"STOP acting tough now, Stacey. The show is already over. He cannot read minds. He cannot read between your lies," mahinahong patuloy ni Sondra, mapang-unawa kung magsalita.

"Lies?"

What was Sondra talking about?

"I know you," matamlay nitong ngiti. They have been together for many years, Stacey knew that that smile was only Sondra's way of masking a creeping tension inside her.

Sondra continued, "You always act or behave in a way that you think Renante will like. Pero sa tagal niyo nang magkakilala, pagkatapos, you're both living together na, imposibleng hindi niya mahalata ang ginagawa mo. That's like lying to him, Stacey. You, pretending to be something that you're not, because you think Renante will like you if you act like someone you think he likes... when you act in ways you think that will meet his standards."

"Oh, shut up," she scoffed, looking away.

"Bago ka pa pumunta rito, sinabihan na ako ni Kylie."

Gulat na napalingon siya kay Sondra.

"Nakiusap siya na... ako ang pumunta rito ngayon para sa 'yo. Hindi kasi siya makakapunta rito."

Ayaw niyang maniwala. Dinampot ni Stacey ang cellphone na iniwang nakakalat sa mesa at sinilip iyon.

Walang text messages, chats, o missed calls.

"Kylie could have told me first, kung hindi siya makapupunta."

"Maybe, she did not tell you. Kasi baka hindi ka tumuloy kapag nalaman mong ako ang makakausap mo. And I bet, she's worried you'll do something crazy, if you find out beforehand na hindi siya makapupunta rito... na wala kang makakaramay. Lalo na at si Renante na naman ang pinoproblema mo."

Tumalim ang nagdududa niyang tingin kay Sondra.

"Ni hindi ko nga na-mention kay Kylie kung bakit gusto ko makipag-meet sa kanya."

"Look," Sondra smiled faintly again, "Kailan ka ba dalasang nagyayayang makipagkita kay Kylie all these years? Hindi ba, kapag siya lang ang available na pwede mong makausap tungkol sa problems mo kay Renante?"

She suddenly felt bad. The aftertaste gave her a mix of resentment and guilt.

"Why do you all have to always vilify me? I just confronted you about Renante before, ako na agad ang masamang kaibigan. When you go crazy in nightclubs, ako ang laging pinapagalitan ni Maximillian at Renante, kasi ako itong pabayang kaibigan. Kaibigan na nagtotolerate ng mga kalokohan. Isang bad influence. And now, you're implying that I am what? A user? Na nakikipagkita lang ako kay Kylie kapag may kailangan lang ako sa kanya?"

"You don't have to raise your voice, Stace," malumanay nitong pakiusap.

"Why can't I? Am I not allowed now to have emotions?" Stacey seethed.

"Hindi sa ganoon, Stace—" Sondra was cut-off by her own gasp upon seeing Stacey stand up from her seat. "Please, Stacey, don't go."

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Stacey sa kanyang smartphone habang inuusog ng likuran ng mga binti ang upuan bago lisanin ang mesa. Mabilis siyang hinabol ni Sondra.

"Stacey, I didn't want to argue with you or anything. Pakiusap naman, confide with me! Akala ko ba okay na tayo?"

Before she reached the stairs that lead to the ground floor, Stacey stopped. Hinarap niya si Sondra.

"Oo. Okay na tayo. But that doesn't mean, I want to get so close with you again, Sondra," maanghang niyang amin. "Renante used to love you. He loved you so much. I only compare myself to you when I am with you. I don't want that for you... especially for me."

Natulala sa kanya si Sondra. Bumagsak ang mga balikat nito habang hinahanapan ng butas ang mga sinabi niya. Sondra was trying to find an excuse to prove her wrong, to insist rekindling their friendship.

But what can be rekindled? Eh, sa buong relasyon nila bilang magkaibigan, hindi naging totoo si Stacey dito? She only befriended Sondra to get closer to Renante. Maybe, she cared for Sondra on some occasions, but those were only a little humanity on her part. She was only treating Sondra like a human being, not like a friend. That's why no matter how beautiful it sounds, Stacey knew that she just... can't.

"And I am starting to hate you again for saying those shitty things. For blaming me for my problems, for implying that I am a user and that I am not being true to Renante!"

"I'm sorry." Sondra's eyes were on the floor.

"I came here, not seeking for solutions. I have my own mind and discretion. I always come up with a solution to every problem."

Nahiya si Sondra salubungin ang nagbabaga niyang mga mata.

"Do you know why I keep meeting up with Kylie in situations like this?"

Sondra gently shook her head.

"Because she doesn't freaking give unsolicited advices and share her assumptions. She doesn't invalidate me and my feelings. She listens."

Mabilis siyang pumihit para tuloy-tuloy na lisanin ang Sondra's.

Nang marating ang harap ng café, sinususian pa lang niya pabukas ang pinto ng kotse nang may bumagsak na anino mula sa kanyang likuran.

Stacey, alert, spun around and met Renante's steely gaze.

"Let's go," kalmado nitong imbitasyon, nakatitig sa kanyang mga mata.

"Where?"

Halos pigil niya ang paghinga. Hinahanapan niya ng senyales ang lalaki sa mukha na galit ito pero nahirapan siya. Stacey wasn't sure if it was because of the dim lighting outside the café.

Renante should be angry, because she had been acting up since the family dinner and worse, she left the house without letting him know.

"Let's have some drinks at Socorro Nightclub. What do you say?"

Again, in a public place. Ito na naman ang taktika ng binata na kausapin siya nang masinsinan sa lugar na mapipilitan silang dalawa na umakto at magsalita nang rasyonal.

"Let's just go home, Renante. I need some rest," aniya at pumasok na sa loob ng sasakyan.

Habang nagmamaneho pauwi, doon na hinayaan ni Stacey bumagsak ang kanyang mga luha.

Sondra's voice played back in her mind.

That's like lying to him, Stacey. You, pretending to be something that you're not, because you think Renante will like you if you act like someone you think he likes... when you act in ways you think that will meet his standards.

Stop acting tough...

It's easier to blame someone else, right? Mas nakagagaan sa pakiramdam kaysa mag-self blame...

Naihilamos na lang niya ng isang kamay ang basang mukha.

"Oh, damn, I hate her so much," she shuddered with gritted teeth.

Pagkauwi ng bahay, sunod-sunod na ang naging tanong ni Renante sa kanya.

Bakit pumunta siya sa Sondra's? Kanino siya nakipag-meet?

Pero ang lahat ng iyon, hindi niya sinagot nang tapat.

"I just needed a breath of fresh air, Renante. I just need an alone time. Um-order lang ako ng iced tea. Nagmuni-muni, then I left," she rushed toward her bedroom.

Huminto siya nang marating ang tapat ng bukas nitong pintuan. Tiningnan niya kung ano ang reaksyon ng lalaki sa kanyang isinagot.

Pero mukhang tama nga si Sondra.

Marunong nga yata makahalata ang binata sa mga pagsisinungaling niya.

She saw how Renante clenched his jaws, controlling a tidal wave of emotions that windowed in his dark eyes.

He just looked away from her and said, "We are together now, and yet, you still wanted to deal with things on your own. Alone."

Stacey lowered her eyes. She was fuming mad at him. Nangangati ang mga kamay niya na saktan ito pero sino ba ang niloloko niya? She has no will to hurt him, no matter how many times he powdered her poor heart.

"But do you think, I'll allow that?" he darkly continued, sending dangerous shivers all over her body.

Damang-dama ni Stacey ang matiim na mga mata ni Renante, nakatitig sa kanya.

"Lalo na at nagsimula ka lang namang umakto nang ganyan noong nagpunta tayo sa dinner kanina?"

Pinili niyang huwag umimik at huwag saluhin ang mga mata nito.

"So, will you force me, Renante? Will you force me to speak?"

Ilang saglit namagitan sa kanila ang katahimikan bago ito pagod na sumagot.

"I'm sorry. Of course, I won't force you."

He held her upper arms to gently bring her close to him.

"But... I'll wait. I'll wait for you to tell me what's bothering you, Stace. I am not letting this slide. I'll always keep in mind that you are dealing with something that I have to know so I can help."

Iyon lang at nilapatan siya ni Renante ng halik sa tuktok ng ulo bago tinungo ang ginagamit nitong kwarto.

Stacey felt enveloped by ice. Chills ran down her body.

She heard Renante's voice at the back of her mind again:

I have no plans of marrying Stacey

I have no plans of marrying Stacey

I have no plans of marrying Stacey

I have no plans of marrying Stacey

Tumalim ang kanyang mga mata.

A question formed in her mind. What game are you playing this time... Renante?

***

KINABUKASAN, walang imikan sa hapag sila Stacey at Renante. It was Renante who prepared their breakfast— two bowls of instant ramen with one fried egg floating in each.

Stacey stared at the bowl, still smoking hot. Samantalang si Renante, magpi-fifteen minutes nang maganang kumakain.

Nakalapag malapit sa bowl ang kanyang smartphone. Her peripheral vision saw it light up, so she immediately picked it up as if it will give her a good excuse to not eat.

Nakatanggap siya ng email notification. Dahil wala sa plano nila ni Renante na gawin siyang permanenteng empleyado ng VVatch, sariling email address ni Stacey ang ginamit niya sa pag-send ng proposal kay Pierre Gallardo na idagdag ang Rosa Cobra sa ipo-produce na disenyo ng relos.

Ayon sa notification, nakatanggap siya ng reply sa email mula sa naka-CC roon, ang assistant ni Pierre na si Cherry Pantalan.

Mabilis na binasa ni Stacey ang email. Hindi niya naitago ang paglukot ng pagkadismaya sa mukha.

Renante's laser sharp focus was quick to notice. Lalo na at nakabantay na ito sa kanya mula nang damputin niya ang smartphone dahil sa pagtataka kung kanino galing ang notif na mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro niyang tiningnan.

Stacey wanted to look away from the unpleasant news on her screen. So, she lifted her gaze. Her heart thumped wildly because it only made her meet Renante's narrowing eyes.

"Sino iyan?" seryosong tanong nito agad.

"Cherry," walang-gana niyang sagot bago binalik sa pinagdamputan ang smartphone. "Gallardo's assistant. She replied to my email for the both of them."

Kumunot ang noo ng lalaki. Hawak pa rin nito ang chopstick. "She sends emails on Sundays?"

"She just did, right?" taas niya ng kilay dito. "And what's so shocking about that? Ikaw nga, nagwo-work pa rin para sa VVatch kahit weekends."

"What is the email about?" tanong nito. Tila pinili na lang ng kanyang boyfriend na huwag patulan ang sarkasmo niya.

"As per Cherry, talagang ayaw ni Pierre isali sa production ang Rosa Cobra design."

"It's very intricate," ani Renante habang nilalapag sa nakaabang na tissue sa tabi ng bowl ang ginamit na chopsticks. "And we are chasing a deadline. Kaya siguro ganoon."

"Cherry did not specify it in her email. Ang nakasaad lang doon, nagkaroon na ng signed agreement kung ano ang mga designs na ipo-produce ng factory nila. So, they choose to stick to that agreement."

"That makes sense. And what do you think about that?"

"You allowed me to send a proposal to add Rosa Cobra, because you know, we can do something about that agreement," sagot niya rito, nakalimutan saglit na magkahalong galit, sakit, at pagkalito ang binigay ni Renante sa kanya kagabi. "I think, their excuse is lame because we can always make a separate agreement which exclusively specifies the Rosa Cobra design as the subject matter."

Renante gave her a composed proud smile.

"That's right."

"So, tomorrow, I guess, pupunta ako sa Gallardo's. I have to talk to Pierre personally."

"That's quite far, Stacey," pag-aalala ni Renante. "Why don't you set a meeting with him first? So you'll meet somewhere nearer?"

"I don't mind the long trip. Isa pa, if I will set a meeting, there's a chance Pierre will decline my invitation. He will definitely have an idea that I'll keep insisting na idagdag sa production ang Rosa Cobra."

"If this is going to be so much of a hassle, then maybe, we should just drop the idea?" hilig nito ng ulo, nagsalubong pa ang mga kilay.

"Hassle? We are doing something that will help your company, Renante. At hassle ang tawag mo roon?"

"Look, I appreciate your passion for this, but do you really need to take an extra mile, Stace?" Renante just doesn't want to exhaust Stacey with all these arrangements.

Sa tingin din ng binata, babawi na lang sila pagdating sa marketing strategy para maging mabenta ang mas simpleng disenyo ng relo na ipo-produce para sa latest collection.

Stacey replied saltily. Mapagpahiwatig.

"No wonder," she disappointedly shook her head slightly. Her eyes were having a staring match with Renante. "Someone doesn't want to take an extra mile, that's why we're getting nowhere."