Kier left me in the kitchen alone. Nang makarinig ako ng taong tumatawag sa pangalan niya kanina ay kaagad ko siyang itinulak palayo sa akin. I saw how disappointed he was because of what happened.

Todo paypay ako sa sarili ko para pakalalmahin ang init na nararamdaman ko. He just left me there hanging with my lust. Sinimulan niya nga ngunit hindi naman tinapos. I shook my head.

I was about to get a glass of water when there's a hand that suddenly stopped me from doing it. Napatitig ako sa kamay na iyon.

"Let's go," he said nonchalantly.

Bigla akong napatingin kay Kier nang marinig ko iyon. But I didn't saw him looking at me, instead, he was busy with his phone on his right hand.

I diverted my gaze away from his hand that was holding his phone. Ibinaba ko ang baso at pumihit paharap sa kanya.

"Where are we going?" I asked like I didn't notice something.

He didn't even give me a glance before answering my question.

"You're hired. You'll work under my name," walang lingong sagot niya.

Napakunot ako ng noo ko hindi dahil sa sinabi niya. Kung hindi ay dahil bigla akong ginapang ng inis sa ikinilos niya ngayon sa harapan ko. Parang wala ako rito na kahit ang tapunan man lamang ng tingin ay hindi niya magawa.

We were so intense earlier but he's acting coldly right now. He was even caressing my folds then now he's treating me like I wasn't in front of him.

"Kier," inis na tawag ko sa kanyang pangalan.

"What is it?" Still busy with his phone, he asked.

Really?! What the fuck...

"Kier," I called him again. But this time, it's more stiff. Ngunit hindi niya pa rin ako nilingon.

"I'm taking this matter, Haier," he stated as if it will answer what I was about to ask!

Sa inis ko ay pabalang kong kinuha ulit ang baso sa mahabang lamesa at matunog na inilapag iyon. Doon ko naagaw ang atensiyon niya nang lumingon siya roon.

My brows knitted as I stared at him, annoyed.

"What are you doing?" A line appeared in between his brows when he asked me that.

Tinitigan ko na lamang siya at hindi na umimik. We were staring at each other for about a minute before he looked away. I closed my eyes and looked up, calming myself.

Get a hold of yourself, Haier. Stop acting like it's a big deal. You're a hostess, so don't make it a big deal. Treat it like nothing...

I waited for Kier to finish what he was doing. Nakatayo lamang ako sa gilid ng mahabang lamesa habang nasa harapan ko siya at abala sa selpon niya. I busied myself surveying the place.

Nang matapos na siya ay tumayo na ako ng tuwid. I straightened my stance in front of him and let my face on a poker face.

"Let's go. Baka naghihintay na si Amore sa condo ko," aniyang nakapagpatigil sa akin.

Agad nalukot ang mukha ko nang marinig ko ang pangalang binanggit niya.

Amore... I-Is he her fianceé? Si Kier 'yon?

Nauna siyang maglakad sa akin paalis sa kusina habang ako ay patuloy pa ring nakatunganga sa kitatatayuan ko. Gulat sa kung ano'ng sinabi niya.

I was just looking at Kier's back when I noticed him stopped walking his way out and turned his body to face me.

"Bakit nakatayo ka pa riyan?" I moved immediately when he asked.

"Sandali lang—" naputol ang sasabihin ko nang magsalita ulit siya.

"Make your move faster, woman. Ayaw kong pinaghihintay si Amore," I stopped again.

Muli akong napatigil nang ulitin niya ng mas malinaw ang kaninang sinabi niya. Pakiramdam ko ay agad tinusok ang dibdib ko nang muli kong marinig ang pangalan ng babaing kinaiinggitan ko.

His eyes darted at me for seconds before turning his back against me and started walking again. Kumurap-kurap ako upang alisin ang emosyong agad bumalatay sa mga mata ko.

You shouldn't be hurting, Haier. Hindi ka dapat masaktan dahil wala naman kayong relasyon.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago tapik-tapikin ang banda kung nasaan ang dibdib ko. I was releasing deep breath to tranquil my system. Nang pakiramdam ko ay ayos na ako ay dali-dali akong humakbang at sumunod kay Kier palabas ng bahay ng mga De Asis.

I saw his car parked near the fountain so I walked myself until there. Tumigil ako malapit sa pintuan ng sasakyan niya.

He opened the window of his car and looked me through it.

"Get in," saad niya sabay senyas sa kabilang upuan sa tabi niya.

Tumango lang ako at mabilis na umikot papunta sa kabila bago buksan ang pinto ng kotse niya. Nang makapasok na ako ay agad nanuot sa ilong ko ang panlalaking pabango niya. Napakagat labi na lamang ako at tumingin sa labas.

He started driving his car off from the house of De Asis. I was just quiet and not really moving while he was driving. I don't want to talk because I was still jealous.

It was just normal to feel jealous when you like the person. Kaya ko 'yon nararamdaman dahil gusto ko si Kier. But I know that it's beyond the moon. It's beyond the lead.

"What's with the silence, hmm?" I instantly glanced at Kier when he asked me.

I saw him looking focused on the road while holding the steering wheel tightly. Ang ugat sa kanyang mga kamay ay bakat na bakat kaya nakikita ko iyon ng malinaw.

"Wala naman," sagot ko.

Naramdaman kong nilingon niya ako.

"Sigurado ka ba?" he insisted.

I nodded my head, "Yes..." I said.

Nakarating kami sa building kung nasaan ang unit niya. Agad niyang ipinasok ang kotse niya sa garahe. Nang itigil na niya ang sasakyan ay nauna na akong bumaba kaysa sa kanya. But we still went on the elevator together.

Kier pressed where the floor of his unit's located. Tahimik lamang ako sa tabi niya at hindi siya nililingon ngunit napansin ko nang mabilis niya akong sulyapan.

"Haier," hindi nakatiis na tawag niya sa akin.

Nilingon ko lang siya gamit ang mga mata ko at tumingin din ng diretso sa harapan.

"I'm sorry," he said that made me looked at him directly.

He squeeze his eyes shut and gulped. Nakita ko kung paano gumalaw ang bukol sa lalamunan niya. Sinundan ko iyon ng tingin.

"Para saan?" I asked.

Gusto kong malaman kung para saan siya humihingi ng tawad sa akin. Kung dahil sa nangyari sa nang gabing iyon o dahil sa nangyari kanina sa bahay ng mga De Asis.

He looked down on me. He was towering me when he moved a bit to close our distance partially.

"I don't know," kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

"Are you making fun of me, Kier? You're saying sorry but you didn't know what you are sorry for?" inis na tanong ko.

Humakbang siya nang paatras at humilig sa dingding ng elevator.

Walang buhay siyang tumawa, "I'm fuck up, really," aniya.

Umirap ako sa kawalan at hindi na lamang umimik. I hate it when he's like that. Dahil pakiramdam ko ay pinagtatawanan niya lang ako nang palihim. It makes me feel a little.

Tumunog ang elevator senyalis na nasa tamang palapag na kami. Nauna akong maglakad palabas kaysa sa kanya. Ramdam ko ang mga titig niya sa likuran ko habang naglalakad ako. I didn't mind him and just continue walking until I'm in front of his unit.

"Haier..." I remained standing straight in front of the door and didn't glanced at him.

"Magta-trabaho na ako, Sir," ani ko sa kanya. I want him to stop talking.

"Give me a minute first, Haier—" I cut him off.

"You know exactly what does that mean, Kier." Pagtukoy ko sa oras na hinihingi niya.

"Okay, okay. I'll pay your time. Is that it?" rinig ko ang kagustuhan niyang kausapin ako.

"Make it quick," I said in a usual voice.

Bumuntong hininga muna siya bago muling magsalita.

"I am sorry for what—"

"Szaji..."

Sabay kaming napalingon sa pinagmulan ng tinig na iyon. I was stuck for a while when I saw her standing not so far from where Kier and I were standing.

"Babe," I heard Kier's voice called her in a whisper.

I felt my knees wobbling hearing him called her that way. My eyes swelled in an instant when I saw how his expression softened as he stared at her.

Pakiramdam ko ay dinudurog ng pinong-pino ang puso ko sa tanawin na nasa harapan ko. I was looking at Kier with my teary eyes while he was looking at Amore with gentleness I didn't know he has for that extent.

Kier walked towards her and held her waist gently. Kitang-kita ng dalawang mata ko kung paano niya ipalibot ang kanyang braso sa beywang ng babaing kaharap ko.

I swallowed the lump on my throat before talking.

"Bababa lang ako, Sir. Kukunin ko lang ho ang gamit ko na ipinakuha ko kay Justine," ani ko.

Alam kong nilingon ako ni Kier matapos kong sabihin 'yan. Ngunit mabilis na akong humakbang papasok ulit sa elevator at dali-daling pinindot ang ground floor. Nang magsara iyon ay agad akong napaupo dala ng panghihina dahil sa nakita ko.

I was sitting on the cold tiles inside the elevator while I was suppressing my sobs. I was hurting. I know. I was hurting because of what he did. I was hurting because of how fast his reaction changes when she's around...

Ang kabog sa loob ng dibdib ko ay sobrang lakas na pakiramdam ko ay puputok iyon. It wasn't because of the excitement but it was because of the pain that I was in. Tinapik-tapik ko iyon. I was tapping my chest to calm my inside. Dahil pakiramdam ko ay iiyak na lang ako sa lugar kung nasaan ako.

He just did it in front of my face... I thought he wasn't the person that was my brother's pertaining. But it was actually him. The man who I am in love with... He was actually getting married. He was about to have his own family.

"K-Kier... B-bakit ang sakit n-naman?" I asked myself while sobbing a little.