Hera

Scor was indeed looking good when I saw him. I thought he wouldn't get any more attractive than the last time I saw him. But now, he looked more like a demigod instead of a normal person. Hindi nakatulong ang pagmamature ng features nya. It just made him look a little more delicious.

What an eye candy this brute is! Napangisi ako.

"Hera Pineda."

"Scorpio Daniels Ledesma." lumapit ako sa kanya at agad na bumeso. "How are you? You look mighty fine! Jeez! Will you ever stop levelling up?"

"You know I won't." he answered with a smirk. He handed me a bottle of expensive wine.

Ngumisi ako. "My mom would be so delighted to see you, cmon!" ginagap ko ang kamay ni Scor at giniya sya papasok sa bahay. Hanggang sa humantong kami sa isang sliding door na yari sa salamin at syang naghihiwalay sa kabahayan at sa isang malawak na hardin kung saan nakahanda ang isang enggrandeng kainan.

I heard Scor groan as we set our foot outside. Napakarami kasing pagkain at animoy daig pa ang fiesta. Trust my mom to get over board whenever Scorpio is concerned. Gustong gusto ni mom si Scor para sa akin, sana nga ganoon na lang ang tingin ko sa kanya, sana gusto ko na lang din sya. Kaya lang, hindi mo naman matuturuan ang puso kung sinong dapat mahalin nito.

"I'm sorry, Scor, I know this is too much!" I tried to explain to him but he just shrugged and grinned at me. Inilagay nya ang kamay nya sa likod ko at marahan akong inudyukan na lumakad.

I reminded myself how easy it is to love Scor. It wouldn't be as complicated as what I have with Phae. And certainly not as disconcerting and painful as what Viktor and I had. I sighed. Bakit ba ganon? Kung sinong wala, sya pang hinahanap hanap ng puso mo? Meron namang available, pero pa-choosy ka pa. Oh love. Why are you so complicated?

"Scorpio? Is that you?"

Napangisi ako ng marinig ang boses ni mom. Alam na alam ko na ang susunod na mangyayari.

She rushed towards us at the speed of lightning - even in those stillettos. Ibang klase talaga itong si Scor. Sa dami ng nanligaw saakin noon, tanging kay Scor lang naging ganito si mom. Even my dad likes him. This guy's too charming for his own good.

"Oh honey, you look so dashing!" ikinulong ni mama ang mukha ni Scor sa mga palad nya. "My daughter is one lucky girl to have someone as good looking as you!"

Daig pa ni mom ang isang teenager kung kiligin kay Scor!

Napairap ako. Kung alam lang nya na balak ko nang putulin ang engagement namin ni Scor. I ain't even wearing my engagement ring!

Matapos ang mahaba habang kamustahan ni Scor at ni mom - mom did all the talking, while Scor was just politely smiling and nodding, niyaya ko na silang kumain. Sa hapag ay panay ang usapan ni Scor at daddy tungkol sa negosyo habang ako ay tahimik lang na sumusubo.

We were already seated in our grandious living room  having wine, when a maid came to me and told me that someone was looking for me outside. Tinanguan ko lang sila mom, dad at Scor tapos lumabas na ako.

I walked over our gate and saw a man standing outside.

Nanayo ang balahibo ko nang makilala ko kung sino ang nasa labas. Binilisan ko ang lakad ko at sinenyasan ang guard namin na lumayo muna.

"What are you doing here?" agad na sita ko sa kanya.

Humarap sya sakin at nagliwanag ang mukha nya bagamat madilim nang makita nya ako. "Hera!"

"Viktor, ano nanaman bang kalokohan 'to?" inis na turan ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napakahirap para sa kanya na intindihin na tapos na kami. I don't want him in my life anymore! I will get rid of him just like I did with our unborn child.

Yes. Nilaglag ko ang anak namin. I underwent abortion the same day I got in california. I did it mercilessly.

Who am I kidding? Muntik na akong matawa ng pagak.

That pregancy was doomed from the start. Noong araw na nagkita kami ni Viktor sa labas ng opisina nya at nakipaghiwalay sya sakin, I lost our baby. Ngunit hindi ko agad nalaman. Ang sabi sa doctor na pinagdalhan sakin ng kuya ko matapos kong duguin ng araw na 'yon ay malakas daw ang kapit ng sanggol. Not until I had another check up, a few days later, because of spotting.  Noon ko nalaman na patay na ang batang nasa sinapupunan ko. And we have to get rid of it immediately, bago pati ako ay mamatay dahil sa sepsis.

But I would like to think na kusa o boluntaryo kong nilaglag ang bata. Ni hindi nga ako umiyak noon. True, hindi kasalanan ng bata ang kahayupan ng ama nya. But I don't want any part of Viktor in me.

"Hera, hindi ako magsasawa na magmakaawa sayo, para lang patawarin mo 'ko!" lumapit sya sa gate at hinawakan ang mga rehas niyon. "Hindi sapat ang isang gabi na binigay mo sakin, para makalimutan kita. You are embedded here-" itinuro nya ang dibdib. "I can't live knowing that that one night was the last single happy memory I'll have for my whole life."

Pinaningkitan ko sya ng mata. "Tapos ka na ba?" i impatiently folded my arms across my chest. "Lasing ka ba ha, Viktor?"

"No, I'm not-"

"O sadyang tanga ka dahil hindi mo maintindihan ang salitang huli na?" napatiim bagang ako. "Huli na ang lahat para sa pagsisisi Viktor. Huli na para balikan mo pa 'ko at huli na para magmakaawa ka! Alam mo kung bakit? Kase pagod na 'ko. Napagod na 'ko sa kahihintay ko sayo."

"Hera, habang buhay kong pinagsisisihan 'yon!"

"Kulang 'yang pagsisisi mo!"

"Ano pa bang gusto mong gawin ko?!" he desperately asked. "Nagmamakaawa na nga ako sayo, Hera. Tanggapin mo lang ako ulit! Please, Hera! Mahal pa rin kita!"

I felt a lump forming on my throat. "Damn you, Viktor!" i hissed.

"It's true, Hera-"

"I don't care!"

"Please, please! Give me another chance, papatunayan ko sayo-"

"Hera?"

Napalingon ako nang marinig ko ang tinig ni Scor. Sh-t! Agad kong hinarap si Viktor, natigilan din sya nang madinig ang boses na 'yon. "Umalis ka na. My fiance's here and I don't want him to see you." mariing saad ko.

"W-what?" kandautal na tanong nya. "F-fiance?"

Hindi ko na pinansin ang tanong nya at agad na 'kong lumapit kay Scor. Hinawakan ko ang braso nya at iginiya sya pabalik ng kabahayan. Ayokong makita nya ang pagkakamali ko. Yes, tinuturing kong isang malaking pagkakamali si Viktor sa buhay ko.

"Who was that?"

"No one."i answered quickly. "Let's get back inside." hinila ko na sya pabalik sa direksyon ng kabahayan.

"Are you crying, Hera?"

"Crying?" tumingala ako sa kanya. He was almost a foot taller than me. Hindi pa naman ako nagsuot ng heels. "What?" i blinked twice, thrice. Bahagya nga akong naluluha. "No, no!" pinilit kong ngumiti. "It was just probably my.. Uhm.. Contact lenses. Right." tumango tango ako at hinila na syang muli palayo roon ngunit di nagpatinag si Scor.

"Tara na, Scor, please?"

"I saw you talking to someone out there? Who was it?" he inquired. His eyes are slightly narrowed in suspicion.

Sunod sunod ang naging pag iling ko. "No one, Scor!"

Pinakatitigan nya ako. He doesn't seem to believe me but he let it go. One thing I liked about him, he doesn't pry. Tumango na lang sya at inakbayan ako pabalik ng mansion.

Mariing kinagat ko ang ibaba kong labi. Sana huli na ang pagkakataon na ito. I don't want anything to do with Viktor anymore. Napagod na ang puso ko na magmahal at umasa sa kanya. Paulit ulit lang niyang dinudurog ang pagkatao ko.

---

Phae

I got home from my boutique real tired and sh-it.  It was already half past eleven in the evening. Pagpasok ko pa lang ng kwarto ko ay hinubad ko lamang ang nude pumps ko at nahiga na sa kama.

I loosened the buttons of my blouse and buried my face in my pillow. I smiled despite of myself. Pagod ako pero at the same time nakakatuwa dahil marami kaming customer kanina. I was just getting the hang of it. Kapag umangat na ang sales sa boutique, kukuha na ako ng ibang magmamanage doon. Sa ngayon, ako na muna ang aako ng responsibilidad.

I groaned as I remembered that I have to send emails to my supplier of fabrics. I did my own designs at kailangan ko lamang ng mga gagawa at magsusupply sa akin ng materyales. Napangisi ako. Pangarap ko na one day, makapasok ang designs ko sa line of products ng kumpanya ni Liam, one of my kuya's friends. Isa ang kumpanya nila sa pinakasikat na couture company sa asia.

Sa ngayon, habang hindi ko pa nararating ang estado na 'yon, ako muna ang gagawa ng lahat ng trabaho sa boutique. Pati na rin ang paggawa ng purchases.

Tamad na bumangon ako para buhayin ang laptop na nasa bed side table ko. As I waited for it to boot. I stripped down to my underwears and crawled into the sheets.

Nagbukas ako ng email add at sinimulang itype ang email na isesend ko. I also had to make consignment reports. I sighed. I wish I could just sleep tonight. Ilang araw na din kasi akong nakukulangan ng tulog gawa ng on peak ang sales ko ngayon.

Maya maya ay kinusot kusot ko na ang mata ko gawa ng antok. I was on the middle of my last email when the hang outs chat box popped up.

Napanganga ako nang mapagsino ang chatter na iyon.

Scorpio Ledesma:

Why are you still up?

Hindi ako agad nakahuma. Why is this brute chatting me? As far as I could remember, we are not close and the last time we talked ended up with his friends hating him for harrassing me. The nerve of this guy to even approach me. Kahit pa sa chat lang iyon.

Scorpio Ledesma:

Are you there?

I rolled my eyes. Problema nitong mokong na 'to? He's beginning to act like a freakin' stalker!

Scorpio Ledesma:

Why are you not answering me?

Answer me. Damn it!

Halos matawa ako. I shook my head. What the hell's up with him? Hanggang dito ba naman sa chat napaka bossy nya at mainitin ang ulo?

I decided to type a reply.

Phaedra Gonzales:

What do you want?

Scorpio Ledesma:

What are you doing? Why are you still up?

I rolled my eyes heavenwards.

Phaedra Gonzales:

None of your business!

Scorpio Ledesma:

Are you having cyber sex with the one you had phone sex with last time?

My jaw dropped. Sadyang napakahudas ng lalaking ito! Ano nanaman bang ipinupunto nya? Why would he even care if I'm having sexual whatevers with anyone? Wala na syang pakialam doon.

Dafuq? Daig pa nya si kuya kung makakastigo sa akin!

Phaedra Gonzales:

Again, it's none of your goddamn business. And if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep.

Isasara ko na sana ang laptop ko nang sumagot syang muli. At tulad ng isang malaking siraulo, hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na basahin ang mensahe nya.

Scorpio Ledesma:

I don't get it why you would settle for that kind of sex, be that over the phone or over the internet. But if that's what you're up to these days...

Muli ay napanganga ako. My stomach clenched in anticipation. I waited for him to continue what he was saying. I even held my breath.

Scorpio Ledesma:

Nevermind. I don't work that way. I'd rather you feel my warm hands all over your body. I want to feel you slick with sweat and hear your whimper and sweet moans. It will be more pleasurable in both our sides.

I clamped my hands over my mouth. I couldn't believe what I was reading. What on earth is that guy up to? Why is he saying these things? Bakit ginagawa nya saakin 'to?

Is he seducing me?

Does he know what effects his words have over my body? This is insane!

Scorpio Ledesma:

I hope that had you all worked up. Have a good night, Phaedra. Sweet dreams. ;)

Scorpio Ledesma has logged out..

Fu-ck him! Did he just put a wink smiley on that message?! Halos umusok ang ilong ko sa magkahalong inis at frustration na nadarama ko!

Inis na isinara ko ang laptop ko at itinabi sa gilid ng kama. Nais ko iyong tadyakan! Maibsan lang kahit na konti ang asar ko sa Ledesma na 'yon! Fu-cking as-shole!

Palibhasa'y alam nga nya ang epekto nya sa kababaihan - and I wasn't immuned to it - he was using it to his advantage. Kundi ba naman nuknukan ng kasamaan!

Hinayaan ko na lamang ang email at naisipang ipagpabukas na lamang iyon. That could wait. However, me feeling hot and bothered on a lonely monday evening couldn't wait.

I got up to take a cold shower.