Category: The Carnal Man

I had been texting Lani for days after our meeting, but the silence was deafening. I even sent her a 200-peso load, hoping to jumpstart a conversation, but still—nothing. Worried that I had scared her off, I went back to the spa, only to find out she hadn’t returned after the New Year. The receptionist mentioned she’d landed a job at a call center.

I didn’t waste any time. I headed to the building she mentioned and navigated the lobby until I confirmed she was there, on her very first day of training. I waited near the entrance until her break time finally arrived.

My heart hammered against my ribs when I finally spotted her. “Hi, Lani!” I called out.

She jumped, her eyes wide with shock. “Mike! What are you doing here? How did you even find me?”

“I have my ways,” I said with a confident grin. “Is it your lunch break?”

“Yes… why?”

“Let’s eat together.”

She chuckled shyly, a playful glint in her eyes. “No way! What if you try to take me on another ‘detour’ like last time?”

I laughed. “We’ll just walk to a restaurant nearby. I promise, we’re staying right here in the area.”

“Okay,” she relented. “Let’s go.”

As we walked through the IT Park at 2 AM, the air was crisp—sharper and colder than the December nights we’d met. The neon lights of the city felt different now, more modern, more energized.

“Thanks for the load, by the way,” she said quietly.

“Why didn’t you reply to my texts?”

“I couldn’t. Sometimes my boyfriend checks my phone, and I didn’t want to explain who you were yet.”

She explained that she had chosen the call center over the mall because the hiring process was faster and she needed the income immediately for her family. I told her I was glad she was there; it made it easier for us to cross paths.

“Your wife is definitely going to catch you now!” she teased.

“What are we doing? We’re just having lunch,” I countered. “If anything, I should be worried about your boyfriend catching us.”

“And what exactly are we ‘up to’?” she asked, mirroring my earlier words.

We both laughed, and I realized we were becoming truly comfortable with one another. I knew I had to take this slow. Lani wasn’t like the other women I had met; she wasn’t easily swayed, and that only made me more determined. She was a challenge, a rare find who valued herself, and that made the pursuit even more exhilarating.

However, I knew I was entering a risky situation. My wife was one thing—I felt I could manage that tension—but Lani’s boyfriend was another story. From the way she described him, he sounded like the possessive, jealous type. It was ironic; he was the one who had been unfaithful, yet men like that are often the most irrational when they feel they are losing control.

They weren’t married, and she was free to make her own choices, but I had to be careful. I was playing a high-stakes game, and the field was becoming more dangerous by the day.

Without further delay, I drove into the motel. The attendant signaled me toward a vacant garage. I didn’t look at Lani, wondering if she would protest or refuse to get out, but she just sat there in a heavy, stony silence.

I got out first, and after a long moment, she followed. “It’s going to be alright, Lani,” I told her, trying to bridge the gap.

She shot me a sharp, skeptical look. “Yeah, right.”

We walked up to the room. The atmosphere was cold, so I tried to lighten the mood by turning on the TV. A Tagalog comedy show was on, and I noticed a faint smile touch her lips as she watched. I set out the food. “Let’s eat,” I said.

She didn’t reply at first, focused on the screen, but then her phone rang. I listened closely as she answered. It was her boyfriend. After a brief, tense conversation, she hung up and looked at me with urgency.

“Mike, I need to go. My boyfriend is looking for me; he wants to head to the mall. I’m really sorry. Maybe another time.”

I felt a surge of disappointment. My plans for a long, quiet afternoon had evaporated in an instant. I stayed quiet, finishing my meal while my mind raced. I told myself to be patient—that building real trust takes time, and today just wasn’t the day.

“Eat something first, Lani,” I said, dialing room service to settle the bill.

As she hurried through her meal, I tried to keep the conversation going. “Lani, I’m sorry if I complicated your day.”

“It’s okay, Mike,” she replied, her guard finally dropping a little.

“Can I ask you something? You’ve been with him for two years… I assume you two are very close? That you’ve shared… everything?”

She let out a sudden, sweet laugh. The tension that had filled the room since we arrived finally seemed to vanish. I had managed to make her feel at ease again, even in this awkward setting.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked, still giggling.

“You know… if you’ve truly made love.”

She looked down, shyly sliding her hand through her hair. “Yes,” she whispered.

We locked eyes for a moment. The air in the room felt thick and warm. I reached out and gently touched her hand, feeling the heat in her skin. But before the moment could go any further, a knock at the door interrupted us. The bill had arrived.

I drove her to her destination, my mind still reeling from the “what-ifs.” As I watched her walk away—striking in her black shorts and fitted top—I knew I couldn’t just go back to the office with this much restless energy. I needed to clear my head.

I found myself driving down A.S. Fortuna street until I saw another spa. I went inside, paid for a standard massage, and was led to a quiet, dimly lit room on the second floor.

The therapist who arrived was professional but had a different energy than Lani. As the session progressed, the atmosphere became more relaxed and conversational. I found myself opening up about the stress of my day. By the end of the hour, I felt a sense of relief—a physical and mental decompression that I desperately needed after the emotional rollercoaster with Lani.

I left the spa feeling a bit embarrassed by how much I had let my impulses drive my day, but I was finally calm. I knew the journey with Lani was going to be a long one, and I had to learn to balance my desires with the reality of the complicated life she lived.

Early one morning, Lani and I were texting again.

“Hi, Lani! Belated Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, Mike.”

“How was your holiday? Did you have to work?”

“The spa was closed,” she replied. “I spent the day at home, taking care of my father.”

“I’d still love to treat you to that meal,” I suggested, my heart racing a bit. “Can we meet today?”

We agreed to meet at a gas station near her workplace at 10:00 AM so she could be back in time to help her mother with chores. I arrived ten minutes early, sitting in my car, a mixture of excitement and nervous energy pulsing through me.

Nearly an hour passed before I saw her. Even from a distance, she was captivating. With her long hair catching the light as she walked gracefully toward the car, I couldn’t help but think how striking she was.

“Hi, Lani! Get in,” I said as she approached. “You look beautiful today.”

“Hahaha! Have you been waiting long?” she asked, looking a bit flustered. “I’m so sorry. My mom had a last-minute errand for me. I wanted to text you, but I was rushing—and honestly, I’m a bit paranoid. I actually had my previous phone snatched while I was on a jeepney recently.”

“That’s awful,” I said, concerned. “You have to be so careful this time of year. There are people looking for any opportunity.”

“I know,” she sighed. “Anyway, where are we going to eat, Mike?”

I felt a pang of nerves as I pulled out of the station. “Let’s just grab something from a drive-thru,” I said.

“Are we eating in the car?” she asked with a playful, knowing look. “Is it because you’re worried someone might see you? Worried your wife will find out?”

I forced a laugh. “You caught me. It’s better to keep things low-key.”

After we picked up our food, I began driving toward a quieter part of town. When she noticed the road leading toward a well-known local inn, her expression changed instantly. Her voice took on a sharp tone of concern.

“Mike! Where are we going?”

“Lani, listen,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and gentle. “It’s hard to eat and really talk in the car. I thought if we got a private room, we could actually sit down and have a good conversation without worrying about who is looking through the windows.”

“You’re something else, Mike,” she said, her disappointment evident. “I thought we were just going to eat. I agreed to come with you because you seemed like a kind person. I don’t want to betray my boyfriend. Even if things are rocky with him, it doesn’t mean I should just go anywhere with any guy.”

A wave of guilt hit me. Seeing her stand up for her principles made me realize how much I was risking her trust.

“Lani, I promise, we are just going to eat,” I said softly, trying to reassure her. “I give you my word. I just want some quiet time to get to know you.”

She fell silent, staring out the window. She didn’t ask me to turn around, but the look of disappointment on her face spoke louder than any words could.