BAGSAK ANG mga balikat nilang dalawa ni Ryker nang makalabas sila sa shooting range. Hindi pa tapos ang oras na binayaran nila but unfortunately, the owner kicked them out. A big thanks to the man who pissed her off. Kindly note the sarcasm.

Uminit na naman ang ulo niya nang maalala ang paglapit ng may ari kanina sa kanilang dalawa ni Ryker habang nag re-reload sila ng magazine. Cj did not even noticed that the man beside her left. The owner explained how it was against their range to threaten their employees, but threatening their customers was fine. How fuck up was that?

She tried, more like, nakipag bangayan. Yep, that was the right term. Nakipag bangayan siya sa may-ari. Pilit niyang isinaksak sa kukote nito kung paano siya maliitin ng empleyado nito nang dahil lang sa babae siya at mukhang mahina. And when she showed her that she's not, tatakbo ito sa boss nito?

"Damn, you should've seen him!" Ryker exclaimed and covered his mouth with the back of his hand while shaking his head in disbelief. He was chuckling from time to time. Parang pinipigilan nito ang tumawa but the more na maalala nito kung ano man ang pinagtatawanan nito, the more that his deep chuckles escaped from his lips.

Bumaling si Cj sa lalaki. Ryker was always wearing his poker freaking face, only smiling when needed, or when he's around his idiotic friends. So, seeing him chuckling right now, na hindi ang mga kaibigan o pinsan nito ang rason, it was kind of new to her.

"Ang alin?" Salubong ang mga kilay na tanong niya rito.

Ryker chuckled and stretched his arm, pointing at the shooting range entrance. Sumunod ang mga mata ni Cj doon, parang bulkan na naman na sumabog ang ulo niya nang makita ang lalaki na nagpalayas sa kanila. She can burned down this shooting range if she wanted too!

"He... Fuck!" Ryker's answer was cut off because he couldn't longer stop himself from laughing.

Cj crossed her arms and watch him laugh. His laughter was like a melody to her. Tumiin ang titig ni Cj kay Ryker, and while he's laughing his heart off, her heart was at it again. Ang akala niya nabaon na sa limot ang pagtingin niya para rito, guess like she's wrong. It was still there, hiding deep inside her, waiting for the right time. That someday, the object of her affection reciprocate her feelings.

"He fuck?" She asked after a while.

Umiling si Ryker sa kanya. Nanatili ang kamay nito sa tiyan. "Damn, that was a good laugh!" He said and inhaled a large amount of air, and exhaled after.

Hinayaan muna niya itong makabawi sa pagtawa nito.

"Masyado mong tinakot. I saw how his legs trembled in fear, I bet he nearly peed on his pants when you say you'll shoot him dead!" Ryker laughed again and she rolled her eyes.

"Ang sabi ko, sisiguraduhin ko na nakatumba na siya. Pero wala akong sinabi na babarilin ko siya. He's so fucking cocky but get easily threatened? What the fuck?!" Asar na singhal niya at matalim na tumingin sa entrance ng shooting range.

"Yeah, what the fuck?" Segunda nito sa kanya.

"I'll rate 0 stars for this shooting range! Their service sucks!" Reklamo pa niya at bahagyang sinipa ang gate bago hinila si Ryker sa sasakyan nito na naka park.

Instead of having a peaceful day, here she was, pissed.  And so, the man who's aching to hold a gun for so long was calm and enjoying her watching throwing a fit. Gusto niya talagang kumalma, she forgot the fact that maybe someone was hacking her phone that she turned it on again and immediately go to the shooting range's facebook page and rate their damn service zero! Hindi pa siya nakuntento, sumali siya sa personal group page nito and using her dummy account, with the overflowing good feedbacks, she type as fast as she can and ranted until she's satisfied.

"That was a long sweet message from you, Calista." Ryker commented as he swiped her post up.

"The owner pissed me off." She replied quickly.

"They're going to delete your message anyways," he shrugged and started the engine of his car. "Let's eat first? Para mawala ang init ng ulo mo. I thought we're going to enjoy the rest of our day?" Bahagyang lumingon sa kanya si Ryker habang ikinakabit ang sariling seatbelt nito.

She sighed softly and put her seatbelt. "Kakain muna? But our plan—" He cut her off.

"I already contact the owner. He'll meet us personally since I am one of his very important person slash customer." Ryker said and she just nod her head. "Where to?"

"May alam ka bang restaurant na nagse-serve ng Korean, Japanese, Thai food and a nice place that serves the best tea and sweets?" Cj asked.

"I don't know. Let's ask Google." Sagot ni Ryker na ikinatawa niya.

Habang nag da-drive si Ryker na walang patutunguhan siya naman ang naghahanap ng makakainan nila. Unfortunately, there's no such place where they serve Korean, Japanese and Thai food in one restaurant. So, they decided to eat a little from the Korean restaurant they found, tsaka sila lilipat sa dalawang restaurant. Yes, they're hopping from one restaurant to another restaurant just to satisfy her stomach.

She's pissed at sa tingin niya ay deserve niya ang kung ano man na pagkain na gusto niya ngayon.

"Enjoy your meal, ma'am, sir."

Cj licked her lower lips as she stared at the thai foods in front of them. This is the last one and they're going to a Cafe nearby for dessert. Nagrereklamo na si Ryker na busog na busog na ito, but looking at him now, after tasting the food one by one, kulang nalang ay ubusin nito pati na ang parte niya.

"Can we go for another round?" He innocently asked her.

"Kung may makakarinig sa'yo, iisipin nila may ginagawa tayong kababalaghan dito." Cj answered flatly. "Yes, we can eat and order another set of food for you." She corrected and rolled her eyes.

"Marumi lang talaga utak mo." Ryker attacked her.

"Aminado naman ako." She shrugged.

"Hey, Calista. Can I ask you something?"

Tumigil siya sa pagnguya at humarap sa lalaki. He's looking at her like he's digging the depth of her soul.

"Ano?"

"Do you..." He stop midway.

"Do I?" Tumaas ang kilay niya. She rested her elbow against the table and waited for his question.

"Do you consider this one as a date?" Ryker ask and looked away.

Nanliit ang mga mata ni Cj nang mapansin ang namumulang pisngi nito, even her neck was red, his head looks like a cherry bomb, that one weapon from plants vs. zombies? He's just so cute right now. Pero mamamatay muna siya bago niya 'yon sabihin kay Ryker.

"Do I consider this one as a date? No. I took you out to ease your boredom." She answered. Agad na lumipat sa kanya ang tingin ni Ryker.

He looks disappointed at her answer.

But that was the truth. Maybe, just maybe, if Ryker asked her to go out, doon palang niya ico-consider 'yon na date. Damn him to hell for asking, she's sure that after him being this kind to her, later on he'll act. like a asshole again. That's how he was.

"Even though, I won't meet any woman aside from you anymore?" Marahan na tanong nito sa kanya. Muntik pa niyang hindi marinig dahil pahina ng pahina ang boses nito.

Umawang ang mga labi ni Cj nang mag sink in sa kanya ang sinabi nito. He said he won't meet any woman aside from her.

"For real?" She asked, almost out of breath. Bakas sa mukha niya na hindi ito naniniwala sa sinasabi nito.

For years, ni minsan hindi nagbitaw o nagbiro ang lalaki, lalo na sa ganitong bagay. He'll always says that he will meet any woman that suits his liking.

Ryker stared at her, not breaking their eye contact, and for the second time around, she saw the sincerity on his captivating eyes. The first one was when she got shot. He promised to her that mistake will never happened again.

"For real. I'll let you shoot me if I lied." Ryker answered. And for him to allow her, to give her permission to shoot him, she knew right there and then he's not joking around.

Cj slowly nod her head. "No woman other me, or I'll shoot you. Noted. I'll keep that in mind. But it doesn't mean we're dating now." Sagot niya rito.

Gusto niyang makita kung totoo ba ang mga sinasabi nito, then she'll decide if this man was worth of her affection. She already saw his flaws, a lot of times, and how he broke her heart into pieces again and again, everytime he's playing. The last time she cried because of it, isang bagay lang ang ipinangako niya sa sarili. Ayon ay ang hindi na siya magiging marupok sa mga salita nito. Words are useless without action and vice versa.

"Fine with me, at least, let me court you or something?" He shyly asked. Halos hindi na ito makatingin sa kanya.

Mahinang natawa si Cj kay Ryker at tumango. His eyes widened a bit as his whole face turned bright red again. Naiiling na ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagkain. Bracing herself for his next attack. Her body was weak when it comes to Ryker after all.

RYKER can't help himself but to glance at Cj from time to time while driving. Pagkatapos nilang kumain at dumeretso sa Cafe na sinasabi nito, she only sipped on her tea and eat a spoon of her mustard cake when she fell asleep, mabuti nalang at mabilis ang reflexes niya at nasalo niya ang ulo ni Cj bago ito bumagsak sa lamesa. He can't help but to be amazed, it was after all his first time to see a person who fell asleep while eating.

A smile crept into his lips. Ito rin ang unang beses na nakatulog ito na hindi hawak ang kamay niya. She must be tired and at the same time her stomach was full.

Kumunot ang noo niya nang makitang tumatawag si Levi sa kanya. Using his free hand, he answered his call and pressed the loud speaker, bago niya binitawan ang cellphone sa dashboard ng sasakyan niya.

[Huwag muna kayong uuwi sa penthouse niyo.]

"Ah-huh? Why?"

[You're under surveillance, Mr. Ramirez. Don't use your personal laptop as of the moment, not until I give you my signal, and please, stop womanizing and stick with Cj.]

"What? Why? And who the fuck?!" Naiiritang tanong niya.

He knows something's up when she saw Cj roaming her eyes around the hallway earlier.

[You pissed Mr. Jocson, my dearest cousin. Masyado naman kasing maganda ang pamangkin nito para tanggihan mo, and looks like his niece also likes you, more like, she's obsessed and you're her obsession.] Levi clicked his tongue and continued. [Dumagdag pa sa init ng ulo nito ang kapatid mo, since Nyker told him to fuck off. Tandem talaga kayong magkapatid sa gulo.]

"I'll tell Nyker to work on my behalf, let's clean that mother fucker first." He calmly said and change his route.

[Cool, I'll handle... I mean, Sean will handle their hired hackers while you're planning how to blessed them with your bullets.]

"Bakit kailangan naka dikit sa akin si Jordan? She can protect herself." Aniya.

[Oh, I don't know maybe that old man hired a hundred goons just to kill her?] Levi answered with thick sarcasms.

No one knows that she's doing all the underground job for him, more like, investigating whoever planned to enter their company and if she found something, she'll burn that company down in a blink of an eye.

"Paano nila nalaman?" He asked. "Malinis magtrabaho si Jordan, Levi." Dagdag niya.

He heard his cousin sighed heavily. [Bro, it's not about her work. Nakikinig ka ba? That old man met you in Kade's wedding right? Sino ang kasama mo noon? Hindi ba si Cj lang? Noong tumawag ako kay Cj ikaw ang kasama niya. For you to bring Cj without me or our other cousins, I'm sure that old man thinks that you're now in a serious relationship with your humored — oh, she's actually you're fiancee.]

"Well, I'm actually... Serious about the engagement now."

[Holy shit!]

Bahagya siyang lumingon kay Cj at napangisi nang marinig ang sunod sunod na mura ni Levi sa kabilang linya.

☕

Hi, finals na namin next week and I'm not sure if makakapag sulat/update ako, need to review and all so, please be patient with me for the meantime. Babawi ako after finals. Thanks!