Napakurap kurap si Julianna nang magising kinabukasan. Tumatama sa mukha niya ang liwanag mula sa floor to ceiling sliding glass door. Nakalimutan yata niya na isara ang mga kurtina nang nagdaang gabi. Napaungol siya.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

Napabalikwas siya agad nang bangon. Color drained off her face when she saw Jake at the foot of her bed, half naked. His hair tousled and his eyes are still kind of sleepy and a toothbrush in his hand. 

What--

Noon tila nagbalik sa alaala niya ang nangyari nang nagdaang gabi. She and Jake had sex! Napabangon siya at kinipkip ang puting kumot sa dibdib niya bago pa iyon dumausdos at mahantad ang kahubdan niya. She groaned. What have she done? Hindi naman siya lasing kagabi ngunit bakit hinayaan niyang mangyari iyon? Wala siyang maidadahilan na wala siya sa tamang pag-iisip dahil buo ang loob niya nang ipagkaloob niya kay Jake ang kanyang katawan.

Fuck!

Ngayon naalala na niya kung panong paulit ulit na inangkin ni Jake ang katawan niya matapos nitong mag-shower. She fell asleep as soon as he went inside her bathroom. Pagkatapos ay ginising siya ng mga halik nito makalipas ang dalawang oras. They had sex thrice in a row at matapos ang hindi na niya mabilang kung pang ilang orgasm niya ay tuluyan na siyang ginapi ng antok.

"Are you okay, Julianna?" he asked. The bed dipped as he sat on it, still staring at her. 

Napalunok siya. Ano bang dapat niyang sabihin sa ganitong sitwasyon? Should she ask what are we? Gayong alam naman niya na kabit siya nito. Pero pwede namang hindi maging ganon hindi ba? It could be just a one night stand. Isang pagkakamali na hindi na nila uulitin. 

Muli siyang napamura sa isip niya. Kung patuloy siyang tititigan ni Jake nang ganon ay malamang sa malamang na maulit ang pagkakamali ng iyon ngayon din mismo.

"I-I'm fine." humigpit ang hawak niya sa kumot. She was very aware of her nakedness. Habang tila wala lang kay Jake na nakahantad ang katawan nito. "W-What are you still doing here?"

"I was waiting for you to wake up." he answered. Bumangon na itong muli sa kama. "Ayoko namang iwan ka dito and make you think that I ran off."

He walked back to the bathroom leaving her still reeling from the fact that they really slept together last night. Shaking her head, she got up and grabbed the bathrobe she was wearing last night that was hastily discarded on the floor. Sinilip niya ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin at nanlaki ang mga mata nang makitang may dalawa ng hickey siya sa leeg at isa sa collarbone niya. 

"Oh my god!" noon naman siya nagkaron ng flashbacks sa mga nanagyari kagabi. Jake took her in all sorts of position as if he was so sex-starved. He was insatiable. May mga pagkakataon na siya ang nakapatong rito at may isang beses rin that Jake took her from behind. Pinamulahan siya ng pisngi. Kagat labi niyang mulling ininspeksyon ang mga marka sa leeg. Hindi niya malamang kung panong tatakpan ang mga iyon samantalang wala naman siyang dalang make-up. Ultimo sunblock nga ay wala siya kaya namumula na ang mga braso at likod niya sa pagkakabilad sa araw mula pa kahapon. 

Abala pa rin siya sa pag tingin sa sariling repleksyon nang marinig niya ang mahina ng katok sa pinto. Thinking that it was still Reed, she tightened the knot of her robe before starting towards the door. Nagitla pa siya nang biglang magsalita si Jake. Nakalimutan niyang nasa banyo lamang ito.

"Can you check who's on the door, please?" muntik niyang singhalan ito. Ano pa nga bang gagawin niya? "Baka iyan na ang inutusan ko."

Inutusan? Kunot noo niyang sinilip ang peep hole. There was a man standing outside.

Saglit na inayos niya ang sarili. She knew she looked like someone who just woke up after being fucked several times last night, which she really was. Ngunit hindi na niya gustong malaman pa iyon ng lalaki sa labas ng hotel room niya. Julianna wretched the door open and the man greeted her.

"Mr. Mitchell sent me, Miss Vera Cruz."

Kunot noong niluwagan niya ang pinto.

"Come in, Fred." dinig niyang sabi ni Jake na kalalabas lamang ng banyo. Laglag ang panga niya nang makitang hindi pa rin naaayos ito. He's still half naked with only that white towel wrapped around his waist. Hindi man lamang ito nahiyang pumarada sa harap ng bisita. Hindi malayong iniisip na nito na may milagrong naganap sa pagitan nila ni Jake. Not that it isn't true. Ngunit paano kung makarating iyon kay Sharmaine?

Paatras siyang naglakad patungo sa gilid ng kwarto at hinayang mag-usap ang dalawa.

"Did you get everything from the list?"

"Yes, Sir." Fred had a lot of paper bags and boxes with him na inilapag nito sa ibabaw ng pabilog na mesa sa paanan ng kanyang kama. 

"Good. You may go."

Yun lang?

Nakamasid lamang si Julianna nang mabilis na umalis ang lalaki. Nagsimula lamang siyang magsalita nang masiguro niyang nakalapat na ang pinto at wala nang makakarinig sa kanila. "Who's that?"

"Fred. He's one of my trusted employees."

"Trusted?"

"Don't worry, Julianna," he started checking out the paper bags which she found out was full of articles of clothing and shoes. "He won't tell anyone what he saw in here."

She was doubtful about that. Even if he was smart enough to shut his mouth, does that mean na makailang beses na itong nakasaksi nang ganong tagpo? Does that mean Jake has other mistresses before her?

"All of my staff signed NDAs," Jake said as if reading her mind. "Mostly because they handle informations that are sensitive by nature and not because I have been fucking other women."

Napipilan si Julianna sa sinabi nito. He looked at her with an impassive look in his face. Wala man lang ba itong sasabihin to reassure her? He told her in not so many words that she's his only mistress. But she wanted to hear from him na siya lang at wala nang susunod pa. Na espesyal siya kahit kabit siya.

Fuck! What was she thinking, anyway? Na sasabihin sa kanya ni Jake na iiwan nito ang asawa nito para sa kanya? Dahil lang sa nag-sex sila kagabi? She must have been truly out of her fucking mind. Of course, it was still a business deal! A plan to make Reed jealous so he could get what he want. Bonus na lamang dito na nakuha nito ang katawan niya. Which she all too willingly gave. What a fucking stupid whore!

"What's in those bags?" tanong niya kapagkuwan. She's not about to dwell on what happened last night. Kailangan niyang pairalin ang kanyang utak. Kung isang business deal ang tingin ni Jake sa nangyayari sa pagitan nila ay ganon ang rin gagawin niya. She was not about to make herself look like a pathetic fool by hoping that Jake will fall in love with her again. There's no coming back from what happened between them. Ang magagawa na lamang niya sa ngayon, is to make the most out of this situation. Sisiguraduhin niyang hindi siya uuwing luhaan.

"Your things."

"My things?"

Jake just nodded.

Julianna sat back on her bed and opened the paper bags. She found branded clothes, shoes and toiletries inside. She even saw a few pairs of swimsuits and sunscreens. She breathed a sigh of relief. Exactly what she needs.

Imbis na mahiya dahil alam niyang hindi basta basta ang presyo ng mga gamit na binili ni Jake para sa kanya ay nagpaalam at na lamang siya rito. Wala nang lugar ang hiya sa kanya ngayon. Hindi nga nahiya si Jake na pasukin siya sa kwarto niya kagabi at landiin.

Wala rin naman siyang narinig na salita mula rito kaya nagpaalam na lamang siyang maliligo. He nodded and said he was going to back to his room and work which she didn't give an answer to. Basta na lamang siyang pumasok sa banyo at nagbabad sa dutsa.

After taking a long, hot bath, Julianna changed into a floral Dior dress. Gustong malula ni Jules sa mga brand ng damit na ipinabili ni Jake para sa kanya ngunit naisip niyang Jake would not let his mistress look like a hobo. Hinarap niya ang sarili sa salamin. She saw a bit of semblance from the old Julianna Vera Cruz. The woman she once aspired to be. She applied a thin layer of make-up, which is also courtesy of Jake, and put on a few accessories. 

Kung ang katawan man niya ang kapalit ng karangyaan na ito ay hindi na rin masama. She has nothing else to offer, anyway.

Ipinatawag siya ni Jake sa patio upang mananghalian. Naabutan niya ito na may kausap muli sa telepono. He handed her the menu as soon as she took her seat. She took the initiative of ordering for both of them. Alam na rin naman niya kung anong gustong kainin ni Jake. She just let him speak to whoever's in the other line.

"Tell her not to worry, Kristen, I will be back as soon as I can." Jake's eyes flickered towards her. "Yes, I'm still with Ms. Vera Cruz. We are still working on the project. I know. Tell her I know that and I will call her later. Alright. Thank you, Kirsten."

Gusto mang mag-usisa ni Julianna ay hindi niya ginawa. If Jake is treating her like a pawn and their relationship as a business venture, then that's how he's going to get treated as well. She will try hard not to meddle with his personal business even if she was dying to know what that phone call was about. Alam niyang si Sharmaine ang pinaguusapan nito at ng sekretarya nito. Ang tanong ay kung anong nais malaman ng babae. Why was she asking about her?

"Have you ordered?" Jake asked as he put his phone down to the table.

"Yeah. I ordered for you. If you don't mind."

Jake narrowed his eyes at her. "I don't. But what's with this clipped attitude, Julianna?"

She vehemently shook her head. She even widened her eyes at him as if she could fool him with her drama. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Nabigla siya nang bahagya itong matawa at tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo. Pinigilan niya ang sarili na sundan ito ng tingin. He walked towards her and stopped just behind her seat.

Nahigit niya ang hininga niya nang maramadaman ang dalawa ng kamay ni Jake na pumatong sa magka bilang balikat niya. "Was it about this morning?" She bit her lower lip as he kneaded the muscles of her shoulder. "I know what you're thinking, Julianna."

"Do you now?" Inis na pakli niya rito. Hindi niya gustong ipa halata na apektado siya sa ginagawa nitong pagmasahe sa kanya. Ayaw niyang malaman nito na binubuhay na naman ng mga hawak nitong iyon ang dugo niya.

"You're too easy to read, Julianna." ibinaba nito ang ulo patungo sa pagitan ng kanyang tanga at balikat. "My Julianna."

She tried hard not to get affected by that. But goosebumps erupted from the back of her neck.

"Wala akong ibang kabit, Julianna. I never slept with any one after you left me in the altar. Just my wife." naramdaman niyang lumapat ang labi nito sa kanyang leeg na siyang nakapagpaungol sa kanya. Julianna has to remind herself that she's in a public place and jumping on Jake would be frowned upon. 

"There would be no one else, Julianna. I'm all yours as long as we're in this place. I'm all yours."

Bumalik si Jake sa pagkakaupo nito matapos sabihin iyon. It left Julianna stunned and speechless as the waiter started serving their food. Nang matauhan siya ay saka lamang niya napansin si Reed na nakaupo sa isang cabana. There was fire in his eyes as he glared at them.

Ngayon lamang siya nakaramdam ng pagkahiya. Kung noong una ay wala namang basehan ang mga akusasyon sa mata ni Reed kaya hindi siya apektado ay ngayon gusto na niyang magtago sa ilalim ng buhangin at tumira doon. She's Jake's mistress. Halos hindi siya humihingi habang si ni-serve ng waiter ang pagkain nila. She could still feel Reed's glare as if it's burning her skin. Nanginginig ang kamay niya habang hawak ang tinidor at sinimulang iikot doon ang strands ng pasta sa pinggan niya.

"Don't mind him."

She looked up at him.

"Don't mind, Reed. He's just jealous." Jake said, looking at her. For one moment she saw some glimpse of concern in his eyes which quickly disappeared as his eyes went back to his plate. "It only means our plan is working."

She gritted her teeth. Yes, indeed, the plan is working. At parted lamang ng plano nito ang pagsiping sa kanya kagabi. 

I can live with that ,she told herself as her chest begin to tighten.