AYZE LET Amari— her secretary, to take care of her baby in order to have lunch with Karl. She already insisted on eating takeout pero hindi pumayag si Karl. If only Karl hasn't a big help to her, naumpog na niya ang ulo nito sa lamesa nila ngayon.

The restaurant he chose does not allow pets. She misses her baby. Hindi na rin siya sanay na wala ito sa tabi niya. Ever since dinala-dala na niya ito, ang mga ka-meeting na niya ang nag a-adjust.

Either they'll have a meeting at her office or choose a restaurant that welcomes her baby, Kage.

"I missed my cat," aniya at masamang tiningnan si Karl.

Karl raised his hand, ready to order their meal. He has a smirk plastered on his lips, ang sarap burahin.

"Ang pusa o yung mismong tatay ng pusa?" pang-aasar nito sa kanya.

Ayze rolled her eyes. Hindi nabura ang nakakaasar na ngiti sa mga labi ni Karl, it's like he won in the lottery, or may interesado itong balita na nabalitaan. A life of a tsismoso.

"Ang tatay nung pusa, 'no?" Karl asked again. "Someone saw him coming out of your unit's building."

"Malay mo ba na may ibang pinupuntahan 'yon?" defensive na sagot niya.

Of course, people would know if Zayndrei was visiting someone there aside from her. And that someone might probably be on her deathbed because of her jealousy.

Karl suspiciously throw a glance at her. By the way he looks at her, alam na ni Ayze na iisa lang ang iniisip nila.

She tapped her fingers against the table. Now, she's wondering why did she rejected this man before? Okaya naman ay kinaibigan man lang? Other than the people in their village, Zayndrei, and Amari... wala na siyang maituturing na kaibigan. Kolthon was different.

"Kailan ang alis mo?" pag-iiba niya sa usapan.

May feeling si Ayze na kapag pinagpatuloy pa nila ang usapan about kay Zayndrei, mapupunta sila sa aminan. And she won't admit to someone like Karl that he likes Zayndrei. Madaldal ang isang 'to.

Karl cited their order first. Tahimik lang na nanonood si Ayze habang tinuturo rin ang mga pagkain na gusto niya.

"The day after tomorrow, siguro? May mga kailangan pa akong ayusin dito, after that I'll book a flight immediately. Susunod ka ba sa akin?" biro nito sa kanya.

Bigla niyang naalala si Zayndrei.

"If he's here, patay ka na." Ayze blurted out.

Karl laughed at her. "Damn, woman! You've tried so hard to change our topic and now you're bringing him back?"

"It's true, though..." Ngumuso siya sa lalaki.

"I guess you two were finally good now? Hindi ka na badtrip kapag nababanggit ang pangalan niya." Napansin 'yon ni Karl.

When he's staying in her unit, lagi itong nagtatanong about kay Zayndrei pero lagi rin niya 'yon na iniiwasan and sometimes she's answering him na nakabusangot.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Karl asked.

Ayze's lips thinned and answered him confidently, "No, he's not. Although, I'm sure he's my man."

Walang bakas ng pag-aalinlangan sa boses niya.

"You're that confident even though we saw him with another girl clinging to him?" Nanlalaki ang mga mata na tanong sa kanya ni Karl.

Mayabang siyang ngumisi kay Karl. "Napipikon ako sa tuwing naaalala ko 'yon. But to answer your question, yes. Yes, I am still confident. I am confident na sa akin pa rin siya uuwi."

Throughout the years na magkasama sila. Years of being friends with benefits, ni minsan ay hindi nagpakita si Zayndrei ng ikakatakot niya. He never give her a signal that he's gonna look for someone. Because she's just right beside him. Sa kanya at sa kanya pa rin ito tumatakbo pabalik.

Karl's lips parted in awe and chuckled afterwards. "Woah, it must be nice to have that kind of assurance."

She shrugged her shoulders. Nagyayabang.

They were talking randomly, and ate in silence when their order arrived. This was his way of thanking her for letting him stay with her for a week, treating her to a fine restaurant before he went back abroad for his work.

"Ayze!"

She looked up upon hearing someone calling her name. Ayze gracefully wiped the side of her lips and looked at the man, confused on why the hell he's calling her. Saka lang nag sink in sa kanya na ang lalaki pala ay ang huli rin na lalaking naka 'date' niya to digged for some information. Lim's heir. Nakalimutan na nga niya ang pangalan nito.

Ah, wrong. Hindi niya talaga alam ang pangalan nito.

He looks much worse than the last time she saw him.

"It's nice to see you again but... who's this man? Why did you ghost me? I thought we're doing good..." The guy blabbered.

Tumingin siya kay Karl na ngayon ay naguguluhan sa nangyayari. Bahagya siyang umiling, it was her own way to tell him that he's not that important. Thankfully, nakuha 'yon ni Karl.

"Did you only date me to get some information? Just like what my father told me? Please, say something. I'm thinking that it was true. After that day, our company started to fall. And now, someone owns it. Tell me, is that you? Gawa mo ba 'yon? What are you, really? A whore?—"

Ayze slammed her palm against the table. Causing them to catch the attention of the other customers, silence enveloped the whole restaurant. They're only looking at them. Karl was just looking at him, his eyes were asking her what she'll do next, he even shook his head. Hindi niya ito pinansin.

When they say that she surpassed her father's craziness, this was what they mean.

"It wasn't a date. It was a business meeting and you just sit there, blabbing about your hobbies and whatsoever! Ni hindi nga ako interesado. Just imagine the patience I had for you that time." Mahinahon na sagot niya sa lalaki.

She stood up and faced him. Her facial expressions change, from annoyed to a face that would catch the sympathy of other people. Ayze made sure na mas nakakaawa siyang tingnan kaysa sa lalaki.

"I already have a man and he's just right here. I am not a whore, and I don't even know what your father's talking about. Me? Digging some information? Why would I? It's true that I am interested in your business but not anymore since I have more important things to do!"

Part of it were all lies and some were not. Nakita niya na nagbubulungan na ang mga ibang tao sa paligid.

"I don't even want to involve myself with someone like you." Ayze spat.

What was her brother thinking to let this guy loiter around? The evidence they have was enough to put him behind the bars.

Ayze knew that once Zayndrei found out about this, mag-aaway sila. Even Karl who's sitting and watching her, was silent. Halata sa mukha nito na ayaw rin nito sa ginagawa niya. She'll say sorry to him after this, aalis na rin naman ito ng bansa kaya wala dapat itong ikatakot.

"Ah!" Nagulat si Ayze nang bigla na lang siya nitong hatakin.

The guy gripped her wrist, that was the last straw of her patience. She snapped and lost her cool. Using her one free hand, Ayze held his wrist and twisted his arm. The guy screamed and she took that as an opportunity to push him on his chest, causing him to stumble.

Tumama ang likuran nito sa katabing lamesa, natumba 'yon at kumalat ang mga pagkain at bubog sa sahig.

"It wasn't what you thought it was. As I've said, I don't want to involve myself with you. You're a scum." Ayze calmly said.

"Ha, ako pa? Hindi ba ikaw 'yon? I should've listened to my father when he warned me that you're a freak! A worthless woman who dated guys to get what you want!" He stood up. Nanlilisik ang mga mata nito na tumingin sa kanya. "You're the reason why we lost our company!"

"Don't blame me. Nawala 'yon sa inyo because you're not competent. And I am too busy to do that."

Alam 'yon lahat ng tao. Especially, that they have a newly open business.

Hindi pa rin ito tumigil sa paninisi sa kanya. It was true, but without evidences, she'll remain innocent. She'll remain as one. That's how her money works.

"Man, you're causing too much trouble for us. Babae ang kausap mo, have some decency." Karl stood up and tried to stop him.

He was about to throw his fist to Karl but she's fast enough to hold his wrist and slammed his hand against the table. Mabilis niyang dinampot ang fish knife at tinusok 'yon malapit sa kamay nito.

"Do not cause any trouble, Lim. I am trying to be nice here. I can kill you in front of these people."

Nanghahamon na sumulyap ang lalaki sa kanya.

"Do it," he said.

"Okay!" Madali lang naman siyang kausap.

Before she could plunge the fish knife on his hand, marahan 'yon kinuha ni Karl sa kanya at itinabi sa lamesa. Hinila niya ito sa tabi at mahigpit siyang niyakap.

Karl brushed her hair gently and whispered, "I know he'll do the same thing if he was here. Alam kong hindi mawawala ang galit sa sistema mo kasi hindi ako siya. Please, bear with me. Don't do anything stupid just because he provoked you."

"Higpitan mo pa ang hawak mo sa akin, Karl," aniya.

Binaon nito ang ulo niya sa dibdib nito. The next thing she knew, palabas na silang dalawa ni Karl sa restaurant. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya nang may makitang may takeout itong dala.

Hinatid lang siya nito sa mismong building ng unit niya at binigay ang isang supot sa kanya. He told him to rest and that he'll just call her kung nasa bansa na ulit ito, he even joke that they should have a proper lunch by then.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagpadala ng mensahe sa magkapatid, Arki and Kia.

Ayrelle Zehra: Leaked every crime that guy had. You know who. I don't want him loitering around and causing me trouble.

Kia: On it, ma'am! Any scratches?

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay niya. There's a bruise.

Ayrelle Zehra: Bruise.

Kia: Uncle Jv is mad, btw.

Kia: Ate, picture nga ng pasa mo 😘

Napailing na lang siya. Ayze was sure that her father was asking for it, kinuhanan na lang niya at sinend 'yon kay Kia. To be honest, wala siyang pakialam kung may gawin man ang Daddy niya sa lalaki.

Pagdating niya sa unit niya, naka abang na si Zayndrei sa kanya. Salubong ang mga kilay nito at kahit na magaling na pintor ay hindi kayang ipinta ang mukha nito ngayon.

He stood up. Handang-handa nang makipag-away sa kanya.

"Why'd you have to go on a date with that guy?" tanong agad nito. Iritado. He scratched his temple and placed his hands on the both sides of his waist after.

Ayze sighed. "It wasn't a date. He's just treating me to lunch."

"Ayze, you can afford to buy lunch! Heck, sana sinabihan mo ako. Ginawan pa kita!" He annoyingly answered. "And what was that? Why did he hug you? Lunch pero may libreng yakap?"

Gusto niya na nakikita si Zayndrei na ganito. It takes time to see him blabbering like this, most of the time sa kama ang bagsak nila kapag nagseselos ito sa mga lalaki na nakakasama niya. May it be intentionally or just purely business.

But this time, lalo na at pagod siya. Medyo naiirita si Ayze.

"He's calming me," sagot niya.

"His hug works?" naguguluhan na tanong nito sa kanya.

Ayze honestly answered, "A little. I still need someone's hug to calm my senses."

"It really works, huh?" ulit nito.

"You're acting like a jealous man."

Zayndrei scoffed. "Fuck, so what?"

Napahilamos ito sa sarili nitong mukha. He was whispering to himself and she didn't understand him. He's walking back and forth in front of her.

"Pwede naman na huwag na yumakap!" He hissed.

"You can't control me, Zayndrei," Ayze said.

Tumigil ito at natameme sa sinabi niya. Then, he smiled bitterly at her.

"I know, but you can do it to me. How I wish I could do the same thing to you." Zayndrei was having a hard time expressing himself.

He sighed softly when he finally saw the bruise on her wrist. Pumasok ito sa kwarto niya at pagbalik may dala na itong ointment para sa pasa.

Umupo ito sa tabi niya at inilagay sa hita nito ang kamay niya.

She sighed. "I don't like it."

"Hm, kaya nga hindi ko na ginawa." Zayndrei answered. Itinaas nito ang kamay niya, before he gently pressed his lips against her bruise.

☕