“You’re grinning like a lunatic hyena,” wika ni Lucas na nagpabalik sa huwisyo ni Isaac. Nang bumaling siya rito ay nakahalukipkip ito at pailing-iling na halatang nawi-weirdo-han sa kanya?
“Am I?” Hindi mawala-wala ang ngising nakapaskil sa kanyang mga labi.
“What is it this time?” Para itong nasa interrogation room sa paraan ng pagtatanong sa kanya.
“What?” Natatawa siya rito. Sa kanilang tatlo nina Leandro, siya ang binansagang Mr. Suplado, Mr. Sungit, Mr. Snob, at kung anu-ano pa. Maramot daw siya sa ngiti. Noong una ay hindi siya ganoon ka-aware sa side niyang iyon. Sure, he was not that friendly compared to his cousins, but he never thought he was a snob. Maybe he was, but he hated attention. He hated having to interact with people he barely knew. Most of all, he hated small talk. “But things were always different when it came to women,” his judgmental self said so. Whatever. He did not want to think about it. He was there to savor life and everything it had to offer without having to step on anyone.
“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? I know that smile, Isaac. You are bound to break someone’s heart. The last time you did it was when you flirted with Belle.”
“That woman? Oh please.” He smirked trying to show disgust, but he could not suppress his smile.
“Don’t tell me…” Nabitin ito sa sasabihin at mukhang nabahala.
“What?” He pretended not to understand what he was trying to convey. He was busy reminiscing about the fervid kiss they shared at Leandro’s office and the hallway at Santuario. He did not know what to feel. He was just excited thinking that Belle could not resist his charm. If not for his foolish friends, something hot would have happened in the washroom. “She liked me. She wanted me. I knew it.” A part of him was delighted knowing that he was the one who awoke the sleeping tigress within her. He had known for more than a decade. She has become his classmate in some of his subjects in college. She was not his type, but she captured his attention when he saw her again at Leandro's office years ago. He reintroduced himself and invited her out. He must admit he enjoyed their date, but things changed when she started sounding like a right-wing woman. He knew she was trouble, and did not want to have one. He had so much on his plate, and the last thing he needed was a woman who did not want to give him some without a ring.
“As if you don’t know what I’m talking about,” nailing na sabi nito.
“You know what? You worry too much. You’re exaggerating and imagining things that don’t exist.” But at the back of his mind, he wanted to kiss those luscious lips again. Maybe she has become more open to things she used to think were taboo and debauched. Would she give him some? He would try, of course, and he would not stop until she gave it to him. That woman was different from those he dated, and until now, he was aching to get some. God knows how much he wanted to taste her and rub her all over. “What the heck? Did I just sound like a maniac?” He could just get his phone and dial one of his top bedmates’ numbers. He knew they would come to his office as soon as he wanted them to. They were more than willing to give themselves to him.
“Sige ‘tol, magpanggap ka lang kahit mukha kang asong hindi mapakaling lumabas ng kulungan para makipag-sex. Aminin mo na kasi, you fancy Belle.”
“Shut up,” asik niya.
“May nakakita na naman sa inyong naghahalikan sa labas mismo ng office ni Leandro. Binabalik-balikan mo pa rin ang ex-date mo para lang landiin. Such a waste of gas and effort.”
“Who’s that moron?” Hindi niya mapigilan ang pagbangon ng inis dahil naramdaman niyang nag-init ang mukha sa pagkapahiya. Binalikan niya ang babae sa office para patunayan dito na hindi niya kailangan pang puwersahin ito. Buong-buo ang ego niya dahil ito mismo ang nagsasabing gusto siya nito.
“Oh ano? Nagkulay-talong tuloy ngayon iyang buong mukha mo. Loko ka. Dati pang naghahalikan kayo, hindi ka pa rin nagsawa? Pakasalan mo na kasi para lagi mong kasama.” Doon na ito napahalakhak at napaupo pa sa couch habang sapo ang tiyan.
“That was nothing, you jerk!”
“Naku-curious tuloy ako. It has been three years, I guess.”
“Four years and eight months,” pagtatama niya.
“And you still haven’t forgotten her huh? So how was the kiss? Was she a good kisser?”
“Just get out.”
“Maybe she was. I really find her cute. It has been four years according to you. Maybe I can invite her out and try to get some,” nakangising sabi nito.
“Don’t you dare, ‘tol,” nanggigigil na sabi niya na parang asong handang manakmal sa kung sinumang magtatangkang agawin ang butong kinakagat nito. “I’ll kill you,” banta pa niya. Tinawanan lang siya nito at itinaas ang mga kamay para sabihing hindi na ito makikipagdebate pa. Nagseryoso na ito sinabi ang sadya. Magkakaroon ng pagdinig sa kaso ng convicted vice governor nila at kailangan niyang tumayo bilang testigo. Handa siyang tumestigo ngayong gusto niya pa ring bugbugin ang nabanggit dahil sa gulong pinagdaanan niya nang mga nakalipas na linggo. Ang tanging konsolasyon niya ay nabili na niya halos lahat ng mga larawan niyang nagkalat sa social media. Pero may mangilan-ngilan pa rin siyang nakikita na ginagawan niya pa rin ng paraan para maalis.
Nang magpaalam ito ay tumayo siya para ihatid ito palabas at sabihan ang sekretaryang huwag munang tumanggap ng bisita unless may appointment sa kanya. He locked the door and tried to go back to work. But his mind was drifting to his cousin’s office, watching his secretary too preoccupied with a lot of documents to read and arrange. He wanted to touch her face and kissed her until they both ran out of breath. He wanted to undress her and lick her all over. Geez. He had tons of things to do after being out of office for more than a week. But how could he attend to his work when he wanted to get out of his office and drive for six hours just to see her. He felt his big boy coming to life again. He closed his eyes and groaned aloud in utter frustration upon realizing he was starting to act like an obsessed man. He knew he was willing to give everything he had just to make his fantasies come into reality. But right now, he has no choice, but to just imagine her, so he stood up and went to the washroom. He removed all his clothes and touched himself while standing in front of the mirror.
When he was done, he went back to his table feeling ashamed and funny at the same time. He wanted to laugh at himself for acting like a sore loser. What would his constituents say if they found out that their congressman was jerking the gherkin like an adolescent who was too curious about some naughty things but was too afraid to get caught? But he wanted her, and this time nothing could stop him, not even his cousin, Lucas. Oh he was so ready to punch his face should he come near and flirt with his girl. “Your girl, huh?” Yes, Belle was only his. As conceited as it may sound, he would not need to lift a finger just to have her begging him to take her anytime, anywhere. But, he was so unwilling to take things to another level just like before. He hoped she had already changed for the ‘better’ or else he had to abort his mission. He looked at the wall clock. It was only two in the afternoon, so he had to endure another seven hours thinking about her. Argh he could not take it anymore. To hell with those documents. It was Friday anyway. He stood up and turned off the computer.