Seven

Fabian ran a hand on his face countless times already. He can’t stay calm. His nerves were throbbing in anticipation and his heart can’t seem to beat the way it does before. Masyadong mabilis ang takbo ng puso niya na sumasakit na ang dibdib niya. 

Tumayo si Fabian mula sa pagkakaupo sa sofa at hindi mapakali na naglakad sa sala ng condominium unit niya, the unit that only he knows. He already gave that gay named July the instructions. Dapat ay nandito na si Sugar ngayon, she’s already ten minutes late and it’s killing him. 

His fingers were fidgeting and he can’t seem to calm down, thousands of scenarios ran through his mind. What if she declined his offer? Baka masyadong maliit ang offer niya? Shit! Hinilamos niya ang palad sa mukha.  

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na naging interesado siya sa isang babae, at aaminin niyang naninibago siya. Especially that the woman was the kind that he hated the most. But with her, he can’t get himself to hate her despite her reputation and profession.  

“F*ck!” inis niyang mura nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya na nakapatong sa center table.  

Hinablot niya iyon at nadabog na sinagot ang tawag. “What?!” bulyaw niya nang sagutin ang tawag. Hindi na niya tiningnan kung sino ang tumawag. Nakakunot ang nuo niya at kung may makakita sa kaniya ay tiyak na matatakot sa ekspresyon na mayroon ang mukha niya.  

Umupo siya sa sofa at sumandal sa likod niyon bago ipinikit ang mga mata.  

“Binubulyawan mo na ako ngayon?” sagot ng kabilang linya. Irritation and disbelief were laced on her soft voice. Hindi ito makapaniwala na nawaga siyang bulyawan ng tinatawagan. 

Mahinang napamura si Fabian nang matanto na ang ina niya pala ang tumatawag. Umayos siya ng upo at bumuga ng hangin para pakalmahin ang sarili.  

Tumikhim siya bago nagsalita, “I’m sorry, ma. Hindi ko po nakita na ikaw pala ang tumawag, it’s just a very hectic day,” hinging paumanhin niya sa ina. Naglabas si Fabian ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga.  

“Hijo, is everything allright?” tanong ng mama niya. Maybe she sensed how stressed he is right now. Ang iritasyon sa boses nito kanina ay napalitan na ng pagkabahala ngayon.  

His mother is a very caring and sweet woman, she is one of his most treasured persons. If he could find a woman who has the same character as his mother, he would probably marry her right away.  

“This is nothing, ma. Napatawag po kayo?” pag-iiba ni Fabian ng usapan. He loved his mother but sometimes he can’t stand how she still worries about him like he’s a vunerable child.  

“Oh, yes. I forgot to inform you that I'll be going to Puerto Rico next week, your father wanted me to take a vacation, you know, he likes to spend time with me these days. Pinagbigyan ko na dahil gusto ko rin naman mag-bakasyon. Kung may oras ka, bisitahin mo naman ako dito, you’re so busy these days at nakakalimutan mo na akong puntahan dito sa bahay, hijo.” lumungkot ang boses nito nang banggitin ang huling salita, may lakip pang pagtatampo ang tono nito. Kinukonsensya siya.  

Parang nakunsensya si Fabian nang marinig ang sinabi ng ina. Totoo iyon, naging busy siya sa negosyo at dinagdagan pa ng Sugar na iyon ang mga gumugulo sa isip niya. He can’t focus these past few days; he’s always slipping away from reality and found himself imagining that woman. On his bed. 

Napailing si Fabian at inabot ang alak na nasa center table. Kanina pa siya umiinom para pakalmahin ang sarili dahil sa tindi ng excitement niya pero parang epekto lang din ang alak. He downed the beer directly from the bottle. He eyed the empty bottles.  

“Sino po kasama niyo, ma? Will dad be accompanying you?” tanong ni Fabian. Ever since his father’s wife died of cancer two years ago, he’s been frequently contacting his mother. Palagi rin itong bumusita dito sa Pilipinas at dinadala ang mama niya para magbakasyon sa ibang bansa. Hindi naman siya tutol doon dahil nakikita niya naman na masaya ang ina sa mga nangyayari sa buhay nito ngayon. He knows his father was just making up for his shortcomings to his mother.  

“Your father, of course. But I'll bring Violet just in case.” masaya nitong imporma sa kaniya. Violet is his mother’s lady guard hired by his father. He knew what his father is and sometimes, it worries him.  

Tumango si Fabian kahit na hindi nito nakikita ng ina. Hinitnit ni Fabian ang tabako at bumuga ng usok. Ilang beses niya pa iyong ginawa bago napapikit para namnamin ang usok na pumasok sa sistema niya.  

Mas napapanatag siya kapag may ibang kasama ang mga magulang niya. They're already in their sixties, and although his father is still looked fit in his age, he can’t just let them go alone, he knew how dangerous it would be.  

“Just be careful, ma. Kung maari ay magsama pa kayo ng ilang tauhan. You know dad’s work; you can’t just let your guards down. Don’t worry, I'll drop by maybe next day, I'll bring Elvira with me.” 

Fabian heard someone rang the doorbell outside. Bumalik ang mabilis na tibok ng puso niya at nagmamadaling napaalam na sa ina. Hindi pa man ito natapos sa dapat sasabihin ay binaba niya na ang tawag. He threw his phone on the plush couch and released a heavy breath.  

He headed to the door. Huminga muna siya ng malalim bago binuksan ang pinto.  

Shit! Why is he nervous? He's acting like a pussy for chrissake! Hindi naman siya ganito sa ibang mga babae, he never felt this kind of feeling to any woman before. Ngayon lang niya ito naramdaman, and funny that it’s to this stripper, the kind of woman that he should be avoiding. But here he is, inviting the woman to have a private performance for him. Hypocrite asshole! 

The moment their eyes met; Fabian’s breath hitched. He can see that she recognized him the moment their eyes met. Umawang ang bibig nito ana parang may gustong sasabihin pero hindi magawa. Naunang bumawi si Fabian. Tumikhim siya at niluwagan ang bukas ng pinto. 

Fabian’s eyes can’t help but wander to her body. She was sporting a skimpy dress, short enough to reveal her behind with just a little bend. Lahos lumuwa na rin ang dibdib nito sa sikip ng damit. His eyes settled on the cleavage on display.  

Bumalik ang tingin ni Fabian sa mukha ng babae, she wore thick make-up and he’s sure she also wore a wig, a blonde one which made her skin glow more.  

Hindi makapaniwala si Gigi sa nakikita niya. Her client who paid millions just to be with her was Alfie’s friend, the one who just got engaged the other week.  

“Are you just gonna stand there whole night gawking at me?” he asked her in his controlled voice. 

Umawang ang bibig niya nang makitang matiim itong nakatitig sa kaniya. Umahon ang kakaibang kaba sa puso niya, hindi niya alam kung ano iyon pero malakas ang tibok ng puso niya. Ibig sabihin ba no’n ay nagustuhan siya ng lalaking ito noong nakita siya nito sa engagement party nito? Interesado ba iyo sa kaniya? 

Gaga! Masyadong mataas ang ambisyon mo, girl! Titikman ka lang niyan at babalik din ‘yan doon sa mapapangasawa nito kapag tapos na sa’yo! Huwag ka masyadong ilisyunada, bakla! 

Sumunod si Gigi papasok ng unit nito. The place was dim with only the wall lamp illuminating the whole area. Walang masyadong gamit kun’di iyong mga importanteng gamit lamang. Pero kahit na gano’n ay manghang-mangha si Gigi sa laki at ganda ng lugar, isa iyon sa mga pangarap niya, ang makabili ng ganitong klaseng bahay.  

Napakagat-labi si Gigi nang mapunta ang paningin niya sa likod ng lalaki. He has broad shoulders and massive physique. Napakatangkad din nito at halatang alaga sa gym dahil sa hulma ng katawan nito. She always dreamed of having a man like him. Hindi iyong magiging kliyente niya, kun’di ‘yong lalaki na kaya siyang tanggapin kung ano siya.  

Huminto ito si Fabian at umupo sa sofa. The woman stood in front of him.  

“You’re Sugar, right?” tanong nito sa baritonong boses. Pati ang boses ay masarap! 

  

Tumango lamang si Gigi. Nakakapanghina talaga ang taglay na kaguwapuhan ng lalaking ito. Simula noong nakita niya ito sa engagement party ay palagi na niya itong naiisip.  

“Yes, but you can call me whatever you want, Mr. Romano.” 

Tumitig ito ng matagal sa kaniya, kinuha muna nito ang tabako na nasa ashtray, hinithit iyon at nagbuga ng usok bago ito nagsalita. 

 

“What’s your real name. I want to call you with your real name when I come, and not the name most of those men call you.” Hindi nakaligtas sa mga mata ni Gigi ang pagtagis ng mga bagang nito, kung ano man ang dahilan nito ay hindi alam ng dalaga.  

Gusto nitong malaman at tawagin siya sa totoo niyang pangalan? Hindi niya binibigay sa mga kliyente ang pangalan niya. It's the only things that she wants to remain a secret. Pero nang hilingin ng lalaki ay parang gusto ng ibigay ni Gigi ang hiling nito. At bago pa man niya mapigilan ang sarili ay sinabi na niya rito ang totoo niiyang pangalan. 

“Georgina. Iyan ang totoo kong pangalan. Gigi for short.” She told him like she was being charmed. 

A smirk broke into his lips as if he just won a lottery. He leaned forward and settled his elbows on his knees. Pinagsalikop nito ang dalawang kamay at matiim na tumingin sa dalaga.  

“Well Gigi, I want you to dance and make me come without touching me. Can you do that? Make me come without physical touch.” Nanghahamon ang mga tingin nito.  

Malalim ang boses nito. There was some sensual swerve with the way he said those words. Hindi alam ni Gigi pero biglang nag-init ang katawan niya sa sinabi nito.  

Gigi nodded and bit her lower lip. “Yes, I can do that,” she answered in a breathy way. 

Alam na niya iyon dahil isa iyon sa mga nakasulat sa instructions na nasa sobre. In the first night, she would dance naked in front of him and make him come without touching him. This man is playing. Siguro gusto nitong maranasan ang ganitong mga bagay bago magpakasal.  

The music began playing. Fabian watched the woman swayed her hips from left to right while her eyes were close as if she feeling the soft music. Mapang-akit ang bawat galaw ang katawan nito, hindi nagmamadali kun’di parang nakikipagtalik ito sa musika.  

Hindi paman ito n*******d pero ramdam na ni Fabian ang pag-iinit ng katawan. His body began to feel the heat of carnal desire as the woman ever so slowly discarded her clothes one by one without cutting their eye contact.

She was looking straight into his eyes as she took her clothes leaving only a pair of skimpy lingerie.  

Fabian cupped his growing shaft and squeezed it.  

Damn! He's hard already. This woman is really something. Patuloy na tinanaw ni Fabian ang babae. She was almost naked now; he can see how rounded and flawless he butts are. He saw himself ramming those beautiful booties from behind. Mas lalong nagwala ang pagkalalaki ni Fabian sa loob ng pantalong niya, nangangalit na gustong lumabas. 

His hand was itching to grab and squeeze those botties. Damn!