MASAMA ANG TIMPLA ng mukha ni Kade nang ipakilala na ng Daddy niya ang 'lalaki' at 'soon to be business partner' kuno nito. One glance and Kade can tell than he's good for nothing. He may look uninterested in business but he knows how to act like one.

"I'm planning to stay here for a week, convince me more Ms. Shen." Anito na may malagkit na tingin kay Shen.

Kade have the urge to rolled his eyes but his father was intently looking at him. That means he needs to behave and collect himself, for they know that he's the successor.

"And while I'm here, maybe you can tour me around? I'm a fan of POLO and Golf. How about you, Mr. Kalvin?" Tanong nito sa kanya. Hindi gusto ni Kade ang klase ng ngisi na ipinapakita nito sa kanya, pasimple siyang bumuntong hininga at umiling.

Patience. Bultuhang pasensya ang kailangan niya.

"I'm into motor sports." Tipid na sagot niya.

"Cool, I tried it once and I can say that I'm really good at it. I mean, there's nothing I can't do."

Yabang, putanginang giliw.

"Maybe we should play?" Inosente niyang tanong dito, lihim na napangiti si Kade nang makuha niya ang gustong sagot. The man nodded his head and smile at Shen. He's obviously hitting on her!

Shen started to discuss the presentation she made, he was half listening and half observing the man, according to Shen, this will be her first time handling a male business partner. His father always handled male species.

Kalaunan ay nawala rin ang atensyon niya sa lalaki. His eyes settled on his woman, who's confidently presenting, he was in awe and he can't just shake it off. Ilang beses na ba niya itong nakita na seryosong nakikiusap sa mga ka meeting nito simula nang maging secretary siya nito? Hindi na mabilang ni Kade sa mga daliri niya.

Kade confidently smiled when her gazed met his and Shen slightly blushed. He wanted to pounce her, right here and right now. Mahina siyang tumikhim at nag-iwas ng tingin, silently scolding himself and forbidding himself not to have any dark fantasy's while she's busy convincing the annoying man to allowed his father to invest in his company. Kahit na kung tutuusin ay hindi na 'yon kailangan.

He can just talk to Avis father and all is well. They'll have the access to export their products abroad, in France to be exact.

"You're a very efficient employee, Ms. Shen. I can make a vacant position for you, what do you think?" The brute asked.

Malakas na tumikhim si Kade at mahinang kinatok ang babasaging lamesa. This man have guts to disrespect his father in front of him, planning to steal his woman, at sa mismong teritoryo pa talaga nila.

Shen smile at him, the kind of smile that she shows for business, and not the genuine smile she always wear when she's with him. Kahit papaano ay nakampante si Kade. Dapat na siyang magmayabang.

"I'm sorry, but I love helping Dad." She answered. "He pays good, I can't just leave after your offer." Dagdag ni Shen sa sagot nito.

Kaunting kaunti nalang ang natitirang pasensya kay Kade pagkatapos nilang mag dinner sa napili nitong restaurant. It's a high class restaurant, but the taste of their food was awful, kinailangan pa niyang mag mouth wash at uminom nang maraming tubig para lang mawala ang lasa sa dila niya. That french guy have a bad taste!

Kaya nang makauwi sila sa bahay, hindi na siya nagpahinga at agad na kinuha ang susi ng motor at helmet niya. He doesn't care if he's going to race with his suit on, mawala lang sa utak at katawan niya ang bad vibes na naipasa nung gagong 'yon, ayos na siya.

"Demon! It's been a long time!" Tumango lang siya sa lalaki at humipak sa vape pod nito, it's been a while since he last smoke. Agad niya rin 'yong binalik at pinaandar ang motor niya. Sumali sa mga naunang naglalaro. "Hoy gago! Bawal ka na sumali!"

Kade's eyes were sharp. And if looks could kill, patay na lahat ng mga tao sa race track ni Mikael. His mind kept on playing the scene while Shen was presenting and that guy was staring at his woman with malice. Naiirita siya. Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa manobela ng motorsiklo niya at mas lalo pang binilisan ang patakbo nito, he can't even hear the voice of the announcer, basta lang siya nag d-drive at inoovertake ang mga nasa unahan niya.

The race was illegal so he can freely do what he wants. Wala siya sa tamang wisyo. May mga nabubunggo siyang kalaban na bumabagsak dahil nawalan ng balanse ang mga ito. He'll just say sorry after the race. As of now he needs to clear his mind.

He doesn't want to stop. Hanggang sa makita niya ang mag-asawa na naghihintay sa kanya sa starting line. Kade immediately pressed the break and stop. Naglikha pa 'yon nang makapal na alikabok dahil sa biglaan niyang pagtigil.

Nang tanggalin niya ang helmet niya, doon lang niya na realize na mag-isa nalang siyang umiikot sa oval track.

"Bud, what the fuck was that?" Naiiritang tanong sa kanya ni Mikael. Naka pajama pa ito at ganoon din si Ezecquiel, terno pa nga.

"You can call me if you're frustrated, ito na ang pinaka malalang ginawa mo rito alam mo ba 'yon?" Parang nanay na tanong sa kanya ni Ezecquiel.

"Bakit ako nalang ang nasa oval?" He asked instead of answering them.

Ezecquiel scoffed at him and hit him on the shoulder. "Gago ka ba? Malamang mahal ng mga 'yan ang buhay nila! Gusto mo ba ipakita namin sayo ang CCTV? Nang makita mo kung gaano ka katarantadong magmaneho? Dinaig mo pa 'tong asawa ko!"

"We should try Motocross next time. Tutal trip mo rin naman paliparin ang motor mo, what do you think? May alam akong lugar." Nagtaas baba ang kilay sa kanya ni Mikael habang nakaakbay sa asawa nito.

Kade show him his middle finger.

"You race because you don't want to remember a nightmare, your mother. I'm sure she's not the reason anymore why you're here." Maingat na sabi ni Ezecquiel at nanliliit ang mga mata na nakatingin sa kanya. It's like she's scanning him.

Hindi siya kumibo at kinuha ang sigarilyo at lighter na inabot sa kanya ni Mikael at sinindi 'yon. Nasapol siya nito. His mother wasn't the reason why he's causing a scene right now. Noong nagpunta siya rito, ang inis lang na kinikimkim niya kanina ang dala dala at iniisip niya. But now that Ezecquiel already pinpoint what was the reason, para siyang motor na sasabog.

"You're right. Alam niyo na kung sino." Kade answered and puff his cigarette.

"May sumpa ka ba? Malas naman ng lovelife mo." Sarkastikong sabi ni Mikael, receiving a punch from his wife, her best friend.

"Thanks for coming, kalmado na ako. Sige na, umuwi na kayo baka walang kasama sa bahay ang anak ninyo. Matanda na ako, kaya ko na ang sarili ko." He chuckled lightly.

"Wow, after namin pumunta rito pauuwin mo kami? Ipapaalala ko lang na ako ang may ari sa track na 'to, pupunta ako at uuwi ako kung kailan ko gusto, nang-iistorbo ka sa bebe time namin tapos wala man lang thank you? Have a nice and wonderful night?" Mikael blabbered.

Ngumisi siya at tinignan ito mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Oh my Hunter, you look wonderful tonight~" Kade sang as he smirked mischievously at him.

"Yuck! Tangina mo!" Umakto itong kinikilabutan sa kanya pero may ngisi naman na nakapaskil sa mga labi nito.

"I'll talk to you when you're free. Just give me a call hmm? You have me, you have us. We always got your back, Kade. We're family." Lumapit sa kanya si Ezecquiel at mabilis na niyakap. Kade doesn't care if Mikael was looking at them, he hugged her back and kissed the top of her head like what he used to do before.

He was carefully watching Mikael, but the brute just smile and cross his arms above his chest. Right, there's nothing to be jealous.

After that, walang araw na hindi sinusubok ni Lord ang pasensya ni Kade. He's second name was Demon, natutuwa siya sa sarili na hindi lumalabas ang mga sungay niya sa t'wing naririnig niya ang lalaki na pumoporma kay Shen, tsaka lang siya kakalma kapag ngumiti si Shen at ire-reject ito.

Isang araw nalang. Ayon ang pilit na itinatatak ni Kade sa utak niya. One more day and he'll be Kade again, not Kalvin who acts calm and collected because he has a reputation to protect.

And this was the day that he'll looking forward to. Nagsawa siya sa kakulitan nito noong mga nakaraang araw, he made him tried Golf saying na lahat daw 'kuno' ng mayayaman ay nilalaro 'yon, and then they played POLO, he knows how to ride a horse but using the horse for playing wasn't his thing. Hindi niya gamay ang mga gusto nito, he was bored to death and of course, na lose streak siya nito. POLO caught his interest and might try it again.

Tirik na tirik pa ang araw at bilang lang ang mga tao sa Infinite track. Ezecquiel was with them, waiting for the match. He didn't wear any safety gear, maliban sa helmet niya na pinapersonalized pa nila. While the other one was having a hard time getting ready.

His gazed caught Ezecquiel and Shen. They were literally sitting next to each other, pero ni isa sa mga ito ay hindi nagsasalita. Ezecquiel was skeptical to approach Shen, that's for sure, nabanggit kasi niya na pinagseselosan siya nito.

"Are you ready? You sure you'll be fine with that set up?" The man asked and Kade just nod his head.

"I'll survive." He answered and clucked his tongue.

Kade caressed his motorcycle seat and gently patted it. Pinakondisyon niya talaga 'to sa mga tao ni Mikael para sa araw na 'to.

"Ya know, I don't like empowered women. You are going to have a hard time taming them, so much work for our part. I can't handle them."

Kumunot ang noo ni Kade sa sinabi nito. He knows a lot of women who can carry themselves just fine, a good example of empowered women, for him it's a good thing and he'll look up unto them.

Wala sa sariling napatingin siya kay Shen. She can carry herself just fine, she knows what wants and will do everything to achieve it, she can pay her bills with her own money, she's a hard-working woman, she knows her worth and he can imagine her living a life without a man giving her a hand. He's proud.

"What's so wrong about it? I don't mind if I am not the dominant one between us two. We're different, I love empowered women. Especially my woman." Kade smiled genuinely and glance at him. "If you don't like them just because you can't control them in a way you like, hide, because you don't have any balls."

Mukhang napikon niya ito dahil hindi nakatakas sa mga mata ni Kade ang pag-igting ng panga nito. He clucked his tongue as he straddle his precious motorcycle.

"Let's have a deal. If I win, I'll take your women and If I lost, I'll give you my approval for your father's proposal."

Kade licked his lower lip and gritted hos teeth. This man was really getting into his nerves.

"I'm not going to seal the trash deal you offer. I'm playing because I want to entertain you somehow, pero pinikon mo ako. Pasensyahan tayo, tangina mo." Itinaas niya ang salamin ng helmet niya at nanunuyang ngumiti sa lalaki.

Kade glance at him. He remembered how Mikael properly planned his death, he laughed at him even though he's worried, he feels sorry for Ezecquiel dahil kailangan na naman nitong makasaksi nang panibagong kagaguhan. Of course to Shen too. But he'll give it a shot. May kinalkal siya sa motor niya, in case they're going to investigate, hindi siya sasabit.

Agad na pinaandar ni Kade ang motor niya nang marinig ang putok ng baril. They're only two and he drove slow because of what's he's wearing, idagdag pa na hindi para sa ganoong klaseng motor ang suot nito. He stayed close to him, adrenaline rush through his body, this was what he wanted. Always.

He swayed his motorcycle and made sure to hit the asshole motorcycle wheel, mahigpit ang hawak niya sa manobela niya at pinaharurot ang motor niya. Sunod sunod ang mura na kumawala sa bibig niya nang pareho silang tumalsik, he's sure as hell na mas marami siyang matatamong gasgas, but at least his head was safe. Somehow.

"Fuck!" He cursed loudly.

Hindi siya gumalaw at hinayaan ang sarili na mahiga sa mainit na semento. He's head was throbbing and his vision were now starting to spin.

"Kade! What the fuck did you do?! Kayong dalawa ni Mikael ang makakapatay sa akin! My God! Bakit ako may asawa at kaibigan na atat sumakabilang buhay?!"

Kade laughed when he heard Ezecquiel but his laughter died down when he heard Shen sobbing. Kahit masakit ang katawan niya pinilit pa rin niyang gumalaw at hubarin ang helmet na suot niya. He smiled when he saw her face.

"Hinding hindi kita ipupusta, tandaan mo 'yan. Kahit buhay ko pa ang kapalit."

☕

Yabang, putanginang giliw. -Kade 2k20