"We're not done talking."

But he still wasn't talking. Ilang minuto na silang nakatayo sa may pintuan pero tahimik pa rin ito. It's as if they're both trying to stare each other down.

"I have nothing more to tell you."

"I do."

"Then speak up! Quit staring at me!"

Troy leaned against the door and gave her a lazy smile. "Does that make you uncomfortable?"

Everything about him makes her uncomfortable. His smile. His demeanor. Even his smell makes her uncomfortable. Kung iyon ang pagbabasehan niya, she wouldn't want to be married to him. How will she survive the married life if she's uncomfortable with her husband?

"Yes, it does. So quit it!"

But he didn't quit. Things are like that with Troy. He tends to use people's vulnerabilities against them. When she admitted that she doesn't like being stared at, his gaze became more intense. Moments later, he started advancing.

"Hindi ka na nakakatuwa!" She took a step back.

"Hindi ka na rin nakakatuwa," he retorted.

"Ano ba'ng problema mo?"

"Ikaw."

She felt the back of her knees hit something solid. Upuan yata iyon. He pushed her gently. Napaupo siya. Upuan nga. Gusto niyang matawa sa sarili. She badly needs a distraction right now, or else she will give in.

He held her chin and tilted it upward. "Look at me," he commanded. "Do you want me?"

"N-No," she lied.

"Look at me," pag-uulit nito.

She was unable to look into his eyes. Pilit niyang ibinababa ang tingin. Look at the couch. What's the color of the couch? Troy let go of her chin. Ipinatong nito ang mga kamay sa tigkabila niya. She momentarily stopped breathing.

"You want me."

It sounded like he's stating a fact, no arrogance in that statement. And she could not deny that.

Napapikit siya when she felt his lips on hers. It was a close-mouth kiss. Para lang pinatungan ng bulak ang labi niya. But it lasted for a few good seconds before he backed away.

"I thought we'd just talk," she whispered.

"This is talking in my vocabulary," he said before claiming her lips once again.

--

Vico and the girls are playiing dress up. Nakita kasi nito ang mga itinatago niyang dress sa closet niya. Hindi pa rin bumabalik si Red mula kanina. Wala ni isa man sa kanilang tatlo ang nagtatanong kung bakit. Siguro ay dahil na rin sa alam nila pare-pareho kung ano ang talagang nangyayari sa kabilang bahay.

"Is this yours?!"

Ela gaped at the shoe Ariesa was holding. Mga seven inches din siguro ang sapatos. It was a black and gold strappy shoe. Kinuha ni Ariesa ang kabiyak noon at saka ibinigay sa kapatid.

"Grabe! Nagsusuot ka ng ganito?!"

He laughed at their reaction. "I wore those once, sa isang drag race. That's where I met Mitch."

"Your boyfriend?"

"My soul mate."

The two girls melted at the mention of soul mate. Naupo sa sahig ang dalawa.

"How?" Ariesa asked. "Kasali sya sa race o tagapanuod lang?"

"Nanuod lang sya nun. He immediately caught my attention kasi ang tangkad at ang gwapo nya," he said dreamily.

"Patingin ng picture!"

"Oo nga! Patingin!"

"Okay, kalma," natatawa niyang sabi. Hinanap niya ang pinaka-recent na picture nila ni Mitch at saka ipinakita sa dalawa.

"OMG! Ang pogi!"

Hinayaan muna niyang pagsawaan ng dalawa ang picture ng boyfriend niya habang siya naman ay naghahanap ng damit na pwedeng ipasukat sa dalawa.

"Ilang taon na kayo, Vico?"

"Magpa-five years na," he proudly answered. He met Mitch when he was still in college. They kept their relationship to themselves, dahil kumplikado sa parte niya. Lalo pa't ginawa syang EA ni Red, almost two years after his graduation.

"Are you guys planning on getting married?"

"We want to," he answered. "But I don't know if Red will let me."

Siguro after two years, kung kailan tapos na yung limang taong usapan nila ng tito niya. Or maybe if Red gets married soon, she will let him go.

--

Pakiramdam niya ay unti-unti na siyang lumulubog sa kinauupuan niya. Troy would pause to take a breath then he would resume kissing her. How long have they been kissing already?

"I want you, Red," he whispered against her lips.

"We can't—"

He suddenly stood up, pulling her with him.

"Yes, we can."

Hinila siya nito paakyat.

"Troy." She tugged at her hand. "What will your sisters think?"

Nasa kabilang bahay lang ang mga ito. Baka kung ano'ng isipin ng mga ito. Kanina pa siya sa bahay ni Troy.

"They can think whatever they like," sagot nito.

She pulled on her hand once more.

"This is wrong."

"Why can't you allow yourself to be wrong for once?"

He was giving her the 'don't think, just feel' speech again. He's right. She can be wrong, kahit more than once pa. Ayaw lang niya dahil hindi pa siya handang harapin yung consequences.

He bent down and kissed her again. Mariin. Matagal. It's as if he's goading her to make the mistake she's been trying to avoid all evening.

"Hindi kita pipilitin kung ayaw mo," sabi nito sa kanya.

He let go of her and headed upstairs. Naiwan sya sa hagdanan, litong-lito. She could just go. The door's a few steps away. But she doesn't want to go. It's clear that they both want this. At kahit anong tanggi niya, hindi pa rin mababago iyon.

But she's also afraid to follow him upstairs.

"Damn it."

Bumuntong-hininga siya saka umakyat. She hesitantly knock on the door and waited for him to open it. Maya-maya'y bumukas ang pintuan, revealing his smiling face.

He pulled her inside and kissed her like crazy.

--

"I'm taking back what I said to you before. You're not frigid in bed," he said an hour later.

Pinamulahan siya sa sinabi nito. He let out a sexy chuckle, enjoying her embarrassment. Hinila nito ang kumot na nakatakip sa dibdib niya. She let out a gasp when he started kneading one while simultaneuosly sucking on the other.

He stopped only to plant kisses on her neck, trailing on her jawline, to her earlobe. He whispered something unintelligible in her ear. Hindi na niya iyon naintindihan. She was so lost in the sensation.

"What's your favorite food?" tanong nito bigla.

She blinked twice, unsure if he's serious. But he already stopped kissing her. Nakatingin lang ito sa kanya, naghihintay ng sagot.

"Uhm... beef curry."

"You like spicy food?" he asked in amusement. She nodded. "Do you know what they say about people who like spicy food?"

She slapped his arm. "Stop it!"

Tumawa lamang ito.

"Ikaw, what's your favorite food?"

"Ginataang alimango na may kalabasa."

"Ano'ng lasa no'n?"

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Hindi ka pa nakakatikim?"

Umiling siya.

"It's delicious." He kissed her bare shoulder. "It's nutty and creamy and fresh. Maanghang din, since I like my food spicy," nakangiti nitong dagdag.

"What's your favorite color?"

"Red," sagot nito.

"Yung seryoso kasi," she demanded.

"I'm serious."

"Why red?"

"Because it reminds me of you, fiery and passionate."

She stifled a moan when he licked the corners of her lips.

"Where's your favorite place?" tanong nito.

"Are you seriously going to ask me things while we're doing this?"

"I'm just letting you rest. Ayaw mong magpahinga?"

"Wow. How considerate of you," she said while rolling her eyes.

"Akala ko ligtas na 'ko sa pagsusungit mo. Hindi pa pala." He kissed her cheek then whispered in her ear, "We have to fix that."

She felt shivers run all over her body, especially when he began nipping her earlobe.

"P-Paris. And Santorini. I love those places."

"Hmm... Santorini's nice, but Paris is a bit overrated for me."

"I don't care if it's overrated. I still love Paris."

"You love Paris, huh? Nabibigla pa rin talaga ako whenever I hear you say the word 'love'. I find it very unusual."

"I find it easier to love places and things," she explained.

"And people?"

She cupped his face and looked him in the eye.

"People are complicated."