Chapter 3

Lumayo siya sa akin at ngumisi. "Let me know when you're free. You have my number." he said and left me.

Natulala ako matapos noon. I can't believe him.

Nagising ang diwa ko nang may pumasok sa meeting room. Agad kong tinignan kung sino yo'n and it was Mr. Cloud Agoncillo.

"Tara?"

Inayos ko agad 'yung mga gamit ko. After that, we left the meeting room. Habang nasa labas na kami papunta sa elevator ay natanaw ko si Lucian.

Sumabay siya sa paglakad namin pero hindi niya 'ko pinansin. That's good, I thought.

Nang makapasok kami sa elevator ay naunahan akong pindutin ni Lucian ang floor number ng opisina ng kapatid niya. Because of that, I stepped back at pumunta sa likod..

"I'll handle it, Cloud. Trust me."

Matapos niyang magsalita ay sumandal siya sa railing ng elevator. He was now beside me.. Hindi ko kayang tignan ang lalaking 'to. He's giving me too much tension.

Nabigla ako nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. Napatingin ako kay Mr. Cloud, thinking that maybe he'll caught us.

Umayos siya ng tayo at lumapit sa akin.. Hindi ko siya hinarap kahit pa hawak niya ang kamay ko. But then, he pulled me close to him and his hands started running up my back, my neck and then my face..

Tinabig ko ang kamay niya. I hated it but for some reason, I liked it. Yet, it was wrong.

Hinarap ko siya nang seryoso. "Stop it." I mouthed, then the elevator doors opened.

Sinabayan ko ng lakad si Mr. Cloud. I can feel Lucian's presence behind me kaya nang makarating ako sa desk ko ay umupo agad ako.

Naglakas loob akong tignan siya.. I saw a playful smirk on his face and that irritated me. Parehas silang pumasok sa office habang ako naman ay naiwan dito.

Inayos ko agad 'yung mga files na nasa tabi ko. Ngayon ko na 'to dadalhin sa loob para mapirmahan niya agad at para rin magawa na niya ang gusto niya since he's free already.

I knocked on the door and entered with the files.

"Sir, I'll drop the files here. Pa-sign nalang po ng mga 'to then you can have the whole day po. Babalikan ko nalang po 'yan mamaya." panimula ko. He nodded without looking at me, just focused on fhe folder he was reading.

Nilapag ko sa corner ng desk niya ang mga files at umalis agad doon. I went back to my desk and checked my laptop.

There were pending meeting requests pero hindi ko pa maaring galawin 'yon since Mr. Agoncillo will still see kung ico-confirm niya ang requests. Meaning, it's his choice if he wants a meeting about a certain thing.

I was startled by the telephone when it rang. Sinagot ko agad 'yon.

"This is Mr. Cloud Agoncillo's secretary, how can I help you?

"Hi, this is Sunniva Agoncillo. Can you please connect me to my brother?"

"Yes, ma'am. Sandali lang po."

I immediately connected her to Mr. Agoncillo.. And did I just talk with Sunniva? Gosh, so ganito pala ang pakiramdam na maging sekretarya ng isang Agoncillo.

Tapos no'n ay tinuloy ko na ang ginagawa ko. I organized some files and documents, but then lumabas ang magkapatid mula sa office.

"Ms. Maxine, please come with Lucian. You're going to my sister."

Hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko dahil sa sinabi ni Mr. Agoncillo..

"Let's go, we're in a hurry." aya ni Lucian.

Agad akong tumayo at sumunod sa kanya papunta sa elevator. Cellphone at purse lang ang dala ko dahil sa pagmamadali niya at hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong ko sa kanya nang makapasok kami sa elevator.

"Sa bahay namin then to Sunniva's school." sagot nito. "It will take an hour papunta sa bahay namin and I don't even know what to do." aniya pa.

"Huh? Teka, ano bang problema?" natatarantang tanong ko..

"May dalaw 'yung kapatid ko at naabutan siya sa school. She said hindi niya alam na ngayon siya.. You know. Ang sabi niya mayroon daw siyang dala na pangloob kaso sobra-sobra daw 'yung.. Basta!" he explained..

I scoffed.. "And you're going back to your house para lang kumuha ng gamit niya? Lucian, it's an hour on the way to your house. You'll waste a lot of time."

"So what do you want me to do?" he asked in frustration.

"Papahiramin ko nalang siya ng damit at sanitary pads. My condo is 10 minutes away from here." I offered.

"Then let's go there." he said.

Nang bumukas ang elevator doors ay tumambad sa akin ang underground parking lot at sinundan ko lamang siya. Maya-maya pa ay nilapitan niya ang isang mamahaling kotse at binuksan ang passenger seat.

Sumakay ako doon habang siya naman ay sumakay sa driver's seat.

"Saan ang condo mo?" tanong nito habang binubuksan ang makina ng kotse.

"New Quinn Condominium." sagot ko sa kanya.

Agad niyang pinaandar ang kotse niya. While we're on the car, silence was also present. Neither of us were talking and I think it's better for us to be like this. I hoped for a longer time of silence but he started a conversation.

"Why are you staying at a condo?" he asked breaking the silence.

"It's just me.. I'm all alone. So, why buy a house?" I said.

He stayed silent after that..

Hindi na niya ulit ako kinausap hanggang sa makarating kami sa labas ng condo.. He parked his car there at pinatay ang makina.

"No, stay here. Ako nalang para mabilis." giit ko.

"What? No, I'll go with you." aniya at naunang lumabas ng kotse.

Wala na akong nagawa kaya naman lumabas na rin agad ako ng kotse. Tumuloy ako sa paglalakad habang nasa likod ko siya.

Mabilis na bumukas ang elevator dahil wala namang tao doon. The both of us entered there then I pushed the 7th floor button.

"Paano mo nalaman na magkapatid kami ni Cloud? Did he told you?" he asked..

What kind of question is that?

"You have the same surname at medyo may hawig kayo. It was just a guess of mine not until you asked." I answered.

"They're my half siblings."

Napatingin ako sa kanya. That was an unexpected response.

"Si Sunniva at Cloud 'yung magkapareho ng nanay, ako naman 'yung anak sa labas ng tatay namin. But it's fine. They treat me like their own." he explained.

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot sa kanya. Baka 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi gaanong kilala si Lucian bilang Agoncillo.

"At least they treat you as their own." sabi ko at lumabas na ng elevator nang bumukas ang pintuan no'n.

Naglakad ako papunta sa condo ko at binuksan ang pintuan gamit ang 6 key password.. "Pasok." aya ko nang makalagpas ako sa pintuan.

Dumiretso ako sa kwarto ko and Lucian stayed outside. He was left alone in my living room.

Agad akong kumuha ng isang pang-itaas, jogging pants, plastic at ilang ibuprofen. She's in school and I know how strict it is kapag college ka na. Sinamahan ko 'yon ng isang buong sanitary pads at nilagay lahat 'yon sa bag na hindi ko naman na ginagamit.

I went out of my room after that.. I saw Lucian using his phone while sitting on my couch.

I remembered the night I met him. He was also busy doing his thing that time and he looks attractive when he's busy, I admit that.

"Enjoying the view, Maxine?" he said then looked up on me.

Bahagya akong natawa sa sinabi nito. "Feelingero."

Naglakad ako papunta sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig. Agad kong ininom 'yon pero nang makarating ako sa lababo para hugasan 'yon, I felt a presence.. His presence.

Hindi ko na dapat 'yon papansinin pero naramdaman kong lumapit siya sa akin. Ibinalik ko agad 'yung baso pagkatapos at humarap.. Only to find out that he's in front of me.

My eyes were locked on his. Inilagay niya ang kamay niya sa baywang ko at lalong lumapit.. I took a step back pero nahinto ako nang maramdaman kong wala na 'kong aatrasan.

"Feelingero ako?"

I didn't answer him..

And again, I could already feel his breath.. I  couldn't resist any longer. I want his lips on mine for the second time.

Pero inunahan niya 'ko. His lips was on mine before I could even move. He made me sit on the kitchen counter while the kiss goes deeper. I wrapped my arms on his neck while he caressed my face with his other hand..

The both of us pulled away.. We were both catching our breath as we looked at each other. "I'm sorry. I can't withstand you, Maxine. Kagabi pa."

"Tara na, your sister must be waiting.." I said, changing the topic.

Tinulungan niya 'kong bumaba sa countertop matapos no'n.. Kinuha ko ang mga kailangan kong dalhin at lumabas ng condo ko.

The both of us went inside the elevator and waited. Ni isa sa amin ay walang imik. That was the second time..

Mabilis kaming nakababa mula sa 7th floor at dumiretso patungo sa kotse niya. Just like before, he opened the passenger seat's door for me and hopped on the other side.

Pinaandar niya agad ang kotse tapos niya itong buksan. "Para sa'n 'yon?" tanong ko sa kanya..

"I told you, Maxine. I couldn't resist." sagot nito.

"So you liked what happened last night, huh?" asar ko sa kanya.

He didn't answer me.. And that's a yes for me.

Saktong-sakto may stop light. This is a good chance to tease him since he's been teasing me too earlier.

Nang huminto ang kotse ay lumapit ako sa kanya.. "Look at me."

Pero hindi siya sumunod.

"Lucian, I said look at me."

Pero hindi parin siya tumingin..

I made him look at me this time. "What?" he asked.

I moved closer to his face, enough for him to feel my lips a little bit.

"Fuck, Maxine. Nagmamaneho ako." he said and closing his eyes. "And you're driving me crazy." he added.

I kissed him passionately, enough for him to need another.

"How am I driving you crazy, Mr. Lucian Agoncillo?" I asked and went back to my seat.

I can feel his anger for teasing him. Sigurado akong alam niya na hindi ko ginawa 'yon para makipagseryoso sa kanya.

"Stop the teasing and what's with the change of mood?" wika nito.. "Parang kanina lang ay ang sungit ng pakikitungo mo sa akin." aniya pa.

I smirked. It's easy to know when a person is confused.

"Trip ko lang." sagot ko..

"Well, nagkakamali ka ng pinaglalaruan."

Itinabi niya ang kotse sa sumunod na eskinita nang lumagpas kami sa stop light. He pulled me and started kissing me roughly. I kissed him back, I knew that he wanted this.. And so did I.

He stopped the kiss and adjusted his seat. I knew what he wanted me to do. I sat on his lap and continued the kissing.

"We're in your car. May makakakita sa atin." pigil ko..

"No, it's tinted. You don't have to worry."

I chuckled because of what he said..

Again, he kissed me roughly.. Umabot 'yon sa leeg ko. Hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. He was confusing me. Hindi ko alam kung gusto niya ba talaga ako o baka naman ginagawa niya lang ito dahil sa ikinikilos ko.

"I can't believe I'm doing this with someone I met last night because of a stupid dare." sambit nito.

Dahan-dahan nitong tinanggal ang botones ng polo ko at bumalik sa mga labi ko.. "Everything about you is driving me crazy, Maxine. What have you done to me?" aniya..

I made him lean on his headrest while my other hand travel throughout his abdomen until it reached it's lower part.

I gave him once last kiss.. "Kailangan natin puntahan 'yung kapatid mo." I said and carefully went back to my seat.

Inayos niya 'yung upuan niya habang ako naman ay ibinalik ko sa pagkakabotones ang polo ko. "Kung wala lang sanang kailangan si Sunniva." he said with disappointment.

"Why? If it wasn't for Sunniva, I wouldn't be here in your car." tanggol ko sa kapatid niya.

He looked at me and gave a small smile. There's the angelic smile.

"Mas bagay sa'yo 'yang nakangiti." I said.

"Mas bagay rin sa'yo kung hindi mo 'ko susungitan." sagot nito pabalik.

That made me laugh. Marunong din naman pala siyang makisama. Pinaandar niya na ang kotse matapos noon at nanatiling nakangiti.

Ano ba 'tong nararamdaman ko? I almost surrendered myself to him just after I met him last night. Things are moving too fast.