All Chapters of Caged by Desire: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

By the time umuwi si Selene, pagod na pagod na siya. Hindi dahil sa work. Dahil sa mental gymnastics na ginawa niya buong araw trying not to think about Drake. Which, of course, meant she thought about him non-stop. Great job, utak. Really helpful. Pagbukas niya ng apartment door, nakita niya si Mika. Sitting on her couch. With two bags of takeout food and a bottle of wine. "Surprise!" sabi ni Mika, ngumingiti. "I know you said you were tired, pero I figured you needed this more than sleep." Natawa si Selene. Kahit pagod, grateful siya. "You're the best." "I know," sabi ni Mika, tumayo, lumapit. "Now sit. Eat. Tell me everything about your day." Umupo si Selene. Kinuha yung chopsticks. Started eating yung Korean fried chicken na dala ni Mika. "So," sabi ni Mika, pouring wine for both of them, "meeting went well, sabi mo. That's good news, diba?" "Yeah," sabi ni Selene. "They loved the design. Dad was very impressed." "Dad?" "Mr. Valencia. The client." "Oh. So

Hindi umabot si Selene sa elevator. Kasi before pa siya makaabot dun, narinig niya yung footsteps sa likod niya. "Selene, wait!" It was Drake. "I said we're done," sabi ni Selene nang hindi tumitigil sa paglakad. "Just—fuck—just wait!" Huminto si Selene saka siya humarap dito. "What?!" Nandun si Drake, halos wala nang distance sa pagitan nila. Frustrated at galit. Pero pansin niyang parang may iba pa. Guilty. "I shouldn't have said that," sabi niya. "Yung last part. That was—that was out of line." "You think?" sarcastic na sabi ni Selene. "I'm sorry." "Oh, you're sorry. Great. Okay na lahat." "Selene—" "Stop calling me that," putol niya. "We're not friends. We're not—we're nothing. So it's MS. FLORES. Or better yet, don't call me at all." "You know I can't do that." "Why not?" "Because we have to work together!" "Then WORK with me!" sigaw ni Selene, at ayos lang, wala siyang pakialam kung may makarinig. "Stop acting like you know better than me! Stop

Mabilis na dumating ang Martes, parang nakikipagsabwatan ang universe para guluhin ang mental preparation ko. Pakiramdam ko, pati ang oras ay nakikipag-team up kay Drake para lang ma-off balance ako. ​Nag-drive ako papunta sa site sa Makati nang mas maaga kaysa sa dapat. Ayaw ko kasing nalalate. Kapag late, nagmamadali. Kapag nagmamadali, natataranta. At kapag natataranta, nagiging vulnerable—at iyon ang huling bagay na gusto kong mangyari sa harap ni Drake. Lalo na pagkatapos ng elevator confrontation namin at nung mga email na parang coded messages ng mga spy. ​Nasa prime location ang site, malapit sa Ayala Triangle. Malawak na lote na punong-puno ng potential. Wala pang structure, puro lupa pa lang na napapalibutan ng chain-link fence at mga safety warnings. Pero may nakalagay na doong malaking signage: "Future site of Valencia Hotel Manila." ​Pagkababa ko ng kotse, suot ko na ang "Architect look" ko. Bright yellow hard hat, safety boots na kahit luma na ay mukhang professional

HINDI ko na alam kung ano ang nangyari sa akin.​Seriously.​Hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit bigla akong naging ganito—yung tipong nagpapakipot pero deep inside, excited na excited. Yung tipong ayaw pero gusto. Yung tipong takot pero willing to risk it.​What the hell happened to the Selene na buo ang loob na hindi na mag-rerelasyon? Yung Selene na determined na mag-focus sa career? Yung Selene na swore off men after the Tristan disaster?​Nandun pa ba siya o kinain na siya nang buo ng feelings na 'to para kay Drake?​Tangina talaga.​Maya-maya lang, nag-text na si Mika. Nabalitaan niya siguro sa isa naming common friend na may nakakita sa amin ni Drake sa isang café.​Mika: SELENE MARIE FLORES. EXPLAIN. NOW.Mika: May nakita si Jenny na magkasama raw kayo ng isang gwapo sa café near Makati. SPILL.Mika: Wag mo akong i-seen. I know you're reading this.​Napangiti ako despite myself. Si Mika talaga, walang filter. Walang chill. Kapag usapang chismis, aggressive ang approach.​Me: Site

​Dinala niya ako sa loob, pero hindi sa living room ang punta namin. Dinala niya ako sa likod, sa isang pintuan na pagbukas ko ay ikinagulat ko. ​It was an art studio. May drafting table, architecture books, at sketches sa dingding. ​"You drew this?" tanong ko, nakaturo sa isang sketch ng hotel. ​"I did. Architecture was my first love before business. I still design as a hobby." ​Namangha ako. "This is good. Really good." ​"I wanted you to see the real me," he said, stepping closer. "Not just the businessman, but Drake. The guy who pa rin dreams in blueprints." ​I smiled. "I like this Drake." ​"Yeah?" ​"Yeah. This Drake is less annoying." ​Matapos ang mahabang usapan at kape, naupo kami sa living room habang pinapanood ang sunset. ​"Why me?" tanong ko sa kanya. "You could have anyone. Why the girl who keeps pushing you away?" ​"Because you're real," seryosong sagot niya. "Everyone else sees the money and the name. But you? You chose me because of who I was that night. You c