Muling uminit ang ulo niya. At kung hindi lang niya nakita ang paglapit ng isa pa sa mga kliyente niya ay aalis na sana siya roon.

            Humugot siya nang malalim na paghinga. He had to trust Trini. At umaasa siyang sinabi na ni Trini kay Sky na silang dalawa na. Otherwise, she shouldn't be talking with another guy, let alone someone she dated once!

            "You're planning to extend your shop, do you, Gene?"

            Naibalik niya ang pansin sa mga kausap. "Yes. I'll think about when and where, but I'll definitely extend my workshop. Masyado nang masikip ang area ko ngayon at dumarami na kayong mga kliyente ko."

            He had to keep his cool. Ang dalawang kaharap niya ngayon ay dalawa sa mga VIP clients niya, at ang dalawa'y potential clients. Kung gusto niyang palaguin ang workshop at makalakap ng mas maraming VIP clients, kailangan niyang ayusin ang mood niya sa mga sandaling iyon!

            Ilang minuto pa siyang abalang nakikipag-usap sa mga kasama nang malingat sandali ang pansin ng mga ito sa bagong dating na mga bisita. He took that chance to check on Trini. Saktong paglingon niya ay lumingon din ito sa direksyon niya at nagtama ang kanilang mga mata.

            Trini smiled and raised her wine glass. Wala na si Sky sa tabi nito dahil sinalubong ang mga bagong dating na bisita.

            He took a deep breath and stared at her gorgeousness. Tama si Migs kanina—kung hindi siya nakabakuran lagi kay Trini ay baka hindi lang si Sky ang lumapit dito. Dahil tulad ng inasahan niya ay ilang mga kalalakihan ang nakasunod ang tingin kay Trini nang humakbang ito kanina patungo sa bar counter. She gathered all attention—her minidress looked perfect on her. The tattoo on her left side was showing because the design of the dress was allowing it to appear in everyone's sight. Lalo itong nagmukhang kaakit-akit.

            Shit, just thinking about all those things, about all those guys who were staring at his girl with admiration and desire in their eyes, was making him feel so horny.

            "We're going to make business with you, too, Genesis," sabi ng isa sa dalawang lalaking lumapit kanina. Ibinalik niya ang pansin sa mga ito at muli silang na-usap.

            After a little while, Migs' eyes went passed his shoulder. May sinundan ito ng tingin. At ilang sandali pa'y napa-igtad siya nang maramdaman ang mainit na hininga ni Trini sa tainga niya.

            "Hi."

            He looked over his shoulder to face her, pero si Trini ay sina Migs naman ang hinarap. "May sasabihin lang ako sandali kay Gene."

            At bago pa makasagot sina Migs ay banayad na siya nitong hinila ilang dipa mula sa mga lalaking nakasunod lang ang tingin sa kanila.

            "I have something to tell you," she whispered again.

            Yumuko siya at bumulong din dito. "I need you to throw this dress in the bin when we get home."

            Trini chuckled and said, "Those single and married men are looking at my back now, aren't they? Kuuu, kung kailan taken na ako ay saka ko mararamdaman ang pagnanasa nila."

            "And you're enjoying it?" hasik niya rito. Hindi siya makapagdesisyon kung maiinis o makaramdam ng pagmamalaki.

            Damn, but he was so proud that she wasn't just his best friend—she was also his girl. At ang mga lalaking nakatingin kay Trini ay walang magawa kung hindi ang tumingin lang. Pero siya? He could touch her. He could kiss her. He could hug her. He could make love to her, taste her, explore her.

            "Bakit naman hindi ako mag-i-enjoy? Just a few hours ago, I felt so insecure thinking I gained weight and that the dress I was wearing didn't suit me. Pero tingnan mo kung kanino nakatingin ang halos lahat ng mga lalaki? I could feel their eyes penetrating my skin, baby. My confidence was salvaged." Malapad itong ngumisi saka sumilip sa likuran niya kung saan naroon pa rin ang mga kausap niya't nanatiling nakatitig sa kanila. Trini smiled at the men and waved at them.

            Inis niyang hinawakan ang kamay nito at ibinaba. "May paglalagyan ka sa akin mamaya, Trini..."

            "Oh, and I can't wait." She bit her lower lip and pushed her right hand into his leather jacket's pocket. May inilagay ito roon, bagay na hindi niya napansing hawak nito kanina. Pero hindi niya iyon kaagad na napagtuonan ng pansin.

            Kinunutan siya ng noo nang matitigan nang husto ang mukha ni Trini. He noticed that her cheeks were red, her eyes were sparkling, and her smell was a little... odd.

            "Yo, don't tell me you took some shots?"

            "Heyyyy... How did you know?"

            "I could smell it from you."

She giggled. "I had six shots of Bacardi 151."

            "What!"

            "Don't worry though, hindi ako lasing." Hinawakan nito ang leather jacket niya at pinagpagan kahit wala namang kumapit na dumi roon. "I'm just... tipsy."

            "Now I know why you're saying things that pisses me off. Compose yourself now, Trinity. Uuwi na tayo bago ka pa tuluyang malasing—"

            "Oh come on, don't be a party pooper." Muli itong ngumisi. "I've put something in your pocket. Silipin mo muna kung ano 'yon bago ka bumalik sa mga kausap mo." Bumitiw na ito sa kaniya. "I'll be in the restroom."

            Bago pa siya muling nakapagsalita ay tumalikod na si Trini at naglakad patungo sa sulok ng event hall kung saan naroon ang hallway patungo sa restroom. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa naka-tambad nitong likod. And damn, was she really sexy. And foxy. And so delectable. The way she swayed her hips was doing his head in.

            He really couldn't blame those guys.

            Trinity, in her black mini dress, looked like a sex symbol. And the fact that the dress was only revealing part of her legs and her back was already crazy. She was showing less skin yet she was able to attract men's attention as if she was the only woman left on Earth.

            Napabuntong hininga siya at nilingon ang mga kasamang naghihintay sa pagbalik niya. Ang tingin ng mga ito'y nakasunod pa rin kay Trini na naglalakad palayo. Nakita niya si Migs na may sinabi sa dalawang bagong kasama, and he knew they were talking about Trini.

            Humakbang siya pabalik sa mga ito. Sasabihin na niya kung ano ang papel niya sa buhay ni Trini para tumigil na ang mga ito sa pagsunod ng tingin. He had to put his barrier. These men should know where they stand. From now on, he would never allow men look at his girl like she was naked.

Siya lang ang pwedeng tumingin kay Trinity Anne nang ganoon.

            Subalit bago pa siya tuluyang makalapit ay nahinto siya nang maalala ang ini-silid ni Trini sa bulsa ng suot niyang jacket. Inisuksok niya ang kamay roon at akma sanang ilalabas ang bagay na iyon nang mapagtanto kung ano ang nakatago sa kaniyang bulsa.

            A shiver ran through his spine. Yumuko siya at bahagyang sinilip ang pamilyar na bagay na inisuksok ni Trini roon.

And he wasn't wrong.

            Fuck.

            It was Trinity Anne's red lacy G-string.

            Para siyang turumpo na lumingon sa direksyong tinungo ni Trini. Malapit na nitong marating ang hallway patungo sa restroom, at habang naglalakad ito palayo ay bumaba ang tingin niya sa pang-upo nito.

            Her sexy dress fitted so flawlessly around her butt area, and now he understood why men were looking at her sexiness with desire in their eyes.

He didn't need to guess. He just knew 100% that the thing Trini shove into his pocket was actually the same underwear she had on when they went to the party.

            Meaning...

            She wasn't wearing anything beneath her sexy, fucking dress.

            When did she take this off, anyway?

Shit, did it even matter? Ang mahala ay ang intensyon nito kaya ginawa iyon.

And he was fucking up to play her game.

Sa naisip ay tila lumagablab ang buong paligid. Gumapang ang init sa buo niyang katawan.

            So wicked... he thought before smiling from ear to ear.

            Bago pa niya napigilan ang sarili ay tuluyan na siyang nag-iba ng direksyon. To hell with his VIP clients.

He's going straight to his girl for some treat.