Lustful Romance

"Are you sure about this, Lily?" It was ten in the evening and they've been in the club for more than two hours now pero iyon pa rin ang tanong ni Lucille sa matalik na kaibigan. Lily took a deep breath bago tumango, "there's no other way, Lucille," aniya at muling itinuon ang atensyon sa malawak na dance floor. Everyone is tipsy and busy dancing. Girls are not minding that their skirts are up to their butt cheeks now and Lily gulp at that scene. It was her first seeing how wild a girl can be. Nasanay kasi sya na parating libro lamang ang kaharap. Kung hindi naman talaga nya kailangan ay hindi sya papayag na sumama sa kaibigan sa ganitong lugar. This place is taking all her innocence away — from the way everyone dance to every kissing scene her eyes landed on. "Why not try talking with your dad?" Muling tanong ni Lucille habang nakatakip ang isang kamay sa kaliwang tainga. Lily shook her head as an answer, "I am doing this for my Mom and not for him." Kung hindi nya lang siguro nakita ang ina na lumuluha dahil sa walang kwenta nyang ama, Lily won't agree to his favors and also, she won't do something like this. Man hunting and all. This is not her forte. "Your dad may be an vsshvlv but believe me, he'll soften kapag kinausap mo sya," Lucille said assuring her. Walang ibang nagawa si Lily kundi paikutin ang mga mata sa naging sintemyento ng kaibigan. She doesn't know her dad. When they became friends, her dad is out of the picture. "Malay mo naman ay hinihintay ka lang nyang—" "Can you help me find a decent man na lang?" Lily cut her off. She doesn't want to hear a single thing about her dad 'cause believe it or not? Walang paki ang ama nya sa kanila at alam nya iyon. He's just back to ask her mom a favor. And Mom is stupid about agreeing. "Stop talking and just help me find a man." "What about him?" Sinundan ni Lily ang hintuturo ng kaibigan at hindi nya naiwasan ang pagngiwi nang makita ang lalaking nakaupo three tables away from them. "He's been eyeing you since we got her. Mukhang kursonada ka, why not give him a chance para naman—" Hindi na nagawa pang tapusin ni Lucille ang sasabihin nang bigla ay hampasin sya ng kaibigan sa braso. She laugh looking at Lily's arched eyebrow before looking back at the man. "What? He's somehow decent naman. Ayaw mo non? May makaka-one night stand kang sugar daddy?" Lucille waved at the man that instantly made him smile. "Malay mo maiahon pa kayo sa hirap nyan at hindi nyo na kailangan pang sumandal sa tatay mo," she added at ilang ulit na itinaas ang mga kilay. Gustong masuka ni Lily sa ideyang iyon. Kung tutuusin ay pwede nya nang maging ama ang matanda. Hindi pa man maputi ang buhok non pero mababakas na ang katandaan sa ilang kulubot sa kanyang mukha. "Umayos ka nga. Sabi ko decent man, not sugar daddy," iritableng saad ni Lily. "And do you think there's a decent man na papayag sa alok mong s*x?" Lucille asked, one eyebrow arched. Isinandal nito ang sarili sa sofa at sumimsim ng alak. "Bakit hindi ka na lang sa bar nagpunta?" Nakangiwi nyang pinanuod ang pagguhit ng alinlangan sa mukha ng kaibigan. Ang kainosentehan ay muling nabakas sa mukha ni Lily habang hinihimay ang bawat salitang binitawan ng kaibigan sa kanyang isipan. "But this is how they did it," aniya habang pinaglalaruan ang mga daliri, "I read some rated eighteen books at ganito ang ginagawa ng ilang sa mga main lead. Going to a bar and they'll find a decent man kahit papaano." Papahinang pagtatapos nya. Nasapo ni Lucille ang kanyang noo. Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ang kaibigan bago umayos ng upo at hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat para iharap ito sa kanya. "Books are fictions, Lily," panimula nya, "hindi nangyayari ang ganoon sa totoong buhay." She shook her head at Lily's disappointed face. "Pefect man are just a product of the author's imagination and most importantly, you dream s*x is far from what you can imagine. You might find yourself getting fvck on the backseat of a car. Rough but fun," Lucille raise her glass to make a toast, "or sa bathroom ng club na ito. Tiring but exciting." Tinapos nya ang pagsasalita sa isang malapad na ngiti. Hesitation started to consume Lily as she imagine what it feels like. She only knew it's painful pero bukod room ay wala nang iba pa syang nalalaman. Book are fictions. So emotions are not real. That means hindi tulad sa libro, svx is only painful and not pleasurable. "Ganoon ba?" Puno ng kainosentehan ng tanong nya. "So umaatras ka na ba?" Lucille smirked with her question. She knew Lily couldn't do this. At least to herself. Para sa kanya, mas magagawa pa nitong magmakaawa kaysa ang gawin ito sa sarili nya. Lily grow up pleasing everyone and that irritates the hell out of her pero ngayon? Iyon ang hinihiling nyang gawin ng kaibigan sa ama nito. "Now, let's go home and sleep. Nahihilo na—" "I'll do it." Buong tapang na saad ni Lily dahilan para halos lumuwa ang mga matang lingunin sya ng kaibigan. "Lily." She took a deep breath at saka umayos ng tayo, mariin nyang tinignan ang dance floor. Ibinuka ang nakakuyom na palad sa laylayan ng damit saka nagbuga ng marahas na hininga. This is the only way to stop his dad and to stop the unknown man. Panigurado namang walang lalaki ang gugustuhin na maikasal sa babaeng hindi na pure at nakuha na ng iba. "What do you think about him?" Lily pointed her fingers on a man across the room. He was wearing a white fitted long sleeve na itinupi hanggang siko at abala sa pagtitipa sa kanyang telepono. His sense of focus is really something. Hindi nito iniinda ang ingay at mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. He's just minding his own business. "Omg! That's Pierre, Lily!" Ilang ulit na inalog ni Lucille ang kaibigan at parang sira na iniayos ang hanggang balikat nyang buhok. "He's really handsome," she said, almost dreaming. "He's perfect, right?" Lily asked with a smile. "He is....wait," nagsusuntukan ang mga kilay na nilingon sya ng kaibigan, "wag ko sabihing sya ang target mo?" "Why? He looks decent and—" "You don't know him?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Lucille. Ilang ulit syang nagbuga ng hininga nang umiling si Lily bilang tugon. Is it required na kilala ko sya? "He's the hottest bachelor in town, Lily!" Lucille said with excitement na animo'y iyon na ang pinakamagandang chismis na sinabi nya. "Paalis na ang edad nya sa kalendaryo but look at him.... He's still hot and yummy." "Then I'll give him a try." "Lily," Lucille called her. Ilang ulit nyang sinubukan na pigilan ang kaibigan ngunit tinabig lamang nito ang kanyang kamay. She drank the last glass of vodka. Pampalakas ng loob ika niya bago tuluyang tinungo ang kinaroroonan ng binata. She straightened her dress using her hands, tuck her hair behind her ears saka nakangiting naupo sa tabi ng lalaki. She can feel her heart pounding so fast as if it wanted to go out of her chest as she watch the man's adams apple move. Pierre is still looking straight na tila ba hindi man lang naramdaman ang presensya nya roon. Tumikhim sya, "Mr. Pierre, I am Lily Florencio," malapad ang ngiting inilahad nya ang kamay sa harap ng lalaki ngunit napapahiya nya itong binawi nang tignan lamang ito ng binata saka walang buhay na tinignan sya mula ulo hanggang paa. Lily gave him a forceful awkward smile at tumikhim bago tuluyang isinatinig ang pakay. "Do you want to have svx with me?"