CHAPTER 5 (DOUBLE DECEPTION)

Hindi na namalayan ni Mark ang paglipas ng oras. Masaya pala kasing kausap itong si Marlyn. She's smart and full of clever humor. He actually find everything that comes out of her mouth very engaging. And at some point, naisip niyang isa yata itong psychiatrist. Minsan din, akala mo pastor preaching the phases of earthly existence and the life after that.

Ilang ulit silang nagdebate. Hanggang lumalim nang lumalim at gabi at maramdaman niyang tumatalab na sa sistema niya ang alak.

Doon na pumasok sa usapan ang intimacy issue, emotional distress at detachment. At sa pagtataka niya ay bigla na lang itong tumayo.

"Come here." Anito. Kinuha nito ang kamay niya at iginiya siyang tumayo.

Nagpahinuhod si Mark.

"Let's dance." She smiled. Lalong nanlamlam ang mga mata.

"Without music?" Pagtataka niya. Gayun pa man ay niyakap niya ito sa baewang dahil sumuray ito. She leaned her head on his chest.

"They said that if you are lonely and detached, dancing without music will help you find the sense of connection ...and it will make you feel again."

"We're strangers." Depensa niya. How can he find the connection with a stranger who just pointed a gun at him at the crossroad? Makes no sense.

"Shhh...let me listen to your heartbeat." She hugged him tighter. Pumikit. He unwillingly obliged as she demanded.

They danced, swaying gently in the rhythm of their heels softy tapping on the wooden floor.

Hindi niya alam kung dala lang ng alak na nainum o sadyang kailangan lang niya ng kalinga, nagkaroon ng kahulugan ang galaw nila ni Marlyn. It was the kind of intimacy he never had before. With the intention of pulling her close, dinala niya ang kamay sa likod nito. And regreting it almost instantly dahil naglandas sa kahubdan ng likod nito ang palad niya.

Nag-init bigla ang pakiramdan niya. Tiningala siya ni Marlyn, anticipation clear in her eyes.

Oddly enough, everything seemed to disappear around them as their gazes locked in a silent understanding, each feeling the magnetic pull towards the other. He was drawn to her as she was to him.

His hand gently traced the curve of her waist, and he felt her breath hitched as his own pulse quickened. Their eyes held a conversation of their own, revealing an unspoken desire that only fueled his longing to be touched...to be loved. Their movements became languid, each step a symphony of desire. In a breathless whisper of a moment, their lips met in a gentle, tentative touch.

A soft moan scape Marlyn's lips, igniting a deeper desire within him. He couldn't hold back any longer. Every rational thought in mind gloom as the tension in his groin became increasingly hard to ignore. Marahas niyang hinila ang babae pahiga sa sofa. She collapsed on top of him, straddling him. Sinubukan niyang iangat ang ulo para hulihin ang labi nito but she playfully pushed him on the chest, pinning him against the backrest.

Ibinaba niya ang strap ng palazzo top nito hanggang malantad ang dibdib ng dalaga.

God...they were so beautiful.

Dinakot niya ang mga iyon, pinaglaruan sa pagitan ng daliri ang naninigas na nipples habang sinisiil siya nito ng halik.

Marlyn pulled away then pushed his head down to her breast. Ramdam ni Mark na napaliyad ang dalaga nang isubo niya ang nipple nito. He squeezed her bum, pushing his hardness against her pelvis. Marlyn seemed to understand the assignment right away, she moved her hips in a slow gentle circle...grinding on his 'spindle'.

Hindi na siya nakapagpigil, niyakap niya ang dalaga at hinila pailam sa kaniya. Siniil niya ito ng halik sa leeg, sa dibdib, sa labi. His hand exploring the curves of her body.

Naglikot na rin ang kamay ni Marlyn sa baba niya...kinakalas nito ang buckle ng sinturon niya. Tumigil saglit si Mark, tumuwid para bigyan ng pagkakataon si Marlyn na malayang kalagin ang buckle ng sinturon niya.

Tinanggal niya ang suot na t-shirt.

And he suddenly felt his world fading out of focus.

He fall limply on top of Marlyn's half naked body.

"I-IS HE DEAD?"

"You better pray he is not." Galit na kinapa ni Marlyn ang pulso sa leeg ni Mark matapos ayusin ang sarili. She can't detect a pulse. Nanghihilakbot niyang hinarap si Wanda. "Bakit mo kasi pinalo?"

"How else would you expect me to react? First time ko makakita ng lalaki dito sa loob ng bahay tapos nakapatong pa sa'yo."

"Shit. Anong gagawin natin?" Naparoo't parito si Marlyn. Sumakit sa instant problema ang ulo niya. "Do you know who this guy is?

Umiling si Wanda, namumutla at naluluha na sa nerbiyos.

"This is the Business Icon, Mark Anthonio. Buong mundo ang kalaban natin kapag namatay 'to."

Nanlanta si Wanda. "Akala ko talaga rapist!"

Binalikan ni Marlyn ang lalaki na nakadapa sa sofa. Pinatihaya.

Shit.

Mukhang patay na talaga. Pakiramdam niya ay sumikip ang baga niya sa matinding takot.

But for Wanda's sake, she have to remain collected. Chaotic kapag ito ang nag-panic.

"Ayaw kong makulong." Anito.

"Hey...hey...calm down." Hinaplos niya ang likod nito. "It's not your fault. You were just trying to protect me."

"I just murdered someone, Marlyn! How can I calm down?"

"We'll figure out a way to get rid of him....his body." Nanghihilakbot siya sa mga iniisip pero ang isiping makukulong si Wanda...parang mas hindi niya iyon kaya.

"Tawagan mo si Tiyong Bart. Papuntahin mo rito."

"B-bakit?"

"Because he is the only one who knows what to do."

"HE'S ONE LUCKY BASTARD. HE WILL COME AROUND." There's a smile of assurance on Bart's face as he turned to face the girls.

Nakahinga nang maluwang si Marlyn habang si Wanda ay naiyak sa tuwa. Napa-thank you Lord nang may kasamang skyward flying kiss.

"Ikuha mo akong brewed coffee, Wanda anak." Utos nito. "Yung mainit na mainit."

Takang napatingin si Marlyn sa Tiyuhin nila. That was one specific order from an old man who don't even drink coffee. Nanumbalik ang kaba niya lalo nang mahuli ang uri ng tingin na ibinigay nito sa kanya. Na para bang sinasabi na, 'Maiwan ka. I have something to tell you.'

"Kailan ka pa ho nahilig sa kape, Tiyong." Naluluha pa ring usisa ni Wanda. Tumayo at patungo na sa kusina.

"Hindi naman sa nahilig. Parang kailangan ko lang magkape at matindi ang kaba ko kaninang tumawag ka. Nanghihina ako." Anito.

Tumango si Wanda. "I'll prepare you soup. You can't have coffee. Your adrenaline is hyped."

Of course. Bart knows that, too. He is a retired doctor who retreated from the noisy city to Oasis.

"Bahala ka na, Anak. Basta mainitan 'tong sikmura ko."

"Okay po, Tiyong." And she disappeared to the kitchen.

Lumapit kaagad si Marlyn kay Bart. "Tiyong, bakit?"

May inilabas na sedative ang matanda mula sa belt bag nito. Nakahanda na at ituturok na lang.

Napamulagat si Marlyn.

"He is our only chance." Ani Bart. Yumuko at walang pagdadalawang isip na itinurok iyon kay Mark.

"Pero Tiyong... This is illegal."

"Not if you don't say anything to anybody. Were fighting a chance here. At ayaw kong maghintay nang matagal. Alam kong ganun ka rin. Kailangan ito ni Wanda. Pagkakataon na ang naglatag sa harapan natin. Hindi ko ito hahayaang umalpas na lang nang ganun-ganun lang." Nasa tono na ni Bart ang determinasyon. His eyes pleading.

Wala sa sariling napatango na lang si Marlyn. It's been two months since they learned about Wanda's kidney failing to function properly and had gone through few session of dialysis. The treatment had caused a steep physical decline on Wanda, totally restricting her from sailing. That alone was enough to destroy Wanda. So she decided to give up her treathment. Said, they should let nature take it's course. And that if she's destined to die that young, who are they to intervene?

Then they were offered another alternative - kidney transplant. That sparked hope for Marlyn and Bart. Marlyn was willing to go the extent of giving one of hers to Wanda. Pero, siguro nga...there are things that are not meant to be. Dahil sa donor evaluation rin niya nalaman na pati siya ay may dinaramdam. She had hyperthyroidism that made her unfit to becoming a donor.

Bart on the other hand is just as unfit as she was due to his age.

Pakiramdam ni Marlyn ay tinalikuran sila ng langit. Because just when they needed it badly, saka naman umilap ang pagkakataon sa kanila. They had few clients who understand their purpose and was willing to help. Ang masaklap, mga may sakit din na hindi na kayang agapan at gusto lang na madaliin ang buhay.

So yes, tama si Bart. This is their only chance.

"Ako na ang bahala sa kuntrata. Itanim mo lang sa isip niya na ito ang napagkasunduan ninyo. Pagbalik niyo, handa na ang lahat."

"P-pero Tiyong, the guy is confused. He sure mentioned he wanted to die couple of times pero hindi 'yun sapat na basehan para sabihin nating iyon nga talaga ang gusto niya. What if..."

"Hindi na mahalaga kung ano ang gusto niya. Kay Wanda muna tayo mag-focus ngayon."

So Bart has already made up his mind. This is up to her now. Nasa kamay na niya ang kaligtasan ni Wanda.

They don't necessarily kill Mark to harvest from him. They just have to trap him in a contract...trick him into believing they made a deal. Walang kasiguruhan na may mapapala sila sa binabalak nilang ito pero...it's worth the shot.

"S-sige, Tiyong." She relented. "We're sailing tonight."