SATURDAY. Jared did a mental count. Dalawang kliyente na lang at tapos na ang trabaho niya. Ilang minuto nang nakaalis ang huling nakausap nang pumasok ang assistant na siya ring tumatao sa receptionist area ng kanyang opisina sa commercial space na nirerentahan niya.

“Nasaan na ‘yung kasunod?” nagtataka niyang tanong dahil imbes ang kliyente, ang assistant lang ang nakikita niyang palapit sa kanya.

Then, he noticed her holding a brown envelope.

“A new client?” angat niya ng tingin dito.

Heidi, his twenty-eight year old assistant who works part-time, smiled at him. Iyon ay para matustusan nito ang night schooling. Kumukuha ang babae ng kursong Nursing. Silang dalawa lang naman ang magkatrabaho sa opisinang iyon kaya halos kabisado na rin ito ni Jared. She’s slim, tall and fair-skinned with her waist-length hair tied into a half-ponytail. The small smile on Heidi’s lips gave him a sure confirmation that he was right about what he just said.

Tinanggap niya ang inabot nitong envelope. Sigurado siyang nakasulat na roon ang primary info tungkol sa bago niyang kliyente. Gayundin ang sadya nito sa kanyang opisina.

Magalang na tumango sa kanya si Heidi bilang pagpapaalam. Pumihit na rin ito agad at iniwan siyang mag-isa muli sa silid.

Jared sat back on his swivel chair and checked the back of the envelope first. Doon kasi nile-label-an ni Heidi ang envelope gamit ang pentel pen. Nakasulat doon ang apelyido kasunod ang first name at second name ng kliyente.

Lumukot ang mukha niya nang mabasa ang pangalan.

Marlon, Lily Celeste

As soon as he lifted his eyes, away from the envelope, she already stepped in. Since his gaze came from the bottom dragging upwards, the first thing he saw as Lily walked in were those legs. Those pair of smooth, shiny fair legs. Nag-uunahan ang mga binti nito at kinikiskis ng dulo ng puti nitong mini skirt ang bilugang mga hita. As her small skirt swung, Jared saw them as hand fans fanning him to make him burn harder. Like a coal being fanned under the grill to smoulder until flames flicker. Pakaliwa’t kanan ang pagsayaw ng mga balakang nito. Hell, he could imagine her moving exactly like that with her back pressed against the front of his body… Her ass brushing against his…

His thoughts were interrupted when his eyes reached her waists, her breasts, then her beautiful face and the lively bounce of her short, blonde-dyed hair.

Lily pulled a red lipsticked smile. Her soft, innocent eyes sparkling with naught.

“What are you doing here?” he murmured as calmly as he could.

“What?” she asked breathily like an intended seduction.

Jared found his strength. Nilabanan niya ang pagkabuhay na unti-unting bumabangon sa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita. He used his normal volume at last, his tone firm.

“I said, what are you doing here?” pakikipaglaban ng mata niya sa mapang-akit na pailalim nitong titig.

“Is that how you welcome your clients, Doc Jared?” upo nito sa malambot na sofa na katapat ng kanyang desk.

He watched her slightly bounce as she seated. Her hair swung playfully. Her breasts bobbing too against the tight mint green ringer shirt she was wearing. Lily pressed her hands against the seat to steady herself before crossing her legs. Hindi nakaligtas sa mabilis niyang mga mata ang pagsilip ng nasa ilalim ng napakaikling mini skirt na suot nito.

Ayaw niyang isiping malinaw ang kanyang mga mata. Sana guni-guni lang niya ang nasilip na wala itong suot na kahit ano sa ilalim ng mini skirt nito.

Komportableng sumandal ang babae sa backrest ng puting sofa.

Nilapag niya agad ang envelope, tumayo at inikot ang desk para patalikod na masandalan iyon ng kanyang puwitan. Jared crossed his arms as he stood in front of Lily who also copied him. She crossed her arms, making them cradle her soft, round breasts.

Jared knew what that gesture meant. Lily’s competing with him.

Challenging him.

“Tapos na ang Undas,” aniya rito sa bagot na tono.

“Ano naman ang kinalaman ng Undas sa pagpunta ko rito?” She spoke like a true brat and lifted an eyebrow at him before she released a mischievous smile.

“Sa Undas lang nagpaparamdam ang mga multo,” walang gatol niyang sagot habang hindi binabawi ang pakikipagtitigan dito.

Her eyes sparkled. He knew instantly that he burnt a part of her, but that only excited her more.

“It's about my ghosting again, I see," she smirked like she already knew this was going to happen. "You already disturbed my peace, Jared. So, expect me to haunt you everywhere, anytime and anywhere.”

“I’m not scared.”

“Boo,” walang latoy na pananakot nito bago siya tinawanan ng babae.

“Don’t taint my humble profession, Lily. Umalis ka na at may isa pang kliyenteng naghihintay. Kliyente na mas kailangan ako,” pagdilim ng kanyang anyo.

Lily cocked her head to the side. “I came here because I need you.”

Hindi niya aamining medyo naapektuhan siya sa sinabi nito. Lalo na sa paghahalo ng paglandi at paglalambing sa boses nito.

“Sa The Org ka dapat pumunta,” pagtitimpi niya habang pilit iniiwasang bumaba ang tingin at maalis iyon sa maganda nitong mukha.

“So rude. Is this how you treat your clients?”

“You’re not my client.” And stop using that line redundantly to make me feel guilty about how I treat you. You won't be able to put me through a cognitive dissonance, baby.

Cognitive dissonance is when a person changes what they believe in, in order to stay consistent. To keep on appearing or being rational.

You knew that whoever my client is, I should be treating them warmly to appear professional. That's how I usually perform my job. But that poorly executed attempt to remind me that I am a clinical psychologist in this office so I will treat you better than what I usually do in person won't work on me, Lily.

Napangisi ito. “I’m not? Then what am I to you, Jared?”

She tipped her chin up, daring him to answer quickly.

She's smiling. My assessment might be wrong... Scratch that. This probably has nothing to do with cognitive dissonance... Siniksik ni Jared sa kanyang loob-loob ang pagkabahala at pagdududa sa sarili. Then, what? What game is this woman trying to play this time?

I need to end this conversation already. Just get to the point, Jared. Para lubayan ka na ng babaeng 'to.

“Ginugulo mo lang ako. It must be the sex,” alis niya sa pagkakasandal sa mesa. “I know I’m good. Too bad you’re not getting it again, Lily.”

“Dahil tapos mo na akong pag-eksperimentuhan?” pagtalim ng mga mata nito sa kanya.

Kinalag na niya ang pagkaka-ekis ng mga braso. He slowly stepped toward her direction as he just took his time talking.

“You’re only here for two reasons. It’s either to convince me about attending that team building event, or to complain about me calling the sex we had an experiment when Walter asked me what happened when we met.” Tinaas niya ang kamay, tinanggal ang butones ng isang wrist cuff ng suot na dark blue na long-sleeved polo. “Mas mabuting sabihin na social experiment ang ginawa natin nung nagkita tayo sa The Org kaysa ikwento sa kanila na nag-sex tayo buong magdamag, ‘di ba?” Nang matanggal ang butones, binalik niya ang mga mata sa mga mata ni Lily. He smoldered her with his gaze. “Or, do you want them to know how you kept begging me for more? Kaya hindi tayo natapos-tapos mag-sex?”

He could see Lily struggling with the way her chest was tightening. With the way his words got her twisting her crossed legs tighter to control herself. Her red lips parting slightly as thrill consumed her, triggered by memories of that scorching night…

He aggressively tugged a sleeve up, it’s easier to do now that he already unbuttoned the wrist cuff. Nagmamadaling nirolyo niya iyon hanggang sa kanyang siko.

“Or maybe, I’m here for sex,” tusong ngisi ng babae sa kanya. “But not to beg this time, Jared.” Bigla itong tumayo. She walked so well, used to those thin high heels. “I am going to get it this time.”

Lily grabbed at both collars of his shirt and gave him a shove. Matutumba sila ng babae kung hindi niya ipagpapaliban ang pagrolyo sa manggas ng polo para saluhin ang mga braso nito. He held her firmly and caught her body with his’ when they collided. Dahil sa pagkakatulak ni Lily, muling bumangga ang puwitan niya sa gilid ng mesa.

Gamit ang hawak na collar ng shirt, hinila siya payuko ni Lily. Her mouth sealed his’ with her hot, playful kiss. Sinabayan iyon ng pagkiskis ng katawan nito sa kanya. He felt her soft breasts against his chest, her hips crushing against his hips as her belly rubbed and pressed against his hard crotch.

Lily pulled back. “Halikan mo rin ako, Jared. Halikan mo ako,” kaladkad nito ng mga labi sa gilid ng kanyang leeg paakyat sa kanyang pangahan. The temptress murmured against his skin, “Kiss me, Jared. I know you want to.”

Then they were again face to face. Her eyes became a clear shade of fierce beer brown, betraying such innocent front she had been wearing all her life. Kumislap ang pagiging maharot sa mga mata ng dalaga.

“I feel how much you want to,” muling diin nito para ipaalala sa kanya ang paninigas sa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita. She pressed herself against his rock-hard crotch, danced her hips to push against him some more. “The body doesn’t know how to lie…”

“But it can’t speak for the heart,” his hazy eyes stared deeply into hers.

Ngumiti lang ito bago siya muling hinila at nilamukos ng halik sa mga labi.

Jared had no qualms about returning her kiss. He did and it felt a lot better. Lalo tuloy humigpit ang pagkakahablot niya sa mga braso nito. His fingers almost dug her skin as he pulled her closer.

Humiwalay na naman si Lily. A satisfied, I-Told-You-So smile was on her red, luscious lips.

“Ano?” She tugged on his collar to claim his eyes with her gaze. “You like it, don’t you? You still like it, don’t you?”

“You really want to know my thoughts about this kiss?” he challenged.

Lily just smirked, her eyes saying yes.

“This exchange of torrid kiss perfectly summarized the time we had in Belgium. It’s hot. It’s passionate. But it’s also suffocating. And it’s this state of breathlessness in our suffocating affair that fooled me, because people kept saying only the person you love can take your breath away.”

Something passed by Lily’s sparkling eyes. Lumamlam tuloy ang mga iyon sa kabila ng matagumpay nitong ngisi.

“Now I know that experience doesn’t equate the truth or the facts. Because in my experience, it’s not love.”

“If you didn’t love me, bakit apektado ka pa rin sa walang paalam kong pag-alis sa Belgium noon?”

Nilapit niya ang mukha kay Lily. Sa mga naalala, pag-aapoy ang nangibabaw sa kanya. Hindi lang masabi ngayon ni Jared kung nag-aapoy ba siya sa pagnanasa o galit. Dahil parang pareho niya iyong dinadanas sa tuwing nakikita ang dalaga simula nung iniwan siya nito sa Belgium.

He’s mad as hell, but he also wanted to fuck her to the heavens.

Now that their faces were a breath away, he answered lowly and slowly. Iyon ay para manuot ang bawat kataga sa buong kaibuturan ni Lily.

“Apektado ako kasi wala pang babae sa tanang buhay ko ang nagtangka na pagmukhain akong tanga.”

His eyes still burned into hers as he watched her reaction. Lily’s lips parted, eyes lowered to glance at his lips. Jared knew he won the moment Lily could not hold a gaze into his dark eyes any longer.

“Hindi naman ako gago, ‘di ba? Hindi rin naman ako manloloko. I treated you right, pero bakit mo ako ginawang tanga?”

Naghintay siya pero hindi na nakasagot pa si Lily. Lumuwag ang pagkakahawak ng babae sa kwelyo ng kanyang damit. He already saw those sad, broken eyes in Belgium. Those fooled him before.

But never this time. Never.

Jared felt their bodies slowly separate. Ang babae na mismo ang lumalayo sa kanya, dumulas ang mga kamay nito mula sa pagkakahawak sa kwelyo pababa sa kanyang mga balikat. Muntik nang umabot ang mga kamay ng dalaga sa kanyang dibdib kung hindi lang ito nakalayo agad.

Lily blinked as she stared, softly this time, into his eyes.

“Kaya ka siguro nagagawang tanga ng mga tulad ko, Jared, kasi hindi ka gago. At wala kang alam sa panloloko.” May panunudyo sa mapait nitong pag ngiti. “May alam ka sa psychology, ‘di ba? Bakit hindi mo ma-figure out nang ikaw lang ang sagot sa tanong na ‘yan?”

Inayos niya ang nagusot na shirt. He straightened the collars and resumed rolling up the sleeve as he intently looked into Lily’s eyes. Jared could feel his heart compressing while he was suppressing every reaction that might appear on his face. Pinag-aaralan niya ang babae at ang biglang pag-amo ng mukha nito.

“Out.” Paalis na siya, nirorolyo na rin ang isa pang manggas ng suot na polo, pero napigilan ng boses nito.

“You can’t do that. I’m a paying client,” she hissed.

“What’s your deal, Lily? Aside from trying to seduce me?”

“My deal is the same as your other clients’, Mr. Guillermo. I need someone to talk to.”

“You need someone to talk to?” he scoffed. “That’s the same shit you said in Belgium. And I fell for it. Is that why you’re using that same line to me again?”

Tila nabuhusan ito ng malamig na tubig. Bumalik ang mga alaala nila, kita iyon ni Jared sa pagkabiglang rumehistro sa mga mata nito.

“I am really baffled right now. Kung saan ka nakakakuha ng kapal ng mukha na humarap sa akin pagkatapos ng ginawa mo sa akin.”

“The way you’re treating me doesn’t really fit your job description,” she muttered, hurt in her eyes. Nasaktan pero galit ang ginagamit nitong maskara para pagtakpan iyon.

“I am not being professional right now, because you’re not a client in my eyes, Lily.” As he said those words, slowly, he was beginning to lose his calm and composure. Nagiging mabigat na ang bigkas niya sa mga kataga. Humihiwa ang bawat salita sa kanyang damdamin. “To me, you are a personal matter that I shouldn’t be even dealing with in my office. You…”

He trailed off. Oh, no. Not again. He almost said it again.

He almost told her again how much she meant to him.

Mabuti at napigilan niya agad ang sarili.

He saw her expectant eyes, patiently waiting for him to go on… to continue what he was going to say.