Sensual Torture (RED SEDUCTION SERIES #1)

CHAPTER FIVE

MAYUMI giggled as she climbed inside his car and sped off of the building. Alam niyang magagalit si Alistair sa kanyang ginawa, pero ano ba ang pakialam n'ya sa nararamdaman nito. Wala naman silang relasyon at higit sa lahat maliwanag naman na pareho nilang nabigyan ng kaligayahan ang isa't-isa. He should call it quits. She snatched his car, yet she would bring his babe back to him in no time. Hiniram lang naman niya saglit. She drove like she had a death note whacked on her nose. She needed to get home the soonest as her baby was waiting for her. Dollar must be hungry and the thought made her upset. Mas binilisan niya tuloy ang pagma-maneho. It didn’t take long when she finally reached La Gueza Drive. She breezed through the lift and hit the buttons briskly. Then the double doors of the elevator split open on the 23rd floor. Mabilis na tinunton ng dalaga ang kanyang yunit bago binuksan ang pinto.

“Hay naku, uwi pa ba ‘to ng matinong babae?”Andi welcomed her the moment she walked in. Malawak ang ngisi sa mga labi nito at ang mga mata ay puno ng kapilyahan.

Mayumi rolled her eyes before shoving the car keys in between her t**s. Hindi pwedeng malaman ng mga intrigerang kaibigan na ginamit niya ang kotse ng sikat na influencer. Then she removed her boots and tossed it on the wooden shoe rack.

“Ang daya iniwan n'yo ako kagabi.” Kunwari ay maktol niya at saka tumalikod habang kagat ang pang-ibabang labi. Derecho sumalampak sa malambot na couch.

“Gaga hindi ka namin iniwan. Ikaw ang biglang nawala,” natatawang depensa ni Andi. Abala ito sa pagtitimpla ng honey lemon tea para sa hang-over. “Kumusta ang booking, ‘te?”

“Grabe ka sa'kin.” Maarte siyang umirap pero nakangiti. “Secret. Walang clue.”

“Ay, damot!” Andi pouted her lips. “Panget mo ka-bonding.”

Ayaw niyang malaman ng mga kaibigan kung saan siya nagpalipas ng gabi. Hindi niya rin maintindihan kung bakit gusto niyang ilihim ang tungkol sa nangyari sa kanila ni Alistair gayong hindi naman iyon big deal. Ah, basta gusto niyang ipagdamot ang binata.

“We tried calling and texting you pero hindi ka naman sumagot kahit isang beses.” Pagpapatuloy ni Andi bago inilapag ang bitbit na tray ng mga inumin sa coffee table.

“I lost my purse.”

“Ow? E, paano ka nga pala nakauwi? Nag-commute ka na ganyan ang suot?” Manghang tanong ng kaibigan niya.

“Obviously.” Mayumi shrugged her shoulders apathetically. “I don’t have a choice but to take a cab.”

Her mosang friend grinned while scanning her up and down. “Palavarn ‘yarn? Buti hindi lumuwa ang mata ng driver d'yan sa outfit mo. Nakabungad na ‘yang tumbong mo, ‘te.”

Mayumi gently pressed her temples and huffed a deep breath. Alam niyang inuunti-unti ng kaibigan ang pagtatanong para hulihin siya. Pero sorry na lang dahil wala itong mahihita ni katiting na detalye mula sa kanya. Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata dahil pakiramdam niya sobrang dry ng mga iyon. She reminded herself to visit a pharmacy after she gets a decent sleep.

“Ah, alam ko na.” Andi snapped her fingers in the air and went on. “I have a feeling someone sent you home. Tama or tamang tama?”

Iminulat ni Mayumi ang mga mata bago tamad na nilingon ang madaldal na kaibigan. “Tatamaan ka sa'kin ‘pag ‘di ka pa tumigil. You're asking too much, eh. Pumasok ka na kaya sa Mosang University at palitan sina Cryst Frimien at Loli Solaslas.” Ang dalawang binanggit niya ay mga kilalang showbiz personalities ng bansa.

“Grabe s'ya! Concern ako sa'yo that's why.”

“Thank you, Andz. But, please, no personal questions again.”

“Showbiz naman ng sagot. Malalaman ko rin naman ang mga chika once I check on my Outstagram.”

Biglang naalala ng dalaga ang kanyang purse dahil naroroon ang kanyang phone. Surely, it was blitzed with messages and calls but she was not in the best shape working today. One absence wouldn’t hurt her paycheck anyway. Bumuntong-hininga si Mayumi bago tumayo at agad tinungo ang round acrylic kennel. Dollar was benignly asleep. She smiled as she caressed the smooth and fluffy coat of her baby.

“Mommy’s sorry for getting home late,” she softly said to her tot. “Did you miss me?”

“Why do you always talk like that to your cat?” ingos ng mahaderang Andilyn. “Palagay mo sasagot ‘yan ng maayos? Kaloka ‘to.”

“First of all, this is my child,” sagot niya sa unang tanong nito bago pumihit paharap sa kaibigan. “Second of all, shut your mouth, or else I’m gonna put that inside your cervix.”

Madamdaming napahawak sa kanyang dibdib si Andi at saka humagalpak ng tawa. “Scary mo naman, ‘te. Fine! I'm not gonna okray your miming if that’s what you want.”

Hindi siya sumagot pero pinaikutan niya naman ng mata ang huli. Madali siyang ma-trigger kapag ganoong kinu-kwestiyon ang paraan ng pagtrato niya sa kanyang mga alaga. She treated her pets as family. In addition to that, it was the third time she managed to raise a ragdoll cat. Mayumi was in her third year in college when Bushka and Xersex left her at the same time. She cried buckets on that day and became depressed for a month. Nakabawi lang siya sa pagkalugmok sa kalungkutan noong regaluhan ng kanyang Uncle Lambert ng isang pagong. Cisco became her companion for three weeks. Pero dahil sa hindi siya maalam sa pag-aalaga ng gano’n ay nakawala ito.

She blamed herself for being an irresponsible freak and stopped buying new ones for several years. She also isolated herself in joining online groups that promote, buy, and sell fur babies. Then Dollar came on the night of her 31st birthday. The cat was a gift from Radge Cliff, her boss. From then on, she wholeheartedly embraced the beauty of being a fur mommy again. Isang beses pa niyang hinaplos ang balahibo ng pusa bago isinalampak ang katawan sa grey sunken couch. She was sore all over and could still feel Alistair between her legs. The bastard was huge! Darn.

"Oh, my goodness! Girls, look what I just saw on Tweeter today." Karel rushed into them and preened her phone before their faces.

"Sesmes ba 'yarn?" mabilis at maintrigang tanong ni Andi sabay hablot sa gadget. "Ano daw meron dito?"

Si Yumi naman ay walang amor kung anuman ang topic. Fvck the tea! The last thing she wanted to do was to sleep gloriously. Sumisigaw ng pahinga ang kanyang katawang lupa at deserve n'ya iyon. She closed her eyes and demurely yawned.

“This is a juicy tea!” tili ni Karel bago binawi ang phone sa kamay ng huli. Maarte at mabagal nitong binasa ang nakalagay doon. "Utube sensation hunk spotted with a random girl outside Square Bar. The two were seen swinging at same the car.”

A muscle furiously tick in Mayumi's temples. Palagay niya ay mauudlot kaagad ang balak niyang pagtulog dahil sa narinig. Bigla rin ang kalabog sa kanyang dibdib pero pilit niyang inignora iyon. Hindi naman siya dapat magpa-apekto dahil hindi lang naman si Alistair ang influencer na naroroon sa bar kagabi. She was sure ibang tao ang tinutukoy sa blind item. Nanatili siyang tahimik at nakapikit. Bahala ang dalawang babaita magtalo.

"Zoom in the photo!" Andilyn enthused. "We have to find out who is the lucky bitch."

"Oo nga, e. Kaya lang nakakainis kasi pixelated lahat ng shots," Karel complained, fingers still working on the screen of the gadget. “Ang chaka pa ng pagka-crop nitong isa,” yamot itong bumuntong-hininga.

“Lemme’ see,” si Andi uli bago hinaklit ang phone at halos idukdok na sa kanyang mukha iyon. “Badtrip naman ‘tong nag-upload, pakaba rin, e!”

Pagkatapos ay iniitsa nito ang gadget na bumagsak sa malambot na upuan. Mabilis na dinampot ni Karel ang phone at naupo sa paanan ni Mayumi. Samantalang ginalingan naman ng dalaga ang pagpapanggap na malalim na ang kanyang tulog. She wanted to give herself a victorious clap for acting so natural. Kung hindi lang siya editor ay malamang na pinasok niya ang mundo ng showbiz.

I could get the best actress award! You're so fvcking good at this Mayumi!

“Don't worry may kaunting clue naman dito,” said Karel, holding the goddamn phone again, “girl is wrapped in all black.” Pursigidong makakuha ng kahit kaunting hint mula sa litrato.

Humahalakhak si Andilyn at nagpatuloy. “We're all in black last night. So, sino sa ating tatlo? Don’t tell a lie, ‘wag mag-deny. Umamin na habang maaga pa.” Inisang lagok nito ang bitbit na tsaa.

“I'm with Yves until five AM.” Proud na imporma ni Karel bago tuluyang nahiga na rin sa couch.

Sa kabilang dulo ng mahabang sunken couch naman naupo si Andilyn. May isinesenyas ito kay Karel at sabay na nagtawanan ang dalawa. Nang lumaon ay lumabo sa pandinig ni Mayumi ang boses ng mga kaibigan sensyales na umalis na ang mga ito. She let out a sigh of relief. Aminadong kabado bente habang nakikinig sa huntahan ng mga ito. Isang beses pa siyang humugot ng malalim na buntong-hininga at saka marahan na pinakawalan iyon. Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman niyang bumalik na sa normal ang pintig ng kanyang puso gayundin ang kanyang paghinga. Ilang minuto pa ay namigat na ang kanyang mga talukap at unti-unti siyang hinila ng mapang-akit na antok.

SHE slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by a pair of striking blue orbs. Dollar was sitting prettily against her belly while looking intently at her as if asking when the fvck did she get home. Malambing na hinaplos ni Mayumi ang katawan ng pusa at kontentong ngumiti. Saksi si Dollar sa lahat ng kadramahan at kagagahan niya sa buhay sa loob ng ilang taong nasa piling niya ito. Nang magsawa sa kakahaplos ay binuhat niya ang pusa para ilipat sa kanyang tabi.

"You love mommy, right?" she gently hugged her little one.

"Meow, meow,” Dollar purred, rubbing its nose against her arm. Tila ba nauunawaan nito ang kanyang sinabi.

Pagkatapos ay binuhat ulit at bahagyang itinaas ang alaga bago maiging pinagmasdan. Natutuwa siya dahil sobrang cute ng baby niya sa suot na worn-out clothes. Ang luma niyang jersey shirt n'ung college ang ootd nito na ipina-alter niya sa mananahi para maging sukat sa built ni Dollar. Mahilig mag-DIY ang dalaga lalo na kung mapapakinabangan pa naman. Isa sa mga natutunan niya sa kanyang mommy. Her mother, Corinthian Reedus grew up in a wealthy clan of Verasco before she discovered she was an orphan. Ipinagbubuntis siya nito noon nang maglayas at maaksidente.

The latter woke up in the hospital the next day, only to find out the driver her parents hired was her biological brother, fraternal twin.

Mula noon ay namuhay ito sa Cebu kung nasaan ang tunay nitong pinagmulan. Iniwan nito ang marangyang buhay na kinalakhan pati ang pinakamamahal nitong nobyo na si Dashiel Joaquin, ang kanyang daddy. But her Uncle Lambert did everything to protect his sister and was the one who convinced and helped them to get back to Rosario, the Verascos hometown. Bigla tuloy na-miss ni Yumi ang kanyang mga magulang dahilan para humigpit ang yakap niya sa pusa.

"MEOWWW!" maya-maya ay malakas na ngumiyaw si Dollar. He was squirming free from her firm embrace.

Instantly, she released the cat from her hold. Naupo ito sa gilid at masungit na tumingin sa kanya na animo naimbyerna sa kanyang ginawa. Natawa tuloy siya sa inakto nito. Pagkatapos ay tumalon pababa at tumakbo kung saan nakalagay ang litter box nito. Tahimik niyang pinagmasdan ng ilang segundo ang hayop bago nalipat ang tingin sa mesa. There was a neon green sticky note plastered on it with a message written by Karel. Lumabas ang dalawa ni Andilyn para mag-grocery. Then her eyes flew into the digital clock placed on the console behind the couch, five in the afternoon it stated. Mayumi got on her feet once she realized she hadn't taken the caplet yet. She went straight into her room before forcefully slamming the door of the shower room open; reached for the medkit and look for the pill. Bagsak ang balikat ng dalaga nang makalabas dahil wala na pala siyang stock niyon. Frustrated siyang bumuga ng hangin at saka naupo sa edge ng kanyang kama.

"How could you forget?!" she chastised herself. "So much for being a responsible b***h, huh?" Mayumi sank her face between her d**k-shaped plush toys and screamed on those.