Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Thirty-Three - The Less We Know, The Better We Feel

 "P-PIERRE—"

Stacey stopped herself. She was hesitant if she should stop him or not.

Hindi man lang nag-angat ng tingin ang lalaki sa kanya. He resumed unbuttoning his sheer purple top, dropped it on his seat, then pulled up his lighter purple undershirt.

"Itigil mo iyan!" Stacey exploded, standing up and throwing her arm bag at him.

Her arm bag hit his face.

"Fuck!" angil ni Pierre

Stacey lowered her eyes to the bag that dropped on the edge of the table. Saglit pa itong kumapit bago dahan-dahang nahulog sa sahig.

Wala ring silbing ibinato niya rito ang bag dahil naunahan na siya ng lalaki.

Pierre had already pulled up his undershirt, revealing his lean figure. It should be disappointing for Stacey's tastes in men that Pierre wasn't muscular underneath. He had a slim body with his lower ribs slightly hinting against the skin beneath his chest. Pero sa hindi malamang dahilan, hindi naman masakit sa mata ang isang topless na Pierre.

"What are you doing?" singhal niya rito.

Pierre just lowered his eyes and reached for the waistband of his bands on the left.

"Itigil mo—"

Too late. Pierre already tugged it down.

But to Stacey's relief, he did not completely pull down his pants. Ibinaba lang nito ang waistband nang kaunti para ipasilip sa kanya ang isang black inked tattoo sa balakang nito. Pierre's pelvic line there slightly contorted the image, but it was very easy to process what it looked like.

A matured rose was in the middle. Identical snakes with rose buds in their mouths from its both sides seemed to slither toward it while encircling the rose, racing to get to it first.

Napamaang siya.

"Do you really have to throw a fucking bag on my face? I just want to show this," irap sa kanya ng lalaki.

"Bakit kasi hindi mo muna sinabing ipakikita mo iyan? Ano ang maiisip ko kapag may lalaking basta-basta na lang naghubad sa harap ko?" Nang matapos ang mataman niyang pagsipat sa tattoo mula sa kanyang kinatatayuan, ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Pierre. "At bakit kailangan mo pang maghubad? Nasa balakang mo naman pala iyong tattoo!"

"Oh—" Napatingin ito sa malayo at saglit na natulala bago ipinukol ulit ang tingin sa kanya. "You're right."

Napapailing na bumalik siya sa upuan. Pierre bent down to pick up her bag. Saglit na umangat si Stacey mula sa upuan para tanggapin iyon nang abutin ng lalaki.

"Okay, you've shown me a tattoo that looks like the Rosa Cobra," sandal niya sa backrest ng upuan. "So, are you trying to say that... there's somehow a violation of copyright or patent here? Did Paige steal one of your designs? 'Yong naka-tattoo sa'yo, may ni-release kayo before na shirts or garments na may ganoong design? Is that why you're rejecting the design?"

"You have sharp wits. Impressive, Ms. Vauergard," anito habang isinusuot ulit ang damit. "But that's not what it is."

"Then, what?"

The door suddenly opened.

"Hi, Sir!" ngiti ni Cherry, tuloy-tuloy itong pumasok sa silid.

Bitbit ng isa nitong kamay ang isang may kalakihang brown paper bag. Ang isa naman ay karton na drinks carrier. Pang-apatang cups ito pero tatlo lang ang nakalagay doon dahil tatlo lang naman silang ipinag-order ni Pierre. Pierre did not finish buttoning his shirt. Nagmamadaling isinara nito ang laptop at ipinuwesto sa dulo ng desk.