THEY WENT HOME immediately the next day. Of course, the man didn't literally bring her home— sa mismong bahay nila. Sinama pa siya nito sa unit niya at tahimik lang siya na sumama.

Going in and out his unit was not new to Ayze. His place was their hidden paradise when they're doing something dirty behind their parents back. Her father might have an idea, though.

He almost caught them eating each other's faces. He saw her small cut on her lips.

Wala lang naman 'yon sa kanya. Makapal ang mukha ni Ayze pagdating sa Daddy niya. Although, she promised not to do it again when he's around. Her father might forget his promise and kill Zayndrei. He's a bit possessive to her. She's his princess after all.

"You should bring extra clothes and leave it here." Zayndrei suggested.

He let her wear his clothes and nagged after. Gusto rin naman nitong nakikita na suot-suot niya ang mga damit nito.

It wasn't a bad idea. So, she agreed. "Yeah, sure. I'll bring some."

Ayze was comfortable living with her parents but sometimes it's good to stay in another place. Especially in Zayndrei's place. Kinabukasan nagpaalam siya sa Mommy at Daddy niya.

Her mother was cool with it but her father wasn't.

"Ibabahay ka na ba, Ayze?" sarkastiko na tanong nito sa kanya. "Is he your boyfriend or something?"

Ngumuso siya at umupo sa swivel chair nito sa loob ng kwarto ng mga ito. Her mother was busy running some errands for their café, kaya wala ito ngayon sa bahay. Anyway, she gave her blessings. That's all she needs.

"Something, Dad." Ayze sternly answered.

Tumaas ang kilay nito sa kanya. He scrunched his nose and pulled out the cabinet, kinuha doon ang nakatago nitong baril.

"Fuck that promise. I'm going to kill him."

"Oh, please! You and mom started as fuck buddies too, right?"

"I liked your mom back then!"

"I liked your mom back then!" Ayze mocked her father. "Stop, okay? I can handle myself. I promise, hindi naman kita bibigyan agad ng apo. Calm your horses, Dad!"

He sighed heavily. "God! Did I just hear my daughter confirming that she's... doing the deed. I'm losing my shit, Ayze."

"You're overreacting, Dad!" She rolled her eyes and stood up to leave.

Naayos naman na niya ang mga gamit na dadalhin niya. She brought a small amount of clothes for everyday use, and work clothes.

"You're leaving?" Vane asked when he saw her carrying her luggage. "Saan?"

"Zayndrei's place," mahina na sagot niya.

Her brother scoffed. His facial expression turned blank and stood up, carrying his food to his room. Napailing na lang siya sa inasta ng kapatid niya. Kahit noong bata pa sila, lagi itong nagseselos kay Zayndrei. Maybe, Vane felt like she's being taken away.

Hinayaan niya muna ito. Zayndrei was waiting for him outside the village, ayaw nitong pumasok dahil kukuyugin ito ng mga Tito niya. As if! E, may bagong kinukuyog ang mga ito, nakikisama pa ang Daddy niya.

They're bunch of tsismoso's.

"Mom wants to see you. Is it okay?" tanong ni Zayndrei sa kanya nang makasakay siya sa kotse nito.

Zayndrei's mom likes her for some reason. Balewala rito ang records niya noong college, at hanggang ngayon na siya na ang may hawak sa buong business ng mommy niya. Well, she was supposed to handle her father's company pero umaapaw na sila doon. Her cousin from her father side were all helping.

"Sure! I missed her already."

She heard him click his tongue and proudly drove his car. Funny how they had time to rest when they had a lot of things to do.

"I'll contact her immediately. Do you think she'll like the latest bag of—" he cut her off. Zayndrei's forefinger was on her lips.

"No expensive gifts. You know her, Ayze, my mom doesn't like expensive things." Kaagad na sabi nito.

Tinabig niya ang kamay nito at maarte na umirap sa lalaki. "Chocolates? No, I think nagsawa na si Tita sa chocolates. Ano sa tingin mo ang dadalhin ko?"

"Sarili mo. Dalhin mo ang sarili mo, Ayze." Seryoso na sagot nito sa kanya.

"Ang ayos mo kausap, Zayndrei."

"I'm serious. Your presence is enough."

Umiwas siya ng tingin sa lalaki. Pinanatili niya na kalmado ang ekspresyon niya. Malaki ang impact ng mga salita nito sa kanya. Nanatili siyang tahimik hanggang sa makauwi sila sa unit nito.

Sa kwarto ni Zayndrei siya dumeretso at binuksan ang closet nito. Ayze couldn't help but to laughed— mockingly, when she saw half of his closet us woman clothes. With her size.

Nilingon niya ang lalaki na nakasandal sa hamba ng pintuan. Nakakrus ang mga braso nito at titig na titig sa kanya. Tila naninigurado na ilalagay nga niya lahat ng mga damit na dala niya sa closet nito.

"The fuck?" she exclaimed. "Do you want us to live together?" tanong niya.

His poker face was getting into her nerves. Tumayo ito at ibinulsa ang mga kamay bago siya sinagot, "In case of emergency."

"In case of emergency? Lame." Bulong niya sa sarili.

It was really a lame excused but Ayze let it slide. Tahimik niyang inayos ang mga gamit niya at nilagay sa closet ni Zayndrei. His things were perfectly arrange, mula sa kulay ng mga damit, sizes, and styles.

Zayndrei only used one perfume. Nang makita niya 'yon, she tried to sprayed it on her wrist and neck. Umalingasaw ang amoy ng pabango sa buong kwarto ni Zayndrei. Though, his room smells like him, mas lalo lang na bumagsik ang amoy dahil nag spray siya.

"You like it?" Zayndrei asked. Wala na itong suot na pang-itaas at may nakasabit na towel sa balikat nito.

"Bakit iba ang amoy pagdating sayo?" reklamo niya. Ayze continually sniffed her wrist, sa una magka-amoy talaga pero habang tumatagal nag-iiba.

Tamad itong umupo sa kama at itinukod ang kanang kamay nito para suportahan ang bigat ng katawan niya. Ayze froze when he leaned in, tilted his head, and sniffed her neck.

Kahit pwede naman nitong kunin ang kamay niya at amuyin ang pala pulsuhan niya.

"Damn, you smell just like me..." bulong nito.

His other hand snaked around her stomach. Inalalayan siya nito na mahiga sa kama. Hawak pa rin niya ang pabango ni Zayndrei, habang ang lalaki naman ay nakayakap sa kanya at nakabaon ang ulo nito sa leeg niya.

"What are you doing?" namamaos na tanong niya.

"Cuddle, Ayze," parang bata na ungot nito sa kanya.

"Cuddle? What are you? A kid?" hirit niya.

Mas lalo lang nitong siniksik ang katawan nito sa kanya. She sighed when she felt his manhood on her thigh.

"Cuddle, huh?" sarkastiko na tanong niya.

Humigpit ang yakap nito sa kanya. Ayze can feel his unstable breathing on her neck. Pasimple niyang inilayo ng kaunti ang ulo para makahinga ito ng maayos, but the damn brute held his head in place and buried his face again.

"You're hard."

"Please, don't mind my dick. I'm enjoying my cuddling time."

"Damn, you're weird!"

"Just hug me back, will you?" malambing na sabi nito.

Ayze sighed. Itinabi niya ang hawak na pabango at niyakap ito pabalik. Kung may namana man siya sa mommy niya, bukod sa maganda nitong mukha, nakuha rin niya ang pagiging mixed signals enjoyer nito.

She likes hanging out with Zayndrei. His face fascinates her. Ayze found herself stroking his hair, naramdaman niya rin na unti-unting nagiging pantay ang paghinga nito.

If someone would ask her if she likes Zayndrei— Ayze will deny it without thinking twice.

She promised to herself that she would only admit it, if it was him who'll confess first. Which was not going to happen. Maghihintay lang siya sa wala. It was better to keep their relationship like this. Friends with benefits? Whatever they named it.

Nang mapansin na nakatulog na ito, dahan-dahan niyang tinanggal ang yakap nito sa kanya at umahon sa kama. Ayze used the towel to cover up his upper body and left the room. Sakto naman na tumunog ang doorbell.

Ayze opened the door and was surprised when she saw Tito Zayvin, Zayndrei's father.

"Ayze... you're here?" nakangiti na tanong nito. He looks happy, at the same time naguguluhan. "Zayn?"

Lumingon si Ayze sa likuran niya. Zayndrei looks groggy, parang nabigla ito sa pagtayo sa kama.

"Are you... two, ahm..." Sa sobrang tuwa nito, hindi na natuloy ang gusto nitong sabihin.

"It's not like what you think, Pa," walang emosyon na sagot nito.

Ayze's heart clenched and her mood immediately dropped. But she's good at keeping her composure. Pinapasok nila ito sa loob.

They've been talking about the business, even though nagpunta ito rito para sana kumustahin ang anak nito. He complimented her for a job well-done.

"Zayndrei was keeping them for a reason. Kahit ako, sinabi ko na sa kanya na he could get what he wants without them. Still, I'm glad they're not in the company anymore." He continued talking but her mind was not listening at all.

Ayze got curious. Pero hindi siya nagtanong.

NANLIIT ANG mga mata ni Ayze nang may makita siyang pamilyar. It was Zayndrei's vice president during college. Wala na ang salamin nito but she still dressed the same. Plain.

Hindi niya nagustuhan ang huling pag-uusap nilang dalawa. And she's not in the mood to entertain her bullshit again.

"Amari, ikaw na lang ang kumuha." Utos niya na agad naman nitong sinunod.

Siya dapat ang kukuha ng mga 'yon. Some personal files that she badly needed. And they'll eat lunch together. Nanatili siya sa sasakyan.

Zayndrei: Where are you? Bakit si Amari ang nandito?

She replied, 'Not feeling good. Also, sa bahay ako uuwi mamaya.'

Mabilis niyang pinatay ang cellphone niya para hindi siya nito matawagan. They've already talked about her so-called schedule, isang linggo siya sa unit ni Zayndrei at isang linggo sa bahay nila. Next week pa dapat ang uwi niya, kaya sigurado na magrereklamo ito.

"Did you see another person there?" kaagad na tanong niya nang makabalik si Amari. Inabot muna nito ang envelope sa kanya at sinuot ang seatbelt nito.

"Yes, meeting daw." Amari answered. "Nakasabay ko 'yon sa elevator, ma'am. Naka blazer, hinubad lang nang pumasok na sa office ni sir."

Marahas siyang suminghap.

"Come to think of it... This is the first time that I see you like this, ma'am. Are you bothered?" Amari asked her.

"Yes," she breathed out.

Isinandal niya ang siko sa may bintana at minasahe ang sentido niya.

"Ma'am, may I ask?" Amari said.

"Go ahead."

"He's dating you, right?"

"Wrong." Tumingin siya kay Amari. "He's fucking me, Amari." Labas sa ilong na sagot niya.

Napangiwi ang sekretarya niya. "That's too much information, ma'am, but thank you for answering my stupid question."

Tumango lang siya. She's comfortable with her because she knows Amari won't betray her.

Hindi siya mapakali sa trabaho niya. But she's doing her best to stay sane kapag nasa meeting siya. And she managed to be calm, surprisingly.

Amari placed a cup of tea on her table. "To calm your nerves, ma'am."

"Ang pinapaasikaso ko sayo?" tanong niya.

"I couldn't personally visit Miss Miller, ma'am, kaya pinadala ko na lang. And same goes for the orphanage."

Minasahe niya ang batok at tamad na sumandal sa backrest ng upuan niya. She's been thinking too much this day. Hindi 'yon maganda para sa kanya. Kanina pa nakabukas ang cellphone niya pero wala pa siyang na-received na text or call galing kay Zayndrei.

"About the Lim's heir..." Umangat ang tingin niya kay Amari. "It's a date, ma'am." Nakangisi na sabi nito sa kanya.

"Good job, Amari," puri niya rito.

Her smile dropped when someone messaged her.

From: Unknown number.

Good day, ma'am. A colleague visited his office today. He calls her 'Windy', and it seems that they're very close to each other. They talked for five hours straight. She also asked for help but he declined.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa cellphone. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Ayze. Now, she's curious what kind of help that witch needs.

☕️