A/N: Happy Sunday! enjoy!

--

"Sinabi niya 'yon? That you have a sugar daddy?" Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Fausto mula sa pagsasagot nito ng crossword puzzle. Siya naman ay abala sa pagbabalat ng prutas para sa ama. She was indian sitting comfortably on her sweat pants near the suite room window.

Imbes na pumasok sa opisina ay nagtungo siya kay Fausto dahil kailangan daw nito ng 'report' o chismis she supposed. "Tsk. Lokong bata 'yun ah. What does he think about himself? Kagalang-galang ba siya? I should talk to Henry de Salcedo, his father is my junior." Anito habang malalim na nag-iisp.

"You better talk to the father, Sir. Sabihin niyo na lang na ayaw niyo sa kanya para sa anak niyo."

Umiling si Fausto at inalis ang salamin. "No. No. I cannot just do that. Hindi pupwedeng ako ang bumali ng usapan, we agreed in front of the brothers. Their engagement were announced. Gunner was baptized inside the frat house. That guy should cancel the engagement, he's younger. Hindi pupwedeng ako ang walang palabra de onor, I am the respected member of the fraternity."

Hezekiah pouted, "Talagang naiisip niyo pa iyon?" Dismayado niyang tanong. Men and their pride. Napairap siya sa hangin nang maisip ang pinagsasasabi sa kanya ni Orion noong isang gabi. Titiyakin niyang papaiyakin niya ang binata pagkatapos niyang maisakatuparan ang kanyang plano.

"May utang na loob pa rin naman ako sa fiance ni Tanya. Hindi ko pupwedeng basta ipagpaliban na lang iyon. But knowing now about his plans on my own company, ibang usapan na iyon. So make sure he stays away from Tanya and he changes his mind on their engagement, Miss Cruz."

"Madaling sabihin pero mahirap gawin. Do you think he'll give me more assignments now that he's looking down on me, Sir?"

"Is he right about what he thinks of you?"

"No!"

"Then prove it."Giit ng matanda. "I know you have plans." Makahulugang wika ni Fausto.

"I have something in mind." But that would mean hurting Gunner and Tanya. She sighed.

"He's not a good person kaya huwag kang magdalawang isip. No one will truly care for you except your own blood, you should care for Tanya and Gunner more than the ounce of pity you have for that liar. The brotherhood we have in Delta Kappa is purely business, so I have to be wise while protecting my own interest."

In the end, she thinks her father is right. After all, hindi rin naman malinis ang intensyon ni Orion sa FRINC, he'll be selling Fausto's beloved business and the business she dreamed of.

"Bribe him, do something, I don't care. He needs to stay away from Tanya and my apo. You must look and act like a lady but think like a wise man."

"Even that means Gunner will grow up without a father, Sir?"

"Than having an ass of a father? Yes. Tanya grew up with a failure father, that's why you turned out to be better, wala kasi ako sa iyong tabi."

Napanguso si Hezekiah, "Hindi niyo pa rin naman ako pinabayaan kahit papaano." Tumayo siya at inabot ang bowl of fruits sa ama. "Kumain po kayo, bukas papasok na ako sa opisina. Papatunayan ko sa maduduming isip na mga tauhan mo that I am better than them." With conviction niyang sabi.

"And I will make sure that Mr. de Salcedo will be leaving the company in no time."

"Fighting!" Fausto raised his fist. Nagtataka namang binalingan ni Hezekiah ang ama.

"Nasosobrahan ka na raw sa Kdrama, Sir." Sumeryoso siya, lagi raw kasing nagpupuyat ito.

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Fausto. "Eh ngayon pa lang naman ako nakapanood ng mga ganito, tumanda akong busy. Susuwayin mo pa ba ako?"

Napangiti siya, "Okay yan, Sir. Baka mainspire kang mabuhay pa. Walang Kdrama sa kabilang buhay baka mamatay ka kapag malapit na po magtapos kaya magpagaling ka. Bye po!"

"Aba loko kang bata ka, ah!"

Nakangiti siyang lumabas sa hospital room ni Fausto, eksaktong pagbukas naman ng pinto ay nakita niya roon si Tanya. She was surprised, too.

"I-ia? What are you—"

Kung merong nagbago sa mukha nito ay naging medyo seryoso pero ang ganda nito ay matingkad pa rin. She looks very motherly in her daintly light pink dress, wala itong make up kundi lipgloss lang pero napakaamo pa rin ng mukha, tingin niya ay kaya hindi ito iniiwanan ni Orion dahil babagay sa image nito ang kanyang kapatid. There are people who will make you look good and that's Tanya for Orion. She felt a pang on her chest but she tried to neglect that thought.

"H-hi Tanya." She smiled. "I made a courtesy call to Sir Fausto as his new COO, I work for FRINC now."

"You do?" Kumunot ang noo nito na parang walang ideya. "Ikaw ang tinutukoy ni Gunner na nakasabay niya sa flight at nakita niya sa FRINC?"

"Yes, ako nga. Sige, I'll go ahead. See you around." Tinapik niya ang balikat ni Tanya at nagmadaling umalis.

Sa taranta niya ay chineck niyang muli ang kanyang cellphone. Tanya reminded her of Domini, nagliwanag ang mukha niya nang makakapagsend siya ng mensahe muli dito. He unblocked her.

"Hello, miss you!" She sent. Nakita niyang na-seen muli ang kanyang message pero muli na naman siyang binlock nito.

Napanguso siya. Hindi na lang niya sasabihin dito na nakita niya ang first love nito dahil napakaarte nito!

--

Maagang pumasok kinabukasan si Hezekiah, decided to get to her goal. Kailangan niyang magfocus dahil nakabawi-bawi na rin siya ng tulog. She was wearing her nude colored A-line dress, she let her straight hair down and her make-up is classic and clean.

"Good morning, Miss Cruz." Bati sa kanya ng receptionist na nagtataka yata sa pagiging maaga niya. She brought her Derwent vibe, iyong seryoso sa trabaho at walang pinapalusot na excuses. She will not pretend being nice anymore. Oh, and Orion, she will taste her sweetness that he'll get a tooth decay.

Ipinatawag niya ang bawat head ng departamento pati na rin ang senior managers ng mga ito sa pinakamalawak na conference room ng FRINC. Most of them seems sleepy, hindi alintana ang presensiya niya. On their minds maybe, she was calling in for another boring meeting. Napansin niya na mostly of the top management are guys, mabibilang sa daliri ang mga babae at mukhang lalaki na rin ang mga ito.

"Miss Cruz, do we need to wait for the CEO?" bulong sa kanya ni Em na nagtataka sa kanyang ipinatawag na meeting. Tumingin siya sa kanyang rolex at ngumiti, "he may or may not be here. I don't want to stress him out of my nonsense." Kumindat siya kay Em.

"Thanks for coming and good morning." Panimula niya pero natigilan siya nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Orion kasunod ang ang lalaking secretary niya. Nagmamadali ito.

"Good morning, may I know the meeting agenda?" Magalang naman na tanong nito.

"You will know later, please have a seat."

Umupo naman si Orion at matamang nakinig. Isa-isa niyang tinawag ang pillars ng FRINC, she asked her what are their current projects and their timeline. There's no powerpoint presentation dahil nasurpresa niya ang mga ito. Nakikinig siya sa mga sinasabi at si Em naman ay abala sa pag-record.

Huling nagsalita ang Marketing Head. Si Marco, whom Em was glaring at, he discussed his plan to move his advertising on social media. It was promising but the idea sounds too local for her taste, yet, she said she appreciates it.

"I shared those information to you the other day, I can explain it you again." Singit ni Orion nang matapos magsalita si Marco.

"No need to bother, Mr. President. I also want to meet these people on a personal level."

She stood up and pushed the blinds button, bumaba ang window blinds kaya dumilim ang buong conference room. The projector went on. It flashed her name on it, sa gilid ay ang kanyang mga credentials.

"I am Hezekiah Cruz." Sambit niya habang naglalakad papalapit sa projector. "I used to live in the Philippines seven years ago but I received a scholarship from FRINC when I passed the Cambridge college entrance exam. In return I offered my future services but during that time, sino ba naman ako kumpara sa inyo?" She smiled widely.

"If any of you thinks that I am here to be a rose among the thorn, I'd like you think think that I am neither the rose nor the thorn but rather, I am the soil that gives life to the plants planted in me."

"I finished college with highest honors, I was the First Filipina to get that commendation and one of the few with pure Asian descent to get it. I was hired by Derwent after, we re-construct national buildings in the United Kingdom and here's my portfolio." Ipinakita niya isa-isa ang buildings na ginawa niya sa Derwent. Some people gasped and whispered. They were shocked and in awe.

"I personally thought of the designs and tried my best to reserve the history of every reconstructed building. In three consecutive years, Derwent was awarded as the best in the market, with I, heading the topnotch buildings that were considered with the awards. I have a weak spot though, I would admit, that is trying to keep the sentimental value of those that aren't useful anymore whatever it takes, but now, I am making myself open for re-considerations of change." She humbly said.

"In Derwent, we don't have a sales team, our work portfolio is our own advertisement. We don't believe in hard selling, if you are good then clients will be coming after you. So here at FRINC, we my goal is to be the best and fast. Any questions on my qualifications why I am here as your COO?"

Mayroong isang nagtaas ng kamay, iyon si Mr. Teehankee na thirty years na sa Finance. "Your qualifications are astounding, Miss Cruz, however, do you think that a three-year experience is enough? You are saying that you won't need a sales team when you are good, you, particularly in Operations have to be good. Are you really the soil that these roses need? The retired Mr. Antonio was the best in his field, nakilala ang FRINC dahil sa kanya, and our investment strategies in selling stocks were smart enough to earn more money for the company."

She raised her hand and pressed the projector remote, it showed a ruined building.

"This is an old building in Manchester, can anyone of you tell me how you would reconstruct it if you have a power and resources to do so? Consider the design and its earning capacity."

May mga nagtaas ng kamay at nagbahagi ng kanilang sagot.

"Destruct and reconstruct."

"A condo, uso naman iyon."

"A mall? The space is big or a warehouse type grocery."

She pressed her remote and it showed the finished product of the building. It is a hostel.

'Wow...'

Ipinakita niya ang time-lapse video ng pagbuo nito base sa dating istruktura at ang paglalagay ng silid sa loob ng building.

During the grand opening, merong interview ang mga dating nagtrabaho sa hostel na naiiyak dahil parang nabuhay muli ang dati nilang pinagtrabahuhan. They said that they never thought it will be rebuilt again.

"I love structures. What I love about them is their story. It does not matter if they are ugly, and best to be forgotten, but anything can be restructured to its original purpose with more beauty and get a chance continue its own story, a better story, with its new foundation. That's how I look at this industry." Paliwanag niya.

May isang nagtaas ng kamay, "How about the earning capacity? Is it still profitable?"

She pressed her remote and showed them the income of the portfolio she just showed and all the TV shows where it got featured, panay ang tango ni Marco. "That's free marketing. The design was thoughtfully built and it garnered attention."

"Sipsip." Bulong ni Emz sa gilid.

"Oo nga, kaya lang e construction company naman talaga ang FRINC.." Hindi pa rin kumbinsido ang ilan.

"Is it, Mr. Feleo?"

Hezekiah showed how FRINC started, it is reconstructing old houses. Naroon pa sa litrato ang batang si Fausto sa bawat bahay na binubuhay nitong muli.

"FRINC's vision is to keep the historical importance of a property whether it was acquired by a new owner or it was being maintained. Imagine having mini museums everywhere. Maganda ang Pilipinas, for a while we lost our identity. Ilang beses tayong sinakop. We tried to follow trends, condo living, urband living, resorts, townhouses, but we never preserved our old houses, our own culture. We look like Singapore in BGC and Ayala is a copycat of New York, we even have our own version of Resorts World and wishes for our own Disneyland."

Mapapansing sumasang-ayon sa kanya ang lahat. Sumunod na ipinakita naman niya ang timetable.

"Here's our last three big projects for the year. Finance, I want you to monitor the expenses and strengthen your collecting efforts. For marketing, you will need to have a good videographer to monitor our projects from start to finish, every project will be your marketing material, and operations, Maita, we will schedule a training for our Architects, Designers and Engineers. And Mr. CEO, of course I would like to ask if you have anything against with my plans in operations?"

Nagkibit balikat lang si Orion. Natapos ang meeting sa loob ng isang oras. She just wanted to make it clear na hindi siya naroon dahil sa kagaya ng iniisip ni Orion, she earned her spot. She worked hard for it.

"Ang galing mo don, girl!" All praises si Em habang inililigpit ang projector, tuwang-tuwa ito sa sinasabing 'girl power'.

"Em, can you please excuse us?" Sumilip si Orion sa pinto ng conference room. Makahulugang tingin ang ibinato ni Em sa kanya bago nginitian si Orion at umalis. Sinarhan nito ang pinto nang silang dalawa lang. Ibinaba rin ang blinds sa pagitan ng conference room at ng production floor.

"Yes?" Nagpamewang siya, ipinahalata ang disgusto.

Bumuntong hininga si Orion, "I was really sorry for the other day. I was being a jerk."

"Yes, you are."

Tumango-tango ito, "Can I invite you for dinner later?"

Pinanliitan niya ito ng mata at inirapan.

"You don't have to Mr. de Salcedo, isa pa, I am going out with the girls later."

Tumahimik si Orion, nakatayo lang sa kanyang harapan at nakatingin sa kanya.

"I missed you."

Pakiramdam ni Hezekiah ay may kuryenteng umakyat mula sa kanyang likod patungo sa batok. It was so soft and felt sincere but she shut it out. Naiinis pa rin siya ngayon at tinatandaan ang kasamaan nito sa buhay.

"A-as a friend." Dagdag pa ni Orion. "I am really sorry for thinking that way. I hope we can work better this time."

Tiningnan niya at mukha naman sincere ang lalaki. She's not letting her guard down but making him feel that she is. Ganoon naman, bago mo mauto ang mga lalaki kailangan ikaw muna ang nauuto nila.

"Sure, Orion. Let's work together. Friends?" Iniabot niya ang kamay. Tinanggap naman iyon ni Orion at mahigpit na hinawakan. "I'll redeem that dinner some other time, then. Have a good day." Pinisil niya rin ang kamay ni Orion pabalik. He parted his lips and swallowed hard.

Excited ang kanyang mga kaibigan nang tumuntong ang gabi, pagkatapos ng trabaho ay makukulit na kinatok siya ng mga ito sa opisina.

"Uhaw na uhaw na kami. We need alcohol!" Kinalampag ni Becca ang kanyang office door, sinuway niya ang mga ito kahit maaga rin namang nagsiuwian ang kanilang mga staff.

She invited her friends to her place para magdinner at doon na manggaling para sa kanilang Friday Night out.

"Wow, your place is so nice, Ia! Boyfriend na lang ang kulang." Wika ni Kendall habang sinisipat ang sarili sa salamin. Nakasuot na ito ng micro miniskirt at neon green tube top.

"Ang kulang kay Ia, landi. Maglandi ka muna bago ka magkajowa." Becca adviced.

"Parang malandi ka, Becca. Walang tunay na malandi rito kundi ako. Ginawa na pala akong kabit, hindi man lang ako aware. Sarap sakalin ng Marco na iyon." Nanggigil na naman sa inis si Em habang naglalagay ng lipstick.

Naging boyfriend pala nito ang head ng Marketing at malaman-laman nito ay meron palang girlfriend sa probinsya at kung ano-anong kamalasan inabot niya kasi pinagbintangan siya ni Marco na nagthreat sa original girlfriend nito. Marco found out that it was not true so he was trying to win Em back, pero ayaw na ng kaibigan niya.

"How was your life in UK ba? Liberated mga tao roon ha?" Becca asked.

"I focused on my studies, pero tama kayo, siguro it is about time na maging malandi na rin ako 'no?" She asked her friends with one person in mind. Siguro ay kailangan niyang i-loosen up ang joints niya at kalandian sa kanilang clubbing mamaya. Ibubuhos niya ang lahat mamaya.

"Yes, girl! You are not getting any younger. You need to know how to play with fire, it's the best, baby." Sumayaw sayaw si Kendall na parang walang pakialam sa mundo.

She chose a plain white side boob balloon dress, lantad ang kanyang braso, likod at makinis na legs. Kinulot lamang niya ang dulo ng kanyang buhok para sa volume. Tumangkad siya ng kaunti dahil sa suot niyang nude pumps. Ang tanging kulay sa kanya ay ang bloody red lipstick niya.

Operation Landi is on. She thought.

The loud music blasted from the parking lot, hindi na nila kinailangang pumila dahil mayroon silang VIP seat na siya mismo ang nagbayad. Kanya-kanyang punta sa dance floor ang mga kaibigan, pero hindi gaya ng dati ay hindi na niya kinailangang bantayan ang bag, every table has a vault under, they can set the code and leave their things while they party.

The whole place smelled a hint of cigarette puff but mostly alcohol and lemon. The crowd was noisy and giddy. Kanya-kanyang usapan at sayawan.

Noong una ay nag-eenjoy sila sa gitna ng dance floor habang may kani-kaniyang hawak na wine, pinapanood din nila ang mga aerial dancers sa ibabaw ng dance floor. The next thing they knew is that they are having a fun time dancing, bahagyang lasing na dahil nakaanim na order na sila ng alcohol. Biglang nawala si Em kaya silang tatlo na lang ang natira, ilang sandali pa ay may sumasayaw na rin sa likuran ni Hezekiah, hindi na niya alam kung nasaan ang dalawa pang kaibigan.

Hindi niya kilala ang lalaki na pumwesto sa kanyang likuran, he's tall and has a British features too, pero alam niyang mas bata ito sa kanya dahil sa pananamit na white polo shirt and jeans.

"Hi! I've been watching you from afar." Panimula nito.

"Ang linaw naman ng mata mo!" She shouted back.

"You are so beautiful, I like you." Pasigaw din na sabi nito. In fairness, may lumandi nga sa kanya.

"Ilang taon ka na ba, iho?" She giggled. Tingin niya kasi ay mas bata ito sa kanya. Wala rin naman siyang pakialam. She's having fun!

Ilang indak lang ang ginawa niya ay nagbago na ang pakiramdam niya, nang tumingala siya ay nakita niya si Orion sinasabayan ng bahagya ang kilos niya, "Oh, hi friend! Nasaan na yung may crush sa akin?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ng lalaki. Panay ang linga niya, sabi pa naman niya ay lalandi na siya ngayong gabi.

"You were drinking really fast, that's your sixth martini in an hour."

"Ang linaw naman ng mata mo!" Natatawang sigaw niya. Bago pa man niya masundan ang sasabihin, hinila na siya ng binata pabalik sa VIP couch, wala pa roon ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Sandali, lalandi ako." Tumayo siya para bumalik sa lalandiin, di bale nang bata iyon basta makasanayan niyang makipagsosyalan.

Hinila siyang muli ni Orion, sa dami yata ng ininom niya, di niya napigilan ang pagbagsak sa katawan nito. Gahibla ang pagitan ng kanilang mga mukha sa isa't isa.

"What do you think you are doing?" May iritasyon sa boses ng binata.

"Lalandi ako." Tanging nasabi niya.

"Sa akin ka makipaglandian." Pagsabi 'non ay inabot ni Orion ang kanyang labi at sinikop iyon. She was too dizzy to say no and too weak to deny that she likes the kiss. It was so warm, soft, and familiar.

Hindi pa sapat ang masarap na pakiramdam na iyon nang maramdaman niya ang kamay ni Orion sa kanyang dibdib. He was cupping her breast for crissakes! Pero hindi niya mahanap ang lakas para tumanggi she ended up rubbing herself against his maleness like a wanton lady!

Naglakbay din ang kamay niya sa ibabaw ng pantalon ni Orion at hinaplos ang parte ng zipper nito, she felt his rock hard maleness on her palm. Siguro ay dala ng alak ay kumapal din ang mukha niya, this is exactly how she plans it but she doesn't know where to start. Now she got her opening na si Orion mismo ang nagpanimula.

"Ay may kalandian." Narinig niya ang boses ni Kendall na papalapit sa kanilang direksyon. Mag-aangat sana ng tingin si Orion pero hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisngi nito at ikinubli ang binata. She was on a mission.

Na Lumandi? Her mind asked.

No, she will put him on her trap without people knowing.

Tumalikod si Kendall at umalis na sa kanilang pwesto. She instantly stood up, act surprised, and confused. Lahat iyon ay arte lang.

"T-this is not right.." Kunwa'y naguguluhang sabi niya.

"Y-yes, not right." Sang-ayon nito sa kanya.

Tumayo si Orion, they paused for a moment, nagkatitigan, at muling inangkla nito ang kanyang beywang patungo sa rito. He started kissing her again, this time, more deeper, and lustful. Hindi nila alam kung paano sila nakarating sa sasakyan ni Orion.

Nagmamadali sila, their hands all over each other's body. Mabilis na nagdrive si Orion patungo sa kanyang condo. Sa elevator pa lang ay hindi na sila maawat, nagbukas ito at may sasakay sana na senior citizen na may bitbit na aso pero tumalikod na lang. Hindi na niya alam kung ano ang kanilang ayos hanggang sa makarating sila sa kanyang unit, ang alam niya ay lango sila sa init na nararamdaman.

They were removing their clothes when Orion held her wrist.

"No, Ia, you are just drunk. We shouldn't be doing this."

"H-ha?"

Pumasok ito sa kanyang silid at nang bumalik ay hawak na ang kanyang roba.

"Take a shower, I'll try to compose myself first." Hinihingal na wika nito.

Parang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Hezekiah. Is he for real? Binibitin ba siya nito? Nananadya? Nagpapasabik?

Nasa isipan niya tuloy ang binata habang nagbababad siya sa mainit na shower. Nang matapos ay nadismaya siya nang maalalang wala siyang revealing lingerie kundi pajama rin lang. Isinuot niya iyon, nang lumabas siya ay naroon si Orion sa kanyang couch. Nakayuko.

"I got carried away. I was drunk. Tama ka. Sorry for making you feel uncomfortable." Mapait siyang ngumiti. Hindi kumibo si Orion.

"Nakita ko si Tanya kanina, kagaya pa rin ng dati, she's much better than me, napakaganda niya."

"That is not it, Ia."

Pagak siyang natawa, "Ano bang trip mo? Umaarte ka bang nakokonsensya? Hindi kasi ako naniniwala. Niloloko mo si Tanya, bakit hindi mo pa siya iwanan?"

"I cannot leave Tanya for anything, Hezekiah. Not even for a good fck." Giit nito.

"Okay, then makakaalis ka na." She made sure she's giving him a straight face kahit na may parte na naman sa kanya ang gumuho.

Hinila siya ni Orion at ikinulong sa mga bisig nito. Hindi siya umiwas nang siilin siya nito ng halik sa labi. Itinulak siya nito sa kanyang silid at pinaibabawan. He was feeling his rod between her thighs. He was grinding on top of her while his eyes stucked on her face. His eyes remained emotionless. Pinatakan nito ng halik ang kanyang leeg, nakiliti siya.

"You made me forgot how to feel." He whispered on her neck. "I want to feel again."

Nakipagpalitan siya ng puwesto kay Orion, ngayon siya na ang nasa ibabaw nito. She removed her top and revealed her plump breast.

"Then tell me how deep." She whispered back.

♁☆♁☆♁☆♁☆

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