Sex sells...

Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit nawala sa kanya ang tsansa na magsulat ng TV drama sa 6 o'clock pm timeslot. Para sa katulad niya na gustong mag-venture as a teleserye writer, this chance was supposed to serve as her stepping stone to reaching that goal. But it all went down the drain. At hindi lang ngayon ito nangyari. Ilang beses na siyang pinagkaitan ng tsansang ito. Kasi nga...

Sex sells.

One would question why she, a well-experienced TV show writer, would want to write for dramas. Simple lang naman. Kasi hindi tayo habangbuhay na nakukuntento sa kung saan tayo magaling.

She wanted to challenge herself to something new where she knew she can do. Alam niya na kaya niyang magsulat ng drama at sumasang-ayon naman dito ang mga producer na nakabasa ng manuscript niya. Kaso, para tanggapin ang gawa niya para sa 6 o'clock timeslot drama, her works should be filled with passion. Iyong parang nakikipagtalik without actually doing it.

Marie suggested that she should try writing for erotic novels first. Kung kaya niyang magsulat ng ganun then she can write a drama fit for the 6 o'clock timeslot. Kaya naman nilaan niya ang friday night para sa pagsusulat ng erotic novel.

Problema nga lang, magdadalawang oras na siyang nakaharap sa laptop pero hindi pa rin siya makabuo ng isang konkretong story draft. She racked her brains out for any passionate experiences that she had. Kaso wala.

How can she make the sex sell in her story?

When she knew from experience that sex is not as hot as the novels portrayed it to be. Her first sex was sloppy, the second and third only happened with a certain amount of alcohol in her system, and the fourth was just an act. So when her first and only boyfriend had confessed that his feelings for her was already drifting, she was more than happy to break up their relationship. Hindi niya kayang i-sakripisyo ang katawan para sa ikaliligaya ng ka-partner niya. It should be the both of them, right?

And now she wondered why sex really sells?

At that moment, Marie's phone call broke her out of her reverie. Then the next thing she knew, she was standing on the doorframe, gawking, in front of a man that she had heard defines the word sex.

"I'm Adam Faulkerson, Marie's brother. And you are...?"

"Xes. Xes Mendoza."

Xes accepted his handshake and immediately felt his thumb brush against her knuckles. Hindi siya nagreact sakaling guni-guni niya lang. But when she started pulling her hand away, his fingers held on a bit more against hers, sending a weird shiver down to her spine. Hindi man lang ito nakaramdam ng hiya sa ginawa. He definitely looked like he was flirting with her.

"Oh. My. God. They met. Patrick, I really need to go home! Come on!" Iyon na ang huling dinig niya kay Marie bago nito pinutol ang phonecall.

"Nice name," ngiti nito nang ibaba na niya ang phone mula sa pagkakalapat sa tenga. "Was that my sister?"

"Yes. Ah, right. Here is your keys..."

Siya lang ba o parang na-disappoint ito nang kunin ang susi ng sasakyan mula sa kamay niya?

"Can I come in?"

Mabilis na umiling si Xes. Bakit naman niya pagkakatiwalaan ang taong mismo ang kapatid nito ay walang tiwala dito?

He sweetly smiled. "I just got from a long flight here, Xes. And I'm hungry."

Medyo naawa naman siya. Medyo.

Because she immediately thought that that kind of sweet smile had probably lured a lot of women to invite him into their house and gave in to what he wants.

"Come on, I don't bite. Kahit pa-inumin mo lang ako ng isang baso ng tubig. Then I will leave. I don't want to stay and hear my sister going overly protective about her girl friends."

From what Xes could see, may pinanggagalingan naman pala ang paranoia ni Marie. Wala pang five minutes itong pagkikita nila and he's already flirting his way on her.

She could tell because she has had men trying to pick her up even at work. She did not look as shabby as her lifestyle is usually portrayed to be.

"Pasensya ka na, Adam. But it is in our house rules not to let men inside our unit," she lied.

"So what you're saying is, my sister's boyfriend had not stepped even a foot pass this door?" he was obviously trying to stop himself from laughing. Lalo na ng mapansin nito ang pamumula ng pisngi niya.

She couldn't stop remembering those times she caught Marie making-out with Patrick on the living and kitchen area. She quickly took a mental note to make this house rule happen kahit magmura pa si Marie sa kanya.

"Yes. And Adam..." His brows shoot up out of curiosity. "Condominium ito. We have Concessions on the ground floor. May restaurant doon. Hindi naman siguro mahirap ang bumaba, right? Papunta ka din naman dun."

"But Xes-"

"Sorry for being rude but I am not really comfortable to be with you here right now. At may inaasikaso din ako na trabaho."

Adam had to blink twice in surprise before he finally gave in to his defeat. He wasn't doing this to get a score but the girl had obviously marked him the wrong way.

"Alright. Thank you for the key."

Iyon lang at tumalikod na ito papunta sa elevator.

Weird.

Kahit nakaupo na siya sa sofa kaharap ang laptop, she could still remember his smiling face na parang nasa harap lang siya nito. Kung hindi lang dahil sa sinabi ni Marie, malamang paniniwalaan niya ang maamong mukha ng kapatid nito.

An idea suddenly hit her thought, making her grin.

Perfect na gawing inspirasyon para sa male lead si Adam. Isang karakter na mukhang inosente pero matinik pala sa mga babae...

Agad na kinuha ni Xes ang laptop mula sa mesa at hinanap ang file kung saan ina-outline niya lahat ng gusto niyang mangyari sa kuwento. She's going to make some drastic changes there-

Huminto sa paghahanap ng file si Xes ng maalala na may printed copy siya ng file at nilagay niya iyon sa glove box ng BMW. Ipapabasa niya sana iyon kay Marie . Pero kapag minalas ka nga naman, baka iba pa ang makabasa...

Xes quickly dashed out of their unit and searched for Adam. She was really hoping na hindi malikot ang kamay ni Adam para hindi nito matagpuan ang printed draft ng erotic novel niya.

Pinasok niya lahat ng shop sa baba pero wala ito. She ran down the basement area, towards Marie's parking slot, and she found him...

Leaning on the hood of his BMW...

Smiling...

While reading the content of the short bondpaper...

That has her story on it...

Just.

Great.

***** Adam & Xes *****