"CALISTA, wake up. My mom is here. She's looking for you."

Her eyes slowly open when Ryker let go of her hand. She still wants to get some sleep but it's kinda hard without holding someone's hand. Nakasanayan na niya kasi 'yon at hindi niya na matanggal. Simula bata siya, mahina na ang puso niya. Her mother always held her hand before she go to sleep, her father and Clijay too, para lumakas ang loob niya noon.

"Calista!" Ryker called and shake her body a little.

"I'm already awake!" She hissed. Tinanggal niya ang kamay ni Ryker na yumuyugyog sa kanya.

"Up! Up! Mom wants to see you." Ryker said.

Tumayo ito sa gilid niya at hinila siya patayo. She rolled her eyes and stood up. Naramdaman niya na hindi gumalaw si Ryker. Masyadong malapit ang katawan nilang dalawa. She chuckled when Ryker faked a cough and step backwards.

"What's with that reaction?" Natatawang tanong niya rito. "Is it hard again?" Dagdag niya pa.

"I'm going crazy," nagpamaywang ito at marahas na ginulo ang buhok nito.

Cj stepped forward and titled her head a little. Ngayon lang niya napansin but Ryker's hair is getting longer than his usual hair.

"Can I cut your hair?" She asked for permission. Iniangat niya ang kamay at sinuklay ang pa shoulder length nitong buhok. He didn't cut his hair for a year now because he's busy. Too busy.

His lips twitched a little. "What kind of haircut?"

"Wolf cut? Sa salon octopus ang tawag nila doon." She answered, still examining his hair.

They're using different shampoo and conditioner, pero parang mas maganda ang ginagamit nito. His hair was silky smooth!

"Cool. Go, freshened up. Wear comfortable clothes, we're going to grocery store kasama natin si Mommy." Ryker said and slid his hand on her waist, pushing her a little towards their bathroom.

Cj yawned and stretched her arms for a bit before washing her face and brushing her teeth. Naligo naman siya kanina bago siya matulog kaya nagpalit nalang siya ng damit. She wears her usual style before when she's working as a FBI agent.

White sports bra, fitted black jeans with a gothic style belt, kumuha siya ng white long sleeves sa closet ni Ryker at isinuot 'yon, then she wears her comfortable converse and tied her hair into a low bun.

Nang lumabas siya sa banyo napasinghap siya nang bigla nalang siyang isandal ni Ryker sa pader. Her hands were pinned above her head. Bahagya nitong inilihis ang laylayan ng long sleeves na suot niya, she forgot that he badly wanted to see her new tattoo, and she's wearing a sports bra, mas madali nitong makikita ang tattoo.

"Morse code." Ryker said and glance at her. Ang isang kamay nito ay humahamplos sa tattoo niya. "I love your tattoo." He whispered and placed a soft kiss on her cheeks.

Her eyes widened a bit. Pero agad rin siyang umaktong normal. She pretended that kiss didn't affect her. But her heart was now pounding hard inside her chest, her stomach feels like there's a brave dragon growling inside, it's too much for her to handle.

"Stop doing things like that." Suway niya at marahas na binawi ang mga kamay niyang nakapiid sa ulohan niya.

Mayabang lang itong ngumiti sa kanya, hindi lumulubay ang mga mata sa baywang niya kung saan ang tattoo niya. She's drunk when she saw Vexer that time and ask him to tattooed her.

"You like it." Sigurado na sagot nito sa kanya.

Hinila siya nito palapit sa kanya. He's still examining her tattoo, bahagyang namula ang mga pisngi ni Cj nang unti unting bumaba ang ulo ni Ryker sa baywang niya at pinatakan ng halik ang bagong tattoo niya. Mariin siyang napapikit nang maramdaman ang haplos nito, it was a feathery touch that made her whole body shivered.

--••
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Ryker chuckled softly and stood up straight. Hinila siya nito sa pala pulsuhan niya at iniharap sa vanity table na hindi naman niya ginagamit. There's a lot of different perfume, from different brands, Cj and Ryker's collection. Hinila ni Ryker ang isang cabinet at kumuha roon ng isang lipstick.

"Wear this shade, it suits you." He whispered behind her back and showed her the lipstick shade. Maroon.

Napangisi siya at kinuha 'yon sa kamay niya at pinahid 'yon sa labi niya. The lipstick shade made her looks more fiercer and braver. Indeed, the lipstick shade suits her.

Kinuha 'yon ni Ryker sa kamay niya at inilagay 'yon sa slingbag na nakasabit sa katawan nito. Between the two of them, palaging si Ryker ang may dalang bag kapag aalis sila. She gave him her phone and wallet in case she wanted to buy something.

Ryker's mother was roaming her eyes around the kitchen with a phone in her hand, listing down the things na kailangan nilang bilhin, the groceries she bought wasn't enough. Kulang 'yon dahil agad siyang umuwi at hindi na nakabalik sa grocery store.

"Tita, it's nice to see you again. How are you?" Cj brightly smiled and went to hug Ryker's mother.

Ryker's mother chuckled and hug her back, bahagya pa siya nitong pinanggigilan. "Silly, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Mom instead of Tita? I want you to be comfortable calling me like that." Anito at pinisil ang pisngi niya.

She pouted her lips. "But, I am comfortable calling you 'Tita'." Sagot niya.

Ma-drama itong bumuntong hininga at pabiro siya nitong inirapan na ikinatawa ni Cj.

"Anyways, I'm fine. I'm still fresh! How about you? You look tired, did I disturb your sleep?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito at hinaplos ang pisngi niya.

Cj chuckled and shake her head. "I'm fine, Tita. I'm strong." She answered and flexed her arm, hindi nga lang kita ang pinagmamalaki niyang muscle dahil medyo maluwang sa kanya ang long sleeve ni Ryker.

She saw how Ryker shake his head with a smile plastered on his lips. He's been smiling often after Kade's wedding. The awkward atmosphere were surrounding them, but she choose to ignore it. Ryker and his mother was not in good terms after they pulled them out of service. Hindi lang siya sigurado kung ayon nga ba talaga ang dahilan o may iba pa. They're giving each other cold shoulders.

"He's our lackey for today?" Pabulong na tanong niya sa mommy ni Ryker.

"It's his punishment for not working." Sagot nito sa kanya.

Her lips parted a little. He was helping a friend that's why...

Ryker's mother clung her arms around her arm and pulled her out of their penthouse, leaving Ryker behind. Kailangan pa nitong i double check kung may naiwan na appliances na nakasaksak, the gas stove —na idinahilan niya para mauna siya sa pila— doesn't need to be check because they're not using it in the first place. Pasimple ang sulyap niya sa likuran, tinitignan kung nakasunod na si Ryker.

"You've been living together for a long time now... Magkasama pa kayo sa loob ng kwarto."

Kumunot ang noo niya nang magsalita ang mommy ni Ryker. She's pouting her lips like a kid. Cj rolled her tongue over her lips and bite her inside cheek. Alam na niya kung saan mapupunta ang usapan nilang dalawa habang wala pang Ryker na nakasunod sa kanila. The reason why Cj doesn't want to be left with Ryker's mother. Mas okay siya sa Daddy nito dahil puro baril ang usapan nila.

"We're still not ready, Tita. We'll get there." She answered smiling, like she was happy and everything's going smoothly but the truth was, it was the exact opposite.

Starting her life at thirty wasn't that bad for her. Ewan lang niya sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya, they're rushing things, na dapat pag-isipan muna ng mabuti. Let's say they fuck, she got pregnant, that's it? They have no solid plan for the kid and for the family they're building, what if both of them crumbled? Kawawa ang bata.

"Fine! Gustong gusto ko na kasi magka-apo. I'm sorry for pressuring you," Ryker's mother smiled apologetically to her.

Hinintay muna nila si Ryker before they hopped in inside the elevator. He was after all their lackey. Si Ryker ang nagmaneho sa sasakyan habang nasa likuran silang dalawa ng mommy nito, they're talking random stuffs until they reach the mall and went straight to grocery mart.

She doesn't have a list. Kaya kung ano sa tingin niya ang kailangan nilang dalawa ni Ryker, ayon nalang ang inilalagay niya sa tulak tulak niyang cart. Hindi katulad ng mommy ni Ryker na sinusundan ang listahan nito sa cellphone.

"Jordan, get me that one." Napalingon siya kay Ryker na parang bata na may ininguso sa kanya. Her brows knitted and turned her head, mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya nang makita ang nakapilang condoms, with different flavors and sizes.

Cj cleared her throat and casually asked him. "Size and flavor?"

"XL. Any flavor will do, bahala ka." Ryker answered nonchalantly.

Bago pa siya makita ng mommy nito, agad na naghanap ng XL size si Cj sa bawat flavor na nakahilera at inilagay 'yon sa cart niya. She bit her lower lip when she caught a man glancing at her.

"Masyadong marami 'yan, miss." He finally talked after fidgeting the box he's holding. Ngumisi lang si Cj sa lalaki.

"It's none of your business though." She answered, smirk was still plastered on her lips.

"Kanino mo gagamitin?" The man asked again. Cj wore her poker face look and eyed the man.

She leaned over and whispered behind his ears. Hindi mapigilan ni Cj ang mapangisi nang makita ang pamumula ng tainga nito pababa sa leeg nito. "As I've said. It's none of your business. Stop being so nosy mother fucker."

Tumayo siya ng tuwid nang lumapit sa kanya si Ryker na nakataas na ngayon ang dalawang kilay sa kanya. She pushed her cart and hummed softly.

"What took you so long? Tapos na kami." Ryker said and her eyes dropped off the cart he's pushing. Wala pa sila sa kalahating oras pero punong puno na ang cart na hawak nito.

Halatang tambay ang mommy nito sa grocery mart.

"Sa food court muna tayo?" His mother asked.

"How about our groceries?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Cj.

"It's fine. I'll have it delivered to your penthouse. Pinapunta ko naman doon si Nyker, your cousin will probably be there too."

"Mom, si Nyker lang. Paalisin mo 'yong iba." Ryker firmly said. "They're the reason why she's tired. Makakalat ang mga 'yon." He briefly explained and his mother immediately turned her gaze on her.

"Ugh! Those guys! Hindi na nag matured!" Umirap sa hangin ang mommy ni Ryker at agad na tinawagan ang nakababatang kapatid nito.

HE PUSHED HIS and Cj's cart towards the cashier and silently fell in the line. Cj was beside her and roaming her eyes around, while his eyes settled on her cart.

"Calista," he called her in a whisper. Humarap naman ito sa kanya. "Did you really pick one box of condoms for every damn different flavors?"

"I thought you like it?" Patanong na sagot nito sa kanya at bahagyang nakangiwi.

He sighed and looked at those condoms. Hindi naman niya magagamit ang lahat, but yeah, instead na ibalik niya ang iba, pina punch nalang din niya. He remains calm and poker face as the woman punch every box of condoms, pulang pula ang pisngi nito. He'll bet that the woman was now thinking how perverted he was.

He gave his credit card instead of using his mother's card. After paying, hinila silang dalawa ng mommy niya papunta sa food court. Cj was sitting next to him and his mother was sitting in front of them, eating her food happily.

"Ayaw mo?" Cj asked in a low voice.

"I want frappuccino." Ryker answered.

"I'll drink your smoothie then, daan nalang tayo mamaya sa starbucks for your frappuccino." She said and Ryker nod his head. Hindi rin naman niya 'yon gagalawin.

"Kainin mo na rin 'to. I know you're hungry." Ryker whispered and pushed his plate— full of different types of sushi —towards her.

"Ahh! I'm a proud mother now. You're improving, Ryker." If someone heard his mother, they might think that she's sincerely proud at him. But of course, he's her son. Alam na alam niya ang pagiging sarkastiko ng nanay niya. Even her smile now wasn't sweet, it was a threat.

"No worries, Mom. I think..." He clucked his tongue and glance at Cj's happily eating. Ryker smiled, sinenyasan niya ang ina na basahin ang mga labi niya dahil ayaw niya munang iparinig 'yon kay Cj.

"You're going to hear wedding bells soon."

☕