1 - She's Back

“You really drive me insane, Elora!” halos pasigaw na ungol ng lalaki, paos at garalgal na parang mababaliw sa bawat madiing indyak ng katawan ng babae na walang tigil na sumasalubong sa kanya.

Elora only moved harder, grinding him mercilessly, her hips rolling in a slow yet wicked rhythm na halos mawalan na siya ng hininga, as though every gasp was his last.

Pareho silang hubo’t hubad at kahit na malamig ang buong silid, para bang naglalagablab ang init sa pagitan nila. Pawis ay dumadaloy sa bawat kurba ng katawan, habang ang mga ungol, halinghing, at tunog ng kanilang pagsasalpukan ay bumabalot sa paligid.

Clyde Rio Illustre—handsome, powerful, dangerously irresistible—was a man no one could ever resist. CEO ng isang French perfume empire, every move, every touch exuded dominance and temptation. Sino ba ang makakatanggi sa kaniya? Kahit si Elora, isang simpleng sekretarya lang, ay tuluyang nahulog sa kanyang halina.

Her moans echoed, unrestrained, habang mas lalo niyang diniinan ang bawat indyak, testing his control, pushing him to the edge. Clyde’s fingers dug deeper into her waist, leaving faint marks of possession, as if branding her as his alone.

“Elora…” ungol niya, halos wala ng boses na lumabas sa kanyang bibig. His eyes filled with desires as he kept looking at Elora’s faint yet beautiful face. 

Napahawak siya sa bewang ng babae, mas hinigpitan ang hawak para mas pabilisin at lumalim ang bawat galaw ni Elora sa kanyang ibabaw, kasabay no’n ang bawat ungol ng babae na tila ba musika sa pandinig ni Clyde. He grinned wider.

Clyde wasn’t about to surrender. Nang malapit nang labasan si Elora ay naramdaman iyon ni Clyde kaya naman ay mabilis niyang niyakap ang katawan ng babae at pinagpalit ang kanilang katawan.

“Now,” he growled huskily against her ear, lips brushing her skin, “it’s my turn to make you lose your mind.”

Clyde’s now on the lead. Pero bago niya pa ipasok ng tuluyan ang kanyang ari sa loob ni Elora, kinuha niya ang condom na kanina pa nag-aantay na gamitin.

“Fvk, Clyde!” dismayang saad ni Elora. She was about to reach it, kaya bakit kailangan pang huminto ng lalaki?

Napatawa si Clyde. “Relax, baby,” he whispered. “I need to use protection first.”

Elora’s heart sank. Sa tuwing nalalapit na nilang maabot ang dulo ay palagi na lang tumitigil si Clyde para isuot ang condom at palaging naiinis si Elora sa tuwing makikita iyon. She had dreamed of carrying his child, of binding him to her not just with passion, but with love and blood.

Sa tatlong taon, Elora had been nothing more that Clyde’s loyal secretary. Pero lahat ng iyon ay nagbago nang gabing na-promote si Clyde bilang CEO, ang pumalit sa matanda na nitong ama. 

Masyadong naglasing si Elora nang gabing pinagdadaos ang importanteng selebrasyon—she was too drunk to stand on her own. Kaya naman ay inihatid siya ni Clyde sa kanyang bahay. What should have been a simple act of kindness turned into the night that changed everything.

That night, sa mismong apartment niya, hinalikan siya mismo ni Clyde. And when she didn’t resist, their lips turned into fire. That was the night their affair began—unexpected yet deliberate, unforgettable and she didn’t regret it. Para sa kanya pa ay isa iyong monumental—dahil binigay niya ang lahat ng una niya sa kanyang boss na si Clyde, maging ang kanyang kainosentehan at puso.

Simula ng gabing iyon, hindi na sila mapaghiwalay. In the office, they were boss and secretary. But behind closed doors, they were lovers who couldn’t resist each other’s pull.

“Bakit kailangan mo pang gumamit ng ganyan?” iritableng tanong ni Elora. Nag-angat ito ng tingin at napatitig sa ginagawa ni Clyde—ang pagpasok ng condom sa alaga nito.

Napatingin si Clyde sa kanya. “I can’t take any risks, baby,” he replied with a soft smile. “My wedding to Iris is in three months. I don’t want to impregnate you and ruin everything.”

Tila may mainit na kamay ang humaplos sa puso ni Elora—hindi dahil sa init ng pagmamahal, kundi sa galit, inis at selos.

Alam niya sa sarili niya na kabit lang siya. Clyde’s shadow. A secret lover—or parausan lamang. Yet, she still gave in every time Clyde wanted her.

His fiancée, Iris, was the woman he would proudly stand beside. And she… she was just the woman he came to in the dark.

Kagat-labi ng napatitig si Elora sa kisame, pinipigilan ang sarili mapaluha. Napakasakit. Pero tiniis niya dahil ito ang pinili niya. Pero umaasa siya na sana dumating ang araw na siya ang piliin ng taong minamahal niya—kung darating pa ba ang araw na iyon.

Matapos ang mainit na pagsasama, parehong napabagsak sa kama silang dalawa sa secret apartment ni Clyde. A place no one knew existed except the two of them. For Elora, it was their paradise, but for Clyde, it was just convenience.

Isinandal ni Elora ang kanyang ulo sa matipuno at matigas na dibdib ng lalaki. She gently caressed it with her fingers, and asked, “Do you love me?”

Napatigil si Clyde sa pagsusuklay ng buhok ni Elora. “What’s the point of asking that, Elora?” His tone is calm, yet sharp. “You knew love has no place in this relationship.” 

Her lips trembled. “Pero… Paano ‘yong mga oras na magkasama…” natigilan siya. Not daring to continue her words. 

Clyde’s temper was sharp. At hindi niya kakayaning makitang galit ang lalaki sa kanya, kaya mas pinili niyang patahimikin ang sinisigaw ng kanyang puso.

“Sorry…” bulong nito saka pilit na napangiti. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Maybe it’s just… hormones. My period is coming soon.”

“It’s okay,” Clyde replied with a sigh, lighting a cigarette. “Women are always like that. Too emotional.”

Napakagat ng labi si Elora na napatitig kay Clyde. It was his signal—the night was over. No second round. No cuddling. Just smoke, silence, and her empty heart.

Tumayo si Elora, ang hubad nitong balingkinitan na katawan ay natatamaan ng malamlam na ilaw. Kita ang kurbada ng kanyang katawan, ang malaking hinaharap at maging pwetan, klase ng katawan na kinahuhumalingan ng mga kalalakihan.

Lumakad ito papunta sa pintuan ng banyo, at bago pa siya tuluyang makapasok, nilingon niya si Clyde na may panunuyang ngiti. “Aren’t you going to join me?” 

Clyde shook his head, bit irritated, then he replied flatly. “No, sa office na ako maliligo. Iris will be here in an hour. Kaya kailangan ko nang bumalik.” 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Elora. “Your… fiance is coming?” 

“Not coming,” Clyde corrected, locking his dark eyes with hers. “She’s back. And this time… she’s not leaving again.”