"My gosh, they're all gone!" Halos mapatili si Monroe nang magising siya. Nasilip niya kasi ang kanyang braso at wala na itong bakas ng pantal. She smelled like Caladryl lotion but what's important was that the rashes were gone. Tinitingnan niya ang kanyang mga kamay na nakabalot parehas ng medyas.

"What are these?"

Napatingin siya sa orasan sa sidetable. Natigilan siya at napakurap-kurap.

Sidetable?

Tiningnan niya ang kanyang tabi. Sleeping Abram was there. May hawak na Caladryl at nakaupo lang. Napabangon siya bigla dahil sa gulat, maagap naman itong napadilat.

"Monroe?" he called in a raspy voice. "Are you okay? Makati pa?"

"What are these?" tanong niya sa itim na medyas sa kanyang kamay. Napahilamos si Abram ng mukha at parang disoriented pa siyang tiningnan.

"You were trying to scratch your skin while sleeping. Pinipigilan kita. I was worried that I will fall asleep when it was already past 3, I have to put my socks on your hands so you won't hurt yourself when I was not watching."

"You were wide awake til it was past 3?" Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. Tingnan mo nga naman, the Mr. I-sleep-at-exactly-8 was awake until it was midmorning.

"I was trying to be awake, alright?"

"No, no. I am not judging you. It is normal since you were worried. Gustuhin ko mang mag-alala sa pantal ko pero nakakaantok ang anti-histamine na ibinigay sa akin."

"I am not worried. It was just—" Napapikit ito at hindi na lang itinuloy ang sasabihin. "You are my responsibility—"

"I may be your responsibility as your housemate, but you don't know about my allergies. I don't know it, too. Let's just move on?" Tumayo siya at dumiretso sa banyo para mag-shower. Maginhawa na ang kanyang pakiramdam pagkatapos. Parang nagdahilan lang ang kanyang allergies kagabi dahil naglaho agad ang mga ito, siguro dahil sa pag-aalaga ni Abram o baka nag-iinarte lang ang balat niya, mana sa kanya.

Nakaayos na siya nang lumabas ng banyo. She was replaced by Abram inside the bathroom and he didn't totally shut the door. Nang marinig niya na ang lagaslas ng tubig ay pasimple niyang itinulak ang pinto at saka sinilip si Abram na naliligo doon sa glass-enclosed shower.

Ohlala, look at those pectorals. The abs, hulmado. His morning wood was fully erected early in the morning. She was all giggly and flushed when Abram closed the shower faucet and looked at her directly.

"Monroe." In a flat-tone, he called her out. Umirap siya at sinarhan ang pinto ng banyo. Nakita na naman niya iyon! Saka ayaw ba nitong sinisilipan? Gusto niya siya lang ang namboboso? That is so unfair!

It was almost brunch. Naghintay siya sa may balcony ng cabin habang naliligo si Abram. The island had been a home to her for a month already. Somehow, she felt calm this time. Sa unang beses ay walang siyang nararamdamang pressure. Gusto niyang kalimutan ang iniwanan niyang problema sa siyudad kaya hindi niya kinukumusta ang kanyang ama. Hindi naman siguro iyon papabayaan ng kanyang stepsister na si Noelle. Mukha namang alipin ang isang 'yon. She rolled her eyes again when she remembered her soft-spoken step sister!

Her eyes scanned the beautiful swimsuits in the island. She couldn't help but drool. YSL, Givenchy, Dior, name it. The women in the island were expensive, too. She was like that just a year ago. Kung sana ay naisipan niyang maging miyembro rito noon, may sampung milyon pa sana siya na naipanggastos ngayon. Their assets were all frozen, including her lifesavings, and that is so cruel.

"Breakfast?" Abram passed her without looking. Humabol siya dito at sinundan itong maglakad patungo sa kung saan. Pinasok ng buhangin ang kanyang mga paa, at hinawakan niya ang buhok para hindi isabog ng hangin. Sa isang All-American grill restaurant sila nagtungo.

Beautiful waitresses in a flaming red high-waisted shorts and white polo shirt welcomed them. Tipid siyang ngumiti sa mga ito dahil nahihiya siyang value meal na naman ang kanyang kakainin kahit halos pananghalian na. Ipinaghila pa sila ng upuan ng mga waitresses.

"Do you have sausages and eggs?" pinangunahan na niya si Abram. Mahirap naman na umasa pa siyang ipipili siya ng masarap na pagkain.

"She'll have steak. What's the done-ness that you like?" kaswal na tanong sa kanya ni Abram habang nakatingin sa menu.

Hindi siya agad nakasagot. "Monroe." Kinailangan pang tawagin siya nitong muli.

"A-ah, medium well, please, with pepper sauce and mashed potato."

Nag-order din si Abram nang para sa kanya at pakiramdam niya ay namamalikmata siya sa kanyang kaharap. Was he really treating her a steak?

They both stayed silent. Abram was reading the morning newspaper while she was observing the restaurant-goers. Sari-sari ang nasa isip niya tungkol kay Abram. Bumabait. Nakokonsensya. May hihingiin na kapalit.

Nang dumating ang kanilang pagkain ay tila may sumipa sa kanyang lalamunan. The sizzle of the steak on the hot plate sounded beautiful. The smell of the char, grilled meat, and the buttered mashed potato, were like a dream.

Humiwa siya ng piraso ng karne at agad niyang isinubo iyon. The meat melted in her mouth and she was closing her eyes, savoring and appreciating the existence of beef that she felt sorry for the vegans. She sniffed. She's on the verge of crying.

Bakla ka talaga ng taon, huwag kang umiyak! kontra ng kanyang isip. Pinigilan niya ang paghinga para hindi maluha nang buksan ang kanyang mga mata.

"Monroe? What's wrong?"

Lumabi siya at sinunod-sunod ang subo ng mashed potato at saka itinulak ng tubig.

"I missed this, I missed delicious food," she sobbed. She couldn't help it! Nanatiling nakatingin sa kanya si Abram, to and fro tapping his knife and fork at the table in silence.

"You don't have to cry," mahinahong sabi nito.

"But I feel like crying." Hindi na talaga napigilan ang kanyang pagluha. Pinagtitinginan siya ng ilan sa malalapit sa kanilang lamesa pero hindi niya iyon pinansin. "These are happy tears. Don't worry about me."

"You are weird," napapailing na wika ni Abram. She wiped her tears using the table napkin and went back to eating again suppressing tears.

Nang matapos na silang kumain ay sumunod pa rin siya kay Abram. He was yawning the whole time they were walking on the sand. Maybe he wanted to sleep the whole day. She wanted to read a book, too. Masyadong mainit para sa mga activities sa isla.

As they opened the cabin door, her eyes went wide open. She saw a single-sized extra bed beside Abram's bed. Meron din itong sariling comforter at maraming unan.

"I'll have my own bed?" She was jumping small and contained. Hindi na mananakit ang kanyang likod, makakatulog na siya ng maayos. Meron siyang sariling booklamp at maraming unan. Pillows! She loves pillows! Marunong naman palang maawa ang binata.

"That's my peace-offering for being an asshole," sambit nito sa kanyang likuran na agad niyang binalikan ng tingin.

"You are still an ass for not letting me sleep on your bed instead."

"You already did sleep on my bed last night. Ako nga ang hindi nakatulog."

"You could have just slept the night away last night. Hindi mo na sana ako binantayan. Sumbatan pa ako nito."

"Hindi ako sanay nang may katabi, Monroe, and you were sleeping like a koala. I was nice enough to let you sleep on MY bed."

"Because I am sick." She rolled her eyes.

"Do we really need to argue again, Monroe? I am sleepy right now. It was because of you."

"Hey! I thought you are sorry?"

Imbes na sumagot ay dumapa sa kama si Abram at ilang sandali pa ay malalim na ang paghinga nito. Tulog agad.

Nagpapadyak siya sa inis. Kapag nagkaroon siya ng pera, uunahin niyang bayaran ang pagpapatira sa kanya ni Abram sa cabin nito. Argh! Naghalungkat siya ng libro sa kanyang maleta at pumili ng isa. She had this habit of starting to read books until she reaches the middle, then she will read something new again. She would go back to the old book if she gets lucky but most of the times, she wouldn't. She hadn't finish anything at all. Panay siya simula. Yung kurso nga niyang business ay hindi pa niya matatapos kung hindi siya na-bribe ng kanyang ama na bibilhan ng gold Porsche. Kaya nga freelancer siguro siya. Kapag hindi na siya masaya, she escapes. Temptation Island is an escape from the sad reality that she's not a rich princess anymore.

And this time, she's picking Paulo Coelho's Eleven Minutes. Lumabas siya ng cabin kahit hindi niya alam ang lockcode ng unit ni Abram. Hihintayin na lang niyang magising ito bago pumasok. Nagtungo siya sa isa sa mga sun loungers na natatakpan ng lamesa at nagsimulang magbasa. And tunog ng mahinahong alon ng dagat malapit sa kanyang paanan ay parang inuugoy siya, kinakalma ang puso niyang laging galit. She was relaxed.

She couldn't believe that she was reading a story of a prostitute. May mga parte pa ngang naiiyak siya dahil nakaka-relate siya sa bida. Maliban na lang doon sa na-inlove ito sa customer nito at hindi siya sang-ayon doon.

You don't do that, bakla. Sex-sex lang, walang feelings.

She's still a believer of love, but when it is work, it is work. No feelings involve.

Nang sarhan niya ang libro bago niya iyon matapos ay hindi siya makapaniwala na nagsisimula na rin na magtago ang araw. Inabot siya ng hapon at hindi pa rin niya natatanawan si Abram.

Mantika rin matulog ang isang iyon. O baka naman talagang napuyat ng husto?

May bumagsak na papel sa kanyang dibdib at hindi niya alam kung saan galing.

'There will be a Jungle Party at the Monasterio Mansion'

"You coming?"

Napaangat siya ng tingin sa kumausap sa kanya. Oh boy, namamalikmata ba siya? Was it really the youngest Monasterio talking to her?

She wanted to say yes right away but she remembered Mr. I-sleep-exactly-at-8 and how he would get all cranky. Napatingin siya sa kanyang libro tungkol sa prostitute.

Bakla, opportunity iyan. Be a prostitute. Pokpok all you want!

Natanaw niya ang pinto ng cabin ni Abram at mukhang himbing na himbing pa rin iyon. She smiled at Lucifer Monasterio and tousled her hair sexily.

"I think I will see you tonight."

Lucifer licked his lower lip and she was smiling like a fool. May naloko na naman ang alindog niya. Kapag naging first lady siya ng Temptation Island, si Abram ang unang-una niyang i-e-evict. Ihahagis niya ang lahat ng gamit nito papalabas ng cabin at sisigawan.

'Paalam, sungit! Ako ang nagwagi!'

She was internally laughing when somebody grabbed her wrist and she almost tripped on the sand. Muntik pa siyang makakain ng buhangin kung sakali. Oo't gutom siya but this is wrong!

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Nakita niya ang malapad na likod ni Abram. His hair was disheveled, lukot ang puting T-shirt but nevertheless, he looks cute.

"I was just sleeping then you were gone."

"Buong maghapon kang tulog." Umirap siya. "I almost finished the whole book because I couldn't get in your cabin."

"You should have woken me up. It is almost six in the evening. Paano ako makakatulog ng 8?"

"You don't need to sleep." Kinuha niya ang inipit niyang Jungle Party invitation sa kanyang libro at saka iwinagayway sa hangin. "We are invited."

Walang ganang kinuha iyon ni Abram at saka itinapon. "We are not going anywhere."

"Bakit ako kasali? Fine, kung ayaw mong sumama, eh 'di okay. You can lock me outside I don't care. I will party til' I drop. Tatay ba kita?"

Sabi nila, biruin na ang lasing huwag lang ang bagong gising. Mukhang totoo iyon. Abram moved his jaw and looked at her sternly. Patay.

"If you still want to stay with me, then you are not going."

"That's blackmail!" And very tricky, too. Pupwede siyang magbaka sakali na makahanap ng panibagong aakitin doon sa party pero paano kung hindi siya makahanap? Abram was his best and sure option right now. She shouldn't risk it.

"Paano ako kakain? Gutom na ako."

"I will feed you."

"Ng value meal? Gusto ko ng cheese, ng caviar, cold cuts and wine!"

"Pumasok ka sa loob," matigas na utos ni Abram. He's so bossy! Padabog namang humakbang ang mga paa niya papasok ng cabin nito. Humalukipkip siya at pabagsak na umupo sa kanyang kama. She was looking at her luggage, naroon ang lahat ng make-up niya, ang mga party dresses na inilaan niya para sa isla at ang nag-iisa niyang Jo Malone perfume. Panay cologne na lang ang ginagamit niya para tipirin ang perfume sa mga espesyal na okasyon.

Nang sarhan ni Abram ang pinto ay nagtungo ito sa internal telephone line ng isla.

'Yes, please bring us cold cuts, caviar, focaccia, crackers and cheese platter. Two bottles each of Chardonnay and Sweet Red Wine, a bucket full of ice and some slices of mandarin oranges.'

Parang pumapalakpak ang kanyang tainga nang marinig iyon mula kay Abram. Was he really giving her what she wants? Mukhang nagsisimula nang umepekto kay Abram ang charms niya, kaunting push pa.

"Movie?" tanong nito sa kanya habang pinipindot ang remote control. It went to Netflix and he passed her the remote. Oh! She'll get to choose for the movie night, too!

Pinili niya ang 500 Days of Summer. Tiningnan niya kung aangal si Abram pero wala namang reaksyon ito. Indian sit ang pagkakaupo niya sa kanyang kama at si Abram naman ay nasa may pinto para hintayin ang order nito. She played the movie. She was smiling and dreamy when it started.

"That's not a love story."

Nag-angat siya ng tingin kay Abram nang magsalita ito. "Summer is self-centered," dagdag pa ng binata.

"She still hasn't figure out what she wants. Normal iyon," pagtatanggol naman niya.

"That's not normal, Monroe. We all know what we want from the beginning. We just lack focus."

"Because life gives us many options. You need to try everything."

Mahinang natawa si Abram. "Ibang klase. Including fcking someone that you don't plan to end up with?"

"Hindi ka ba gano'n? Nandito ka nga, hindi ba?"

Ginulo ni Abram ang buhok nito. "Anyway, why are you watching that? Napanood mo na 'yan hindi ba?"

"Gusto ko." She shrugged. "I can relate to it."

"To Summer?"

Hindi siya sumagot. All the while she thought she was Summer. The one who cuts everything in the middle or when it is most beautiful, she will escape when she's not happy. She wanted to take it light because she's not ready to get hurt.

But right now, she feels that she's Tom. She needed a guarantee, a security, a home. She needed a 'Summer' in her life, someone to make her happy and give everything that she needs. When she finds her Summer, she promised that she will do everything to keep him.

That is of course, after her plans panned out.

The doorbell rang and Abram opened the door. She paused the movie and put it back on the beginning. Tinulungan si Abram ng room service guy na mag-set up ng platter. Inilagay ang tray sa gitna ng kama ni Abram, ang wine naman ay doon sa sidetable. Nang silang dalawa na lang ang maiwan ay sinimulan na niya i-play ang pelikula. Abram handed her an ice cold Chardonnay and a toothpick with ham and cheese.

Minutes passed, she was extending her arm to pick a fruit, a cheese or the cold cuts on Abram's bed. Tumikhim siya nang mapansin niyang nangangalay na ang kamay niya kakatusok ng pagkain na nasa harapan ni Abram.

"Pupwede mo namang ilapit sa iyo," suhestyon pa nito sa pagkain. Tumikhim siya na parang nasasamid. Manhid ba si Abram? Gusto ba nitong sabihin niya pa na kung pupwede ay makiupo lang siya sa kama nito? Isa pa, mas mataas ang kama ni Abram, ang kanyang extra bed ay naroon sa sahig.

"Water?" he offered.

She rolled her eyes. Abram chuckled.

"Fine. You may sit on my bed," he said. Her face lit up at mabilis na sumampa sa kama.

She was enjoying her wine. Abram attentively refilled her glass when it is empty. Napapangiti siya sa pinapanood nilang movie. Abram was focused but he doesn't seem bored. Kumuha siya ng cracker at nilagyan ng bleu cheese pagkatapos ay isinubo niya kay Abram. He opened his mouth while his eyes was glued on TV.

Towards the end of the movie, hindi niya mapigilan ang maluha. When Summer told Tom that she was married, Monroe just pitied Tom. How dare her, right? Ayaw na talaga niyang maging si Summer. Mas mabuti pang siya si Tom. The wicked version. Dahil kung siya si Tom ay sasabunutan muna niya si Summer. Lintik lang ang walang ganti!

Abram gave her a tissue and she wiped her eyes. When the movie credit rolled, napatingin siya sa sidetable at napansing 8:30PM na.

"Sleeping time mo na." Itinabi niya ang kanyang baso at bubuhatin na sana ang tray nang pigilin ni Abram ang kanyang kamay.

"Inaantok ka na?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Another movie, my choice this time," anito. Basta na lang siya tumango. He chose Thor: Ragnarok. She was pumped up with the movie, too. At isa pa, ang hot ni Chris Hemsworth, ano? Paano kaya kung maging housemaid siya sa bahay ng mga Hemsworth together with Liam and Luke? Ang saya siguro no'n.

"Oh, he's so hot," hindi na niya napigilang isantinig.

Tumikhim si Abram sa kanyang tabi. She rolled her eyes heavenwards. "Well, he really is hot. Look at the abs, the muscles. Napanood ko na pinaghirapan daw nila 'yan."

"Everyone who works out, works hard."

"But not that kind of body." Itinuro niya pa ang flatscreen TV.

"Which kind?"

Pinanlakihan siya nang mata nang bigla na lang mag-alis ng T-shirt si Abram. Lord, isang magandang katawan lang naman ang kanyang masilayan ngayon okay na siya, ngayon dalawa na sila at yung isa ay live na live pa.

Napakagat-labi siya at umupo paharap kay Abram. Marahan niyang iniangat ang kamay niya at pinadapo iyon sa abs ng binata. His breathing hitched. Well, she had touched male models before but not this way where there's only two of them, and Abram is not a model nor a fcking celebrity. He's just an ordinary guy with an awesome body.

Kinuha ni Abram ang kanyang pulso at akala niya ay itatakwil nito ang kamay niya mula sa katawan nito pero nagkamali siya. He guided her hands to his upper body. She could still hear the loud background music from the movie but the beat of her heart was three times more clamorous. Napalunok siya. Her throat was dry and she felt something pulsated in between her thighs.

Yum.

"What do you want, Monroe?" His voice was throaty and low. She couldn't find her voice that all she did was purred.

"Are you looking for a kind of fun? You want this fun?" Unti-unting lumapit ang mukha ni Abram sa kanya.

"Do you?" she bravely asked.

"Yeah. I am here for this kind of fun."

"I have wants, Abram. Fun cannot feed me and my spirit."

"Money?" He stopped, midway. A few inches away from her lips.

Not so fast, she thought. She couldn't ask that right away. He needed to fall for her trap first. Titiyakin niyang si Abram na ang magkukusang ibigay ang lahat ng gusto niya. Siya naman ang lumapit sa mukha nito.

"I need a home, decent food to eat, clothes, bags and shoes. I am a woman, Abram."

"Expensive." Halos magkapatong na ang kanilang mga labi habang nag-uusap.

"Aren't you listening? I told you my needs. But my wants, honey? It is you. Just you, all by myself tonight." She reached for his lips and gave him the kind of kiss that he wouldn't refuse, because this night would be too long if she wouldn't give in to her desires, and her plan? It is on.