Chapter Twenty Four

Nahirapan akong lumabas ng kuwarto nang walang nakakapansin sa akin lalo na at may mga maids na naglilinis sa mga guest rooms na nasa ikatlong palapag ng bahay. Pababa ay kinailangan ko ring mag-ingat dahil baka nasa living room pa si Daddy at hindi pa uma-akyat sa study room.

All in all, I had to walk tippy-toes in my own house like a robber in act because I couldn't afford to get caught sneaking out just to meet Jimin who was probably now freezing in coldness and darkness outside. Bakit ba kasi naisipan niyang pumunta rito sa bahay?!

Ni hindi ko alam kung paano siya nakapasok nang hindi siya napapansin ng mga guards na nasa main gate o kahit ng mga rumorondang guards sa buong residence. Kapag inakala ng mga itong trespasser siya o isang kahina-hinalang tao ay baka humandusay na lang siya sa sahig dahil na pa-shoot-to-kill na siya ng head security ng Urduja Residence!

That brute, makakapatay ako kapag nangyari iyon!

He could just get in a normal and safest way, papapasukin naman siya pero sa tono niya kanina, mukhang hindi alam ng mga guards na nandito siya.

Ipinanalangin ko ring sana ay may call session sina Ate Milan at Kuya Hoseok para hindi na siya ma-istorbo pa kung malalaman man ni yaya Mia na wala ako sa kuwarto ko.

Agad kong nahanap si Jimin na nakatayong nakapamulsa sa isang gilid ng mansiyon na nasisilungan ng flooring ng balcony ng kuwarto ko at may kung anong sinisipa sa konkretong sahig. Tanging itim at dilaw na flannel dress shirt lang ang suot at itim na jeans, kitang-kita ang pagkakakapit ng pantalon sa baywang niya dahil naka-tuck in ang kaliwang gilid ng flannel na suot niya samantalang nakakalaylay lang ang kanang bahagi dahil mukhang hindi na umabot doon ang butones.

Sa hitsura niya, halatang nilalamig nga ang walanghiya lalo na at hindi naman makapal ang tela ng flannel niya.

Damn it, was he trying to get himself sick? Hindi ba niya alam na gigiyerahin ko ang mga guards kung sakali mang magkakasakit siya at hinding-hindi ko mapapatawad ang lamig? But damn it again, bakit mukha siyang rumampa sa isang runway event? Was he even aware how cool and handsome he looked right now?

He could leap a heart to be honest. My flirtatious heart, to be specific.

Nang lumingon siya sa kinaroroonan ko ay napatayo siya ng diretso at nakangising hinintay ang paglapit ko, ang suot niyang silver diamond earring sa isang tainga ay kumikislap sa dilim ng kinaroroonan niya pero hindi iyon ang dahilan ng pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko at ang pagkakatigil ng mga paa ko.

The last time I saw him, his hair was in a blonde and undercut…

"Yah, east, I really wanna hold you, paghihintayin mo pa ba ako?"

And well, his voice was better than in the phone.

Nang hindi pa rin ako gumalaw ay siya na ang kusang lumapit sa akin habang mas humihigpit ang hawak ko sa jacket niyang nakasabit sa braso ko, sumasakit ang dibdib ko sa mabilis na pagtibok nito at nanghihina na naman ang mga tuhod ko tulad ng madalas mangyari sa tuwing lumalapit siya sa akin.

I loudly gasped when his intoxicatingly sweet and minty scent once again made me drunk in addiction. He softly chuckled, arms instantly wrapping around me as his head slowly dipped into my face, cutting the distance between our faces.

Sinalubong ng mga maliliit ngunit malalamlam niyang mga mata sa dilim ang mga mata ko kasabay ng banayad na paghaplos ng dulo ng ilong niya sa ilong ko.

I gripped his jacket even tighter as I held myself from also wrapping my arms around him and shamelessly throwing myself to him. Siya na muna ang bahala. Hahayaan ko siyang gawin ang gusto niya dahil lunod na lunod na ako ng epekto niya sa puso ko.

"I told you to trust me…" he whispered as I felt the hair on my nape stand to build a battalion in chill when his cold yet soft lips barely caressed my parted and awaiting ones. "I see that you didn't, but it's fine. It's fine 'cause what matter's that you're here and I'm going to restore your trust."

My eyes instantly shut closed when he finally ambushed my willing lips with his aggressive ones, his arms went gripping tightly around me and pulling me closer to his cold body because of staying long in cold. I let his sweet lips devour mine, once again making me feel how good it felt to be kissed by Jimin Park.

I once asked myself if Jimin reached and pulled down heaven for his girls, if he picked up stars for them or if he treated them like a Princess. Now I realized, now that he was kissing me and I could feel every bit of his sweet taste at every corners of my lips, I realized, it was me.

He didn't do those things to other girls 'cause he would only make me feel those things.

Those deeds would only be valid for me.

I was his Princess, I had always been his Princess. Even not in our intimate moments or in bed, Jimin always made me feel heaven, he didn't need to pull it down for me 'cause he was my heaven. And if I would just ask for stars, his eyes catered so many sparks brighter and shinier than those dusts in the sky.

That was why I fell for him, 'cause I had always been special for him and he was right, I didn't trust him enough to see all that.

I remembered him telling me once to trust him, when we were both inside his car outside the Park Mansion during his parents' monthly wedding celebration… he told me to trust him but I didn't take it as to how he wanted me to.

I should have trusted him, that he would never be like my Jimin Park to any other girl out there 'cause it was just me, it would always be just me.

Kaya sa nanginginig na mga kamay ay niyakap ko siya pabalik, ang mga daliri kong hawak ang jacket niya ay kusang kumapit sa damit niya sa likod at sinuklian ang mga halik niya sa paraang tanging sa kaniya ko lang maibibigay.

Pinayagan ko ang dila niyang makapasok sa bibig ko at matunton ang pakay nito.

"J-Jimin…" I uttered his name in between the sweet kiss when his tongue played with my one fang, tickling the back of it and sucking my lower lip. I drunkenly opened my eyes and bravely met his small glinting ones, even in darkness they catered brightness, I just wanted to get dragged deeper and get drowned like how it always happened.

"Right, east, that's only name you're allowed to say and call, hm," he said as he shortly pulled his lips from me.

Hinampas ko ang likod niya para muli niyang ibalik sa mga labi ko ang mga labi niya at natatawang hinalikan naman niya ako ulit. Ang isang kamay niya ay umangat na sa mukha ko at humahaplos, ang isa naman ay nasa likod ng hita ko, sa ibaba ng puwet ko, nagbabantang i-angat ang isa kong hita.

We were not afraid to get caught here since this part was pretty secluded. Hindi ito madalas pinupuntahan ng mga nagrorondang guards sa gabi, bukod sa madilim rito ay natatabunan din ng mga pinasadyang puno.

At alam niya iyon, alam niya iyon kaya siya nandito.

"I missed you, east," he mumbled against my lips.

"I missed you too, west," I mumbled back, still too drunk and delirious to pull away from him.

"I wanna keep kissing you, I could even go till midnight but…" Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisngi ko at marahan niyang inilayo ang mukha niya sa akin. Pinatakan niya ng isa pang halik ang mga labi ko pero hindi siya nakontento kaya halos hindi ako makahinga ng paulanan niya ako ng mga mabibilis na halik.

"Jimin!" I said, almost breathless 'cause his kisses didn't let me breathe as I hit his back again.

Isang matagal na halik pa ulit bago niya ako binitawan at mabilis na umatras palayo sa akin. Pakiramdam ko mamamanhid ang mga labi ko sa dami ng halik na iginawad niya sa akin.

"Now, we really need to talk!" he said, sounded frustrated as he placed his hands over his pants, in front of his crotch.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang ma-realize ko ang nangyayari sa kaniya kaya napayakap ako sa jacket na hawak ko. Muli akong napako sa kinatatayuan ko at bumilis na naman ang tibok ng puso ko.

Damn, Jimin's effect on me!

Ayaw kong magpa-Maria Clara sa harap niya pero matagal na simula noong huling may mangyari sa amin at iba na ngayon dahil alam ko na kung anong nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya. Being in love with him made me shy and passive!

"Don't look at me like that, east. We've been far away from each other for almost a month! Imagine what I went through without you? My hands became my only salvation!"

"West!" Mas nanlaki yata ang mga mata ko sa narinig ko kung may ilalaki pa sila, ramdam na ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng mga pisngi ko at kung malapit lang siya sa akin ay baka natampal ko na ang bibig niya.

I was just thinking about that!

"Now, now, now, let me calm chim junior," he said in a raspy low voice, breath hitching.

Nagusot ang mukha ko nang tumingala siya at bumulong, masyadong mahina ang boses niya para marinig ko. Mayamaya lang ay bumuntong-hininga siya at dahil sa kawalan ng ideya kung anong dapat kong gawin ay hinagis ko sa kaniya ang jacket niya na nasalo naman niya.

"It's cold, hindi ko mapapatawad ang lamig kapag nagkasakit ka," sabi ko saka nag-iwas ng tingin nang unti-unting gumuhit ang isang ngisi sa mga labi niya pero bumalik din naman agad ang tingin ko sa kaniya nang muli kong mapansin ang buhok niya.

My heart drummed loudly again, cheering for what pleased my eyes. Magkasabwat talaga sila.

"You look… you look like the most handsome guy in my life, who are you?" I playfully spat at him, eyes narrowing to hide my happiness over his new look.

Mas lumapad ang ngisi niya at mayabang na sinuklay ang medyo mahaba na niyang buhok gamit ang isang kamay niya, nakaparte iyon sa gitna at ipinapakita ang makinis niyang noo. His now smooth black hair that was blonde before just went back to how they were because of its softness

Now, I was seriously willing to be under him, moaning his name and gripping his black hair… just like how I always pictured my wildest dream about us.

"I'm yours," he playfully answered, wriggling his eyebrows as if teasing me before harshly shaking his head to mess his hair. Muli iyong nagulo kaya pinasadahan na naman niya ng mga daliri niya, sinusuklay tila natutuwa sa nakikitang reaksiyon mula sa akin.

Wow, that was my man over there, serving me his undeniable and heart-hammering gorgeous looks. He knew it too well and using it well for his advantage.

I wanted to hold him again, to be honest.

"Come here, west," utos ko sa kaniya pero umiling siya, iwinagayway pa sa harap ko ang isang palad niya na para bang hindi magandang ideya ang sinasabi ko.

"Not until we're done talking. I'll let you pull my hair while grunting in pleasure till your satisfaction but that's for later, I miss you too so much, pero nagpipigil ako so you should do the same too." And he grinned smugly at me.

This brute! At ano namang iniisip niyang gagawin ko?!

"Brute, you perverted brute! Hahawakan ko lang!" I defended but he just shook his head again, not taking it seriously as he again swayed his other hand in the air as if dismissing the topic.

"Let's talk, let's talk, Hannan. May oras iyang mga iniisip mo. Tsk, you pretty lewd girl of mine."

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig ako sa kaniya. Napakakapal pa rin talaga ng walanghiyang ito. Gusto ko na tuloy ipanalanging sana ay hindi lang sampal ang natamo niya kay Cielo Severino pero agad ko rin namang itinaboy ang isiping iyon.

Hindi pa rin ako masaya sa ginawa ng babaeng iyon.

"You called me what?" Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata saka ako nameywang habang pinapanood siyang isinusuot na ang jacket niyang dala ko.

Lewd?! He called me lewd because I called him pervert?

"I called you mine, you want me to repeat it? Siguro nga, so you can tell those boys to whom you truly belong so they'll stop hoping for you." Nang matapos siya ay pinagpag niya ang parehong brasong parte ng jacket niya bago siya tumitig sa akin. Gone was the playfulness, the pervertedness, the smugness and they were all replaced by his handsome serious face.

I quickly pursed my lips as I got what he meant by that. Kilala ko ang tinutukoy niya at alam naming pareho na hindi namin gustong may masaktan dito na malalapit sa amin.

Hindi kami, at hindi ang mga kaibigan niya.

"I don't like him, Jimin," I honestly answered him, my eyes not leaving his eyes so that he could see the sincerity from my eyes.

I didn't like Jungkook, I didn't even consider him as a friend though I had come to realize that I had to respect his feelings 'cause just like me, he was just in love.

Sadly, in love siya sa akin at in love naman ako sa lalaking nasa harap ko.

We were kind on the same boat, actually. Ang pinagkaiba lang namin, wala siyang pag-asa sa akin samantalang hindi pa ako sigurado sa kung anumang nararamdaman ni Jimin para sa akin.

I was special to him, I could feel it but would it be enough for me? I wanted him, I wanted him to love me just as much as I did to him. I wanted us fair here.

Mabagal na tumango si Jimin, naiintindihan ang sinabi ko saka namulsa, halatang walang balak hawakan ako habang nag-uusap kami.

I gave him that. Gusto ko na rin namang malinawan sa lahat ng ito e. I wanted to hear his side that I had been dying to know and I would give him what I had been keeping within myself.

Hindi ako lumapit sa kaniya o nagtangkang hawakan siya, katulad niya, nanatili lang akong nakatayo at nakadistansya sa kaniya.

"How did it go with Cielo Severino?" Ako na ang nagbukas ng topic kung saan kami mag-uumpisa.

He sighed in relief, seemed like he was also having a hard time thinking on where to start.

"It went like how it usually goes, east. I broke up with her, she cried of course, she asked me why and I told her that everything was just a game and that was when she slapped me…" He stopped before he tilted his down to peek for my eyes and he stood straight when he saw me glaring at him.

"She's not pregnant?" I sarcastically asked him through clenched teeth.

Natatawang umiling siya, mukhang pleased sa nakikitang eskpresyon ko. "I… we didn't do it. I just felt like it was wrong when…" He stopped and once again tilted his head down only to meet my now furrowing brows and gaping mouth.

"I couldn't even kiss her properly without seeing your beautiful face, I couldn't hold her hand without remembering the softness of your hands and how they perfectly fit with mine, and I couldn't hug her without feeling your warmth in my mind." His jaw tightened as his eyes quivered against my soft stares.

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong lapitan siya at tapikin para iparamdam na hindi lang siya ang nakakaramdam ng kakaiba, pero bukod sa natatakot akong ihakbang ang mga paa ko dahil baka matumba ako ay iginagalang ko ang personal space na kinakailangan niya sa usapang ito.

"Dating Cielo Severino was like fighting over my guilt. No, I didn't feel guilty about playing with her and hurting her, I felt guilty about kissing her while having you in mind. It felt like cheating on you." His voice shook as he quickly bowed his head, hiding his handsome bothered face from my eyes.

Damn, personal space! Could I just hug him while he was telling me everything?

I needed his strength and safe embrace to keep myself intact and to keep my knees from giving up. I also needed him to feel that it was fine, that it was fine to feel that way, it was fine if he was having a weird feeling for me too 'cause I was willing to wait till he sorted whatever it out.

Hindi madali iyon, mahabang panahon din ang kinailangan ko noon para tuluyang matukoy kung ano ba talaga ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya kaya bibigyan ko siya ng panahon.

Sinubukan kong ihakbang ang isang paa ko ngunit mabilis siyang umatras na para bang takot na takot na madikitan ko. My brows furrowed even more when I felt my knees wobble and about to give up.

"No! No, Hannan. Hindi pa ako tapos, you might strangle my neck or worst might kill me after hearing everything—"

"And I might stumble down because of my shaking knees, Jimin! Give me something to hold on!" sigaw ko sa kaniya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at sigurado akong nauubusan na siya ng dugo sa mukha dahil sa pamumutla ng mukha niya. He raised his shaking hands in the air, panicking like someone who didn't know what to do at a very sudden and unfortunate situation.

"Jimin!" I irritatedly screamed again, trying to reach for his hands.

Kung may makakakita lang sa amin ay iisipin nilang naglalaro kami ng patintero sa dilim.

"Aish! Fine! Of course, I'll hold you!" Pinutol niya ang distansiya naming dalawa saka mabilis na hinawakan ang isang kamay kong pilit siyang ina-abot at buong lakas akong inikot.

He then held me, his arms instantly wrapping around me as he gently pulled me in his safe embrace again but this time, my back comfortably leaned on his cozy yet hard chest as his chin gently rested on my shoulder. Our side faces both smoothly caressed each other as his sweet minty scent once again invaded my nose.

I smiled wickedly, feeling the quick and loud thumps in his chest unbelievably synchronizing with mine.

This was better than being distanced from him.

"Now, don't talk or say anything and let me say everything I've been meaning to tell you since day one, or else, I'll kiss you for every word—" He stopped abruptly when I turned my head only to leave a peck on his unprepared rambling lips.

"Just tell me," natatawang sabi ko bago ko maramdaman ang paghigpit ng yakap niya sa akin, ang mga braso ay magkahugpong sa harap ng tiyan ko.

"You really don't know what kind of situation you're trying to put us both into, are you? I'm just barely holding myself back from taking you here so behave there. Your mere breathing can fvcking send me to insanity, you naughty girl of—"

"Of yours. Oo na, alam kong sa'yo ako. Para ka talagang babae sa kadaldalan, Jimin. Just tell me, okay?"

He sighed, his chest rising and falling against my back before I felt him lamely nod his head, his face smoothly caressing my face.

"Cielo Severino wasn't really who I cheated with on you." He started again.

Nakuha ko na sa tuwing humihigpit ang yakap niya sa akin ay na-te-tense siya o nagdadalawang-isip na magpatuloy kaya ipinatong ko sa mga kamay niya ang mga kamay ko para banayad na haplusin.

"Pauline Alveoli." Ako na ang sumagot sa kaniya, ayaw nang patagalin pa ang paghihirap niya.

"Didn't I tell you that I'll kiss—wait, wha-what? How did you know that?" Humigpit na naman ang yakap niya sa akin saka isinubsob sa leeg ko ang mukha niya.

"I saw you with her, and Taehyung told me," sagot ko.

Bumuntong-hininga siya, iyong klase ng buntong-hininga na tila nabunutan siya ng tinik pero narinig ko pa nang pabulong na minura niya si Taehyung.

"That dumbass, really. Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit hinayaan kong mahuli ako ng lokong iyon. He got me followed, could you believe that? Palibhasa may gusto kay Pau."

Nilingon ko siya ulit sa gulat sa narinig ko pero tumama lang ang pisngi ko sa buhok niya. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko i-a-absorb ang panibagong impormasyong iyon dahil nakakagulat naman talaga. Kaya pala ang daming alam ng wirdong iyon! Stalker pala ni Pauline Alveoli!

Seriously, Taehyung liked Pauline Alveoli? Kaya ba nandoon din siya mall na iyon noong araw na nakita ko si Jimin at Pauline Alveoli?!

Taehyung Kim! That was why you got involved!

"And why did you date her anyway? I actually thought you love her…"

And I need you to enlighten me. I need you to tell me that I only thought wrong, that you don't love her and that, what the hell, prove me that I'm wrong!

Hindi ko sinabi iyan at bumuntong-hininga na lang.

Why would he date Pauline Alveoli, seriously? I had been meaning to know.

"It was my main plan to get on Severino's ego…" He started again, lamely leaving butterfly kisses on my neck to maybe distract us both from the truth that he was about to break. "Your plan of hurting his sister was a direct strike to his heart since they're siblings but I needed him hurt and ruined in any other means plus, Pau just couldn't get away from slapping you so I got her into the picture too. Imagine that asshole knowing how I two-timed his twin sister and his girlfriend? That was a big blow! Kung hindi lang umeksena si Taehyung ay baka nasampal na rin ako ni Pau ngayon." He rambled about that and that, truly enlightening me.

That was… that was truly mind-blowing to be honest. There I was, thinking how he had fallen in love with someone else already, being devastated because I thought I was about to lose him and being a mess because I thought, he didn't need me anymore!

Damn it! Bakit niya ginawa sa akin iyon?!

Ni hindi ko naisip na may iba siyang plano bukod sa plano namin, ni hindi ko naisip na hindi lang kay Cael Severino niya balak gumanti kung hindi pati na rin kay Pauline Alveoli dahil sa pananampal nito sa akin.

And it was all his plan!

Bakit ko ba naisip na may ibang babae pang mas hahalaga sa buhay niya kaysa sa akin? Noon pa lang, pinatunayan na niyang ako lang.

This brute, surprising me all over again with his confusing run of mind and overwhelming me nonstop with his crazy revelations!

Alam kong mahal ko na siya noon pa, maybe I was too in denial or maybe too dumb to admit it to myself because well, I was afraid to fall for him but damn it, I just loved him even more. Puwede pala iyon. Iyong pakiramdam na mas mahalin mo pa iyong taong kailanman ay hindi mo inaasahang mamahalin mo.

In my case, I might have fallen for him before and have fallen for him this time with acceptance. It was two different things. Loving him in denial before and loving him in acceptance now, nevertheless, I still loved him.

God, I love him so much!

I sweet smiled at the comforting silence that surrounded us for a second, both our heartbeats the only sound our ears could hear and it was perfect, it was perfectly amazing.

"I hope Cael Severino didn't hurt you." I found my voice in a low and husky manner, softly resting my face on his hair and putting my hands on his nape, caressing the back of his head with gentleness and love.

Imposible kasing walang gawin si Cael Severino gayong naalala ko kung paanong galit na galit siya sa akin noong huli kaming magkita at kung paanong sinabi niya sa aking papatayin niya si Jimin kapag sinaktan nito ang kambal niya.

"Actually, he's in jail. The asshole tried to kill me—"

"What the hell?!"