C2 Two

"There's a freaking reason kung bakit tagong tago ang wine na 'yon, Aya." Parang gusto pa rin magwala ni Bree nang mga oras na iyon.

I told her what happened. Binisita ko sya sa Dolce Maria that night and told her what happened. Open naman ako kay Bree. And when she asked me na i kwento ang lahat mula noong nasa bahay nya pa kami, iyon ang agad nyang sinabi.

"What do you mean?" Kinakabahan na ako.

Huminga ng malalim si Bree. "That was an aphrodisiac wine. Bigay 'yon sa akin ng pinsan ko as a joke. She just arrived from Spain a week ago and she gave me that to use it on men I want to have sex with." She rolled her eyeballs.

My jaw dropped.

"And hearing you now mean it's very effective."

"Damn it. Seryoso?"

She nods. "I don't plan on using it. Alam mo naman how my family thinks men don't want to be with me because I'm a snob. So my cousin thought luring them to have sex with me will do the trick. Huh." She shrugged.

I know how Bree's family wants her to settle down. They think that at her age, dapat ay may asawa na sya. But Bree's like me in some ways. We wanted things for our self first before we would want things with others. Ni wala ngang lalaki sa buhay namin!

Kaya madalas kami nagkikita. Ever since Ahren and Daena, our friend who aslo used to work in Dolce Maria, had their baby, bihira ko na makasama si Daena, so Bree became one of my constant companion. Minsan may ilang dancer from Dolce Maria kaming nakakasama pero madalas na kami lang.

"I can't believe this." Nasapo ko ang mukha ko.

"Was it good?"

I looked at her with disbelief. "Seriously?"

"What? You did have sex, right?"

"We did. At sinabi mo na rin na aphrodisiac ang wine na 'yon. That explains why we can't help but to do it over and over again." I groaned. Naalala ko ang mga sinabi ko habang nasa kalagitnaan kami ng pagsesex ni Zieg.

I am almost begging him to fuck me every time. Damn it! He wasn't the first man who ate me down there, but he was the only one who made me come with just eating me. It was quite an experience.

And his cock, don't even get me started.

It was the most beautiful cock I have ever seen. He smelled nice too. Idagdag pa na masyado syang creative pagdating sa mga posisyon na gagawin namin. Being with him is exhausting but very worth it.

She chuckled. "So I want to know. Was it good? How was he in bed? Alam mo naman na isa si Zieg sa mga pinagpapantasyahan ng mga dancer sa Dolce Maria. I'd like to know if karapat dapat ba sya." A playful smile graced her lips.

I sighed. "He was good." Then I swallowed. "He was so good. Buong araw ko syang iniisip. God, para na akong baliw."

"Sabi mo nag usap na kayo kanina?"

"Oo. He thought he might have gotten me pregnant. Sinabi ko na nagpipills ako."

"Tapos?"

"Tapos ano? Wala! Umalis na sya."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Bree. "Pinaalis mo lang sya? Wala man lang kayong arrangement or something?"

"Arrangement na ano?"

"You said he was good. Pareho naman kayong single. Well, at least I know Zieg's very single. Wala na ba kayong balak na maulit 'yon?" Bree sounded very curious.

"You're crazy. That was it."

"You just let a possibility of having good fucks out the door." Naiiling na sabi nya.

"What do you want me to do? Hilahin sya para makipag sex sa akin?" Sarcastic na sabi ko.

"Arrangement, Ayanna. For sure naman, ginusto nya rin ang nangyari. Edi ask him if he also wants to be each other's booty call."

I bit my lower lip. "Fuck buddy? I don't do fuck buddy. I can be without sex for quite a long time." I loved the idea, actually. But I hate the fact na ako ang mauunang makipag usap kay Zieg about it.

"Suit yourself. I was just saying."

And that was the last of it. Iniba ko na ang topic ng pag uusap naming dalawa ni Bree. Buong araw ko nang inisip si Zieg and I want him out of my system now.

Pero hindi effective.

I woke up with from a wet dream with Zieg's on it.

Pumasok ako kinabukasan sa Lush nang kulang sa tulog. Hindi na ako nakatulog matapos kong magising nang pasado alas kwatro nang madaling araw.

Around five in the afternoon ay nakita ko na papasok sa pinto sila Daena at Ahren habang nasa stroller ang baby nila na si Skye.

Agad ko silang sinalubong. Nakipag beso ako sa mag asawa.

"I have a meeting nearby. Daena wants to see you kaya sinama ko na sila. Babalikan ko na lang sila." Ahren said.

"Sure! Tagalan mo."

Natawa ang mag asawa. Nang makaalis na si Ahren ay sinama ko ang mag ina sa office ko. Si Shane na muna ang pinag bantay ko sa cashier.

Skye fell asleep fast. Marahil ay dahil malamig sa office ko.

"So ano'ng oras ka na pala naka uwi from Bree's house warming party?"

I froze a little when Daena mentioned that night.

But I got over it in a second. "The next morning."

Nangunot ang noo ni Daena. "Doon ka natulog?"

Umiling iling ako. "No."

"Okay, so saan ka natulog? Nalasing ka ba?"

Umiling iling ako. "I have to tell you something."

"Okay. What is it? Did something happen?"

Bumuntong hininga ako. "I had sex with Zieg."

Kita ko ang dahan dahan na pagnganga ni Daena.

"I had sex with Zieg." Ulit ko.

"Zieg? As in Ziegfried Alonzo III? Dolce Maria's lawyer or may iba pang Zieg?" She looked confused.

"Ziegfried Alonzo III." Sagot ko.

"What? How did that happened? You hate the guy!" She exclaimed as if I did the most terrible thing ever.

"I do! It's just that.. Nung sinundo ka na ni Ahren, I went to Bree's kitchen to look for a drink. You know Bree, may collection sya ng mga mamahaling alak. I wanted to taste one of them so I opened some cabinets. I saw this one bottle of wine. Tagong tago sya sa likod ng mga cereals, so naisip ko na mahal sya kasi tagong tago. Tapos nung binubuksan ko na 'yong alak, Zieg approached me."

"Okay, so what happened?" Daena looked engrossed.

"Nag aapologize sya. Sabi ko matagal naman nang nangyari 'yon. So I offered him the wine. And that's the last thing that we remember. Biglang nagsesex na lang kami."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Daena. "Oh my. Nilasing ka nya? He took advantage of you?"

"No! Everything was consensual. Not that we can avoid it. Nang ikwento ko kay Bree kagabi ang nangyari, turned out, the wine was a gift from her cousin. Aphrodisiac wine sya. Our libido was heightened ten times."

"Wow." Ang tanging nasabi ni Daena. Napahawak sya sa dibdib nya na parang hindi talaga sya makapaniwala.

"Yeah, wow." I groaned.

"So how was it?"

I sighed. "It's good." I made it sound like it's no big deal.

"Nag usap na ba kayo after that?"

I nod. "Pumunta sya dito kahapon."

"Alam nya ba yung tungkol sa wine?"

"No. Kagabi ko lang nalaman kay Bree. But it's fine. I mean, kasalanan ko naman. Pinakealaman ko 'yung wine ni Bree na nananahimik and this happened."

Tumango tango si Daena. "Alright. So what's your plan? That's it?"

"Pati ba naman ikaw? Bree said that I should have an arrangement with Zieg. Be each other's booty call. Imagine?"

Daena chuckled. "Well, that's Bree."

"It was good. But I don't think kailangan pang maulit 'yon. It was a mistake. God. Nakakahiya. I can't believe I had sex with that guy." Naiiling na sabi ko.

"Charge it to experience. You said it's good, anyway."

In an hour ay bumalik na si Ahren at sinundo na ang mag ina nya. Pinabaunan ko sya ng ilang red velvet cupcakes na parehong gusto ng mag asawa. I kissed Skye goodbye. Isa ako sa mga ninang ni Skye at kahit bihira lang kami magkita, I love the child.

The night came and it's not going any better.

Hindi ko na napanaghinipan si Zieg. But the worst part is, hindi ako makatulog kakaisip sa kanya. His touch is still lingering on my skin. Pakiramdam ko ay hinahalikan nya pa rin ako sa mga labi at leeg ko. I can still feel his weight on top of me.

And I think I am going crazy.

Ginagawa ko naman ang lahat para ma distract ako. I tried to focus on Lush. Alam ko na nagtataka na ang mga staff ko doon dahil kahit mga gawain nila ay nag ooffer ako na ako na ang gagawa. I just want to be distracted.

It's wrong to think of Zieg and how delicious and good he was that night. It's a mistake, and I should get over it.

But the days drag and Zieg's all over my system.

He's destroying me.

I wonder kung naaapektuhan din ba sya sa akin katulad nang pagka apekto ko sa kanya?

Probably not.

He's probably got his life back on track after we talked. And I should hate him for that. Ginugulo nya ako. He's invading my mind and my body.

Naisip ko na good thing at wala akong contact sa kanya or baka one of my mad times ay matawagan ko sya ng wala sa oras. I could be embarrassing myself more.

I tried to satisfy myself with some vibrators pero na frustrate lang ako. What, just because my vagina tasted Zieg's cock, ayaw nya na sa vibrator?

For two weeks since that one wild night, I kept on telling myself na ayos lang ang lahat. Na baka kaya naging ganoon ako ka 'attached' kay Zieg dahil matagal na since the last time I had sex with anyone until him.

Yeah, that must be it.

"Ahren's asking if you are interested in expanding."

Nangunot ang noo ko nang itanong 'yon sa akin ni Daena sa kabilang linya.

"Why?"

"Papahiramin ka daw nya ulit ng funds."

I chuckled. "Wow. Gusto nyo talaga akong payamanin agad ha?"

Tumawa rin si Daena. "You know what you're doing. Isa pa, kumikita naman kami sa'yo. Nagbabayad ka ng tubo kahit na sabi namin na 'wag na."

"Please, you deserve that. Mas malaki pa ang dapat na binayaran ko'ng tubo kung sa bangko ako nanghiram."

"So, what? Are you interested?"

"I am, pero hindi muna ngayon. I need to make a business plan first. Mahirap na rin maghanap ng tamang space so titingnan ko muna. And say thanks to Ahren for me."

"Sure. Sabihin mo lang anytime."

"Gising ba si Skye? Wala akong naririnig sa background."

"Sinama ni Ahren sa park. Magbobonding daw sila. Kaya mag isa lang ako dito."

"Kaya pala napatawag ka nang alas diyes nang umaga." I laughed. "So unlikely of you."

"Nasa Lush ka na ba?" She asked instead.

"Kakapasok ko pa lang sa office."

"Ah okay. So how about Zieg?"

I stopped moving when I heard the forbidden name.

"W-what about him?"

"Well, hindi ba kayo ulit nagkakausap?"

"No. Wala naman na kami pating pag uusapan."

"Woah, okay. I was just asking. Bakit ka galit?" Natatawa na tanong nya sa kabilang linya.

I can feel Daena playing me. "I am not. Hay nako, kung mangungulit ka lang, I have to go."

Tumawa si Daena. "Binanggit ko lang pangalan ni Zieg nagalit ka na. Hmmm."

"Shut it, Daena."

Tumawa sya ulit. "Okay, fine. Oo na po. Bye!"

Napailing na lang ako nang ibalik ko sa bag ko ang cellphone ko. I changed into the shop's uniform. Ang kaibahan lang ay kulay dark brown ang sa staff at light brown ang sa akin.

Dahil wala pa namang customers ay hinayaan ko na muna na mag kwentuhan ang mga staff sa loob. I stayed on the cashier at nag ayos ng mga display ng pastries sa estante.

Lalaki na naka suit ang unang customer. For a second ay agad kong naalala si Zieg. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at ihinanda ang ngiti para sa customer na papalapit sa counter.

"Welcome to Lush! What's your order?" Magiliw na tanong ko.

Tumingin sya sa menu sa taas ng counter bago tumingin sa akin at ngumiti.

"Two wintermelon tea, both large. To go."

Tinipa ko sa cash register an order. "Pangalan po?"

"Zieg."

Napatigil ang kamay ko sa pag type at napatingin sa lalaki.

"Zieg as in letter Z, letter I, letter-"

"Letter E and letter G. Okay, sir. Zieg." Pinilit ko ngumiti at tinipa ang pangalan. Pakiramdam ko ay tumigil ako sa pag hinga nang panandalian.

Why is everyone making it hard for me? Kanina si Daena, binanggint si Zieg. Ngayon naman, pati pangalan ng customer, si Zieg pa rin? Ugh.

Agad na ginawa ni Shane ang order habang naghihintay ang customer. Nginitian ko ang lalaki nang iabot ko ang order nya and he smiled back.

Ilan ba ang may pangalan na Zieg sa buong Pilipinas at nagkataon na may isang Zieg na kakalabas lang ng coffee and tea shop na pag aari ko?

It was never in my intention to attend the sixth anniversary party of Dolce Maria. But when Daena said na pinayagan sya ni Ahren, I decided to come with her. Isa pa, ilang araw na rin akong kinukulit ni Bree para umattend.

Kahit two years na akong wala sa Dolce Maria at si Daena naman ay three years na, nakakatanggap pa rin kami ng invitation kapag may events sila lalo na kapag anniversary party ng Dolce Maria.

I wore a red Grecian Goddess dress na may mahabang slit mula sa gitna ng hita ko pababa. The fabric was soft to my skin and I feel stunning with the dress. Kahit si Daena ay hindi matigil sa kakasabi na bagay sa akin ang binili kong dress.

Nang makita namin si Bree ay agad nya kaming bineso. Bree looked so damn good in her black chiffon dress. May hawak na syang champagne at mukhang kanina pa sya umiinom.

"Mukhang madaming new clients ah?" I told her. Madaming bagong mukha akong nakikita sa paligid.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Parang bored na sabi nya.

Daena chuckled. "What's wrong?"

"We've had a few problems with the new ones."

"Like?" Curious na tanong ko naman.

"Ilang beses na kami sinugod ng mga asawa, girlfriend, kabit. Ang sakit sa ulo! This never happened before, you know? Maingat ang lahat ng dating clients. The new ones are different. They're cocky. Some of them are even bragging about being a member of Dolce Maria. Imagine?"

"Woah. Eh di'ba nasa agreement contract na discreet dapat?" Tanong ko pa. Every men who wanted to be a member must sign a contract of agreement.

Tumango si Bree. "Yes. Kaya madami na din ang natanggal as members pero may ilan na nakalusot pa rin." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Enough with the problem talk. Look." Ngumuso si Daena sa entrance ng venue hall. Agad kaming sumunod ng tingin ni Bree at agad na nag landing ang mga mata ko kay Zieg, at sa kamay nya na nakapulupot sa bewang ng babaeng kasama nya.