GUMALA ANG MGA mata niya sa unit ni Zayndrei. Ayze just found herself going home with Zayndrei together with her shopping bags. The unit was simple, malawak itong tingnan dahil konti lang naman ang mga gamit. The sala only has a set of sofa and a coffee table in the middle, there's a TV — na siguradong hindi naman nito nagagamit.

The kitchen has a counter that separates it from the sala. Makapal ang mga kurtina nito which blocks the sunlight.

"You want to shower?" Zayndrei asked her.

Her attention was now on her phone but still nodded at him. Ayze asked Amari to go back to her office so she could send the files she had to finish and papers that she needed to review. Not to mention that she's formulating new strategies to stay on top or at least, just below her father's company.

Ayze can feel his gaze at her. Umangat ang tingin niya kay Zayndrei at nakita nga ito na mariin ang tingin sa kanya. She raised her brow and he sighed.

"Let me borrow your shirt and boxer shorts," aniya at binalik ang tingin sa cellphone niya. She bought underwear but forgot to buy her sleepwear.

She's a grown up woman, pero kailangan pa rin niya na magpaalam sa mga magulang niya. And of course, to her brother, Vane. That guy will lose his shit kapag hindi siya nakita sa loob ng bahay nila.

Umupo muna siya sa sofa habang hinihintay ang hiniram na shirt at boxer shorts. Ayze massaged her nape and closed her eyes for a moment. Her mind was recalling everything that was written on her paper.

"Zehra?"

She slowly opened her eyes when she felt him tugging her chin, his thumb caressing her bottom lip. Her heart quickened, para siyang kinapos ng hininga nang magtama ang mga mata nila.

The man in front of her... He looks fucking good.

Ayze yanked his hand and stood up. Kinuha niya sa kamay nito ang shirt at boxer shorts na hinihiram niya at nagmamadali na pumasok sa banyo. Her lips thinned as she locked the bathroom's door and came face to face with the mirror.

Her face was flushed. His lips rose up and laughed mockingly at herself.

Sinigurado niya muna na hindi basa ang sink bago ilapag doon ang damit na susuotin niya. She smiled inwardly when she saw some products she was using. Pati na rin ang shampoo, conditioner, body scrub and wash, and even her feminine wash!

Ayze took a quick shower and did her skincare routine real quick, too. Nang matapos siya, nakita niya na naghihintay si Zayndrei sa kanya. Prente itong nakaupo sa sofa, basa ang buhok at may nakasabit na maliit na towel sa leeg nito.

His long legs were spread apart as he eyed her from head to toe. Her eyes settled in between his thighs and chuckled dryly as she noticed his bulging manhood. Ayze could easily tell that he badly wanted to do it.

Sapat na ebidensya ang mabilis na pagligo rin nito at paghihintay sa kanya na matapos.

"We can't do it, though..." She teasingly smiled at him.

Zayndrei groaned. "You neglected your job earlier to shop."

Lumabi si Ayze. Her gaze went to her phone, naka lapag 'yon sa coffee table. Sa harap mismo ni Zayndrei. Mukhang nakita na nito ang mga trabaho na balak niyang tapusin ngayon. Well, she was planning to pull an all nighter again.

"I am now repenting. Do your work, I'll do mine." Aniya at tamad na pinunasan ang buhok niya.

Tumawa si Ayze nang makita ang pusa nito na pumwesto sa pagitan ng mga hita ni Zayndrei. He was expecting her to crawl and settled in that place, but his kitten took the chance to replace her.

Wala itong nagawa kung hindi ang tumayo at dalhin ang pusa nito. He likes kitten ever since, hindi lang ito makapag-alaga dahil allergic ang bunsong kapatid nito sa balahibo ng pusa.

That was one of his reasons why he moved out.

Nilihis ni Ayze ang kurtina at inilipat ang coffee table malapit sa sliding door, where she could see the city lights. She didn't bring her laptop and iPad but as long as she has her phone, kaya niyang tapusin ang natambak niyang trabaho.

"I have a spare laptop and here," nilapag nito ang dalawang can ng beer sa coffee table at pulutan. He made her nachos. "So you can do your work."

Kumunot ang noo niya nang umalis ulit ito sa harap niya at ilang segundo lang na bumalik, dala na ang spare laptop na sinasabi nito. He didn't say anything and sat beside her.

She couldn't help but smile softly. Ayze started drinking beer to keep her focus when she's in her 4th year in college. Hindi na niya ito kasama, but she finds it cute that he never missed a single information about her.

Her heart feels light. Ayze was drinking her beer while working. It works like magic. Bumibilis siyang magtrabaho kapag nakainom siya.

Zayndrei was petting his kitten beside her. Nakalahati pa lang niya ang pangalawang can ng beer niya, patapos na siya sa mga natambak niyang trabaho. Her head feels light all of a sudden.

"Are you done?" tanong ni Zayndrei.

Bahagya niya itong nilingon. Her hand moved and patted the sleeping kitten on his lap. She's fluffy.

"Almost."

"Oras na. Let's sleep." Tumayo ito at nilapag ang alaga nitong pusa sa kama nito.

Napatanga siya nang mapansin 'yon. It was a princess curtain bed. Pabilog 'yon at may isang maliit at hugis puso na unan. The size was about 60 cm. The color matched his kitten fur, Gray.

"Mamaya na. Tatapusin ko na 'to."

Hindi ito sumagot sa kanya. Her focus was fixated on the laptop screen that she didn't notice him approaching her. Nagulat na lang siya nang buhatin siya nito na parang bagong kasal.

"Hey!" singhal niya sa lalaki pero parang wala lang itong narinig.

Zayndrei forced her to lay down on his bed. Kinumutan muna siya nito bago pinatay ang ilaw sa kwarto.

"Ang mga gamit—"

"Don't worry. Hindi 'yon gagalawin ni Kage." Malamig na sabi nito. Or maybe, he's just sleepy that's why he's voice change.

Sinarado nito ang pinto. Darkness swallowed the whole room and so, Ayze squeezed her eyes shut. Hindi siya takot sa dilim, hindi lang talaga siya sanay na patay ang ilaw kapag natutulog siya.

She felt the space beside her sink. Tanda na tumabi si Zayndrei sa kanya. His body didn't touch hers but she suddenly felt calm and eventually fell asleep. Probably because the pillows, the comforter, his bed smells just like Zayndrei.

SAKTO LANG ang tulog niya at maayos naman ang gising niya. Zayndrei cooked her a delicious breakfast. But when Ayze reached her company building, and saw someone causing a ruckus outside, nag-iba ang timpla niya.

Amari sighed beside her and groaned. "I've already informed them to handle that man."

"Is that the head of finance in Zayndrei's company?" tanong niya at bahagya na umarko ang kilay niya.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Hm, why is he here?" Ayze tilted her head a little. Watching him pushing her guards aside just so he can get inside the building. "Check them up later, Amari," utos niya at tinuro ang mga guards na pumipigil sa lalaki.

"Already notify our company nurse, ma'am. Naka standby na."

"That's good..."

Taas noo siyang naglakad palapit sa lalaki. He was cursing his guards as if he bought them, as if ito ang nagpapakain. Ayze was aware of her evilness, but at least, she never cursed someone without a proper reason.

"Let him go this instant," bahagya na tumaas ang boses niya.

"Pero ma'am..."

She smiled at them. Assuring her guards that she'll be fine.

"What's up?" Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib niya. "Why are you here? Do you want to rot in jail?" Ayze mocked.

"You... How dare you! Ikaw ang dahilan bakit ako nawalan ng trabaho! Ikaw ang dahilan bakit nasira ang pamilya ko! It's all your fault, woman! Ano ba ang karapatan mo, ha!?" galit na sigaw nito sa kanya. He even pointed his finger on her, na never ginawa sa kanya ng mga magulang niya.

Ayze calmly smiled at him pero mukhang hindi 'yon nagustuhan ng lalaki. Lalo na at mas tumalim ang tingin nito sa kanya. If she's not in the mood, wala na ang lalaki sa harapan niya.

"My fault? Okay fine, ako ang may gawa bakit ka jobless ngayon. But... watch your words, mister. It wasn't my fault that you are unfaithful, and it wasn't my fault that your wife chose to divorce you. Anyway, you deserve it."

Her guards immediately held him when he tried to close their gap.

"You trying hard bitch! You're not even good at handling the business! You're a woman no matter what! You dressing up like how men dressed won't make you instantly good! Women are weak!" He spat.

Hindi siya makapaniwala na natawa sa narinig niya. Pati ang pananamit niya ay nadamay sa usapan nila. She likes wearing long sleeve shirt and trouser because it's comfortable rather than wearing dress all day. What's wrong with that?

"If so, then I admire your ex-wife for divorcing a guy like you." Ayze proudly said. Then, she added, "News flash, this woman can snap your head in one second. Now, be good and get the fuck out of my sight. You won't fucking like me when I'm mad."

NAGMAMADALING UMALIS si Zayndrei sa meeting niya nang ipakita sa kanya ang picture ni Ayze sa tapat mismo ng building and her guards were literally holding the man's arms just so he won't get close to Ayze.

"Sir, please don't go inside. She's in a sour mood." Amari warned her.

Hindi niya ito pinansin. Zayndrei forced himself in. He placed his tongue inside his cheek when he saw her office state. Basag ang mga vase na naka display sa opisina nito, bali ang isang paa ng upuan, nakakalat sa sahig ang mga papel, even her table was a mess. This shows how mad she was.

"I clearly told her not to let someone in." Matigas na sabi nito. Her eyes were sharp and held no emotions. They were lifeless. "What the fuck are you doing here, huh? Do you badly want to get killed by me?!"

Her footsteps were heavy. Zayndrei remained standing and waited for her to lash out more. He understands her. She couldn't do anything because people were watching and the news leaked out in just a blink of an eye.

He let her slapped him before grabbing her waist and kissed her lips as harsh as he could. Ang isang kamay niya ay mahigpit na nakayakap sa katawan niya, habang ang isa naman ay hawak ang batok nito, hindi hinayaan na makawala si Ayze.

Zayndrei accidentally bit her lower lip and taste blood. Pinadaan niya doon ang dila bago 'yon marahan na sipsipin.

"Kalmado ka na?" marahan na tanong niya.

Ayze scoffed. She brushed her lips using his thumb and pushed him. "You don't have to bite me, asshole!"

"I'm sorry. Your lips are tasty, Ayze. Did you drink?" tanong niya.

Marahan siyang tinulak ni Ayze sa balikat nang bumukas ang pinto. Lumingon si Zayndrei at nakita ang Daddy nito.

"Sir..." Zayndrei bowed his head a little.

Marahas siyang napalunok nang lumapit iti kay Ayze at nakita na titig na titig ito sa labi ng anak. Zehra's father lift his hand and traced his daughter's bottom lip. Maski siya ay napatingin sa mga labi nito. Her lips were still wet and a bit red.

If only her father didn't show up, they're probably still making out.

Zayndrei cleared his throat when her father glanced at him. His eyes were lifeless as he looked at him, just like Zehra's.

His lips thinned for a second. He coldly smirked at him and said, "Be thankful, I promised my wife not to touch— not even a single hair strand of Zayvin's precious son." 

☕