Jake and Shelly had dined out and palabas na sila ng restaurant ng may makasalubong silang tatlong babae na papasok naman.
"Jake!" maarteng tawag ng isa.
Mukha silang mga socialites base sa tingin ni Shelly.Maybe kasing-age niya or matanda sa kanya ng konti.The one who called Jake is petite and has a pretty face.May hitsura din yung dalawa na nagbubulungan habang grabeng makatingin kay Jake.Kung hindi nagtitimpi si Shelly baka nadukot na niya ang mga mata ng maaarteng babae.
"Kumusta Yza?" Jake asked the woman.
"Heto okay lang." nakangiting sabi nito while eyeing Shelly.
Then binalik niya ang tingin nito kay Jake and in a sweet voice said,"I am pretty sure na nagkita na kayo ni Cassie.So how are things going with you guys?Okay na ba kayo ulit?"
Jake cleared his throat.
He took Shelly's hand and said."Yza,I want you to meet Shelly,my girlfriend.Babe,this is Yza..err..a friend's friend." pakilala ni Jake.
Her heart skipped a beat.Kinilig siya sa ginawang pagpapakilala sa kanya ni Jake as girlfriend sa maarteng babae kahit wala man lang bahid na gulat na nag-register sa mukha ni Yza.In fairness ngitinitian lang siya ng tipid na sinuklian din niya.
"Babe,I'll just get the car." Jake said then kissed the top of her head.
"Go ahead.Ako na muna ang bahala sa..ahhh..girlfriend mo." Nakangiting sabi ni Yza.
."Will you be alright babe?" tanong ng nobyo sa kanya.
"Gosh Jake! Para namang kakainin ko ang gf mo." Yza chuckled.
Shelly reassured him that she'll be okay.
"Okay,nice seeing you again Yza.I'll be back for my woman." Paalam nito.
Yza just gave Jake a sugary smile.
Halos kakalayo pa lang nito when Yza said while looking at Shelly ,"So ikaw pala ang latest ni Jake.Hindi na ako nagulat.Well I must say na maganda ka.Pero just a piece of advice,girl.Don't fall for him.On and off sila ni Cassie but we all know na sila pa din talaga sa huli.Nasanay na si Cassie na pag cool- off sila,nag gi-girlfriend si Jake.Pastime niya."
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They were already inside the car but nag-eecho pa din sa isip ni Shelly ang sinabi ni Yza. And Jake noticed na kanina pa siya tahimik.
"Babe?" When the traffic light turned red, kinuha nito ang kamay niya
."Are you okay?" may bahid na pag-aalala sa boses nito.
Shelly was looking straight ahead,without turning her head she said,"I'm okay.Pagod lang siguro ako."
"I hope you're not too tired for later,babe." He said hoarsel before kissing her hand na hindi na nito binitawan.Kahit nag-shishift ito ng gear,hawak niya ang kamay ng dalaga.
"Babe," she remembered to remind him about tomorrow night's party kina Pat.Kahit nagseselos siya kay Cassie, she needs to act as though okay lang ang lahat.
"Hmm?" tinignan siya ng malagkit ni Jake,then his eyes came back on the road.
"Bukas na kasi yung party kina Pat.Di ba anniversary ng magulang niya?"
"Err..about that babe,sorry meron kaming clients na kailangan ilabas bukas." Jake said with a heavy sigh.
Shelly doesn't know if he's telling the truth or not.Hindi niya masisi ang sarili niya.Sa dami ng mga nangyayari,hindi na niya alam kung ano ang totoo.
"Ah okay.But I have to be there babe." She said tonelessly.
Silence.
She is worried na baka hindi siya payagan ni Jake na umalis mag-isa.
Finally Jake said,"Okay mang Eddie will drive you.Tapos ako na ang susundo sayo."
"No it's okay babe.Kahit si mang Eddie na din ang sumundo.I don't want to take you away from your clients." She tried her best to make her voice normal.
"No.Ako ang susundo sayo." He said in a clipped tone.
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Nag-reready na si Shelly para sa party kina Pat.It's 5:00PM,sabi ni Pat dapat 6 andun na siya.
She's a bit pissed dahil iniisip niya na hindi clients ang ilalabas ni Jake mamaya kundi ang babaeng anaconda.So she decided na magpapaganda siya talaga ngayon.She wants to boost her self-esteem.Kung totoo na pampalipas lang siya ng oras ni Jake,then she will show him what he'll be missing pag iniwan siya nito.She decided to have fun tonight.
She used a curling iron to curl the ends of her hair.Hinayaan lang niyang nakalugay ang buhok after that.Since gabi naman,she decided to put on make up. Naka black one-piece siya na hanggang itaas ng tuhod.Sleeveless ito na lalong nagpatingkad sa mapuputi at makikinis niyang braso.She is wearing black strappy heels which emphasize her sexy calves.She had her nails and toenails done a few hours ago.Dark red ang pinalagay niyang polish.She sprayed on Incanto Shine by Salvatore Ferragamo.She wants to look and smell ravishing.
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Nag-uumpisa na ang party sa bahay nila Pat when Shelly came.Pat's parents have a gravel and sand business.Contractor ang mga magulang nito kaya maganda ang buhay nila.
Maaliwalas ang hardin nila so the party is held there. Punong-puno ng ibat-ibang kulay na ilaw ang garden. The night is cool and comfortable.Madami dami na din ang mga bisita.Kulay pink and blue ang cover ng mga lamesa and upuan.
Alex and Pat are having a conversation malapit sa entrance ng garahe.Ayaw pang kumain ni Alex dahil gusto daw niyang hintayin si Shelly.
Nakasuot ito ng dark blue na long-sleeve at black na jeans.He looks so good na halos kinikilig ang mga bisitang babae habang nakatingin sa binata.
"Salamat talaga Patricia ha? Buti napapayag mo siya na pumuntang mag-isa.I owe you big time." Nakangiting sabi nito kay Pat.
"Sus basta ikaw baby Alex! Tsaka swerte lang talaga na hindi pwede si papa Jake.Kaya sulitin mo na ha?" sabay hampas sa balikat ng binata.
"Pat!" a sweet female voice called.
Sabay napatingin sila Alex at Pat sa dumating.
“SHIT!” Alex murmured.
Shelly looks gorgeous.She's perfect from head to toe.Maybe she is still a few feet away from them but Alex can breathe in her lovely scent.It wakes a lot of feelings inside him.Desire,lust….
"OMG bestie!! Ang ganda ganda mo lalo sobra!!" tili ni Pat.
Shelly looked at Pat and then at Alex. She almost gasped..Anak ng tofu! Ang guwapo ni Alex.
"Hi Alex." Bati niya sa binata na titig na titig sa kanya.
He slowly came to her and said,"Hello Shelly." While looking intently at her.
Nagtitigan sila na para bang walang ibang tao sa paligid.
"Ahem!" sabat ni Pat after several moments.
"Bestie halika muna kina mama at papa mahirap na.Baka hindi mo na sila mabati niyan eh.Baby Alex,hiramin ko muna sandali ha? Tapos masosolo mo na siya ng buong gabi promise!" panunukso ni Pat.
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Inip na inip na si Jake.Halos si Thomas ang pinapagsalita niya sa harap ng mga kliyente.He is pissed.Ayaw niyang isipin na nagpuntang mag-isa sa party si Shelly.Kung hindi lang nagpaparinig si Thomas kahapon pa, hindi na siya sasama sa dinner na ito.
He looked at his watch 7:30PM.May isang oras na pala silang nag-uusap-usap.He excused himself.He said he needs to make a call.He went outside the hotel.Kailangan niyang tawagan si Shelly dahil hindi siya mapakali.
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"Happy birthday ulit Alex.Sorry wala akong gift sayo."Shelly said.
Nakaupo sila sa bandang likuran ng hardin.Si Alex ang pumili ng lamesa.Para wala daw istorbo.helly knows she's playing with fire but nag-eenjoy siyang kausap ang guwapong binata.
"You have given me the best gift by being here with me Shelly." Sabi nito sa paos na boses.
"Baby Alex!" tawag ni Pat para ipakuha ang dala-dala nitong dessert para sa kanila.
"Sandali lang ha?" malambing na paalam ni Alex.
Dun naman nag-ring ang phone ni Shelly.She looked at the caller's name.Si Jake.
"Babe," she answered
"How's the party?Madami bang bisita?" came her bf’s slightly annoyed voice.
'Okay lang babe.How's dinner? Is it good?" She tried to sound casual.
"Anong suot mo?" biglang tanong nito.
Naisip niya na inisin si Jake kasi nagseselos siya pag na-iimagine niya na si Cassie ang kasama nito.
"I'll show you na lang babe.Tamad akong mag-describe.Just check your Viber after a minute." She ended the call.
She stood up and she made sure na nasa maliwanag siya ang maganda ang lighting.She took a selfie of herself.Then she sent the picture sa Viber ni Jake.Makabawi man lang daw siya sa nobyo kahit konti.She turned off her phone as she smiled sa paparating na si Alex.
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Jake's face turned red ng makita niya ang pinadalang picture ng nobya.
She is wearing a very sexy dress.
"PUTANGNA!" mura niya.
He called Thomas.
"Jake? Asan ka na?" Thomas asked.
"I have to go.Kaya mo na yan." He said coldly then ended the call.
Like a thunder he got in his car.Mapapaaga ang sundo niya kay Shelly.