Delectable Men 2: Brentford Montgomery

Chapter 4

"Sigurado kayo na nasa tamang lugar tayo?" Brent looked around the run-down bar and shook his head. "Hindi naman siguro siya dito nagsasayaw."

"Dinoble ko pa nga sa pag check 'yong address," napakunot-noo na saad ni Wendy. "Ito nga iyon."

"Looks like there's an upstairs section to this place." Itinuro ni Emmy 'yong hagdan sa kabilang banda ng silid.

A single guy sat in the middle of the stage, playing an opm song, his voice not quite up at par. The bottom half of the bar was crowded and Brent stayed close to his girl friends, given a few of the patrons were looking at them a little too closely for his liking. Nakipagsiksikan naman sila sa crowd hanggang sa marating nga nila 'yong nasabing hagdan.

The music changed from opm to a more sensual bass-heavy grind. Nang tuluyan na silang makaakyat sa ikalawang palapag ng bar, sumalubong agad sa kanila ang nakapalibot na kalalakihan sa isang maliit na entablado, habang may nagsasayaw naman na isang redhead dancer sa isang pole sa gitna ng entablado. Nakasuot ang dancer na iyon ng isang glittering na blue bikini na pinaresan nito ng mataas na heels.

"Baka nagkamali talaga tayo ng pinasukang lugar." Napahilot si Brent sa kanyang sentido.

Napakibit-balikat naman si Wendy at tila nalilito na rin.

Charmel was a magnificent dancer - he'd often sneaked away from his duties just to stalked Charmel during her practice. She had innate skill and passion when she danced, no matter if it was in studio or in the dance floor. Hindi nga niya maintindihan kung bakit sinayang ng dalaga ang buong oras nito sa pagsasayaw lang.

The redhead dancer left the stage to a roar of approval from the crowd and the music faded from one song to the next. His eyes were riveted to the space between the red curtains at the back of the stage. Napalunok naman siya nang lumabas na ang susunod na dancer na mag pe-perform. Akala niya noong una na namalik-mata lang siya, pero kitang-kita ngayon sa dalawang mga mata niya kung sino talaga ang nakikita niya.

No one else had a pair of legs like hers - so long and lean and mouth-watering flexible. She took her time coming to the front of the stage, her hips swinging in time to the music. Each step forward revealed a little more as she approached the spotlight. Long dark hair tumbled in messy waves around her shoulders, swishing as she moved. Ngunit napansin niya na tila nagpapa-tan ngayon ng balat ang dalaga.

Her eyes seemed to focus on nothing, and the dark make-up made her look even more fierce, sexier, and seductive. A jolt of arousal shot through him, burning and making his skin prickle with awareness.

Tila yata nanaginip lang siya. It was the only plausible explanation for how he'd ended up in this hellish alternative universe where he was forced to watch his deepest fantasy come to life right in front of him. Hindi talaga nawala sa isip niya ang dalaga simula noong naisayaw niya ito sa isang bar, at ngayon nakita niya na ulit ang babaeng pinagpantasyahan niya sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Subalit ang hindi niya nagustohan ay ang mga lalaking nakapalibot nito na kung makatingin ang mga ito kay Charmel, para itong isang napakasarap na putahe na inihain sa hapag-kainan.

Napakuyom na lang siya ng mga kamao at pilit na kino-kontrol ang sarili upang hindi siya makasugod sa entablado at buhatin ang dalaga palayo sa lugar na iyon. Ngunit napag-isip din niya na hindi siya responsable sa kung anuman ang gagawin nito, at mabuti na rin itong may distansya sila sa isa't isa. He'd learnt that lesson already.

A wolf-whistle erupted from the crowd, snatching Brent's attention away from his inner turmoil. Charmel had one hand on the pole, and though she wasn't using it as a prop, the way her fingers slid up and down the silver length made the front of his pants tighten. Ipinikit muna niya ang mga mata ng ilang sandali, at pilit niyang iwinawaksi sa isipan ang pagnanasang nadarama. He shouldn't be feeling as if he wanted to steal her away and devour her whole...pero ginagawa na nga niya ito sa isipan niya.

Nang muli niyang buksan ang mga mata nagkasalubong naman ang mga titig nila ni Charmel. Emotion flickered across her face and her mouth snapped shut as she continued to dance, her eyes locked straight onto him.

Imahinasyon lang kaya niya ang lahat ng ito? Pero bakit tila yata namumulang masyado ang mukha nito? For a moment he let himself believe she danced only for him, each gentle curve of movement designed to bring him undone.

And in that moment, she was his.

Habang nagsasayaw ito ng nakapaa, tila yata pagmamay-ari nito ang buong entablado. Her feet pointed and flexed, creating lines and artful movement. Her arms floated above her head, crossing at the wrists before opening out into a graceful arc. Brent's body hummed as though she played him with each step, with each look, each flick of her hair.

Nakatuon lang naman ang mga mata nito sa kanya. Na tila yata inaakit siya nito.

She really capsized him. Bewitched him. Her eyes glimmered under the spotlight, energy building with the climax of her performance. His body tensed and excitement wound tight within him. Para yatang anumang oras ay malalabasan na siya. It was so wrong. Akala ba niya na tuluyan na siyang naka-move on dito. Matagal na kasing hindi na sila nagkita pa. Ngunit ang totoo, hindi naman talaga nawala si Charmel sa pantasya niya. Never.

Nabalik lamang siya sa presensya niya nang matapos 'yong kantang pinatugtog para rito. Her eyes locked on him for one final moment before she retreated behind the red curtain. The catcalls and cheering only made Brent's pulse increase and tension tighten in his limbs. Hindi ito dapat nagsasayaw sa lugar na gaya nito. Nakapag-asawa na kaya ito? Nasaan na kaya ang asawa nito na dapat sana ito ang magprotekta rito?

"Hindi talaga ito ang inaasahan ko," sabi ni Wendy, nagpalipat-lipat ito ng tingin kina Emmy at Brent. "I mean, she's a gorgeous dancer...but this place is..."

"Wrong." Brent gritted his teeth together.

"Wag nga kayong judgmental," napahalukipkip na wika ni Emmy. "Titingnan ko muna kung anong oras siya matatapos dito."

Emmy wandered off in the direction of the stage but Brent hung back with the others. Thompson and Jenny were chatting and laughing amongst themselves; Wendy and Jessie were discussing the outfit of the next performer. Brent leant back against the wall and ran a hand through his hair. His heart thudded an erratic beat and he wasn't sure if it was from the desire to protect Charmel or from the fact that her skimpy black outfit had worked his libido into overdrive.

Ang totoo, concern lang talaga siya sa dalaga over sa safety nito. Pawang mga babae ang kapatid niya kaya hindi niya maatim na pagmasdan ito sa ganitong senaryo. Sure he was attracted to Charmel - sino namang lalaking hindi ma a-attract sa alindog nito, di ba? But it was nothing more than that. It had never been more than that.

Somehow the lie was no more believable now than it had been five years ago.

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