LUSTFUL BET

Nasa loob ng conference room si Michelle. Liwanag lamang mula sa nakabukas na laptop ang silbing tanglaw sa madilim na silid na iyon. Michelle had replayed the footage more times than she cared to admit. The night vision tint washed everything in green, ang matipuno at perpekto na hubog ng katawan ni Alfred Vargas sa video ay maliwanag na nakikita niya. Every movement of Alfred Vargas every time he thrust himself, ay walang ligtas sa paningin niya, at maging ang ungol ng babaeng kaniig nito ay walang ligtas sa pandinig niya. Michelle was watching the s3x video she took during one of her missions. Alfred Vargas’s silhouette was unmistakable tall, broad‑shouldered, moving with the kind of confidence that made her pulse skip. She should’ve deleted the file after the mission. She knew that. But something about that moment… about him… made her save it instead. The woman in the video was Felicity Quijano, the daughter of General Quijano and the sister of her enemy and rival, Craig Quijano. Ang mga halinghing ng babae sa bawat ulos ni Alfred ay nagpapatayo ng balahibo ni Michelle. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, but she felt attracted to Alfred Vargas, despite him having s3x with another woman. Wala siyang pakialam sa babaeng kaniig nito. Ang mahalaga lang sa kanya ay ang lalaki. His physique, his movements, his confidence… they told her something about him. Something she couldn’t quite name yet. So she saved the file. For later. She was alone in that dark room. Well, that’s what she thought. Not until she smelled a familiar scent, and a sudden shift in the air, it was sharp, cold and electricfying, and it made her feel shiver. She felt the shiver not because of the s*x video she was watching that was still playing in front of her right now, but because of his undeniably and utterly strong presence. He was here. Furious and ready to attacked her. He caught her. He caught her watching his sister scandalous video. It was stupid and reckless of her, and right now his anger was about to explode in her face. Craig Quijano walk into the room at the exact time. Hindi siya lumingon. She just waited for him to attacked. “Michelle!” His voice was roaring in the whole room which made her jolted. Bumaha maging ang liwanag sa loob silid. She slowly turned the chair. She turn calmly, pinanatili niyang kalmado ang sarili, and even refusing to show surprise. Craig stood in the doorway, his fists clenched and jaw tightened. “Craig!” She replied in a formal tone. Pilit kinukubli ang nararamdaman na kaba. Indeed. She felt intimidated by his strong pressence. His strong and perfect physique, was enough to make her feel intimidated. Sa isang iglap ay tinawid ni Craig ang kanilang pagitan. Kinuha nito ang laptop sa tapat niya at inihagis nito iyon. Lumipad ang laptop sa ere at tumama sa matigas na pader. “You filmed that!” Not a question but a verdict. He grabbed her by the collar. She was leaning forward against him, leaving only an inch gap between their faces. Ang marahas na paghinga nito ay ramdam niya sa mukha niya, nainit at nababakasan ng matinding galit. Michelle swallowed. “It was part of the mission. We needed evidence—” “You saved it.” Craig’s jaw clenched. “You kept a video of my sister’s private life. Do you enjoy watching people like that? Is that what you do when no one’s looking?” Her composed turn to a snapped off anger. “Don’t you dare accuse me of that.” Hinila siyang lalo ni Craig. Umangat ang katawan niya at bigla ay umikot siya sa ere. Tumama ang likuran niya sa malamig na pader. Pakiramdam niya na dis-align ang ilang buto niya sa likuran sa lakas ng pagtama ng likod niya sa pader. Ngunit nagawa niya pa rin na tumayo. Craig stepped closer, towering over her. “You invaded my family’s privacy. You crossed a line!” “You think I wanted to film that?” She fired back. “We were retrieving a ledger from Felicity’s condo. Your father hid evidence of corrupt officials there. The camera caught what it caught.” Craig’s nostrils flared. “Then why didn’t you delete it?” Ang kanilang malakas na mga argumento ay umi-echo sa loob ng silid. Hindi makahuma si Michelle. Hindi niya masagot ang katanungan na iyon ni Craig. Paano ba niya sabihin dito ang too. The truth that she’d been distracted by Alfred’s physique, that she’d been curious, that she’d made a mistake. Craig saw her hesitation and his fury sharpened.“Unbelievable,” he muttered. “You’re a threat to this agency. A disgrace.” Michelle stepped forward, eyes blazing. “You don’t get to judge me. Not when your family is hiding ledgers that could topple half the government.” Mas lalong sumidhi ang galit ni Craig. Muli ay hinawakan siya nito sa kwelyo ng damit niya. Umangat ng bahagya ang katawan niya. “You think this is about politics?” he snapped. “This is about you being caught doing something disgusting.” “Disgusting, huh!” Michelle lifted her chin. “Then prove it.” Craig’s eyes narrowed. The challenge hung between them like a lit fuse. “That mission was from years ago, yet you save it, and watch it over again. Tell me the truth, the fvcking truth Michelle, are you fantasizing Alfred Vargas? Iniisip mo na sana ikaw ang babaeng kaniig niya at hindi ang kapatid ko?” “What if I said yes? Anong gagawin mo?” Craig pinned her against the wall. Ang mukha nito ay dangkal ang layo mula sa kanya. Ang katawan nito ay mariin na dumiin sa kanya. Ngunit ni katiting na takot o kaba ay hindi niya pinakita. Sa halip ay ngumisi siya. “You are a pervert, and disgusting, Michelle!” “Is that so!” tumaas ang kilay niya. “Fine. I am giving you a chance to seduce Alfred Vargas, Michelle. But the moment you fail, you will pay the price," Craig grumbles, pinning Michelle against the wall, his body firmly pressed against hers. “A price that will benefit both of us. Ako ang magbibigay ng pinapantasya mo na hindi mo nakuha kay Alfred. I am good at it, Michelle, at sigurado akong hahanap-hanapin mo pagkatapos.” “And if I win, you will kneel and kiss the soles of my foot, Mr. Quijano!”