CHAPTER 1

“PLEASE! Don’t leave me! I’ll do anything you want. I’ll give you anything you want!” A woman said hysterically.

Iyon ang narinig ni Shay ng bumukas ang elevator.

Nasa Leisure Hotel siya na pagmamay-ari ng matalik niyang kaibigan. Tinawagan siya ng kaibigan para papuntahin sa lungga nito. Nakita palang niya na si Ramm ang tumatawag, alam ka agad niya ang pakay nito. Bored na naman ang kaibigan and he need her to entertain him. Argh!

Mag-iisang buwan na ng huli silang magkita ni Ramm. Naging busy kasi siya sa pagbubukas nang pang-apat na branch ng Shay Cafe.

Naging mag-kaibigan sila ni Ramm Nicolas San Diego nuong nasa High School palang sila. She was picking up her books that was scattered on the floor, because Rann—Ramm’s twin brother— purposely knocked her to the ground. Tinulungan siya ni Ramm na pulutin ang mga libro at notes niya. Doon nag-umpisa ang pagkakaibigan nila.

Since then, palagi na silang magkasama. Minsan nga sa sobrang close nila, palagi silang pinagkakamalan na magkasintahan. When Ramm introduced her to his family, they asked if they were couple. Tinawanan lang nila ang mga ito. Believe it or not, her relationship with Ramm is plain platonic. Paano ko nasabi? Because they tried it once, and it didn’t work out as expected.

Her life is almost perfect.

Shay has a family that loves her so much and a friend, na palaging kasama niya sa hirap at ginhawa. Sort of. Or is it the other way around? She didn’t mind. Of course, hindi naman maiiwasan na walang kontrabida sa buhay. At nasa katauhan iyon ng kakambal ng matalik niyang kaibigan. Ang demonyitong kakambal ni Ramm. Si Rann.

He annoys and irritates her like no other. Hindi niya alam kung bakit naiirita siya rito. Ayaw na ayaw niyang nakikita ang binata. Kahit anino lang nito ang makita niya, naiinis na siya. That’s how much she hated his guts.

And speaking of that guy.

She narrowed her eyes on the couple in front of her, inside the elevator. The woman was kneeling and hugging the man’s legs as if her life was depending on it. She was begging at the same time crying. The guy on the other hand was talking to someone on the phone as if the woman didn’t bother him at all.

“I can’t live without you!” Mas lumakas pa ang iyak ng babae ng subukang baklasin ng lalaki ang braso nito na nakapulupot sa paa nito. The guy was muttering something under his breath. She thinks he was cursing the woman for being a nuisance. That thought made her smile.

Serves him right!

Nanatiling nakabukas ang elevator dahil ihinarang ni Shay ang kamay sa pintuan. Nagtagumpay na ang lalaki na baklasin ang pagkakayakap ng babae sa paa nito pero ang nangyari tumayo iyong babae at niyakap si lalaki ng mahigpit. She bit back a laugh when the man cursed again. Sa sobra yatang inis ng lalaki, he shove the woman away.

What a jerk! Shay thought.                                                        

The man slowly looked at her and smirked. “I’m not a jerk. Actually I’m a very good person.”

Geez. Did she just say it out loud?

Ngumiti ito ng pagkatamis-tamis sa kanya. “Kaya nga diba patay na patay ka sa akin?” Dagdag pa nito na ikinalaki ng mata niya.

What the hell?

“Excuse me?” Aniya na nakapamaywang. “I don’t even know you.” Okay, that was a lie. She knew this man, pero mamatay muna siya bago niya aminin iyon.

“Ouch! Come on, babycakes. Don’t deny me like that. You’re hurting me.” Kinapa pa nito ang puso at eksaheradong umarteng nasasaktan.

Ang sarap ihampas ng ulo nito sa pader.

Sa halip na sumagot, inalis niya ang kamay sa may pintuan ng elevator para sumara. Wala siya sa mood makipag-asaran rito. Pero bago pa sumara ang pintuan, he steps out from the elevator and wave goodbye to the woman. Nakaramdam siya ng awa sa babae. Sumusobra na talaga ang lalaking ‘to!

“Sumakay ka nalang sa ibang elevator.” Sabi nito na parang wala itong babaeng pinaiyak. Again.

“Ikaw!” Dinuro niya ito. “You can’t just do that to every woman you bedded!”

“Do what?” He asked innocently.

“Leave them crying and begging after you’re done with them.”

Inisang hakbang nito ang pagitan nila.

He scoffed. “They know the real score when they hooked up with me.” He licked his lips. “You, babycakes, need to learn ‘one night stand 101’.” Ngumiti ito ng mapang-akit. “I could be your teacher.” He purred.

He called her babycakes just to annoy the hell out of her, and it always worked, because everytime he called her that, she could only think of banging his head on the wall. That’s how annoyed she is.

“You wish! Over my dead body! And I don’t need to learn your 101 thingy. I don’t do one night stand and stop calling me babycakes!” She was huffing.

“Good.” His seductive smile turned into a satisfied one.

Satisfied? Bakit naman ito masa-satisfied sa kaalamang hindi siya nakikipag-one night stand? Namamalikmata lang yata siya.

Tinalikuran niya ito sa sobrang inis. Akmang hahakbang na siya palayo sa ‘man whore’— ‘yon ang tawag niya rito kasi halos gabi-gabi iba ang babaeng kasama nito— na ito ng pigilan siya nito sa braso.

Hinarap niya ito. “What?” Naiirita talaga siya sa lalaking ’to!

Kumunot ang nuo ni Shay ng hubarin nito ang leather jacket na suot nito at ipulupot iyon sa balakang niya. “Hold this.” Anito.

Hinawakan naman niya iyon kahit wala siyang naiintindihan sa iginagawi nito.

“Hoy! ‘Yong jacket mo!” Tawag niya rito ng mabilis itong naglakad papuntang mini-store ng Hotel. Ano naman ang gagawin ng man whore na ‘yon doon?

Pagbalik nito may dala na itong … tama ba ang nakikita niya? May dala itong sanitary napkin? Nakomperma ang hinala niya ng lumapit ito sa kanya.

“Here.” Namumula ang pisngi nito ng i-abot sa kanya ang napkin. “I don’t know which brand you use.” He gave her a plastic bag. “Ito pa. You can change in there.” Sabay turo nito sa rest room.

“Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa mga ito?” She asked, confused.

“Try mo kainin baka masarap.” She gave him a dagger look. He rolled his eyes as he lean closer to her and whisper. “Red stain in your pants. I assume you don’t want them to know that you have red flag today.”

“What?” She looked at her butt. Damn! Mayroon nga siya. “I ahm, tha—”

“Go ahead.” He gesture his hand towards the rest room door.

Hindi na siya kailangang sabihan pa. Lakad-takbo ang ginawa niya papuntang restroom.

Nag-init ang pisngi niya ng makita ang laman ng plastic bag na ibinigay sa kanya ng binata. It contains white lacy underwear and black jeans. Kung may ibang choice lang siya, hindi niya isusuot ang binili nito. Hindi siya mapakali sa isiping nahawakan nito ang panty na isusuot niya. Papikit-pikit siya habang isinusuot ang pinamili nito.

Pagkalabas niya ng rest room nakita niya si man whore na nakasandal sa pader na malapit sa rest room at mukhang hinihintay siya. He looked so sexy with his hands on his pocket and his body leaning against the wall. The image made her heart skip a beat. Damn the man for being sexy in every way imaginable. Every time she had the chance to look at his gorgeous face, her heart always missed a beat.

As much as she hates to admit it, man whore is really a gorgeous looking man. His hair was a bit messy which suited his handsome face perfectly. It gives him a boyish look. His aristocrat nose. His firm and red lips. His body that was made for sin and of course, his to-die-for amber eyes.

He is actually her type of guy. Kung hindi lang niya alam kung paano ito magpalit-palit ng girlfriend baka nagpa-cute na siya rito. But she knows better than to get his attention. She swears this man change girlfriend as fast as he changes his clothes.

“Done?” Pukaw nito sa kanya.

“Ha? Yeah.” Inabot niya ang jacket rito. “Salamat.”

Man whore’s eyes widen in amusement. “Wow! You actually say thank you to me. The world must be ending.”

“Alam ko naman kung paano magpasalamat sa taong tumulong sa akin.” Mataray niyang sagot rito.

He tsked. “Wala ka na talagang pag-asang bumait.”

Inirapan niya ito. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“What I mean is bakit ka narito?” He asked as he put his jacket on.

“Ramm called me.”

Napaatras siya ng biglang kumulimlim ang mukha nito. What was that?

“My twin brother?” Man whore asked in a weird voice. It’s like he is mad or something.

She nodded. Still half-afraid of his sudden mood swing.

“He’s not here at the moment. Umalis kanina, may kasamang magandang babae.” Sabi ni Man whore sa kanya.

Sumimangot siya. Patay ka sa aking pektus ka! “Ha? Paano na ‘yan? Pumunta pa naman ako rito para sa kanya.”

He shrugged. “Malay ko. Here’s what you gonna do. Take a cab, go home and sleep. Huwag mo ng isipin ang kakambal ko. Siguradong masaya na iyon ngayon sa babaeng kasama niya.”

She was about to do what he told, when her phone rang. She pulled out her phone from her purse and look at the Caller I.D.

It was Ramm.

Tiningnan muna niya si Rann—that’s the man whore’s name— bago niya sinagot ang tawag.

“Hello?”

“Asan ka na? Akala ko ba nasa elevator ka na? Ganoon ba kabagal ang elevator? Thirty minute na ang nagdaan at hindi ka pa rin nakakarating rito sa opisina ko?”

Ang opisina nito ay nasa pinakamataas na palapag ng hotel.

“Nandiyan ka?” Tiningnan niya ng masama si Rann na nagkibit-balikat lang.

“Ay wala! Wala! Nasa mars ako.” Sarkastikong wika nito.

“I’ll be there.” Tinapos na niya ang tawag.

“You jerk—”

“What is it that you see in that good for nothing twin brother of mine?” Rann said, cutting her off.

“Ha?” Hindi niya naintindihan ang sinabi nito.

“Nevermind.” Tumalikod na ito at naglakad palayo. Naiwan siyang nakanunot ang nuo.

She shook her head. Ano naman kaya ang problema ng isang iyon at pinag-tripan siya. Kaya ayaw niyang lumalapit rito.

Bumuntong-hininga siya bago naglakad pabalik sa elevator.

“WHERE have you been?” Tanung kaagad ni Ramm sa kanya pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya sa opisina nito.

Itinaas niya ang kamay na may hawak ng plastic bag na may lamang damit niya na may tagos. “Nagpalit ako ng damit.”

Ramm forehead knotted. “Ha? Why? Couldn’t you wait to do it here?”

“Red flag day.”

“Oh.” He smiled at her knowingly. “Come here.” Ramm spread his arms.

Lumapit siya rito at niyakap ang binata.

“I miss you so much.” Sabay halik nito sa pisngi niya.

Tinampal niya ito sa balikat. “Iyan ang rason kung bakit pinagkakamalan tayong magkasintahan.”

He chuckled. “How many times do we have to tell them that we’re just friends?”

“Stop hugging and kissing me on the cheek in public then they won’t.”

“Then they’ll think that we broke up.” What he said made her laugh.

Pabiro niyang tinampal ang braso nito. He’s probably right though. Sobra kasi silang close ni Ramm na palagi silang pinagkakamalan na magkasintahan.

“Why did you call me?” Aniya habang kumakawala sa yakap nito.

“I’m bored. Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita tapos ang tagal-tagal mo pang dumating.” Tiningnan nito ang plastic bag niya habang nakasimangot.

Itinaas niya ulit iyon. “Ito at ang man whore mong kakambal ang nakapag-delay sa akin.”

“Si Rann?” Ramm looked at Shay curiously.

“May iba pa bang manwhore na kilala?”

Umiling ito habang tumatawa. “Hay naku. Ano na naman ba ang ginawa ni Rann sayo?”

“Actually, he helped me with my red stain and he bought me sanitary napkin.”

Tiningnan siya nito na parang hindi makapaniwala. “What? Totoo?”

“Yup.” She said popping the ‘p’.

“Whoa. I never thought he would buy you that girly stuff. Kahit nga si mommy hindi mapilit-pilit si Rann na kumuha ng napkin sa kuwarto ni Eizel at ihatid iyon sa school dahil natagusan.” Si Eizel ang bunsong kapatid ng mga ito. “And he actually bought you that? Wow! Ano kaya ang nakain ni Rann. Ni hawak nga hindi niya ginawa pagbili pa kaya?”

“So, what do you want to do, except chase women?” Pag-iiba niya ng topic. Ano naman ngayon kung bibilhan siya ni Man whore ng napkin? Paki niya.

Ngumisi ito. “You really know me.” He cupped her face. “As much as I want to taste some flowers, I really miss you. It’s been what? Three months since the last time I saw you?” Ramm said seriously.

“Three weeks, Ramm.” Pagtatama niya rito.

“Marami ka ba kung kumain? Hindi mo naman siguiro pinapabayaan ang sarili mo.”

She smiles. That’s the reason why she treasured him. He cares for her. He’s like a big brother that she never had.

“I’m fine and I miss you too.” She encircled her arms on his waist. “So, where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere.”

“Ramm!” She whined.

“Fine. I’m taking you to dinner since it’s already past seven.”

“I’m not hungry.” Gusto niyang torturin ang bituka niya ng tumunog iyon.

Ramm gave her a warning look. “Nag da-diet ka na naman ba?”

“Nope.” She lied. But he knew her to well para makalusot ang pagsisinungaling na iyon.

Pinanggigilan nito ang pisngi niya. “Kakain ka ng marami ngayon.”

Nakapulupot parin and braso niya sa bewang ni Ramm ng lumabas sila sa opisina nito. Napahinto sila ng kaibigan ng makitang nasa labas si Rann at halata sa mukha nito ang iritasyon.

Ano’ng ginagawa nito rito? At halatang bad trip.

Pinukol nito ng masamang tingin si Ramm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Ramm eyes dance with mischief. “We’re going on a date.”

“You’re not going anywhere. You have lots of papers to sign.” Rann’s tone was a bit irritated.

“You do it Rann. I’m bored. And you know me when I’m bored. I’m useless as a baby.” Binalingan siya nito. “Let’s go, babe.” Anito sabay akbay sa kanya.

“Babe? So talagang kayo?” Rann voice was almost a whisper but she heard him clearly.

Humarap siya kay Rann. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t.” 

“Then don’t ask.” Hinatak niya si Ramm papuntang elavator.

“What’s with the harsh attitude?” Tanung ni Ramm ng papasok na sila sa elevator.

“Matagal na akong harsh sa kapatid mo. I simply don’t like him, period.”

“But he likes you. Can’t you see how he looked at you?”

She scoffed. “Yeah, right. And pigs can fly.”

“They do.” Shay raised her eyebrow as she looked at him. “In my dreams.” He added.

“See? You’re just imagining it.”

“I know my twin brother.”

“And I know you.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Do I have to say it?”

Nalukot ang mukha nito. “Remind me again why you’re my best friend?”

“Easy.” Kiniliti niya ito sa tagiliran. Agad itong umiwas pero tawa ito ng tawa. “I can make you laugh even when you don’t want to.”

“You are mean.” He said between laughs.

“That’s why I’m your best friend.”

“Ano’ng connect?”

“I-connect mo nalang.”

NAGKU-KUWENTUHAN pa rin sila ni Ramm hanggang pumasok sila sa restaurant ng Hotel. Nginitian niya ang mga staff ng restaurant. Kilala na siya ng mga ito dahil palagi silang kumakain ni Ramm dito pag nandito siya.

“What is your order Miss Shay?” Anang waiter ng maka-upo sila ni Ramm sa usual table nila.

“Ask him.” Tinuro niya si Ramm. “He’s the boss.”

Nakangiting bumaling ang waiter kay Ramm. Ipinalibot niya ang tingin sa kabuonan ng restaurant. Hmm. Daming tao. Nang mapatingin siya sa counter, nagtama ang mga mata nila ni Rann. He was leaning against the counter. Rann smiled seductively at her then wink.

Inirapan niya ito bago ibinalik ang tingin kay Ramm na kunot ang nuong nakatingin sa kanya.

“You’re annoying twin brother is looking at me.”

Ramm chuckled. “Don’t mind him. He’s just jealous.”

Isa pa itong lalaking ito. “I have a feeling that you’re playing cupid on me and Rann. Inuunahan na kita. Hindi ka magtatagumpay.” She warned him. She didn’t like the idea of Ramm playing cupid.

He smiled wickedly at her. “Let’s see about that, best friend.”