Hindi sila nagkita ni Ayder kinabukasan dahil ipina-finalize raw nito ang ginagawang thesis. Nagpasalamat naman siya dahil hindi pa niya alam kung paano ito pakikiharapan sa kabila ng mga pangamba na maaaring totoo ang paratang dito.

It was late in the afternoon when she received a call from an unknown number.

"Hello, Aira. This is Desiry," agad na bungad ng taong tumawag. It puzzled her.

"Hello po. Paano n'yo po nakuha ang number ko?" curious niyang tanong. Desiry inhaled deeply before speaking.

"It doesn't matter. There is something I want to tell you. Puwede ka ba after class?" sunod-sunod nitong sabi.

Wala siyang maisip na dahilan para tanggihan ito kaya pumayag na lang siya. Desiry asked to meet her in a restobar near the area. Wala man siyang ideya sa sasabihin nito pero nakaramdam siya ng agam-agam.

Pumuwesto siya sa dulong bahagi ng bar counter na ibinilin ni Desiry. Wala pa sa party mood ang restaurant dahil maaga pa. May ilang tao lang na kumakain na sa mga tables. May babaeng bartender na nasa kabilang side ng bar. She stood up when she saw her. Kumuha ito ng ilang drinks saka nagtimpla sa harapan niya. Pinanood niya ito habang panaka-nakang sumusulyap sa bukana ng restobar.

"Drink," she said in a commanding tone after she placed the wine glass in front of her. Napakunot-noo siya. Hindi naman kasi siya nag-order. Ni hindi rin ito nagtanong kanina kung may order ba siya.

"Kailangan mo 'yan para mamaya," sambit nito saka tumingin sa kanya ng seryoso. Saka lang niya natitigang maigi ang ganda ng babae. Parang may hawig ito sa ama ni Ayder. Are they relatives?

"She's ate Gel, our eldest cousin." Nagulat pa siya sa biglang pagsulpot ni Desiry. Umupo ito sa katabing stool.

"Hello po! I'm glad to meet you," magalang naman niyang bati sa dalagang nasa loob ng counter.

"Do you want to order anything?" tanong ni Desiry sa kanya. Napailing naman siya.

"Hindi pa po ako gutom," tugon niya. Desiry nodded. Kinuha nito ang iniaabot ng pinsan nito na kopita na kasama ng tinimpla nito para sa kanya. Desiry drank it in one gulp. Nahiya siya kaya ininom na rin niya ang nasa hawak na baso.

She felt awkward when she noticed the two staring at her. Dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba ang wine glass.

"I will have to tell this straight to you," seryosong sambit ni Desiry pagkababa niya ng baso. Huminga siya nang malalim.

"Ayder is sick. Huwag na huwag mong hahayaang magkasarilinan kayong dalawa ni Ayder," umpisa nito. Tumitig ito nang diretso sa mga mata niya. Somehow, she knew where the conversation is leading.

"I am doing this as his sister." Huminga ito nang malalim bago nagpatuloy."Minsan na siyang naidemanda. He almost killed his ex-girlfriend. Ayoko nang maulit iyon," dagdag nito. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang isasagot.

"May mga nauna pa siyang biktima but for some reason, they like him that way pero mabilis siyang nagsawa sa kanila," kuwento nito.

"Run while you still can, Aira. Hangga't hindi pa lumalalim ang pagmamahal mo sa kanya." Desiry held her cold hands and looked at her in the eyes. Fear crept on her spine.

Desiry was about to speak again when Ayder appeared out of nowhere.

"Ate, ano na naman ba 'to?" salubong ang kilay nitong tanong sa kapatid.

"What are you two doing?" baling nito kay Gel. Pinalis nito ang kamay ni Desiry mula sa pagkakahawak sa kanya.

Ayder pulled her to his embrace.

"I told you, please. Not Aira," mariin nitong saad sa dalawa bago siya inakay palayo. She was in a daze.

"Are you okay? Anong sinabi nila sa 'yo? Did they scare you away?" sunod-sunod nitong tanong nang nasa loob na sila ng sasakyan nito.

Did she look scared? She inhaled deeply and calmed herself.

"Is there something I need to be scared of?" balik-tanong niya rito. Ayder's expression softened. Hinawakan nito ang magkabilang psingi niya.

"Of course, none," he whispered as he caressed her cheek. Huminga ito nang malalim.

"Pero may dapat ba akong malaman?" muli niyang tanong rito.

"Wala naman," tugon nito. His eyes became wary for a moment before he stared at her once again.

"My sister may just be scared baka ulitin ko ang naging pagkakamali ni Daddy. You know marrying young and messing up," he explained. Huminga siya nang malalim. He sounded casual and sincere. Now, she doesn't know what to believe.

"Iyon lang ba?" paniniguro niya.

"Yes. Meron pa bang iba?" Ayder asked back.

"I love you, Aira. That's all that matters now," he said before pulling her to his embrace. Hindi niya alam kung kakalma siya o pangingilabutan sa yakap nito. Their allegations against Ayder affected her so much.

*****

She refused to join him for dinner after that. Nagdahilan siyang pagod at masakit ang ulo. It was a weekend the next day. Nagdahilan din siyang mamasyal kasama ang mga magulang kaya hindi siya nakipagkita rito.

She was fully loaded on Monday. Nakipag-meeting din si Ayder sa thesis adviser nito kaya akala niya ay makakaiwas siya sa binata pero laking gulat niya nang bigla na lang itong sumulpot at yumakap habang papasok siya sa kotse. Pauwi na sana siya noon.

"Hey, I miss you, my sweet Aira," he whispered as he hugged her from the back. He handed her a bouquet of fresh flowers. Nang ipaharap siya nito at makita ang nangungusap nitong mukha ay nakaramdam din siya ng pagka-miss. He was too angelic to be a beast. Her heart betrayed her rationale. Yumakap din siya rito nang mahigpit.

"Miss me, too?" he said as he cupped her face and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Tumango siya bilang tugon.

"I know a place," Ayder grinned. She didn't know why she got excited amidst everything that was bothering her the past days.

Akala niya ay sa isang restaurant sila pupunta pero dinala siya nito sa Empire Hotel. Before they moved inside the building, his driver handed her the key to her car. Ito kasi ang nagmaneho sa sasakyan niya habang siya ay nakisabay na kay Ayder.

Her heart raced when they entered the pentsuite of the hotel. Nakahinga lang siya nang maluwag nang igiya siya nito sa dining table na may nakahanda nang pagkain. Katabi ito ng glass window. It was overlooking the busy metro.

"Let's eat before I eat you up," Ayder joked as he led her to a seat. She felt like his joke was a warning but she shrugged the thought away.

They spent the next minutes eating and conversing just like what they usually do. It made her rest all her worries for a while.

Pagkatapos kumain ay itinuloy nila ang kuwentuhan sa couch. He was talking about his thesis. Ayder never let go of her shoulder. Nakaakbay lang ito. He caresses her arms once in a while.

"Ikaw? Kumusta naman ang weekend getaway n'yo ng parents mo?" tanong nito pagkatapos. Ipinaharap siya nito at tinitigan. Will she admit that she lied?

"I really missed you," he said when she didn't answer. He gave her a chase kiss on the lips. Napakagat pa siya sa labi nang agad itong lumayo.

"Ilang araw din 'yon," he said then pursed his lips. They both stared at each other.

Napalunok siya nang muling lumapit ang mukha nito sa kanya. She closed her eyes when his lips landed on hers. He kissed her deeply as he passionately swirled his tongue inside her mouth. Napayakap siya rito nang mahigpit. Now, she knew how much she misses him despite everything. Lumalim ang paghalik nito hanggang sa naging mapangahas ang kamay nito. Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap niya rito. He kissed her hungrily sucking every part of her lips and tongue. They only stopped when they both momentarily ran out of breath.

"Don't you think, it's just about time?" Ayder sensually whispered on her ear. Naramdaman niya ang mainit nitong palad na kanina pa naglalaro sa mga dibdib niya. She inhaled deeply realizing what he meant. Nagtatalo ang isip niya pero kalaunan ay tumango rin.

"Are you sure?" Ayder smiled skeptically. Nakita ba nito ang pagdadalawang-isip niya? But her whole body is craving for more.

"Yes?" she said shyly.

"Alright," he said withdrawing his hands.

"I'll take a shower first. So, you'll have time to think it over. There is no turning back, you know," he smiled. He sounded gentle and caring. Napatango na lamang siya.

"O baka gusto mong sumabay maligo?" biro nito nang tumayo. Napailing na lang siya.

"Basta kung ayaw mo. Feel free to tell me, okay?" he said pinching her nose. Napangiti naman siya at napatango.

When he entered the bathroom, she let out a deep breath.

Ilang beses siyang kumurap dahil naalala niya ang sinabi ni Desiry kanina. She tried to brush the thought off but it kept running on her mind. Iginala na lamang niya ang paningin sa loob ng suite para payapain ang sarili. However, it didn't help. Bumalik kasi sa ala-ala niya ang mga pictures ni Francine. She rummaged her bag and looked for the envelope.

The pictures were taken in the same hotel suite. The painting on the background is the same as the painting hanged on the wall. Umakyat ang kaba sa dibdib niya. Isinilid niya ang mga pictures sa envelope saka nagmadaling lumabas ng suite.