Tulad ng inasahan ni Phillian ay hindi bumaba si Sacred para sa hapunan. Calley had prepared a delicious dinner, but Sacred refused to join them and went to sleep.

            Kumain ang dalawa nang tahimik; Phillian was pissed at hindi nito initago iyon kay Calley na sandaling nagbigay ng espasyo.

           Matapos ang hapunan ay pinaakyat na ni Phill si Calley; he said he would do the dishes. She asked if he was okay and he just smiled and hugged her. Matapos iyon ay hindi na ito nagsalita pa at ito na nga ang nag-linis ng kusina.

           Pagdating sa itaas ay naligo si Calley; at habang nasa ilalim siya ng shower ay malalim ang kaniyang iniisip.

           Sa loob ng halos isang buwang pananatili niya roon sa beach house ay tatlo na sa mga kapatid ni Phill ang nakilala niya; first was Lee Benedict who was absolutely friendly with her. A guy who smiled a lot and was very positive about everything. She would compare Lee to a morning ocean breeze—refreshing, cool, relaxed.

           Sunod niyang nakilala ay si Quaro, who, at first, was reserved. Kahit si Kirsten ay binalaan siyang mahirap kunin ang loob ni Quaro, pero noong makita niya kung papaano nito asikasuhin ang nagdadalantaong asawa ay lumambot ang puso niya sa panganay na kapatid ni Phill. Quaro was a very loving husband, and was a typical elder brother; medyo masungit sa kapatid pero naroon ang suporta para kay Phillian. Naroon ang pag-alalay, lalo na noong nagkwento si Phillian tungkol sa plano nitong dagdagan ang mga bangka upang mas marami pa itong mga mangingisdang matulungan sa lugar na iyon. Quaro was supportive as he gave his advises on Phill.

           Then, there came Sacred.

           Nagtataka siya kung saan nanggagaling ang tila galit nito sa mundo... sa pag-ibig. Base sa mga komento nito tungkol kay Phill at Quaro sa pagkakaroon ng mga ito ng karelasyon ay tila ito sinaktan ng babae kung mainis—o magalit— tungkol sa pagmamahal at pakikipagrelasyon. She wondered what Sacred had been through for him to speak and act that way?

            At hindi tulad nina Lee at Quaro, tila ba ito'y walang pakealam kay Felicia Zodiac. Kung hindi pa ito pinangakuan ni Phillian na pahihiramin ng pera ay wala pa sana itong balak na sumama sa kanila bukas.

           He was resentful. Very, very bitter about the happiness of his brothers.

           Sino ang nanakit sa taong iyon?

           Nahinto siya sa pag-iisip nang marinig ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pinto ng silid. Mabilis niyang tinapos ang pagligo, ipinulupot ang putting tuwalya sa basang buhok saka ini-suot ang silk robe niya bago lumabas ng banyo. Sa loob ng silid ay nakita niyang nakabukas ang glass door patungo sa vernada, at doon sa labas ay nakita niya si Phill na nakatanaw sa kadiliman.

           Nagpakawala siya ng malungkot na paghinga saka humakbang palabas. She had never seen him like this; ginambala ni Sacred ang tahimik at masayang buhay ni Phillian sa araw na iyon.

           Ilang hakbang mula sa kinatatayuan ni Phillian ay huminto siya at nagsalita.

           "Hey, you," she said, copying the way he greeted her.

           Phillian just looked over his shoulder; his smile was forced. "Hey."

           Tuluyan siyang lumapit at tinabihan ito. "You alright?"

           "No." Ibinalik ni Phillian ang tingin sa dagat, subalit sigurado siyang ang pansin nito'y wala naman talaga roon. His expression gave her a negative vibe; he was sad and angry. And she had never seen that on his face ever since she met him. "Everytime Sacred shows up, it gives not only me but our other brothers problem."

           "Kaya ba ganoon ang reaksyon mo kanina nang makita mo siya?"

           "Yes. I already knew he was going to ruin my mood. And he did— always."

           "What's the matter with him? Bakit ganoon siya magsalita?"

           Isang malalim na buntonghininga ang kumawala kay Phill; ang mga kamay nito'y initukod nito sa balustre at yumuko roon bago muling nagsalita. "He was always like that since we were just kids. Lagi siyang pasaway. He was our father's favorite kahit ayaw aminin ng ama namin; he grew up getting spoiled. Kahit noong maliliit pa lang kami ay laging siya ang unang nanggugulo; there were times he would just hit us because he just felt like it and he would run to our father and pretend that he was the aggrieved party. Mas madalas na inaaway niya kami kaysa ang magkabati kami. He was never close to any of us—only with Pops.

           You see... Dahil lahat kami ay inampon ay hindi nagkakalayo ang mga edad namin. Quaro is only a few months older than I. Sacred is only three years younger than us; he is the tenth child. When we reached our teens, Sacred became even more troubled. Laging nasa principal's office sina Ma and Pops to save his a.ss. Laging may binubugbog sa academy, kung hindi man ay may sinisirang mga gamit o papasok nang lasing. He was eighteen when women started coming to the ancestral house claiming they were pregnant. He had impregnated three women, and he denies them all up to this day. He's never stepped up to the plate."

           Napaatras siya—gulat sa mga narinig. Hindi niya akalaing ang tulad ni Sacred ay makikihalubilo sa mga babae; lalo na kung ang pagbabasehan niya ay ang reaksyon nito tungkol sa pakikipagrelasyon. Sacred appeared to be allergic to women, pero mukhang mas matinik ito.

           "He's treating women like sex toys, Calley, and all of us didn't agree nor supported his ways. Kaya lalo naming hindi naging kasundo ang lalaking 'yon. At nang mamatay si Pops ay nag-umpisa na siyang maglayas hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang hindi umuwi. He didn't even finished his studies. He became a vagabond; the blacksheep of the family. Puro sakit ng ulo ang dala niya sa amin, pero kahit magkaganoon ay hindi namin siya magawang talikuran. He is still part of our family, we still carry the same name. Ilang Zodiacs ba ang narito sa Pilipinas? Maaaring kami lang. Kapag bumagsak siya ay bagsak kaming lahat. Kaya kahit na ganoon siya'y kailangan pa rin namin siyang tulungan." Inituwid nito ang sarili at itinaas ang isang kamay upang hagurin ang buhok. "And let me be clear; walang problema sa akin na bigyan o pahiramin siya ng pera. Ang inaalala ko ay baka sa bisyo lang niya mapunta ang perang iyon. Bisyo na kahit ano ang gawin namin ay hindi matanggal-tanggal sa kaniya. That's why I'm pissed."

           Napatingin din siya sa karagatan. Sa pamamagitan ng sinag ng buwan ay nagawa niyang makita ang payapang paghampas ng mga mga alon sa buhanginan. Ang banayad na tunog niyon na tila musika na sa kaniyang pandinig at naging parte na ng bawat umaga't gabi niya. This place had become her home. Hindi siya nagsisising ito ang ipinalit niya sa buhay na mayroon siya sa New York. 

            "Bakit ganoon si Sacred sa palagay mo?" tanong niya makaraan ang ilang sandali; ang kaniyang tingin ay nanatiling nasa malayo.

           "Probably because Pops spoiled him. At si Ma, bilang ina, ay hindi rin magawang hindian ang isa sa mga bunso niya."

           She turned to Phillian. "Isa sa mga bunso?"

           "Yeah. Basically, Sacred, Sage, and Capri have the same age and they were the youngest in the family."

           "Paano naman ang iba mo pang mga kapatid? I mean, ang ugali nila."

           "They were all okay, si Sacred lang ang problema namin sa pamilya." Nilingon siya nito at pinong ngitian. Kahit papaano ay lumambot ang anyo nito. "You will meet some of them tomorrow. Ang iba ay wala sa bansa habang ang iba'y abala sa kani-kanilang buhay kaya maaaring hindi sila makarating."

           She answered him with a smile. "Can't wait."

           Tuluyan siyang hinarap ni Phillian at hinapit. Ipinulupot nito ang mga braso sa bewang niya. "Thank you for understanding. Nasira ni Sacred ang araw ko at hindi ko nagawang magpanggap na maayos sa harapan mo."

           "No, don't you ever do that." Inihilig niya ang ulo sa dibdib nito at gumanti ng yakap. "If you ever feel sad, or pissed, or not in the mood, don't try to hide it from me. I would appreciate it more if you would be truthful and honest with your feelings. That way, alam ko kung paano kita tutulungan, o kung kailan ako magbibigay ng espasyo sa'yo para makapag-isip. At some point, people need time to think so they could find a solution to their problems, and that's totally understandable. Kaya kapag may problema ka at gusto mong mapag-isa ay sabihin mo lang. Bibigyan kita ng espasyo."

           Phillian planted a soft kiss on the side of her head and tightened his hug. "You are perfect, Calley. Thank you."

           At kahit gustuhin niya ay hindi nagtagal ang yakap na iyon. Humiwalay si Phill at muli siyang niyuko. He was smiling and his face softened a little, but she knew Phillian hadn't yet recovered the energy that Sacred sucked out of him.

           "Let's go inside and take a rest. Maaga tayong aalis bukas."

           Tumango siya at nagpaakay rito. Pagpasok nila sa silid ay kaagad na dumiretso si Phillian sa banyo upang maglinis ng katawan.

            She shook her head and walked toward the vanity table; isa iyon sa mga gamit na binili ni Phillian para sa kaniya. Naupo siya sa harap ng salamin at inalis ang tuwalyang nakapulupot sa buhok saka ini-sampay iyon sa sandalan ng stool na kinauupuan niya. She then brushed her hair to dry it out. At habang sinusuklay niya ang basang buhok ay napatingin siya sa repleksyon niya sa salamin. Hanggang sa lumampas ang tingin niya sa kaniyang balikat at nakita ang paperbag na nakapatong sa isang stool sa gilid ng pinto. Nakatumba ang paperbag at ang lamang mga jars ay gumulong palabas.

           Natigilan siya. May biglang naalala.

           Ilang sandali pa'y may sumilay na ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi.

           Ibinaba niya ang brush sa ibabaw ng vanity table, tumayo, at nilapitan ang silyang iyon.

           She suddenly had an idea that would help fix Phillian's mood.

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           Natigilan si Phillian sa akmang paglabas sa banyo nang makita si Calley na nakatayo sa harapan ng pinto; inaabangan ang kaniyang paglabas nang may matamis na ngiti sa mga labi.

           He frowned and let out a confused smile. "What is it?"

           Hindi ito sumagot, sa halip ay hinawakan nito ang isang kamay niya at niyaya siya patungo sa kama.

           He wasn't in the mood, really. Kahit gusto niya'y hindi muna niya maibibigay kay Calley ang nais nito. Sirang-sira ni Sacred ang araw na iyon at...

           Nahinto siya sa pag-iisip nang hawakan siya ni Calley sa magkabila niyang mga balikat at banayad na pinaupo sa kama. He obliged. Nag-aalala siyang magtampo ito kapag tinanggihan niya.

           Calley stood in front of him, her hands were still on his shoulders. He looked her in the eye and waited for her next move.

           Then, she smiled. "Remember what you told me this afternoon?"

           He narrowed his eyes and searched his mind. Did he promise her anything?

           Ahh, shit. Hindi na niya maalala dahil kay Sacred. His brother always ruined everything it pissed him off.

           "Yeah, I guess you forgot." Sandaling tumalikod si Calley at tinungo ang silyang naka-tabi sa gilid ng pinto. Sumunod ang tingin niya roon at nang makita ang mga jars ng strawberry jam na binitbit niya paakyat doon kanina ay natigilan siya.

           Oh f.uck, yes. He forgot about that!

           Wala siya sa sariling umakyat sa silid kanina bitbit ang paperbag na iyon saka kung paano na lang niyang inilagay sa stool. His mind was occupied by Sacred's sudden appearance. Nawala sa isip niya ang maganda't kapana-panabik na planong buong araw na gumulo sa isip at katawan niya.

           And now that Calley reminded him of it, his body's temperature suddenly changed. His energy spiked, his body ignited. Damn. How easily Calley could turn him on.

           Bumalik si Calley sa harapan niya bitbit ang isa sa mga jars, at sa pagkamangha niya'y binuksan nito ang takip habang ang mga mata'y nakatutok sa kaniya.

           "This smells so addictive," she said in a teasing tone.

           Hindi siya nakasagot nang muling bumaba ang kamay nito sa kaniyang dibdib at banayad siyang itinulak pahiga sa kama. He complied. Why the hell wouldn't he? At umusog pa siya hanggang sa gitna ng kama upang maging komportable siya sa paghiga. He knew what Calley was planning—he could tell from the way she smiled and the way she stared at him. Kabisadong-kabisado na niya ito—his body could even feel hers from the distance. And it may be exaggerrated, but that was the truth. He was connected to her—always.

           Calley went up to the bed and knelt between his legs. His lower body was covered by a thick towel yet it didn't hide the fact that he was starting to get aroused. It was because his member was starting to grow; at alam niyang napapansin iyon ni Calley dahil muling namutawi ang ngiti sa mga labi nito.

           Ibinaba niya ang kaniyang mga kamay sa magkabilang gilid ng baywang ni Calley. He wasn't gripping, just holding. He just wanted to feel her, touch her.

            "What's the plan, baby?" His voice was husky he almost laughed at himself. Hindi pa man nagsisimula'y paos na ang tinig niya.

           Calley grinned from ear to ear. Then, to his amusement, her other hand pulled down the towel that's covering his lower body and there his semi-hard shaft emerged in her sight.

            His eyes never left hers, thus, he saw how her eyes darkened as she gazed at his s.ex.

           "My plan?" she asked. Ang mga mata nito'y unti-unting umangat hanggang sa muli nitong salubungin ang mga tingin niya. "I'd like to have my dessert in bed."

           "Dessert..." usal niya, pigil-pigil ang paghinga. "That was my plan..."

           "Not anymore." Calley then poured a palmful of strawberry jam on his chest. The strong yet sweet smell of the fruit preserved assaulted his nose. "The tables have turned now, Mr. Fisherman. You lie in bed and I'll feast on your body."

           He opened his mouth to answer her, but he couldn't find the right words to say. Sa halip ay isang mahabang ungol ang lumabas sa kaniyang bibig nang ikalat ni Calley ang jam pababa sa kaniyang tiyan... at pababa pa.

           Then, her sticky, jam-filled palm covered his now fully erect shaft, making him moan once more.

           Calley gave him a devious grin when his length hardened all the more, tensing a little against her palm. Dumukwang ito upang ilapag ang hawak na jar sa side table habang ang isang kamay ay nanatiling nakapulupot sa pagka.lalaki niya. And while Calley was leaning over his body, he took the chance to transfer his hands on her large, perfectly round breasts. And there, he fondled them as if they were his stress balls, helping him cope with his emotions.

            Damn. She was only wearing her silk robe with nothing underneath; his palm could feel her nips hardening against his touch.

           "Baby, don't you know you have a perfect set of breasts?" he noted while his hands continued to fondle and caress her roundies.

           "You love them, don't you?" she responded before straightening her body.

           "I do. I love them so bad I could just hold and suck them all night long..."

           F.uck, he liked to talk dirty to her, and Calley seemed to like it, as well. Umungol ito at tuluyang bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa mga binti niya. Ang kamay nitong nasa ibabang parte pa rin ng kaniyang katawan ay humigpit nang humigpit.

           "Don't worry, Mr. Fisherman. You will have them all for yourself later. But in the meantime, stay still and be my tasty dessert."

           Mangha niyang sinundan ng tingin ang unti-unting pagbaba ng ulo nito sa sentro ng kaniyang katawan.

            Then, his head exploded in intense desire when her mouth took his head and sucked it hard. His s.ex quivered, and he was tormented with passion. Calley became rougher with how she treated his member, and damn, how he liked it. With her two hands, Calley encircled his sexual part, caressed him, and absorbed him until he moaned in complete surrender.

           "Ahhh, f.uck, Calley. What are you doing to my body?"

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TO BE CONTINUED...