CHAPTER 1

TAKING CARE of other people was the hardest of jobs, but for Cloud Sebastian Beaumont, it was just a piece of cake. He had been a butler of Count Knight since he was 14, he had long perfected the art of serving people as part of his job.

Though taking care of others was a piece of cake for him, but being with Count Knight 24/7 was more than he could handle.

His boss was like a ball of craziness. He can't predict what he'll do next. He can't tell if he's just playing crazy or he's really crazy in the head. Though, his craziness aside, Count Knight was really a good person. He's misunderstood most of the time because he doesn't like taking credits over something he'd done, especially the good ones, but he's the most caring man he has ever met.

Maybe that's the reason why he stuck around as his butler. He wanted to take care and support this crazy man who likes doing good deeds secretly.

Through the years of serving Count Knight, Cloud understood one thing, his master was a scarred lonely man. He had been through too much, had seen so much and had felt so much. He suffered with him, fought with him and survived with him ... that's why seeing his master happy was Cloud's first priority.

Years had passed since he made a vow to protect his master's happiness, and it finally came — her name was Sweet Monday Canja Lopez — the nicest woman Cloud has ever met.

Seeing his master happy with Lady SM made him promise to also take good care of the lady. But what he didn't see was that Lady SM has one heavy baggage on her, her very own butler, Jacques Sotelo, a pompous spoiled ass rotten Marquess, who doesn't act like a butler at all.

So now, he has to take care of three people. His crazy master, his master's lady, and ... the annoying bossy Marquess, Lord Jacques.

Taking care of three people at once, Cloud can handle, but taking care of the pompous bossy Marquess, he has never felt so drained In his life.

Just like today ... his patience was wearing thin. Count Knight and Lady SM were outside, on a date, maybe? Or in the café. Who knows? And he was left with the Marquess in the house.

Cloud has to play nice. He's a Marquess after all. Kailangang pakisamahan niya ito ng maayos. The Marquess can affect Lady SM because she's too nice and if Lady SM was affected, then his Lord will be affected as well.

But he never thought that playing nice could be this hard.

"I don't know how..." this was Lord Jacques' favorite words, and It's so annoying to hear, especially when he said it with bossiness.

Though Cloud knew that being annoyed with this spoiled rotten Marquess won't do him any good.

So Cloud took a deep breath, he calmed himself by exhaling softly, then he asked, "you don't know how to unwrap a shrimp?"

Lord Jacques shook his head. "They're already unwrapped when served to me." He looked at the shrimp like it holds the secret of the universe. "How do you do it?" Slowly, the Marquess picked up one shrimp then held it close to his face, studying it, "wow... so many legs." The Marquess, then, looked up at Cloud, "how do you eat this thing?"

Cloud could explain to this spoiled Marquess step by step but decided not to, because this pompous Marquess will never understand any of it and it'll only drain him.

So he just silently unwrapped all the shrimp for him and put one unwrapped shrimp on the Marquess' plate.

"Eat it."

Like an obedient child, the Marquess ate the shrimp.

"Good?" Tanong niya habang nagbabalat pa rin ng hipon.

Ngumuya-nguya ito saka tumango. "Yeah, it's good."

Unconsciously, he put another shrimp on the Marquess' plate. "You're really a spoiled rotten, huh?"

"Yes." Pag-amin nito na parang wala lang habang kinakain ang pagkaing nilalagay niya sa plato nito.

"Then why did you want to become Lady SM's butler?" Cloud tsked. "You don't even know anything."

"She was my first friend and I like her."

Napailing si Cloud. What a simple reason. "You think being a butler is some kind of a play?" Is this guy even thinking? He's really annoying. "And about Lady SM, you like her ... like romantically?"

"Yes."

That put him on a sour mood because Cloud knew it'll affect his Lord if he ever finds out. Count was very possessive of Lady SM. Tinigil niya ang pagbabalat at pagpapakin dito ng hipon. "Eat up and wash the dishes after you're done."

"I don't know how." Lord Jacques said with that bossy attitude again.

Cloud froze on his step, trying really hard not to snapped at the Marquess. "Figure it out yourself, my Lord."

Mauubusan siya ng dugo kung patuloy siyang makikipag-usap sa Marquess. He's just too clueless! He doesn't know anything! He has to distance himself from the Marquess before he gets into his nerves!

Lumabas siya ng kusina at naglinis ng bahay para magpalipas ng oras. He already finished cleaning up the second floor and was now moving to the first floor when he heard a loud shattering sound coming from the kitchen.

What is that Marquess doing again?!

Cloud doesn't want to be annoyed again so he stayed in the living room, cleaning, until he heard Lord Jacques' voice behind him.

"Cloud, I broke three plates, two glasses and then one mug." Lord Jacques said it like the plates owed him for breaking them. "How much are those? Let's go buy a replacement." He asked like he's shopping and didn't break anything!

"Leave them be." Aniya na hindi ito nililingon dahil baka hindi talaga niya mapigilan ang pagsabog ng iritasyon niya.

"How much are they—"

"How about you start with 'I'm sorry'?" Itinigil niya ang pagba-vacuum saka hinarap ito. "I'm sure you're not used to it, but this is not your house, so say it."

"I rather pay for it." It seems that he hates the idea of saying sorry. "Why say sorry if I can pay it back?"

Cloud pressed his lips together. This guy was really trying his patience. Be nice, Cloud, be nice. "Those are just cheap plates, just say you're sorry then we'll call it quits."

"I'll pay for it." May diin nitong sabi.

Hinilot niya ang sintido. "Whatever. Go buy them yourself." He said dismissively before returning to hold the vacuum. "You can buy those outside. Take a cab and stop at the nearest home depot."

Hindi umimik ang Marquess at bumalik lang sa kusina, siya naman ay itinuon ang atesiyon sa paglilinis.

After he was done cleaning the second and first floor, he moved to the kitchen to prepare for their meal later. Automatically, he looked around to look for Lord Jacques. Nang hindi makita doon ang Marquess, kinutuban siya ng masama pero hindi niya pinansin. Lumabas siya ng kusina para hanapin ito pero halos naikot na niya ang buong bahay, wala siyang makitang kahit anino ng Marquess.

Cloud tsked as he stands at the bottom of the staircase.

"Fuck..." napagbuga siya ng marahas na hininga, "where did that pompous ass go?"

Ibinilin pa naman ito sa kaniya ni Lady SM. Why does he have to be responsible for that grown ass man, anyway?! He's too old to need a babysitter!

Hinihilot ang sentido na tinungo niya ang security room para panoorin ang CCTV sa loob ng bahay.

After seeing the footage, Cloud called Shun. Pero bago niya matawagan si Shun, nakita niyang ilang beses na tumawag sa kaniya ang Marquess. Siguro tumawag ito habang naglilinis siya. Ngayon pa lang niya nahawakan ulit ang cellphone mula pa kanina.

Cloud was about to call Lord Jacques back when he realized that the Marquess might not know where he was. Knowing that pompous ass, it's better to call Shun for help.

So he called Shun.

"911." Aniya ng sagutin nito ang tawag niya.

"What happened?" Mabilis nitong tanong.

"Lady SM's Butler went out." Pagkuwento niya habang nagtatagis ang bagang. "He's clueless and a sheltered motherfucker. Can you track him down for me?"

"I'll track his phone. Give me a sec."

Habang naghihintay sa update mula kay Shun, tinungo niya ang garahe saka minaneho ang sasakyan niya palabas ng gate at lumabas siya ng BV.

"That motherfucker ... " Cloud muttered, "going out when he doesn't know shit..."

Binagalan niya ang pagmamaneho ng makatanggap ng mensahe galing kay Shun.

From: Hellion

'His coordinates.'

Below was Lord Jacques' location.

Cloud sighed heavily before following the coordinates sent by Shun. Dinala siya ng coordinates na 'yon sa medyo hindi mataong lugar. Mga isang oras ang layo sa BV.

Cloud frowned. "What the fuck did that Marquess do this time?"

Hindi na kailangan pang maghintay ni Cloud sa sagot dahil kaagad niyang nakita si Lord Jacques. Nakaupo ito sa gilid ng kalsada at nakayuko.

He looks like an abandoned puppy on the side of the road.

Itinigil niya ang sasakyan malapit dito saka lumabas siya ng kotse at naglakad palapit dito. Nang tumigil siya sa harapan nito, pigil niya ang mapabuntong-hininga sa iritasyon.

"What are you doing here, Lord Jacques?"

Dahan-dahan itong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya, ilang segundong nakakunot ang nuo kapagkuwan ay gumugit ang ngiti sa mga labi nito na para bang masaya itong nakita siya. "You actually came looking for me."

Cloud was taken aback by the Marquess' smile that it made his Irritation disappear — he was that stunned for a couple of seconds. Who would have thought that this pompous bossy Marquess can smile genuinely like that just because Cloud went looking for him?

What a spoiled brat.

Tumikhim siya. "What are you doing here?" Ulit niyang tanong.

Tumayo ito saka pinagpag ang likod ng pantalon. "I took a cab like you said and I told him where I want to go so I could buy those fucking plates and glasses and mug. But the driver messed with me and just drove around. When I realized what he was fucking doing, he just randomly dropped me off here and left me angrily when I tried paying with my card because I don't have a cash with me."

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig siya sa kaharap. This man was really sheltered. He doesn't even know that most taxis doesn't accept cards.

Cloud was baffled.

"Then he took my favorite watch. My Dad gave that to me." Dagdag ng Marquess na ikinatanga niya rito. "I didn't resist because I have no other means to pay, so I just let him. And I'd been calling you, you didn't answer."

Now he's flabbergasted. The Marquess doesn't even mind that he was robbed. Cloud's pretty sure that his watch can buy even twenty taxis.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang napailing. "Come on. Let's go."

Nauna na siyang bumalik sa kotse at sumunod naman sa kaniya ang Marquess. Nang makasakay ito sa passenger seat, hindi kaagad siya umalis dahil hinihintay niya itong mag seatbelt pero hindi ito gumalaw.

Cloud tsked in annoyance. "Put your seatbelt on, Lord Jacques." Pigil niyang hindi magtagis ang bagang sa iritasyon.

"What?" He looks clueless.

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata para kontrolin ang iritasyon niya bago kalmadong bumaling sa Marquess. "Seatbelt. Put it on."

Sa wakas, gumalaw din ito. But his irritation just fired up when he saw him clumsily trying to put the seatbelt on.

In short ... he doesn't know how.

After fumbling with the seatbelt and not knowing what to do with it, Lord Jacques finally turned to him. "Help me put It on."

Cloud knew that shock was written all over his face as he stared at the Marquess, dumbfounded.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang nakatingin sa Marquess na sinusubukan pa ring magsuot ng seatbelt. He's now trying to enter his body in between the two straps.

Bago pa siya sumabog sa inis, inalis niya ang sariling seatbelt para malayang makagalaw palapit sa Marquess.

Cloud, then, leaned in, their faces were so close as he helped Lord Jacques put his seatbelt on.

Cloud stilled for a couple of seconds when he smelled the Marquess' scent. They're that close that he can even smell the sandalwood scent coming from him.

Cloud cleared his throat. "Remember how to do this." Wika niya habang inaayos ang seatbelt nito. "I'm not doing this for you again. I'm not your butler. If you wanna stay with Lady SM, you have to know this much."

"My limousine doesn't have a seatbelt at the back and someone always puts it on for me whenever I'm riding shotgun, which is very rare, and when I'm driving alone, I don't wear a seatbelt, so ... I don't know how."

Cloud went to a still again when he felt Lord Jacques' breath fanning his face as he speaks. So even his breath smells good. Gustong mailing ni Cloud dahil sa kung ano-anong pumapasok sa isip niya.

Hindi nalang siya umimik at tinapos ang pagsusuot ng seatbelt dito bago umayos ng upo sa driver's seat at ibinalik ang seatbelt na suot saka pinausad ang sasakyan.

"I thought you trained to be a butler, but you don't even know how to put a seatbelt on?"

"About that." The Marquess trailed and confessed. "I lied."

"Figures."

"But I know a little." Kaagad na bawi ng Marquess. "I mean ... I can clean, I think. I did clean Lady SM's café."

"Yey. Good for you." Aniya sa puno ng sarkasmong boses saka napailing. "How are you planning on helping Lady SM when you don't even know how to put a seatbelt on?"

"You'll help me."

Hindi mapigilan ni Cloud ang matawa. The way the Marquess said it, there's no room for resistance. It's like he doesn't even have the right to say no.

Cloud scoffed. "You've got guts."

"I'm a fucking Marquess." He said, dripping with confidence. "Of course I've got guts. Teach me everything you know. I'll pay you."

Cloud chuckled. "Ah, you think I'm cheap?"

"I'll pay you millions." Pang-iinganyo nito sa kaniya. "I know you need money. Your Lord Is broke, right? You're accounts are frozen too."

"I don't need your money." Aniya habang kalmadong nagmamaneho. "But sure, I'll help you." It's better than being annoyed all the time because the pompous Marquess doesn't know anything. He needs help around the house anyways.

"What do you want in return?" He's a persistent motherfucker alright. "Nothing is free in this world — I know that much."

For some reason, Cloud was amused and wanted to play with the Marquess a little. "Fine. Since you're persistent, I'll take your offer. Mula ngayon, Ikaw na ang bibili ng pagkain sa bahay. Lahat ng bayarin, babayaran mo. Everything I need and want, you'll buy it. Since you're buying my services with money, I'll take advantage of it. And from now on, you're not a Marquess to me, but a Butler in provision. Not only that, I will drop the honorific and just call you Jacques, except if we're in public."

"And here I thought you're a good man." Lord Jacques commented with sarcasm.

Cloud smirked. "Oh, Lord Jacques, I'm far from being a good man. I'm wicked and I'll take advantage of you as much as I can. So be prepared, if you want my services, I'll tell you this, I'm not cheap. And don't expect me to be nice to you either. I'm gonna scold you whenever I want. Your title means nothing to me."

Well. That's a lie. After saying those things, Cloud thought, Oh, shit. This is gonna backfire on me someday. I'm sure of it.

"Sure. Whatever." Anang Marquess na parang wala lang pakialam kung paano niya ito pakitunguhan. "I just wanna stay by milady's side."

Cloud glance at Lord Jacques. So this pompous ass really likes Lady SM romantically. Kapag nalaman Ito ng boss niya, siguradong magwawala 'yon. Lord Knight was a crazy motherfucker, Cloud was sure that his Lordship will make it a big deal.

"You can't like Lady SM." Wika niya habang nakatuon ang tingin sa daan.

"Why not?" Lord Jacques demanded.

"Because she's with my Lord already."

"They'll break up someday."

Napailing siya. "That's not gonna happen. I know my boss, he's not gonna let her go, so I suggest you move on."

Ilang segundong natahimik ang Marquess bago nagsalita. "Have you ever like someone?"

"Nope." Mas mabilis pa sa alas-kuwatro ang sagot niya.

"Then you don't have the right to tell me to move on."

"Fine." Even though his tone was condescending, for some reason, he felt the need to say more. "Unlike you, Mr. Romantic, I don't do relationships. I'm busy. It takes a lot of time and effort. Dating is tiring. I'm more of a 'I'll fuck you 'till you drop and I'm gone' kind of guy."

"You're a fucking asshole, you mean."

Cloud chuckled. "Yep. I'm a fucking asshole and a self-proclaim whore."

"Such colorful words..." Lord Jacques muttered in sarcasm.

"You cussed at my lord all the time." Cloud said.

"Yeah, because he's a motherfucker, while you ..." the Marquess tsked, "I thought you were nice."

"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not." Mas binilisan pa niya ang pagmamaneho.

"Don't pretend to be nice again. I hate those kinds of people."

Cloud glanced at the Marquess, "ah, so you like the honest kind — I'm not that though. I'm not nice, I'm dishonest, I'm a user and I'm as wicked as my master."

"In short, you're a bad person."

"Yep." Cloud grinned at the Marquess. "And this bad person is gonna teach you Butler 101."

"Whatever." The Lord Jacques was silent afterwards.

"Come on now, don't be silent with me." He teasingly cooed the Marquess. "It's a one hour drive back home. Since It seems that we'll be staying in the same house for a while and I'm teaching you how to be a butler, let's get to know each other. What do you say?"

"Fuck off."

Hindi niya pinakinggan ang Marquess. For some reason, he's enjoying himself, seeing the Marquess slightly pissed face amuses him. Maybe because Cloud's used to being pissed because of the Marquess, now, the tables have turned.

Ano pa kaya kapag galit na galit na ito? That'll be a very amusing sight for sure.

"Though I already know you." Pagpapatuloy niya sa pagsasalita, "so, how about you get to know me?" He said while playfully wiggling his eyebrows at the Marquess.

"Eyes on the road, you motherfucker." Lord Jacques hissed.

Cloud tsked. "Now, now, that's not the proper way to treat the person who's gonna help you."

"I'm paying you." May diin nitong sabi.

"So? I'm still doing you a favour." Kalmado pa rin si Cloud. "Sa tingin mo madaling turuan ang kagaya mo na walang alam?"

"I'm a fast learner."

"We'll see about that." He smirked and continued driving.

The Marquess was silent the whole ride, so was he. Nang makapasok sila sa BV, at makabalik sa bahay, naroon na si Lady SM at ang baliw niyang amo.

He saw how the Marquess' face lit up when he saw SM in the living room. Palihim siyang napailing.

He likes her that much?

Dumeretso siya sa kusina para maghanda ng makakain ng pumasok doon ang Marquess.

"What are you doing here?" Kinunotan niya ito ng nuo. "Shouldn't you be in the living room, with Lady SM?"

Naglakad ito palapit sa kaniya. "You agreed to teach me how to become a Butler like you. Let's start now, so I can properly support milady."

Napabuntong-hininga siya. Bakit ba niya naisip na magandang ideya na turuan ito? Looking at the Marquess' determined face now, he wants to takes it back.

This ... is not amusing at all.

"Well?" Anito na pumukaw sa pag-iisip niya. "What do I need to learn first?"

"Depends." Naghugas si Cloud ng kamay sa lababo. "What do you want to eat for dinner?"

Natigilan ang Marquess. "Why are you asking me?"

"Just tell me so I can cook It for you." Aniya.

"But—"

"I already know what my Lord and Lady SM wants to eat." Wika niya saka humarap sa Marquess na nagtatakang nakatingin sa kaniya. "Now tell me what you wanna eat."

The Marquess blink at him. "I thought you're not nice."

"What's so nice about asking you what you wanna eat?"

"Nobody has ever asked me before." Anang Marquess sa medyo pabulong na boses, "my meals are already planned for the whole month."

Cloud's face grimaced. "The hell?"

"Yep." Mahina itong natawa. "It's for my health, according to my family's nutritionist."

"Uh-huh..." Cloud hummed, still shocked at the planned meal for a whole month. "So ..." he forced himself to ask, "what do you wanna eat?"

"Vegetable salad."

Napangiwi siya. "Someone finally asked you what you want to eat and you want to eat some salad?"

"Well, I wanna try it. Some say it's good, I wanna taste for myself." Paliwanag ng Marquess pero may kakaibang emosyon sa mukha nito na hindi niya mabasa. "If you don't know how to make it then—"

"For your fucking information, Lord Jacques, I'm a fucking chef, that means I can cook anything, even you, if you piss me off."

The Marquess chuckled. "What happened to the 'I'll call you Jacques from now on when we're not In public'?" Paalala nito sa kaniya sa sinabi niya habang nasa sasakyan sila.

He grinned at the Marquess sarcastically. "Don't be so cheeky, you motherfu—" tumigil siya saka bumuntong-hininga at napailing na nagsalita, "it's not even worth cursing at you."

Lord Jacques laughed and for a couple of seconds, Cloud was just staring at him, unaware of what he was doing until the Marquess spoke. "So ... how can I help you? What do Butlers do in this situation?"

Tumikhim si Cloud saka tinuro niya ang Ref. "Get one cucumber, two tomatoes, five radishes, one jicama and six lettuce leaves. Then get some bell pepper on the side, green onion and garlic."

Kaagad namang tumalima ang Marquess habang siya naman ay naghahanda para sa pagkain ng baliw niyang amo at ni Lady SM.

Cloud was planning to make the vegetable salad first, but because the Marquess was taking a long time, he's now getting ready to cook Pork Chops with Raspberry Sauce.

Bumuntong-hininga si Cloud at Iniwan ang ginagawa para tingnan kung ano na ang nangyayari sa Marquess.

And he found the Marquess peeking inside the ref while there's a phone In his one hand. At may kung anong mayroon sa cellphone nito na titingin muna ito doon bago tumingin sa loob ng ref.

"What are you doing?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong.

Kaagad na tuwid na tumayo ang Marquess habang nanatiling nakabukas ang ref. "Finding the ingredients you mentioned."

Cloud frowned. "And how long do you think it takes to find those ingredients?"

The Marquess glanced at the ref. "I don't know what the other ingredients looks like, only tomatoes, so," iniharap nito sa kaniya ang hawak na cellphone, "i was asking Mr. Google what they look like."

Hindi alam ni Cloud at matatawa ba siya o maiirita sa Marquess. Those ingredients are not even hard to recognized. Just perfect. Note the sarcasm.

But in the end, Cloud chose to be calm. There's no point getting angry at the man who really doesn't know anything because he was raised with a golden spoon in his mouth. "Ano pa ba ang hindi mo mahanap?" Tanong niya.

"Cucumber—"

"—Oh—"

"—what does it look like?"

"It's green and it looks like a big fat dick." Paliwanag niya sa Marquess kung anong hitsura ng hinahanap nito. "You can't miss it."

And to his shock, the Marquess takes out a big and long green fruit.

"Is this It?" Lord Jacques was holding a Bitter Gourd also known as Ampalaya.

He looked at the Marquess blankly, annoyed. "I said big fat dick, not long small wrinkled dick."

"Oh." Ibinalik nito ampalaya sa loob ng ref saka may kinuha ulit Ito doon at kaagad na ipinakita sa kaniya. It's a cucumber this time. "I'm sure this is it."

Napailing siya habang nakatingin sa Marquess, "I don't think I'll get out of teaching you Butler 101 unscathed. You, my Lord, is driving me crazy."

Nginitian lang siya ng gago.

Nilapitan ni Cloud ang Marquess, sa pagkakataong 'to, hindi na siya nagulat sa mabango nitong amoy ng makalapit siya. The scent of sandalwood really smells good on him that Cloud has to stop himself from sniffing. Tumikhim siya saka kinuha ang cellphone nito at naghanap siya ng article gamit ang google.

Nang makita niya ang hinahanap, paharap niyang ibinalik ang cellphone ni sa Marquess. "See this article? It's a list of all the fruits, vegetables and spices with pictures. Memorize them." Pagkasabi nun ay siya na ang nagdala ng ingredients para sa Vegetable Salad sa island counter at nag-umpisa nang magluto ng hapunan.

Habang nagluluto, pasulyap-sulyap siya sa Marquess at paminsan-minsan ay napapailing.

Cloud was ransacking his mind, trying to remember If he ever found a man's scent and breath that made him stilled and appreciate it. Pero kahit anong kalkal niya sa isip niya, wala siyang mahanap. Never in his life did he ever find a man that made him want to sniff his scent — though if it's women, he has a long list of them.

I'm having a bad feeling about this. This will not turn out good. Cloud can already feel it, and normally, he would listen to his gut, but for some reason, he discarded it.

It's just teaching the Marquess how to be a Butler... What could go wrong?