Entangled

24

Deniah turned away, afraid to confront her friend.

Hindi talaga siya magaling nagsinungaling. How could she possibly tell Alana she lusted after her brother, at kailangan niya ng every barrier imaginable para dumistansya siya. Kung paniniwalaan ng lalaki na isa siyang cold- hearted na pera lang ang habol, he might leave her alone.

Tumagal sa kanya ang mata ng kaibigan na nakataas ang kilay. At biglang nagliwanag ang mukha nito na parang may nag- click light bulb sa ulo nito. "Is something else going on with you two? Ahhh! May gusto ka sa kuya ko no? Aminin mo na."

Deniah forced a laugh. "What? No! I hate your brother."

"You're lying. Alam ko kung nagsisinungaling ka o hindi. You want to sleep with him, don't you? Oh, yuck!"

Kinuha na ni Deniah ang cardboard tray ng iced coffee at naglakad papunta sa likod ng bookstore. "This conversation is over. Hindi ko gusto ang kapatid mo, at hindi rin niya ako gusto."

Sumunod sa kanya ang kaibigan. "Okay, now that I'm over the initial grossness of the idea, let's talk about it. He's your husband, right? You might as well be getting s*x for the next year with someone."

Inilapag niya ang tray sa mesa kung saan nakalagay ang ibang pagkain at tumuntong sa makeshift platform, lahat ng mata nasa kanya. The word s*x definitely got people's attention, she thought. She ignored her friend and made the initial introductions for poetry night.

Nang umakyat na sa stage ang unang manunula, umalis siya at umupo sa gilid kung saan nakaupo na si Alana. Kinuha ang kanyang notebook baka sakaling may marinig siyang mga inspirasyon para sa kanyang mga tula.

Yumuko palapit sa kanya ang kaibigan at bumulong, "I think you should sleep with him."

Deniah let out a long-suffering sigh. "Tigilan mo nga ako. Hindi dapat natin to pinag- uusapan eh, hindi ka ba nadidiri na kapatid ang topic natin?"

"Slight lang, but I'm serious. I've now had a few minutes to think. It's perfect. You both have to be faithful anyway, so you know he won't be sleeping with someone else. This way you get the s*x you need, and in a year, just say good-bye. No hard feelings. No complications."

She squirmed. Hindi dahil nahiya siya sa suggestion ni Alana. No, just the opposite. Naintriga siya sa posibilidad. She lay awake at night, picturing him in the room down the hall. His naked, muscled body stretched out on the bed, waiting for her. Her hormones shook greedily at the image. Hell, at this rate she'd end up in the mental institution by the end of the year.

Cause: Celibacy.

Baka itakwil siya ng mga magulang kung ganon nga ang mangyayari. Naramdaman niya ang pagpisil ni Alana sa kanyang braso na nagpabalik sa kanya mula sa kanyang iniisip. "Dika na naman nakikinig sa akin. Pupunta ba si kuya dito?"

"Oh, yeah, your brother would just love this kind of night out. He'd probably prefer a root canal and a prostate exam."

"Kumusta naman ang pagsasama niyo? Do you two getting along? Besides the physical attraction."

"Okay lang naman."

Umirap ang kaibigan . "Nagsisinungaling ka na naman, girl. You're not going to tell me, are you?"

Na realize ni Deniah na sinasabi niya lahat kay Alana ang nangyayari sa kanya except sa isang event- nong first time na hinalikan siya ni Dark. Alam niyang mahal na niya ang lalaki noon. Friendship turned to rivalry and then to a girlish crush. That first kiss twisted emotions so pure within her she believed it was love. Her heart beat for him, full of joy at the possibility of them being together, so she uttered the words, her voice echoing through the trees.

"I love you."

Then naghintay siyang halikan siya muli ng lalaki. Subalit, humakdang ito paatras palayo sa kanya at tumawa. Called her a silly baby and walked away.

She learned her first lesson in heartbreak in that moment. Fourteen years old. In the woods with Dark Arkel Huxley.

Hindi niya ulit gagawin ang bagay na iyon.

Pinalis niya ang alaala sa kanyang utak at nagdecide na hindi na rin niya sasabihin ang pangalawang sikreto niya kay Alana. "There's nothing going on," sabi niyang muli. "Can I listen to the next poem in peace, please?"

"I don't think peace is in the cards tonight, babe."

"Huh? Bakit naman?"

"Arkel's here. Your husband. The guy you're not attracted to."

Tumingin siya sa likod niya at nakita ang asawa sa may pintuan. He was obviously out of his element, but his presence was so confident, so overwhelmingly male, she sucked in her breath and realized the man had the power to fit in anywhere. And he wasn't even wearing black.

Most men who wore designer clothes allowed the fabric to dictate to them. Dark wore his Calvin Klein jeans as if he wore nothing at all. The denim hugged his thighs and hips as if folding to his will. He reflected a man who knew himself—and didn't give a damn what anyone else thought.

The turtleneck was a deep caramel cream in a thick cable knit stitch that emphasized his chest and stretched over broad shoulders. Definitely Ralph Lauren. The boots were Timberland. His hair picked up the color of the sweater, mixing with white blond and shades of mocha, carefully tousled. His jaw clenched with unconscious demand as he searched the darkened bookstore. But his eyes…

A swirl of chocolate brown the color of Hershey's syrup. Hints of gold and amber that reminded her of aged whiskey. A combination that dripped of sinful s*x and indulgent cravings. She waited as he perused the room, skated over her, stopped, then came slowly back.

Their eyes met.

Ayaw ni Deniah sa mga clichés, at ang pinaka- ayaw niya ay nagiging isa na sa mga ito. But at that moment, her heartbeat thundered, her palms sweated, and her belly dipped and plunged as if on a rollercoaster ride. Her body went on full alert, begging him to come to her, promising him surrender. If he told her to go home, get in bed, and wait for him, Deniah was sure she'd follow his instructions.

The weakness of her will infuriated her. Her honesty made her admit she'd do it anyway.

"Oh yeah. Definitely no attraction there. Ang layo niyo pa sa isa't isa pero ramdam ko ang init at tensyon. Kailangan kung lumayo layo sa inyo tuwing magkakasama tayo dahil baka may makita pa akong milagro."

Bumalik siya mula sa tamang pag- iisip sa tinuran ng kaibigan. "Kung ano ano na naman ang iniisip mo dyan. Pabayaan mo na ako at makinig ka nalang sa nagtutula."

Inimbitahan niya si Dark para sa poetry night dahil hindi pa nito nakikita ang kanyang bookstore. Pero tumanggi ito dahil marami daw itong paperworks, at hindi na siya nagulat. Once again, niremind niya ang sarili na galing sila na magkaiba ang ginagalawan nilang mundo, and Dark had no desire to visit hers. Gumalaw ang lalaki at nagtungo kung saan sila nakaupo ni Alana. Habang papalapit ito, she wondered why he changed his mind.