NAKATITIG si Rayos kay Leo habang busy ito sa harap ng laptop nito. He looks so serious and drop dead handsome, his piercing eyes were glued on his laptop screen.

Pinaikot niya ang ballpen sa mga daliri at pinilit ang sarili na mag-aral, tutal ay ayon ang dahilan kung bakit siya nandito ngayon sa apartment ni Leo. To study together even though they have different courses.

Nawala ulit ang atensyon niya sa inaaral nang tumayo si Leo na walang pasabi. Rayos sighed and read her book again and again. She couldn't focus nor understand every word.

Ever since he shifted his course, just like what she promised, palagi na siyang pumupunta sa apartment ni Leo. Rayos even left some of her clothes in her room. Naiilang pa rin siya sa ideya na may sarili siyang kwarto sa apartment nito, habang ang kapatid nito na si Pisces ay sa kwarto nito nakikitulog kapag pumupunta ito dito.

"Coffee for you, baby," Leo whispered behind her. Inilapag nito ang tasa ng kape sa lamesa at hinalikan ang gilid ng noo niya.

Rayos thought he's done, she gasped for air when Leo kissed her shoulder blade next, bago ito bumalik sa lugar nito kanina. Na parang wala itong ginawa sa kanya.

Dahil sa ginawa nito, mas lalo siyang nahihirapan na mag focus sa inaaral niya. His gestures always caught her off guard, hindi ito ang unang beses na nagulat siya sa panlalambing nito sa kanya.

Hindi siya nagrereklamo. She loves how comfortable he was around her. It's just that… Her heart couldn't take it.

Naubos niya ang kape na tinimpla nito para sa kanya na hindi ginagalaw ni Rayos ang pahina ng libro. She was just staring at it. Hanggang sa natapos si Leo sa ginagawa nito.

"— muna, nagpaalam naman ako sa magulang mo, sa kuya mo rin."

Rayos slowly turned her head to him. He was talking and didn't hear half of it.

"Ha? Ano 'yon?" She asked.

Umangat ang kamay ni Leo at dinampi ang likod ng palad nito sa noo niya. She held his wrist and put it down.

"Wala akong sakit…" she lazily said.

"Kanina kapa wala sa sarili mo. Pagod kana ba? Gusto mo munang magpahinga?" Nag-aalala na tanong nito sa kanya.

Leo closed his laptop, tinabi ang mga gamit nito pati na rin ang sa kanya. Pagkatapos ay tumayo ito para ilagay sa lababo ang tasa na pinag gamitan niya.

Tamad niyang isinandal ang likod sa sofa, binaluktot niya ang mga paa at pinatong ang baba sa tuhod niya. Watching Leo moved around his small kitchen. Pabalik balik ito sa refrigerator pagkatapos tingnan ang laman ng cupboard.

"Leo, I'm hungry…" she whined.

"Hmm, magluluto na," aniya. May kinuha ito sa refrigerator bago lumapit sa kanya.

He kneeled in front of her and handed her a box of brownies, mabilis siyang hinalikan ni Leo sa noo at ang tungki ng ilong niya.

"Brownies? Baka hindi ko na makain ang niluluto mo." Rayos pouted her lips.

Leo caressed her chin and gently pinched her before saying, "Eat a small portion, baby. Hindi naman ako matatagalan magluto."

Bahagyang pinisil ulit ni Leo ang baba niya bago tumayo at bumalik sa kusina. Kumung ng isang piraso si Rayos sa brownies na binigay nito at tahimik 'yon na kinain.

She's eating slowly and when she gets bored. Tumayo siya at dinaluhan si Leo sa kusina. He was busy, tutok ang buong atensyon nito sa niluluto. Rayos wrapped her arms around his waist and rest her head against his back.

"Baby? I'm cooking," bahagya itong lumingon sa kanya.

"Payakap lang." She shrugged.

Leo let her hugged him while he's cooking, humiwalay lang siya nang matapos na ito. Pinaghila siya nito ng upuan, pinag sandok ng pagkain, kung pwede lang siya nitong subuan ginawa na nito.

Eating together feels like a date for Rayos.

Pagkatapos nila kumain, silang dalawa ang naghugas sa mga pinggan. Him washing the dishes, and her, drying them.

Paulit ulit lang ang routine nilang dalawa ni Leo kapag nasa apartment siya nito. But today was different. Pisces called Leo and asked him to bring her to their house for family dinner.

"Kinakabahan ka?" tudyo sa kanya ni Leo.

Rayos sarcastically laughed and yanked his hand. "Not really, Leo. I am not you."

Lumabi lang si Leo sa naging sagot niya. But truth be told… Rayos doesn't feel an ounce of nervousness. She's calm and even excited.

Unlike her boyfriend beside her. Ilang beses na itong pumupunta sa bahay nila, but he's still too stiff. Ingat na ingat ito. Hindi naman niya ito masisisi, laging nakabantay ang Daddy at kapatid niya.

Even Vyrlle was teasing him. But in this household, kakampi niya ang kapatid nito.

Rayos confidence crumbled instantly when she finally met Leo's father, Aries Davis. Leo's old man was tall, his skin was a bit tan, a spitting image of Leo. The only difference was Leo's old man's hair was long. Nakuha ni Leo ang buhok nito, curls. Para siyang nakatingin sa mukha ni Leo kapag tumanda na ito.

"Woah! She's staring at me too much, Son." The old man laughed echoes inside the house.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I think I have a crush on you." Rayos didn't even stutter. Marahan na hinila ni Leo ang siko niya, it's like his own way to remind her that he's just beside her.

Agad itong yumakap sa asawa nito, Leo's mother, hinalikan ang tuktok ng ulo nito at umiling sa kanya.

"No can do, little girl. I'm married. But, you can have my son, he's all yours! All yours, you hear me?"

Tumawa si Rayos at nilingon si Leo, namumula ang mukha nito at matalim ang tingin sa sarili nitong tatay.

"Come here, come here, pag-usapan natin kung bakit worth it asawahin 'yang anak ko." The old man said and laughed shakily.

Rayos gets along with his parents pretty well, even though they know she's a Clemente. Of course, kahit sino na nakalinya ang trabaho sa business, makikilala ang pamilya nila.

"I've heard about your brother. He's a little bit…" pumitik ito sa ere. "Wild."

Rayos agreed silently. "In terms of business and… you know, Sir. Yes. He is."

Humalakhak ito sa naging sagot niya. "Ahh, what can we do? He's a healthy bachelor. Leo, magtino ka. Hindi pwede 'yon sayo." Banta ng Daddy nito sa kanya.

Leo just shook his head and glance at her, tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. Naghahamon.

"I only want her, Pa."

"That's my man! Pisces, baby, ikaw? Kailan?" Nalipat ang atensyon nila sa kapatid ni Leo na tahimik lang kumakain.

"Wala. Maghintay ka."

"So cold," Leo's father muttered.

Sumimangot ito pero nang lumingon ito sa kanya, napalitan 'yon ng malawak na ngisi. Rayos silently chewed the food inside her mouth while waiting for Leo's father attacks.

"Your father is a Doctor, right? You're taking…?"

"Psychology, Sir."

"Hey, you can call me Papa. Ayoko niyang 'Sir', nakakatanda!" He hissed.

"Matanda ka naman na talaga." Sabay na sabi ni Leo at Pisces.

Suminghap ang tatay ng mga ito at lumingon sa asawa nito, na busy sa pagkain nito.

"Feel free to call me Mama too. You're part of our family now, Rayos." Leo's mother, Venus, warmly said.

Nang makabawi ang padre de pamilya, he glanced at him and continued to interview her.

"Wala kang balak na pasukin ang business?"

Umiling si Rayos. "Wala po. I want to be a Doctor."

"A psychiatrist… just like your father. Nice." Nag thumbs up ito sa kanya.

HE'S TIRED but seeing Rayos getting along with his family was a breathtaking view. His father was a bit insane for asking Rayos to drink wine after dinner.

Kaya nang makauwi ito sa apartment nila, hindi alam ni Leo ang gagawin niya. Lalo na nang kumportable at pasalampak na umupo si Rayos sa hita niya, locking him completely.

"Baby—" naputol ang sasabihin niya nang huliin nito ang mga labi niya at mariin siyang hinalikan.

Rayos tried to move her lips, it was their first kiss, he already anticipated that their shared kisses were sloppy. His hand rested on her waist, gently holding her in place.

Nadala siya sa halik nito at gumanti. Leo's hand cupped her nape and tried to dominate her. He deepened the kiss as her hands gripped the hem of his shirt. Natauhan lang si Leo nang humiwalay si Rayos at bumaba ang halik nito sa panga niya.

"Shit!" he hissed.

Leo tapped her thigh, signaling her to stop. Nang hindi ito tumigil, siya na mismo ang umiwas at marahan na tinulak si Rayos palayo.

He tugged her chin.

"We can't do this, baby… Your parents entrusted you to me. Ayaw ko na masira ang tiwala nila sa akin."

☕

A/N: Probably my last update. Tatapusin ko muna ang outline for the remaining chapters this week. May kailangan lang ako na ayusin sa school + our business plan. I will continue the everyday update once na naayos na ko na 'yon.
Thanks!