CHAPTER 4

"...EARTH to Cloud."

Cloud blinked before looking at the owner of that voice. It was Lord Knight. Magkasalubong ang kilay nito habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Siya naman ay tumaas ang dalawang kilay habang nagtatanong ang mga matang tumingin dito.

"Yes, my Lord?"

Lord Knight was eyeing him suspiciously as he took a seat on one of the stool near the island counter. "Kanina pa kita tinatawag, hindi ka sumasagot. Nakatulala ka lang na parang baliw. What's up with you?"

Cloud blinked then slightly shook his head. "It's nothing."

"Don't use that on me, Cloud." Tiningnan siya nito ng matiim. "You've been my Butler for more than a decade already. I know something's bothering you when you're like this. Come on, tell your boss, which is me by the way."

Napailing siya. "It's nothing—"

"Hindi kita tatantanan."

Mahina siyang natawa. "You have to go to work, my Lord. Lady SM and Lord Jacques already left for work."

"Nah. I can cancel that."

Napailing ulit siya. "It's really nothing."

Bumuntong-hininga ang boss niya saka pinakatitigan siya. "Cloud, hindi ikaw ang tipo ng tao na mahilig makipag-usap sa hangin. That'll be Shun because he's a weird ass dude, so just tell me what's bothering so I can go to work."

Napabuntong-hininga si Cloud. His lord was a persistent motherfucker. Sigurado siyang hindi siya nito tatantanan. "Well ... I did something that I normally don't do. And I have a question to you."

Maybe his crazy boss can help him.

"What?" The Count gave him all his attention while waiting for his question.

"Have you...ahm," Cloud cleared his throat, "h-have you..." he couldn't say it!

"Have I what?"

Cloud took another deep breath and spoke hurriedly. "Have you sniffed someone's neck before?"

"Yeah." That was quick. "SM's."

"Ahm..." he rolled his tongue in between his lips, "sniffing a guy's neck, I mean."

That question would make anyone frown or grimaced but his lord didn't even bat an eyelash. Like it's nothing. "Nope. Never done that before and not doing it in the future. The only neck I'm interested in sniffing is my baby's."

Cloud let out a shaky breath while leaning on the sink. "This is bad..."

Lord Knight's eyes bored into his. "You sniffed a guy's neck?"

He nodded. "Good thing I stopped midway."

"Why did you sniff him?"

"He smells fucking good."

Pinakatitigan siya ng boss niya. "Cloud, kung hindi lang nakita ng mismong mga mata ko ang hilig mo sa babae na halos hindi ko na mabilang kung naka-ilang babae ka na, iba ang iisipin ko sa sinabi mo."

"Me too." He agreed before a loud breath. "I know for a fact that I like women. A lot. And I've never sniffed a guy before. This is fucking confusing me, my Lord. I actually leaned in to fucking smell him!"

Itinaas ng boss niya ang dalawa nitong kamay sa harapan nito. "Calm down, Cloud—"

"How the fuck do I calm down?!" Napasabunot siya sa sariling buhok. His mind was a mess and he feels so frustrated. "Kagabi pa magulo ang isip ko! At ngayon, hindi ko alam kung anong iisipin ko! Why does he have to smell so fucking good anyway?! He's a guy for fuck sake! And why the fuck do I like his smell?! Fuck it!"

"Wow..." his Master drawls while staring at him in awe, "so that's why you were having a conference with the air."

He looked at his boss with confused eyes while shaking his head. "I'm not ... I can't be ..."

"Cloud," umalis ito sa kinauupuan sala lumapit sa kaniya at ipinatong nito ang mgs kamay sa balikat niya. "Relax. Don't jump into conclusion. Yet. I know for a fact that you like women. A lot. So, stop over thinking, and give it time. It's just sniffing. No big deal."

He looked at his master flatly. "Even you don't do that and you're weird."

Inalis nito ang kamay sa balikat niya at nagkibit-balikat ito. "Just stop overthinking, okay. It won't do you any good."

Cloud took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll do that."

"But do tell me if it gets worse."

"My Lord!" Cloud hissed.

The Count chuckled. "What?" He was still chucking to himself. "I know for a fact that no one can shake you. You're always calm, even when I'm shooting at you, but this is the first time I'm seeing you in panic just because you sniff a guy. It's fun."

Cloud took a deep breath, closed his eyes and conditioned himself. "It's just sniffing. No big deal. Just sniffing. It's no big deal."

"I don't sniff my friends though, and we're pretty close."

Nagmulat ng mga mata si Cloud saka tiningnan ng masama ang boss. "My Lord, it's not funny!"

Tumawa na naman ang baliw niyang amo. "Relax. Stop over thinking. You're panicking over nothing. Saka ka na mag-panic kapag gusto mo na siyang halikan—"

"My Lord!" Cloud hissed and the Count laughed like he's having fun seeing him in this state.

"Take a chill pill, Cloud." Tinalikuran na siya nito at kumaway ang kamay nito. "Take care of my baby when she gets home."

Cloud sighed when his Lord left the kitchen. Why did he even think that his crazy boss can help him solve this mess in his head?

Napailing siya saka sumandal ulit sa lababo. Now that he's alone again, he can't stop over thinking.

This hasn't happen to him before. This was his first time liking someone's scent that he actually wanted to bury his nose on the Marquess' neck and inhale his aroma.

Ipinilig ni Cloud ang ulo.

His lord was right, he should calm down and give it time. No use overthinking in his situation. It will pass. It had to.

But waiting for something that he's dreading to happen was like waiting to be hanged. The rope was already around his neck, and he's just waiting for someone to pull the end of the rope to choke him with the truth.

Hinilot niya ang sentido. He should stay away from Lord Jacques while he's figuring this mess in his head.

That's right. That's the best thing to do.

Cloud already made a decision to stay away from Lord Jacques for the meantime, when the reason why his mind was messed up entered the kitchen.

And it dawned on him. How the fuck do I stay away from him when we live in the same house?

"I want bacon and cheese sandwich." Wika ng Marquess ng makapasok sa kusina saka umupo ito sa stool na kinauupuan kanina ng boss niya sa island counter.

He frowned at the Marquess. "Hindi ba galing ka sa café?"

"Yeah."

"They have sandwiches there." Aniya.

Lord Jacques shrugged, "I want to eat the sandwich you make."

Cloud froze when he felt like something tickled his stomach by that simple statement. What the fuck was that?!

Tumikhim siya saka walang imik na nag-umpisang gumawa ng bacon and cheese sandwich. He worked faster than normal so he could send Lord Jacques back afterwards.

"Cloud?"

"Mmm?"

"Make me some coffee too." Utos na naman ng Marquess.

"I'm not your Butler." Wika niya para umalis na ito. "Doon ka na mag-kape sa café ni Lady SM."

"I want to drink the coffee you make."

Cloud took a very deep breath. Mind, calm down. Think of this as a test. Yes, a test that'll prove that you like women.

As calm as he could be — he doesn't even know why his hands were cold — he put the sandwich on the plate, placed it on the island counter in front of Lord Jacques, and then he went to make him some coffee.

And as he placed the cup of coffee in the island counter, his eyes settled on the Marquess' wound in the arm.

And because I'm a fucking nice guy — note the sarcasm — I just have to ask. It's like his mouth has a mind of it's own. "Kumusta ang sugat mo? Masakit ba?"

Kaagad itong umiling bago kumagat ng sandwich. "It's okay."

"You sure?" Yes, like a broken record, I have to fucking ask again! Fuck this! "You're really okay?"

"Yeah."

Napatango-tango siya saka wala sa sariling napatingin sa mukha ng Marquess. And that was his biggest mistake that day. His mind just went blank as it focuses on Lord Jacques' face.

This was his first time looking at a man's face closely.

The Marquess was handsome. His complexion was slightly tanned, he has chiseled jawline, a prominent concave nose, and for a guy, he has beautiful shaped lips with deep cupid's bow. He's just an inch taller than the Marquess, and in body built, the Marquess was a bit leaner but with the right amount of muscles in the right places.

Women will definitely line up for this man. Cloud was sure of that. He has the kind of face that can attract any woman.

'Saka ka na mag-panic kapag gusto mo na siyang halikan.' Mariing ipinikit ni Cloud ang mga mata ng bigla nalang maalala ang sinabi ng boss niya.

And now it's ringing in his ear like a damn broken record!

Cloud keeps hearing Lord Knight's voice and words over and over again in his head.

Angry and frustrated at the memory, Cloud opened his eyes and unconsciously, his gaze dropped to the Marquess' lips.

'Saka ka na mag-panic kapag gusto mo na siyang halikan.'

Fuck you, Lord Knight! Fuck you for even saying it! Fuck you!

Cloud gulped and he literally had to forcefully drag his gaze away.

"Fuck..." Cloud hissed under his breath before clearing his throat and looking at Lord Jacques again, "what were you saying?"

Lord Jacques looked at him funny. "I didn't say anything."

"Oh." Calm the fuck down! Cloud was screaming at himself in his head, but he remained calm from the outside. "Wash the dishes after you're done. May inuutos sa 'kin ang baliw kong amo." Pagsisinungaling niya saka lumabas ng kusina at tinungo ang garahe.

Nang nasa loob na siya ng sasakyan, tinawagan niya ang boss niya.

"What is it?" His Lord immediately answered his call.

"Please give me something to do."

"I did." Sagot nito. "I told you to take care of my baby when she gets home."

"My Lord, please, I need to get my mind off something."

His master sighed. "Fine. I'll send you a coordinate. Help Dimitri clean up the Triad in the south."

"Thank you, my Lord." Pinatay niya ang tawag saka hinintay na dumating ang coordinates na kailangan niya para makaalis.

When he received it, he immediately left the garage, hoping that helping Dimitri clean up will also help him clear his messy mind.

I need to stop this — whatever the fuck this is—before it becomes too late.

JACQUES WAS DEEP in thought when someone placed a mango shake in the table he was occupying. Nang tingnan niya kung sino 'yon, kaagad siyang ngumiti ng makita si Lady SM.

"You must be tired." Anito saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harapan niya. "Salamat sa tulong mo rito sa Café, Jacq. I really appreciate it."

Tumango at ngumiti lang siya.

His father sent him here to be Lady SM's butler so he could dig some information for the Triad while serving her. But ever since he became her butler, she had been nothing but kind, and he could not find any hidden information related to her.

I have to dig deeper. He can't go home empty handed.

Sumimsim si Jacques ng mango shake at hindi na siya nagulat na halos wala siyang malasahan. It's okay. It didn't frustrate him like it used to be because he just had a very tasty breakfast made by Cloud earlier this morning.

The taste might be just a Psychological response but he likes it. He likes the fact that he can taste something, even if it's all just his brain's doing.

"Ahm," Jacques rolled his tongue in between his lips while carefully weighing the right words to say, "milady?"

Kaagad namang ibinigay ng kaharap ang atensiyon nito. "Yes?"

"Ahm..." sumimsim siya ng mango shake bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita, "about the Count's Butler ... does he even leave the Count's house to relax and stuff?"

Umaktong nag-iisip ang kaharap. "Hmm... well, hindi ko pa siya matagal na kilala pero, parang hindi 'yon gawain ni Cloud. He's always at home, cleaning and cooking, and spoiling Knight, even me, and now you. He's always there when you need him. I think, he seldoms leave the house."

He took a sip on the mango shake again. "He's always at home so I was curious."

"Ah," ngumiti si Lady SM. "Cloud is a nice person. He's a worrier as well. He cares for Knight like a family. Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako na may Cloud sa buhay ni Knight."

Napatango-tango si Jacques. He wanted to ask more. He wanted to know more about the person who can trigger a Psychological response from his brain but opt not to push it.

"... but I sometimes wonder if Cloud has someone special." Lady SM was frowning then she looked at him. "How 'bout you? May love life ka ba na naiwan sa Spain?"

Pinigil niya ang matawa. Who would want a guy like him? Not only he's numb, he's also moody, grumpy, easily gets annoyed and he has a dirty mouth. No one can handle him.

"Nope." Jacques answered. "Not planning to. No one can stand me." Sagot niya, kapagkuwan ay natigilan ng may maalala.

No one can stand him, except for Cloud. He can still remember when he was angry and cursing, but Cloud just stood there calmly and patiently waited for him to stop. Not even batting an eyelash for every cussed he has thrown at him while fuming mad.

Unfortunately, Cloud was a guy so ... that's a bummer.

"Well, break's over." Wika ni Lady SM saka tumayo ito at bumalik sa opisina nito.

Siya naman ay bumalik sa pagtulong sa café hanggang sa sumapit ang gabi at umuwi na sila ni Lady SM.

Nang makapasok sila sa bahay ng Conde, nagtungo si Lady SM sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay para magpahinga habang siya naman ay hinahanap si Cloud, pero nahalughog na niya ang buong bahay, hindi niya pa rin ito makita.

When he came back to the living room, he saw the Count entering the house.

"Si SM?" Tanong kaagad nito sa kaniya.

"Upstairs. Probably resting." Sagot niya.

Tumango ang Conde at nilampasan siya para magtungo sa taas.

"Wait, you motherfucking Count." Pigil niya sa Conde.

Lukot ang mukha na humarap sa kaniya ang Conde. "What is it, annoying Marquess?"

He hesitated at first before questioning. "Where's Cloud? I didn't see him."

Ilang segundo siyang tinitigan ng Conde bago bumukas ang bibig nito, hindi para sagutin ang tanong niya kundi ang tanungin siya.

"Did Cloud sniff you?"

Nag-isang linya ang kilay niya. "Not that I know off."

Tumango-tango ito bago nagsalita ulit. "Cloud's in a mission. He'll be home late. Let's eat take out tonight." Then the crazy Count grinned. "Don't forget to pay for the take out, motherfucking Marquess."

Tiningnan niya ito ng matalim na kinatawa lang nito saka tuluyan na itong umakyat sa ikalawang palapag.

Pabagsak siyang naupo sa sofa sa salas.

Take out for dinner?

Jacques puffed a loud breath. I want Cloud's cooking. When is that bastard coming home?!

Iritadong umalis ng salas si Jacques saka tinungo ang kuwarto niya.

Pabagsak siyang nahiga sa kama at ilang minutong nakatitig lang sa kisame.

Then he heard his phone go off.

Cloud lazily check his phone. It was an alarm for him to defecate. It was set everyday so he won't forget when to visit the toilet. Unlike normal person, Jacques can't feel the discomfort a normal person would feel in their body when they want to visit the toilet.

In short, he can't feel the urge to poop.

Standing up and leaving his bed, Jacques took off his clothes and went to the front of the life size mirror to check his body, like he always does, everyday. He even check the inside of his mouth.

He was relieved seeing there's no bleeding, cuts or bruises on his body.

He sighed and carefully put back his clothes. Minutes after that, someone knock on the door.

Thinking it might be Cloud, with food for him, he immediately opened the door.

Jacques had to force his smile not to waver when he saw Lady SM.

"Take out food in the dining table." Imporma nito sa kaniya. "Tara, kain na tayo."

Umiling siya. "I'm full, milady."

Kinunotan siya nito ng nuo. "Pero halos wala kang kinain ngayong araw."

"Don't worry about me, milady. I'll come down if I ever get hungry." He said, still with a smile.

"Okay." Hindi na siya pinilit ng dalaga. "I'll save you some food. Kapag nagutom ka, bumaba ka nalang, okay?"

Jacques nodded, said his thanks before closing the door to his room.

He sighed. Kahit pa siguro isang linggo siyang hindi kumain, hindi siya makakaramdam ng gutom. Ni hindi nga niya maramdaman kung busog na ba siya o ano.

Umupo siya sa gilid ng paanan ng kama saka pabagsak na ihiniga ang katawan sa kama. Then, Jacques grab his phone from the bedside table and he looked for Cloud's number in his contacts.

Jacques stops scrolling when he found it. Cloud's number was saved under the name 'Nube' which means cloud in Spanish and was pronounced as 'No-beh'.

He's hoping Cloud has his phone with him.

To: Nube

Hey, asshole. When are you going home? I'm fucking hungry. Don't want to eat take-out.

After he sent it, he didn't know why he counted the minutes until Cloud replied.

Thirty-two minutes later. His phone beeped.

From: Nube

So picky. OMW.

Jacques frowned and replied. 'What's OMW?'

From: Nube:

On My Way, moron.

Jacques scowled and replied 'it's OTW. fuck you.'.

From: Nube

Yeah, yeah. Fuck you too, Lord Jacques. Anyway, what do you wanna eat?

Jacques smiled at the question and replied. 'Don't know. You decide.'

From: Nube

I'll decide? Then I'll buy take-out for you.

Sumama ang mukha ni Jacques. Kaagad niyang sinagot ang text ni Cloud.

'Don't you dare, you asshole!'

From: Nube

You and your filthy mouth, Lord Jacques.

Jacques replied. 'Motherfucker. You're gonna cook for me or what?'

From: Nube

So bossy. OMW.

Hindi na nagreply si Jacques. Instead, he throws his phone on the bed, then he got up and went to the bathroom to defecate.

Nang makalabas siya ng banyo, nakaligo na rin siya at hubo't-hubad na naglakad patungong closet.

Jacques took his Label Under Construction plain black t-shirt from the closet and he paired it with black Givenchy 4G shell cargo shorts.

Akmang kukunin niya ang cellphone na tinapon niya kanina sa kama bago maligo ng mapansin niya ang pulang mantsa na nagkalat sa sahig ng kuwarto.

Jacques bend down to check the red smudge on the floor, that's when he saw that it was blood and it was him who was bleeding.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya saka umupo sa gilid ng kama at ipinatong ang paa sa isang hita niya para tingnan kung anong sugat ang natamo niya.

Jacques didn't even bother thinking when or where did he got the wound. No use. Instead, he went to the bathroom, rinse his wound, then he got his first-aid kit from his closet and he started cleaning his wound before wrapping it with bandage.

Pagkatapos nun ay nilinis niya ang dugo niyang nagkalat sa sahig. After he's done cleaning, he checked his wound again. The blood was now soaking the bandage.

Hmm... it was that deep?

He really can't tell because he can't feel the pain.

Jacques tsked in annoyance before getting his first aid kit again from the closet. Pero natigilan siya ng makitang hindi na kakasya ang gauze na mayroon siya.

Just my fucking luck.

He sat on the bed again and replaced the blood-soaked bandage with new one. Then he reached for his phone to call Cloud.

Good thing the motherfucker answered.

"I swear, if you're just gonna be bossy again, I'm not cooking for you, Lord Jacques." Kaagad na sabi ni Cloud sa iritadong boses bago pa siya makapagsalita.

"Gauze pads and gauze bandage." Sabi niya. "Buy me some."

Ang iritadong boses ni Cloud ay biglang naglaho at napalitan 'yon ng malumanay na boses. "You okay?"

Jacques frowned at the sudden change of tone. "Yeah. I just need it. ASAP."

"Okay. Be there in 20."

"Okay."

Jacques hanged up and looked at his wound. The blood was starting to soak the bandage again.

He let out a loud sigh and dropped his body on the bed. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata para makapagpahinga sandali habang hinihintay si Cloud na dumating, pero hindi niya namalayang nakatulog siya.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang oras siyang nakatulog, basta nang magising siya, napalitan na ang gauze na nakapalibot sa sugat niya at hindi na 'yon dumudugo.

Must be Cloud.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw a note on the bedside table. Binasa niya ang nakasulat doon.

'You're not allowed to move. Call me in the phone when you wake up. I'll bring the food to you. – Cloud.'

Kinuha niya ang cellphone para tingnan kung anong oras na.

1:47 AM.

He tsked. Sigurado siyang tulog na ngayon si Cloud.

But I'll try.

He opt to send a message rather than calling. Kung tulog na ito, hindi niya ito ma-i-isturbo kung text lang. He's a jerk but he doesn't like disturbing anyone's sleep.

'Still awake?' Then he hit send.

Five minutes later. No reply.

He must be asleep by now—

A soft knock on the door filled his room, then the door opened.

Jacques was a little stunned to see Cloud, carrying a tray with food.

"You're still awake?" Gulat niyang tanong sa kapapasok lang.

Maingat na inilapag ni Cloud ang tray sa bench na nasa may paanan ng kama. "I was waiting for you to wake up." Anito na mas ikinagulat niya. "Ininit ko pa ang pagkain mo kaya medyo natagalan ako."

Jacques stared at Cloud, stunned at how earnest he was.

"Eat up." Inilapit nito sa kaniya ang tray dahil medyo malayo siya sa bench, pagkatapos ay sinuri nito ang paa niya na may sugat. "Good thing it's not bleeding anymore."

"Mmm." Jacques just hummed in response before he started eating. Nakaramdam siya ng saya ng may malasahan siya sa luto ni Cloud. It's the same inexplicable taste, but he likes it. Whatever it was. He likes that he can taste something.

"How's the mission?" Jacques ask while eating.

"Tiring." Naupo si Cloud sa gilid ng kama.

"Rest then."

Dahan-dahan itong nahiga sa gilid ng kama niya. "Kailangan ko pang ibaba ang kinainan mo at hugasan kaya hindi pa ako puwedeng magpahinga. Maybe later."

"If you're tired, you shouldn't have waited for me to wake up."

"Mmm..." Cloud hummed in response.

Jacques tsked, "I'm an ass but not that much."

No response.

"Don't wait up. Go rest. I can handle the tray and the dishes." He's not really that useless. He does know how to do stuff.

No response again.

Nilingon niya si Cloud dahil nasa likuran niya ito, "hey, Cloud—" napatigil siya sa pagsasalita ng makitang mahimbing nang natutulog ang lalaki.

"He must be really tired..." Jacques murmured.

Napailing nalang siya saka hinayaan itong matulog.

Tahimik niyang inubos ang pagkain saka siya na ang nagligpit ng kinainan. Bumaba siya sa kusina at hinugasan ang pinagkainan niya bago bumalik sa kuwarto.

Kapagkuwan ay nakapameywang na tumayo siya sa tabi ng kama habang nakatingin kay Cloud na mahimbing na natutulog.

Jacques doesn't want to wake Cloud up, but it's his bed. Saan siya ngayon matutulog?

Tinitigan niya ulit si Cloud at ang higaan niya.

Jacques tsked. What's the fuss? It's a big bed anyway.

Maingat siyang nahiga sa kabilang gilid ng kama — may napakalapad na espasyo sa pagitan nila ni Cloud — saka kinumutan ang sarili at si Cloud para hindi ito lamigin. Pagkatapos ay ipinikit niya ang mga mata para makatulog na rin.

He's not used to sleeping next to someone. Everyone is vulnerable when sleeping and he has trust issues, so it's hard for him to trust someone to sleep next to him. Especially since he can't feel pain. He wouldn't know if he's being suffocated or killed in his sleep.

But it's Nube ... so it's okay.