayan llang siguro ni Jared na unahin ang pakikinig sa alalahanin ng ibang tao bago ang kanya.

“Bakit? Ano ang nangyari?”

“Kagabi kasi, may umaaligid na naman sa bahay,” direstahang sagot ni Clint. “What about you and Lily?”

“Sa bahay?” Naalala niyang nakitira muna sila Clint at Nena sa bahay ng kanilang mga magulang. “How’s Mom and Dad?”

“I swear you, they’re fine. I just talked to them this morning.” Lalong dumilim ang anyo nito. “Now what did that Lily do?”

Jared sighed in relief. “Eh, kumusta si Nena?”

Clint groaned. “Kinailangan lang namin umalis ni Nena ng alanganing oras para sa kaligtasan nila. At para matakasan din ang mga animal na gustong pumatay sa akin.”

“At dito niyo naisipan ngayong magtago?”

He was intentionally misdirecting his brother, making him forget about asking Lily and what happened to them. For some reason, Clint disliked Lily. Kung ikukumpirma niyang iniwan siya sa The Org nang walang paalam si Lily, baka mas lalong kainisan ito ng kapatid. Nasagot na rin naman ni Walter ang tanong niya, na siyang mas dahilan na huwag nang i-bring up pa ang tungkol kay Lily.

“Yes. What do you think, Jared?” Saglit na tiningnan ni Clint ang paligid. “Is this a good choice? Sa tingin mo ba, hanggang dito matutunton pa rin nila kami?”

“If they managed to follow you all the way here, of course, they’ll know you’re here.” Hindi niya maalis-alis ang nag-aalalang tingin sa kapatid. “You might think this is a safe place to hide. Kasi maraming tao. You think being here with a lot of people at night would intimidate them, scare them to get anyone’s attention. But you also have to stop underestimating those people. Some people can strategize because when driven enough, they will make sure they get the job done no matter what. In a crowd of people and unfamiliar faces every night, they can manage to camouflage themselves among those faces. They can freely sneak in, snoop around then locate you.”

Lalong sumeryoso ang mukha ng dalawang lalaki. “I see what you mean.” At nilingon nito si Walter. “Ayoko rin magdulot ng mas malaking gulo ang pag-stay namin ni Nena rito. Ayoko madamay itong negosyo mo.”

May pag-unawang nagbaba ng tingin si Walter. “Kung ganoon…”

My brother doesn’t really consult me about things. He just tells me what’s up but makes all the decisions by himself. Nood niya sa dalawang lalaki na nag-uusap pa rin. Sigurado akong bago ko pa sabihin ang mga iyon, alam na ‘yon ni Clint. He probably didn’t want to offend Walter by rejecting his offer to hide him and Nena here in The Org. So, he had to show Walter my opinion about them staying here.

“Let’s go back to your office,” ani Clint nang magkasundo sila ni Walter na hindi na sa The Org pipirmi ang abogado at asawa nito. “I have to search online for some places to stay in.” Pabalik sa pinanggalingan na ang mga hakbang ng dalawa.

Sinundan niya ang mga ito ng tingin.

Pinanood niya ang paglayo ng dalawang lalaki bago naglaho sa palikong daan. Siyang diretso ni Jared sa receptionist area. He collected his car keys and left.

Habang nagmamaneho, nag-ring ang cellphone ni Jared.

It was like the snap of fingers.

A curse lifted.

A spell casted.

The ringing jolted him back to life. Napalitan ng sigla, ng kaba, ng pananabik ang kanyang pagkalito at panlulumo.

Naghanap siya ng mahihintuan. Nang itabi ang kotse sa tapat ng isang bakanteng waiting shed, dinampot niya agad ang cellphone na nasa dashboard.

Bumalik ang pagtamlay ng kanyang mga mata nang makitang si Basil ang tumatawag.

He’ll probably check on me, dampot niya sa cellphone. Magtatanong kung bakit wala pa ako sa Variant.

Hinanda niya ang sarili sabay sagot sa tawag. “Good morning, Sir Basil.”

Hi, Jared. I hope you can drop by this coming Friday.

On Friday? Kumunot ang noo niya. “Friday?” Then, he remembered something. “Bakit? Na-move ba ang meeting kay Miss Jackie ng Friday?”

Dahil ba hindi ako nakarating ngayon? Pwede pa ako makahabol… This is so unprofessional of me. I… I can… He took in a deep nasal inhale. Easy, Jared. Easy. Do not overthink it.

Nope, sagot ni Basil, magaan ang tono. But I believe, you have already done your part of the job. Kami na ang bahala from here on.

“Don’t you need my… assessment?”

Review our agreement. Ang sakop lang ng job description mo ay tulungan kaming i-identify ang nasa likod nung post. You have already submitted your report and files the last time. That is enough for us to use to base on our final decision. Ako at ang management na ang bahala ngayon kay Miss Jackie.

He lowered his eyes. “I understand.”

Remember. Be here on Friday. Receive your check and sign some clearance papers.

“Thank you.”

I bet you’re relieved now. You’re not working with my sister anymore. You can freely go on dates and stuff.

Namilog ang kanyang mga mata. Napaawang ang mga labi. Ngayon lang kasi naglabas ng anumang reaksyon si Basil tungkol sa kanila ni Lily. Mula kasi nung sila nito sa conference room nung nakaraan na akmang maghahalikan, binalewala lang iyon ng lalaki. Ni walang kinomento o tinanong sa kanila na may kinalaman sa relasyon nila.

And now, Jared didn’t even know what to say regarding Basil’s remarks. But from the sound of it, he was clueless that Lily hadn’t talked to him since she left him in The Org.

Nagkaroon tuloy siya ng pag-asa. Na siguro, wala naman talaga silang problema.

Something just probably came up.

Maybe, Lily wanted to surprise him or something.

O baka may naisip na kalokohan. Gusto siyang i-prank. Tapos lalambingin siya nito para hindi siya mapikon sa prank nito.

Well… Basil grew uncomfortable with his silence. I don’t mean to be privy on your relationship or something… See you on Friday. Bye.

“Bye,” mahina niyang bulong, hindi na nakahabol ang sagot niya dahil disconnected na ang tawag.

Binisita muna ni Jared ang townhouse para mag-empake ng ilang mga gamit. Hindi na niya pinasok sa gate ang sasakyan dahil hindi rin naman magtatagal doon.  Bago bumaba ng kotse, binuksan niya ang bag para isilid doon ang cellphone. That’s when he saw the papers and photos he hurriedly stuffed inside the bag. Mga print-outs na galing kay Oliver.

He was dying to know what’s in those papers and photos. Hindi niya hinamak tingnan o basahin ang mga iyon. Umiiwas siyang maimpluwensyahan ng mga trip ng ex ni Lily. Whether they were true or fabricated, Jared controlled his curiosity.

If he needed to know something, it should come from Lily herself. Not from her crazy ex who was doing everything to sabotage her life.

But how was he going to dispose these things?

.

.

HI. NANDIYAN BA SI JARED? Bungad ni Basil nang sagutin ni Lily ang sariling telepono sa desk. Gusto ko lang siya i-inform tungkol sa payment check niya at mga clearance. At saka, hindi rin natin siya isasama sa meeting natin kay Miss Jackie mamaya.

A coldness embraced her whole being upon hearing Jared’s name. She grew somber. Her heart was gnawed with guilt.

She left him alone in The Org. She left him clueless about her whereabouts or why she went away. She just lost all courage to speak up. She just didn’t know what to say.

She was even doubting if saying anything was the best thing to do.

So, she chose silence once more.

Lily braced herself to see him today but he did not show up.

Lalo siyang nalungkot. Pero napalagay din siya kahit papaano. Hindi pa siya handa makakompronta ang lalaki.

Ni wala siyang mukhang maiharap dito.

“Sorry,” walang buhay niyang sagot sa kapatid. “Pero, absent ngayon si Jared.”

I don’t know that. Did he file a leave? Bakit absent?

The least she could do for now, for leaving him without knowing was to have his back on this one.

“Kahapon pa masama ang pakiramdam niya.”

Oh. Maybe that explains what happened yesterday. Kaya pala bigla niyang iniwan si Paula kina Miss Jackie.

Umalis? Iniwan nito si Paula kina Miss Jackie? Mag-isa?

Fine. Scratch that. I’ll call Jared myself.

“Basil,” pigil niya rito.

Yes?

“Bakit hindi natin isasama sa meeting si Jared?”

Oh. Yes. I decided not to. Because remember last time? Ini-insist ni Miss Jackie na biased sa’yo si Mr. Guillermo. So, to avoid that kind of issue again, he won’t be joining us anymore. And besides, hindi na parte ng trabaho niya ang makialam sa magiging verdict ng management sa kahihinatnan ni Miss Jackie. He’s not the one with the final say here, so, let’s not stress him about that matter.

Tumango-tango siya kahit hindi naman iyon nakikita ni Basil.

“Okay.”

At nagpaalamanan sila ng kapatid bago nagbabaan ng telepono.

Hindi siguro makakapasok sa trabaho si Lily kung hindi dabil kina Beta at Nena. Last night, they had a little ride, bought some snacks and drinks in a convenience store until they ended up in a deserted cliff that overlooked the twinkling lights of the suburban city.

The evening air was cold and she was wet with tears. She was afraid at first, but Jared taught her to speak up her truths and that’s what she did.

Beta and Nena comforted her. They asked her if she needed advice and gave her encouraging yet realistic words when she asked for it.

Binalik din niya ang dalawang babae sa The Org bago siya umuwi ng bahay.

Hindi rin siya masyadong nakatulog. Kaya hindi siya na-late sa trabaho. Wala talaga siyang gana pero mas pinili niyang pumasok sa Variant.

Mas mabuti pang abalahin niya ang isip sa trabaho kaysa binugbugbog ang sarili kakaisip kay Jared.

Kakaisip sa mga papel na nabasa at litratong nakita sa bag nito.

May mas malala pa sa isiping nakita ni Jared ang mga iyon.

It was the fact that the only person obsessed enough to have and collect those print-outs was none other than, Oliver.

And the painful thing was… Jared gave her his word.

Nangako itong hinding-hindi makikipagkita kay Oliver.

Kagabi pa niya iniisip kung ano? Ano ang mga sinabi ni Oliver para makumbinsi si Jared makipagkita rito? Para maabot nito kay Jared ang mga litratong iyon?

Posibleng hindi nakipagkita si Jared.

Maybe, Oliver sent Jared a parcel containing those photos.

Lily pinched her temple.

“Lily.”

Napatingala siya, natanaw na nakasilip sa ibabaw ng dingding ng cubicle si Paula.

“Nasa conference room na raw si Miss Jackie. May tatapusin lang daw si Sir Basil at susunod na rin siya roon. Kaya, tara na?”

Lily stared at Paula for a moment. For the first time, she looked relieved. As if a heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders today. Maaliwalas ang mukha nito. There were no pressures or humility in her eyes.

She still looked prim and proper— neat straight hair, pink blouse and pencil skirt— but not as stiff and strict as she used to be.

It was as if, overnight, she stopped following Miss Jackie’s footsteps.

“Hmm?” usig nito dahil wala pa rin siyang katinag-tinag sa kinauupuan. “You okay? Kaya mo bang harapin ngayon si Miss Jackie?”

Tumindig siya, dinampot ang pouch. She was well aware of the possibility that being face to face again with Miss Jackie could result to a heated debate. But she had to be strong, even if on her own now. “Let’s go. I’m ready to face Miss Jackie.”