ANG DAMI NIYA pang kailangan na gawin na trabaho. Pero heto siya ngayon at napipilitan na sumama kay Windelle sa mall, even though he's busy helping her to run her company just like what she asked. Pagod na ang utak niya, pagod pa ang katawan niya kakatanggi sa mga pasimpleng hawak nito sa kanya.

Her father was asking him a ridiculous request to marry her, Windelle. He stayed single for long and only kept one woman beside him, yet marriage was still not on his mind.

Masyado na malaki ang tiwala ng mag-ama sa kanya, to the point that even their small decisions, dumadaan pa sa kanya.

They're now looking for a gift, according to Windelle para sa kanya ito. He scoffed when she brought her to a home depot. Kumpleto na ang mga gamit niya sa unit, ano pa ang kakailanganin niya dito?

Sa gitna ng pagrereklamo niya sa utak, nahagip ng mga mata niya ang babae na gustong-gusto niya makasama ngayon. Ayze has a small smile plastered on her lips as she looked at her phone.

"Destiny must be toying us," Windelle clicked her tongue. "The devil is here."

His lips thinned. Such names don't suit him.

"Let go, Windelle," ungot niya nang akmang lalapitan niya si Ayze.

Hindi siya nito pinansin. Windelle was firmly hugging his arm as she approached Ayze. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa cart nito. Gusto niyang ngumiti nang makita na mamahalin ang mga 'yon.

"Alone?" Windelle asked her. Nanunuya ang ngiti na nakapaskil sa mga labi nito.

It took her some time to answer because she's busy tapping her phone screen. He placed his tongue inside his cheek, in the back of Zayndrei's head, he wanted to ask her if she's still talking to that guy.

"I can handle myself but..." She trailed. Ayze looked over her shoulder before looking at Windelle. "I am with someone, luckily."

Zayndrei's mood turned sour when he saw that 'someone' she's pertaining to.

"Queen size ang kama mo, 'di ba? Which one do you like?" The guy asked Ayze, showing the two toned color bed sheets. "May free na rin na pillowcase 'to."

Karl. He remembered him. The guy asked him if they're in a sort of relationship, before their graduation. He didn't know what to answer, no, he wasn't able to answer his question because Zayndrei, himself, doesn't know.

If only he knew, um-oo na sana siya noon. This guy confessed to Ayze right before their graduation. Pagkababa ni Ayze sa stage pagkatapos ng performance ng mga ka-banda nito.

"Oh, this one looks good? Ikaw?" tanong ni Ayze sa lalaki.

It's unlikely to Ayze to asked someone for their opinion. Umiwas siya ng tingin at kinuyom ang kamao.

"Are you two living together?" Windelle asked. Fucking insensitive.

"It's not a bad idea. Pwede ba ako sa place mo?" Karl asked.

Mas lalong nandilim ang mukha niya sa narinig.

Ayze nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and answered, "Sure. Basta ba ipagluto mo ako."

Zayndrei wanted to burst out. Hell, he could take care of her better than anyone else! Gusto niya 'yon sabihin sa dalaga, na siya na lang ulit. One word from Ayze, he was more than ready to crawl back to her. Damn Windelle and his pride. Ayze comes first!

"YAH! Did you see his face?" Karl asked her.

Tinalikuran niya kaagad ang mga ito pagkatapos niyang sagutin ang tanong ni Karl. She's not fond of talking to someone and say some shits about her behind. And that's Windelle.

For an enemy, she asked too much. At feeling close rin.

"Goodness, he's still the same. Nakakatakot pa rin. Especially, when it comes to you. Mas protective pa siya sayo kaysa sa kapatid mo." Karl blabbered.

Protective, huh? Zayndrei chose to stick close to her to made sure na hindi siya gagawa ng kabalbalan noon. Protective wasn't the right term.

"Natatakot ka na nyan?" She side eyed Karl.

Naiiling ito na tumawa. He even playfully shivered, itinaas rin ang manggas hanggang sa siko nito saka ipinakita ang nagtataasan na balahibo nito. Ayze playfully yanked his hand.

"Hindi 'yan. Malay ko ba kung natatae ka lang?" natatawa na sabi niya kay Karl.

"Wow, you're now comfortable with me. But anyway, as I was saying, grabe 'yan makabakod sayo noon. It took me some time to confess to you." Tumawa ito at parang inaalala pa ang araw na 'yon. "Lagi mo kasing kasama. I even asked him if kayo ba or kaibigan lang ang role niya."

Pilit itong ngumiti sa lalaki. After his graduation, napalitan ang role nito sa buhay niya. Hindi na lang basta kababata si Zayndrei sa kanya. She was his partner in bed. They warm their cold nights using each other's body.

There's no romantic feelings involved. Well, she's at a disadvantage for taking their relationship seriously. She doesn't know how to express her love, she's wicked, all she knows was to lashed out.

She only know how to received it, hindi niya alam kung paano 'yon ibabalik.

So Ayze settled with their situation. A situationship wherein they fucked, and cuddle after.

"What happened? Bakit hindi sayo nakadikit ngayon 'yon?" Karl asked. Salubong ang mga kilay nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. The look on his face, he was demanding for an answer.

"Tsismoso ka rin, 'no?" dinuro niya ang noo ng lalaki.

Karl nonchalantly shrugged. "Tagal natin hindi nagkita e, balitaan mo naman ako!"

"Don't mind him, okay? We're just not good today...?" hindi sigurado na sagot niya.

"Ah, in bad terms kayo? Bakit?" tanong ulit nito. Hindi natatapos ang mga tanong nito.

Inis niyang hinarap ang lalaki at tinaasan ng isang kilay. 'Yung sa sobrang taas ay mahihiya na ulit ito na magtanong sa kanya. She's actually on the verge of choking this guy, kung hindi lang malaki ang naitulong nito ngayon sa kanya!

"Tang ina, tigilan mo ako sa mga tanong mo." Iritado na sabi ni Ayze.

Karl laughed. Itinaas nito ang mga kamay sa ere.

"I am just surprised, okay? I mean, he's with another woman yet he still acts the same."

Bahagya siyang tumango. Agreeing to Karl's concern. They're not literally talking to each other now, nagkikita lang kapag hindi inaasahan at kung gagawa lang ng katarantaduhan ang alaga nito ngayon. Kage behaved much better than his new pet.

Hindi niya gaanong pinagtuunan ng pansin kanina ang lalaki. She might throw insults rather than taking him back.

She paid everything they bought. 'Yung mga furnitures na hindi naman nila kayang dalhin, si Karl ang umasikaso at pina-deliver na lang sa unit niya. Ayze also informed the receptionist about her deliveries, para kaagad na matanggap ang mga ito sa loob ng building.

"So, you're really going to stay in my place?" tanong niya sa lalaki.

Karl was inside her car, sa driver seat. Nangingiti pa ito dahil hindi raw siya sanay na simple lang ang sasakyan na dala niya. Well, sawa na siya na laging laman ng mga magazines and fashion news. If she's going to drive the new car her mom bought for her, baka pagkaguluhan na naman siya.

"Can I? Medyo nabuburyo na kasi ako sa hotel. Magastos din. Kulang na ang budget ko, alam mo na, may mga anak pa ako na sinusustentuhan." Ma-drama na sabi nito sa kanya.

"Hmm, sure. I-kumusta mo na lang ako sa mga anak mo na lumilipad?" she joked.

Karl laughed at her. "Oh, they actually need a new home. Tumatanggap po ako ng donation, yung bahay sana nila gawa sa ginto?"

"Demanding." Ayze rolled her eyes. "Gaano ka katagal mag-stay sa unit ko?"

"One week, Ayze. Babalik din naman ako sa Berlin. In exchange, tutulungan kita maglipat at ayusin ang bahay mo." Karl said while driving smoothly. "Grabe, Clemente! Mas mahal pa ang bayad sa pagtira sayo kaysa sa hotel room!"

"Edi mag hotel ka, tanga." Kaagad na sagot niya sa lalaki.

Karl mimicked her and laughed. Pasimple siyang umiling, he changed for good. She can still remember how his hands trembled while confessing to her. Nauutal pa nga ito noon, takot siguro na mahampas sa hawak niyang gitara.

Karl was like that too when he saw Zayndrei waiting for them to finish.

Hindi niya tuloy napigilan ang magtanong, "Takot ka sa kanya?"

Sandali lang ito na tumingin sa kanya bago ibalik ang tingin sa harapan.

"Kay Zayndrei ba?" ngumisi ito saka sumagot, "Honestly? Yes, yes I am. Mas nakakatakot siya sayo. Bagay talaga kayo."

It feels weird, and good at the same time to heard that someone shipped them. Never narinig ni Ayze ang salitang 'bagay kayo' kapag nakadikit sa kanya si Zayndrei. They always say, 'sayang' and 'masyadong mabait si Zayndrei para kay Ayze'.

"I thought you like me?" nang-aasar na tanong niya kay Karl.

Umismid ito sa kanya at sumagot, "That was before."

She curled the end of her hair using her finger before saying, "Should I color my hair blonde? Para magustuhan mo ulit ako?"

"Ayze, please, don't tease me." Suko kaagad ni Karl.

Nang makauwi sila ni Karl sa unit niya. Karl immediately asked for extra futon mattress, he's gonna sleep on the floor, sa kwarto niya dahil wala pang air-conditioning sa labas.

Her phone beeped, disturbing her conversation with Karl.

From: Zayndrei

What's that? Are you two dating?

Hindi niya 'yon pinansin at pinatay lang ang cellphone niya. Nagpaalam din sandali si Karl sa kanya na mag che-check out muna ito sa hotel, saka babalik. Hiniram din nito ang sasakyan niya.

From: Zayndrei

Well, are you? Is he living with you? Isn't it too early?

What's the fuss? She slept in his unit, too. It seems like they're living together na rin. Pati ang Papa mismo nito ay nag assume na may something sa kanila kung hindi lang talaga kaagad nito itinanggi!

From: Zayndrei

Ze, please... Tell me, hm? What's the real score between you and that guy?

Zayndrei kept on texting her and she only left them on read. Wala siyang balak sagutin ang mga tanong nito. Hindi siya mag re-reply.

He's with Windelle now. Ayze won't entertain him not unless magkusa na itong lumapit sa kanya at ikanta ang totoong plano nito.

Arki was updating her from time to time. It was too easy for her to bug his unit, she did that before leaving. Even his gadgets were bugged.

Madali para sa kanya na umandar ang utak niya sa ganitong bagay but Zayndrei was really confusing her. Maski ang magkapatid na Ramirez ay gulong-gulo na sa lalaki.

Arki actually wanted to blow up his dang laptop!

They found out recently that Zayndrei was not really helping the Marquez's, all he did was suggesting them to borrow money to fixed all the mess she create, kasama na doon ang gawa mismo ng anak nito. He was also promising them that they'll gain the money back after a month or so, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin nangyayari.

Ayze doesn't know if Zayndrei intentionally made their company suffer to match Marquez's company.

"Huy! Ilang araw ka nang wala sa sarili ah?" Karl nudged her.

He was busy helping her to moved in. Pati na rin ang pag-ayos sa unit niya. Hindi na siya gumastos para sa interior designer. He's also teaching her to cook in between.

"Lakas ng loob magsarili!" Tudyo nito sa kanya. "Paano ka mabubuhay?"

Ayze's eyes turned round. "Edi magpapa-deliver ako kay Tito Yves!"

"Ayan! Ayan tayo, e, deliver!" Sermon nito. Dinaig pa ang mommy niya. "Halika dito! Panoorin mo ako, para naman hindi ka sa deliver umaasa!"

Before leaving her alone, he thought her how to fried, he also thought her a simple dish, kung paano magsaing, at kung ano-ano pa para lang daw mabuhay siya na wala ito.

Karl staying in her unit for one week was actually good for Ayze. Marami siyang natutunan sa lalaki, even on how to clean her room and suchs.

Nasanay na siya sa ingay nito kapag umuwi siya, kaya nanibago si Ayze na tahimik sa unit niya. She was actually thinking of adopting a cute cat and buy some cute things when Kolthon appeared in front of her unit door. Bitbit ang pusa ni Zayndrei.

"Ma'am, please take care of this cat for the meantime. Ang sabi ni sir, it is part of your responsibility because you're this cat mom."

 ☕