"DON'T mind them, Mia bella. Just eat."

Nakayuko lang si Isabella habang nasa mahabang lamesa silang lahat, kaharap ang labing apat na kaibigan ni Jyrelle. Sanay na siya sa mga ito but this time she know there's something different, may kakaibang ngiti sa labi ng mga ito kapag nagagawi ang tingin niya sa kanila. Jyrelle placed his hand on her leg and  caressed it teasingly, agad niya 'yong tinaboy. A simple touch from him can make her body burn!

"So... Magsasampa ka pa rin ba ng kaso? I know a good lawyer." Esel offered, alam niya na nang-aasar lang naman ito. His brows wiggled and his eyes glistened with playfulness. Isabella raised her head and glared at Esel.

"Anyway, nag set na ba ng appointment ang mga Fontanilla?" Biglang tanong ni Ryker. Surprisingly, he's here inside the Lust community again. Agad sumeryoso ang mga mukha ng mga magkakaibigan habang siya naman ay natigilan.

"Yes, she emailed me personally." Jyrelle answered without looking. He continued eating his food.

"Hindi naman siguro nila alam na nasa poder mo pa si Isabella?" Ryker asked again and Jyrelle just shake his head.

"No, that brat kept on bugging me. As if I'm going to say anything that can harm, Bella." Jyrelle hissed. "I thought she'll stop because I humiliated her the last time we met. I was wrong." He added and placed his hand again above her leg, pasimple nitong hinahaplos at idinadala ang kamay sa pagkababae niya. Isabella immediately slap his hand and give him a warning look, a corner of his lips lifted. Like she was some sort of a joke! Hindi man lang ba ito natakot sa kanya?

"Don't mind that plastic barbie doll, we're going to make sure they'll be in jail. I know a decent police station. Hindi nila 'yon makukuha sa pera pera." Ryker said, sipping his coffee.

"Barbie doll?" natatawang tanong ni Dylan.

"A beauty without a brain."Confident na sagot ni Kade.

"Bud, that's bad." Sabat ni Esel, pero may sinusupil pa rin na ngiti sa mga labi. Mapagpanggap!

"We're just telling the truth?" Depensa agad ni Ryker.

"Mr.Muntik na maging lawyer, alam naman ng mga yan na masama talaga ang manlait ng tao. Hindi lang nila mapigilan, hayaan mo sila. Bawas points yan sa langit!" Biro ni Mikael. "Kasali ka rin! Akala mo ah, kilala kita, Esel! Masama rin ugali mo." He added.

Isabella can't help but to laugh, hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Esel habang nakatingin kay Mikael.

"Isabella, next time kung hindi mo papansinin si Jyrelle. Make it one or two weeks again, okay? I want to see him nuts again." Light suggested while grinning, halatang inaasar lang si Jyrelle. It wasn't a bad idea though. Siguro kapag sinumpong na naman siya, magagawa niya 'yon. Huwag lang sana siya nitong hawakan, sigurado na bibigay agad siya.

"Fuck you, Perez! You may now rot in hell!" Jyrelle hissed.

"Hindi ba dapat, 'You may now rest in peace yon'" Castiel asked.

"Nope! Demonyo ang isang 'yan. Hindi yan magpapahinga ng may kapayapaan!" Sigaw ni Laur habang nakaduro kay Light.

"That's too long," reklamo ni Ranger. "But I agree to Light, next time make it a month. Hindi na bale na kasama niya kaming tumambay sa labas ng condo unit mo." Ranger added and playfully wink at her. Isabella just smiled and shake her head.

"DON'T listen to them." bulong ni Jyrelle kay Isabella. Mahirap na, baka makinig nga sa mga tarantado niyang kaibigan.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, nakadikit pa rin ang mukha niya sa malapit sa ulo nito. Jyrelle saw how Isabella's face turned red, probably shy, because of these assholes looking at them, smiling teasingly. Bahala na ang mga ito na mainggit!

"Tang ina mo, Jyrelle!" Mura ni Light sa kanya. They all laughed, sabay sabay pa ang mga ito na tumayo at nagkanya kanyang ligpit ng pinagkainan at basta nalang inilapag sa may lababo.

Then Castiel walked towards Isabella, may dala itong fish bowl at may mga maliliit na papel ang nandoon. Ang pinakatatakutan nilang lahat, no one wants to wash the dishes, kaya ginawa ni Yves ang mga maliliit na papel para bunutan nalang at walang turuan. He's the cook, hindi ito pwedeng magbasa after magluto.

"Ayusin mong pumili, Isabella." Kinakabahan na sabi ni Castiel, he chuckled when Isabella's lips twitched a little, hindi siguro alam kung matatakot siya o matatawa sa mukha ng mga kaibigan niya. They look so serious and anticipating for what she will get. This was the first time na magpapabunot sila kay Bella, halata na curious ito sa kung ano ang nakasulat sa maliliit na paper, Jyrelle gulped and his forehead creased when Isabella finally got a small paper. Agad nito 'yong binuksan, sumilip si Jyrelle nang makita na kunot na kunot ang noo ni Isabella.

"Sino ang nabunot mo?" Yves asked.

"Lord! Wag ako please!" Castiel prayed. At ganoon din ang ginagawa ng iba.

"Mia bella, say it." Bahagya niyang inalog si Isabella. He wanted to burst out laughing, pinipigilan lang niya ang sarili.

"It's..." Nanliit ang mga mata nito dahil sobrang liit ng pangalan na nakasulat. "Oh, I thought it's a name."

"Huh? Pero pangalan namin ang nakalagay diyan." Alistair answer, confused. Of course, Isabella doesn't have any idea about Kade's second name. He introduced himself as Kade after all, not liking his second name.

"May naghalo ba ng katarantaduhan diyan?" Asar na tanong ni Ryker sa kanila.

"What's the purpose of this?" Tanong ni Isabella habang nakatingin sa kanila. Jyrelle glanced at his friends, ang sasama ng mga mukha ng mga ito, at parang anytime, makikipagsuntukan na.

"Kung sino man ang mabunot, siya ang maghuhugas ng pinagkainan." Dylan answered and later on explain to his bella the reason why. "Naiiwan kasi palagi ang mga pinagkainan namin sa lababo, pati na rin ang pinaglutuan ni Yves. No one wants to touch them and he's pissed, that why he made that thing."

"What's written on the paper, darling?" Jyrelle asked, pinagsalubong niya ang mga kilay niya para kunwari ay wala siyang alam.

"Jai, It's Demon." Bulong nito sa kanya. A chuckled escaped from his lips and pinch her cheek, pagtapos ay kinintalan ng halik ang labi niya. He can't help it, masyadong mapang-akit ang mga labi nito.

"Say it loud, so they can hear you." He urged her.

"Guys?" Kuha ni Isabella sa atensyon nila. Sabay sabay pa ang mga ito humarap sa kanila. "It's Demon." She say out loud so they can hear her. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo ni Isabella habang nakatingin sa papel na hawak nito.

"Who's name is this? Why on earth your parents named you Demon?" Nakangiwing tanong niya. Tinignan sila ni Isabella isa isa, they are all holding their laugh except from one person. Kade. "Kade? You okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Isabella sa kaibigan nila.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" They all laughed. Muntik pa siyang mahulog sa kinauupuan niya dahil sa pagtawa. Ang iba sa kanila ay nasa sahig na at hinahampas ang sahig. Kade doesn't like his second name, kaya hindi nito ginagamit 'yon! And the way Isabella asked him about his second name, kung sino ang nagpangalan at bakit, they lost it!

"What's so fucking funny with my name?! You are all a piece of shit!" Sigaw ni Kade, nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang makita si Isabella na tulala sa kanila. "Except you, Isabella!" Bawi nito.

"The fuck! Her face!" Kyst said between his laugh.

"Mia bella looks innocent!" He added.

"Oh God! I'm dying!" Sigaw ni Killian habang sapo sapo ang tiyan nito kakatawa.

"Moron! Hindi ka tatanggapin sa langit!" Singhal ni Kade kay Killian na nagdadasal habang tumatawa, he's reason? Para raw kung sakaling mamatay ito sa kakatawa at least nakapag pray ito.

"Ikaw din naman!" Alistair teased, "Bawal ang pangalan mo sa langit!" He added before bursting into laughter again. Hindi na sila natigil sa pagtawa dahil sa rebuttal ni Alistair.

"I'm gonna wash the dishes. I hate my Mom right now, I mean not really." He said looking so frustrated. He messed his hair and turn his back on them and faced the sink.

HINDI siya makapaniwala na second name pala 'yon ni Kade. His friends were laughing at him and she actually felt bad, somehow, she thinks it was her fault. Lumapit siya kay Kade at tinapik ang balikat nito.

"I'm sorry, If I offended you..." Isabella sincerely apologise.

"Hey, don't be sad. It's okay, sanay na ako sa mga tarantadong 'yan!" He answered with a wide smile plastered on his face. Glancing at her back, kung saan halos maglupasay na ang mga kasama nila, including Jyrelle.

Ginulo ni Kade ang buhok niya at pinisil ang magkabilang pisngi niya.

"Ikaw ang kauna-unahang babae dito," he smiled and looked at his friends, still laughing their ass off. "Hindi ko na matandaan kung kailan kami huling tumawa ng ganito, we usually spend our night here drinking and nothing more. We always ends our day sleeping inside Alistair's mini bar, drunk. So, thank you.." pinisil ulit nito ang pisngi niya at humarap na ulit sa mga pinggan na huhugasan nito.

They usually spent their nights drinking but looking at them now, they're spending their night laughing. She brought this change? Isabella silently wished that one day, they'll find their own happiness, someone who can light up their darkest days. She sighed softly and grab Jyrelle's arm. It's getting late and he has a lot of works to do tomorrow.

"Umuwi na tayo, tumayo ka na diyan!" She hissed. "Kayo rin! Hindi ba may kanya kanya pa kayong trabaho bukas? Caleb! May duty ka sa hospital ngayon diba?" His eyes widened and quickly stood up.

"Fuck! Thank you for reminding me, Isabella! I'm going now!" Paalam nito sa kanya at tumakbo na papunta sa gate.

"Yes mother, we're going home now!" Dylan playfully said and grab Alistair and Yves arm.

"Good night, fairy godmother!" They shouted in unison, sumaludo pa ang mga ito sa kanya. Isabella glared at them and they just laugh and jog towards their own house.

"You!" dinuro niya si Jyrelle. He playfully pointed himself, "Yes you! Get up! We're going home." Singhal niya rito. He was still chuckling to himself.

"Yes, darling. We're going home." He surrender and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, when he finally stood up.

"Kade? You okay in there? Uwi ka na din pagtapos mo!" paalala niya kay Kade. Sumaludo lang ito sa kanya at pinagpatuloy na ang ginagawa. She actually wanted to help him but she's feeling lazy as of the moment.

"Hmm.." Jyrelle kissed her nape, "You are the best thing that ever happened to me, and to us, Mia Bella." He whispered.

Ngumiti lang siya at lumingon kay Jyrelle, hinaplos niya ang panga nito. May mga maliliit na bigote nang tumutubo doon and she must say that he looks gorgeous and more matured with it. She likes it.

"Thank you for making me feel better, thank you for giving me a new family, I am so thankful to God because he gave you to me." Isabella said as she stared at him lovingly.

Nagpapasalamat din siya sa instrumento na ginamit ni Lord, kung hindi siya nakita noon ni Vyrlle sa waiting shed, habang kausap ang mga bata, sigurado siya na dagdag gastos lang siya sa pamilya ni Manang, kay Mikay na kababata niya. Walang trabaho. At walang Jyrelle sa tabi niya.

"And I'm also thankful to him, na ikaw ang ibinigay niya sa akin. I don't believe in love even though my parents are the living proof. I am broke, someone broke my heart at the young age. She left me and married another man, Isabella. Hindi ko siya siya sinisisi na naging gago ako, it was my own choice. But she's still part of the reason why I am afraid to love, because in my perspective, woman will come to me and choose another man to marry even though I stayed faithful and give everything that I can offer.

"That was the reason I avoided the feeling of being in love, but with you... I don't know, I can't avoid it. You complete me, Mia bella. You make me feel alive again, you make my heart beats faster than the usual, parang nakikipagkarera ang puso ko sa simpleng ngiti na ibinibigay mo sa akin. Nababaliw ako kapag hindi ka tumitingin sa akin. And now, I can proudly say this to you, Mia bella. I am not just capable to lust, darling. I am now capable to love again, because it's you... I am not going to run away, I'll face it and take the risk."

  ☕