ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

LILY WAS BUSY WITH HER PHONE. Iniisa-isa niya ang bagong mga post sa Instagram na karamiha'y mula sa mga models, fashion brands at celebrities. Samantala, nakaupo si Jared sa tapat ng kanyang desk, nakasandal sa pader ng kanyang cubicle ang likuran ng monobloc nito.

He sat straight, comfortably crossed his one leg neatly on top of the other. Nakapatong sa nakataas nitong binti, sa bandang tuhod, ang binabasa nitong libro. Nakailang nakaw siya ng tingin dito kaya nadiskubreng isa sa mga aklat ni Agatha Christie ang binabasa nito.

Binaba ni Lily ang cellphone. "Are you just gonna sit there and read?"

Dahan-dahang sinalo ng binata ang kanyang mga mata.

"Yes. To keep me occupied while waiting for you."

Then, he returned his eyes on the page of the book he was reading.

He's waiting for me? Ewan kung ano ba ang nakakakilig doon.

Pinagre-relate niya na yata ang trabaho sa personal. Huwag gan'on. Hindi dapat gan'on.

Hindi nakakakilig iyon.

She began to wonder if Jared enjoyed being occupied while waiting for their paths to cross again. It had been how long? Five years? Five long damn years before they met again. Ganoon katagal.

Oh, did he even wait for her?

"Bakit mo ako hinihintay?" tuwid niya ng upo at sinantabi sa desk ang kanyang cellphone. "Hindi mo ba gagawin ang trabaho mo?"

Sinara nito ang libro, mataman siyang pinagmasdan. "Plano ko sana. Pero mukhang busy ka kaya hindi kita inaabala."

Pinaningkitan niya ito ng mga mata. "Point taken. Hindi kaaya-ayang puro pagse-cellphone ang ginagawa ko rito sa office. But what can I do? Wala pang nagpapa-print or photocopy sa akin?"

Dinampot ni Jared ang leather cross body bag nito na iniwang nakapatong sa sahig, nakasandal sa paanan ng monobloc. Sinilid nito roon ang libro.

He spoke. "If you're already bored, available ako-"

Pumitik ang pananabik at gulat sa kanyang dibdib. She had a sudden idea. Napabulalas siya.

"My goodness, Jared," napasandal siya sa kinauupuan. Lily felt like a little mouse cornered by Jared. Just put an opportunity to tease him on her path and she would not be able to run away. "Sigurado ka?" A malicious smile made her grin, finally recovering from her shock. Pinaypayan niya ng kamay ang sarili. "First day na first day mo pa lang..." pilyang napa-look up siya, nangingiti.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ng lalaki. "Available ako sumama sa'yo na ikutin itong Variant."

Napasinghap siya. "Iikutin natin ang Variant?" Then she teased him with her wicked smile, plus dangerous seductive gaze. Lily lowered her voice. "Oh, my, my, my... Kakayanin ba natin? Baka may makahuli sa atin. I have the tendency to be loud... I'll be fine at the staircase, Jared-"

"Lily, get serious," he gritted. "Puro 'yan na lang ba ang laman ng utak mo?"

"I am serious. Kailan ba kita hindi sineryoso, Jared?"

She observed him growing stiff in his seat. And she could bet on anything that just a stroke on his crotch and he would instantly bulge. Mahina siyang tumawa bago mapaglarong kinagat ang hintuturo.

"I'm just kidding, Jared. Tine-test lang kita." Then, she left her seat.

Napatingala sa kanya si Jared nang lapitan niya ito. She gave his left shoulder a massage before bending a bit to level her face with his'. She smirked as their eyes soldered upon meeting.