"Bakit ako?" I asked Apollo. 

He looked at me from under his lashes, a smirk finding its way to his mouth. 

I frowned, "Why me, Apollo? Sa lahat ng babaeng mas maganda, bakit ako? Why did you court me? Am I part of a bet where your friends dared you to court me to prove how good you are in getting any girl that you want?"

It was a productive afternoon for the both of us. We were analyzing a case study that was assigned to us individually. Hindi kami magka-klase pero parehas kami ng professor in this class and apparently, the professor is too lazy to make another set of cases kaya halos magkakaparehas lahat.

Wala namang ibang pwedeng sumama kay Apollo kundi ako lang - no, the truth is walang gustong gumawa with Apollo. 

Contrary to what others think, just because Apollo is a bastard - he's pretty smart. Too smart actually. Minsan, napapanganga na lang ako pag tinuturuan niya ako. I'm just so proud of him. Every time that I get to see a glimpse of how amazing he is, napapatanong ako sa sarili ko - bakit ako?

Bakit ako Apollo?

He stopped writing the diagnosis and looked at me, "Stop it, okay? And what are you talking about? What dare? Stop reading too many stories. I don't even have that many friends, to begin with, Caly." Then he suddenly smirked, "I know what you're doing. Nagpapalambing ka lang eh."

I scowled, "Dali na kasi! Sasagutin mo lang naman ako eh. Mahirap ba gawin yun?"

"Strict ang parents ko, Caly." He mocked me, he even found the nerve to put his hands on his heart as if offended. "Ligawan mo muna ako."

I rolled my eyes at his childish reply, "I'm not playing with you, Apollo."

"Oh but I wish you were, baby." I have the feeling that we're not talking about the same thing here based on his look which was completely perverted. His voice reaching deep teasing octave that may have sent tingles down my spine.

Ang bastos nito.

I slapped his arm, "Just answer me, please!" I'm exasperated and the fact that my boyfriend is being playful right now is not helping. Jerk! "Just tell me, okay? Kidding aside. I'm just curious."

Really curious.

He closed his notes and paid full attention to me. He grabbed my hands, played with it and stared at me. I love it when he plays with my hands, sabi ng Lola ko, when someone plays with your hand, it means he wants to be with you forever.

"To be honest, I don't know."

I frowned deeper, "Anong hindi mo alam? Hindi pwedeng hindi mo alam."

"Do I have to answer this, baby?" Nagpapa-cute pa.

"Eh kung sinasagot mo na lang, diba?" I grimaced. He's not making any sense.

"Kasi nga ikaw ang gusto ko."

For gods sake, "Bakit." Deadpan. 

He laughed at my reaction. This isn't going where I want it to be.

"Because I just do." He sighed and really, really looked at me. "I want you because I can't imagine this Apollo with any other girl but you Caly. I'm not afraid of anything but baby, you can kill me without even breaking a sweat. And I don't mind you being my murderer."

I bit my lip. The intensity of his confession knocked me out of any self-insecurities that's eating me. I can never be ready for Romantic Apollo.

"You sound like you love me so hard." I smiled sheepishly at him. My voice suddenly feeling shy. By gods, palagi na lang akong kinikilig.

"Because I do." He gave me his ever charming smile that can knock out a dozen hearts in one blow.

"How sure are you, Apollo? Pa'no mo nalalaman na sobrang mahal mo 'ko?" The smile that went to my face disappeared. His deep words cutting the reality and almost appearing to what may seem to be a dream.

Parang panaginip kung malalaman mong sobrang mahal ka ng taong mahal na mahal mo din. Parang hindi totoo.

"Because you make it harder for me to breathe when you say my name."

My heart melted, doubts disappearing, tears reappearing, "Apollo..."

"Just like that baby," He leaned over the table and hovered me. Our faces only centimeters apart, eyes fluttering, smile deepening, "Just like that."

And then he kissed me. The feel of his lips against mine tops everything. The innocent peck he did, almost, made me whine but when he stooped lower only to angle his face, chuckling sexily before faintly licking my bottom lip almost made me faint.

Almost. And they ask me why I love him. By gods, not only that but he is one helluva kisser.

"You're such a charmer." I cheekily whispered in our kiss.

"And you're so beautiful."

"Stop being so poetic." I blushed.

He smiled. "Stop being so perfect then." 

* * *

I went home feeling happy - perfect even. But when I opened the door of my bedroom, my smile disappeared. What is she doing here?

"Good evening, sister." The way she emphasized the last word made me vomit, in my mind I did. What the fuck is my step-sister doing here?

"Same to you too, Matilda." My voice making it even more obvious that I didn't want her here. Never will I.

Matilda and I are not on very good terms. Trying so hard to find the sister-hood inside of us with each other is too impossible so the act of being civil is the best way that we can do for Daddy. She was the firstborn of Tita - my stepmom from her first husband. But Daddy treated her like his own daughter. We dislike each other with a passion simply because we fight for our father's attention. Well for her, it's attention but for me, it's more on recognition. Na hindi lang si Matilda ang anak niya.

Daddy tried to make our relationship work but the keyword still stands: tried. He gave up and never had the choice but to settle for us at least taking all of this in a mature way.

But there are moments with her that always makes me want to choke her and ripped that smile on her always painted red lips, she never fails and I mean never to make me remember that, she always gets what she wants.

"I came here because Daddy wants us to have a girl time. I couldn't say no even if I badly wanted to." She rolled her eyes and looked at me distastefully.

"I'm not in the mood." I put my bag on the Hanger and made my way to the bean bag and made myself comfortable in it. God, even staring at her makes me want to slap her. 

"And do you think I want to spend a night with you?" No shit. She made it seem like I forced her into this. Not a chance, dear sister.

I groaned and thought Dad was seriously setting this up for us. I'm going to talk him later, "Where are we even going? Wala akong damit."

"Thought of that already. Ayokong makitang kasama kang nakadamit pang low-class kaya I brought some clothes for you. It's already in the bathroom. I'll give you an hour at least." She said while walking out on my door already.

"Sa'n nga tayo pupunta?!"

"We're going clubbing, sister dear."

I hated her even more.