ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter Twenty-Two

HININTO NI LILY ANG SASAKYAN. Nanatili ang blangko niyang tingin sa harap. Ilang minuto siyang naestatwa sa ganoong posisyon nang maalala si Jared.

Nakaupo ito sa tabi niya. Pagkatapos kasi mag-kape at sandwich ng kaunti sa coffee shop, nagpresenta siyang ihatid ito pauwi. Bilang pasasalamat na rin iyon sa pagpayag nitong makipagkita sa kanya at kausapin siya tungkol sa Variant.

At himalang walang pagdadalawang-isip na pumayag ang lalaki.

Nakatigil sa tapat ng gate ng isang townhouse kanyang kotse. Makitid tingnan ang bahay na may dalawang palapag lamang. Flat at sementado ang bubungan. Puti ang pinakakulay ng bahay na may accents ng kulay asul. Matingkad ang kulay na nasisinagan ng malamlam na liwanag ng araw. It was already around four in the afternoon. Walang sumisilip na puno mula sa mataas na sementadong bakod niyon.

“Thanks for the ride,” Jared broke the silence, glancing at her while straightening on his seat.

I could have given you an other ride too, Jared, she thought wistfully before turning to meet his eyes. “Thank you rin sa pakikipag-meet sa akin.”

“You said it’s about Variant,” abot nito sa pinto ng kotse, nakatingin pa rin sa kanya.

She felt sad deep inside. “Yeah.” Pero pinasigla niya ang tinig at nilakipan ng pagbibiro ang tono para pagtakpan iyon. “Hindi ka ba natatakot, Jared?”

Her beam was contrasted by Jared’s puzzled look. “Takot saan?”

Sumilip siya saglit sa labas, tinanaw ang bahay nito. “Nagpahatid ka sa akin, eh. Now I know where you live.” She caught his eyes. “Lagot ka. Guguluhin kita.”

Tumaas lang ang sulok ng labi nito. “You made a promise. Kaya bakit ko iisiping guguluhin mo ako?”

Natahimik siya. Napatitig dito. Totoo bang pinanghahawakan iyon ni Jared?

Na tiwala ito sa pangako niyang iyon? Hindi ba’t nag-sex pa sila para siguraduhin nitong titigilan na niya ito? Naniguro ito sa ganoong paraan dahil wala itong tiwala na may isang salita siya, ‘di ba?

So what with this bull now?

“You made a promise. I delivered the one last sex you want. And there’s a lot of other men in The Org, right?”

Umahon tuloy ang inis sa kanyang dibdib. He was obviously toying her for some reason.

“Stop. We both know you don’t trust me,” she rolled her eyes. “But if you really do,” her eyes narrowed at him, “there must be a catch to it.” At tinapos niya ang sasabihin sa isang nanghuhuling tono. “Right?”

Her eyes widened. Kinabigla niya ang pagpihit nito paharap sa kanya.

Pinatong ni Jared ang kamay sa ibabaw ng sandalan ng kanyang kinauupuan. Ang isa naman ay dumulas sa gilid ng dashboard at huminto malapit sa manibela. He drew his face so close to her she was barely breathing at their nearness.

His intent eyes captured hers, and since then, her rounding eyes could not stray away from his’.

“I get it,” she narrowed her eyes at him after a quick realization. “This is about Variant. I’m under investigation now.”

He chuckled lowly, amusement waltzing in his dark coruscant eyes.

“What if I say… I changed my mind overnight? Irrational, isn’t it?” His eyes burned. “I just see you and everything falls down. It took me years to build a wall around me after you left, then you just decided to swoop in and it crumbled to dust in an instant.” He took one last encouraged deep breath. “So unfair, isn’t it? I am doomed to be damned because this is unethical.”