THEY SAY a flower will only bloom when it's watered. Ayze stopped wearing her thick frame eyeglasses the next school year. No boys were allowed to be with her, or kahit lumapit man lang sa kanya except sa mga kasama nila sa banda.

After he graduated, Zayndrei started working under his father's wings. His father was still managing one of the companies they own.

The professor's were making a fuss because of that. Sino raw ang magpapatahimik sa kanya ngayon na wala na sa university si Zayndrei? Ayze wanted to answer them sarcastically, kaya niyang nanahimik na mag-isa. It's just that, they were good on provoking her. Pagkatapos ay magsusumbong?

"Ate? Okay ka lang ba? Kanina pa mali ang tunog ng gitara mo." Vane pointed out. Kinuha nito ang gitara niya at ito mismo ang nag-strum. His forehead creased. "Okay naman ang tono... Let's have a 10 minutes break muna!"

Humarap ito sa kanya at inabot ulit ang gitara niya. Ang mga kasama naman nila ay lumabas para bumili ng makakain.

"You're acting weird..." pansin ng kapatid niya. Salubong na salubong ang mga kilay nito. When he's doing that, mas lalo lang nitong nagiging kahawig ang Daddy nila. "You're not acting normal."

"Normal?" tanong niya.

Ayze's fingers tapped against her guitar, kapag nagsawa naman ay nilalaro niya ang strings.

"Yeah, like beating our schoolmates, cutting classes, and mocking the professors. Ate, that's what normal is for you." Tumatango na sagot nito sa kanya. He was really sure of what he's saying. "May ginawa ba sayo yung anak ni Tito Zayvin?"

Her eyes snapped to her brother. The looks in his eyes, he was ready to kill him. Inangat niya ang kamay at ginulo ang buhok ng kapatid niya.

"Wala. Hayaan mo na 'yon!"

"He did something... huh?"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa kapatid niya at hindi na sumagot. It wasn't only on him. They both did something. That was it.

Everyone were surprised to her sudden change of behaviour. Ayze isolated herself, nakikipag-usap lang siya kung kailangan talaga. Her blockmates were also afraid of her. After she sent countless female students to the hospital, wala nang nagtangka sa kanya na gawan siya ng kahit na anong kalokohan.

"Do you like Zayn?"

Kaagad kumunot ang noo ni Ayze nang harangin siya ng bagong presidente ng student council. It was the vice president, who loves to stare at her as if she's digging a hole in her head.

"Ano?"

"May gusto ka ba kay Zayn?" ulit nito. "Palagi kang nasa guidance noon dahil alam mo na susunduin ka niya. Now that he's gone, tumahimik ka. Nagpapapansin ka lang ba?"

"Yah, masakit ang mga daliri ko at wala ako sa mood." Walang gana niyang sagot at tinalikuran ito.

Ever since that woman confronted her, hindi na maiwasan ni Ayze na sundan ito palagi ng tingin. She was observing her from afar. So far, that woman wasn't good at doing her job. Palaging may mali sa paningin ni Ayze.

She stayed in the student council office, nakikita niya kung paano magtrabaho si Zayndrei. Ibang-iba sa presidente nila ngayon. She's sloppy and always blaming her subordinates when it fact it was her fault.

During her internship, wala siyang choice kung hindi ang pumasok sa kumpanya na hawak ng Tito Zayvin niya. Her mother used her connections para lang bumagsak siya rito.

Unfortunately, her mother wanted to keep her eyes on her. Ayze was planning to apply to her Tito Laur's company, para magawa niya ang gusto.

"Miss Clemente, do you want to come with me? We're going to visit one of the company's resorts."

Kaagad siyang tumayo at inayos ang mga gamit niya. Sa buong buhay niya, hindi pa niya nakita ang mga resort na pag-aari ng mommy nila. Ang bakasyon nila lagi ay sa resort na pag-aari ng Tito Dylan niya.

"Nope. She's not coming with you. Miss Clemente, follow me."

Nagtitimpi na ngumiti si Ayze. Tinapik ng kasama niya ang balikat niya.

"Next time. I promise, isasama kita." She waved her hand at her and left.

Walang emosyon ang mukha niya habang nakasunod kay Zayndrei. She tilted her head a bit, mas lalo na lumaki ang katawan nito. His shoulders were broad.

Sumimangot siya nang isara nito ang pintuan, pati na ang mga kurtina. Ayze almost whistled when he turned his head on her, he was like an animal, ready to devour her.

"What is this, Zayndrei?" Pinagkrus ni Ayze ang mga braso sa dibdib niya.

Zayndrei slowly loosened his tie as he walks towards her. Hindi siya gumalaw sa kinatatayuan niya. Ayze waited for him patiently.

"I don't know... You tell me, Ayze. What did you do to me?" paos ang boses na tanong nito sa kanya.

She can feel his warm breath. Their faces were so close to each other that all she could do was stare at his wet lips.

"Snap it, Zayndrei. This isn't funny." Kalmado ngunit matalim na sabi niya sa lalaki.

Ayze almost jumped when he saw him having a battle with himself, whether to touch her or not. After all, Zayndrei was the good guy. Her consent matters to him.

"Can we do it again? I'm... fucked."

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya sa narinig. "You're fucked? What?"

"I want you..." Zayndrei said. His voice was closed to begging.

Ayze nodded his head slowly. Thinking that doing it again with his childhood friend, her enemy, was absurd.

"I am not going to be your sex slave, Zayndrei." Mariin na sabi niya.

Mabilis itong umiling. He looks at her, desperately.

"Of course, not. It's me. I will." Putol-putol na sagot nito sa kanya.

Ayze smirked smugly. Masaya sa nakuhang sagot. She won't bend just because something happened in between them that night. It was a mistake. A mistake that she couldn't even remember.

Their carnal relationship started. Ayze thought that after her internship, Zayndrei would eventually stop. They are always kissing, touching each others body, that's it. Ang akala niya ay magsasawa ito sa ganoon.

After her graduation, she doesn't have any time to entertain him as her training started. Bata pa lang siya, lagi nang tinuturo sa kanya ng mommy nila ang pasikot-sikot sa negosyo nila. And she's always saying, beware of the crocodiles, as they're going to swallow them whole without them knowing it.

Her father taught her how to kill crocodiles though. Ayze still thinks that she's safe.

"She's just a woman! What can she possibly do, huh?"

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa narinig. Just a woman, huh? Ayze scoffed. She was an alpha type. She was raised to be one. As much as she wanted to learn how every department played their part, she asked her mother to manipulate the board and appointed her as the CEO of her whole empire.

"What's the rush, Ayze?" tanong sa kanya ng Daddy niya.

"Pinamahayan ng buwaya ang negosyo ni Mommy, Dad. The company needs a major cleansing." Ayze cutely shrugged her shoulders.

Tumango lang ang Daddy niya. Ayze knew that it was his father who brought back the whole empire to her mother, pero kahit minsan ay hindi ito nakialam sa pamamahala ng mommy niya. He never interfere unless her mother badly needed someone to support her.

In her case, she's not her dad. She's the daughter of Isabella Clemente. Her first born.

Ayze was still hearing that someone opposes her decisions. Questioning her capabilities because she graduated without a latin honour. Some were trying to manipulate her by doing the wrong move.

Ang akala yata ng mga ito ay kagaya siya ng mommy niya noon. Easily manipulated. Nakalimutan din ng mga ito na may dugo siyang Clemente. The blood she could boast of.

"Can I trust you?" tiningnan niya mula ulo hanggang paa ang binigay na sekretarya sa kanya.

Her name was Amari.

"I am your personal secretary, ma'am. Of course, you have my loyalty." Her smile assured her that she's not that bad. It was genuine.

Ayze sighed. "Sige, let's start cleaning."

"As you wish, ma'am," sagot nito.

She started to fire and do some dirty tricks para mawala ang mga ito sa landas nito. Amari was with her all throughout. She will do anything, as long as it's her request.

"Is there something wrong? Bakit ka nagbabawas ng mga empleyado?" Zayndrei asked. Salubong ang mga kilay nito.

Ayze accidentally touched the company he's holding. Thanks to his secretary, alam niya kung sino ang mga tumatarantado sa kanya sa likod.

"Amari. Out." Matigas na utos ni Ayze sa sekretarya niya. "Walang papasok."

Amari left the office silently. She eyed Zayndrei who was looking at her.

"Do not question me, Zayndrei. I am not in the mood to be a nice—"

"Who told you to be nice? I know you're not." Mayabang itong ngumisi sa kanya. Nilapitan siya nito at mabilis na lumuhod sa harapan niya.

"Ang talim ng dila mo, Zayndrei, luluhod ka rin naman sa harapan ko." Ayze sarcastically answered. "Stand up. I don't like you kneeling."

"Can I kiss you?"

Her heart skipped a bit. They've been doing this for a long time yet he's still asking from time to time. Such a gentleman he was.

She traced her jaw using his finger, habang ginagawa niya 'yon nakita niya kung paano mas lalong umalab ang pagnanasa sa mga mata nito. This was the only thing that he feels for her, lust.

"Later. I'll go visit your unit."

His jaw tightened. Alam na ni Ayze ang gusto nito kaya ito nandito ngayon sa office niya. Hindi dahil sa bigla na lang nawalan ito ng empleyado. They've been together since they were little, and they've been fucking their brains out for God knows how long.

They're exclusively fucking each other and yet Zayndrei was sometimes acting like a jealous boyfriend. It wasn't fun.

"Why not now?" mababa ang boses na tanong nito.

Pasimple siyang tumingin sa pintuan. "Simply because we're in my office?"

"So, sa office ko lang pwede? Ganun?" sarkastiko na tanong nito sa kanya. "Afraid that he might see you moaning crazily?"

Gotcha.

"I am not afraid. Hell, you can even fuck me in front of him. I don't care."

Kaagad na nalukot ang mukha nito sa sinabi niya. She's just kidding. Ayze won't let anybody see her body aside from her and Zayndrei.

"You're resting my patience again, Zehra..."

Her lips parted. His voice was deep and hoarse that made her body crave for him, that part of her body tingled, and her throat went freaking dry. There's something about Zayndrei she couldn't pinpoint when he's mad. He's driving her crazy.

Hindi nagdalawang isip si Ayze na sunggaban ito ng halik. She firmly hold her nape and kissed him like he misses him. Zayndrei cupped her jaw as he kept on sucking dry her tongue. Her moans were muffled.

Ingat na ingat si Ayze na huwag magulo ang buhok ni Zayndrei, pigil din niya ang sarili na huwag itong kalmutin sa leeg. There's no way he could hide her marks.

"It's okay... you can scratch me," bulong nito sa pagitan ng mga labi nila. "I can just tell them a wild cat scratches me? Alam naman nila na mahilig ako sa pusa."

"Am I a joke to you? Wanna die?" she jokingly said.

"She's just a woman... What could she possibly do...? Is he still alive?" Zayndrei curiously eyed her.

She rolled her eyes. "Man, what do you think of me?"

Tumawa muna ito bago bumalik sa paghalik sa kanya. He was kissing her slowly and she's not going to lie. Ayze likes it better when he's kissing her gently and not hungrily. It made her breathing heavily. Her heart was aching for unknown reasons.

Nilayo niya ang mukha ni Zayndrei sa kanya. Mapungay ang mga mata nito habang titig na titig sa mga labi niya. A smirked crept up into her lips.

Her hands went down to his chest. She had a satisfied smile on her lips when he saw him flinch... at mas bumigat ang paghinga nito.

"Whose whore are you?" malambing na tanong niya.

Zayndrei answered, "Zehra."

 ☕