Chapter 37: Another Night With Carlo

Sinuguro ni Magnolia na kumpleto na ang lahat ng kailangan niya. Nang mailagay sa bag ang mga damit at props ay binitbit na niya iyon at dahan-dahang lumabas ng kuwarto. Pero hindi niya pa nailalapat ang pinto nang lumabas din ang daddy niya.

"Oh hija, where are you going at this hour?"

"Ahh daddy, babalik lang muna ako sa condo unit ko?"

"Hindi ba pwedeng ipagpabukas iyan? It's almost ten in the evening."

"May kailangan lang po talaga akong gawin doon, daddy. Don't worry, bukas nandito na ulit ako. I'll stay here hanggang next week po."

"Ipapahatid-sundo na lang kita kay Jose para sigurado," sabi nito.

"But, daddy, I can manage po, please." Yumakap pa siya sa braso nito para maglambing dito. Pumayag din ito bago dinampian ng halik ang kanyang noo na parang bata pa siya.

"You take care, hija. Mag-text ka kapag nakauwi ka na, okay?"

"Okay po, daddy," nakangiting sabi niya bagaman malakas ang kabog ng kanyang dibdib. Nang makarating siya sa sasakyan ay huminga muna siya nang malalim bago sumakay at inilapag sa tabi ang bag. Nagdasal pa siya nang ilang minuto pero napahinto siya dahil na rin sa pagkakonsiyensiya. Mali ang gagawin niya pero desidido na siya.

Ang babaeng kausap niya nang nagdaang gabi ay ang babaeng regalo sa stag party para kay Carlo. Sasayaw ito at malamang ay may mangyari dito at kay Carlo. Ito ang sasayaw sa harap ng mga kalalakihan pero bago magtapos ang gabi ay makikipagpalit siya rito upang makipagniig siya sa lalaki. Alam niyang mali iyon kung moralidad ang pag-uusapan pero balewala ang lahat ng iyon dahil mahal na mahal niya ang lalaki. Huli na naman iyon dahil ikakasal na ito sa kanyang kapatid at wala siyang planong manggulo sa mga ito. Pero sa gabing iyon ay pagbibigyan niya muna ang sarili.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay binabaybay niya na ang daan. Biyernes iyon ng gabi kaya bahagya pa ring mabigat ang trapiko kahit tapos na ang rush hour. Huminto siya sa isang hotel sa Ortigas dahil doon gaganapin ang party ng mga ito. Nang makalapit sa isang security guard ay itinuro nito ang basement parking at doon na siya pumunta. Bago bumaba ng sasakyan ay muli siyang nagdasal at pinag-isipan ang kanyang desisyon. Sigurado na din siya at walang bawian pa. Isinuot niya ang makapal na shades at ipinusod ang buhok bago tinernuhan ng makapal na bobcat wig at shoal na para siyang whistleblower sa isang senate hearing. Balot na balot siya dahil ayaw niyang mabuko. Isinukbit na niya ang bag bago mabilis na naglakad papuntang elevator. Pagkarating sa ground floor ay lumapit siya sa receptionist.

"Hi, I already booked a room," nakangiting sabi niya.

"What's your name, ma'am?"

"I'm Gladiolus Esguerra," sabi niya na parang elementary student na nagpapakilala sa unang araw ng pasok.

"Just a moment, ma'am," magiliw na sabi nito bago tumingin sa screen ng desktop sa harap nito. Muli itong tumingin sa kanya. "Your booking is already confirmed, ma'am. You may pay it now, ma'am or once you check out."

"I'll pay now," aniya at naglabas ng ilang lilibuhin. Mabilis din nitong tinanggap iyon at iniabot sa kanya ang invoice. "Keep the change," simpleng sabi niya at kinuha na ang susi. Muli siyang sumakay ng elevator at bumaba sa palapag kung saan ang kanyang suite. Pero bago siya makarating ay huminto siya sa katabing suite. Doon matutulog si Carlo kasama siya. Lalo pa siyang kinabahan sa naisip pero hindi na siya mapipigilan pa.

Pagdating niya sa kuwarto ay muli siyang naligo. Nagkuskos siyang mabuti at sinigurong malinis at mabango siya. Maya-maya ay suot na niya ang bridal costume niya. Nang makarinig siya ng pagkatok ay sinilip niya ang peephole at nakita si Ellen, ang dalagang papalitan niya sa service nito. Naka-casual na damit na ito palatandaang palabas na ito ng hotel.

"Yes?"

"Ma'am, nasa elevator na po si sir. Papunta na po siya sa suite. Pinauna niya lang po ako para makapagpalit ng costume."

"Alright, aniya at kinuha ang sobre sa bag. This is the other half of payment."

"Ma'am sobra na po-"

"I told you, you can use it for your studies. Remember no one should know about it or else you know what will happen to you and your loved ones."

"Y-yes po," nababahalang sabi nito at bantulot na tinanggap ang pera.

"Very good," simpleng sabi niya at isinuot na ang maskara na tumatakip sa itaas na bahagi ng kanyang mukha. Hinayaan niyang nakalugay ang kanyang buhok at naglagay ng pabango sa kanyang leeg at likod ng tenga. Nang masigurong maayos na ay isinara na niya ang pinto ng suite niya at lumipat sa suite ni Carlo.

Nasa banyo pa ito at nasisiguro niyang naliligo pa ito dahil dinig niya ang lagaslas ng tubig nula sa shower. Dinig na dinig pa niyang kumakanta ito. Natawa pa siya dahil sintunado ang boses nito. Hindi talaga kasi ito kumakanta pero mukhang marami na talagang nainom ito. Pinatay niya ang ilaw sa suite at tanging ilaw sa lampshade sa kuwarto nito ang iniwan niyang bukas. Ipinasok na niya ang isang CD sa player at hinintay na lumabas ang binata. Kabado talaga siya habang nakaupo sa kama. That was the boldest thing she has done so far. The apprehension she felt was overwhelming but she would regret if she backed out. Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto ay tumunog na ang pinto sa kuwarto tandang papasok na ang lalaki. Nang pumihit ang seradura ay pinindot niya na ang play button. Pagpasok nito ay magsisimula na siya pero naiwan siyang nakatigagal dahil sa hitsura nito. Wala itong suot maliban sa tuwalyang nakatapi rito. Oh she missed the man so much that she wanted to run to him and hug him tight. But the desire fueled up the warmth that could set the room ablazed with fire. Nakangisi ito sa kanya nang pilyo at nagninginging ang mga mata. Ganoong-ganoon ang boyish na ngisi nito noong malaman nitong crush niya ito. Napapitlag pa siya nang magsalita ito.

"Woman, why don't you dance now?"

"O-okay," aniya at bahagya pang binago ang boses. Nagsimula na siyang sumayaw at umimbay ang kanyang balakang sa malamyos na musika. It was a sensual dance that was supposed to heat them up. But the way Carlo was looking at her was enough for her to lose control. Mabagal itong lumapit at huminto isang dipa mula sa kanya. Siya naman ang kumilos palapit dito habang sumasayaw. Nang mahawakan niya ito ay nanatili ang kanyang kamay sa mga balikat nito habang iginigiling niya ang katawan. Tumalikod siya at nanginginig na iniyakap niya ang matitipunong mga bisig nito sa kanya. Patuloy sa pagsayaw. Napasinghap siya nang maramdaman ang isang matigas na bagay na bumabangga sa kanyang guluhod.

"Nervous?" Humahagikgik ito na parang totoy. Ito ang ikalawang pagkakataong narinig niya itong tumawa nang ganoon. Lalo siya nitong niyakap at diniin ang sarili sa kanya. "Woman, you don't know what you're doing to me."

"You're so sexy," nang-aakit na sabi niya at humarap dito. Her fingers trailed from his pointed nose down to his razor-blade thin lips and to his well-toned body. She was sure any sculpture collectors would be willing to sell their collections in exchange for the magnificent art in front of her. "Oh Magnolia, baby," he moaned.

She suddenly stopped and looked at him. His handsome face was distorted, eyes wide shut and mouth wide open. He was indeed in utmost pleasure. "Call me, Gladiolus." She felt festive that she wanted to jump and kiss him. He remembered her when he was having a good time. She couldn't believe that she had that effect on him, and it felt so good.

The hesitation vanished away for she was ready to pleasure him and give herself in total abandon. She removed the remaining cover he had and stared at him for a while. He was marvelous that she froze. He was a friggin gift to her. It was no surprise that women would ask him to take and conquer them. "Please don't stop, G-Gladiolus," he said as if he was catching his breath, and she understood why.

"O-okay, sexy man," she said. She claimed his lips for a passionate kiss. She did not wait for his response because he did not have to. His presence alone was more than enough to ignite the fire within her. Her lips went to his jaw down to his neck and wide chest.

"Oh Magnolia, baby."

"G-Gladiolus," she said.

"R-right."

She started to kiss and taste him again until her lips reached his washboard stomach. He was such a beautiful sight that she wanted to feel that over him again. She pushed him to the bed and asked him to lean on the headboard. She wanted to laugh because he was like a child who kept following her orders. She started the thing again before she felt his pulsating maleness in her hands. "Oh sexy man, you are too ready for me," she teased him.

"You, tease," he said laughing.

"Everything about you is big and beautiful, baby," she said before she played it with her lips and tongue.

"Oh that's great. Magnolia, baby. Magnolia, Magnolia," he moaned.

"I said call me Gladiolus."

He froze and looked at her as if he could read the depths of her soul. "I can't do it, Gladiolus, just leave." He removed her hands on his big man and was about to stand up, but she stood up.

"I'm already paid to do it. Just sit back and relax. I'm so willing to give you head that would drive you nuts."

"No, woman, you don't understand."

She was suddenly pissed off. What did he want? Why was he acting cold? That was the last night she would feel him inside her, and there was no way he could stop her. "But, I want to do it."

"Why?" He was shocked to say the least. Customers would be shocked to encounter paid women begging them to do it.

"No more questions. Please let me make love to you." Maybe it was her sincerity that spoke to him, and he nodded. She thought she sounded like a desperate woman asking for a mercy fuck. But she did not care anymore. She loved and wanted him, and that was all that mattered to her at that moment.