SHEN LOST her mind for a moment back there. Hawak hawak niya ang mga labi niya habang patakbo siyang pumasok sa loob ng bahay, her heart was pounding loudly, nabibingi siya sa sobrang lakas nito. Huminga muna siya nang malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili. Hindi siya pwedeng magpakita sa Daddy ni Kade na ganito ang itsura niya.

Namumula ang mga pisngi at mga labi.

"Shit!" She cursed before entering her room.

Agad niyang hinubad ang sapatos, sports bra at leggings na suot niya at dali daling pumasok sa banyo para matanggal ang naghalong pawis at init sa katawan niya. She's burning up! She's not that naive to not know the reason behind it.

She let the cold water run down to her body. But if her to be honest, it's not helping her. Sa hindi malaman na dahilan palaging bumabalik ang utak niya sa mainit na halikan nilang dalawa ni Kade. It's been a long, fucking long, time when they last shared a kiss. And that was before she lived under his father's roof.

Gusto niyang ipukpok ang sarili sa pader. Halo halo na ang laman ng utak niya. She wanted to end this confusion.

Nang bahagya siyang mahimasmasan, mabilis na niyang tinapos ang pagligo. She wore a simple bohemian dress and did not bother to comb her hair. Instead, she grab her favorite claw clip and clip her hair up.

Isang beses pa niyang kinalma ang sarili bago lumabas ng kwarto niya at pumunta sa mismong kwarto ng Daddy ni Kade.

"Dad?" Shen called as she knocked softly.

"Come in."

She gulped hardly. Hearing Kade's father voice was like hearing Kade's voice earlier. Malalim at buong buo. She twisted the door knob and pushed the door a little, sumilip muna siya bago tuluyan na pumasok.

"How's my son?" Agad na tanong nito sa kanya.

Shen smiled a little. He's lucky to have a good father.

"He's fine, Dad. He slept early yesterday, without me, doing it." Aniya at bahagyang nagkamot sa batok. She was referring to what she did last time.

"And your relationship with him?" He asked again, tapping his pen against the table. He looks impatient.

"I don't know? I mean... I think, he thinks I am his stepmom or something..." Nahihiyang sabi niya.

Kade's father, Calvin Martin, laughed his ass off. His laughter echoed in his whole room. Napangiwi siya nang maubo pa ito. Goodness!

"That brute! He really thinks na mag-aasawa pa ako pagkatapos mawala ang mommy niya? Didn't he noticed that I am still wearing our wedding ring?" He asked her and raised his hands, pinapakita ang singsing na nakasuot sa daliri nito. Shen also noticed the necklace he's wearing at ang pendant nito ay ang engagement at wedding ring ng mommy ni Kade.

"You're son is kind of dumb sometimes." Hindi niya mapigilan na magkomento.

She's frustrated. The moment he heard nanay Lorena's voice, looking for her, tumigil ito sa paghalik sa kanya at parang nahimasmasan.

"Let him thinks that you're my second wife for the mean time. I'm planning something," he smiled innocently and dismissed her.

Kung ano man ang plano nito. Siguradong siya rin naman ang makikinabang sa huli pero kahit na ganoon. Hindi pa rin niya maiwasan na kabahan.

"Kade..." Shen called him when she saw him entering his own room.

Hindi ito tumingin sa kanya at mabilis na pumasok sa kwarto nito. Bahagya pa siyang napaigtad dahil sa malakas na pagsara nito sa pintuan. Was he angry? She needed to end this confusion of his once and for all.

She can't wait any longer! One year was enough, ayaw na niyang magbilang pa ng araw, lingo, at buwan na walang kahit anong nangyayari sa kanilang dalawa!

Naghintay siya nang ilang minuto sa harap ng pintuan nito para makausap man lang ito. But one hour passed, walang Kade na lumabas. Sumuko na siya at kinuha na lang ang laptop at mga papeles na kailangan ng atensyon niya at sa sala nagtrabaho.

Shen was too focused on her work that she didn't notice that it was already dark outside and Kade was finally done locking himself to his room.

Hinagod ng mga mata ni Shen ang buong katawan ni Kade. He's wearing a tight shirt that hugged his body perfectly, napalunok siya nang mapagtanto na mas lalong gumanda ang katawan nito. Paired with a black jeans and rubber shoes. The black leather jacket was lazily hanging on his shoulder, bahagyang nanliit ang mata niya nang mapansin ang lanyard na nakasabit sa leeg nito. His vape pod.

Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman niya na bukod sa vape pod. Hindi pa rin ito tumitigil sa paninigarilyo.

"Where are you going?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.

Kade looked at her and raised his brows. "And why are you here?" Balik tanong nito sa kanya.

"Working. Now, answer my question." She demanded.

"Work?" He answered, smiling.

"Really?"

"I consider drag racing as my job. Stop sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong." He said without any emotion in his face.

Kade grab his helmet and played his key with his finger. Hindi na nagtangkang nagsalita si Shen. Something was forming up in her throat. Sinundan niya lang ito nang tingin hanggang sa makalabas ito ng bahay dala ang motorsiklo nito.

TUMALIM ANG MGA mata ni Kade nang marinig ang putok ng baril. A sign that the race was now starting. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa manobela, his head was traveling somewhere, pero hindi 'yon rason para matalo siya sa pustahan.

He bend his body down, pressing his chest to his precious motorcycle, accelerating the gas, his heart was pounding, the adrenaline rush filled his whole being.

This was his life. This was what he need to remove that damn woman to his head!

Kade swayed his motorcycle a bit, para makapag over take siya, Hunter was back at racing at ito ngayon ang nasa unahan niya. Chill lang itong nagmamaneho, his damn friend was showing off his new motorcycle.

"Gago!" He shouted and laughed. Not sure if Mikael heard him.

Magkadikit na magkadikit ang mga motor nila ni Mikael nang makarating sila sa finish line. It was a close fight but Hunter won the first place.

"Demon! That was intense bro! Ngayon ko lang nakita na magkadikit na magkadikit ang mga motor niyong dalawa ni Hunter! I mean, hindi mo nga siya malapitan noon!"

Kade shrugged his shoulder and remove his helmet. Bumagsak ang buhok niya, agad niyang kinuha ang towel na inabot sa kanya at pinunasan ang pawisan na mukha niya pagtapos ay ang buhok niya.

Mikael tapped his shoulder and smirked smugly at him.

"What's up?" Nang-aasar na tanong nito.

He smoked his vape pod and blew the smoke to Mikael's face. He chuckled when he saw Mikael glaring at him.

"I made a wrong move, Bud." There. He finally said it.

"You fucked her?" Mikael asked, his face looking so damn innocent and he even widened his eyes a bit.

Umiling si Kade. "Close call. I just kissed her, that's it."

"You know what bud, we're changing, if that's love, then fight. I'm sure Tito won't mind."

He flatly looked at Mikael. What kind of advice was that? His father won't mind? Alam niya sa sarili niya na mahal siya ng Daddy niya at pagbibiyan nito kung ano man ang gusto niyang mangyari sa buhay niya, probably because that was his mother last wish, but taking his precious stepmom? I don't think so...

"Well, I'm going home! Ikaw?" Mikael cheerfully said.

"I'm staying. I'll win the first place this time, kaya umuwi ka na!" He hissed.

Tumawa lang si Mikael at tinapik ang balikat niya. "Ayon naman talaga ang plano ko. Gusto ko lang talaga i-model 'tong bagong regalo sa akin ni Esel." Mikael happily said while caressing his new baby.

"Lagyan natin ng design? Pagasgas, isa lang!" He playfully said and showed Mikael his pocket knife. Palagi siyang may dala in case one of the racer played dirty and target him.

Mikael playfully hugged his motorcycle and showed him his middle finger. He eyed his motorcycle, it will cost him his arm and leg to buy it. But for his only younger sister, named Ezecquiel Salazar. He sighed heavily.

"Bakit ka ba binili ni Esel niyan?!" Naaasar na tanong niya rito.

Mikael smugly smirked at him. "Because he loves me!"

"Yuck!" Kade playfully exclaimed and twitches his lips.

Mikael straddle his motorcycle and waved at him before leaving. Kade stayed and waited for the second round, the last race wasn't enough to clear his mind. For the second round, he rode his motorcycle with full speed ahead, he didn't even play around, the roaring sounds of his motorcycle was the only sound he can hear, he finished the 10 laps within an hour. That's how frustrated he was.

People was cheering for him especially women, pero wala siyang pakialam doon. His eyes widened when he saw Shen on the crowd, matalim ang tingin nito sa kanya at naka krus ang mga braso sa dibdib nito. Those lovely breast! Kade rubbed his eyes, at nang buksan niya ang mga mata, wala na doon ang Shen na nakita niya. Maybe, he was just hallucinating.

He checked the time and it was past two in the morning. Nagpaalam lang siya sa mga kasama niya, he didn't bother to wear his helmet, he wanted to feel the cold breeze of air hitting his face. Mabagal lang din ang pagmamaneho niya, to avoid any accident, he promised his father na hindi na siya uuwing may galos sa katawan.

"I'm home." He mumbled and messed his hair, the moment he stepped inside their house.

"Welcome back?"

Kade stilled when he saw Shen on the Sala. Naka indian seat ito sa lapag at nakasandal ang ulo sa sofa. Nagkalat ang mga papel sa lapag maski sa lamesa, there's also pancakes with a lot of chocolate syrup and a tumbler full of iced coffee.

"What the hell? Bakit gising ka pa?!" He half shouted and half whispered.

"You want pancakes? Ako gumawa niyan." Pag-iiba nito sa usapan.

Kade rolled his eyes and removed his black leather jacket, at basta nalang 'yon tinapon sa sofa. Tamad siyang umupo sa single sofa at kinuha ang pinggan na puno ng pancakes. He ate it even though he doesn't like chocolate syrup. Mas gusto niya na isinasawsaw ang pancake niya sa gatas.

Agad na sumunod ang mga mata ni Kade nang tumayo si Shen at naglakad papunta sa kusina. He shrugged and enjoy the pancake he's eating. Yves was bugging him to eat, pero hindi siya nakinig dito. Nakipagkarera siya na walang laman ang tiyan, no wonder his hungry as hell right now.

"Here,"

Kinagat ni Kade ang pang-ibabang labi para pigilan ang sarili na mapangiti. Pinuno nito ng gatas na ang tumbler niya at inilapag 'yon sa harapan niya.

"Thanks." He mumbled.

He wanted to eat all of those pancakes, but Shen needs to eat too. Kinuha niya ang tumbler niya at tahimik na ininom ang gatas. The silence enveloped them, it was awkward for Kade. Lalo na at bumalik na naman sa utak niya ang halikan nilang dalawa kaninang umaga. Gusto niya ulit matikman ang mga labi nito.

"Ayaw mo na?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Shen sa kanya habang nakatingin sa mga pancakes.

"Hindi ka pa kumain." He answered and turned his head to the side to avoid her gazed.

"You should eat more. I don't mind." Shen softly said.

He cleared his throat when he felt something stirred up. "I do mind." Madiin na sabi niya.

"Mas gusto mo ba 'yung walang chocolate syrup?" She asked again.

"Just eat. I'm full." Dahilan niya para matapos na ang usapan.

"About what happened... Kanina,"

He smiled bitterly and cut her off. "I crossed the line. I'm sorry, hindi ko dapat 'yon ginawa. Don't worry, hindi 'yon malalaman ni Daddy, Ma." Kade said and glance at her.

He was surprised when Shen stood up. She looked at him furiously.

"What?" He asked.

"Kissing you wasn't a mistake for me. So why are you saying sorry?" She scoffed.

Kade stilled. Hindi siya nakagalaw sa narinig niya. It wasn't a mistake? If it's not then what was it? He felt so greedy and bad after that kiss.

"I love it, Kade." She whispered and cupped his face and dipped his head to brush her lips against his lips.

☕
ANG GANDA MO SHAN ALY 🥺