CHAPTER 35

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

"What are you doing here, Mrs. Collazo?"

Natigilan ako ng ilang segundo ng marinig ang boses niya. He was still looking out the bay window while smoking. Sa tuwing humihipak sa sigarilyo niya abot na abot 'yon hanggang sa pwesto ko.

"I'm just looking around. Ano sa tingin mo ginagawa ko rito?" I replied sarcastically.

I heard him chuckle softly at what I said. Parang may sariling utak ang mga paa ko, nagsimula akong maglakad patungo kay Helios. Kung susubukan niya man akong patayin ngayon, nagkakamali siya. I could easily pull Saf from my hair and use it as a weapon against him.

"Hmm. I don't really know if you're just looking around here or if you're following me. Who knows, malay natin inutusan ka ng asawa mo na patayin ako kaya ka nandito."

Doon ko na tuluyang nakita ang mukha ng harapin niya ako. "You're here to kill me, aren't you? Maybe... I'm right about that."

His serious, ash-grey eyes made it hard to tell what was running through his mind. But there was something strange about him—it seemed like he was both annoyed and sad; hindi ko alam kung imahinasyon ko lang ba 'yon o sadyang ginugulo lang ako ng isipan ko. Pero alam ko na wala siya sa mood ngayon dahil sa noo niyang nakakunot ngayon habang nakatingin sa akin.

He walked towards me and passed by. I quickly pulled Saf from my hair, and my long hair fell freely. I slipped the ends of my two golden stiletto-style weapons into my fingers and hid them behind my back.

False rumors—but I guess I was wrong. How could I avoid them when the person who spread them is right in front of me? Mariin na lang akong napapikit at kinalma ang sarili.

"I'm not his wife, okay—"

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng lingunin siya. My eyes widened as I saw his right hand moving toward me; may hawak na siya ngayong pocket knife at handa na akong saksakin. I quickly stepped back and grabbed his hand, twisting it until he dropped the knife.

I pulled his hand toward me, bringing his body closer. That's when I found the opportunity to punch his stomach. Mabilis niya rin naman na sangga ang suntok ko gamit ang kamay niya at nahuli paa ko para ikaladkad. I fall onto the cold wooden floor while he continues to pull me across the floor.

"Not so fast, Hexia," he replied, as if he were joking with me.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapasinghap sa bilis ng pangyayari. I tried to kick him with the foot he wasn't holding, but he kept dragging me, moving me around the entire mini-living room on the second floor of Hyperion's library. Pakiramdam ko ngayon ay para niya akong ginagawang mop!

Alam na alam niya talaga kung paano ako mainis. Helios knew exactly how to boil my blood with anger! Ang akala ko ay si Oceanus lang ang makakagawa no'n, pero hindi pala. Ngayon ay nangunguna na si Helios!

"Stop it!" I screamed. "I said fucking stop it, Helios."

I raised myself until we were almost pressed against each other. Madali na lang din 'yon sa akin dahil kayang kaya ko namang buhatin ang sarili ko. I trapped his hand that was gripping my foot, squeezing it between my thighs and pulling it toward me. After that, I shifted my full body weight onto his trapped hand, twisting in midair and bringing him down with me onto the wooden floor.

He was caught off guard by my move and didn't recover immediately. I pressed the small button on Saf, and I heard a faint click coming from the weapon in my hand, signaling that the cover had come off.

I straddled his chest while breathing heavily, at handang-handa na akong ibaon sa kan'ya si Saf na hawak ko ngayon.

Ramdam na ramdam ko kung paano manginig ang kamay ko, my chest was rising and falling rapidly too! Para akong kakapusan ng hininga. The playful expression on his face disappeared when our eyes met again. I felt like I was drowning in the way he looked at me.

I didn't know why, but why did it feel so different, like there was something strange in the way he looked at me? It was so familiar, as if I already knew him. I felt like I had been with him before because of the emotions surging inside me right now.

"You're beautiful."

Kumunot ang noo ko ng parang may narinig akong sinabi niya, pero hindi ko lang 'yon masyadong narinig.

"Anong sabi mo? I'm what?" mariin kong tanong habang nakatutok pa rin si Saf sa kan'ya.

"Why don't you just stab me with that thing you're holding?" he challenged, ignoring my question. "Gusto mo akong patayin, hinid ba? Why won't you just plunge it into my chest and get your revenge?"

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else. Frustration burned inside me—not at him, but at myself. Binigyan niya na ako ng pagkakataon na patayin siya, pero hindi ko pa 'yon magawa. Something held me back, making my hand tremble even more.

Parang kalaban ko ang sarili ko ngayon sa gusto kong gawin sa kan'ya. Hindi ko magawa ang gusto ko ngayon dahil mismo ang sarili ko ay parang nagpipigil na huwag siyang tapusin. Neither of us wanted to break eye contact. I could clearly see how the darkness in Helios' ash-grey eyes grew. He looked like a black cat spotting its prey. The dark part of his gray eyes was so vast, and it felt like it was slowly pulling me toward him.

"I'll give you five seconds to leave, Hexia. This is your chance to escape, and if I still see you in front of me when I finish counting, you won't like what I'll do to you," malamig ang boses niya ng magsalita ito.

Parang mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Hindi ko alam... kung sa takot—no, hindi dapat ako matakot. Kayang kaya kong protektahan ang sarili ko laban sa kan'ya. Pero kahit na gano'n, hindi ko maitatanggi kung bakit mayroong excitement akong nararamdaman?

What was wrong with me!? Am I starting to like him? Is that why I feel this way?

"One."

Natigilan ako dahil sa mga pinagiisip ko ngayon. No, it's impossible... I can't like him! It's like I've already betrayed Atlas... I'm starting to like the man I'm supposed to kill! It felt like I'd betrayed not just Atlas but even Rafael as well.

"Two."

Wala na kung anong mayroon sa aming dalawa ni Rafael, pero bakit pakiramdam ko niloloko ko siya? That's what I'm feeling right now. I must be crazy for thinking like this. I promised myself that my heart would only beat for him, but why is this happening? Why does it feel like my heart is slowly starting to beat for someone else and not for him?

"Three."

My heart was still pounding when I heard that he had already counted to three. I stood up slowly from sitting on his chest and tightly gripped Saf. I had to move quickly because he was counting—no, it wasn't just a matter of moving fast. Kailangan kong tumakbo pababa ng hagdanan hanggang sa makalabas na rito sa library.

"Four."

Pero imbis na bilisan ko ang paglakad o tumakbo, natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili ko na dahan-dahang naglalakad. It felt like I was walking on the moon as I moved closer to the stairs. With each step I took, the beat of my heart quickened. It was as if my body had a mind of its own, deliberately slowing me down. Until I finally heard Helios' fifth and final count.

"Five."

I froze. My foot was still hovering just above the stairs when I heard him speak. I swallowed hard, not daring to look at him. The sound of his footsteps grew louder, and I knew he was coming for me.

Mahina akong napasinghap ng mapaikot ako paharap sa kan'ya ng mahuli niya ang palapulsuhan ko. Helios pulled me towards him. His face was flushed, his neck slightly red, as if he were holding something back within himself. I couldn't move; the distance between us is now barely a foot.

"Your time is up, Hexia," he whispered softly, as though he were struggling with himself. "I gave you five seconds to leave, pero anong ginawa mo? Hindi ka umalis, and It's obvious that you did that on purpose.

It's true that I did it on purpose, but I don't know why I did that. That's what I want to say to him, but I chose to keep my mouth shut.

A chill ran down my spine as he moved closer to me until his face was almost against my ear.

"Do you know what I'm going to do to you?" mahina niyang bulong sa akin... at hindi nakatakas sa pandinig ko na parang may mapang akit ang tono ng kan'yang boses doon.

"W-what?" I answered, my voice trembling from his question.

He didn't answer my question. Instead, I was startled when he pulled me toward one of the soft sofas and simply laid me down there. I dropped the weapon I was holding and continued to stare at him. My long, straight, chocolate-colored hair was spread out because of the way I was lying down.

"This is what I'm going to do to you, Hexia," he answered.

Before I could react, he leaned in and crashed his lips to mine. His kiss was demanding, almost desperate, as if he'd been starving for this moment. Hindi ako nakakilos, hindi ako nakagalaw. Pakiramdma ko nanigas ang katawan ko sa ginawa niya.

Sa paraan kung paano humagod ang mainit niyang labi sa akin pakiramdam ko para akong naliliyo. My hands instinctively wrapped around Helios' neck as our bodies pressed together. Sinabayan ko kung paano gumawa ang labi niya sa akin. Helios playfully nipped at my lower lip, and instead of pulling away, I gave in to the sensation.

Isang mahinang ungol ang kumawala sa aking labi ng maramdaman ang kamay niya sa pangupo ko para buhatin. He sat down, cradling me in his lap as our kiss deepened. Our chests pressed together, and I could feel his heart pounding against mine. His grip tightened around my waist, his body pressing into mine, hinting at something more beneath the dark fabric of his slacks.

Kahit wala siyang sabihin sa akin alam na alam ko na agad ang gusto niyang iparating. Parang may sariling utak ang katawan ko. I began to move against him, our clothes doing little to dampen the growing heat between us.

There was a strange sensation coiling in between my legs as I moved rhythmically against him. Our breaths mingled as we kissed, both of us panting.

"Faster," he murmured between kisses, his voice thick with desire.

My hand crept up to his now tousled hair, gently tugging at it as I felt him guide my hips to his preferred rhythm. Parang nagsitaas ang balahibo ko sa katawan ng maramdamang gumapang ang mainit niyang palad sa likuran ko, his hand slipped inside my gown I was wearing to cup my breast.

I squeezed my eyes shut as his warm palm enveloped my breast. Sakop na sakop niya ang isa kong dibdib sa isang palad niya; hindi naman din kasi gaano malaki at malaki itong again. I can say that my boobs were of moderate size. My breasts were of

I felt my body heat up as he matched my movements. His fingers played endlessly with my nipple, sending shivers of delight through me.

"W-wait," nahihirapan kong sabi dahil sa ginagawa niya sa akin.

He gently untied the silk halterneck, sending the fabric cascading down my body and revealing my breast. My nipples hardened into tight buds, their light brown hue contrasting sharply with the cool expanse of my skin.

Walang nagawa ang malamig na hangin na binubuga ng aircon dito sa puwesto namin sa nangingibabaw na nagiinit naming katawan. I could feel my body melting on him as he took my breast into his mouth; I surrendered to the sensation and enjoyed it.

I closed my eyes, lost in the moment, as a wave of pleasure washed over me.

Ramdam na ramdam ko kung paano maglikot ang dila niya roon. He played my breast and the way he touches my body sends shivers down to my spine. He captured my lips in a kiss I eagerly returned. Helios gently bit my lower lip, inviting his tongue to explore my mouth.

Our kisses were fiery, hot, and desperate, na para bang hindi pa sapat itong ginagawa namin sa isa't isa. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang matigas na bagay sa loob ng suot niyang slacks; I can feel his hardness pressed against my lace underwear. With each hump, the friction sent a jolt of pleasure through me, and I couldn't help but moan.

"It feels good," hinihingal kong sabi at napapikit.

"Hexia..."

Nang maidilat ko ang mga mata ko, our eyes met. Hindi ko alam, pero imbis na umiwas ng tingin ay nanatili akong nakamasid sa kan'ya. His gaze was both intense and inviting; sobrang pamilyar ng mga mata niya at kung paano siya tumingin sa akin, kaya ang puso ko sobrang bilis ng tibok.

I bit my lip and moved faster as I lost myself in the moment. His grip tightened around my waist as he met my every hump. I couldn't help but a moan escaped my lips as an overwhelming sensation built within me. Mahina akong napasinghap at naipikit ang mata ko; I clung to his shoulder... mas pinapakiramdaman ang ginagawa namin ngayon.

My eyes flew open as a sharp ring pierced the air. It was my phone, rinig ko 'yon sa loob ng dala kong clutch purse. I ignored it at first, but then I heard Atlas' voice through the earpiece, at doon na ako tuluyang nabalik sa reyalidad.

"Hexia? Where are you?"

"Atlas!"

Nanlaki ang mata ko ng marinig ang boses niya sa suot kong earpiece. Good thing we have a special button on our earpiece that we press to hear the person we're talking to.

I quickly got off Helios and almost fell when I felt my legs go weak. I hurriedly tied the fabric around my neck to raise the neckline of my long gown. Hindi ko na nagawang ayusin ang suot kong gown. Basta ko na lang dinampot ang clutch purse ko at iniwan na si Helios. And with every step down the stairs, I felt even weaker because my knees were shaking.

Mabilis ko lang din na inayos ang buhok ko into bun. I pinned Saf on my hair so it wouldn't fall loose. I immediately opened the door to the library and rushed out of Hyperion's house.

Nakita ko na agad si Atlas sa malayo, nakatayo sa gilid ng kotse na dala namin.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you since earlier," he asked me as I reached him.

"D-d'yan lang... sa tabi tabi," nauutal kong sagot habang hinihingal.

Atlas raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on me. I was a mess—sweaty, with messy hair, and my dress was wrinkled at the hem.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

I nodded quickly, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, I'm fine. Tara na, I want to rest."

Nauna na akong pumasok at naupo sa passenger seat. Napapikit na lang ako, at awtomatikong nag-flash sa isipan ko ang nangyari sa library kanina. I had crossed a line, at sobrang mali no'n!

We did more than kiss earlier!

SHANGPU