ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter One

JARED CLASPED HIS HANDS.

"And we're done," ngiti niya sa lalaking nakaupo sa sofa couch sa tapat ng kanyang desk.

Ibinalik ng kliyente niyang si Walter ang ginawad niyang ngiti kanina. Kasunod niyon ang pagbasag ng mahina nitong tawa sa tahimik na silid bago mas tumuwid ng pagkakaupo.

"Ang bilis ng oras," ani Walter.

"I'm glad that's what you think. Most of my clients are itching to leave that seat," usog ni Jared ng okupadong swivel chair para iwanan iyon.

"I guess, I just got too comfortable."

"No," butones ni Jared sa bandang ibaba ng grey na blazer. Nakapatong iyon sa suot niyang puting polo. "You've recovered. If you can't be comfortable to talk about some bad experience, it means you haven't moved on from it yet. This assessment is not applicable to everyone because I based this on your behavior and personality."

Tumayo na rin si Walter. Siyang tutok ni Jared ng mga mata rito.

"Do you know what makes a person uncomfortable when they talk about something?"

"What?"

"The negative feelings they have attached to it," taas ng sulok ng labi ni Jared. "At the back of their mind, they know how they'll feel if they talk about an experience. And revealing that feeling or just a hint of it is what makes them uncomfortable. Especially when they know that they shouldn't feel that way anymore."

Walter considered before nodding. "I see what you mean."

Matamlay ngunit sinsero ang naging pagtawa ni Jared. He just found it funny that he's now oversharing. People paid him for what he knows as a psychologist and here he is, giving free knowledge to somebody else. Or was it because... he got too comfortable with Walter as well? After all, this man is Clint's--his younger brother--best friend. A man who was sitting pretty, earning millions from the passive income he gets from investing in stocks. At sa loob ng ilang taong session ni Walter sa kanya ay mas nakilala ni Jared ang lalaki. Nakita niya kung ano nga ba ang nakita ni Clint kay Walter para buong pusong ituring ito na kaibigan. At iyon ay ang loyalty ng lalaki sa mga taong pinapahalagahan nito. If Walter says he's your friend, he is, and he will be through the years, just as long as you wanted him to be your friend.

Nilapitan ni Jared si Walter.

"Coffee?" anyaya niya rito.

Kapwa patungo na sila sa pinto palabas ng kanyang opisina.

"Ah, no," may kakaiba sa ngiti ng lalaki. Walter brightened up a bit, his movements were lighter as they walked. Bahagya pa itong napayuko na parang nahihiya. "Beta is waiting at home."

Napangitisi Jared. Nababasa niya kasi sa kilos ni Walter ang sinisikil nitong excitement. Jared had no idea what plans his client had set with his wife, but he could sense that it was something too intimate to share. No wonder, Walter did not bother to elaborate why he could not join him for a coffee. 'Tapos, bahagya pa itong napayuko kanina... medyo nahihiya.

The reason behind his declination must be something kinky.

Jared came up with that conclusion knowing that Walter also owns The Org--an exclusive, low profiled sex club. Hindi na lingid sa kanya na sa club na iyon din mismo unang nakilala ng lalaki ang napangasawang si Beta. Sekswal ang unang naging rason na nauwi sa pagka-develop ng feelings ng dalawa para sa isa't isa. Tatlong taon na rin ang nakakalipas mula nang mangyari ang pagtatagpo nilang iyon. Kahit kasal na ang mga ito, patuloy pa rin ang operations ng club. Nakakamanghang isiping hindi nagkakaroon ng malisya kay Beta kapag napaparoon ang asawa nito nang hindi ito kasama. Why would she even have any trace of doubt? Walter had already proven that he's a one-woman-man. And looking at Walter right now is enough evidence that they still got that thing going on.