SHE'S SLEEPING soundly in his arm. But the scene he saw still lingers in the back of Zayndrei's head. Marahan niyang sinusuklay ang buhok nito habang nakatitig sa maamo nitong mukha. She looks like an angel when she's in her deep slumber.

Zayndrei knows that she has a freedom to do so— to date whomever she wants. Alam niya 'yon. It's just... He did not expect that Ayze would take advantage of it.

They're not exclusively dating. They didn't even bother to label their relationship. It was his fault. He needs to sucked it up.

Zayndrei smiled a little when he heard her soft snores. Pagod na pagod ito dahil sa ginawa nila kanina. Mula sa opisina nito, sa sasakyan niya, at hanggang sa makauwi silang dalawa dito sa unit niya.

She looks so freaking awesome with her outfit and he burst out after seeing her with another man. This was a form of jealousy that he chose to bury years ago, and up until now. He doesn't understand it. He doesn't want to.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered. Zayndrei leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I'm such an asshole, right? If you're awake, for sure you'll cuss me to death."

Mahina siyang natawa sa pinagsasabi niya. It was in her nature. To cuss him.

He sighed when he heard his phone beeped. Iisang tao lang naman ang nangungulit sa kanya ngayon. Not even his secretary, Kolthon, texts nor calls him. It's always him, who does the texting.

Tamad niyang inabot ang cellphone niya sa side table. Ingat na ingat siyang huwag gumalaw masyado para hindi magising si Ayze.

From: Windelle

Zayn, can't you really help me? Just this once, please? I'm begging. I'm really desperate right now.

Hindi na mabilang sa daliri ni Zayndrei kung ilang beses na siya nitong nilapitan at kung ilang beses na rin niya itong tinanggihan. It was their family problem, labas siya doon. Hindi siya pwedeng makialam.

If she wanted to make their company prosper, hindi na dapat nito 'yon hinawakan.

Windelle was his colleague, his vice president back when they're in college. Zayndrei doesn't have any idea on how the hell she won the election. She wasn't a good leader.

Pero dahil nandoon na, pinakisamahan na lang niya. He was patient enough to guide her not to this and that. Lalo na at ang ibang members ng student council ay ayaw sa babae. She's trying to control everything that was not needed.

Even him, as her president, before. Tutol ito na laging nasa office nila si Ayze. He even heard one time na nilapitan nito si Ayze at kung ano-ano ang sinabi. Hell, he was nervous as fuck that he had to run from the company building to the school, para lang makita kung nabangasan ba ito o hindi.

Knowing Ayze, kapag may hindi ito nagustuhan, ang kamao nito lagi ang sagot.

To: Windelle

Again, I'm sorry. I can't help you, Windelle. I have a company to run too.

Pinatay niya ang cellphone at binalik 'yon sa side table. He draped an arm around her stomach, saka niya isiniksik ang mukha sa may balikat nito.

Zayndrei mentally cursed when he heard his phone rang, causing Ayze to wake up. Hindi niya 'yon sinagot at dahan-dahan na inabot ang cellphone niya para i-silent 'yon.

"Do you want something?" malambing na tanong niya kay Ayze.

Napangiti si Zayndrei habang pinapanood nito na kusutin ang mga mata nito. She looks like a child.

"Water, please?"

Kaagad siyang sumunod at lumabas sa kwarto para ikuha ito ng tubig. Her voice was hoarse. Halatang-halata na pinagod niya ito.

She's asking for more, he was generous enough to give her more.

Nang makabalik siya sa kwarto dala ang isang baso ng tubig nito. Ayze was using her phone and talking to someone. Nang makita siya nito kaagad na binato sa kanya ang cellphone niya.

"Here... drink this, babe. I'll take this call..." Humina ang boses niya nang makita ang pangalan ng caller.

Damn, she answered it. He sighed and didn't have a choice but to talk to her.

Kinuha ni Ayze ang isang baso ng tubig sa kamay niya, habang siya naman ay mabilis na lumabas sa kwarto niya.

"Hello?" aniya.

[Is that Ayrelle Zehra? What is she doing in your room? Bakit siya ang sumagot sa tawag ko?] tanong nito sa kanya. Umangat ang isang kilay niya.

"It's none of your business. What do you want?" seryoso na tanong niya rito.

[Zayn, I'm desperate. I'm really sorry, please... Just this one, hm? I am asking you, no, I am begging you to help me. Just this one. I promise!] Windelle sounds desperate to get his help.

"As I've said, kahit may pinagsamahan man tayo, labas ako sa problema ng pamilya mo. It's your responsibility, Windelle. Not mine." Malamig na sagot niya sa babae at pinatay ang tawag.

NAKASUNOD ang mga mata ni Ayze nang lumabas si Zayndrei sa kwarto nito para kausapin ang babae na 'yon. She was wondering kung bakit nito kailangan lumabas? Samantalang kaya nitong sagutin ang ibang tawag sa harap nya mismo.

Kanina, when she answered the call. The woman was continually begging him for something, hindi lang nito nabanggit kung ano at tungkol saan.

When she spoke, bigla rin nag-iba ang tono ng boses nito. From her begging angelic soft voice to irritated one.

She was even asking her... kung ano ang relasyon niya kay Zayndrei, bakit nasa kanya ang cellphone nito, and so on. Hindi niya na masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin dahil biglang pumasok si Zayndrei dala ang tubig na hiningi niya.

She wasn't in the mood. Masakit ang katawan niya and Zayndrei wasn't here, beside her.

"Holy hell... I almost forgot about you, boy." Nailing siya sa sarili nang makita ang text message galing sa lalaki na kausap niya kahapon.

Tumayo siya sa kama at mabilis na nagbihis. She purposely avoided Zayndrei's clothes. Sinuot niya ang pangbahay na damit na dinala niya rito sa unit nito.

From: Lim's heir

Can we meet again? I need more time with you, miss.

She scoffed when she read the message. Too bad, she can't.

Mabilis siyang nagbihis at inayos sandali ang kama ni Zayndrei bago prente na umupo at nakipag palitan ng text message sa lalaki.

Ayze kept on throwing shady messages, alam niya na nababasa 'yon ni Arki at Kia. It was her own way to ask them if they're done digging or if she needs to hire someone more efficient than them.

Kia: Damn you, Ate! Malapit na kami 🤬

Natawa siya sa ginamit na emoji nito. She really loves pissing Kia, mas lalo kasi itong bumibilis magtrabaho.

Ayrelle Zehra: Make it fast, please? I have another work for you :*

Kia: How much?

Ayrelle Zehra: I heard you're asking your mom to buy you a new laptop?

Kia: Hehe bili mo ako? Ayaw ni mama e 😭

Ayrelle Zehra: Sure, love.

Kia: 🤩🤩🤩

Ayze shook her head. She really needs to bribe her para lang ganahan ito sa trabaho. She doesn't mind spending money on them.

AS SOON AS he ended the call, bumalik si Zayndrei sa loob ng kwarto niya. His forehead creased when he saw her lazily leaning against the headboard and playing with her phone.

Nakabihis na rin ito and she looked serious. Alam kaagad ni Zayndrei na trabaho ang inaatupag nito. She can finished her job using only her phone, while he needed his iPad or laptop to do his job. Her phone was everything to Ayze.

Zayndrei places his phone back on the side table. He made sure that his phone was now silent.

He crawled into the bed and lay beside her. Akmang yayakap na siya nang matalim na bumuntong hininga si Ayze.

"No cuddling, please?" She asked.

Kaagad siyang kinutuban nang marinig ang malamig na boses nito. Something's off.

"Then, can I stay beside you? I promise, I won't do anything aside from kissing your shoulder." Zayndrei tried to negotiate. Pero mukhang hindi 'yon umepekto sa kausap.

"No, Zayndrei. Get away from me. I'm busy."

Tiim ang bagang niya nang masulyapan ang screen ng cellphone nito. Ayze was talking to that damn guy. Really? Exchanging text messages while she's here beside him? After they fucked? The fuck?

He stood up, saka siya nagbihis bago lumabas sa kwarto niya. Pabagsak niyang sinarado ang pinto.

He went to the kitchen. Doon niya pinilit ang sarili na kumalma. He should've stay inside and lay down to his bed!

Kulang na lang ay mag-isang linya ang mga kilay niya nang sunod-sunod na tumunog ang doorbell sa unit niya. He doesn't want to disturb her so-called peace, kaya agad niyang dinaluhan kung sino man ang nasa labas.

It wasn't his parents for sure. Tatawag ang mga 'yon kung dadalaw man.

His mood worsen when he saw Windelle face to face. Hindi na siya nagbalak magtanong kung paano nito nalaman kung saan siya nakatira at kung paano ito nakapasok gayon na bawal ang mga outsiders sa building.

Zayndrei eyed her from head to toe. She's still in her usual outfit, long sleeve knitted shirt, and long skirt that reached her ankles.

"What are you doing here?" he boredly answered. Zayndrei leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"Zayndrei... Can we talk, please?" she begged.

"If it's about helping you to run your company, again, I am very sorry but I can't help you." Matigas na sabi niya.

Malalim itong huminga. "Please? I just don't know what to do anymore! Ikaw lang ang kilala ko na makakatulong talaga sa akin. Kahit ngayon lang? Sige na naman, oh?"

"There's no way—"

"There is! There is, Zayndrei. Please? You can invest in my company or vice versa?" Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya sa sinasabi nito.

Umayos siya sa pagkakatayo at hinarap ito. There's no way he could do what she was suggesting.

"Look, Windelle, that suggestion of yours. It wasn't easy, okay? It will never be. How can I invest in your company if our business isn't aligned? Not to mention, I need to do a freaking report because as you know, hindi ako ang may-ari ng kumpanya na hawak ko. I am just a mere employee, too." He explained carefully for her to understand his situation, too.

Isa pa, hindi papayag si Ayze. His sly woman would probably investigate the company first before allowing them to invest. They're lucky if Ayze would allow them to merge, and unlucky for she would do anything to acquire it.

His jaw clenched when he saw how her tears pooled in her eyes. Naiiyak na ito sa harap niya at halata sa kilos nito ang pagkabalisa. Zayndrei was watching her. Sadly, her tears wasn't enough to gain his sympathy.

"Please, Zayndrei? Just this one? I promise, gagawin ko lahat ng gusto mo pagkatapos nito!" She cried.

Pasimple siyang tumingin sa labas, baka may makakita or makarinig sa iyak nito.

"There's nothing I could do, Windelle." He firmly answered.

Zayndrei wanted to push her away, dahil baka marinig na ito ni Ayze sa loob. She's crying loudly for goodness sake!

"Is there a reason kung bakit ayaw mo na akong tulungan ngayon? Samantalang noon, madali lang naman para sayo na tulungan ako, ah? You're always ready to help me. You're always there for me, why can't you do the same now?" sumbat nito sa kanya.

There was a reason behind why he was helping her before. Para hindi nito pag-initan si Ayze. Because God knows, everyone knows that if Windelle pushed the button, she will be Ayze's last victim.

Lahat sila, sa student council, ay iniiwasan 'yon. Ang akala ni Windelle, napipilitan lang ang mga kasama nila na bantayan si Ayze, when in fact, they're all already her friends.

"Calm down, will you?" mahina siyang bumuntong hininga.

Natulos siya sa kinakatayuan niya nang marinig na bumukas ang pintuan sa kwarto niya at iniluwa noon si Ayze. Lihim siyang napamura nang makita nito si Windelle.

"I see... You fool!" Windelle spat.

"Wind," pigil niya sa dalaga.

Lumingon siya kay Ayze at nakita ito na pinapanood lang umiyak si Windelle.

"Fine! I'm not going to ask anymore."

 ☕