Sensual Torture (RED SEDUCTION SERIES #1)

CHAPTER THREE

THE sound of blasting speakers, a powerhouse cast of DJs; those over-the-top strobe lights; the heat; the energy; people screaming their s**t out, and Mayumi Gertrude on the dance platform were the highlights of the grandest Halloween Rave Party happening in Square Bar. The Black meets White theme never goes out of style. Jampacked was an understatement, teeming it was. Everyone was reveling in the power of freedom like there’s no tomorrow. Itinaas ni Mayumi ang mga kamay at malayang umindak sa saliw ng maharot na musika. She’d been longing to do this again. Yeah, after being confined to working from home for two long years. Hell yes, those were the longest and unexciting pages in her thirty-three years of existence. How she missed prowling and now she’s there grinding her tushy with a random guy she just met earlier.

“Yes, babe… swish that lovely ass!” the guy smacked her booty with a not so gentle tap.

“You want me to go down on you?” malanding anas niya sabay harap sa lalaki.

The man let out a sexy chuckle as he snaked his hands around the small of her waist. Yumi clung her arms against his neck before rubbing her body on him. She could feel his engorged manhood. Raoul was hard from top to bottom. Kumalat ang malawak na ngiti sa kanyang labi habang patuloy sa pagsasayaw. Sa buong durasyon ay hindi siya binitawan ng kaulayaw sa dance floor. Naging magaslaw lalo ang tugtugin kaya sinabayan iyon ng lahat. Nakabitaw si Mayumi sa kapareha at napunta sa ibang pwesto. Now she's stuffed between a lesbian couple. Nakita na niya ang pares na ito kaninang dumating sila ng squad niya.

“You’re so hot.” Bulong ng isang lesbian sa tapat ng kanyang tenga.

“Thanks, babe,” she giggled.

Napalitan ulit ang music dahilan para mas maging hyper ang mga tao. An upbeat and wild music was blasting off in all nooks of the pub. Sa lakas ng impact ng mga nagtutulakan at nagtatalunang nilalang ay nawalan ng balanse si Yumi. Ang akala niya ay babagsak siya sa sahig pero isang pares ng malalakas na bisig ang sumalo sa kanya. Her eyes turned into blurry slits as he recognized the man.

“Raoul!”

“Sorry, I lost you, lovey.”

“Don’t mention it.” Hinila niya ang lalaki para sumayaw ulit pero hinatak siya nito palayo sa dance floor. “You’re such a pussy.”

“Enough of dancing now. Let's get some drinks.”

“I wanna dance more. C'mon, Raoul, let's get back there.”

Hindi siya pinakinggan nito at sa halip ay iginiya patungo sa bar counter. Pagkatapos ay kaagad na umorder ng maiinom sa bartender. Naupo ang lalaki sa bar stool at siya naman ay naupo sa kandungan nito, patalikod. Kung nagulat man si Raoul ay wala siyang pakialam. She was there to have fun, to flirt, and to be wasted of booze.

“You're such a tease,” said Raoul, sniffing against her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

“And you're my toy," Yumi tittered. She bent her head aside, giving him full access to intrude against her hot skin.

Malayang gumapang ang mga labi ni Raoul sa kanyang leeg pababa sa nakahantad niyang mga balikat. She was sporting a black bodysuit, a leather pleated skirt in which the hem almost reaching the cheeks of her buttocks, a diamond choker, and black thigh-high boots to complete her outfit of the night. Her hair was styled in a sleek high ponytail that accentuated her dignified beauty. Very AG; a tricky woman indeed. Just when she felt Raoul's hand creeping up at the seam of her skirt, a baritone voice barged in.

“Here's your Jack Coke, Raoul.”

Sabay na lumipad ang tingin nila sa lalaking nakatayo sa likod ng bar counter. Tila nagising mula sa isang mahalay na panaginip si Yumi nang maaninag ang masarap at gwapong kalahi ni Adan. Kaagad siyang tumayo at lumipat sa katapat na bar stool. Pakiramdam niya ay nawala ang espiritu ng alak sa buong katawan niya habang minamasdan ang mukha nito. The guy was impeccably gorgeous under the streaks of flapping party lights. She could leer at him twenty-four seven.

“What the f*ck, dude. I didn’t ask for this.” Raoul complained, tossing the drink away from his sight.

“I know,” Ali scoffed and smirked.

Umungol si Raoul na animo batang hindi nabilhan ng paboritong laruan. “Tarantado ka talaga. Lakas mang-asar. Dali na, give me the usual.”

“Ela is looking for you.” Sa halip ay tugon ni Ali. He was grinning from ear to ear.

Kitang-kita ni Yumi kung paano nasamid si Raoul sa sariling laway. Sa takbo ng usapan ng dalawa ay may palagay siyang matagal ng magkakilala ang mga ito. She was quietly laughing to herself, too. If only Raoul could see his face. Nakakatawa naman talaga ang reaksiyon nito.

“Did you phone her?” tanong nito kay Ali.

“Are you nuts? Bakit ko naman tatawagan ang asawa mo?”

Pumihit patalikod si Ali at may kinuha sa wine cellar. Nang humarap ito ay saka pa lamang inabot ang request na inumin ni Raoul. CG &T pala ang trip ng lalaki. Mayumi snorted with a laugh, making both men looked at her. Pero unang nagbawi ng tingin si Ali at muling inabala ang sarili sa pagmi-mix ng mga inumin.

“You’re two-timing cheat a*shole.” She told him, lips pursed into a sly, cunning smile.

Raoul went uneasy on his seat. Wala siyang pakialam kung magalit man ito. Eh, totoo naman. She may be a lot of risqué, fetish things, but a cheating family man was a big NO to her. No one wants a sham marriage unless both have decided to do so. Shoutout to her life mantra.

“Sakit. Tagos ‘yon, ‘pre.” Ali chided, feigning empathy.

“Shut up, Davis!”

Tumayo si Raoul at frustrated na bumuntong-hininga. Pagkatapos ay walang lingon na tumalikod saka tuluyang lumakad palayo. She rolled her eyes for she doesn’t like dramas. Hindi nga nanonood ang dalaga ng mga stretch na telenovela sa tv. Or whatever they call it. For the record, she have nothing against those. Basta ayaw niya ng mga kwentong may paulit-ulit na plot. Iyong kikidnapin, papatayin tapos mabubuhay ulit.

“Hey! We're looking for you everywhere, bish.” Karel, one of her besties butted in.

“Oo nga. Bruha ka nandito ka lang pala," Andi seconded. Naupo ang dalawa sa mga bakanteng bar stool.

“I'm sorry, got stock with a random guy.”

“And where is this scrotum?” Karel glared at her.

Natawa si Yumi bago sumagot. “Umalis na. Pinuntahan asawa niya.”

Exaggerated ang pagsinghap ng dalawang kaibigan sabay hampas sa braso niya. Sa kanilang tatlo siya ang pinaka-pasaway.

“Ouch! How could you bitches hurt my slender arms. I hate you both.” Maarte niyang minasahe ang nasaktang braso.

“Kasi naman, pumili ka din ng mahusay, teh. Bakit naman pati may asawa ginilingan mo?” sermon ni Andilyn. “Anyway, here's your purse."

Hinaklit niya ang taupe-colored NW purse at ipinatong sa wooden minimalist counter top. “Hoy, hindi ko naman alam na may sabit pala ‘yon si Raoul.” Inirapan niya si Andi. “One more thing, stop nagging like a hen. Remember may kasalanan ka pa sa akin?”

“Ah, ‘yung pinasakay kita sa tren?” tumawa ng malakas ang hitad. “’Wag ka'ng bitter dyan. I'm sure na-enjoy mo rin naman ang moment mo doon.”

“Try to find another one. Madami naman dito.” Karel suggested, eyes drifted to Alistair then back at her again.

“What?” tanong niya sa kaibigan. Inginuso ni Karel ang masarap na putahe sa harapan. Lalo tuloy siyang natawa dahil doon.

“Andi, I think we have to go now.”

“What? Why? It's just 1AM!!!”

Binatukan ni Karel ang eksaheradang Andilyn.

"Gaga! Ang ibig kong sabihin balik na tayo sa VIP at baka naiinip na ‘yung kalampungan mong Briton.”

Karel winked at her before towing Andilyn away from the counter. Naiwan siyang patawa-tawa. Hindi niya alam na panay ang sulyap ni Ali sa kanya habang nakikipag-usap sa mga kaibigan. Aminado ang binata na malakas ang tama niya kay Mayumi. Nang muling bumaling paharap sa bar counter ang dalaga ay mabilis naman iniiwas ni Ali ang tingin sa kanya. Isinalin nito ang asul na likido sa stainless shaker bago kinalog iyon.

Yumi could only sigh while watching his arms move. The man looked painfully hot on a plain white cottony button-down shirt. Nakabukas ang ilang butones kaya nasisilip niya ang matipunong dibdib nito. Alistair Davis was one hell of eye candy and she would have him… by all means. Kilala niya naman talaga ang binata pero hindi niya inaasahang magtatagpo ang landas nila doon. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi nakakakilala dito? Malamang kung meron man ay iyong nakatira lamang sa ilalim ng bato.

“Hey, Ali.” She called him, eyes twinkling in seductive slits and said. “Mayumi Gertrude Reedus, 33, 091712345678.”

Alistair shifted his eyes on the very reason why he was bricked up all night. She was under his watch the moment she entered SB. The woman was so much for an eyegasm! Ramdam na ramdam ng binata ang paninikip sa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita. At kilala siya nito! Humugot ng matalim na buntong-hininga ang binata bago nagsalita.

“Do you need anything?” His eyes seething with desire.

Yumi twirled some strand of tresses in her fingers. “Uhm, can I smoke here?”

“No, you can't.”

“Oh? Why is that?” Yumi smiled at him. So sensual he wanted to f**k her mouth with his.

SINUNDAN ni Ali ng tingin ang kamay ng babae. Hinugot nito mula sa purse ang vape na may tatak ng mamahaling brand. He was used to seeing girls, women who smoked like flue, but this one was another thing. Ayaw niyang payagan ang gusto nito pero sino ba siya para mag-desisyon? Wala siyang karapatang panghimasukan kung anuman ang gusto nitong gawin. Ilalapat na sana ni Mayumi ang labi sa vape nang yumuko si Ali. Their faces so close, she could smell his fresh breath.

“Didn’t you hear what I said?” his voice hoarse, raspy thick.

Muntik nang maipikit ng dalaga ang kanyang mga mata pero nilabanan niya. His nearness was reeling her senses. Immune siya sa mga ganoong galawan ng mga lalaki pero iba itong si Davis. Pakiramdam niya ay kakainin siya nito ng buhay. Humigpit ang kapit niya sa e-cigar at tumayo. She wanted to breathe.

“I heard you, sweetheart.” Itinaas niya ng bahagya ang mga kamay tanda na kunwari ay sumusuko. “Sabagay mas maraming cigar–buddy do'n sa labas. The more, the merrier, right?” Ngumisi pa ito bago inurong patalikod ang upuan.

Nagtagis ang mga bagang ni Ali. He hated the nasty ideas swarming in his mind. Sa kanya si Yumi ngayong gabi. Period. Sa mabilis na kilos ay hinagip ng binata ang braso nito. Dahilan para mapabalikwas ng pagharap ang babae. She shot him with a kittenish smile.

“Hey, Gertrude. Bring this with you.”

“Oh, my… so sweet of you, baby.”

Itinulak ni Ali palapit sa kanya ang Nude Vevo cocktail drink. Nang kunin iyon ni Yumi ay sinadya nitong idampi ang kamay sa kanya. He was sure of it. But to hell with love at first sight. He doesn’t believe in the saying, yet he was easily falling for her coquettish glances. Now, he's snafued.

“So, what now?” she questioned.

“What do you mean?”

Napalitan ang tugtog sa mas mabagal na ritmo. Both stared at each other for it seemed like an eternity. While others were partying hard out there, they're having their kind of rave.They were lurching to the beat of slow rock music; over the flecks of laser lights that kissing their faces. Kung hindi pa bumalik ang mga kaibigan ni Mayumi ay siguradong hindi mapupugto ang mainit, malagkit, at makatas na eksenang iyon.

“Hi, Alistair!” Andilyn hooted as she looked at him. Bahagya lang tinanguan ni Ali ang babae.

“We don’t wanna spoil your moment lovebirds, but we need to fetch this lady here.” It was Karel.

Ali shrugged his well-shaped shoulders.

“I hate you girls. Alam niyo naman nagmo-moment pa kami.”

Umabot sa pandinig ng binata ang apela ni Mayumi. He laughed to himself quietly. At bago pa makalayo ang dalaga ay muli itong lumingon sa kanya. She blew him a flying kiss and went wild on the dance platform with booze in her hand. Dalawang oras ang mabilis na lumipas at sabog na ang huwisyo ni Mayumi. Hindi na niya alam kung nasaan ang mga kaibigan niya o kung umuwi na ba ang mga ito. She's wasted and throwing her s**t up in the bathroom. Responsable siyang manginginom pero sa pagkakataong iyon ay alam niyang lumampas siya sa kanyang limit.

Nang makalabas doon ay halos mag-ekis ang kanyang mga paa dala ng sobrang kalasingan. Sa naniningkit na mga mata ay tinunton niya ang daan palabas ng SB. She was greeted by the cold wind of November. Dahil sa sobrang pagkahilo ay gusto na niyang humilata kung saan siya mismo nakatayo. She was slowly fading away, like an almost drained battery. Alam niyang babagsak na siya anumang oras at bahala na si Batmon kung ano man ang mangyari.

“I got you, baby. Let's go home.”

She heard someone said. Then, he cradled her in his steely arms. Gustuhin man makita ng dalaga ang mukha ng sumalo sa kanya ay hindi na niya kaya. Parang may glue sa kanyang mga mata at hindi niya maimulat ang mga iyon. Sa huli ay ninamnam na lang ni Mayumi ang init na nagmumula sa katawan ng may-ari niyong mapanghalinang baritonong boses.