THERE WAS NOTHING BUT TOTAL SILENCE BETWEEN STACEY AND PAIGE. Paige still had her super sleek bob hair on and was wearing white from her turtleneck sleeveless top up to her high-waist straight pants and sneakers.

Silang dalawa lang ang nasa Design Department. Kapwa walang imikan. Nakaupo pa rin sila sa magkabilang-dulo ng nag-iisang mahabang desk doon. Paige was in her own corner, facing her tablet propped up to serve as an alternative laptop. She was busy with checking the sales pitch and online captions that Eloisa from HR Department made. Iyon ay para maitugma ni Paige ang mga ito sa ii-illustrate na mga larawan ang ads para gamiting pang-market sa bagong watch collection.

Samantala, kahit bukas ang laptop ni Stacey, hindi roon nakatutok ang kanyang mga mata. May kandong siyang mga rattan strips. Nagkalat ang ilang hindi tapos na rattan wristbands sa palibot ng kanyang laptop at may ilan na nakapatong sa keyboard nito. It had been months since Stacey stopped weaving, she could not believe she can easily go rusty on it! In her mind, her weaving experience and knowledge were still fresh. Pero ngayong ginagawa na niya mismo ang paghahabi, hindi niya makuha-kuha ang gustong pattern.

For the Rosa Cobra design, she wanted the wristbands to look like a snake's skin. It was easy to criss-cross a couple of rattan strips to capture a diamond-like scale, but sometimes, she miscalculates the thickness and size ratio of the wristband. Kinailangan niya tuloy umulit nang umulit.

But Stacey had to admit it, her frustration with getting her weaving right helped her forget her problem with Renante.

Narinig niya ang mahina at malalim na paghinga ni Paige. Napalingon tuloy siya sa kinauupuan ng babae.

"Wanna grab some coffee?" aniya rito.

Mata lang nito ang gumalaw para tumutok sa kanya. As usual, she looked so emotionless with her naturally blank face. Kita niyang panay ang pagsara at buka ng mga kamaynito, inuunat sa bawat pagbuka ng mga kamay ang mahahaba nitong mga daliri.

"What for? Malapit nang mag-uwian." At saka nito iniwas ang mga mata sa kanya. "I want to go home already."

Kung hindi pa nagsalita si Paige, hindi pa mapapansin ni Stacey ang oras sa pinadulo sa baba ng kanyang laptop screen. Thirty-two minutes more and it will be six in the evening.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa babae. Nakatutok na ulit ang mga mata nito sa screen ng gamit nitong tablet. She kept stretching her fingers.

Now that she was not weaving wristbands, everything that happened this day came flooding back into her mind— ang naging pagtatalo nila ni Renante, ang pending na desisyon kung ipo-produce ba ng Gallardo Wears ang Rosa Cobra design, at ang tattoo ni Pierre...

All of a sudden, Stacey got an idea.

"What about you, me, and Tita Luz hang-out this weekend?"

Sa wakas,nagpakita na rin ang babae ng reaksyon. Mabilis itong napalingon sa kanya, nagsalubong ang mga kilay.

"The three of us?"

Stacey nodded. Habang nakatingin kay Paige, dinadakot na niya ang kandong na mga rattan strips at pinagsama-sama ang mga ito sa rejected na wristbands para mas mabilis mailigpit.

"At bakit naman?" tuwid nito ng upo at sinimulan na rin ang pagliligpit ng gamit nito. "What's up? Is this part of your preparation to become Mrs. Villaluz or something?"

"What if it's a yes? Will you decline my invitation?" nakangiting baba niya sa screen ng kanyang laptop bago sulyapan muli si Paige.

Paige was already busy stuffing her tablet inside her classy Parisian bag.

"Why would I do that? Ano ang tingin mo sa akin? Kontra sa relationship niyo ni Renante?"

"Since day one, you're been being very cold and distant toward me, so I like to think that might be the case." Stacey stuffed all the strips and wristband samples in a plastic bag kept in her handbag. Bago kasi siya umalis kaninang hapon sa Gallardo Wears, nanghingi siya ng ilang rattan strips para makapaghabi ng isusuhestiyon niyang samples. "But, I can't just assume things, right? I should get to know you first."

Tapos na siya mag-ayos. Pagkatayo ni Stacey, binitbit niya ang hand bag at sariling laptop. Nang tanawin si Paige, nakatayo na rin ito sukbit ang shoulder bag nito.

Paige gave her a look.

"You mean me and Tita Luz. Dahil kaming dalawa ang ini-invite mo this weekend, right?"

Stacey held her breath. Sa tono ng pananalita ni Paige, nakasilip siya ng pag-asa.

"Yes. Pero ikaw pa lang ang nasasabihan ko. Once I get home, I'll call up Tita Luz and invite her."

Iniwas saglit ni Paige ang tingin. Stacey could see that Paige was considering her invitation, weighing an option or two. Medyo napapiksi ang kanyang mga balikat nang biglang mag-angat ito ng tingin. Their eyes met in an instant.

Paige didn't look excited or nervous at all, but her eyebrows both lifted in interest.

"Well, sure. Tell me the details."

.

.

SANAY NA SI STACEY SA DELAYING TACTICS NI RENANTE. For sure, he was still in his office, going through the twist and turns in his mind... trying to figure out the safest way possible to sort things out between them or get the result he wanted from their earlier argument. Kaya pagkatapos niya mag-isip nang madalian kung saan niya gusto makipag-meet kina Paige sa darating na weekend, heto siya at nagmamadaling tinungo ang kanyang kotse.

She carefully placed her laptop on the dashboard. For Stacey, it was a hassle to bring laptop bags or sleeves, so it was as is when she placed the laptop there. Then, her handbag occupied the passenger seat. Ini-on niya ang air-conditioning ng kotse. Routine na niyang palamigin muna ang loob ng sasakyan bago mag-drive. Ayaw na ayaw niya kasi sa lahat iyong tila kulob na init sa kalagitnaan ng traffic. Minsan, bago pa kumalat ang lamig sa loob ng kotse, nai-stuck na siya sa traffic at naiinitan, kaya natuto na siya.

Stacey began calling Kylie's cellphone. It had been bothering her that Kylie had been MIA for days. Hindi siya nito masyadong kinukumusta. It was strange because she got used to Kylie always checking up on her. Habang naghihintay sagutin ang kanyang tawag, inihanda na ni Stacey ang sarili sa posibleng worst case scenario. Na baka hindi nagpaparamdam si Kylie dahil may pinagdadaanan itong mabigat na problema.

While waiting, she was hoping that Kylie would answer her call. Na sana, tulad niya rito, pagkatiwalaan din sana siya ng kaibigan pagdating sa problema nito. Sana, sabihan siya nito kung kailangan nito ng tulong o pakiusapan siya kung may magagawa siya para rito. Iyon man lang sana, hindi itong ganito na wala itong paramdam. Dahil kapag tumagal pa ito, dadayuhin na niya ito sa bahay nito.

Stacey sighed in relief when the call was answered.

"My goodness, Kylie, thank God, you answered!"

Hi, Stace! Napatawag ka?

"Well, I'm just checking on you."

Didn't we talk the last time na moved this coming weekend ang meet-up natin sa Sondra's? Kylie reminded in her normal small and sweet voice.

Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. Shit. Nakalimutan ko!

"Ah, yes! About that... " Kinakabahan si Stacey. Alam niyang alanganing araw itong ire-request niya. She changed her mind all of a sudden. Hindi siya ang magre-request ng araw this time. "Kylie, kailan ka pa available? Aside this weekend? Kasi..."

New plans? hula nito sa magaang tono.

The way Kylie was taking this conversation so well made her feel more guilty.

Stacey got a new idea.

"Yes. Sort of." Umayos siya nang pagkakaupo sa loob ng kotse. "You see, me, Ronnie's fiance and Tita Luz are going out this weekend. Pumayag na si Paige, girlfriend ni Ronnie, pero si Tita Luz, hindi ko pa nai-invite. I called you to let you know that we will be having company this weekend. Is that alright with you? O kung gusto mo na tayong dalawa lang, kailan mo gusto mag-resched?"

Ooh, someone sounds like getting busy. Nakikipag-close na sa mga in-law niya, himig-panunukso ni Kylie.

She could not help rolling her eyes and stifling a big grin. For some reason, there's this giddiness with the very thought that Paige and Tita Luz are already her in-laws.

"Well..." Hay. Wala pa ngang kasiguraduhan ang lahat, eh. How could she word these out?

Kylie filled-in the silence that got in between them.

Okay lang sa akin sumama. I bet , you want me to come so you'll feel less nervous.

Magaan siyang tumawa. That is also true! Pero gusto rin niya na matuloy ang plano nila ni Kylie at makakumustahan ito. Kaya natuwa siya nang pumayag ito.

Ano'ng oras mo sila in-invite? Pwede bang pumunta tayong dalawa sa place ng mga one hour in advance?

Napangiti na lang si Stacey. Oh, she bet Kylie wanted to give her a briefing on how to deal with Tita Luz before they meet on that day. Hindi siya nakikita ni Kylie pero tumango-tango si Stacey.

"Of course! Sure!"

Naghintay siya, pero sa hindi malamang dahilan, nanatiling tahimik si Kylie sa kabilang-linya. It worried her.

"Are you okay, Kylie?"

Tila naman nagulat ito. O-Of course! I'm okay. And yes... let's meet one-hour early. Same place pa rin ba na pinag-usapan natin ang pupuntahan nila Tita Luz?

"Yes..." Bahagyang tumamlay ang kanyang boses. Her instincts were screaming at her, telling her to make a big deal of the small changes in the way Kylie speaks and behaves.

Okay. Got it, Stace. So this is it—

"And Kylie," putol niya rito. Nahimigan niya kasing magpapaalam na si Kylie. "How are you these days? Kumusta ang pagdi-digital art? I bet, ang dami mong tinatapos na commissions ngayon. You seemed quite busy lately..."

Saglit itong natahimik bago sumagot sa mas mahinang boses.

Yes. That's all that I am doing these days, work.

"We really need to unwind this weekend," ngiti niya kahit may pag-aalinlangan sa isinagot ng kanyang kaibigan.

Napasinghap si Stacey nang may kumatok sa pinto ng kanyang kotse.

Si Renante.

"Okay, Kylie. I'm still in my car and I have to drive home now. See you this weekend!"

See you, Stace, malumanay nitong sagot.

Inilagay niya sa cellphone holder ang smartphone at ibinaba agad ang bintana ng sasakyan. She slightly lowered her head to get a better look at Renante. Yumuko lang ang ulo nito para salubungin ng matiim na titig ang kanyang mga mata.

"What?" masungit niyang tanong dito.

"You really left VVatch without dropping by my office?" simangot nito, kontrolado ang boses.

"Obviously, I just did," taas niya ng isang kilay. "What about it?"

"Saan tayo magdi-dinner?" masungit pa rin ito sa kanya.

Stacey straightened in her seat and looked forward.

"Gusto kong umuwi na ng bahay. I had a long day unlike someone who sat inside his office aaalll day."

"This someone who only sat there had more or less a twenty-minute lunch break. And he had his afternoon coffee break spent being in a nonesense fight with someone who had a looooong day."

"Ha. Ha. Real mature," irap niya rito.

"I'll see you in the house then. Expect me to be late for a few minutes. I'll drop by the mall and buy our dinner."

Stacey groaned. "Don't tell me you're busy that ready-to-cook Japanese ramens again!"

"Why? They're delicious," mariin nitong depensa. "Drive safely."

Iyon lang at umalis na ito para tunguhin ang kinapaparadahan ng sarili nitong sasakyan.

Talagang lumingon sa likuran si Stacey para tanawin ang papalayong si Renante. Habang pinagmamasdan ito, may kumurot na kilig sa kanyang puso.

Drive safely.

"Kainis!" nangingiting balik niya ng tingin sa harap. Malapit nang maglutang ang kanyang isip nang maalalang naiwang bukas ang bintana ng sasakyan. Sayang ang air-conditioning niya!

Tarantang isinara niya ulit ang bintana. Tinanaw niya ulit si Renante. Nang makitang nakasakay na ito ng kotse, binuhay na ni Stacey ang makina ng sasakyan at pinausad ito.

.

.

RENANTE AND STACEY had ramen for dinner in the living room. They sat side by side, immensed in silence, while watching Netflix. May kandong na throw pillow si Stacey. Nakapatong doon ang mainit-init na ramen bowl. Nakatukod ang unan sa kanyang dibdib at nakataas na mga tuhod.

Dahil sa lapit ng ramen bowl, parang nagi-steam facial siya. The heat coming from the hot ramen soup was toasty. Add the savory scent of beef broth. Mabuti na lang at nagpalit na siya ng damit. She was wearing a white tank top and shorts. Si Renante naman, naka-drawstring board shorts na asul at itim na fitting v-neck shirt.

Blangkong nakatutok ang mga mata ni Stacey sa TV. Ngumunguya pa kasi siya ng beef na tamang-tama ang pagkaka-broiler bago inihalo sa binili ni Renante na ready-to-eat na ramen. At kahit wala nang laman ang kanyang bibig, wala na rin naman siyang choice kundi ang tumunganga sa TV kaysa lingunin si Renante. She didn't even know what they were watching, her mind was completely out of the zone. Wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi ang makiramdam sa binata habang paunti-unting kinakain ang kanyang ramen.

"Stace."

She almost held her breath. Stacey thought she would topple her ramen bowl in shock.

"What?" she replied coldly, not even glancing at him.

Ramen put down his ramen bowl on the coffee table. He slightly tilted his torso to face her side. Ipinatong nito ang braso sa ibabaw ng backrest ng sofa pero dulo lang ng daliri nito ang umabot sa bandang likuran niya.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay," matabang niyang sagot dito.

How dare he ask. Hindi pa naman siguro nito nakalilimutan ang sunod-sunod nilang pagtatalo.

"How's work?"

"I think I already reported what happened to my meeting with Gallardo," she used her stainless steel spoon to resume eating ramen. Sa pagkakataong ito, dahan-dahan siyang humigop ng sabaw.

"Based from your meeting, do you think there's a chance he'll change his mind and accept the Rosa Cobra design?"

Damang-dama niya ang matiim na titig ni Renante. Sa bigat ng titig ng mga ito, pakiramdam niya, hindi ito naghihintay sa kanyang sagot. In fact, he didn't give much damn about that.

But she answered anyway.

"I think so. Because he said he'll reconsider. Ibig sabihin, may nakita siyang opportunity sa oras na tanggapin niya ang design. And whatever it is, doon nakasalalay ang chance natin."

Stacey said that based from rational standpoint. Pero dahil alam niya ang tungkol sa tattoo ni Pierre, sa loob-loob ay malaki ang agam-agam niya.

That tattoo shows Pierre's connection with Paige. Sa oras na lumabas ang design, other people who knows about Pierre's tattoo will... question him. An issue might arise. An issue that might affect Paige and Ronnie's relationship...

"Well, we cannot tell. Baka sinabi lang niya iyon para umalis ka na agad, pero ang totoo, hindi na magbabago ang isip niya. Pinal na ang desisyon niya tungkol sa Rosa Cobra."

Stacey shrugged and sipped another spoonful of soup.

Kabababa pa lang niya ng kutsara nang marinig ang mahinang pagtawa ni Renante. She wasn't planning to look at him, pero huli na. Nauna na siyang mapalingon dito at bigyan ito ng nagtatakang tingin.

"Sorry," he shook his head as his chuckle began winding down. "It's just that, nasa bahay na nga tayo, tungkol sa trabaho pa rin ang pinag-uusapan natin."

Nakaharap pa rin siya rito, pero napadpad sa coffee table ang kanyang mga mata. Naalala niya kung paano mag-function ang pamilya ni Renante sa kanilang bahay. Na kahit Sabado na at nagsasalo-salo ang pamilya Villaluz sa hapag, tungkol sa negosyo at trabaho pa rin ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito.

All of a sudden, she remembered how much she loves Renante. Kahit bwisit na bwisit na siya rito. Kahit napapadalas na.

She felt this strong desire to make him feel that he has a family now— in her, with her—, a family that is very far from one that lives in a house with him which acted like his business colleagues— concerned about nothing but money, power, business, and work.

But even if this desire is strong, Stacey had second-thoughts about telling her current worries. She got used to figuring out and solving these things on her own. That as long as it wasn't about Renante or their relationship, Stacey deals with other problems— professional or personal— on her own. She haven't tried talking to someone else about her problems. Even Renante. Even in her three years of being in a relationship with him. Because she didn't want to be this kind of girlfriend na ginagawang problema rin ng boyfriend niya ang mga bagay na wala namang kinalaman dito.

But damn, she has to... she has to show Renante a glimpse of her world outside of their relationship. Kung ito ang tanging paraan para hindi matulad ang relasyon nila sa relasyon ng binata sa pamilya nito...

"I'm worried about Kylie," open-up niya para gawing mas personal ang usapan nila.

Medyo nanibago ang binata. Kumunot ang noo nito habang naguguluhang nakikipagtitigan sa kanya.

"What about Kylie?"

Maingat niyang ibinaba ang throw pillow sa coffee table bago inilipat dito ang ramen bowl. Itinabi niya ito sa ramen bowl ni Renante. She took a sip from her tall glass of water, then placed the pillow back on her lap before answering.

"Ganito ba talaga kapag... in a relationship na?" Nahihiyang nag-iwas din siya agad ng tingin. She saw her fingers, slowly tapping on the throw pillow. "Na kahit hindi mo ginusto o sinadya, napapabayaan mo na ang mga kaibigan mo? Na wala ka na masyadong time para sa kanila?"

"Why? Has Kylie said that to you?"

"No," mahina niyang saad at umiling. "Wala siyang sinasabi na kahit ano. Wala rin siyang nirereklamo." Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa boyfriend. "Pero kahit hindi siya nagsasabi, I'm worried that Kylie is feeling that way. Na dahil may boyfriend na ako, mas kaunti na ang time ko para sa kanya, kaya siya na mismo ang dumidistansya sa akin o sinasanay niya na ang sarili niya na hindi ako laging nakakausap at nakakasama para hindi na siya madisappoint—" Nagpakawala siya ng mabigat na buntong-hininga. "I don't know. It's just, she's taking it too well. Kapag napopostpone ang meet-ups namin, kapag hindi ko siya natatawagan hindi na siya tumatawag para magtanong kung bakit... iyong mgabagay na ginagawa niya rati."

"Look. You're not a CEO now," salo ni Renante sa kanyang mga mata. "Employee ka na. It means, you have day-offs now. You can meet Kylie on those free times. I don't mind if you go out with your friends. Sa akin ka rin naman uuwi, eh."

Nangingiting napayuko siya.

"And I think," he continued, speaking in a tone as comforting as he could, "true friendships doesn't grow because of the time spent together, but by the length of time it withstood whether together or apart."

Stacey smiled, feeling comforted by Renante's words.

"Grabe, no? Ang tagal na rin. Lagpas isang decade na kaming magkaibigan ni Kylie," mahina niyang tawa.

"And in that decade, hindi naman kayo araw-araw magkasama. Right?"

Stacey nodded. "I know, we're adults now. It's normal to be busy with work and be out of touch at times. Naninibago lang talaga ako sa inaakto ni Kylie."

Napasinghap siya dahil nang ibalik niya ang tingin kay Renante, nakadikit na ito sa kanya. His arm already completely occupied the top of the backrest exactly behind her. Kaya malaya na siya nitong naakbayan sabay maingat na hila sa kanya payapos para maglapit ang kanilang mga mukha.

Tumagilid lang si Stacey at isinandig ang ulo sa gilid ng leeg nito. Renante pulled her closer. Their eyes were still on the TV but they were completely ignoring the show.

"You must be right about what friendhship means, Mr. Villaluz. But you're still wrong about my mom." She rolled her eyes after.

"You're also wrong about my mom," Renante scoffed. Stacey was about to speak, pero naunahan na siya nito. "Can we just, not talk about our mothers for a minute? Mag-aaway na naman tayo nito, eh. I also had a long day. I am not in the mood for fights."

"You had a long day or a looong erection?" paniningkit ng mga mata niya kay Renante nang tingalain ito.

"Shut up," he groaned. "You can't make me tonight, Stace. I just want to recharge from a tiring day at work."

"You're not in a mood for fights, but are you in the mood for... thighs?" she challenged.

"That doesn't even rhyme, spicy Stace." He gazed at her naughtily. "But go on and try to make me."

When did she back down from a challenge? Never. Not once. She crawled on his lap, cupped his face and kissed him deeply. Malamya ang paggalaw ng mga labi ni Renante, alam niyang nagpapakipot pa ang malokong lalaki. But that did not affect her enthusiasm and the ravaging rhythm of her lips.

As they parted, Stacey chuckled. "You are lasang-ramen."

Renante grinned. "And... do you like it?"

She grazed her lips on his'. "What's the difference? Masarap kainin ang ramen, at masarap ka rin naman kainin."

Renante grabbed her butt's left cheek and gently squeezed. She could see from that knowing gleam in his dark eyes that she was starting to seduce him. Pero hindi siya pwedeng magpakakampante dahil wala pa siyang nararamdamang paninigas sa pagitan ng mga hita nito.

"And our ramens' noodles are long and thick... and so is my..." Renante smirked sexily, hinting was raw in his dirty, sexy voice.

"Then, let me have it," she murmured against his skin as she studded kisses at the outline of his face down to his jaw. "Let me eat it. Nothing will go to waste. I'll even slurp in all of your hot, hot... soup."

Her kisses trailed down to the side of his neck. Damn, he smelled so good— a mix of cold mint and subtle musk. His hot chuckle sexily vibrated around his throat, reaching her lips that kept kissing the side of his neck.

Napangisi na rin si Stacey bago tumuwid ng pagkakakandong sa lalaki at sinugod ito ng maalab na halik.