CJ WOKE up panting and sweating bullets. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya habang inaalala kung anong klaseng panaginip ang napanaginipan niya para gumising siya na basang basa ang mukha niya, hinihingal at nagpapawis. She calmed her self and roamed her eyes around the room. Hindi ito ang kwarto nila ni Ryker, and Ryker was nowhere to be found.

Sinuklay niya ang magulong buhok gamit ang mga daliri niya bago tumayo at dumeretso sa loob ng banyo. Cj stared at her own reflection on the mirror and saw her not so tired face. Nag-uumpisa pa lang ang araw pero mukhang dumaan na sa gyera ang mukha niya. The consequence of waking up because of a dream she couldn't remember. Nice.

She splashed the water on her face and brush her teeth.

Pamilyar siya sa kwarto. Right now, she can tell that she's occupying one of Light's guest rooms. Walang bagay na hindi alam si Cj pagdating kay Ryker at sa mga taong nakapaligid dito. She also knew that there's a mini village behind this huge house. Cj actually accidentally heard Light's boasting about the mini village new gate.

Pero kahit ganoon, kahit inaaya na siya ng mga kaibigan ni Ryker na pumasok noon, tumatanggi siya. She respect their privacy. Kahit noong nalaman niya na labas masok doon ang mga ka pareha ng mga ito, hindi pa rin siya pumapayag.

"Good morning, breakfast in bed?"

Umangat ang tingin niya nang marinig ang boses ni Ryker. May dala itong maliit na lamesa at may laman 'yong almusal nilang dalawa. Wala sa sarili na napangiti si Cj nang makita ang suot nilang dalawa, the reason why she likes staying here at Light's mansion like house. Kapag dito sila natutulog ni Ryker, palaging terno ang pantulog nilang dalawa. Light really loves acting like Cupid, imbes nga lang na bow and arrow ang dala nito, Cj imagined him holding a fork with two horns on his head.

"Bakit nandito tayo?" She asked. Sumampa siya sa kama at umupo sa harapan nito. While she's waiting for his answer, kinuha niya ang isang sandwich na gawa ni Ryker.

"Trouble."

"Who? Me or you?" Tanong niya ulit habang ngumunguya. Sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Ryker kaya agad niyang tinikom ang bibig niya. Cj even sit properly.

Hindi siya takot kay Ryker. But when it comes to table manners and etiquettes, ibang klase magalit ang lalaking nasa harapan niya.

Tumaas ang kilay niya nang inguso siya ni Ryker. Her eyes widened and look at him with doubt. Mahirap paniwalaan na siya lang, usually, when it comes to trouble, it's either kasama niya ito o ang nakababatang kapatid na si Nyker. Nang makitang hindi nagbibiro si Ryker, agad niyang nilunok ang pagkain na nasa bibig niya at uminom ng juice.

"Bakit ako lang?!" Reklamo niya. "Wait, what did I do? I'm sure it's not about my work. Malinis ako magtrabaho. Walang naiiwang bakas ko." Dagdag niya at nanliit ang mga mata na tumingin kay Ryker.

He rubbed his nape and his lips formed a thin line. "Well, partly this is my fault. I should've brought Levi with us that day."

"Isang event lang ang pinuntahan natin na hindi kasama si Levi." She boredly answer.

"Hm, and I didn't know that Mr. Jocson niece was there and saw you with me. Remember? Tinanggihan ko ang offer nito? To try his niece... And that woman turns out na may problema ito sa you know?" Ryker shrugged and her eyes squinted.

"May maluwang na tornilyo sa utak?" Walang preno na tanong niya rito.

"Language, Calista." He warned. Inirapan niya lang ito at sinenyasan na ituloy ang kwento nito kanina habang kumakain siya. "Levi found out that Mr. Jocson treated his niece like he's own daughter, spoiling her, giving what she wants, even pulling some strings para lang maibigay ang gusto nito sa kanya,"

"That was so sweet of him. Paki sabi ampunin niya ako." Sarkastikong sabi niya. Ryker only sighed and didn't continue his story. Kumain nalang ito at sumimsim sa kape. "So, she's one of those people na may Obsessive love disorder? Tama ba? Or may ibang tawag doon?" Nakakunot ang noo na tanong niya kay Ryker at tumango lang ito sa kanya.

"Yes, at sa dami dami niyang magustuhan ako pa ang na target-an nito." He sighed and sipped his coffee.

"Gago mo e," she uttered under her breath.

"Ano?"

"Ang sabi ko ang gwapo mo sana bingi ka nga lang." She replied and laugh a little.

"And because they saw you with me, your fiance —by the eyes of our parents — they want to get rid of me? How many goons they hired this time?" Iritado na tanong ni Cj.

Ryker looked at her before answering, " hundreds of them, Calista."

"Woah, I feel loved. May maluwang nga na tornilyo sa utak ang mag Tito na 'yon!" She exclaimed hysterically.  "May balak ba sila na pulbusin ako? Bakit ang dami?!"

Ryker chuckled at her. As if her situation was worth laughing for. Well, their move was indeed funny. She's a woman. Sa mata ng ibang lalaki, mahina siya. Some men, underestimate her power. And to think that the old man hired a hundred goons just to eliminate her? Parang gusto ulit niyang magyabang.

"You have me, a former FBI, I still have connections to the higher ups because of our family connection. Of course, they will send a hundred of them, thinking that you will be protected by me. Hindi nila alam na isang bala lang sila sayo." Ryker said and boosted her confidence again. "Please, 'wag ka sa akin magyabang. I can only tolerate your smirk." Pigil nito sa kanya na ikinatawa niya.

"Sayang, kung kailan magseseryoso ka na sa akin doon pa ako napag tripan." Parinig niya rito.

Ryker flicked her forehead. "Do you think they can stop me from dating you? Lalabas tayo bukas." Anito.

She bit the tip of her tongue then eat her sandwich to hide her smile.

"So, you will pull some strings if I accidentally shoot them right? I mean, self defense 'yon sa parte ko kung mauuna nila akong paulanan ng bala. Hindi ba?" She blabbered.

"I'll also asked my uncle to issue a warrant of arrest in advance, he choose violence, what can we do? Of course, we'll fight back. Fair enough, right?" Tanong sa kanya ni Ryker.

"Right!" Sang-ayon naman niya.

Sabay silang natawa ni Ryker. This was why they called them a pair of beast back then. The way they think was just the same. They move according to their instinct. Kaya kahit isa sa mission nila noon, walang pumapalya. Except for their last. She lost her mind that day. Pinagsisihan na niya 'yon, and she killed the two, na mas lalong nag pa stress sa director nila. It was their fault though.

Binaril nila ako e.

NAIILING NA tumingin si Ryker kay Cj. They spent their time cooking — messing Light's kitchenette. He can cook a little and Cj knows how to make some special dishes, processed foods. He literally needed to ask Kyst, para kumuha ng groceries sa penthouse nito. Good thing, he's on his way.

"Sayang naman, may tira pa." Cj grunted and pointed their left overs.

May tira pang kalahati sa Tocino na niluto nila, 10 pieces of hotdogs and hamburger patties, there's also a half of bolognese and longganisa. Idagdag pa ang fried rice na gawa niya.

"I'm telling you, Calista. I'm full! Fuck, I think wala na ang abs na pinaghirapan ko ng ilang taon!" He exaggeratedly said.

"Ilalagay ko sa tupperware, ihatid mo sa likod." Anito. Hindi na siya nagulat sa utos nito. Of course, she cares for his 'patay gutom' friends.

Napipilitan siyang tumayo at kumuha ng Tupperwares sa cabinet at nilagay doon ang mga tira nilang pagkain, he's sure that his friends already ate, Yves was inside the Lust community. Ang swerte ng mga tarantado na mabait ang nililigawan niya.

"They'll taste our lunch, ipagdadala ko pa, samantalang sila hindi man lang nila tayo naalala." He uttered and hissed when Cj smacked his head with the wooden spoon she's holding.

"It's better to give than to receive, Zion." Pangaral agad nito sa kanya, while her eyes were sharp. He flatly looked at her and shrugged.

Labag man sa loob niya, inilagay niya sa paper bag ang mga tupperware. Atsaka siya lumabas at dumeretso sa likod nang walang saplot sa pang-itaas. He felt suffocated with his shirt while eating kaya hinubad niya 'yon. And, Calista was having a feast, kaya hindi na niya 'yon sinuot ulit.

"Fucking open the gate, I don't have my card." Ryker boredly said. Within a second, bumukas ang gate — which was the wall splitted into two — at ang unang sumalubong sa kanya ay ang sisiw nilang kaibigan. Laur. "Hi, sisiw." He playfully greeted.

Laur showed his middle finger.

"Where's Cj?" Tanong nito sa kanya.

"Where's Jillian?" Tanong niya pabalik rito and Laur lips formed a thin line. "Oh? Natahimik ka yata?" Nang-aasar na tanong niya rito.

"Ayaw niya muna pumasok e, naiirita raw sa mukha ni Ranger." He answered in a low voice, covering the side of his lips with his hand.

"Ayon ba talaga?" Ryker asked, raising his brow.

Laur sighed. Nagpamaywang ito sa harapan niya. "Ayaw pumasok ni Cj dito dahil nirerespeto ka niya, and your fucking privacy on top of that. Well, my orange hair brat, in her case, ayaw lang talaga nito."

"Baka ayaw matali sayo?" He asked.

"Bud, it's scary to think that you're now slowly adopting Cj's personality." Laur hissed and aggressively shivered.

"O.A mo." Aniya at iniabot kay Laur ang paper bag. "May lamang pagkain 'yan, walang kasama si Cj sa bahay ni Light. Balik na ako."

He heard Laur yelling and telling his idiotic friends that be brought a free foods before leaving and walking back to Light's house. Dumaan siya sa pintuan sa likuran papasok sa kusina, and saw the kitchen spotless. Wala na ang mga pinagkalatan nilang dalawa ni Cj.

At nang akmang pupunta siya sa kwarto para tignan si Cj, nadaanan niya ito sa mini gym ni Light. Wearing a tight short and sports bra, naka braid ang buhok nito at may mga ilang hibla ng buhok niya na nalaglag sa may gilid ng tainga nito, her body was covered with her own sweat as she kept on throwing punch after punches on the punching bag.

Pigil ang sarili ni Ryker na huwag sumipol sa nakikita niya. But there's one thing that he couldn't control. His raging manhood. Mahina siyang bumuntong hininga at isinandal ang likuran sa hamba ng pintuan habang matiim na pinapanood si Cj. His attention was actually divided into two. Sa bawat galaw ng katawan nito, at sa kwintas na sumunod sa bawat galaw nito.

He traced his lower lip with the tip of his tongue. His hand immediately seek for his own necklace. He inwardly smile to himself nang makapa niya ang pendant, it was their engagement ring. Suot suot niya 'yon dati for the sake of formality and to avoid getting scolded by his mother, pero nang mapansin niya na ginawang pendant ni Cj ang singsing nito, he unconsciously did the same thing.

"Kinikilabutan ako sa titig mo, Zion. Para kang mangangain ng buhay," narinig niyang sabi nito. She picked up her tumbler and chugged, hindi humiwalay ang paningin niya rito. Then, Cj wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "You're hard."

Bahagya siyang tumango. "Can't help it, you're too sexy and hot."

Cj playfully flexed her arms, showing off her muscles while smirking smugly at him. Napailing nalang siya sa kayabangan na taglay nito.

"At least, your manhood is now loyal to me. I like the fact that 'he' only get hard because of me." Cj shrugged as she walk towards him. Nanatili siyang nakasandal sa hamba ng pintuan, hanggang sa makalapit sa kanya si Cj.

"I'm sorry," he uttered. Making Cj's brows furrowed. Kaya tinuloy niya ang sasabihin. "For hurting you and all."

Cj hummed and leaned over. Marahas na napalunok si Ryker dahil sa lapit ng mga mukha nilang dalawa, he can literally smell her breath, and for fuck sake! It's turning him on!

Ryker stilled when Cj pressed her lips against his lips. It was a smack kiss. Natulos siya sa kinakatayuan niya at na blanko ang isip niya.

"It was my way of saying 'ayos lang, kasi hindi ka pa seryoso sa akin noon'."

"Can you kiss me again?"

"Nope. Namimihasa ka. And I'm telling you, Zion. Hindi mo ako pwedeng halikan hanggat hindi ko sinasabi sayo na tayo na." She warned and smiled sweetly to him.

Pero sa paningin ni Ryker, it was a wicked smile of Calista Jordan.

☕
update because y not?