ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter Three

EXCITEMENT KNOCKED REPEATEDLY IN LILY'S CHEST. Hila-hila siya ng naka-cock costume paakyat ng hagdan. She felt like a Cinderella, all eyes following her once the prince decided to choose her for a dance.

In her case, the dance was bound to happen in the bedroom.

Narating na nila ang pasilyo. Siguradong hahanapan na siya ng estranghero ng gagamitin nilang silid.

"Wait, wait, wait!" she tugged him back.

Muntikan na itong matumba dahil sa biglaang paghinto. Buti at nabalanse rin nito agad ang sarili at ang bigat ng costume. The stranger turned to her.

"We need to call a staff and book one of the rooms here. Para sigurado tayong bagong linis at walang biglang pumasok sa room na nagpareserve n'un."

Hindi ito sumagot. Parang nakatitig lang ito sa kanya.

Nakakapagtaka.

"You don't understand Tagalog?" Lily cocked her head to the side.

The man's hand slowly lifted to reach her face and gently caress it. Lily was taken aback, and she didn't know what to do about how his touch made her feel. A warm tenderness swept over her- a feeling she never had for any stranger.

Nakahuma agad si Lily. This wasn't right when you're in The Org. They should be rushing and heeding the call of their bodies. Not touching each other's faces. Not gazing into each other's eyes.

Umatras si Lily kaya hindi na siya naabot ng kamay ng lalaki.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go!" she turned away. Naramdaman niyang hindi ito sumunod. She impatiently turned to him. "Come on. While I am still in the mood, mister."

Tinuloy niya ang mga hakbang. Nasa tuktok na siya ng grand stairs nang lingunin ang kasama. Kinabahan siya dahil wala ito sa tabi niya. Lily anxiously looked around just to find out that the stranger never left where he stood. His body slightly tilted sideways, just like how he does it before she left him there.

Hindi man lang natinag ang lalaki sa kinatatayuan nito. Lily could not see his eyes clearly due to the costume, but she knew his eyes followed her earlier.

She knew that he was still watching her.

Parang hindi na maganda ang kutob ni Lily rito. She was highly aware of unruly guests at The Org. Kadalasan, mga guests ang nakakabahala sa lugar dahil hindi nag-undergo sa mahigpit na membership application kung saan nabubusisi talaga ng mabuti ang aplikante.

And yet, Lily maintained a hard and confident stance. Even her body hid signs of her suspicions.

"You're not coming?" Nilakasan niya ang boses dahil abot sa kinatatayuan niya ang ingay ng sound system mula sa baba ng hagdan. "You changed your mind, honey?"

Kapag hindi pa ito nagsalita, tatakbo na talaga siya pababa ng hagdan. This is a Halloween party, yes, but that doesn't mean she's here for the scare. At kahit hindi Halloween, nunca siya makikipag-hook up sa isang creepy pervert. And this cock-costumed man would be that creepy pervert, if he didn't respond this time.

Nag-aabang siya sa sagot nito nang biglang humarap sa kanyang direksyon. Dahan-dahan itong naglakad para hindi mapatid ng suot nito.

When he was finally in front of her, he took her wrist again.

"I changed my mind. Let's head to the restaurant."

It was hard to make out his voice because of the party music downstairs that reached their location. Pero naintindihan naman ni Lily ang sinabi nito.

Bakit sa restaurant?

Pinasya niyang sakyan na lang ang request nito. Curiosity kills the cat and she must be that cat for weating a black pussycat costume. Naiintriga lang siyang malaman kung ano ang gagawin nila sa restaurant proper ng The Org. And she would definitely laugh if she finds out this man came to a sex club to just talk. Because damn, he came to the wrong place.