C5 5

Nasa Starbucks sila ni Kim after closing the deal of the contract.

"Okay ka na ba? O naiinis ka pa din sa bayaw ko na irresistable?"tanong niya habang pinagmamasdan ang dalaga.

"Masyado siyang mayabang at bilib sa sarili.I don't like him" Shelly said honestly.

"Hmmm,don't be angry Shelly but what I saw back their said otherwise.Parang napahiya pa nga ako na naistorbo ko kayo." may himig ng birong sabi ni Kim.

Parang nakaramdam na naman ng hiya si Shelly.She herself didn't expect her body's reaction to Jake.Well, hormones lang yun.Yes,that's it! Sino ba naman ang hindi madadala sa lalaking yun? Expert na expert sa pagpapa-ibig ng babae.She should really watch her emotions and body's reaction.She's just human for Pete's sake!

"Nabigla lang ako.Masyado mabilis ang Jake na yun.But it won't happen again." Paninigurado ni Shelly.

"Look, don't get me wrong.I didn't mean na mali ang mahulog sa bayaw ko.Actually, I like you for him.Hindi ka kagaya ng mga babae na dine-date niya na masyadong mga shallow.I think you will be good together.Perfect match!" Kim said grinning at her.

"I hate to disillusion you Miss Kim,your brother-in-law and I are like oil and water.We'll never mix."

"I beg to disagree,may chemistry kayo.And I can't wait to see Jake's moves.It will definitely be something different.It's time for him to do the chasing and not the other way around."Kim dreamily said.

Masayang kausap si Kim lalo na nung tumigil na siya ng pagbanggit ng pangalan ng mayabang na Jake na yun.Shelly enjoyed her company.Naghiwalay sila after an hour or so.

It has been a long day.After the meeting with the Herrera's.Shelly had to do one more photo shoot.It took them three hours to finish all the needed shots.She feels lethargic.Paguwi niya sa unit niya,binagsak niya ang katawan sa sofa.She is so worn-out.She decided to give herself 10 more minutes before stepping in the shower.Mas masarap matulog pag bagong ligo.She smiled to herself.At least bukas wala siyang photo shoot or any other engagement.Makakadalaw siya sa ampunan and makikita niya ang mga bata.Lalo na si Mika.Napangiti siya nung malala niya ang maamong mukha pero malungkutin na 6 na taong bata.A noise coming from her bag,disturbed her thoughts.It's her cellphone.Padabog na kinuha niya ang telepono and saw an unregistered number flashing on the screen.

Pag-slide niya ng accept call button, hindi pa man siya nakakapag- hello,isang aroganteng boses ang narinig niya.

"Where the fuck are you? And why the hell aren't you answering my messages and calls?"sigaw ng nasa kabilang linya.

Wow kung makapag-mura wagas!Napabuga ng hangin si Shelly.

"Mr.Herrera,will you please stop cursing?What's your problem anyway?"irritableng tanong niya sa guwapo nga pero feelingero at saksakan ng yabang na boss niya.

"Must I remind you about our dinner? It's 7:30 and I am starving.San ka ba nanggaling?Next time I will install a tracking device on your phone! !" madiin sa sabi nito.

Napatayo si Shelly sa narinig.

"Excuse me? And who do you think you are to do such a thing?Hindi kita asawa or boyfriend man lang! And even if you are,I won't let you do that!And one more thing,mamatay ka sa gutom cause I am too tired to go out and much more talk to you!" pagalit na sabi niya bago niya ini-end ang tawag.

Nakita niya sa screen na 10 missed calls and 15 messages.Wala na siyang pakialam if kanino galing ang mga yun.She turned off her phone and headed for her room.Bwisit na lalakeng yun!Makaligo na nga lang siya.

She felt refreshed after taking a shower.Nagpakasawa siya sa spray ng tubig na para bang natanggal isa isa ang nararamdaman niyang pagod at inis.She decided to grab a bite bago matulog.Sabi ng mama niya dati,masama ang matulog ng gutom.Maybe she'll have instant noodles or fruits.Yun ang isa sa gusto niya about living alone.She can do what she wants and she can afford to not cook or clean.Hindi naman sa makalat ang unit niya.In fact malinis nga eh.Lalo't konti lang naman ang gamit niya and to think pang-isang tao lang naman ang pad niya so napakadaling linisin.Lumaki siya na marunong gumawa ng mga gawaing bahay.Dagdag pa dun na palagi siya ang inuutusan ng madrasta niya nung nakatira sila sa iisang bubong.Ipinilig niya ang ulo niya to remove the bad memories of her teenage years with her stepmom and her stepsister.

She was about to open her personal fridge when the doorbell rang.She looked at the kitchen clock. 8:30 PM.Sino naman ang kakatok ng ganitong oras?Naisip niya si Pat.Malamang ang kaibigan niya nga yun.Hindi pa naman niya binasa mga messages sa phone niya baka nag text kanina.Makikibalita sa nangyari sa Herrera's Agency.Wala pa naman siya sa mood maki-chika ngayon.But baka hindi naman din magtagal si Pat.Medyo malayo ang tirahan nito.

She opened the door only to gasped at who she saw at her door.

Nakapamulsa ang isang kamay nito while his other hand is holding a paper bag.May bahid ng inip sa gwapo nitong mukha.He is still wearing the same clothes he had this morning.Mukhang pagod din ito gaya niya pero when he slowly looked at what she was wearing,he suddenly grinned.His eyes turned darker.She is wearing a white top with black slinky pair of shorts.Yung tipong pang-exercise kaya hapit na hapit sa magandang hubog ng katawan niya.Her legs are white,smooth and very shapely.He looked back at her face,her hair is still a little damp but she had tied it up in a messy pony tail which made her look more ravishing.Her face is bare of make-up.

Shit! She is really gorgeous! Jake thought.

Parang namatanda si Shelly pagkakita kay Jake.She suddenly came back to earth nung nagsalita ito.

"Babe,aren't you going to let me in? I wouldn't want any of your neighbors see you wearing something like that." He said dryly.

Super kapal talaga ng lalakeng ito!She was about to close the door on his face when he forced himself inside.He pushed the door firmly with his broad right shoulder.Napaatras si Shelly.

"What the hell are you doing?" sita niya.Tsss,natututo na siyang magmura dahil sa lalaking ito.

He found his way to the kitchen while Shelly was following him ,still very much annoyed.Binaba ni Jake ang dala sa lamesa and his brows raised when he saw the instant noodles that she was about to open when the bell rang.

"Tsk,not good for your health babe.You should know that." Komento nito.

"I don't care!Ano ang ginagawa mo dito? Di ba sabi ko sayo I don't want to have dinner with you?" inis na tanong niya.Kulang na lang ipadyak niya ang paa sa gigil.Bad trip na bad trip siya.

"You didn't want to go out so I came here to bring dinner.Gutom na ako babe so let's eat okay?Baka pag hindi pa ako kumain ano pa ang maisipan kung kainin."pilyong sabi nito as he skimmed her body.

Awtomatikong natakpan ni Shelly ang dibdib niya,as she remembered what she's wearing.Hindi naman kasi siya nageexpect ng bisita so she put on her sleep wear because she was planning to go to bed after a light meal.

"Bastos!Walanghiya ka talaga!" habang sinasabi niya yun,she took plates and utensils from her dish rack and placed them on the table.Jake had started opening the paper bag bringing out some food in disposable containers while chuckling.

He bought different kinds of pasta.May calzone din which is one of her favorites.They ate in silence.Mukhang pareho silang gutom na talaga.He kept on staring at her as he eats.Kulang na lang mabulunan si Shelly.She's used to men looking at her but Jake's stare is different.It makes her uneasy.Para siyang hinuhubaran.

After dinner they decided to have coffee sa maliit niyang sala.Magkatabi sila sa couch but Shelly sat almost on the the other end para hindi sila malapit sa isa't-isa.

"You have a nice place here.It's cozy.I like it." He said as he sips his coffee.

"Maliit lang siya cause I just want a small space para less maintenance." Shelly told him.She's surprised na pwede naman pala sila magkasama ng walang angilan.Basta wag lang isingit ni Jake ang gusto niya from her.Well she knows it's not gonna last cause hindi tipo ni Jake ang maghintay.What he wants, he gets sabi nga niya.

"I have talked to the owner of the sporty apparel that you'll endorse.I told them you can't wear too skimpy outfits and you can't have pictorials with men."he casually said.

"Why am I not surprised that you'd do something like that Mr.Herrera?Come to think of it..mukhang hindi naman bagay sayo ang mambakod?" she asked him with sarcasm.

In an instant nasa tabi na niya si Jake and his face is just probably an inch from hers.She can feel his warm breath on her face.It was causing her to feel a bit nervous.

"If you ever call me Mr.Herrera again, I will kiss you passionately until you beg me to stop." may pagbabantang sabi nito.

"Call me babe,that'll be better." He added while gazing at her lips then back to her eyes.

Pinilit ni Shelly na itulak ito have some distance between them.She is really uncomfortable.She doesn't want to admit that being close to him wakes up some feelings inside her.Nag-iinit ang pakiramdam niya.She hasn't felt this way kahit sa ex niya.

"Look Jake,I am really tired, so please umalis ka na.You haven't been invited here but you still forced yourself in.I don't have the energy to fight you. So.. please?I had a long day." Pakiusap niya.she just feels na kapag hindi pa umalis ang hudyo na to baka bumigay na siya.He didn't say anything for a while,as if absorbing what she said.

"Okay," he sighed."I'll go now.I don't want to make love to my woman while she's ready to drop.When we do it, I want you to be responsive and hot.You do look dead-tired babe.So I'll leave.Next time we'll do exercises together para naman lumakas ang resistensiya mo.You'll need it."pilyong sabi nito

Shelly wanted to retort but she held back.

Jake stood up and reached for her right hand para tumayo din siya.They are now facing each other.She wanted to close her eyes because she didn't want him to see any emotions from them.Sa totoo lang apektado talaga siya.

" Give me a kiss babe before I go."sabay hapit sa bewang niya .His lips move slowly as if memorizing the texture and taste of hers.Nagpigil si Shelly na buksan ang bibig niya ng maayos cause she knows he'll deepen the kiss.Much to her surprise, after a few moments, he freed her lips.

"I need to stop now or I'll never control myself," he said habang nakadikit ang noo sa noo ni Shelly.His breathing is a little shallow.

He straightend and sighed before he walked into the direction of the door while still holding her hand.

"Dream of me babe.I'll call you tomorrow.And don't do anything I won't like okay?" aroganteng sabi nito bago lumabas.