After I finished the revised contract of our fuck-buddy thingy, dinala ko kaagad 'yon sa kan'ya noong gabi. Maybe I'm really delusional to think that something will immediately happen between us again but, no. He just carefully read the terms and conditions and signed it—and called it a fucking day!

"My driver will drive you to your place. Kailangan kong tapusin yung presentation. I'll leave at 4 o'clock in the morning, okay? See you in a week. Be prepared."

After he said that, he just winked and planted a kiss on my lips, then went back to work.

Damn, this workaholic fuck buddy I pulled is making me slightly frustrated—slightly lang.

***

Kinabukasan, kalat nga ang usapan sa company na umalis nga ang boss namin to pull some investors para sa panibagong project. Walang sinabi sa akin si Hunter kung gaano siya katagal doon pero bali-balita na aabutin siya ng two weeks to one month.

Wow . . . he's going to make me wait that long? After making me agreed to what he wants, ganito siya katagal mawawala? Paano naman ako?!

"I'm pretty sure, in those weeks that he's pulling some investors, he's also pulling some girls under his sheets. After all, women in Los Angeles are really—you know?" Queenie said and shrugged like we already knew what she's talking about.

"Sabihin mo na lang na liberated. Nahiya ka pa," singit ko habang nagtitipa sa keyboard.

Tumawa siya. "Baka kasi ma-offend ka as one of them."

Tiningnan ko siya nang masama. "'Tang ina mo."

Naghagalpakan ng tawa ang mga officemate namin nang dahil do'n. Nakitawa na lang din ako kahit na ang totoo ay medyo naapektuhan ako sa sinabi ni Queenie.

Medyo lang naman.

Kasi, it's part of our agreement—not to fuck anyone else! Malaman ko lang na nakipag-sex siya sa mga foreigner na 'yon, hindi pa man kami nagsisimula dito sa pinagkasunduan namin, tatapusin ko na kaagad!

Nang makauwi ako sa condo, wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang mamili sa online shop ng mga damit. I have nothing else to do. Leo's not allowed to come inside my unit anymore since it's part of the agreement—at hindi niya alam 'yon.

Baka magalit kapag hindi ko na siya pinapunta dito. Hindi ko pa nga rin sinasabi sa kan'ya na binago ko na ang passcode ng unit ko kaya kahit na pumayag akong pumasok siya, hindi na niya magagawa 'yon. His keys are also not going to work anymore dahil nagpalit na ako ng door knob—ayon din sa kautusan ng aking fuck buddy na si Hunter.

I rolled my eyes and sighed as I paid for whatever I ordered online. Ilang sandali lang din, lumabas ang pangalan ni Hunter sa screen ng phone ko. Napaupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga at inayos ang itsura bago sinagot ang video call niya.

"Hey," he said.

I raised my eyebrows. "What do you need?"

He laughed. "Sungit. It's been three days since we last saw each other. 'Yan ang itatanong mo sa akin?"

I rolled my eyes at the screen. "Sabihin mo na lang anong kailangan mo at napatawag ka. Busy ako, Hunter."

His lip rose immediately as soon as I called him by his name. Ilang sandali pa, lumapit siya lalo sa screen saka bumulong sa mic.

"I can't wait to hear that on my bed."

Napalunok ako kasabay ng pag-init ng mukha nang dahil do'n. "I'm just abiding by the rules."

He chuckled. "Anyway, I called to say that I might be gone longer than I planned to. Investors here are so hard to please. Maybe, we should just settle for this long distance setup for now. I'm going to make it up to you when I come back."

I smiled a little but immediately took it back when I realized that there's nothing to smile about.

"Gusto mo nga, d'yan ka na tumira."

He chuckled. "You don't miss me?"

I scoffed. "And why would I miss you?"

He smirked. "I miss your lips. I miss fucking you. I miss y—"

"I don't. Bye."

Mabilis kong pinatay ang tawag saka pinagpatuloy ang pag-o-online shopping.

Maybe I should really prepare myself so when he comes back here, he can really make it up to me properly.

***

Weekend came, of course wala akong pasok. I used all my time by pampering myself. It's been long since I did it for myself dahil mostly ng pera ko, napupunta sa mga magulang ko. Mabuti ngayon, hindi nila ako masyadong kinukulit.

Baka nanalo sa sugal ang tatay ko kaya may pera pa sila? Tss.

Matapos kong magpa-massage, nag-shopping naman ako ng ilang pirasong damit at mga gamit sa sarili tulad ng makeup, skin care products, at kung ano-ano pa. I used to do this with Daisy and Tanya kaso mukhang busy ang dalawa dahil hindi ko ma-contact.

Feeling ko, may lalaki na rin itong si Daisy, e. Hindi lang nagsasabi.

Maggagabi na nang mapagdesisyunan kong umuwi na. Pagkasakay ko ng sasakyan, saka ko lang nai-check ang cellphone ko. Doon ko pa lang nakita ang late responses ng dalawa. As expected, Tanya's with her boyfriend. Si Daisy naman ay sinabi lang na may pinuntahan pero available na ulit siya bukas, which is Sunday. Aside from their responses, I also have missed calls and messages from Leo. Napanguso ako bago binasa ang ilang texts niya.

Leo:

What happened to your door? My key's not working anymore. Also, did you change your password?

Hindi na ako nag-abala pang reply-an siya. Mamaya na lang siguro pagkauwi ko. Mag-iisip muna ako ng dahilan na makakalusot sa kan'ya. There's no way in hell that I'll tell him about my situation now with Hunter.

Pagkarating ko sa building, sumakay na ako ng elevator dala ang lahat ng pinamili ko. Ilang segundo lang din at nakarating na ako sa floor ko. Pagkalabas ko doon, tumambad sa akin si Leo na nakaupo sa gilid ng pinto ng unit ko, mukhang naghihintay sa akin. Kumabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba dahil alam ko na ngayon pa lang, kailangan ko nang makabuo ng magandang alibi para sa setup namin ngayon.

Naglakad ako papalapit sa kan'ya, kasabay ng paglingon niya sa akin. Ngumiti ako sa kan'ya.

"Bakit nandito ka?" I asked.

Nagbuntonghininga siya bago tumayo saka hinarap ako nang mabuti.

"Because I couldn't get inside."

Napalunok ako bago nag-iwas ng tingin. I sighed before I started talking. "I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you. Nagpalit na ako ng password and door knob. Your key's not going to work anymore."

Napakunot-noo siya lalo. "And why?"

I pursed my lips and answered. "I just realized that . . . it's not really good for me. Leo, you're taking up so much space from my life that it feels like I have no privacy anymore. You can enter my unit any time you want and I don't think I want that anymore."

Umawang ang bibig niya at kita ko sa dibdib niya ang malalim na bawat paghinga. "Did . . . did I do something wrong?"

Marahan akong umiling. "No, you didn't. I just realized that . . . I want all these personal space for myself alone. We're both adults who are tired of this life. We're both independent adults with opposite gender, too. People might think—"

"You never—even once—thought of what other people might think of us! What is happening to you now, Areeya?" His frustration is very evident in his voice and eyes.

I sighed. "Leo, walang nangyayari sa akin. Hindi ba p'wede 'yon? Hindi ko ba p'wedeng bawiin yung privacy ko na nawala simula nang hinayaan kitang pumasok sa buhay ko?"

Hindi siya kaagad nakapagsalita. Habang ako, medyo pinagsisihan ang sinabi. Part of me lies but I know that some of the things I'm telling him now are the truths that I realized as I drove home earlier.

Maybe that was the reason why Hunter was so against this.

"Did . . . someone tell you to keep me away from you?"

Napaawang ang bibig ko. "W-What?"

"Are you in a relationship now with your boss?" he asked, voice was rising already.

Mabilis akong umilis. "Of course not! At kung oo, bakit ko naman susundin siya kung ayaw ko? Didn't I tell you before that I am the pilot of my life? No one can control me—even you!"

He scoffed. "So, you are."

I sighed in frustration, letting the paper bags down on the floor. "I am not in a relationship with anyone, Leo. I am not in a relationship with my boss. Hindi mo ba naiintindihan lahat ng sinabi ko kanina? I just wanted a change. You're still my best friend but I'm just keeping my personal space all to myself for now. Hindi mo ba ako mapagbibigyan? Ito lang ang hinihiling ko ngayon sa 'yo."

Lumunok siya ng ilang beses bago nag-iwas ng tingin. Ilang sandali pa, tumawa siya nang mahina.

"Right, I'm your best friend." He looked at me once again. "You should've asked me something else. Masyadong mahirap naman 'tong hinihiling mo."

I shook my head. "We're adults. We can't be like that forever. We're growing old. Soon, you'll have your own family and clearly, you cannot continue doing what you're doing to me. You need your own space, too. And I'm giving it to you even if you don't ask."

After I told him that, I took all my paper bags and opened my unit using my new key. I didn't bother asking him to come inside since it's part of the contract I signed up and talking to him would take more energy left in me.

Pagkaupo ko sa couch, napabuntonghininga ako.

Mas napagod pa akong makipag-usap kay Leo kaysa sa ginawa ko sa maghapon.

But . . . thinking of everything I told him earlier, I never lied. Lahat ng sinabi ko, totoo. I'm really not in a relationship with my boss. The alibis I told him were everything I realized upon having the time to think about all of it.

Maybe Hunter's right.

Maybe Tanya's right.

***

Kinabukasan ng gabi, pumunta ang dalawa sa unit ko para bumawi sa hindi nila pagsama sa akin kahapon. May mga dala silang pagkain at alak na para bang hindi Monday bukas.

"Alam n'yo namang may pasok tayo bukas, ngayon pa talaga kayo nag-aya!" bulyaw ko habang ibinababa ang ice bucket sa center table.

Tumawa lang silang dalawa bago nagsalita si Tanya. "Alam ko namang miss mo na kami dahil isa kang nilalang na walang ka-sex everyday kaya nandito kami para damayan ka."

Umirap ako bago naupo sa sahig tulad nila. Kung alam lang nila na kapag dumating na si Hunter, hindi na nila ako p'wedeng asarin na gan'yan!

"Kung asarin mo ako, ah! Si Daisy din naman!"

Tumawa si Tanya lalo. "Tang ina, hindi nga natin alam kung nasaan 'yan kahapon at hindi ko rin ma-contact! Ano, Daisy? May bumabayo na ba sa 'yo?"

Humagalpak kaming dalawa ng tawa habang si Daisy naman ay namula ang mukha nang sobra.

"Ang dumi dumi ng bibig mo, tingnan mo nga, nahihiya na ang baby natin!" bulyaw ko kunwari. Tumawa lalo si Tanya. "Pero seryoso, Daisy? Nasaan ka kahapon? Parang lately, ang hirap mo na contact-in."

Ngumisi siya bago sinalinan ang sariling shot glass ng whiskey na dala ni Tanya saka sumagot.

"Nasa horse field."

Napakunot-noo naman kaming dalawa ni Tanya sa isinagot niya. She really has something in her that makes her so mysterious and rebellious at the same time. Kung titingnan, siya na talaga ang pinakamahinhin sa aming tatlo, pero baka hindi ako magulat na mas malala pa siya kay Tanya kasi, to be honest, she's not really a virgin. She's just not having this fuck buddy like Tanya and I. She only have sex with men na nagiging boyfriend niya.

"Sino kasama mo? May boyfriend ka?" tanong ni Tanya bago nagsimulang uminom na rin.

Kumuha ako ng nachos na ginawa ko kanina noong dumating sila saka lumingon kay Daisy para marinig ang sagot niya.

"Wala akong boyfriend. At yung kasama ko, he's just, workmate?"

Napanguso ako. Parang hindi naman siya sigurado d'yan sa sagot niya. Tumawa si Tanya.

"Sure na 'yan? Sure ka sa sagot mo?"

Nagtawanan kaming dalawa nang mapabuntonghininga si Daisy at napainom na lang ng gamot.

"Okay, I'll tell you now. He's just a man I met before. Hindi ko siya boyfriend, okay? We're just going out."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Tanya. "Ohhh, juicy! Kailan pa?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Daisy. "A month ago? Basta not long after Areeya met Hunter the second time to have sex."

Napatango-tango ako. "So, bakit sa horse field? Ang weird ng date n'yo!"

Tumawa si Tanya. "Baka siya yung kabayo—"

"Gago, tama ka na nga bakla, kumain ka na!" pagputol ko sa ka'nya.

Naghagalpakan kami ng tawa bago kami nagtuloy-tuloy na sa pag-iinom. Marami kaming naging kwento sa isa't isa na para bang ang tagal naming hindi nagkita-kita, when in fact, we met every weekend to do this.

In the middle of it, nag-vibrate ang phone ko. Nakikipag-FaceTime si Hunter. I locked my phone again and pretended that it's just nothing.

It's just not the right time to tell them what Hunter and I have now. Isa pa, wala pa namang nangyayari sa aming dalawa ni Hunter since we signed up the stupid contract.

My phone kept on vibrating and I continued declining the calls.

"Girl, just answer the phone. The dick's waiting!" bulyaw ni Tanya.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako bago tumayo. "This will be fast."

Umungol si Tanya. "Ooohhh, faster!"

Binato ko siya ng nachos bago nagkulong sa k'warto saka sinagot ang tawag.

"Hey," I answered nervously.

He sighed as his stares pierced right through the screen. Lalo akong kinabahan. He's in his room, I think, and it's dark. Ang tanging nagbibigay lang ng liwanag sa kan'ya ay ang screen ng phone niya kaya kitang-kita ko ang kagwapuhan niya.

"Why are you declining my calls?"

Napalunok ako. "Well, I-I'm with my friends. We're hanging out."

Nag-angat siya ng kaliwang kilay. "And who were they?"

I smiled as I sat on the edge of my bed. "Tanya and Daisy."

"No Leo?"

I shook my head. "But he's outside yesterday. We talked."

"What did you talk about?"

I smiled a little. "That he's no longer allowed to come inside my unit."

He didn't talk. He signed and slightly shifted from his position. Ilang sandali pa, base sa galaw ng screen, alam ko na ang ginagawa niya. I felt my face burned from the feeling it gave me as I imagined him stroking his dick in front of me.

"Be thankful that you're far from me. The frustration you gave me makes me want to punish you in bed," he said in between his little moans.

I gulped as I completely went on top of my bed and covered half of my body with a comforter. Oh, I wish you were here for me to be punished in bed.

"What are you wearing?" he asked.

I showed him the tank top I am wearing. "There."

He smirked. "Take that off."

I gulped as I stood up and put my phone on the desk for him to watch me take off my tank tops. He looked down on what he's doing. A second later, I finally saw from the screen the thing he's doing. It got my temperature high and started hoping I could taste it again.

Damn . . .

"Now do your thing and let me watch you."

Tumango ako bago tinanggal ang lahat ng suot ko. Pinakita ko sa kan'ya ang kabuuan ng katawan kong walang suot. Tulad ng sinabi niya, ginawa ko ang ipinag-uutos niya matapos maupo sa harap ng phone ko.

"Damn, I can't last a week by doing only this," he said as he continued stroking himself harder.

I started fingering myself too, just like what he wanted me to do, while my other hand was playing with my mounds. He started moaning, and I too, kept on moaning and groaning to what I am doing.

"Hunter . . ." I called for his name.

"Yes . . . say my name . . ."

I moaned. "I . . . I missed you, doing things for me."

I saw him smirked with my hazy vision now that I'm in the middle of satisfying myself.

"Then pretend, for now, that I'm the one doing that for you . . . just like I pretend you're doing this for me."

I nodded in response. I spread my legs wide for him to see what I'm doing perfectly. I saw his mouth went open wide as his strokes started to be faster, just like I am. A few minutes later, I had my release and my body lost almost all of the energy left in me.

"I can't do this anymore," he said as he cleaned himself up. I started cleaning myself too.

"What?" I asked.

"I can't be away from you anymore."

___

Sorry kasi super late ng update. I've been very caught up with my adult life and very busy sa work. Also, wala akong laptop sa apartment. Can't take this PC with me din kasi so every time nakakauwi ako, doon lang ako nakakahawak ng computer. T_T

Anyway, ito lang nakayanan ko for now na chapter. I hope you'll keep on waiting din. I'm planning on updating this story regularly (I mean, kapag may time xD) na since we're already in the half of it. ;)

Thank you for patiently waiting for everyone who continues to read this! I won't disappoint you. <3

-mari