Chapter 2

Habang pinupunasan ni Eloise ang bar counter ng Café Lune, isang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya at tumigil sa pagpupunas. Tila mas matagal pa niyang nilinis ang counter kaysa sa karaniwang ginagawa niya.

Hindi niya mapigilang paulit-ulit na balikan sa isip ang mga nangyari kagabi. She hated how clearly she remembered it. She hated how it affected her right now to the point na hindi na siya gaanong nakaka-focus sa pagma-manage ng cafe niya.

And the fact that he offered her a deal to be his girlfriend for three months? Nahihibang na ito. He didn’t even tell her kung ano’ng rason niya, but she accepted it anyway. Pinapadali lang nito ang lahat para sa kan’ya.

Ding.

The bell above the door rang. Dahilan kung ba’t natigil siya sa pag-iisip.

She looked up to greet who it was, pero nang nakita niya ang matangkad at matipunong si Estevan, she froze in her place.

Nakasuot siya ng dark gray button-up shirt, hindi nakasara ang top button, at may hawak na coat sa kaliwang kamay. Malinis ang gupit, pero may ilang hibla ng buhok na bumagsak sa noo niya. Blangko ang mukha nito na tila hindi nasisiyahan sa araw niya.

“Hi, sir. What can I get you?” tanong niya nang nakalapit ito sa counter, sinadya ang pormal na tono kahit naririnig niya ang kabog ng kan’yang dibdib. Kulang na lang ay tumakbo siya sa storage room at magkulong doon hanggang sa umalis ang binata.

Kung bakit ba naman kasi ngayon pa nag-request ang isang barista nila na si Joaquin na mag undertime at mamaya pa papasok?

“Americano,” Estevan said simply. “No sugar,” dagdag nito.

Tahimik na tumango si Eloise, hindi tumitingin sa kaharap.

“And you,” dagdag nito na kinagulat niya.

“Ha?” She blinked.

“Let’s talk.”

INILAPAG ni Eloise ang order na Americano ni Estevan sa harapan nito, pagkatapos ay umupo siya sa kaharap na upuan.

Nasa sulok ng cafe sila nakaupo, at wala pa namang masiyadong customer kaya pumayag siyang makipag-usap sa lalaki.

“What are we gonna talk about?” panimula niya.

Estevan took a sip from his coffee before responding, “About our deal.”

Bahagyang natigilan si Eloise at tumango. “Okay, what about it?”

“This stays between us,” panimula ni Estevan, walang paligoy-ligoy. “No one else needs to know.”

“And what do I get out of that, Mr. Foreman?” tanong niya.

They weren’t really able to talk about it earlier. Pagkatapos nitong sabihin tungkol sa deal ay nagmadali na itong umalis dahil may meeting pa raw siyang dadaluhan.

Tumigil si Estevan. His gaze was steady, unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something that burned.

“You get exactly what you came for, Eloise,” he said, his voice low and sure. “Access. Influence. Power, if you know how to use it.”                                                                                  

Napakunot ang noo ni Eloise. “Wow,” aniya, pilit ang ngiti habang pinipigil ang inis na unti-unting umaakyat sa dibdib. “So that's what you think of me? That I came here to trade skin for power?” Marahan siyang humalakhak, mahina at walang saya. “I thought you were smarter than that, Mr. Foreman.”  

“That’s not what I meant,” he said quietly, his voice softer now, but still firm. “I know you’re not that kind of woman.”

Umangat ang kilay ni Eloise. She leaned back on the chair and sighed.

Well, it’s not like she won’t say yes. Pinapadali pa nga nito ang lahat.

"Why me?"

A flicker of relief crossed Estevan’s face. “Because you don’t seem like someone who’s afraid of a little game,” sagot niya, diretso. “And because I think you enjoyed that night as much as I did.”

Napatawa si Eloise—hindi sa saya, kundi sa inis. “So akala mo, dahil lang doon…papayag na ‘ko?”

Estevan leaned forward, elbows on the table. “No. I think you’re smart. You look like someone who knows how to read people. And you already know I’m not the type who asks without a reason.”

Tahimik si Eloise, pinanood lang siyang magsalita.

“I can’t trust just anyone with this. I need someone who’s not tied to my world. Someone who’s... unpredictable. You’re not asking questions like most women would. You're not clingy. You’re not desperate.”

He smiled, not smug—just certain. “That’s why I chose you. You're not in it for love. Which makes you perfect for this.”

Hindi kumibo si Eloise. Hindi niya alam kung matatawa ba siya o maawa sa lalaking ‘to.

“Tell me, why exactly are we doing this?

Pumapayag naman na talaga siya sa deal, dahil sa gano’n ay madali na sa kan’yang gawin ang pinaplano niya. Sadyang gusto lang niya talagang malaman kung bakit. Para kasing may iba pa itong rason at hindi lang dahil bored ito at gusto ng thrill sa buhay.

Ilang sandali bago sumagot si Estevan, tila nagda-dalawang isip pa. “It’s about my brother.”

She raised her brow, curious.

“He takes everything like it’s nothing. Like he’s entitled to whatever the hell he wants.”

Nanatiling tahimik si Eloise, pinagmamasdan ang bawat galaw at ekspresyon ng kausap.

“I’ve lost too many things to him. Not again,” tuloy ni Estevan, malamig ang boses pero ramdam ang galit sa likod ng tono nito.

"So it’s really about him? Your brother?"

Estevan gritted his teeth. "He always takes everything. Even the women I like and have relationships with end up with him. Even our family business that I built for many years."

"So you want to use me to hurt him?" tanong niya, tumuwid ang likod at may bahid ng sarkasmo ang tinig.

"No," bulong ni Estevan, leaning forward. "I want him to see he can’t take everything from me. Not this time."

"Funny," she whispered, "because I also want to destroy someone."

Nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata—matalim, matindi, pareho ng rason pero magkaibang direksyon.

"And that’s why this deal works," he said. "We use each other."

Marahang napahalakhak si Eloise. Use each other, huh.

"Fine. But just so we’re clear—this is temporary."

"Three months," he confirmed.

"And no strings attached," dagdag niya.

He smirked. "Unless you beg for more."

Napailing si Eloise, pero hindi maitago ang kurbang bumalot sa labi niya.

Kung larong apoy ito, pareho silang handang masunog.