"SO MEN are complete jerks, huh?"
Napapitlag si Alynna nang bigla siyang tabihan ni Troy sa food counter ng pantry. Dumampot ito ng tray at nakisilip sa mga pagkaing nakahilera sa tapat nila. May laman nang isang mangkok ng kanin at sabaw ang sarili niyang tray.
"Lunch mo na rin, Boss?" she asked in an unfriendly tone. Gusto niyang mainis dahil pakiramdam niya ay nananadya ang lalaki. Humingi siya ng isang order ng bagnet at laing sa serbidora.
"Naisip ko lang na mag-early lunch." Um-order si Troy ng pritong tilapia at pinakbet. "Your last customer gave you a very satisfied survey, by the way. She even left a positive feedback. She said she like your spirit."
Hindi siya nagkomento roon at binayaran na lang niya ang mga in-order.
"Still, I can't tolerate that behavior. It's not professional, Alynna," wika ni Troy mula sa kanyang likuran. He was using his intimidating tone again and she was starting to hate it.
Matigas ang ekspresyon na hinarap niya itong muli. "Don't worry, Boss. Iyon na ang huling beses na maririnig mo 'yon mula sa bibig ko." Bitbit ang tray, nagmartsa siya palayo rito at naghanap ng bakanteng mesa sa dulong bahagi ng pantry. Wala masyadong tao roon. But to her annoyance, sinundan siya ni Troy at umupo ito sa tapat niya. Parang wala lang na nagsimula itong kumain.
Bumuka ang bibig niya pero bumara lamang sa lalamunan niya ang kanyang protesta. It would be rude if she tried to drive her supervisor away. Masyado ring immature kung lilipat siya ng ibang mesa. Sinubukan niyang imagine-in na wala si Troy sa kanyang paligid, pero sino ba ang lolokohin niya? No one could ever ignore the presence of a very attractive man in front of her.
Naglaro na namang muli sa kanyang isipan ang gabing hinalikan siya nito. His hungry mouth against hers, his scorching touch, the lust in his dark eyes—
"Kakainin mo ba ang lunch mo o tititigan mo lang ako?"
Napakurap siya nang bigla itong mag-angat ng tingin sa kanya, nakataas ang isang sulok ng mga labi. Sumandal ito sa upuan at ikiniling ang ulo. Ramdam niya ang pangangapal ng kanyang mga pisngi at natutukso siyang takpan ang kanyang mukha. Bakit ba laging may ganitong epekto sa kanya ang lalaki? Sa huli ay pinili na lamang niyang yumuko at tahimik na kumain.
"I didn't lure you in, I didn't lead you on, and I didn't leave you halfway." Natigilan siya nang magsalita itong muli. Ramdam niya sa tuktok ng kanyang ulo ang pagtitig nito. Sumakal ang mga daliri niya sa hawak na kutsara at tinidor.
"And I'm definitely not making any excuses."
She pressed her lips and decided to look up at Troy. May sinseridad na nakabalatay sa mga mata nito.
"You said no to me, Troy."
"You misunderstood me, Ynna."
Bahagyang nangunot ang noo niya. Ano bang mahirap intindihin sa sinabi nitong hindi ito papayag na makasiping siya? Mapakla siyang tumawa. "Hindi naman ako tanga para hindi ma-gets na hindi ka interesado sa 'kin. Na katulad n'ong inilalako ng mga promodiser sa supermarket, pang-free taste lang ako."
Kumulimlim ang anyo ni Troy at kumuyom ang kamao sa mesa. She heard his sharp intake of breath. "You asked me if I'd sleep with you if you were sober."
Hindi siya umimik, nakatitig lamang siya rito.
Troy stood up and collected his empty dishes. "You were drunk when you asked me that question. That's why I said no."
***
HANGGANG ngayon ay laman pa rin ng isip ni Alynna ang sinabi sa kanya ni Troy noong magkasabay silang magtanghalian sa pantry. Kung nagkataon bang hindi siya nakainom ay hindi ito tatanggi? Mas umigting pa ang pagkabalisa niya nang sa mga araw na lumipas ay hindi niya nasilayan ang lalaki. He was on leave for two days dahil may inasikaso raw itong personal na bagay. And now that he was back to work, she decided not to waste time anymore.
Kanina pa lang sa loob ng production floor ay natutukso na siyang komprontahin ang lalaki. But he was acting indifferent, always avoiding her gaze. Heck, he was even behaving like she didn't exist! Pero hindi niya ito susukuan. Not when Troy was the one who started dropping hints.
Tinitigan niya ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin ng restroom. Everyone said she was beautiful. Kahit malikot ang kanyang buhok na madalas lamang niyang i-pin sa likod. Kahit palagi siyang walang make up at nabubuhay na sa simpleng pulbos ang kanyang mukha. Her lips looked plump and kissable even without a lipstick. May mga insecurities pa rin siya kaya naman ni minsan ay hindi niya kinonsedarang malaking biyaya ang pagiging maganda niya. But that changed when Troy started to notice her. She felt real pretty for the first time in her life.
Inilabas niya ang pouch mula sa bag at sinuklay nang maayos ang buhok. Sandali pa siyang nagtalo kung itatali ba iyon o ano. Sa huli ay ipinasya na lamang niyang ilugay iyon. Hindi na rin niya pinakialaman ang pasaway niyang bangs.
Winisikan niya ang sarili ng pabango na minsan lang niyang gamitin. May kamahalan iyon at inilalabas lamang niya kapag may pupuntahan siyang party o kaya'y makikipag-date.
She applied face powder to her face. She wanted to keep it as natural as possible. Naglagay rin siya ng lip balm sa mga labi bago iyon pinatungan ng pulang lipstick. The shade was lighter, just enough to accentuate the fullness of her lips. Hindi siya marunong mang-akit at hindi siya sanay na um-effort para mapansin lang ng lalaki. But if it was Troy Montejano on the line, then it would be a different story.
Inayos niya ang suot na dark blue off-shoulder dress. She made sure to wear a sexy lingerie underneath it. When she thought she was attractive enough, she went out and headed to the parking lot.
***
NASORPRESA si Troy nang madatnan si Alynna na naghihintay sa kanya sa parking lot. Nakasandal ito sa gilid ng hood ng kanyang kotse, nakayuko, at panay ang ayos sa bangs na mukhang ayaw na namang makisama sa mga daliri nito. Napangiti siya. Some women would never leave the house with a disheveled hair, some would be in a salon every two weeks or so. Pero si Alynna ay parang kinasanayan nang makipagbuno sa buhok nito araw-araw. He thought it was cute. Her beauty was natural anyway.
Unang kita pa lamang niya kay Alynna ay hindi na nito tinantanan ang isip niya. He was attracted to her. Mapupungay ang mga mata nitong pinarisan ng mahahabang pilik-mata, ang mga labi na kahit hindi lapatan ng liptstick ay natural na mapula at mapintog. Her delicate nose was perfect with her heart-shaped face. Her beauty reminded him of classic actresses and their erotic scenes. And yes, he had always wanted to fuck her. That night at the bar… he saw her there. Mula noon ay mas tumindi pa ang kagustuhan niyang maangkin ang babae. But he had some reservations.
"Ynna? Why are you here? Kanina pa ang out mo, 'di ba?" pormal na sabi niya nang makalapit dito. Something was different about her today, though. There was red shade on her lips… the dress she wore looked so classy and subtly seductive. Alynna had long and shapely legs. Kinailangan niyang pilitin ang sariling iwasan ito ng tingin kanina dahil kung hindi ay tiyak na mahihirapan siyang mag-concentrate sa trabaho.
Kumawala ang singhap sa bibig ng babae at napatuwid ang tayo pagkakita sa kanya. Inayos nito ang pagkakasukbit ng bag sa balikat. Sinarili niyang muli ang ngiti. Hindi niya pagsasawaang makita ang animo natatarantang anyo nito sa tuwing makakaharap siya. And even though she was trying hard to be cold this past week, he would still feel the edginess radiating from her body whenever he was near. That alone could turn him on. Gusto niyang ikulong sa kanyang mga bisig ang tensyonado nitong katawan, damhin ang lambot at init nito. He would touch every inch of her and he would make her shiver more.
"I was waiting for you," sagot nito at napako ang kanyang mga mata sa nakakaakit nitong mga labi. If Alynna just knew how torturous it was recalling their first kiss and wanting to do it again whenever he sees her…
Humakbang ito palapit sa kanya. Napamura siya sa isip nang malanghap ang nakaliliyo nitong pabango. Sweet and flowery. She reeked of innocence and seduction. Natutukso siyang hatakin ang babae at ilibing ang kanyang mukha sa gilid ng leeg nito. It had been so easy to control himself when Alynna was still dating other guys before. Mas madali noong hindi siya ang supervisor nito.
Alynna's chest heaved as she drew in a deep breath. Puno ng determinasyon ang mga mata nitong deretsong nakatingin sa kanya. "I want to sleep with you, Troy. At hindi na ako lasing ngayon."
That bold statement made his hard member pulsed. Alynna was not asking, she was giving him consent. Nanuyo ang lalamunan niya at nanigas ang kanyang kalamnan. Samu't saring imahe ang naglalaro sa kanyang isipan. He wanted to take her inside his car and rip her dress apart… taste her skin and fill her with his heated desire. Gusto niyang marinig ang ungol nito at ang pagsigaw sa pangalan niya.
But taking her could ring the bell for trouble. Things normally get complicated whenever he was with a woman. Troy stared darkly at her, his face as hard as steel. "Think twice before you say that, Ynna. You're too innocent for a man like me."
Her lips moved as if to draw a sneer. "I've been with the worst guys, you know that."
Kumuyom ang kamay niya sa hawak na susi ng sasakyan. He failed to stop his mind from summoning his grim memories: The dark corner of his past… the oath he shared with his brother… women slipping away from his clutch…
"I'm a danger," he warned in a low voice.
Alynna's lips parted and the words slipped from her mouth like an erotic whisper, "I'll take the risk."
That made him lose his mind.