HINDI magawang ituon ni Ranger ang atensyon sa trabahong nasa harapan niya. He let his secretary, Kayson, handle everything. Ito ang nag represent sa kanya sa mga meeting, at si Kayson na din ang nag e-entertain sa mga bagong kliyente nila.

Wala siyang silbi sa buong araw na nasa opisina siya.

His mind was clouded with the thoughts of Angel. Kung siya lang ang masusunod, hindi na siya papasok at mag stay nalang sa bahay at magkulong sa kwarto kasama ito.

He massaged the bridge of his nose. He picked up his phone and dialed the house phone number. Mababaliw siya kung hindi niya makakausap si Angel.

After a few rings his forehead crease when no one picked the phone up. With the thought that her soon to be wife is busy, he dropped the call and pushed himself to work.

"Sir, may invitation na dumating. It's from the client you,ahm" Kayson cleared his throat when he glared at him. "I'll just put it here." Aniya at inilapag ang invitation sa lamesa niya.

He scanned the envelope, by the looks of the invitation, Ranger already knew that it's a restaurant for rich people. Gusto man niyang pumunta, but he doubted Angel would agree to come out with him.

"Did you receive one?" He asked his secretary, still scanning the invitation.

"Yes. But I'm not coming." Umangat ang ulo ni Ranger at nakakunot ang noong tinignan si Kayson. "What? I'm already taken. I can't entertain her."

Shock was written all over Ranger's face.

"Don't be so shocked, Sir. Mas nakakagulat nga ang balita na may girlfriend ka at nasa bahay mo pa." Pabalang na sabi sa kanya ni Kayson bago lumabas ng office niya.

Oh well, people change.

Ranger forced himself to work. He needs to go home early today, he needa to finish at least three piles of papers or he'll lose his sanity for not seeing Angel!

HINDI MAPAKALI SI Angel sa bahay. Nalinis na niya ang kwarto ni Ranger pati na din ang kwarto niya. Kinuha niya ang cellphone niya na nakatago lang sa cabinet, wala pa ring tawag o text man lang sa mga magulang niya sa probinsya.

Pero kahit walang paramdam ang mga ito sa kanya hindi pa rin niya nakakalimutan ang responsibilidad niya sa mga ito.

Tumayo na siya sa pagkakahiga at dumeretso sa kusina, alas diyes palang ng umaga kaya may oras pa siya para magluto.

She's bored to death! Mabuti na ipagluto nalang si Ranger at dalhin niya ito sa opisina. Besides, nakalimutan din ata nito na katulong siya nito sa bahay simula ng maging girlfriend nito. She needs a work. Kakausapin niya ang lalaki.

Nagluto nalang siya ng simpleng putahe, tutal ay hindi naman pihikan si Ranger sa pagkain. Pinalamig niya muna ito, bago inilagay sa Tupperware container.

Angel smiled at her self. Mukha na siyang asawa sa ginagawa niya. Gusto niyang kutusan ang sarili sa naisip.

Ranger wasn't a bad catch after all.

Pagkatapos niyang ayusin ang dadalhin niya, patakbo siyang umakyat sa kwarto niya. Naligo na siya kanina, pagkatapos niyang maglinis. Inilatag niya ang mga pinamiling damit ni Ranger sa kanya. She's not actually asking for these. Ayaw lang talaga magpa awat ni Ranger at panay pa rin ng order sa boutique ni Frances!

She picked up the nude sleeveless turtle neck and pair it with a blue jeans. Pumili nalang siya ng komportable na sapin sa paa at nag spray ng kaunting pabango at kinuha ang wallet niyang kahit papaano ay may lamang pera bago bumaba.

She tied her hair into a messy ponytail, naglaglag din siya ng kaunting hibla ng buhok.

Nagmamadali niyang kinuha ang bag kung saan nakalagay ang pagkain ni Ranger. Kung sasakay siya ng jeep, kailangan niya talagang magmadali lalo na at bukod sa traffic, nagtitigil tigil ang jeep para magbaba at magsakay ng kapwa niya pasahero.

Siniguro muna niya na nailock niya ang mga pintuan bago lumabas ng gate.

"Ate! Saan ka pupunta?" She stopped walking when she saw Ranger's sister, nakadungaw ito sa bintana ng sasakyan.

"Sa Agency sana ng kuya mo." Nahihiya niyang sagot dito.

"Great! I'm going there, sabay na tayo!" She smiled at her and open the car door for her, umusog pa ito ng kaunti para maka upo siya.

Sakto lang pala ito. Hindi na niya kailangan mag commute at hindi na din niya kailangan makipagsiksikan sa jeep.

Habang nasa biyahe silang dalawa. Panay ang daldal sa kanya ng kapatid ni Ranger, she keeps on talking about her favorite anime, napapangiti nalang siya kapag may action pa ang pagk-kwento nito. She's pretty nice. Hindi din nakakasawa na pagmasdan ang mukha nito. For a 23 years old, mukha lang dalaga si Jillian dahil sa katawan at pananamit nito. Pero may ugali pa rin ito na parang bata.

"I really like you for my brother, Ate. I know he's an asshole for some girls but he's actually kind, I hate to say this but he's a good brother to me." Bahagya pa itong napangiwi sa huling parte na sinabi nito. Angel chuckled softly.

The love and hate relationship between siblings.

Jillian entertained her hanggang sa makarating sila sa mismong agency ng kapatid nito. Ilang beses na siyang nakakapunta dito, pero hindi parin mapigilan ni Angel ang mamangha. The building is just too big for a Agency.

Dere-deretso lang sila ng lakad ni Jillian, the lady beside turned serious all of a sudden. Nawala bigla ang madaldal at makulit na si Jillian.

"Did I scare you Ate?" Pabulong na tanong nito sa kanya.

Angel shaked her head and smile. "Hindi naman." She answered.

Minsan na niyang nakita si Ranger na walang emosyon na mababakas sa mukha. Noong una niya itong makita, at noong may kausap ito sa cell phone at mukhang tungkol sa negosyo ang pinag-uusapan.

"That's a relief. That became a habit of mine when I'm inside our buildings, you know, employees amd business partners were rooting for a sharp heir, they were expecting Kuya to handle our businesses but look at him now. Standing on his own, he build a name without our father name being drag on, that includes our family's wealth. Hindi siya humingi kahit centavo lang kay Daddy." Jillian said with a proud smile.

Ngayon pa lang, sobrang proud na niya kay Ranger. Hindi niya lubos akalain na ang agency nito ay nagsimula sa isang scratch lang ng papel hanggang sa lumago ito. He did all the work without the help of his parents. Hindi niya ma imagine kung gaano kahirap ang dinanas nito para mabuo ang Agency na inaalagan. No wonder, he gone mad when she keeps on failing her job, well not literally failing, sadyang bastos lang talaga ang nagiging amo niya at binabaliktad ang sitwasyon kapag nahuli na sa kagunggungan nila!

"I want to meet my brother now. I don't care if he's just open the damn door!" Jillian hissed.

Kumatok muna ng tatlong beses si Kayson bago binuksan ang pintuan. Umangat ang kilay niya nang may makitang isang matanda at magandang babae sa loob. Kitang kita niya kung paano dumikit ang babae kay Ranger.

"Hello dear brother!" Jillian greeted, pasimpleng nagtago siya sa likuran nito. Jillian's voice was cold. "Let go of my brother or I'll chopped off your useless arm?"

"Jillian! That's my client!" Ranger hissed.

"Who? That woman with useless arms or this old geezer?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Angel nang itinuro ni Jillian ang babae at ang matanda. Parang ibang Jillian ang kasama niya ngayon. The Jillian a while ago was sweet. And this one, was the brat version of her. That was Angel guess.

"Walang modo! I can't believe Ian will let this woman handle his business! Baka siya ang ikalugi niyo!"

Jillian crossed her arms and smirked. "You know why my parents trust me with their businesses? It's because there's a lot of toothless sharks out there trying to bite us, attack us from the back.You want Ranger to handle it because he will let you in and Jillian will kick you out. That's how it works old man!" Inirapan niya ang matanda.

She cleared her throat, napatingin sa kanya si Jillian at alanganin na ngumiti.

"We're leaving now. Think about my offer." Ani ng matanda habang seryosong nakatingin kay Ranger.

"What kind of offer?" Sabat ni Jillian.

The woman raised her brow. "It's better if you stop sticking your nose into someone else's business. Stop being a brat!" Sigaw nito.

Ang gusto lang naman ni Angel ay dalhan ng makakain ang boyfriend slash boss niya at makausap ito ng matino. Bakit siya naiipit ngayon sa away ng mga ito? Nang mahagilap ng mga mata niya si Ranger, pasimple siyang kumaway para mapansin nito.

Nagtaka siya ng bigla nalang tumayo ang lalaki at naglakad papalapit sa kanya.

"What are you doing here with Jillian?" Masuyong tanong nito bago ito yumuko at pinatakan siya ng halik sa labi. "And hiding my art works again?" nakangising tanong nito.

"Nakakahiya kung pati mga empleyado at kapatid mo makita ang markang iniwan mo." Pabalang na sagot niya.

Ngumiti lang ito sa naging sagot niya at ipinalupot ang braso sa baywang niya. "I don't need to think about your offer. I already said no and that's final. I won't marry your daughter just because I fucked her. She's not a virgin anymore when something happened between us. Better find that man who deflowered her."

"Gago." She whispered and pinch his arm.

"Bastard! Like Father like son! After they fucked my daughter and now my granddaughter, they'll run like a rat!" Gigil na sabi ng matanda at lumabas na sa opisina. Habang ang apo naman ito ay nakasunod lang at kinukulit ang matanda.

"Oh, that's what they want? That old sneaky geezer." Jillian hissed. "Anyway! Brother, I saw a one piece collection. Alam mo na ang gagawin mo! Bye!"

Humalik lang ito sa pisngi niya at sa pisngi ni Ranger bago ito tumakbo palabas ng opisina ng kuya niya. Her mood immediately turned sour. Kanina pa niya pinipigilan ang nararamdaman niya dahil ayaw niyang sumabat sa pinag-uusapan nila.

Ranger was about to kiss her again, she immediately dodge it. Ang palad niya ang sumalubong sa labi ni Ranger.

"What? Hey, where's my kiss?" Nagrereklamo na tanong nito.

She shrugged and looked at him lazily. "Hanapin mo doon sa babae mo?" Patanong na sagot niya.

Ranger looked at her amused. Na para bang may nakakatuwa sa inaakto niya ngayon. "Wow, you're jealous." Bulong nito pero narinig pa rin naman niya.

"Ano ngayon?" Masungit na tanong niya. Ranger chuckled, nakapamaywang na lumapit ito sa kanya. He lifter her chin up and dipped his head. "I'm already yours. No need to be jealous of those women." He sounds like he's assuring her.

Inilapag niya ang bag na dala sa lamesa nito. Hindi niya pinakialaman ang mga papel na naka kalat, dahil baka may mapaghalo halo niya at matagalan lalo sa trabaho si Ranger.

"Food? Sakto, hindi pa ako kumakain." He said. Agad nitong niligpit ang mga papel, she did the right decision not to touch the papers dahil mukhang importante ang mga 'yon kaysa sa mga papel na inayos niya noon.

She prepared the food and Ranger happily digged in. Paminsan minsan ay sinusubuan pa siya nito, inutusan pa nito si Kayson na kumuha ng extra rice sa cafeteria.

"You need something?" Tanong ni Ranger nang matapos kumain. She gulped as she nod her head. "Come on, love. Don't be shy, what is it?"

"Kailangan ko maghanap ng trabaho." She said.

"For what?" Masungit na tanong nito sa kanya.

She sighed. "Kailangan ko ng pera, Aiken. May pamilya ako na umaasa sa akin." Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi.

"How much? We'll provide for them." Ranger smiled and held her hand.

"Hindi naman pwede 'yon!" Agad na reklamo niya. Ayaw niyang umasa nalang sa lalaki, she wants to work.

"Love, if it's money, you can always depend on me. Besides, I want you to do something for me."

"Pero Ranger—"

Ranger smashed his lips against her lips to shut her up. "No buts. I'll provide for your family and I want you to continue studying, babe. You have a bright future ahead. Let's reach your dream first hmm?"

Nakatulala lang si Angel kay Ranger. Hindi pa rin niya ma process sa utak niya ang sinasabi nito. He wanted her to continue and focus on her study. Her dream. What was her dream again? A lone tear escaped from her eyes, she cupped his face and kissed him fervently.

"I love you, My Angel." He managed to say those words while kissing her back.