Her Greatest Lust

Chapter 6

"So the cold doctor struck  again?" asked Paolo with a sympathetic smile.

Nasa kotse sila nito.Natawa ng mapakla si Lexi.She wiped her eyes   with the tissue na binigay ng doktor.

"Sorry." she said after blowing her nose.

Nahihiyang tinignan siya ni Lexi.Nangiti si Paolo  which made him more handsome.

He likes her.She is natural.Walang arte..but very lovely.

"Women still fall for his  good-looks and his suplado aura." naiiling na sabi pa ni Paolo.

Kumunot ang noo ni Lexi.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

He leaned on his seat.

"Are you sure you don't want to go anywhere?" he asked while he looks at her.

She just shook her head.

"In 5 minutes aalis na din ako.May problema sa isang branch namin.And I know may meeting ka pa yata with him.I'm sorry sa abala." sabi niya.

Ngumiti ng tipid ang doktor.

"Wala yun .Anytime." sagot nito.

"Doc Paolo.."

"It's just Paolo for you Lexi." he said while grinning.

She nodded and also smiled.

"Matagal mo ng kaibigan si Drake?" 

"Yup.Mula college then medical school.Mas mataas lang ang gusto niyang maabot kesa sa akin kaya he went to the States to  also open another branch of his clinic there.Base sa US ang mga magulang niya." sabi nito.

She looked at him intently.

"But I am sure that doesn't mean that he is better than you." she commented.

Tumawa ng mahina  si Paolo.

"I have learned to accept it.Quintero is the go-getter of our group and mas matinik din sa babae." he chuckled.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Lexi.He transferred his eyes to her pretty face.

"I take that last part back.Unfair naman sa kanya.Hindi siya matinik sa babae...women can't help falling for him.Para din kayong mga lalake minsan eh.You like challenges.Si Quintero misteryoso..suplado...which is appealing for most of you I think.But don't worry, I am not bitter.Hindi naman niya kasalanan yun."  He said that with a smile.

Lexi is really surprised.Ang gwapo ng kaharap niya.Doktor at mayaman pero parang walang bilib sa sarili.

"You are very attractive too.A good catch." she said all of a sudden.

Gusto niyang mamula sa sinabi niya.Baka kasi isipin ni Paolo na nagpapahiwatig siya.Nakakahiya.Ayaw na niyang mapahiya kagaya kanina.Nagulat siya when Paolo gently touched her hand on her lap.

"Okay lang Lexi.No need to make me feel better.I will never be like Quintero.Okay na ako sa ganito." he said sincerely.

She pouted.

"Now I realized na mas okay ka kesa sa kanya.Hayaan na nga natin ang masungit na doktor na yun.I am alright now." she let out a light laugh.

"Ang bilis mo naman yatang naka-recover?" he joked matapos alisin ang kamay na nakahawak sa kanya.

She laughed lightly kahit deep inside nasasaktan siya.

"Wala lang.Magaling siyang mangwarak ng puso at maglampaso ng damdamin.Hindi daw ako ang tipo na babae niya.I mean, I have to agree.Look at me nga naman.Hindi ako bagay sa kagaya niyang doktor." she sighed.

Masakit pero tama naman ang sinabi nito.Umayos ng upo si Paolo to look at her carefully.

"What do you mean na hindi ka bagay sa kanya?Sinabi niya sayo yun?" he asked while frowning.

"Forget it.Okay lang." she said.

"No I can't forget what you said.Ano ba ang diprensiya mo? You are very lovely...you act naturally.Walang arte.If he can't see your good qualities...he better see an eye doctor." sabi nito.

Lexi is speechless.This doctor is really something else.Hindi man sya kinilig sa sinabi nito...she feels gratified naman.Naisip niya na sana naging si Drake na lang ito. Sana yung landi na naramdaman niya for him dito na lang kay Paolo.

He leaned a little forward.

"Any man will want you to be his woman Lexi...don't take what Quintero said seriously.Maybe he said that because he is still fighting his own demons.Basta tandaan mo...you are more than good enough for anyone.Never try to change yourself para lang sa isang tao.Kung magbabago ka..gawin mo dahil gusto mo." he said.

"Where did you go?" asked Drake pagpasok ni Paolo sa opisina nito.

He has a brooding expression.

"Sorry if I am late.I had some important matters to deal with." sagot nito.

"What matters?" tila inis na tanong ulit ni Drake.

"Nothing  that  concern you Quintero." the other doctor said dryly.

Lalong kumunot ang noo ni Drake .

"I didn't know na kilala mo si Alexandria." he said  tonelessly.

Paolo raised one brow as he sat on the chair opposite Drake.

"Lexi?" he asked.

Tumango si Drake while his face looks woody.The other doctor laughed quietly.

"Yup.I do know her.So let's go on with  our  meeting." he said.

Drake almost gritted his teeth.He knows that Paolo is deliberately trying to avoid answering his question directly.He feels like dragging his friend  by the collar para lang magsalita ito.But of course he won't do that.

FUCK!-- he thought.

***

"Wow Lexi! Saludo talaga ako sa alindog mo bruha ka!! Mukhang okay din yung doc Paolo na yun!" kinikilig na sabi ni Ivy.

"Hay salamat naman at mukhang may himala pa din! Siguro naman tatantanan mo na ang doktor Drake na yun no? Kailangan lang pala ipahiya ka para tigilan mo na ang kahibangan mo." nakataas ang kilay na sabi ni Ola.

Dumiretso siya sa shop nito after office hours.Magpapaayos siya.Paolo asked her to go to a party with him.Umoo siya agad dahil ang bait kaya nito sa kanya.He makes her feel good about herself.Yung nahubad na confidence niya dahil sa sinabi sa kanya ni Drake..unti-unting bumalik dahil sa mga compliments nito.

"Basta pagandahin mo ako bakla.Gusto ko yung babagay ako kay Paolo.Alam mo ba na ang dami kong na-realize kanina after naming mag-usap? This time..I want to change dahil gusto ko.Besides tama din kayo eh.Pag tayong tatlo lang okay lang yung lumabas ang pagka-baliw ko.Pero pag may iba...dapat umarte ako ayon sa estado ko.I am a manager after all.Respect is gained ..not asked for  di ba?" 

Tumili ng bongga si Ola.Buti na lang wala ng masyadong customer ito.Nag-apir sila ni Ivy.

"Bet na bet ko yang si doc Paolo na yan!! Ipakilala mo sa amin yan agad-agad! " sabi ni Ivy.

Lexi just smiled.

Gaga na siya kung gaga pero deep inside she is also thankful kay Drake.Kung hindi sa pang-iinsulto nito hindi siya nauntog.Pero she hates to admit it...hindi naman nawala ang pagka-gusto niya dito.Paolo might be a good man too..pero iba pa din ang attraction niya sa supladong ex-doktor niya.Di bale..she promised herself...yung pagnanasa niya dito...itatago na lang niya.She crossed her fingers na sana mapanindigan niya yun.Basta she will stop expecting anything from Drake.Hindi siya nito gusto so huwag na siyang umasa.

***

"Napapadami yata ang inom mo baby?" nakasimangot na tanong ni Rhian sa kanya.

Kinakapatid niya ito.They used to be really close ..more like a big brother -little sister ang relasyon nila dati.She is 24 and he is already 32  now.And lately napapansin ni Drake na she is beginning to act different.Ayaw naman niyang isipin that she wants their relationship to go deeper than that.She is starting to act like his gf.Sinita na nga niya  ito sa paghalik sa kanya sa labi in front of Lexi.She just shrugged her shoulders and smiled at him so he just dropped the issue.Basta sinabi niya na ayaw na niyang maulit yun.

"I'm fine Rhian.Why not go to Hazel? Di ba kilala mo din ang mga kasama niya?" tanong niya.

Hazel is Rocco's younger sister.Si Rocco ang may birthday ngayon.Barkada niya mula pa nung college.Nag-pre-med din ito pero hindi tinuloy ang pag-dodoktor.Though his business is connected with medicine too.He sells medical supplies.May mga branches ito  malapit sa mga malalaking unibersidad sa buong Maynila.Rhian pouted her lips then padabog na umalis.Nailing na lang si Drake but he felt relieved.

He  then saw Rocco with Jay walking towards him.

"Yo wazzup Drakey!!" masayang bati ni Jay.

"Hindi ka na talaga ma-reach dok!" sabi pa nito as they do their high-five.

"f**k off Jay!" natatawang sabi niya.

Businessman din ito like Rocco.

Pero mga sasakyan naman ang negosyo nito kahit pareho-pareho sila ng 4 year course na kinuha.

"Wala eh..mayaman na guwapo pa! Nasa kanya ng lahat kaya saksakan pa din ng suplado!" pang-aalaska ni Rocco.

Nagtawanan  silang tatlo.Kinuha ni Drake ang beer na nasa counter.

"Wow  mga pare!! Look who's coming!"  sabi ni Rocco.

"s**t! Sino ang kasama pare?" tanong naman ni Jay.

Kunot ang noong lumingon si  Drake.Napalingon  ulit  ang dalawa sa kanya.

"Did you just curse Drakey?" paninigurado ni Jay.

"Excuse me!I'll go get some more beer." malamig na sabi niya sa dalawa bago mabilis na umalis.

He needs to go somewhere.Hindi niya gusto ang nakita niya.Lexi is with Paolo.She looks very pretty.Paolo's left hand is on her back.

***

  Sa garden ng bahay nila Rocco ang handaan.  May mga bisita  din inside the house.Inaaya nga sila na pumasok.

Sabi ni Paolo mamaya na lang daw.May pagkain din naman sa labas.Hindi inexpect ni Lexi that Paolo's friends are cool.Masayang kausap ang dalawa. She is really having fun.Mas matanda ang mga ito ng 8 years sa kanya pero okay silang kasama.They are batchmates and friends pala.So pang-4 pala si doc sungit sa grupo.Okay sana kung gusto siya nito.Nice age-gap.Eight years.

Lexi tigilan mo yan! You are not his kind of woman hindi ba?- she reminded herself.

Hindi na nga niya pinansin ang kirot na naramdaman niya kaninang pagdating nila ni Paolo.Daig pa ni Drake ang nakakita ng may ketong sa kanila.Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na umalis ito bago pa sila makalapit.

"Okay ka lang?" bulong ni Paolo sa kanya.

She just nodded.

"Nakaaa  naman pare!! May doktor naman palang sweet eh! Yung kanina kasi masungit!" sabi ni Jay bago sila nag-high five ni Rocco.

Naiiling na tumawa na lang si Paolo.Natawa din si Lexi.

"Hmm..saan ang rest  room Rocco? Pwedeng makigamit?" she asked.

"Sure.Diretso ka lang then go left.Sa dulo ng pasilyo may pintuan.Yun ang banyo." sabi naman nito.

"Excuse me ha?" she told them.

"Would you like me to go with you?" asked Paolo.

Kantyawan na naman ang nangyari.

Grinning, Lexi said before going,"Huwag na.Sandali lang ako."

Walang tao sa sala dahil nasa dining at verandah na nasa likod ng bahay ang ibang bisita.Mabilis na naglakad si Lexi papunta sa sinabi ni Rocco.Nagulat siya  when someone grabbed her left arm.

"D-Drake? Saan tayo pupunta?" she asked ng kaladkarin siya nito.

He didn't answer her.They are walking to the direction of the stairs.

"Ano ba?! Saan mo ko dadalhin?" tanong ulit niya.

Hindi siya masyadong  makapalag dahil naka-heels siya tapos paakyat pa sila.Baka mahulog pa siya lalo't halos kaladkarin din  siya ni Drake sa stairs.

"Drake!!" inis na tawag niya.

Sa gitna ng hagdanan, he stopped moving to turn to her.Madilim  na madilim ang mukha nito.

"SHUT UP!" he said na tila ba gigil na gigil bago hinila na naman siya nito paakyat.

Binuksan nito ang unang pintuan na malapit sa hagdanan.He pulled her inside.

"Ano ba?" she complained.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya when she saw that they are in a bedroom.

"Why are we here?" she asked.

Hindi siya sinagot nito.He pulled her by the  nape then kissed her on the mouth.