Titig na titig ako sa maliit na babaing walang hiya-hiyang binubuksan ang butones ng suot niyang blouse sa harap ng kasama ko. Hindi ko mapigilan ang inis na mapangisi habang nakikita kong ginagawa niya iyon.

Huh, what a vulgar move!

I was wearing a watermelon bandage crop top and a red tiered skirt with a pointed toe t-strap heels. I stepped an inch besides Kier and leaned a bit. Crossing my arms on my chest intentionally to expose some parts of my skin. Particularly my breasts.

Nakita kong matigilan si Kier at lumingon sa paligid bago ko maramdaman ang braso niyang pumulupot sa baywang ko. Agad gumapang ang init ng palad niya sa lantad kong balat nang ilagay niya sa parting iyon ng katawan ko ang kamay niya.

Napalingon ako sa kanya. The moment I looked at him, our eyes instantly met.

"You're attracting too much attention, baby," he whispered in a low and raspy voice.

Alanganin akong napangiti sa harap ni Kier dahil sa hiya sa ikinilos ko. But I just want to make that woman realize that Kier's already have me!

Wait... Ano kamo?!

Argh, that woman, really!

"S-she's up to you..." I bit my lip as I reasoned out.

Tumingin siya sa babaing nasa harap namin bago nakakaakit na ngumiti.

Kier!

"I'm with my wife, Miss," Kier stated that made my eyes settled at him.

"K-Kier..." I pulled his shirt. Being ashamed with my bold move.

"Two cups of coffee caramel macchiato and two slice of mango cake," Kier said instead.

I saw the woman smiled awkwardly and fixed her blouse. She stood straight before glancing at me and bowing her head for apology. I only stared at her and didn't utter even a single word.

Kier guided me to walk until we got on our sit. Pinanghila niya ako nang upuan para maupo bago siya umikot at maupo sa harap ko.

I played with my fingers because of the jittery feeling inside me. I was too shy that I even do that earlier because of that freaking jealousy!

"Haier..." Pag-agaw niya sa atensiyon ko.

I nervously fixed my eyes on him. His grinning face is what I saw when I stared at him in shyness.

"H-hmm?" Nahihiyang tanong ko.

Good heavens where's my thick face now?!

"Will you... Will you give me a chance to be better now?" The hope on his voice is what I noticed above all.

I stared at the man I am with intently. Weighing how much seriousness he have. Binasa ko ang labi ko gamit ang dila ko bago magsalita ng seryoso sa harap niya.

"Paano naman siya? If you want another chance from me, what about her then?" I asked.

I pretended that the question I gave him didn't affect me at all. But in my heart, I was actually praying for a hope.

"Pamilyado ka na, Kier-"

"I'm a bachelor, Haier," he cut my words. "I didn't know where did you get the idea of me being married when I am definitely single," aniyang nakapagpabuka ng bibig ko sa gulat. He laughed and turned being serious again. "Paano ako magiging isang taong pamilyado na kung ang babaing mahal ko ay hindi pa kasal sa akin?" He added as he stared at me weakly.

What he said almost took my breath away for the moment. I was only looking at him with questions written all over my face.

"Amore and I lasted before I met you at the club before, Haier," he remarked.

Really?

"T-then how in the world... W-why do you keep on... c-calling her t-that way?" I asked, shocked.

His lips stretched for a lifeless smile. And it made my heart break.

Lumunok siya. I got curious.

"It was to protect her," saad niyang nagpagulo sa isip ko.

"P-protect her?" Pag-uulit ko sa sinabi niya.

W-what does he mean-

"Here's your order, sir, ma'am," the server suddenly came in.

I smiled at her. "Salamat," ani ko.

Ngumiti rin siya sa akin bago maglakad paalis. Muli akong bumaling kay Kier na nakatitig lang sa akin.

Should I ask further? But I want to know what does he mean...

"K-Kier, can you... Can you explain it clearly?" Maingat na tanong ko.

He reached for his coffee and sipped from it before nodding at me. Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga bago muling tumingin sa akin. I didn't know but I suddenly got chills.

"We were about to get married then, but out of the blue, during our family dinner, she made a confession."

Ha?

"Confession?"

He nodded his head again. I was sure that I saw pain crossed his eyes. And I, in an instant, feel jealous of her again. But I shoved that thought away.

"She admitted that she was pregnant." Napatakip ako ng bibig ko. I became weak. I was damn shocked. "But guess what?" Peke siyang ngumiti. "We didn't even sleep so how in the fucking world she'll be pregnant?" tanong niyang nagpakunot sa noo ko.

They didn't sleep? Even for once?

"What?" natanong ko na lamang.

"That fucking bastard impregnated her and fucking maltreated her despite knowing that Amore's carrying his child."

What the hell...

"Amore gave birth for a baby girl, Haier. And I thought that everything's going to be fine after she gave birth but..." He stopped. He closed his eyes and opened them again. "Nothing had changed. No. Something changed." He balled his fist. I could tell that he was still angry. "He did more. That I witnessed Amore's bruises each day. And it made me furious."

Bigla ay nakaramdam ako ng awa para kay Amore. All I thought was she was lucky enough to have her life be like that. But I was absolutely mistaken.

I couldn't believe that it was actually was happening. Akala ko no'n ay sadyang mahal niya lang si Amore kaya hindi niya ako magawang unahin kapag nandiyan na siya. But it was actually because she was being maltreated.

So it was the reason behind the scene I witnessed years ago. Why did Kier asked if she was doing okay. And she said that there were no bruises and that she was okay.

I interpreted it wrongly. That I almost lost Gael because of my mistake.

"I accompanied her sometimes. Treated her bruises but it was all ended with that. I didn't do further than that, Haier..."

How... How selfish was I? How... How narrow minded was I?

"After a year when you left, she died."

Oh my goodness...

"She committed suicide after finding that her daughter died due to leukemia months after she was born," I was beyond shocked. I didn't expect that.

Akala ko noon ay ang karanasan ko na ang pinakamahirap sa lahat. That being poor was my greatest misery that made me worked to a place like that. That living for money everyday, it was unbearable. But I was completely wrong. I was unaware of how may people miserably be like. It was more than I was. Kahit mayaman pa.

I couldn't stop myself from feeling guilty for what I heard from Kier. Inggit na inggit ako kay Amore kahit wala naman akong alam sa tunay na buhay niya. I judged her wrongfully and it made me sick right at the moment.

"I'm sorry, Kier... I'm really sorry for thinking too bad for you," I looked down.

I was guilty.

I heard Kier laughed a little before touching my head.

"Why sorry, baby? Hmm?" banayad na tanong niya sa akin.

Still looking down, I muttered," I was selfish enough to think so ill about you, Kier..." I whispered.

Narinig kong tumunog ang upuan sa harap ko. Kier probably stood up. Naramdaman ko na lamang ang presensiya niya sa tabi ko kaya napaangat ako ng kaunti ng aking tingin papunta sa kanya.

He touched and caressed my face gently. I remained staring at him. His face made me learn on how to love again. To forget my past with Harold. And his face is what keeps me staring at him all the time I got.

Kier smiled softly at me. Pakiramdam ko ay may mainit na kamay na humawak sa puso ko dahil sa ngiti niyang iyon.

"I love you, Haier..." My lips stretched for a contented smile.

"You have your chance, Kier..." I said instead.

Ang kaninang banayad na ngiti niya ay mas lumawak nang marinig niya ang sinabi ko. He made me sit straight before leaning towards me and captured my lips with his. He sealed our lips with a gentle kiss and smiled between our kisses.

He distant his face from me a bit. Settling his nose touching on mine.

"Being celibate for years was kinda thrilling. I supposed," he shrieked that made me laugh.

"Adik..." I hissed at him. We both laughed.