Deal

Saina's

SOMETHING is hard but surprisingly, it doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. It's actually warm – so warm that instead of backing away, I nuzzled in more. I want to envelope myself with the warmth that I have right now. I hummed and I dove my nose into that vanilla scent near me. It's so warm and homey. I want to stay here forever. I wanted to sleep more. I don't even care what day it is, I just want to be in bed the whole day and bask into this scent and warmth around me. I wrapped my arm around whatever I am hugging – tighter, and then suddenly, I felt it move. I opened my eyes to look, doon ko na-realize na hindi pala kung ano lang ang yakap ko. Si Birada.

Nakapwesto ang ulo ko sa may leeg niya, halos magkadikit na nga ang ilong ko sa leeg niya but he doesn't seem to mind. He's still asleep, while looking at him, I suddenly recalled what happened last night – the same reason why he is in my bed right now and as a grown up woman with sexual desires, I didn't find it surprising at all. We are both consenting adults, what happened last night and what happened again at three in the morning was what we both wanted at sa oras na gumising siya at umakto na naman siyang nag – iinarte, baka hindi ko na talaga siya matantya – but right now, I want to enjoy this.

I haven't dated in a while and I have forgotten the feeling of having someone to wake up to every morning – my son doesn't count, anak ko iyon, but Jose Gerardo, he's different, maliban sa talented siya pagdating sa ganitong department, it just well, it feels nice.

I closed my eyes again – but then, I suddenly thought that I heard the door, hindi lang iyon, may narinig akong mga hakbang sa labas ng silid ko. Kunot noo akong napasinghap nang maalala ko kung sino ang maaaring nandito na ngayon sa bahay ko. Maliban naman kasi sa akin, si Uriel at si Haniel lang ang nakakaalam ng passcode ko.

"Shit!" I hissed. Mukhang dahil sa biglaang paggalaw ko ay nagising si Birada. Hes slowly opened his eyes, turned to me, I saw him smile but I immediately widened my eyes on him.

"What did I do?" Ohhhh his morning voice is so dee, I want to melt and spread my legs in front of him for him to fuck me again but first things first! Hindi ako dapat makita ng anak kong ganito.

"Haniel is here!" I hissed at him.

"Wala ba siya rito kagabi?" Parang inaantok na tanong niya pa. Hinampas ko siya sa dibdib niya, iyong may tattoo na part ng dibdib niya – which I think is so hot – I wanna lick it now. But my son is here and for sure, nandito rin si Uriel!

"Do you think I'd be that loud if he's here? Get up! Get Dress---"

"Oh, look what we have here..." Hinding – hindi ako magkakamali sa boses ni Uriel, dahan – dahan akong lumingon para tingnan kung nasaan siya. He's standing near the door, nakasandal siya roon, nakahalukipkip, nakakunot ang noo habang titig na titig sa akin at kay Birada.

"Haniel, go to your room, Mommy is still asleep. Get your bags but take you time, my boy." Walang kakurap – kurap na wika ni Uriel. Hindi ako gumagalaw, ganoon din si Birada.

"Good morning, Uriel." I greeted him. Nakaupo ako sa kama, si Birada ay nakatayo na sa may gilid at nakatakip ang kanya ng unan – I made a note for myself that I have to change the pillow cases later – even the sheets.

"Well, isn't this awkward." Sabi bigla ni Birada. "Look, Mr. Uriel Consunji, whatever happened last night happened because we both wanted it to happen. Kagabi lang iyong may nangyari sa amin, she's not cheating on you – well technically, kagabi lang, hindi ko masasabing hindi namin sinadya because we ended up in bed, but if you're going to blame her, blame me, pananagutan at haharapin ko ang lahat ng consequences ng ginawa namin ni Saina kagabi."

This time, pareho kami ni Uriel na nakatitig kay Birada. Napanganga ako. Why is he making it sound like I cheated on my partner? He really used the word cheating kaya takang – taka ako.

"What?" Napanganga ako. Uriel's laughter filled my room.

"Saina, the man thinks that I am your boyfriend or something – pare, nakalimutan mo bang kasama ko iyong asawa ko sa family day?" Panandaliang natigilan si Birada tapos ay napatango siya, para bang naisip niyang tama nga si Uriel.

"Akala ko mabubugbog ako today."

"Whatever!" I hissed again. "Get dressed and you get the fucking out!" Sigaw ko kay Uriel. "Take him to school, tell him I'm not feeling well okay? He can't see me like this. I'll pick him up later."

"Sure, sure, I told you to apologize to him, not sleep with him." Nakatalikod na si Uriel nang sabihin niya iyon sa akin. Si Birada ay natitigilan pa rin. Oh, I like that expression on his face while he is zoning out.

"Well, for what it's worth, Uriel, I did apologize to him before we fucked last night."

"Antonietta iyong bata!" Sigaw niya, hindi ko na napansin na nakalabas na pala siya ng pinto at papunta na sa silid ni Haniel. Mabilis akong tumayo para I – lock ang pinto ng silid ko. Kung bakit ba naman sa atat ko kagabi ay hindi ko nasipa iyong pinto bago kami mag-sex. Nakatayo pa rin ako roon, nakikinig sa galaw ng mag – ama sa labas, hanggang sa narinig kong nagsalita si Uriel nang: Say bye to, Mommy. She'll pick you up later...

"Daddy, is mommy gonna be okay?" Mahinang tanong ni Haniel, I was sure that they are standing just right my door. Oh, I miss my baby boy. I want to kiss him good morning pero hubad na hubad pa ako.

"Yes. Mommy is just a bit sore."

"Putang ina ka talaga, Uriel." Gigil na bulong ko.

"She had some activities last night. She'll be okay later." Wika ni Uriel. Kung pwede lang lalabas na ako ngayon tapos sisipain ko siya. I bit my lower lip. Nakiramdam akong muli hindi naman nagtagal ay narinig kong bumukas at sumara na ang pinto ng condo. I sighed again. Now I have to deal with the other one. Nang lingunin ko si Birada ay wala siya sa may kama, I suddenly heard the shower in the bathroom. Naligo na pala siya, siguro nagmamadali siyang umalis, he has a son to attend to. I sighed. Pumasok ako sa walk in closet ko at nanguha ng fresh robe. Nagsuklay lang ako saglit tapos ay lumabas na rin ng silid ko. I used the other bathroom, I brushed my teeth, washed my face and had a quick sponge bath, mamaya na ako maliligo bago ako pumasok sa office.

After taking care of myself, I went to the kitchen and made some coffee using the nespresso machine. I made a simple black coffee for me and a latte for the gentleman. Hindi ko naman kasi alam kung anong bet niya sa kape.

I stood near the center island with the coffee cup in my hands. I was waiting for him. I am wondering how we are going to deal with this. Co-workers kaming dalawa and I never fuck with my co workers kaya lang hindi talaga kami nagpigil last night.

"Hi..." I was brought back to reality when I heard his voice. Bagong ligo si Kuya, suot niya iyong damit niya kagabi, he's dressed already but all I can think about is to bury my face on his neck because I am so sure that he smells like my bath products now.

"Here, coffee." Inabot ko sa kanya iyong coffee cup na nakatabi para sa kanya. He obliged and we stood in front of each other, drinking the coffee while staring. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko, ako iyong nagsasabi kanina na wala naman dapat maging awkward sa nangyayari sa amin, pero ako talaga iyong hindi makapagsalita ngayon.

"So... uhm where's Joshua?" Kahit ano na lang ang tatanungin ko. Basta mag – usap lang kami.

"He's with Mama." Mahinang wika niya.

"Okay... maybe he's in school now huh."

"Yes."

"So... do you want to do it again?" Kitang – kita ko ang panlalaki ng mga mata ni Birada sa akin. I shrugged. Kung ako ang tatanungin, gusto ko ulit. It has been so long for me, I am a woman with needs, hindi na ako mahihiyang kunin iyon kasi pareho naman naming ginusto.

"What? Like... friends with benefits?"

"No, that's so gen z." Natawa ako. Ibinaba ko ang coffee cup ko at lumakad ako papunta sa kanya. "Do you like me?"

"What?"

"Laging what? What? Do you like me, Gerardo?"

"I do." He straight up said. I grinned.

"So, I kind of like you too – superficial sa ngayon, you fucked me so hard I loved it, I like you. It's better for us to do it, ang hassle kung maghahanap pa ako ng ibang sasagot sa needs ko." I put my hands on his broad shoulders. I remembered having my arms wrapped around those last night while he pound me hard – gosh – thinking about it makes me feel hot.

"So what shall we do?"

"Hmmm..." I felt his hands snaking around my back and my waist, he pulled me closer – so close I could smell the hint of coffee in his mouth.

"Well, the right thing to do is date each other, do you agree? Let's give each other a month, if we like being around one another then let's extend it for another month." I kissed his exposed chest. "So warm..." I almost purred.

"Do we need to have it in black and white?"

"Lawyers." I rolled my eyes. "How about we just seal it with –"

"A kiss? I'm up for that."

"No, I was thinking of your cock inside of me while I ride you hard and fast."

"Fuck." Natawa ako nang makitang biglang nagbutil ang pawis ni Birada.

"Yes, yes, you work on that, lover boy. Lick me good and I'll ride you good too."

xxxx

ONE o'clock nang tanghali nang pumasok ako sa office. I spent the whole morning, naked in bed with Gerardo, well not just in bed, in the bathroom, on the floor of my walk in closet, in the sink and in the foyer before he left. I am that horny. Napansin ko namang parang nabawasan ang frustration ko sa katawan dahil nailabas kong lahat iyon, sure akong ganoon rin siya.

Pagdating ko sa office ay kinatitig – titigan ako ni Patricia. Nakataas naman ang kilay na tiningnan ko rin siya.

"What is it?"

"Ma'am, may meeting po kanin ang board with Mr. Consunji and your father kasama po ang mga investigators, pero hindi po ito natuloy kasi wala po kayo."

"Oh my god!" Napatayo ako. Sa biglaang pagtayong iyon ay naramdaman ko kung gaano kasakit ang nasa pagitan ng mga hita ko – the sex is good, but I'm so sore, and yet it doesn't bother me at all.

"Pero okay lang din naman po, sabi ng Papa ninyo, wala rin po ang lead attorney niya. Mr. Consunji asked to reschedule this afternoon at two pm kasi hindi raw po siya pwede bukas dahil may appointment siya sa CLPH. I was calling you all morning, Ma'am."

Alam kong may tumatawag sa akin, pero hindi ko tiningnan because I was busy sucking on Birada's thick and juicy cock. Namula ang mukha ko.

"Okay, sure. I'll attend this time."

"May nangyari po ba kay Haniel kaninang umaga? Is he sick?"

"Uh? No... I was just busy with my other businesses." I smiled and took the file she put on my table. Wala roon ang isip ko pero nang maintindihan ko kung ano ang file na nasa harap ko ay muli akong napatayo.

Here are the missing funds of the company, hindi lang iyon, nakasulat rin doon kung saan napunta ang mga iyon and one thing that made my blood boil is when I read my precious boy's name in the list.

Nag – init ang buong katawan ko sa galit. My father opened a dollar bank account under my son's name and according to the report, may 40 million dollars na nakapangalan sa anak ko.

Walang habas na pumasok ako sa office niya. He's there, playing chess with one of his attorneys. Padaskol na inilapag ko sa mesa niya ang folder na hawak ko.

"What the fuck is this?" I hissed. Nanginginig ang buong katawan ko. My father grinned at the man, and then he confidently took the folder in his hand, opened it, and I witnessed how his smile faded, how he lost color in his face and how his eyes widened.

"Where---"

"It's in my table this morning! How could you, Pa! Ganyan ka ba kasama na pati sarili mong apo ay idadamay mo sa kagaguhan mo!" I spat those words like it's the dirtiest words in the dictionary. "Walang kaalam – alam na bata tapos gaganyanin mo! You act all mighty and innocent here! Ang dapat sayo makulong!"

Masyadong mabilis iyong pangyayari, nakatayo na pala si Papa tapos sinampal na niya ako. Napasighap ako.

"Ama mo pa rin ako! Wala kang karapatang pagsalitaan ako ng ganyan!"

My tears started to fall. My mother never laid hands on me. Si Papa, lagi niya akong napagsasalitaan noon, pero hindi niya ako kahit kailan pinisikal, ngayon lang.

"I hate you." I hissed at him. He was about to slap me again when I was suddenly enveloped into a pair of protective arms.

"That's no way to treat your daughter, Sir. Pwede kang kasuhan sa ginagawa mo and there are a lot of witnesses here." Boses iyon ni Birada. I was only trying so hard no to break down and cry but I really want to cry now. Hindi nagsalita si Papa. Naramdaman ko namang lumalakad na si Birada palayo sa lugar na iyon, we ended up in my office. He locked the door.

We stood behind the closed door, I was crying and he was trying to calm me down.

"I'm here... don't cry... Saina, darling, don't cry..."

I am in the middle of an emotional turmoil but that was when it suddenly hit me. I looked at Gerardo with tears in my eyes.

"The... the folder... it's from you... right? You were the one who—"

"I put it in your EA's table with your name on it."

I gaped... I didn't know what to say. "How long have you known?"

"I was driving back home when I received the email. Gumagawa rin naman ako ng sarili kong investigation. Nararamdaman ko kasing may hindi sinasabi ang tatay mo sa akin, and when I read the file, and saw Haniel's name, I... I just knew. Magre-resign na rin ako ngayon. I tried to give your father the benefit of the doubt but—"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos magsalita. I kissed him. It wasn't like the kisses we shared this morning, it's something soft but warm, no tongues involved, just two lips trying to fit in each other. Two lips that wanted nothing but to kiss one other...