KADE SMIRKED as he removed his helmet, sumabog ang buhok niya at kasabay niyon ay ang tilian ng mga babae sa kabilang banda. Ever since Hunter retired, not really, he was just busy with his wife and Havi, his son. Hindi na ito nagkaroon ng oras para maka punta sa sarili nitong race track, and Demon, sat on his throne for the meantime.

"Fuck! That was intense, kailan ka pa naging hayop sa pakikipag karera, Demon?" Tanong ng isang kalaban niya.

Kade shrugged his shoulder and just smiled smugly at him. His heart was still pounding pretty hard, it's a good sign for him, he's still alive and kicking. He loves it. May lumapit na babae sa kanya at iniabot ang vape pod niya, nagpasalamat lang si Kade at isinabit sa leeg niya ang lanyard nito, he was a heavy smoker but thanks to a certain woman living in their house, napilitan siya na mag laylow.

The track was still alive. He wanted to stay but it's now his time to rest.

"1 AM na bro! Uwi ka na ba?" The other one asked. They really knows his routine. After one race, hindi na siya umuulit, unless wala pang 1.

Kade placed the vape pod in between his lips and nod. "Yep." He shortly answered.

"Sayang. A lot of women are waiting for our champ, nakikita mo 'yon? Umaasa ang mga 'yan na makaisa sayo." Kantyaw ng mga ito sa kanya.

"Kayo na ang bahala. Sibat na ako!" Kade tapped their shoulder and wear his helmet again.

Sumaludo lang siya sa mga ito bago sinakyan ang motorsiklo ni Eze. His motorcycle was under maintenance, beside, kailangan din naman painitin ang makina ng pinakamamahal nitong motor. It was actually his gift to her, she wants a motorcycle na kagaya ng kay Mikael, edi binili niya. He took a lot of beating because of this motorcycle. He was forced to work on their company. Hindi niya 'yon makakalimutan.

Kalmado at mabagal ang andar ng motorsiklo niya habang pauwi siya sa bahay.

Malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya nang makarating siya sa bahay ng Daddy niya. He's already old, tanggap niya 'yon, but the way his father treated him was too much! Ayaw siya nitong paalisin sa bahay, kung pwede nga lang na may curfew siya sa gabi gagawin nito! He misses his unit, kumusta na kaya ang mga stocks niya ng pancakes at gatas? Malamang expired na.

Itinabi niya ng maayos ang motor ni Eze sa garahe, bitbit niya ang helmet papasok sa bahay.

"I'm home, Mom." He whispered as usual the moment he entered the house.

Tahimik at halos patay na ang ilaw, maliban sa second floor ng bahay. His father always made sure na naka dim ang ilaw paakyat sa hagdan. He removed his black leather jacket and go straight to their kitchen to drink. Natuyo ang lalamunan niya.

He stop midway when he saw his nightmare, wearing a sexy silk night dress that compliment her pale skin tone. His eyes dropped on her ass and forced himself not to whistle, she's so damn sexy that he forgot she was his damn stepmother or what!

Ginulo niya ang buhok at ipinatong sa counter top ang helmet at leather jacket niya, kasama ang susi ng motor at cellphone niya. Kade removed his gazed on her and open the refrigerator, imbes na tubig ang kunin niya, kinuha niya ang isang karton ng gatas.

"Here," his stepmother, Shen handed him a glass.

"Thanks." He simply answered.

Tahimik siyang nagsalin ng gatas sa baso na iniabot nito at ininom 'yon. His brows furrowed when he caught her watching him drinking, kulang nalang ay butasin nito ang ulo niya sa mga tingin nito. Kade wiped the side of his lips and poured a milk on his glass again.

"Why are you looking at me?" He calmly said. Kahit na hindi na normal ang tibok ng puso niya, kahit na parang bakal na naman ang pagkalalaki niya.

Naningkit ang mga mata nito sa kanya, she even crossed her arms against her chest, napainom siya ng gatas ng wala sa oras at umiwas ng tingin. Kade can't handle that.  As much as he wanted to respect the woman who made his father happy, he can't help but to be a pervert. Given the fact that they also shared a hot steamy night once!

"I'm just wondering, simula nang umuwi ako dito, gigising ka ng alas diyes. While we usually woke up at 6 to prepare for work, kapag naman uuwi kami ni Dad doon ka palang aalis dala dala ang motorsiklo mo at uuwi ka ng madaling araw. I wonder kung ano ang ginagawa mo?" She blabbered. Her face was saying that she's genuinely curious.

"Sinusundo ka at hinahatid kapag may meeting ka?" Patanong na sagot niya.

Isa sa pinaka ayaw at the same time pinaka gusto na ginagawa niya. Kade was her personal driver whenever she have some errands or important meetings to attend. Because of that, he was forced to ride and drive a car. A normal car.

"E kapag ganitong umuuwi ka ng madaling araw?" She asked again.

"Nakikipagkarera. Stop asking, mom." He teased. Hell, he's older than her.

Ngumisi si Kade nang makita ang pagka-asar sa magandang mukha nito. Kade thinks that it was enough to send a havoc to million of butterflies in his stomach.

"Hindi ba naaksidente ka na? Nabaril ka before right?!" Habol nito sa kanya.

Kade rolled his eyes. And that was when Ciel "the moron" free to do whatever he wants to do. He's safe now. Mas maayos na ang drag race ngayon kaysa noon, wala sa mga sumasali ang nagtangka na gumamit ng illegal na baril or whatsoever that can harm other racers. Takot lang nila kay Mikael. Although, natural accidents happened all the time.

"That was last last year?" Hindi siguradong sagot niya rito.

"Kailan mo balak tumigil?" She asked again, she sounds concern. And Kade was thankful for that.

"Kapag patay na siguro ako?" Biro niya at ginulo ang buhok nito, na agad din niyang binawi, damn electric feelings! "Don't worry, alam ko ang ginagawa ko." He assured and smile at her before entering his own room.

A smile crept on his lips when he saw the picture frame in his bed side table. It was him and his mother together, he was hugging his mother from behind, his chin was rested on her shoulder. It was his last picture with her.

"Kung nandito ka lang, sigurado ako na kukukilitin mo na akong bigyan ka ng apo." Natatawang bulong niya.

He shake his head and head towards the bathroom to shower before sleeping. Mabilis lang siyang naligo, he even used a blower to dry his hair. He glanced at the picture frame again before dropping himself in his bed and hugged his other pillow, clearing his mind and sleep peacefully.

Habol ni Kade ang hininga nang magising siya. He immediately sat up, hinilamos niya ang mga palad sa mukha, he's sweating a lot even though his ac was in full blast, and the fact that he's not wearing anything! Sumulyap siya sa led clock niya at agad na napamura nang makita ang oras.

Damn that dream again! Ang tagal na nang huli niya itong mapanaginipan!

He took a quick shower and wear a jogging pants and simple white tee shirt and his white rubber shoes. Kade was about to grab his keys and helmet, mahina siyang napamura nang maalala na naiwan niya ang mga ito sa kusina kanina.

Patakbo siyang bumaba sa kusina, busy na ang mga kasama nila sa bahay sa pagluluto. Nagulat pa ang mga iba nang makita siya ng mga ito.

"Kade? Ang aga mo anak." Ngumiti lang siya kay Nanay Lorena. Matagal na itong naninilbihan sa kanila.

"Naalimpungatan lang po. Nakita niyo ho na 'yung gamit ko rito?" He asked while roaming his eyes around the kitchen.

"Ah! Itinabi ni Shen, nandoon sa sala." Sinundan ni Kade ang tinuturo nito sa kanya.

Nagpasalamat lang siya at kinuha ang susi at helmet niya. He left his phone dahil baka malaglag niya lang 'yon. Siya na mismo ang nagbukas ng gate, it's still dark outside, probably because it's still 4 in the morning.

He straddle his motorcycle and wear his helmet. Bahagya niya pa 'yong inalog, it was his way to know if there's still a fuel inside, he clucked his tongue before inserting the key and starts the engine. Pinaandar na niya ang motorsiklo at lumabas sa bahay, his plan was to take a quick stroll around the subdivision, pero masyadong maraming tao na nagj-jogging at hindi niya pwedeng bilisan ang takbo ng motorsiklo niya.

He felt suffocated wearing his helmet, bumitaw ang isang kamay niya at mabilisan na hinubad ang helmet. Kade feels the cold breeze of air hitting his face. Thankfully, the air was enough to calm him. Naka isang ikot lang siya at agad na bumalik sa bahay.

"Bakit hindi mo suot ang helmet mo?" Salubong sa kanya ng Daddy niya. "And you're up early."

Ipinark muna niya nang maayos ang motor ni Eze bago niya hinarap ang Daddy niya at ginulo ang magulo na niyang buhok.

"You know..." He trailed off.

"Again?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito sa kanya.

Kade smiled and tapped his father shoulder. "Don't worry, Dad. I'm fine." Aniya at pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

He saw Shen preparing the table. May mga pagkain na nakahain and what caught his attention were the fluffy pancakes. Kinuha ng isang maid ang helmet niya habang siya naman ay dumeretso ng upo sa hapagkainan.

Kade stretched his arms and groaned. "Pancakes!" He said happily.

"Nay! 'Yung gatas ko po, salamat!" Sigaw niya bago kinuha ang pinggan na puno ng pancakes.

"Dad, kain na po." Kade gulped hardly when he heard Shen's voice.

He bit the tip of his tongue to keep the words he wanted to say to himself. What kind of endearment was that? Tumaas ang kilay niya nang makitang nakatingin sa kanya ang Daddy niya, after a year, this will be the first time na magkakasama silang tatlo sa hapagkainan.

Maybe going home a little early was a bad idea.

"How's our sales for this month, Shen?" Tanong ng Daddy niya.

Kade tuned them out. Wala siyang interest sa business nila, but when Shen started to talk, he just found himself carefully listening to her.

"Our sales for this month is higher than last month. And about the upcoming project of our company, I already contacted the owner of Lavigne company,"

"Wait, you mean the cosmetic company?" Tanong ulit ng Daddy niya.

He's familiar with the company name. Because the owner was a close friend of his friend's wife, Avis.

"Yes, Dad. As you know, I'm planning to launch a charity event. I already have the design for our new upcoming women's clothes, what we're going to do is..." Inilabas nito ang Ipad at ipinakita 'yon sa Daddy niya. "The box contains one of our best seller statement shirt  coming from our company and one perfume and daily cosmetic set from Lavigne company, for every purchase, kalahati ng kita ay mapupunta sa charity."

Lumabi si Kade at bahagyang tumango habang kinakain ang pancakes niya. Nagawa na 'yon ng ibang kumpanya, even small businesses, however, the idea of launching a charity event caught his attention.

This woman really knows how to wrapped a man around her fingers, she's too soft and kind.

"What do you think, Kade?" Biglang tanong sa kanya ng Daddy niya.

Tumaas ang kilay niya, he was busy dipping his pancake in his milk.

"Your idea was way too common, marami na akong nakitang ganyan sa internet. If you're collaborating with Lavigne's company, hindi ba mas tataas ang presyo? Our target market can't afford that." He commented.

Kade pursed his lips when he saw her lips parted a little. Mukhang nagulat ito sa sinabi niya. He's not interested in business, ano ang karapatan niya na sumalungat sa project nito?

"Right. Magiging triple ang price dahil sa perfume at daily cosmetic set ng Lavigne." Shen smiled brightly at him. "Ahmm, would you like to help us?"

Tumiim ang bagang ni Kade nang magtama ang mga mata nilang dalawa ni Shen. Mukha itong anghel na bumaba sa langit habang nakatingin sa kanya at may ngiti sa labi. The dimples on her cheeks were also showing that makes his heart skipped a beat.

"Son?" His dad called his attention, nakataas ang kilay nito sa kanya.

Pressure.

"Fine."

He will be in deep, deep, deep trouble. 

☕