Chapter 3

PEPPER WOKE UP IN A COMFORTABLE BED.

Bumangon siya at naupo sa kama kahit nakapikit pa ang kanyang mga mata. Nag-inat siya ng mga braso at humikab. This is the first time she had a good sleep in a while.

Kinusot niya ang kanyang mga mata gamit ang kanyang mga kamay. Kumurap kurap siya at napagtanto niyang nasa estranghero siyang silid.

It was a luxury hotel suite.

Namangha siya sa simple ngunit eleganteng disenyo ng kuwartong kanyang kinaroroonan. Tumayo siya at naglibot. Kinuha niya ang remote control ng kurtina at pinindot iyon. Kusang nahawi ang nakatakip na kurtina sa glass wall. Tumambad sa kanya ang maaliwalas na sinag ng araw.

"It's already morning?" hindi makapaniwalang bulalas niya sa sarili. She slept that long?

Napahawak tuloy siya sa kanyang tiyan noong narinig niyang kumalam iyon. Ramdam niya ang gutom dahil sa mahabang oras ng pagtulog at hindi siya nakakain ng hapunan.

She went inside the bathroom to wash her face and gurgle. After doing so, she looked at her reflection on the bathroom sink mirror. Napaawang ang kanyang mga labi matapos makitang malinis na ang kanyang mukha at wala na iyong kolorete. At iba na ang kanyang kasuotan. She's now wearing a sexy red lingerie!

Mabibilis ang mga hakbang siyang lumabas ng kuwarto at nilibot ang buong sala at kusina para maghanap ng taong kasama niya ngayon sa suite. Pero wala siyang mahagilap.

Naalala niyang hanapin ang kanyang handbag upang kunin ang kanyang cellphone at tawagan ang kanyang sekretarya. Ito lamang ang makakasagot sa kung ano ang mga nangyari kagabi.

Ngunit pati ang handbag niya ay hindi niya mahanap kung nasaan.

She's busy rummaging the living room when the door suddenly opened. Iniluwa niyon ang guwapong male escort na pinili niya kagabi. May buhat itong dalawang paperbags sa magkabilang bisig nito.

He's now wearing a casual black shirt, a blue jeans and black slippers. But why does he still look so dazzling and expensive at the same time?

Pumasok ito at isinara ang pintuan. Nagtataka itong nakatingin sa kanya habang pumunta muna ito sa open kitchen ng suite para ilapag sa mesa ang mga pinamili nito. Kapagkuwan ay lumapit ito sa kanyang kinaroroonan.

Nakaluhod siya at nakadukwang sa ilalim ng center table ng sala.

"What are you doing?" his baritone voice echoed through her eardrums as he spoke.

Bakit ang sexy pakinggan ng boses nito at nabibighani siya? Ano bang hipnotismo ang taglay nito at nahuhumaling siya kahit noong unang kita pa lamang niya rito?

Napalingon siya rito, hindi niya inaasahang luluhod din ito sa kanyang tabi at nakisilip sa ilalim ng center table. Ginaya nito ang kanyang ginagawa.

"What are you looking for?" muli itong nagtanong at iniangat nito ang pang-itaas na katawan ngunit nanatiling nakaluhod.

Nailang siya at namula ang kanyang mga pisngi noong tinignan siya nitong muli.

Hindi niya rin lubos akalaing makakatagpo siya ng ganito kaguwapong binata sa balat ng lupa.

He snapped his fingers in front of her face. She blinked. She finally came back to her senses as she was lost into admiring him.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalala pa nitong tanong at hinawakan ang kanyang magkabilang tuhod na nakatiklop sa pagkakaluhod. He slightly lift it up from the carpeted floor and pulled her closer to him.

Napasinghap siya sa ginawa nito. Siniyasat nito ang kanyang mukha at katawan. Naalala niyang takpan ang kanyang malulusog na hinaharap gamit ang pinagkrus niyang mga braso dahil sa manipis na satin cloth ng lingerie na kanyang suot. Nahihiya siya sa exposed niyang dibdib dahil sa manipis at maiksing kasuotan. Narinig niya ang mahina nitong pagngisi dahil sa kanyang naging kilos. Hindi siya nakapagsalita agad dahil idinampi nito ang likod ng palad nito sa kanyang noo, tila inaalam kung may sakit siya.

Ang pagdidikit ng kanilang balat ay nagpadala ng bolta-boltaheng kuryente sa kanyang balat. These intense feelings and emotions are all new to her.

"Tell me, are you feeling unwell? I can bring you to the hospital right away," his voice sparked concern and tenderness. His eyes show unease.

This is another first for her. Isang taong may pagmamalasakit sa kanya maliban sa kanyang sekretarya.

"I-I'm fine," she found herself responding to him.

Nanatili silang nakatingin sa isa't isa. Ito ay hindi pa rin mapakali dahil sa pagnanais makompirmang maayos ang kanyang kalagayan. Samantalang siya ay inaarok kung ano nga ba ang pakay nito sa kanya. Isa nga ba talaga itong male escort? Ngunit paano ito nahulog sa ganoong klase ng trabaho? Maaari itong maging isang modelo sa angking karisma, guwapong mukha, matipuno at matangkad na pangangatawan nito ay tiyak maraming brands, scouts at talent agencies ang makakapansin dito.

"Are you sure?" he asked to make sure, unsatisfied of her short reply.

"O-Oo," utal niyang pagsagot at napangiti. Tinanggal niya ang mga brasong nakatakip sa kanyang bandang dibdib. Naramdaman niyang ligtas siya sa piling ng binata. She relaxed her body and decided not to be strictly limiting her actions from now on. "Don't worry. I am perfectly fine. I was just looking for my handbag. I need my phone because I need to call my secretary as I am confused of how I ended up here..." wala na siyang inhibisyong natira sa katawan at naging panatag na siyang makipag-usap dito. "...in this thin clothing," iminuwestra pa niya ang lingerie na suot at kibit ang kanyang balikat.

He realized her point and heaved a sigh of relief. "I thought something bad is going on with you," he expressed his thoughts. "Thank God you are all right!" he seems to care so much about her.

Ganito ba ito mag-alaga sa mga clients nito? Kung oo, mukhang maraming kliyente itong nabihag at napaibig.

"Come. Don't sit there," inalalayan siya nitong tumayo at masuyong pinaupo sa couch. "Let me get your handbag," anito. Umalis ito saglit at pumanhik ito sa kuwarto. Paglabas nito'y dala na nito ang kanyang hinahanap. Iniabot nito iyon sa kanya at kaagad naman niyang kinuha.

She checked her belongings inside her bag and everything's complete. She's slowly building her trust for this man.

AFTER PEPPER CALLED HER SECRETARY AMBERLYN, she somehow understood what happened last night.

Ang kanyang sekretarya ang nagdesisyon na dito sila sa hotel manatili ng kanyang male escort. Naisip nito na baka mahuli sila ng mga tagamanman ng kanyang stepmother kung iuuwi kaagad niya sa kanyang condo unit ang binata. Matagal na siyang umalis sa bahay ng parents niya simula noong dumating ang stepmother at half-brother niya sa kanilang buhay.

It was also Amberlyn who booked the hotel. Wala namang ginawang masama o mapagsamantala ang male escort sa kanya. Wala siyang kahit na anumang naramdamang pananakit, hapdi o kakatwa sa buo niyang katawan. At nasabi rin ni Amberlyn na ito ang nagpaligo sa kanya kagabi at nagpalit ng suot niya.

Napakapilya talaga ng sekretarya niyang iyon sapagkat sa dinami rami ng mga damit ay ganito pang lingerie ang isinuot nito sa kanya.

Tapos na siyang maligo at abala siya ngayon sa pag-blow dry ng kanyang buhok sa harap ng vanity mirror. Nakasuot lamang siya ng bathrobe at prenteng nakaupo sa vanity chair. Sa totoo lang, sobra siyang natutuwa sa bago niyang anyo ngayon. She finally got her braces removed a few days ago after completing her treatment. Her big and thick eyeglasses are already discarded and she's now wearing a suitable frame for her heart-shaped face. She also wears contact lenses occasionally.

Ang bagong niyang hairstyle na straight cut hanggang sa kanyang bandang collarbone with matching curtain bangs ay sobrang bumagay sa kanyang mukha. Marami rin siyang biniling mga bagong damit kahapon at lahat iyon ay kinonsulta niya sa fashion experts ng bawat boutiques. She made sure that she bought clothes that will complement her voluptuous body. Ipapamigay niya ang mga dati niyang damit dahil wala na siyang balak pang isuot ang mga iyon. Nais niyang ipakilala ang bagong siya, hindi na ang dating old-fashion nerdy President ng Delgado Finest Winery.

She was never ugly, people who mocked her only dimmed her light which made her not even once think of dolling up herself. She’s always been beautiful—she just stopped hiding it.

“Here.” She startled as her male escort’s voice cut in, suddenly appearing out of nowhere before she’d even heard his footsteps.

Upon realizing it, he’s already standing right behind her. He’s admiringly looking at her through their reflection on the vanity mirror.

She slowly turned around and face him.

“What is it?” she asked calmly. She’s no longer stuttering.

“Your office clothes. Amber…” sumagot ito at biglang tumigil sa pagsasalita. Tumikhim ito bago muling nagpatuloy sa sasabihin. “…your secretary dropped it off.”

Napakunot siya ng noo. Muntik na nitong sabihin ang pangalan ng kanyang sekretarya. “Do you know each other?” Hindi tuloy niya napigilan ang sariling tanungin ito.

Nakita niyang medyo kinabahan ito. Is he hiding something? Naghagilap ito ng mga sasabihin. “I-I only met the two of you last night. I got to know her when we were on the way here in the hotel,” nakapagbigay din ito ng malinaw na sagot.

Tumango tango siya at nginitian ito. She took the paperbag from him and put it on the vanity table.

Aalis na sana ang binata ngunit tumayo siya at hinatak ito sa kamay nito. Napatigil ito sa paglalakad at muling humarap sa kanya.

Hindi niya alam kung anong espiritu ng katapangan ang sumanib sa katawang lupa niya. Bigla na lamang niyang niyakap ito. Tiningala niya ito at isang masaya’t kampanteng ngiti ang gumuhit sa kanyang mga labi. Nakita niyang natulala at hindi makapaniwala sa kanyang ginawa ang binata.

Noong makabawi sa pagkabigla ay niyakap siya nito pabalik.

“What’s happening?” lubos ang pagtataka nitong katanungan.

“Because you’re the third person who showed me kindness aside from my Mom and Amberlyn,” she immediately responded, those words came out from her heart. She felt his genuine care and respect for her.

His expression softened and he smiled back at her. His right hand caressed her back, tracing her spine up until he reached her nape and gently lead his fingertips cupping her cheek. His heavy gaze locked onto her lips. She noticed how new emotions rose upon his eyes, sharp and devouring like a starving man for years and had finally found her to satisfy him.

“Forgive me but I cannot control myself anymore,” he managed to choke out the words, his voice barely a quiet, desperate thread. In a single heartbeat, his lips captured hers in a kiss that stole the very air from her lungs. There was no hesitation, no fair warning—just the sudden heat of him closing the gap.

Her first kiss. Her mind emptied out completely.

She froze with her eyes wide open as she felt the surge of electricity shot from her lips down to her spine as his warm soft lips pressing against hers. She’s now drowned with the burning sensation she’s trying to control a while ago. He deepened the kiss, patiently yet thoroughly possessive, his lips moved slowly tracing the seam of her lips. She let her eyes fall shut, giving in entirely to his pace. Her arms wrapped around his neck. The moment her lips parted in invitation, he claimed her mouth, his tongue sweeping inside with a sharp, breathless hunger – turning the kiss into something thick and intoxicating.

She was completely consumed by the passionate fiery momentum between them. So lost in the kiss, she didn't even notice as he unknotted her bathrobe and taking it off her, exposing her nakedn*ss. In one fluid motion, his hands scooped around her th*ghs, lifting her effortlessly and laying her back against the mattress. The cool sheets hit her bare skin a second before the weight of his hand settled heavily over her bre*st, his fingers moulding over her skin with possessive warmth. Shock shattered the haze in an instant. Her eyes snapped open, a sharp gasp tore from her throat as her body jerked on instinct, her hand flew up—cracking violently across his face. A sharp slap that instantly broke the sweltering spell of their desire.

Nagulat siya sa kanyang ginawa. Ngunit mas inalala niya ang kahubd*n na nakatambad ngayon sa buong silid. Mabilis niyang hinaklit ang makapal na kumot ng kama at itinakip iyon sa kanyang hub*d na katawan. She sank down, pulling her knees tight against her chest and wrapping her arms around them like a shield.

“I’m sorry,” magkasabay nilang sambit matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan.

Nakayuko ang kanyang ulo. Hindi niya alam kung anong mukha ang ihaharap niya sa binata. Hindi na rin niya magawang magsalita pa. Prinoproseso niya nang maigi ang bawat pangyayari.

“I'm so sorry. I lost control, and I forgot to ask your permission—that was unforgivable. It won’t happen again,” mababanaag sa boses nito na sinsero ito at puno nang pagsisisi. Tumahimik ito saglit, inaarok kung may sasabihin din siya. “I made you breakfast, so please make sure you eat before you leave for work. I’m heading out now; I have a few things to handle,” muli itong nagsalita noong nanatili siyang walang imik.

Nahanap niya ang lakas ng loob na magbigay ng tugon bago pa man ito tuluyang makalabas sa pintuan. “T-Thank you!” She barked out a response, loud enough to stop him in his tracks. “I’m sorry about the slap! I just... I panicked. This is all my first time, and my instinct took over,” she stumbled through her justification, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“You have nothing to apologize for. That was all on me,” masuyo ang boses nitong pagtugon. “I have to go now, but I’ll see you again tonight.”

“Sandali,” pinigilan niya ang pag-alis ulit nito. “Ganito ka ba sa lahat ng kliyente mo? Hindi ako naniniwalang wala kang napaibig ni isa sa kanila,” sa wakas ay naitanong na rin niya ang bagay na kanina pa hindi mapakali sa kanyang isipan.

“You are my first client, Ms. Delgado.” He shot a glance at her over his shoulder and flashed her a wink before he disappeared, making her cheeks burning crimson.

Napadasal na lamang siya sa Panginoon na kung panaginip ito ay sana hindi na siya magising. She found the perfect man!

But wait—she’d completely forgotten to ask his name!