STACEY'S STRIDES WERE CONFIDENT. Nakakawit ang braso niya sa braso ni Renante. They walked on the red carpet as they entered the two-doors of that hotel's events ballroom. Nagkalat ang mga guest na nakikipagkwentuhan o kumustahan sa mga taong naroon.

"Para sa mga negosyante ba talaga ang party na ito?"

She wanted to question if it was, because of the environment. It was full of chatter and laughter, of people who were almost over the top with their attires. Kahit saan siya tumingin parang walang pinagkaiba sa sinusuot sa opisina ang mga suot ng kalalakihan doon— suit and tie. Ang mga babae naman ay naka-smart casual— pencil skirts and blouses, or formal-looking dresses.

He drew his face close to her so she could hear him against the loud music.

"Yes. A business associate's birthday party."

"And you managed to be here?" lapit niya ng mukha kay Renante habang nasa paligid ang tingin.

"I told you, I convinced my brother to persuade that associate to invite me here."

"How?" salo niya sa mga mata ng binata.

"I just reasoned that I need this for my company. Na kailangan kong makipag-socialize dito at baka may makilala akong interesadong mag-invest sa VVatch."

Nasa harap na ulit ang tingin ni Stacey. "Smart."

"You see, mas natural ang magiging dating ng pagkikita niyo ni Kuya Ronnie kung dito kayo magkikita. Hindi 'yung sasadyain mo pa siya mismo sa opisina niya."

"Hindi mo ba nabanggit sa kanya ang mga sinabi ko sa iyo nitong nakaraan?"

Ang tinutukoy niya ay tungkol sa mga larawang binigay ni Detective Orlando.

"Hindi pa. Ikaw mismo ang magtatanong, 'di ba?"

I hope so. Or else, I'll figure out that you gave Ronnie a briefing about our meeting tonight. That would mean I can't trust you, Renante.

They kept walking around, with Renante navigating her past every crowd. Panay ang hanap ng mga mata niya sa mukha ni Ronnie roon kasama na ang pag-obserba sa paligid. Gayundin si Renante, mas tiyak ang mga hakbang habang hinahanap ang kapatid nito.

Hindi namalayan ni Stacey na tumigil na sila sa paglalakad. Naihilig niya ang ulo. Masyado na kasing napapatagal ang pagkakatitig sa kanya ni Renante.

"What?" mataray na usig niya rito.

"You look really beautiful," he said almost not breathing in the process of that declaration.

Of course, she looked beautiful tonight. She wore a lacy white dress. Umaabot ang palda hanggang sa kanyang mga tuhod. There were holed frills that outlined the deep V-neckline. Manipis ang straps ng damit at nagki-criss cross ang puting tali sa gitna ng pang-itaas na parte ng dress. There were three layers of frills at the lower portion of the skirt.

Stacey managed a smile. Hinagod niya ang kwelyuhan ng blazer na suot ng binata. Inunat niya iyon ng mga kamay bago tumingala. She caught his eyes. Her heart ached at how they intensely pierced her from the eyes reaching deep down to her heart.

As his hands began feeling her waists, Stacey was still in the state of disbelief.

To be held by Renante, had always been a far from possible dream. Something she always had since high school. And to wait for so long for it to come true, the years had made her bitter and tired and hurt, that she was afraid this is just what it had been from the start— just a dream.

Lumapat ang mga kamay niya sa dibdib ng lalaki.

Pumitik ang kanyang dibdib ang kabigin siya nito palapit. Nagdikit ang mga katawan nila.

Pigil ang hininga na tiningala niya si Renante, salo ang titig nito habang tinataas ng isa nitong kamay ang kamay niya. Mula sa dibdib nito, dumalas ang palad niya paakyat, hanggang sa nakapatong na ito sa balikat nito. Kusa niyang tinaas ang isa pang kamay. At mas naglapit ang mga katawan nila nang ikawit niya ang mga braso sa leeg nito.

The music in the room was slow and they stepped side to side the move along with its rhythm.

Hindi niya matanggal ang mga mata sa binata.

Hindi niya rin maintindihan kung para saan ang pagsayaw na ito.

His eyes stared into hers, full of feelings that her mind could not read. Then they lowered their gaze to her parted lips. She was a mirror that copied his move, watching the way his lips parted to suck in a captivated breath.

They slowly moved in that floor. Two hands were already clung on the small of her waists.

Stacey could not help a blush as her breasts pressed tighter against his hard chest. She was pounding with a need that suddenly awakened. At alam niyang iyon ang nararamdaman ni Renante. His hardness grows as her thighs brush past his crotch when they move to a dance.

"Renante—" napasinghap siya sa paggapang ng isa nitong kamay.

Mula sa kanyang bewang, bumaba iyon ng bahagya sa kanyang puwitan. Gumilid sa kanyang hita hanggang sa naabot niyon ang kanyang palda. His eyes burned, hotly gazing on her lips as he gently lifted the side of her skit.

"Renante!" saway niya sa lalaki.

Tumulak siya pero dumalawa ulit ang kamay nito sa kanyang bewang. He pulled her close, their bodies colliding in a force that made her shatter inside and shudder on the outside.

Their eyes met.

"Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako makakapagpigil," he lowly murmured, melting her with his gaze. "The more I think about it, the more I am wanting you."

"Your mind might be fooling you," she spoke under her breath, their faces getting closer.

"It fooled me for the longest time, Stace. Not today. Not tonight."

"Fooled you for the longest time?"

Renante slowly dipped in, smearing her lips with a brush of his kiss. Mabilis din itong umatras.

She stared back, not understanding what this is all about.

Biglang lumagpas sa kanya ang tingin ni Renante.

She followed his line of sight and saw him staring at a woman among the crowd. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Stacey habang pinag-aaralan ito.

The woman had soft features— a sweet smile and cascading locks of hair. She looked very prim and proper in that pale pink high-necked dress.

"Who is she?" sulyap niya rito.

"Yrina," tangay nito sa kanya sa ibang direksyon.

Parang nasasaktan na naman siya. He just kissed her and now this?

"Bakit ganyan ang reaksyon mo nung nakita mo siya?"

"Look, she's the reason why that video went viral years ago."

"Yung sa inyo ni Sonny?"

"Yes," lingon nito sa kanya. "And even if she already fixed the problem, I am still not going to be okay with that woman. I don't want to deal with her."

Oh... Muntik na naman siyang mag-overreact.

Patuloy na sila sa paglalakad ni Renante. Mukhang nawala na ito sa mood nito kanina. Kaseryosohan ang makikita sa mga mata ng binata habang hinahanap na naman si Ronnie. Stacey lowered her eyes, watching the way his hand tightly grasps hers.

May itatanong sana siya sa binata nang matanaw si Ronnie.

"I saw him," bitaw niya sa pagkakahawak sa kanya ng binata. Stacey gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Kakausapin ko na siya."

Hindi niya binigyan ng pagkakataon si Renante para pigilan siya. Baka mawala pa sa paningin niya si Ronnie. Halos mabangga-bangga na siya, umaani ng mga irap at matatalim na tingin habang si Renante ang humihingi ng paumanhin sa mga ito para sa kanya.

Stacey went on, following the man in a pale blue suit with her eyes.

He entered a room. Humahangos na narating niya iyon at nakitang Smoking Room iyon.

Stacey took in a deep breath, composed herself then entered.

Malinis ang silid. Kulob. She felt awkward all of a sudden as Ronnie turned to see who went in after him. Natigilan ng pagdating niya ang tangka nitong umupo sa isa sa mga couch doon. His knowing eyes scanned her before turning his back again. Umupo na ito sa napiling upuan.

Stacey walked in slowly, secretly observing Ronnie with her eyes. Pinili niya ang upuang katapat ng kinapupwestuhan nito, upuang nasa kabilang dulo ng silid.

Ronnie pulled out a pack of cigarette from the pocket on the inner part of his blazer. Nanatili sa kanya ang mga mata nito.

The Villaluz brothers had this kind of gazes that were hard to read.

Was being poker-faced is required in their business man training or was it running in their blood?

She coolly laid back against the seat's backrest. Stacey crossed her legs before pulling out something tucked in between her breasts. A folded photo paper.

Hindi na iyon nakita ni Ronnie dahil abala na ang lalaki sa pagsisindi sa sigarilyong nasa mga labi nito. Then, he shoved the lighter back in the chest pocket of his suit. Malamig ang tingin na pinukol nito sa kanya bago inalis ang sigarilyo sa mga labi at nagbuga ng usok.

"What do you want?" patay ang mga matang saad ni Ronnie.

Napataas ang isa niyang kilay. "Excuse me?"

The folded photopaper was still in between her fingers, lifted in the air with her elbow on the seat's armrest.

"We may have not yet met in personal, but I know you're Stacey Vauergard."

Tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang labi. It wasn't a smile though. The smirk was soulless and unaffecting her fierce eyes.

"So, don't waste my only alone time in this party," he continued, stiffly. "Ano ang kailangan mo?"

Stacey remained seated. "Gusto kong malaman kung may kilala ka bang Brian Ortiz?"

"Meron," he answered, straight-faced.

"I see," she scoffed, her smirk was sarcastic. "So you talked to him."

"Yes, I did."

She unfolded the photopaper and showed it to him. "Good. Because even if you dare to deny it, I have this evidence."

"Good for you."

Initsa niya iyon sa kung saan. "Bakit mo siya kinausap? Tungkol ba ito sa stalking case ko?"

"Yes."

"Why?" she hissed. Malapit na siyang mapikon sa pagiging masyadong kalmante ng lalaki.

"Because I want to be one step ahead of you."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya.

Tumayo na si Ronnie mula sa kinauupuan nito. "You see, Stacey, bukambibig ka ni Renante noon pa."

Sinundan niya ito ng tingin. Pinulot ng lalaki ang tinapon niyang litrato para titigan iyon habang humihithit ng sigarilyo. He pulled out the cigarette, releasing a puff of smoke as his lips parted.

"Despite all the good things he said, like you're the only person who is smart enough to combat his wits and contradict him all the time... you're also a liar."

Diniin nito ang dulo ng sigarilyo sa gilid ng litrato. Nakailang diin ang lalaki bago gumapang ang apoy sa hawak nitong photopaper. Ronnie's eyes caught her gaze.

"A liar?" pigil niya ang paghinga.

"How many times have you lied to my brother?" salubong ng mga kilay nito. "And you think, as his older brother, I will let anyone do that to him?"

Napatiim-bagang siya. Kontrolado niya ang pag-ahon ng emosyon sa mga naririnig.

"Paano mo nasasabing sinungaling ako?" dahan-dahang tayo niya mula sa kinauupuan.

Ronnie flung the burning photo on the floor and stomped on it. His eyes found hers again.

"Because you always lie to my brother. Well," he sighed and shrugged, "at least, according to my brother."

Muli itong humithit ng sigarilyo, nakaabang ang mga mata sa kanya.

What is the meaning of this, Renante?!

Iniling nito ang ulo para hindi mapunta sa kanya ang binuga nitong usok. But Stacey could still smell it anyway. She remained unfazed.

"You told someone that you liked my brother," Ronnie began enumerated. "And then what? He'll see you kissing some other guy. And you told my brother that you won't drink too much. You still did. You told my brother that you and Sondra would be fine one time. But then, I'll find him rushing a late night business dinner just to pick up the two of you from the police station."

Those... Those little lies. Habang nilalahad iyon ni Ronnie, unti-unting pumupunit sa kanyang puso ang isipin na nakaapekto ang mga iyon kay Renante.

Those little lies... weren't little. They grow big in time. Memory make them look worse.

Her heart broke at how those lies were beginning to make her look like a terrible person in her own eyes.

"At sino ba sa tingin mo ang laging tinatawagan ni Renante at pinagtatanungan kung ano ang gagawin nung nangangapa pa lang siya? How do you think did Renante manage to get you out that time from jailtime if it were not for me?"

Hindi siya nagpatinag. "But Ronnie—"

"And," mariin nitong putol sa kanya, "the worst of all is this stalker case."

She felt her eyes starting to get teary.

"What is that for? Para magpapansin sa kapatid ko? Parang gawin siyang tanga?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," matabang niyang tanggol sa sarili.

"Oh, don't try me," he scoffed. "You came running to my brother one time and asked him for help about this stalker."

"So?" bahagyang pagtaas ng tinig niya. "He didn't believe that!"

"Oh, you think so?" may pangungutya sa tono nito.

Ronnie scoffed when he grew impatience of her silence.

Oh, you think so?

Ano ang gustong ipahiwatig ni Ronnie sa sinabi nito?

Na mali siya ng akala?

"He asked for my help," he coolly continued. "Of course, he needed me. He's only a college boy back then, no contacts, no clue about reliable detectives and stuff. I looked for a private investigating firm that can solve his problems. Ako ang naglakad ng transaksyon."

"He didn't tell me..."

"Oh, because he didn't want you to think too much about it."

"Bakit?" paghina ng boses niya.

"How would I know? Habang tumatanda ang taong iyon pakonti na lang ng pakonti ang mga sinasabi niya sa akin."

Tears welled up her eyes. "So... So he believed me."

"And he tried to help you," nabuhay na naman ang panlalamig sa katawan nito. "For what? Para lang malaman kong ikaw ang may kagagawan ng stalker-stalker na iyan? Tapos uulitin mo na naman ito sa kapatid ko?"

"Hindi ko gawa-gawa iyon!" she blurted. "Someone was really stalking me years ago! Hindi ako ang gumawa ng mga sulat o nagpuslit ng mga regalo sa bag ko!"

In her outrage, Ronnie remained cold. If Renante was mysterious and cool but always considering, this man was worse. He was an emotionless, unaffected stone. Incapable of strong feelings.

"The evidences pointed to the opposite of your statement," humithit ulit ito.

Stacey could feel her hand shaking.

"Are you in love with him?" panghuhuli ni Ronnie sa kanya.

Stacey felt her whole being weakened.

"Sa tingin ko, hindi naman manhid ang kapatid ko. Alam niya iyan," tingin nito sa pader. "Kaya lang, pinalaki siyang may utak." His condescending eyes returned to her. "You can be in love with someone who doesn't deserve it. And Renante knows that. Iyon siguro ang dahilan kaya hindi niya maamin-amin sa sarili niya na kaya pinalalagpas niya lahat ng mga katarantaduhang ginagawa mo sa kanya ay dahil gusto ka rin niya. I understand, because who am I? But the person he used to tell everything about? Kahit ano namang kaila niya, marunong ako magmasid. Mag-observe."

How was she supposed to feel? Everything was starting to charge toward her. How scary her past was. How unruly, careless and pretentious she was. How she kept thinking of no one but herself... her own feelings. How the self-absorption and independence made her ignorant of how other people feel, of how other people might think...

"Maybe, that's the reason why you lost him to Sondra before," he added to her injury that made it harder for her to breathe. "Napagtanto ng kapatid ko na may taong mas mabuti at deserving kaysa sa minahal niya. Oh wait," he smirked, "Correction. I managed to convince him that Sonny is better than you. Smart move, isn't it? I saved my brother's heart, and he became focused with getting trained so he can help us with the family business in the future!"

Pigil niya ang nag-aambang pagpatak ng mga luha.

"You can't keep doing this, Stacey. You can't keep lying to my brother. You can't keep on playing with his feelings. Kasi ang pagmamahal, madaling matutunan iyan kung mabuti ang isang tao. Pero kung masama kang tao, kahit abot-langit ang pagmamahal ng kapatid ko sa iyo, magdadalawang-isip din iyan. Mapapagod. Matatakot."

Matatakot, Ronnie's voice echoed as her glossy eyes met his stare.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito at muling humithit ng sigarilyo.

"Kasi ang pagmamahal, hindi dapat one-sided, hindi ba? Dapat pareho kayong willing seryosohin ang isa't isa. Hindi 'yung totoo ang isa at ang isa naman ay puro pagsisinungaling ang ginagawa. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang kapatid ko. Why does he keep giving second chances to people like you?"

Stacey remain straight faced. Hindi niya pinutol ang matapang na titig na tugol sa mapanghamon at mapagmataas na mga mata ni Ronnie. As he turned his back, she took that as an opportunity to head to the door.

Bago pa tuluyang masira ng pag-iyak ang natitira pa niyang dignidad, taas-noong iniwan niya sa silid na iyon si Ronnie.