VLS 4: DESIRABLE TEMPTATION (ON HOLD)

"You were with him?"

She froze mid-step upon hearing that familiar voice. 'Yan agad ang tanong na bumungad sa kaniya pagkababa niya ng kanilang SUV. Nagpapasundo na kasi siya kay Mang Lito, their driver. It was just easier that way. Besides, wala naman siyang maaasahan na magsasabay sa kaniya pauwi. Her two brothers were obviously busy, and she didn't want to bother them. As for Max—no, she wouldn't rely on him again.

Napaangat ang tingin niya kay Max, who was leaning casually against the wall of their garage. Nakahalukipkip ito, at tila kanina pa naghihintay sa kaniya. What for? To ruin her day again?

Tatay Lito glanced at Max, then back at her. Without a word, he nodded slightly and left them alone.

She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder before meeting Max's gaze. "Hindi ka pumasok?"

"I had an emergency."

Emergency? Ha! She knew better. Bakit pa nito kailangang magsinungaling? Baka ang tinutukoy nitong "emergency" ay ang susunod nitong "flavor of the week." Sino kaya sa listahan ng mga babae nito ang pinuntahan nito ngayon?

"Can I sleep here?"

She stared at him, unsure if she had heard him right. "You can't."

"I used to sleep here before. Please?" His eyes softened, making him look genuinely tired.

Tactic lang siguro ito ni Maximo para mapaamo nanaman siya.

"Max, you can't. What if Mom and Dad come ho—"

"Don't use that excuse. Tita and Tito know I sleep here often." He held her hand, pulling her into a hug. His grip tightened as he buried his face in her hair and sighed. "I miss you."

"What was your emergency?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and frustration. "Ni hindi mo man lang masagot ang tanong ko, Max. How do you expect me to believe you?" She bit back the urge to mention the call, to see if he'd tell her the truth himself. "So, what kind of emergency?"

She tilted her head to look up at him while they were still embracing. She noticed the way he gulped, his Adam's apple moving.

"I... shit," he muttered under his breath.

"Max," she said sharply. "You can just tell me if you fcked a random girl from school. I'd believe that instantly. Don't frustrate yourself with lies." She slapped his chest and shook her head, disappointed.

A smirk played on his lips. "Silly. Cleah's not that kind of girl."

Her eyes widened in shock. "That was Cleah?"

Max nodded before pulling her back into his arms, forcing her head against his chest. She blinked, still trying to process what he'd just said.

"Then why didn't you tell me? You could've said it was Cleah!" She pounded her fists lightly against his chest. "I hate you!"

"It was an emergency," he explained, sighing. "Cleah flew back here to escape a fixed marriage. I had to help her find a place to hide from her fiancé. Baguio seemed like the best choice."

"Kaya hindi ka pumasok?" She frowned. "She could've told me! I thought she was one of your flings. I didn't even recognize her voice on the call! She tricked me!" Embarrassment crept up her neck as she remembered all the things she'd said to Cleah.

"I was with her. I couldn't just leave her with nothing. I'll bring you to her soon, okay? She didn't tell me you called, kaya akala ko wala kang alam. Pero ngayon, parang iniisip mo na agad akong masama."

"Can you blame me?" she retorted. "You have so many flings that you'd skip school just to entertain them!"

Max pulled away from their hug, clutching his chest dramatically as if her words physically hurt him. "You're so mean to me!"