"Don't do this again in front of my wife," he said. "Call me if you really want to start a fight."

Hold on.

Was I just addressed as his wife?

"Wait, sigurado ka bang pakakasalan mo ang anak ng mortal niyong kalaban sa business? That is not how I know you," sambit ng isa.

"Oo nga, Jhon Rey! You're an asshole, and we know how you breathe."

"Nagbago ka na ba talaga?"

Jhon Rey was just staring at them, not even saying anything. Was he really suppressing himself because I was here? I know he can fight. 

Napansin kong natitinag ang mga lalaki sa titig ni Jhon Rey at nagsisimula ang mga itong umatras.

"Fine! Fine! Be sure to come when we call you, or else..." That guy looked at me. "Miss Velasco, do not worry. We'll just catch up. We really missed this guy," wika niya sa akin na akala niya naman ay maloloko niya ako. He even head-locked Jhon Rey, but Jhon Rey really looked pissed off at them.

That guy touched me, raised my chin, and winked at me before he turned his back on us. His minions followed him.

It was as if a thorn had been removed from me. I never expected to see someone who would approach us to ruin our days. They looked like one of Jhon Rey's former classmates. Napakagagaling talaga. Pumunta lang para mang-bully! Para silang sina Dhonna at Klarissa!

I sighed and then turned to face Jhon Rey. He glanced in my direction, and I noticed how he stared at me. I gulped at the sudden intimidation I felt.

"What are you looking at? tanong ko.

He didn't say anything and started to walk. He was walking slowly; it seemed like he was waiting for me to follow him. Hindi ganitong paglakad ang ginawa niya noong unang beses kaming mag-date. Nakakapanibagong hinihintay niya ako.

I did nothing more than follow him to his car. Finally, we can go back home. We simply strolled around for a while, but I feel exhausted because of those dimwits. Why did those idiots come to annoy us? Pupunta sana kami sa sinehan at manonood ng movie, pero hindi na namin nagawa dahil pareho kaming nawala sa mood ni Jhon Rey. Sabagay, anong oras na rin kasi at ngayon ko lang napansin na madilim na. Kailangan na nga naming umuwi. 

I fasten my seatbelt, expecting Jhon Rey to grab the wheel and steer the car. I turned to face him, and saw him staring at me like a ghost. I almost jumped.

"Hey, why do you keep looking at me like that?" I inquired. "I've noticed that you've been gazing at me for a while. What's with you now?"

Umiling siya. Narinig ko pa siyang bumuntong-hininga nang iiwas niya ang tingin sa akin. I began to be curious and looked at him closely.

"You're being weird. What are you thinking?" I touched his shoulder and tried to get him to look at me. I saw him give me a side-eye.

"Are you okay?" My eyebrows knotted while I forced him to face me. I'm now curious about what he was trying to hide. I don't know. He seems to be hiding something. "What's your problem? Is it about those guys? Are you ashamed of what happened?" I asked one after another.

He glanced at me for a minute or two. He removed my hand on his shoulder and held it for a while. I was lost for a moment when I realized he was holding me tightly.

"B-bakit?" I stuttered. He's causing me huge tension. I saw him glance at my lips.

"Be ready at all times, because I won't ask for permission again."

Nagtaka ako sa sinabi niya. "P-permission for what?"

He cut me off by kissing me. The intensity of his kiss made me lose my balance. I hold him on his chest while trying to push him away.

"S-sandali, J-Jhon Rey." I tried to protest between our kisses.

Now he's devouring me whole. I can tell how eager he is to invade me as his territory.

Napapikit ako. I tried to respond to his aggressive kiss, but I couldn't fight back. My heart is getting crazier. Then I began to sense his gentle kiss there. It is becoming slow and passionate. I had no idea why he was kissing me, but I can admit that I want this and never want it to stop.

He untied my hair tie before pinning me against the wall of the car. "Hmmm..."

He nibbled my lower lip, and I gasped, which gave him a way to endeavor my satisfaction. He was sucking me like it was his last kiss with me.

Jhon Rey, I don't really know what to think about now.

Why are you doing this?

Why are you making my heart flutter so much?

Nakakabaliw ka na.

He parted his lips. He was catching his breath when he looked at me with those soulful eyes. I'm about to cry because of these overflowing feelings inside me. I want him this close. I want him to hold me like this. I want him to say what he feels about me and why he would kiss me like this.

He touched my face with his right hand. His warmth—I can feel it and am starting to become addicted to it. "Jhon Rey..." pagtawag ko sa kaniya.

Sinuklian niya iyon ng pagbanggit ng pangalan ko. "Sheen May..."

He unfastened my seatbelt. Napalunok ako dahil doon. Rumaragasa sa dibdib ko ang kaba.

He held my waist with his left hand and pulled me closer to him. He gave me one more kiss. I grabbed his chest and slowly wrapped my arms around his neck. He was covering me in kisses, and I just let my body react however it wanted to.

If this is a dream, please don't wake me up anymore. This is the only thing he does that makes me feel like he wants me to be his own. I don't want this moment to stop. If I should bend my knees to everyone and remain on his arm like this, I will.

His welcoming hands gently touched my blouse. I was powerless to object because I enjoyed the fire he was giving me.

His contact and how his palm feels on my body. He raised my skirt and was ready to take his belt off. "Ahhh..." I moaned, but an unexpected thought came to me.

I called him "Jhon Rey," but he seemed unstoppable.

"Jhon Rey... " I tried to push him with my remaining strength. "I already am p-pregnant... You know we can't," nahihiya kong bulong.

He chuckled and bit his lip while moving away from me. "R-right. I'm sorry. I forgot." Lumayo sya sa akin bago tumikhim. Umiwas rin siya ng tingin. Kahit ako ay hindi makatingin sa kaniya. Muntikan na. Bakit pinigilan ko pa?

Inayos ko na lamang ang sarili ko habang pinahuhupa ang pagdagundong ng puso ko. I can't believe that we were supposed to do it again.

Kahit anong lamig ng buga ng aircon ay siyang init ng nararamdaman ko.

Napalunok ako habang ibinabaling ang tingin sa may bintana, trying to gather up some courage to speak.

Because of what happened, my desire for him grows stronger.

How can I look at him now?

"Should we head home now?" He asked, breaking the ice.

"Y-yes, o-of course," nauutal kong sagot.

He started the car and drove calmly. He was so focused on driving kaya naman nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong sulyapan siya.

"Were you scared?" tanong niya, habang ang mga mata'y nasa unahan pa rin.

"Saan?"

"Sa kanila kanina," tugon niya.

"Ahhh, doon sa mga lalaki. No. Classmates mo ba ang mga 'yon?"

"They were, yes. Don't their comments worry you?" Tsk. Mas bothered ako sa ginawa mo kani-kanina lang.

"Not at all," I answered. I love how he can start a conversation casually, like nothing happened a while ago. It makes me feel less awkward now.

"Really?" he wonders.

"Yeah, why?"

"They could be correct. You probably don't know much about me, particularly my past, and you could wish to leave me after you learn more," he answered. I smiled. I like it when we talk like this. I get to know him more.

"You've been taking good care of me lately," I responded.

"I might be faking it. You still don't know me, though. How worst I can be."

I chuckled. "Hindi ko pa ba nakita?"

"Tsk. How can you laugh while I'm being serious?" I laughed more because I could see him sulking now.

"Because I won't leave you unless you leave me first," I said, which made him silent for a moment. "I clearly don't have any choice, just like you do. Even if you treat me as you wish, I couldn't dare to break this marriage because our family's businesses are at stake."

"Are you acting in the best interests of our family business?" He queried. I also want to ask him that question. I never anticipated that he would be worried about that.

Hindi ako sumagot.
Ayoko ring malaman ang sagot niya dahil baka masaktan lang ako.

"So we'll be keeping our response to this," he answered. "I see."

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

Hindi na nasundan ang pag-uusap namin hanggang sa maihatid niya ako sa bahay. Hindi na siya nag-abala pang bumati sa loob. Sabagay, anong oras na rin naman.

I wanted to go to bed early but was unable to. I'm still in deep thoughts of what happened earlier between the two of us and to that one last question.

Am I still doing this for family's business stake?

Ano ba talagang tingin ko sa kasal namin? Gusto ko ba talaga? Why am I hiding it for myself too?

Am I scared?

Probably.

That's why I'm like this.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong pumasok sa klase. I was about to approach Anne nang makita ang prof namin sa p.e. na papasok ng room namin.

"Mr. Mercado, get ready and head to the gym hall," sambit ni prof. Agad na nagbulungan ang mga kaklase ko.

"What happened?" tanong nila. I also looked at Jhunel and saw that he was surprised too. I shrugged when he glanced at me, as if asking what was happening.

"Hindi ba't start na ngayon ng training ng basketball players for UAAP?"

"Hindi kaya, kasali si Jhunel? Oh my! What a good news! He deserved it!"

Jhunel left with a smile. I don't know what happened, but I'm happy for him now that he can start claiming his dreams. I sat in my chair and continued eavesdropping on my classmates' conversations. I am glad that they are talking about good stories now and not faking disgusting news.

Jhon Rey entered the classroom with that uncanny aura. The man sat behind me.

Because of what happened the night before, I was hesitant to talk with him, but I decided to muster up the guts to do so.

I was hesitating to chat with him because of what happened last night, but I chose to gather my courage to ask him. "Hey, don't you also need to go to the gym? The training might begin right away for UAAP."

He shook his head. "I quit. I have no interest in it at all."

Napanganga ako.

"W-what do you mean?"