Sheer Temptation [Very Slow Updates]

XIII

The cold winds did not help Stefan calm himself as he waited for Desa downstairs of her apartment. It was the first night of their agreement and yet he could still not contain himself from thinking about his decisions and sudden meddling.

Kung nalaman niya lang noong una pa na ito ang fiancee ng kanyang pinakamamahal na kapatid, malamang sa malamang ay hindi niya hahayaan ang sarili na maging interesado sa babae. But regrets did really come late because he was now invested. On her.

"Kanina ka pa ba d'yan, Mr. Meyer? May inayos lang ako sa trabaho—"

The world fell on a stop. He felt that the moment he threw his gaze in her direction. Desa was wearing a red spaghetti strap dress and white heeled sandals. Small handbag. Hair let loose. And to his strange dismay, the emerald engagement ring of his brother on her finger.

"I just got here," pag-iiba niya ng usapan. "Sorry for the late notice. Alam ko na ang sabi ko e sa Red Angel tayo magkikita pero may emergency kaya naman..." Tumikhim siya. "You followed my instructions. Good."

Tipid lang itong ngumiti at sumakay na sa kanyang sasakyan. "Well, you told me that I should follow your demands. Tingin mo ba e may choice ako?"

Pagak siyang natawa. "You have no choice, darling."

The drive was silent. Awkward even, which was understandable for Stefan. Ano naman kasi ang sasabihin niya sa future hipag niyang bi-na-blackmail niya? Ang pangit naman kung magkukumustahan sila na parang close sila. And besides, what he was really after was the s*x, right?

Lust and s*x. It was his first agenda when he decided to blackmail her. As wrong as it sounds, Stefan knew to himself that maybe through that way she would decide to leave Seb for him and then he would reject her, to avenge his brother. Ngunit ngayon pa lang ay nakikita niya na na hindi iyon gagana dahil habang nasa sasakyan ay ka-chat nito ang kanyang nakakatandang kapatid at pangiti-ngiti pa ang kanyang katabi.

Which, again, strangely made him feel some heavy and strong sensations in his chest.

"I have a request, Mr. Meyer."

Saglit niya itong sinulyapan. "What is it?"

"Can we finish early tonight so I can go home early? Seb's expecting me to be up at 8 AM because he's going to pick me up—"

"Uuwi ka kapag sinabi kong uuwi ka na, Ms. Moreno. Not because I'm being lenient on you means that I'm going to let you go off the hook," pagtataas niya ng tinig habang nararamdaman ang biglang pag-akyat ng inis at galit sa kanyang ulo. Nang makita niya na tila ba natakot ang dalaga sa kanyang inakto ay nagpakawala siya ng malalim na buntong-hininga at itinabi ang sasakyan sa gilid ng daan. They were at the highest part of X, and also the most secluded one. Tanaw roon ang buong siyudad at nakaramdam siya ng sundot sa kanyang puso na siguro ay dapat niyang dalhin ang dalaga roon.

Binuksan niya ang pinto bago sinulyapan ang dalaga. "We're here. Sorry for shouting."

Saglit muna siyang lumigid sa likuran at kinuha ang paper bag na mula sa isang convenient store. Naglakad siya patungo sa unahan ng sasakyan at naupo sa hood niyon. Nang makalapit si Desa sa kanya ay inalok niya ito ng hotdog sandwich na kanyang binili. Nang kuhanin nito ang isa ay kumuha naman siya ng light beer upang inumin bago inalok ang kasama. Katulad kanina ay hindi ito tumanggi.

"So... Why did you bring me here?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, I just felt like it. I wanted to unwind, and my bandmates were with their partners so I'm left alone... Wala naman akong ibang maisip na kukulitin kung hindi ikaw, Desarae. Considering that you owe me a huge favor." He softly laughed. "Well... you did come and dressed up, so..."

"Ah, galing ako sa dinner with Seb. Kaya ganito ang suot ko."

Dismaya. Paulit-ulit man ay hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili na madismaya sa tuwing naririnig ang pangalan ng kanyang sariling kapatid. Bakit? Hindi niya alam. He could not even justify his own actions right now. Tila ba simula noong nakilala niya si Desarae ay nawala sa sariling orbit ang planeta niya kaya ngayon ay kakaiba ang kanyang inaakto at nararamdaman. "How's my brother? You're not hurting him, are you?"

Natawa ang dalaga. "Why the hell would I hurt Sebastian? He's my fiance! I would never want to hurt him." Nabahiran ng lungkot ang tinig nito. "Seb's... really making an effort. The least I can do is to let him win me over."

Lumagok siya ng beer para alisin ang pamamait sa kanyang lalamunan. "No offense, Des, but... if you don't love my brother then why don't you just leave? Was it really that hard for you to do that?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang ang dalaga. "Look, Mr. Meyer. Marami akong rason. And besides, Seb would really be devastated if I decide to leave him, y'know?"

"Yeah, I get you, Des. But... if you say that my brother is really loving and caring and all the s**t, then why can't you make yourself fall for him?"

She sighed. "Don't judge me, Stefan. Marami pa akong gustong gawin bago maikasal. Seb's the ideal, I know... But if he came at the wrong time, he would still be the wrong person."

Saglit silang natahimik. Hindi niya malaman kung dahil ba sa kakaiba ang atmospera noong gabing iyon, o dahil... hindi niya inaasahan na kalmante ang kanilang pag-uusap noong gabing iyon. He expected the cold shoulder but maybe Seb was right. He was just misjudging her...

Or worse, he was starting to become more than invested in her.

"My brother's the golden boy between the two of us. Ako 'yong black sheep," pambabasag niya sa katahimikan. "Nag-e-effort talaga siya para lang magustuhan ng ibang tao. Ako? I don't give a sh*t about other people's judgement about me so maybe that's why they thought I grew up rebellious. But trust me, I'd rather become like this than become like my brother Seb... Slave to other people's opinions."

Sinulyapan niya si Desa. May tipid na ngiting nakapinta sa mga labi nitong hindi niya malaman kung sarkastiko ba o nanunuya. "I'm... more like Seb. I guess you could tell that, Mr. Meyer—"

Self control. That was what Stefan lacks. He had no self control and obviously, he acted once again without thinking. Hinawakan niya ito sa batok at hinila para hagkan. Saglit na may kumawalang mahinang protesta mula sa mga labi ng dalaga ngunit kaagad din iyong nakulong sa loob ng kanyang mga labi. He just could not stop. It was as if... Desa's lips had some glue on them that stopped him from moving away. At hindi man lang bumilang ng ilang segundo, namalayan niya na lamang ang sarili niya na binababa ang strap ng bestidang suot nito.

"Stefan, we're... Baka may makakita..."

He smirked before playfully biting her lips. "Next on my brother's bucket list... Outdoor sex."

Bahagya siya nitong itinulak. "Are you insane? Why the hell would I—"

Mahina siyang tumawa at marahang inihiga ang dalaga sa ibabaw ng hood ng kanyang sasakyan. He gazed at those brown eyes, dazzled and confused at the same time. Alam niya na sa puntong ito ay mas tinutulungan niya lang ang dalaga na maintindihan ang kanyang nakakatandang kapatid. Alam niya rin na hindi magtatagumpay ang plano niya na ilayo ito sa kanyang Kuya Seb ngunit hindi niya mapigilan ang kanyang sarili. Desa was something else. Something... irresistible. With her innocent gaze, her innocent smile and innocent voice, she was a nectar to him. To the irresponsible, rebellious him.

And he would never admit that.

"I thought you want to understand my brother more, Miss Moreno?"

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi nito. "Look, Stefan... If that includes the part where I have s*x with you for thirty nights, I... don't think I would understand Sebastian more. You're just going to make me feel more confused and worse, I might hurt him—"

"You must be wondering right now, why you, am I right?" Hinaplos niya ang pisngi nito, pababa, patungo sa pagitan ng dibdib ng dalaga. "I wanted the exact thing that you said, Desa. I want you to get confused, to hurt my brother and leave him because I f*cking know that you can't love him. You'll just... Burn each other out. And..."

"And?"

Bumuka ang kanyang bibig para magsalita. It might be a better thing if he would say that he got attracted to her, right? So atleast she would not think of him as an asshole and that would explain the s*x part but before he could even talk, her phone rang.

It was Seb.

Kaagad siyang itinulak palayo ni Desa at bumangon. Inayos ng dalaga ang suot nito at sinagot ang tawag ng kanyang kapatid. "Hello, Seb? Oh, you're on your way to my apartment? Sure, I'll be there. Lumabas lang ako saglit. Yes. See you, handsome..."

Hindi niya na hinintay na utusan siya ng dalaga. Kaagad na siyang sumakay sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan at hinayaan ito na pumasok sa loob. That was dumb of him. Momentarily dumb. If his plan works well, either he would help his brother's future wife to make him happy, or he would show his saintly brother that he was being blinded by love and that he was better off with someone who truly loves him, given his special condition.

So why do you feel jealous over the fact that she was prioritizing Seb? Isn't that what you want? To protect and ensure his happiness?