Chapter 03

"So, I'm assuming this is a yes?" tanong ko kay Pablo habang sinusuot ko iyong pantsuit ko. Since it's a pantsuit, I had to remove everything. I was naked as the day I was born. This was really the reason kung bakit ako masipag magworkout—it wasn't for health or anything. It is to look good while naked. That's really my reason.

Pablo was sitting on the couch. May throw pillow na nakapatong as mga binti niya. I wasn't some wide-eyed virgin. When I first went to Manila, I tried the hookup culture but got quickly tired of it. It just wasn't for me. I felt really weird letting total strangers touch me. Kailangan kong makausap for at least a day—or makilala kahit papaano. That way, there's at least some bond. And sex is always better when you have a bond with the person—well, at least for me.

"Yeah, sure," sabi niya. "Do I need to know anything?"

"Hmm, wala naman," I said.

"You don't plan on seducing the groom? Because if that's the plan, you need to tell me so I can escape, too."

Napaawang ang labi ko. "There's no such plan!" sabi ko nang tuluyan ko nang maisuot iyong damit ko. "My sister's getting married."

"Yeah, I heard, but also, you don't seem like you're a big fan of your sister."

I shrugged. "I am not, since we're being honest and all that," sabi ko sa kanya. "But also, why would I bother seduce Leo? He decided he likes my sister better, so why would I force myself on him?"

Tumango-tango si Pablo. "If you say so," sabi niya tapos ay kinuha niya na rin iyong pantalon niya at boxers niya at sinuot iyon. My eyes wouldn't allow me to look elsewhere. Pinanood ko kung paano siya yumuko at isuot iyong mga damit niya. I watched as his muscles flexed at his very movement. I found it extremely hot na nakita ko iyong bakas ng kuko ko sa may dibdib niya. God, he's just so fucking hot.

Nang matapos siyang magdamit, he brushed his fingers through his hair.

"This Sunday, right?" tanong niya.

I nodded. "I can drive."

"I'm your date. I'll drive," he replied.

Normally, I'd roll my eyes at the patriarchal bullshit... but right at this moment? I felt all traces of feminism left the room. He could tell me what he wanted from me and I'd give it to him willingly. But of course I would never tell him that—mamamatay muna ako. You cannot waterboard that information out of me.

"Okay," I said as casually as I could.

"Dress code?"

"Suit is fine."

"Do I need to bring a gift?"

"I got us covered," sabi ko.

"Anything I need to know? How will you introduce me?" he asked. "Just so our story matches."

Napaupo ako sa may swivel chair niya. "Good catch," I said. "I should warn you, though, that my family is a nosy bunch."

"No problem," he said. "I'm good with people."

"Well, obviously," sabi ko. Iyong ibang customers, first name basis na sa kanya. Patrons na niya ata. Hindi naman siguro sila babalik-balik dito kung ayaw nila sa ugali ni Pablo. Clearly, he's good with the people. I was starting to get very confident with my choice.

"So, what's the story?"

I shrugged. "Let's just stick to the truth."

"That you approached me and asked me as your date?"

"I mean... embellish a little," sabi ko sa kanya. "If it's fine with you since you said na you don't like lies and all."

He nodded. "I don't like being lied to, but when I'm complicit with the lie, I feel okay with it."

I rolled my eyes. "Double standards."

"World isn't fair, news flash," sabi niya sa akin na nakangisi.

"Right..." sabi ko tapos ay sumandal. "Well, we met at a bar. You're still the owner. I was there to unwind after a long day at work."

"Yeah, what's your work? If they ask me."

"Creative director at Premiere," sagot ko sa kanya. He nodded like he wasn't really impressed or anything. Kung sabagay, he has his own business and other side hustles. I figured it would take a lot to impress someone like him—not that I wanted to impress him.

"How long have we been seeing each other? Are we exclusive?" he asked.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Yes, of course. I mean, why would I bring you to my sister's wedding if we're not exclusive?"

He shrugged. "Just wanted to clarify."

"Why? Past experience?"

He shrugged again. "Maybe," he said. "Some say they want this, but really want something else. I'm just done with that phase. You tell me what you want. No games."

He was serious when he said that. For a second, I felt like it was directed to me, but I quickly snapped out of it. Kaya lang naman kami nandito ay dahil pinilit ko siya na sumama sa akin sa date. I should not overthink this. Kasi kung kagaya nga siya ng sinasabi niya, if he wanted anything from me, he'd tell me himself. Like him, I was done with games. Dami kong ginagawa sa trabaho. The last thing I would want was to play games with some man. Please lang.

"Well, what I want is a date for my sister's wedding," diretsong sabi ko. "As mentioned, I have a history with the groom, so I just don't want anyone there to think that there's some lingerish feelings involved."

"Because there's none?" he asked like he was mocking.

"There's none," I confirmed.

"Got it," sabi niya tapos ay tumayo na siya. Once again, nagulat na naman ako just how tall he was. He's not just tall, you know? He's got such a nice body pero hindi iyong parang overdone. He looks... just right. Like he figured long enough what looks best for him and decided to stick to it.

He looks so fucking good, but that's not even it—there's just something about him... as a whole... that makes him so fucking attractive.

"Maybe also send me a list of your favorites just so if they ask me," sabi niya.

"Okay," I said. "I'll message you on messenger? Instagram?" I asked, nagbabaka sakali na baka may account siya. Malay ko ba? Baka iba lang pangalan na nakalagay o baka super private lang. Baka hindi umabot doon ang sleuthing skills ni Jana.

"I have an instagram," he said.

"I'll follow you," sabi ko sa kanya habang binibigay ko iyong phone ko para iinput niya iyong account niya roon. Nang ibalik niya sa akin iyong phone, napaawang iyong labi ko nang makita ko na iyong instagram account ng Pablo's iyong nilagay niya.

"What?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing," I said. "I guess... see you on Sunday?"

"Where are we going first?" tanong niya. "So I know how long the travel is."

"Bataan," sagot ko.

"What time's the wedding?"

"2PM."

"I'll pick you up at 10AM," he said.

"Sounds good," sabi ko at saka tumayo na ako. This was actually the awkward part like paano ba magpaalam after ng lahat ng pinaggagawa niyo sa isa't-isa? Parang tanga naman. "See you on Sunday," I said. "No need to walk me out," sabi ko nung naglakad siya papunta sa akin.

Natawa siya. "Yeah, no... I have to go back to the bar. I have a business to run," sabi niya. "I mean, I can walk you out if you want me to," dugtong niya. "You just have to ask, Cerise. No games, remember?"

Fuck.

Fuck him.

* * *

Halos sabunutan ako ni Jana nang bumalik ako sa table namin. Nanlaki iyong mga mata niya nang makita niya kaming sabay naglalakad ni Pablo pabalik mula sa kung saan man.

"Ang bilis mo, gaga!" sabi niya nung nasa parking na kami. Hindi siya nakatiis at kinurot iyong braso ko.

"Aray naman!"

"Kanina pa ako hanap nang hanap sa 'yo. Akala ko nakidnap ka na."

"30 years old na ako. Paano ako makikidnap?"

"Kidnap knows no age," parang tanga na sabi niya. "Pero ano... sarap ba?"

Hindi ito ang first time na tinanong ako ni Jana ng ganito, pero for sure ito iyong first time na nag-blush ako. Taena kasi 'yang si Pablo! Daming alam! Akala ko marami na akong alam, but as it turned out, mas marami siyang alam!

"Mag-drive ka na nga."

"Sagot muna."

I groaned. "Oo. Masarap. Okay na?"

"Details naman!"

"No."

"Bakit nagdadamot bigla? Dati naman ang motto ay sharing is caring," sabi niya sa akin.

"Sabihin ko sa 'yo next time," sagot ko. "Still trying to process."

Her eyes widened. "Bakit? Hala, mas lalo akong na-curious tuloy!" she said. "Nag-bdsm ba kayo?"

"No."

"May weird kink siya?"

"Sasabihin ko nga next time."

"Tss... Damot. After mo ako paghintayin ng dalawang oras don," she said and she just kept on asking but hindi ko talaga masagot kasi pota feel ko natuturnon na naman ako kapag naaalala ko iyong nangyari sa office niya. Kailangan kong maligo paguwi ko sa condo.

I took a quick bath and immediately fell asleep because of how tired I was. Paggising ko kinabukasan, dumiretso ako sa gym ng condo to do my morning run. Then I prepared my food, took a bath, and then finally opened my phone. It's Saturday and tomorrow's the wedding. Wala akong trabaho. I mean, I can, but I figured I shouldn't work today.

I opened my instagram and pumunta ako sa account ni Pablo. It's so weird to message this account because this is like his business account.

I sent a hi first kasi malay ko ba kung may social media manager siya. Mamaya magulat 'yon bakit may nagsesend dito ng favorites niya. Isipin pa nun na napaka-weird ko.

Walang nagreply agad. I figured it's still early. It was only 9AM and if I were to consider the fact that it was Friday last night, it meant that he's probably up until like 3AM or 4AM? Baka mamaya pa 'yon gigising.

Itinabi ko muna iyong phone ko and tried to catch up sa mga palabas na pinapanood ko. I was watching RuPaul's Drag Race when my phone vibrated. I hated how I quickly reached for my phone like I was religiously waiting for any notification.

pablosbar: Hi.

cerise: Who is this?

pablosbar: Your boyfriend for the weekend.

Shit. Bakit kahit 'yon lang ang hot na? He wasn't even doing anything, for fuck's sake!

cerise: Right. So, I made a pdf file of the things they might ask. Already attaching it. If they ask for pictures, just smile.

Pablosbar: We can take a photo tomorrow.

cerise: Right.

He left me on seen. Shit. Ano ba kasi sasabihin ko? I felt like I needed to think things thoroughly dahil baka may mali ako na masabi. Mukha pa naman siya iyong madaling tumalikod once he sees things being a little too complicated. Siya na rin nagsabi na he likes things easy.

cerise: I'll be wearing blue tomorrow. You might want to color coordinate

I nervously tapped my fingers as I waited for his reply. After ten minutes with nothing, I decided to go out because there's no way I'd allow myself to go crazy over a man's reply. Nope. Not gonna happen on my watch.

I was due for a grocery run anyway kaya naman dumiretso ako sa grocery. I went to my usual place and I was minding my own freaking business nang mapatigil ako nang marinig ko iyong boses ni Paul.

"Fuck," I uttered under my breath.

I fixed a smile on my face as he approached me. Kung hindi ko lang talaga mahal ang trabaho ko, I would have told him to fuck off right at his face. I had been subtle about it but it's either he's super dense o wala lang talaga siyang respeto sa salitang no.

'Di ata 'to nayakap nung bata, e.

"Long time no see," sabi niya habang niyayakap ako as greeting.

"Yeah... been busy," sagot ko as I awkwardly returned the hug. I stood there and engaged in conversation but all I really wanted to do was to leave kasi he's been touching my arm whenever. I just kept on trying to gently remove his grasp from me, but he was ignoring that, too.

I was literally counting the seconds hanggang sa matapos ang usapan na 'to nang bigla kong marinig iyong boses na for some reason ay pamilyar na sa akin.

"Cerise," I heard his voice and I would wager my life that it was his voice. "I told you not to wander around without me," he added as I felt his arm wrapping around my waist. 

**
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