NAKAYAKAP ANG MGA HITA NI STACEY SA BEWANG NI RENANTE. His hands assisted beneath her thighs as he carried her all the way to bed.

He was focused with carrying her, meanwhile, Stacey was working with his lips. Walang tigil niyang hinalikan nang marahas si Renante, hindi siya nagmintis sa pagpaparamdam dito kung gaano siya kauhaw sa pagroromansa nito.

She gasped when Renante released her. She dropped on the bed inside the bedroom he uses and bounced on it. Mainit na nagkatitigan ang kanilang mga mata habang kinakalas na ng binata ang pagkakatali ng drawstring shorts nito.

"Shower with me," he grinned followed by his shorts dropping down on his feet.

Nahigit ni Stacey ang paghinga habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa mga mata ni Renante at sa katawan nito. The very sight of him already got her burning hotter, a flamed yearning to be consumed by his heat to grow wilder. She could not believe that after all these years, she was still feeling this way toward him.

Walang ano-anong umupo siya sa kama at hinila paitaas ang suot na tank-top. Ilang minuto pa at kapwa nasa banyo na sila, parehong walang saplot sa katawan.

Renante pushed her on the cold tiled wall with one hand pinning her shoulder. Inabot ng kabila nitong kamay ang knob ng shower kaya bumuhos ang malamig na tubig. Stacey shuddered and it made Renante smile naughtily.

"Don't worry. You won't feel cold later," hapit nito sa kanyang bewang para maglapat ang kanilang mga katawan at kapwa saluhin ang malamig na buhos ng tubig mula sa shower.

Stacey clinged her arms around his neck and caught his lips. Pakiramdam niya, walang katapusan ang salitan nila ng maiinit na halik. Kapwa inihilig-hilig nila ang kanilang mga ulo habang nangangapa ang mga labi at dila nila sa isa't isa. Renante rubbed his hands, following the shape of her body. It felt so good, Stacey pressed herself closer to him. She felt her breasts against his hard chest, prompting her to rub against him. The more she rubbed her breasts on him, the more her nipples grew harder.

Renante reached for her ass, and squeezed both cheeks with each of his hands, such big hands that gave her a good satisfying grip that made her moan. Napatingala siya at napapikit dahil sa tubig na tumatama sa kanyang mukha habang naghahabol siya ng hininga.

Renante wiped his face and combed up his wet hair. He slighltly squinted his eyes, hirap kasi ito makakita dahil sa bagsak ng tubig na sumasakto sa mukha nito. He reached for his shampoo bottle and squirted some of it on his palm.

"Turn around," he demanded in a low voice.

Stacey did so and she didn't have to wait long to feel his hands smearing the shampoo on her hair. He lathered it gently and massaged her scalp, scattering the cold, icy scent of mind all over the bathroom. Napapikit siya habang dinadama ang bawat kilos ng mga kamay nito. Finally, he combed her hair gently with his fingers, rinsing off the shampoo.

Saglit na tumigil si Renante sa ginagawa at nang bumalik ang mga kamay nito sa kanya, humagod na ang mga ito sa magkabila niyang mga balikat. This time, he was spreading liquid soap all over her body. Nahigit niya ang paghinga nang hilain nito palapit dito. Napasandal siya sa dibdib nito at dahil sobra ang pagkakalapit ng kanilang mga katawan, dama niya sa kanyang puwitan ang katigasan nito. Wala sa sariling isinandal na lang niya ang likuran ng ulo sa balikat nito. Nanatili siyang nakapikit dahil tumitilamsik sa kanyang mukha ang tubig mula sa shower.

Renante pressed the side of his face against the side of her face. He was looking down, watching his hands wander slowly, smoothly and gently all over her body. She could feel his warm palm and fingers against her cool soapy skin. Naiwan ang isang kamay ng lalaki sa kanyang dibdib. Paikot itong lumamas doon habang ang isa naman nitong kamay ay bumaba nang bumaba. He soaped her thoroughly, the pressure of his every stroke massaged her so good. Lahat tuloy ng pagod niya mula sa malayong biyahe papunta sa Gallardo's hanggang sa pag-uwi nila, bigla na lang nawala.

Stacey released a soft, breathy sigh, when Renante started rubbing between her thighs. He did not enter his fingers in her hole, which frustrated her a bit. Pero nauunawaan niyang hindi pa ito magawa ng lalaki dahil hindi pa tapos magsabon sa kanyang katawan. Renante slowly bent his knees, his hands began reaching for her thighs down to her legs to rub them with liquid soap.

Maingat na pumihit si Stacey paharap sa binata at tig-isang inangat ang kanyang mga paa para masabunan nito. While she was watching him, she also busied her hands with stroking her own body. Mabilis niyang binanlawan ang sabon na nanikit sa knayang katawan kaya saktong pagtayo ni Renante, ito naman ang kanyang sinabunan.

Dahil kailan ba siya nagpatalo rito? Never.

Her hands roamed all over his body— from his hard biceps to his strong chest. Yumakap siya sa likuran nito at pinagkiskisan ang kanyang malulusog na dibdib habang pababa nang pababa ang hagod ng kanyang mga kamay. Her hands circled on his chest to make the soap bubble, then she rubbed down one hand to reach his abdomen. And the other, quickly gripped his pelvis and stroked towatd his cock with an expert deliriously delicious kind of pressure. Napatingala na lang ang binata bago ipinagpatuloy ang panonood sa kilos ng kanyang mga kamay.

She gently enveloped his cock with her hand and began jacking him off. Mabagal sa umpisa pero banayad. Tiniyak niyang damang-dama ng buong palibot ng paninindig nito ang higpit ng kanyang pagkakahawak dito. Stacey could not help smiling when Renante began moaning and groaning as her strokes went faster and harder. She beat his meat so hard, he got weak in the knees and leaned his back against her.

"S-Stace..." he moaned shakily with eyes closed.

Halik sa likuran ng balikat nito ang kanyang naging tugon sa pagtawag nito sa kanyang pangalan.

Hindi rin sila nakapagtiis. Hinarap siya ni Renante at marahas na pinihit patalikod dito. Bago pa siya nakapagsalita, dumadaliri na ito sa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita. Stacey gasped, as Renante lifted her with his body, secured her left thigh with his grip while his other arm hooked beneath her lifted right thigh.

Napasandal ang lalaki sa pader para mapagsabay ang pagbalanse sa katawan nila dahil buhat siya nito at ang pagdaliri sa kanya.

"Faster, Renante! Faster!" halos gumaralgal na siya dahil sa sobrang sarap.

As usual, he obliged. Bukod sa binilisan nito, idiniin pa ng binata ang hinlalaki nito sa kanyang namimintog na clitoris. Stacey was already panting as she helplessly could not do anything but watch. Fuck. She used to be this loud, feisty woman, but look at her now, submitting to her quiet-natured man.

"Do you like it, Stace? Do you fucking like it?" he muttered raspily, she could feel his breath against the side of her neck.

Her moaning made her slightly stammer. "Fuck it, of course!"

"Much better than arguing, right? Let's just fuck, Stace," halos mapupugto na ang hininga nito.

At bigla nitong nilaliman ang pagkakapasok ng daliri sa kanya.

"Ah!" liyad niya sabay hablot sa buhok ni Renante.

Her other hand gripped on one of her breasts. She held so tightly as if that would ease the exciting desire that make her body dance while being fingered.

"Are you suggesting 'angry sex?'" she seethed. Pakiramdam niya, nagliliyab na siya sa pagitan ng mga hita sa rahas at bilis ng paglabas-masok ng mga daliri ni Renante.

"Make-up sex," he hotly answered.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang tinatlong daliri siya nito. She could feel her hole stretch wide open as he rammed his fingers inside her.

"Fuck!" she screamed then bit her lower lip as she weakly leaned her body against him. "Oh, fuck, you're so good... oh, fuck..." she moaned weakly, almost mumbling her words.

"I still think.... I still think it's your mother's fault!" she gritted then gasped when Renante sucked the side of her neck.

"I still think your mother is a bully," he retorted with a grunt.

Nilingon niya ito para matampal.

"Is it necessary to slap me?" hablot nito sa pulsuhan niya.

"Manhid ang nanay ko, Renante. She didn't give a fuck about me, so why would she give a damn about your mother?" nagpupuyos na titig niya sa mga mata nito.

"Answer my question, is it necessary to slap me?" he grinned, something mischievous was already running at the back of his mind.

She cupped his chin and jaws with one hand and smirked.

"What are you gonna do about it?" she challenged sultrily.

"Bully," he scoffed with a smirk then clucked his tongue. "Stace, I never tolerate bullying. You'll pay for that slap."

Matapang niyang nginisihan ang binata.

Ibinaba na siya nito at mabilis na hinila patungo sa kwarto.

.

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***

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SATURDAY CAME SO FAST. Naunang makarating sa restaurant si Stacey. She looked around and took note of the dainty furnitures and floral arrangements everywhere— a fusion of cottagecore and old English interior design. The ambiance was warm, cozy, and classy. The customers speak lowly making the place peaceful at eight in the evening, and delicious scent of pastries, pastas, soup, and coffee spread all over the restaurant.

Stacey wore a white smocked blouse with puffed sleeves and a pair of jeans. Her short hair was clipped on one side. Kandong niya ang dalang chain-strapped wallet bag.

Despite of how calm everything seemed on the outside, she was sitting here troubled. She remembered the sex she had with Renante last night. The kind of sex they had reminded her of something—1 a painful past.

"Are you suggesting 'angry sex?'"

"Make-up sex."

She pinched her left temple.

What was I thinking? Angry sex ulit? Tulad kung paano kami nagsimula noon kaya iniwan ko rin siya kalaunan?

Stacey could clearly remember that night. Nagkataon na nakita niya si Renante, naglalasing sa isang bar. It was because he found out that Sondra was already married to Maximillian. He was so furious at everyone but Sondra.

Siya at ang katawan niya ang pinagbalingan nito ng hindi mailabas na galit. It had been like that for months and the toxicity of that kind of making-love drained her.

"It felt like... going around in circles..." she whispered to herself at the realization.

Nag-angat ng tingin si Stacey.

I'll think about Renante later. For now, dapat akong magfocus sa mga makakasama ko ngayon rito.

Stacey pulled out an uncertain smile to condition herself how to look like when Kylie, Luz, and Paige arrives.

Nagliwanag ang kanyang mukha nang matanaw si Kylie. Tulad ng usapan, one-hour sila pumunta in advance para makapag-usap nang silang dalawa lang bago dumating sila Paige at Tita Luz.

Mabilis siyang tumayo at sinalubong ang kaibigan. Saglit na naglapat ang kanilang mga pisngi bago inalok ni Stacey si Kylie na umupo sa bakal na upuan katabi ng kanya.

Kylie smiled back at her, but Stacey noticed how uneasy she looked. Inayos nito ang skirt ng suot na pastel green button-down straight dress na may malaking manggas. A fine silver chain hung around her neck and her bouncy blonde-dyed curly hair was tied into a high ponytail. Kinandong ni Kylie ang dala nitong blue shoulder bag.

"How's your driving? Ma-traffic ba sa dinaanan mo papunta rito?"

Tipid pa rin ang ngiti nito nang umiling bilang sagot sa kanyang tanong.

"I'm only a few minutes late lang naman, 'di ba?"

Mahina siyang tumawa. "Yes." Inayos ni Stacey ang pagkakakandong sa bag habang nagsasalita. "I'm so glad, natuloy din ang pagmi-meet natin."

Tumutok sa pahabang kahoy na mesa ang tingin ni Kylie, then she replied a single nod. Hindi na tuloy naikubli ni Stacey ang pag-aalala.

"Are you okay?"

Kylie took in a deep breath before looking back at her.

"Of course, I am," she replied with hands fidgeting mindlessly at the handle of her blue shoulder bag.

"Eh, bakit ang tamlay mo?"

"I'm just nervous."

"About what?"

She took in another breath for courage before meeting her eyes.

"I hope you won't mind this little request, Stacey. Tutal, masaya ka na naman ngayon, lalo na at, nakakausap mo na ulit si Sonny. Tapos, mayroon ka na ring Renante. At saka, ngayon, nagsisimula ka nang makibonding sa family niya..." nahihiyang nag-iwas ito ng tingin sa kanya.

Napatitig siya sa kaibigan. Hindi pa sinasabi ni Kylie ang request nito pero nalulungkot na siya. Mukha siyang mataray sa panlabas, pero sa loob-loob parang unti-unting nagbibitak ang puso niya. She could already sense from the way Kylie said things that she was leaving soon.

Kylie continued, breaking it to her gently. "So, I think, you won't mind if I distance myself a bit..." she stole a glance at her as she trailed off, "... from you."

"Why?" mahina niyang tanong. Napailing siya pero hindi maalis-alis ang mga mata kay Kylie. Nilinawan niya ang pagkakasambit ng tanong. "Why?"

Kylie made an effort to give her a reassuring smile, pero paling ang kinalabasan niyon, senyales na ninenerbiyos pa rin ito.

"I have to." Kylie lowered her eyes. "Para hindi na ako kinukulit ni Piccollo na magkuwento kung kumusta ka na o kung pwedeng sumama siya kapag magmi-meet tayo para may dahilan siya para makita ka."

Mahina siyang natawa. Alam niya kasing walang nakakatawa sa sinabi ni Kylie, pero parang ang babaw naman kasi na sa ganoong dahilan lang ay didistansyahan na siya ng kaibigan.

"Nakukulitan ka kay Piccollo, gano'n?"

Napapikit ito saglit. Pagmulat ni Kylie ng mga mata, nakayuko pa rin ito at blangkong nakatingin sa mesa.

"I'm in love with him, Stacey."

Stacey fell silent for a while. She could not believe it. Kailan pa may gusto si Kylie kay Piccollo?

At ngayong, magkasama na ang dalawa sa business venture ng binata, nagkakaroon na ba ng progress? Nade-develop na ba silang dalawa sa isa't isa? Nagpapakita na kaya ng senyales si Piccollo na nagkakagusto na rin ito kay Kylie?

"I'm sorry," payapa niyang ngiti sa kaibigan. "Sorry, if I am making it hard for you to be closer to Piccollo. If I have only known sooner, noon pa lang nag give-way na ako..."

She could not help empathizing with Kylie. Noon, nasa parehong sitwasyon din siya. She fell in love with Renante who used to be head-over-heels in love with Sondra.

"Don't be sorry," maliit nitong ngiti. Hindi niya maunawaan kung bakit tila tumitiklop ito at nahihiya. "It's not your fault kung ikaw ang gusto ni Piccollo at hindi ako."

That made her feel a bit hurt and guilty. Ganito rin ba ang nararamdaman sa kanya ni Sondra noon? Tuwing nagkikita sila? Tuwing magkasama sila at naaalala nitong may gusto siya kay Renante?

"You know what?" tuwid ni Stacey ng upo. Mas gumaan ang kanyang pagkakangiti sa kaibigan. "I envy you. You are taking this more maturely than I did towards Sondra, noong in love pa sa kanya si Renante."

Napayuko na lang si Kylie. Nagpatuloy si Stacey.

"I blamed Sondra for everything, just because, siya ang mahal noon ni Renante. You just made me realize that--" nag-iwas siya ng tingin at blangkong itinutok sa harapan ng table ang mga mata, "--Renante hated me before not because I did things that made him feel that way towards me. He did not hate me because he likes Sondra, not because I am in love with him. It's because... I did things that made him angry."

Naluluhang tumango-tango si Kylie at nginitian siya.

"Am I a terrible friend? Because I chose Piccollo ove ryou?"

"Don't be silly," mahina niyang tawa, pero parang mahahawa na rin siya kay Kylie at maluluha na. "Lalayo ka lang naman. Magiging MIA. Hindi lang tayo makakapag-bonding in person, pero hindi pa naman tayo friendship over, 'di ba? The moment you make Piccollo fall for you, I'll get to hang-out with my good friend Kylie, right?"

There was this uncertainty in Kylie's teary eyes as she nodded enthusiastically. "I'll always be your friend, Stace. You can always call or chat me when I am already home."

"Get that man, Kylie," she encouraged, optimism and cheering in her tone.

Magaan naman itong natawa. "When we meet again, I'll make sure he's already head-over-heels in love with me and is already mine."

Masaya siyang ngumiti. Medyo masakit dahil parang mag-isa na naman siya. Parang nawalan na naman siya ng kaibigan na makakasama kapag hindi available si Renante. Pero dahil nagpaubaya noon sa kanya si Kylie na nagkagusto dati kay Renante, siguro naman, may karapatan na ito ngayon na magkaroon ng masayang love life.

She's just giving Kylie what a good friend deserves-- their happiness.