"JYRELLE,"

Umangat ang tingin niya at nakita ang Mommy niya na matiim ang tingin sa kanya. He sighed and massaged his nape, alam na alam na niya ang ganoong klase ng tingin nito.

"What is it, Mom?" Agad na tanong niya sa ina.

His father already left the dining table, he said he still have some stuffs to do. Habang ang mga kapatid naman niya ay umakyat na rin para magpahinga. Jyrelle doesn't even know why the hell he's still here.

"She's pretty, right?" Nakangising tanong nito sa kanya.

Jyrelle rolled his eyes. Yes, she was damn gorgeous. Smells nice too.

"So? Deretsuhin mo na ako, Mom." Naiinip na sabi niya. Hindi ganoon kahaba ang pasensya niya, unlike his father.

His mother smiled, para itong bata na kumapit sa braso niya. Even though, may edad na ang mommy niya, it feels like she's still the same back when she's still in her college days, hindi pa rin masyadong nagbabago ang mukha nito.

"Mom..."

"I want her to be your secretary,"

Jyrelle clicked his tongue and shake his head. Tutol sa ideya ng mommy niya. No freaking way! That kind of beauty was dangerous for him. He can feel it in his guts!

"Mom, I already have a secretary, hindi ko naman siya pwedeng basta basta nalang tanggalin. She's good at her work and she doesn't like me." Jyrelle carefully explain to his mother.

Ilang sekretarya na ba ang dumaan sa kanya? Hindi na niya mabilang sa mga daliri niya. They're always pain in his ass! His past secretary were not professional unlike his secretary now. He kind of likes her when it comes to work. Hindi ito nagpapakita ng motibo sa kanya.

Matalim siyang tinignan ng mommy niya. "I know that! But, Isabella looks professional too. Sa akin nalang ang secretary mo." Pamimilit pa nito.

"Ma, you have one!" Jyrelle accidentally raised his voice.

"Ah ganon?" Masungit na tanong sa kanya ng mommy niya.

"Fine! Fine! I concede! She'll be my secretary a week from now!"

Napailing nalang siya nang malawak na ngumiti sa kanya ang mommy niya at pinagtulakan siya nito paakyat. Jyrelle showered first before going to that lady's room. Sa pagmamadali niya, hindi niya napansin na naka boxer shorts lang siya. He's tired and doesn't want to go back so he just patiently waited for her while seating comfortably at the bed.

Umawang nang bahagya ang mga labi ni Jyrelle nang mapansin na bumaba ang tingin nito sa pagkalalaki niya.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. Hindi na nga niya ito halos marinig.

Jyrelle eyed her from head to toe.

"I need a secretary, fresh graduate ka right?" He asked and she nodded. "Great, you'll be my secretary a week from now. Good night, Mia Bella." He said and immediately leave her room.

The heat was suffocating him. His body was reacting to her. Hindi naman siya tanga para hindi malaman kung ano ang gusto niya, he just met her for goodness sake! Napahilamos siya sa mukha at pabagsak na humiga sa kama niya. He needs to calm, so he won't think any appropriate things.

"MIA BELLA..."

Isabella whispered to herself while brushing her hair in front of the mirror. A smile crept into her lips. Since when did she become his? Napailing nalang siya at binilisan ang pag-aayos sa sarili. Ilang araw na rin siya na nakikitira rito sa bahay nila Vyrlle, at ilang araw at gabi niya na ring inuulit ulit ang nito sa kanya noong gabing 'yon.

She's going crazy. Hindi dapat 'yon ang pino-problema niya ngayon, hindi dapat ang lalaking 'yon na nagpaparamdam sa kanya ng kung ano sa sistema niya ang inaatupag. She should be looking for a condo unit now, with or without the help of Manang Jessy.

"Going somewhere?" Napatigil siya sa pagsusuklay nang marinig ang boses ng panganay na anak ng mag-asawang Clemente. Isabella already know his name, but she don't want to call him using his name.

Nakakatakot. Her heart was beating fast everytime she's trying to say his name.

"Maghahanap ako ng condo unit or apartment." Sagot niya habang nakatingin sa sahig

"Nasa sahig ba ang kausap mo?" Asar na tanong nito. He leaned against the door, "Eyes up here, woman." He demanded, using his baritone voice. Napasinghap siya nang maramdaman na bumilis na naman ang tibok ng puso niya. Was she feeling scared? Or iba na?

"I guess mas interesado ka sa sahig kaysa sa akin?" He scoffed.

"N-no... it's just..." Gusto ko na niyang lumubog sa kinauupuan dahil sa kahihiyan. He walked towards her, and suddenly his thumb and forefinger hold her chin and make her look at him. His face was so dark. Matalim ang mga titig nito sa kanya, making her knees tremble, kahit pa nga nakaupo na siya.

"I fucking hate it when I'm talking to someone and she's not looking at me." He whispered, every word he says were like a knife being thrown at her. She tried to avoid his gaze but she failed miserably, hawak pa rin nito ang baba niya.

Isabella sighed in defeat and forced herself to look at him. The corner of his mouth lifted a bit, she licked her lower lip and cleared her throat.

"Then I'm going to look at you, whenever you're talking to me. How's that?" Tanong niya. She tried to compose herself but she's miserably failing, sigurado siya na  halata masyado ang panginginig ng mga labi niya.

Masyadong malapit ang mukha nila sa isa't isa. She can even smell the toothpaste he used, damn it smells so good in him. Parang binubundol ang dibdib ng kaba habang patagal ng patagal ang pagkakalapit ng mukha nila.

"I didn't smell the Vera Wang Princess Perfume. You didn't used it?" Nakakunot ang noong tanong nito sa kanya. Isabella bit her lower lip to stop herself from smiling. Pati ba naman 'yon ay napansin nito?

"Hindi ko nadala, I didn't brought any of my perfume." She explained. "Besides, I think I smell just fine." Bahagya niya pang inamoy ang sarili pero ang panlalaking pabango nito ang naamoy, imbes na ang sarili.

He leaned forward and placed his head on her neck, nanigas siya sa kinauupuan niya dahil sa ginawa nito. Tumatama ang hininga nito sa balat niya, hell! She can even feel him sniffing her neck! She felt the strange sensation she can't name again.

"Yeah, you smell nice,"  he whispered huskily. He then stood up straight, "I need to go, hanggang kaya ko pang pigilan ang sarili ko. Damn, I'm horny." He hissed.

Isabella's jaw almost dropped when she heard his last word! He's freaking horny and he have the guts to tell that in her freaking face!? She calmed herself first before glaring at his back. He's now using his phone and talking to someone. She's busy glaring at his back that she didn't heed any attention on what he's saying.

"I'm going, see you later." Paalam nito sa kanya at nagmamadaling umalis ng bahay. Hindi man lang siya hinintay na sumagot.

Doon niya lang pinakawalan ang kanina pa niya pinipigilan na hininga. Damn, he was so close that she felt suffocated all of a sudden. He's no good for her, she really need to look for a condo unit. At least sa trabaho niya lang ito makakasama at ilang oras lang 'yon. Hindi na niya ito makikita pag-uwi niya.

Agad siyang tumayo at kinuha ang lumang sling bag na inabot sa kanya ng isang kasambahay noong umalis siya. She tried to wear a simple outfit, a white tee-shirt and a black high-waisted jeans, paired with a slippers. Simple yet branded lahat. Isabella wanted to punch herself right now!

"Alis muna po ako," paalam niya. They just nod their heads to her.

Sumakay siya ng taxi at nagpahatid sa cafe malapit sa subdivision ng bahay niya, she meant dati niyang bahay. Manang Jessy didn't allow her to look all by herself. Kailangan daw may sasama pa rin sa kanya kahit na wala na siya sa bahay. She ordered a Dark chocolate smoothie so she have a drink while waiting. Ilang minuto lang siyang naghintay at nakita na niya si Mikay. Ang kababata niya.

"I heard what happened! Ayos ka lang ba?" Tanong kaagad nito at niyakap siya, Mikay even tapped her back.

Pinaupo niya muna ito at pinag-order bago niya sinagot ang tanong nito, she really looks so worried and angry at the same time.

"I'm okay, I think so... Ikaw?" Tanong niya. Pilit na iniiba ang usapan nilang dalawa. She doesn't want to remember her evil aunt for the mean time.

"I am now a licensed teacher, na swertehan ko ang Licensure exam for Teachers." Natatawang kwento nito sa akin. Mikay was now living her dream, good for her.

Kung hindi lang namatay ang magulang niya, isa na rin sana siya sa nga namamahala sa company nila. Her Father trained her to be a badass when it comes to their business. Alam na niya ang pasikot sikot ng Fontanilla Empire, how he managed to stay on the top. Without dragging down the competitors, of course. Her father was a fan of fair square fight.

"I will be a secretary next week, It's a good start for me." Aniya at ngumiti sa kaibigan.

"Boss ka na dapat. Hindi secretary, kung hindi lang aswang ang tiyahin mo," she sarcastically said and even rolled her eyes. Natawa ng bahagya si Isabella sa kaibigab niya. At least may kasama siyang nanlalait sa dalawa.

"Baka mabulunan ang dalawang 'yon ah!" Pabiro niyang tinapik ang kamay nito.

"Ayos lang!" Mikay waved her hand on the air, "masamang damo mga 'yon, hindi nila ikakamatay." natatawang sagot nito.

Nagkwentuhan pa silang dalawa ni Mikay bago magpasyang lumakad na dahil baka abutan sila ng dilim sa daan, they look for cheap condo unit but as expected they didn't find one. Ang pinakamababang offer sa kanila ay worth 60 thousand pesos, which was really surprising, and if she wanted those furnitures dadagdag pa ang presyo.

"Sigurado ka ba? Hindi ba mauubos ipon mo?" Sunod sunod na tanong sa kanya ni Mikay. Inilibot niya ang paningin sa unit na napili. Nasa may 30th floor ito.

Maliit lang ang sala at ang kusina nito, may isang kwarto din at may maliit balkonahe din na naka-konekta sa kwarto. Tanaw ang mga city lights kapag gabi. Pinadaan ni Isabella ang daliri sa maliit na lamesa sa kusina, this will be her new home. No more maids that will wake her up in the morning to serve her breakfast.

"May trabaho naman ako, sa susunod na araw. Don't worry about my savings. My parents made sure na hindi maghihirap ang anak nila." Isabella wink at her and Mikay just shake her head.

"Sana all." Pabirong bulong nito sa kanya. "Ibibigay ko ang number ko sayo, contact me if lilipat kana dito okay? Sasamahan kita." Mikay tapped her shoulder. Tumango lang siya rito at pinasadahan pa ng isang beses ang unit.

NAKASANDAL ang likod ni Jyrelle sa sasakyan habang pinaglalaruan ang susi sa kamay niya. He can't understand himself. Hindi niya alam kung bakit nakasunod siya sa babae na inuwi ng kapatid niya sa bahay nila.

He sighed when he saw her enter the Ramirez condominium building, malapit na kaibigan niya ang may-ari. Pagod na siya sa kakasunod dito, looks like she didn't find any condo unit na pasok sa budget nito.

Hindi naman ito mukhang mahirap. She walks like a freaking princess, may proper etiquette rin ito, kalkulado lahat ng galaw. What makes her broke?

Inis na kinuha niya ang cellphone at tinawagan ang kapatid ng kaibigan niya. He's managing the Ramirez company for the meantime.

[Yes, kuya? Need something?] Tanong kaagad nito.

Huminga siya ng malalim at pasimple na minasahe ang noo niya. Damn it, what the hell was he doing?!

"Can you do me a favor?" Jyrelle asked.

[What is it?]

"May babae na bibili ng condo unit ngayon sa isang building niyo, ibenta mo sa murang halaga."

[Kuya, that's not possible...] Nyker answered.

"It is, Nyk. Sell it for 60k, ako ang magbabayad sa kulang."

[Consider it done, Kuya.]

"Thanks," he said and ended the call.

Nakapamulsa niyang hinarap ang building. Never siyang naglabas ng sarili niyang pera para sa iba. Not even with his family, then what the fuck was he doing?

☕