CHAPTER 3

AN URGENT matter came up and Khairro's parents immediately left after dinner leaving Khairro and Eliza behind. There was a heavy silence between the two. Khairro was clearly trying to sense Eliza's mood while Eliza was nonchalantly eating her ice cream.

Khairro thought Eliza had calm down because she was clearly enjoying the dessert when suddenly, after she finished her dessert, she picked up the fork and stabbed the plate in the center so hard that it caused the plate to break in half.

For some reason, that sent shiver down Khairro's spine. No. I'm not scared. I was just startled a little.

Tumikhim si Khairro. "You break your plate..."

"Well," Eliza smiled at him eerily, "I can't break your head, can I?"

Khairro didn't know why his smile was trembling. "Don't be mad."

Ang matalim na mata ni Eliza ay tumitig kay Khairro. It was the first time for Khairro to be threatened by a woman and he actually felt threatened!

"Oh. May dapat ba akong ikagalit?"

"I'm sorry I brought you here without your consent." Ani Khairro ng kumalma na ito saka nagpaliwanag. "It's just that, I want to make sure you eat healthy food for dinner and since I can't cancel with my parents, I brought you here with me."

Matalim pa rin ang mata ni Eliza. "Pasalamat ka masarap ang ice cream nila."

Khairro smiled. "Want some more?"

"Busog na ako." Eliza excused herself to burp then she looked at Khairro. "Sa susunod, huwag mo nang gagawin 'to. Palalampasin ko 'to ngayon kasi masarap naman ang pagkain nila rito pero kapag inulit mo pa 'to, siguradong magiging kriminal ako at ikaw ang una kong biktima. Humingi ka ng permiso, gago. Hindi mo ba alam na 'consent is sexy'? Pangit ka na, hindi ka pa sexy. Ibig sabihin nun, wala kang abs."

Khairro was just looking at Eliza while talking. He doesn't even understand what Eliza meant by 'wala kang abs', so he lift his shirt on and showed his abs to Eliza.

"I'm pretty sure I have six pack."

Muntik nang maibuga ni Eliza ang iniinom na tubig dahil nakita mismo ng mga mata niya ang six pack abs ni Khairro. Ang crush niya noon na gago dahil tinanggihan siya.

Maingat niyang inilapag ang baso sa mesa saka nag sign of the cross at umusal ng panalangin. "Mahabaging maykapal, mas higpitan niyo pa po sana ang pagbabantay sa puri ko. Huwag niyo sanang hayaan na magapang iyon ng isang pangit na demonyito."

"What are you mumbling about?"

"Amen." Pagtatapos ni Eliza sa pagdarasal saka nag-angat ng tingin kay Khairro. "Wala akong paki kung may abs ka. Para sakin Pangit ka na walang abs."

Khairro decided to just drop the topic even though it bothers him. There's no used arguing about it, he'll just have to show Eliza how handsome and sexy he was. Yeah. That's the best move.

Pinakatitigan niya ang dalaga na walang pag-aalinlangang sinalubong ang titig niya habang nakataas ang isang kilay nito.

Khairro didn't know why Eliza's 'bitch resting face' — her words, not his — was so damn sexy.

The confidence in her eyes while staring back at him was unwavering. The way she carry herself, the air around her, she's definitely an independent woman.

"What?" Eliza asked haughtily.

"I like your confidence." Ani Khairro. "It's sexy."

Slowly, Eliza lost her resting bitch face and and her lips broke into a small smile, "sa lahat ng sinabi mo sakin, 'yan ang pinakanagustuhan ko. Thank you."

The 'thank you' didn't registered on Khairro's mind. He was more focus on Eliza's small smile.

It was sudden and he felt attacked.

So that's what her smile looks like. Pretty.

Inirapan ni Eliza si Khairro. "Huwag mo akong masyadong titigan. Baka ma-in love ka sakin."

"There's nothing wrong with that." Ani Khairro na nakatitig pa rin kay Eliza. "I'm single, so are you."

Umiling si Eliza. "I'm not looking for a boyfriend, Chief."

"You might change your mind."

Sinalubong ni Eliza ang mga mata ni Khairro. Walang emosyon ang mga mata nito. "I won't."

"Is that a challenge, Ms. Velasquez?"

"No. It's a warning. Please, excuse me." Eliza stood up and excused herself to go to the restroom.

Nang makapasok si Eliza sa restroom, kaagad niyang isinara ang pinto niyon at humarap siya sa salamin na naroon.

Her eyes were cold and it scared her. It feels like the woman in the mirror was not her at all. Who are you? I don't know you. Because the eyes of the woman looking back at her was the eyes of a despicable person.

Eliza closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She forced herself to calm down and think of happy thoughts.

A smile on her lips appeared when she thought of Matamis na Lunes— her best friend. The only person in this world who understands her. The only person she trusts. Then her brother ... Kuya and Matamis na Lunes loves me. I'm okay.

Eliza took a deep breath again before opening her eyes.

Looking at the mirror again, she smiled at herself. "You're gonna be okay." I'm okay. Yes. I'm definitely okay.

She smiled at herself one last time before she stepped out from the restroom to go back to Khairro who was waiting for her on their table.

"I made you uncomfortable, didn't I?" Ano Khairro ng makabalik siya sa mesa nito. "I'm sorry."

"Boyfriend. Relationship. Courtship. I don't like talking about them, so don't bring it up again or I will really murder you."

Eliza was dead serious, she's not just saying it because she's a self-proclaimed bitch.

"Okay. I won't." Ani Khairro. "Sorry about that and I won't do this without your consent again."

"Good."

After that, silence consumed them 'til they finished dinner. Kahit nuong nasa Helicopter na sila patungo sa condo niya, pareho pa rin silang walang imik na dalawa. And Eliza actually preferred it that way.

Silence has always been a comfort for her. Because in silence, she couldn't harm anyone.

Khairro was bothered after Eliza went silent at dinner. From the Restaurant to her condo, she didn't speak and it was bothering him. He wanted the bubbly savage Eliza back, not this silent woman beside him who seems lost in thoughts.

Stepping out from the elevator, Khairro stayed beside Eliza as they walked towards her condo unit. Pero malayo pa sila, nakita na niyang bukas ang pinto ng condo nito at may kalalakihang lumabas mula roon.

"Fuck." Khairro cussed and immediately wrapped his arms around Eliza's waist and pinned her on the wall to cover her with his body.

Doon nagising ang diwa ni Eliza at nanlaki ang mga mata nito ng makitang malapit na malapit ang mukha ni Khairro sa mukha nito.

Eliza was about to castrate the bastard for pinning her on the wall when Khairro spoke in a low voice. "Men just came out from your room. I'm blocking you from their sight."

Eliza's body tensed. Men came out from my room? Pasimple niyang sinilip ang condo niya at totoo nga ang sinabi ni Khairro. There were four men stepping out from her condo and they're all menacing and armed.

Bumalik ang atensiyon niya kay Khairro. He was blocking her so she wouldn't be seen, but it was not enough. Yes, Khairro was mascular but it was still not enough to cover all of her — not only that, they looked suspicious!

Ano ba ang puwedeng gawin para hindi sila tumingin samin?

Seconds after asking that to herself, an idea hit her. It's from the movie she saw.

"Would that even work?" Pabulong niyang tanong sa sarili.

"What?" Khairro asked in a whisper.

She looked up at Khairro and shamelessly said, "hey, kiss me."

The Chief in front of her froze and Eliza had no time to ask Khairro again because the men are approaching and they are all eyeing them suspiciously. Khairro was not allowed to start a shoot out because he's not on duty and he's not even carrying a freaking gun!

"Shit!" Eliza hissed and wound her arms around Khairro's neck then he pressed her lips on his.

Plano ni Eliza ay simpleng halik lang hanggang sa lampasan sila ng kalalakihan, pero ang gago bumuka ang mga labi at mapusok siyang hinalikan. Oo. May pa-dila ang gago. At hindi lang yon simpleng pa-dila, gumagalaw ang dila nito sa loob ng bibig niya na naghahatid ng kakaibang kiliti sa katawan niya.

Oh, Lord! Ang puri ko!

Eliza doesn't want to get carried away by Khairro's kisses, but damn it to hell, the guy was a damn good kisser and Eliza was not the kind of woman to shy away from pleasure so she kissed him back.

It's just a kiss after all. Just a kiss.

She moved her lips against Khairro and they french kiss the daylight out of each other 'till they could no longer breath.

Pareho silang hinihingal na naghiwalay ang mga labi at napatitig sa isa't-isa, kapagkuwan ay sabay silang napabaling sa condo niya.

"Shit!" Eliza hissed and ran towards her condo only to see all her things scattered on the floor, broken pieces of glass everywhere and before she could enter her condo, a searing pain consumed her head, flashes of scenes filling her memory — the same with her condo, there were also broken things and glass but the difference was there's blood everywhere and there's a body lying on the floor — dead.

Sapo-sapo ang ulo na napasigaw nalang siya sa sakit at takot sa nakikita. And before she could pull herself together, she passed out.

WHEN ELIZA opened her eyes again, she was in an unfamiliar room with a familiar masculine scent. What happened to me? With that question in her head, memories of what happened in her apartment came flooding in.

The blood ... the dead body ... was that her dream? Was it even a dream? Maybe it really happened to her and she couldn't remember because she lost her memories when she was in High School due to an accident.

Well, at least that's what her mother said, but she doesn't believe her. There was no record of her being in an accident, but something definitely happened to her and it's buried deep in her memories that had became her dreams — or nightmares.

Should I ask Kuya? But he has too much on his plate right now, with the bad guys and all that.

Bumangon si Eliza sa pagkakahiga saka umalis ng kama at malalaki ang hakbang na lumabas ng kuwarto. She was still kind of weak but she doesn't even know where she was. Maybe Pangit took care of me.

She stepped out from the room and she immediately saw a photo of The Chief together with his family hanging on the wall.

Well, what do you know ... nasa bahay ako ng crush ko dati. My past self would kill for this opportunity.

Bumuga siya ng marahas na hininga saka hinanap ang may-ari ng bahay.

She was not a stalker but she knew that Khairro owned three houses under his name. A house in BV, a condo unit and a vacation house. Yes. I'm not a stalker. I just know things.

Natagpuan niya ang binata sa salas. Naglilinis ito ng baril habang magkasalubong ang kilay at panay tagis ng bagang. At mukhang kaagad nitong naramdaman ang presensiya niya dahil tumingin ito sa gawi niya.

"You're awake..." he looked relieved.

"Yeah." Tinungo niya ang sala saka umupo sa pang-isahang sofa na nasa gilid habang si Khairro naman ay nakaupo sa mahabang sofa.

Khairro stared at her for a couple of seconds, "how are you feeling?"

Instead of answering, she asked. "Anong nangyari sa condo ko?"

Himigpit ang hawak ng binata sa baril na nililinis nito. "It was turn upside down. I'm already tracking the men who did it. Don't worry, It won't happen again."

"Where are we?" Tanong ulit niya.

"My condo."

Eliza looked around. "Puwede ba akong umuwi sa condo ko ngayon?"

Umiling si Khairro. "It's still dangerous. Stay here for now." Tinuro nito ang kuwartong pinanggalingan niya. "I only have one room here though, so you take my bed. I'll sleep here in the living room."

"Okay." Eliza didn't argue. She's in danger and Khairro will protect her. Yan lang ang mahalaga sa kaniya ngayon. "Sinabi mo ba kay Kuya ang nangyari?"

"No, I didn't." Anito habang patuloy na nililinis ang baril, "pinagkatiwala ka niya sakin, gagawin ko ng maayos ang trabaho ko."

Bumuntong-hininga si Eliza. "Paano ang trabaho ko? Puwede pa naman akong pumasok, diba?"

"Call your boss. Tell him you're taking a week leave."

"Pero—"

"Eliza," tumingin ito sa mga mata niya, "kung ipipilit mong pumasok sa trabaho, hindi lang sarili mo ang ipapahamak mo kundi ang mga taong nakapaligid sayo. Just give me one week. I'll make sure that they will never bother you again."

Naiintindihan ni Eliza ang rason ni Khairro kaya hindi na siya nagpumilit pa. "Kung mananatili ako rito sa condo mo, paano ang pamalit ko ng damit?"

"I'll get your things in your condo tomorrow." Anito saka nag-umpisa nang i-assemble ang baril na nililinis nito, "for now, use my clothes. I have new ones in my closet. Kumuha ka nalang do'n. I won't mind."

Doon tumaas ang kilay niya. "Paano ko masisiguro na bago ang mapipili ko?"

"Amuyin mo."

Pasimpleng napahawak siya sa pagkababae niya. "Paano ang underwear ko? I'm not comfortable wearing the same thing tonight."

Bahagyang natigilan si Khairro saka tumikhim ito. "My b-boxers ... yeah, use those."

"Bago ba?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. That'll do."

Tumikhim ulit si Khairro bago nagsalita. "Anyway, could you list everything you need for a week then send it to me? I'll buy them for you tomorrow."

"Sige, mamaya."

Napuno ng katahimikan ang salas bago binasag iyon ni Khairro sa pamamagitan ng pag-abot sa kaniya ng baril na katatapos lang nitong linisin. "Here. Do you know how to use this?"

Napakurap-kurap si Eliza sa baril na iniabot ni Khairro sa kaniya. "Kind of."

"That's good enough. Take it." Seryosong-seryoso ito. "I'm giving you this because there are times that I won't be by your side to protect you. When that happens and they try to harm you, use this to protect yourself."

Tinanggap ni Eliza ang baril. Rather than feeling surprised because Khairro gave her a gun, she was actually pleased that he did. That means he doesn't see her as a weak woman, but a strong woman who can use the gun to protect her self.

Eliza looked at Khairro. You're not so bad after all.

Tumayo si Khairro at umalis sa salas, pero kaagad itong bumalik at may hawak-hawak na itong mga papeles.

"Here." Inabot nito iyon sa kaniya. "The manual guide to my condo."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Manual guide? Like, tech stuff?

"Yeah."

"Masyadong high-tech ang bahay mo na kailangan ng manual guide?" Mangha niyang tanong sa binata.

Finally, Khairro smiled. "Don't stay up late." Anito saka nahiga sa sofa. "Tulog na ako. Maaga pa ako bukas. Good night, Eliza."

When Khairro closed his eyes, Eliza went back to Khairro's room while carrying the gun and the manual guide.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Eliza started reading the manual guide to Khairro's condo and each time she flipped a page, she's getting more bewildered.

"Just what kind of a house is this?" Napapangastikuhan niyang tanong ng matapos niyang basahin ang manual guide.

Every part of this house was high tech and it runs in voice command!

Gaano ba kayaman ang tukmol na 'yon? This was unbelievable!

Dala-dala ang manual guide, tinungo ni Eliza ang closet ni Khairro. It was a walk in closet and it can't be open by just pulling the door open like normal doors. It's in voice command.

"Let's see ... " Eliza flipped the pages of the manual guide until she found the 'Closet'. "Hmm ... it says here that ... " She looked at closet's door and uttered, "open closet."

Something beeped on the side of the Closet's door. It's a device and it spoke with it's computerize voice.

"Password?"

Kumunot ang nuo ni Eliza. "The fuck?"

"Wrong password. Please try again."

Napatanga siya sa pintuan na kaharap. "Nangangain yata ng tanga itong condo ni Pangit."

"Wrong password. Please try again."

Gago rin 'tong password chuchu device na 'to. Tulad ng may-ari ng condo.

Eliza flipped the pages again, looking for the password 'till she saw what's written on the back of the manual guide.

PASSWORD: Khairro is handsome.

Hindi alam ni Eliza bakit nagtaasan ang mga balahibo. Isang bagyo talaga ang tukmol na 'yon. Ang hangin!

Tumikhim si Eliza saka nagsalita. "Khairro is handsome." After saying that, she cringed the same moment the door to the closet opened. "That was horrible!"

She tsked and stepped inside. Automatically, the lights turned on and she was blown away by Khairro's closet.

"This is way bigger than my room in my condo. Shit!" Pinalibot niya ang tingin sa closet. "Ang yaman pala nitong crush ko noon. Ang galing ko talagang mamili ng magugustuhan. Pero nakakagago dahil hindi niya tinanggap ang aking pagsinta."

Eliza stilled at what she just said and shuddered. "So cringe."

Naiiling na pinagalaw niya ang mga paa para maghanap ng bagong damit na puwede niyang suotin.

"Hmm ... ang bango naman ng closet na 'to, nang-aakit ng puri ang bango." Aniya saka binuksan ang mga drawers para maghanap ng bagong boxers.

And she immediately found the piece of clothing that hides Khairro's friend down there.

"Hmm... paano ko malalaman kung bago? Aamuyin ko rin?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Eliza saka nasapo ang mukha, "shit... hindi ba ako magmumukhang manyak kung aamuyin ko ang mga 'to isa-isa?" Biglang nag-init ang mukha ni Eliza saka napatingala siya sa kisame. "Goodness, Lord, is this a test of courage to not be swept away by bad spirit namely Khairro Sanford?"

Eliza blows a loud breath before picking up one boxer then she sniffed it. Yes! She freaking sniffed it the waistband. Yes, only the waistband.

"Oh. This is not new, newly washed though." She immediately drop it and went to sniff another one until she found the 'i'm new from the store' scent. "This is the one."

Kaagad niyang isinara ang drawer at naghanap siya ng t-shirt. Good thing she immediately found a new shirt without smelling Khairro's other shirts.

"Yey!" Gusto niyang magtatalon sa tuwa. "I survived! Yaz! I won!" She gleefully said before leaving the closet, "now," she looked at the bathroom's door. "To the bathroom."

Pumasok siya sa banyo at medyo nalula siya sa gara niyon. Yes, nakakalula na masakit na sa mata. Just like the closet, the bathroom was two times bigger than her room and it's so clean and smells great too.

"Shit. Anong klaseng banyo 'to, puwede akong matulog dito." Tinungo ni Eliza ang shower na nasa ceiling ang shower head. "Oh. It's the rain shower. Nice."

Ini-lock muna ni Eliza ang pintuan ng banyo bago naghubad lahat ng damit at tumayo sa ilalim ng rain shower pero walang lumabas na tubig.

"How do you open this shit again?" Tanong ni Eliza sa sarili habang inaalala ang nabasa sa manual guide. "Khairro is handsome?" Aniya baka lang naman gumana. Ipo-ipo kasi ang tukmol na 'yon.

Sadly, it didn't work.

Eliza sighed then he looked around. Ni wala siyang makitang button na puwedeng pindutin o kaya handle na nagko-kontrol sa shower.

"Ano ba naman 'to," naiirita na si Eliza. "Why the hell is this shower not pour—"

The shower turned on and water fell.

Napatanga si Eliza. So the magic word is 'pour'. Yes, nangangain ng tanga itong condo ni Tukmol.

Eliza quickly finished taking a bath. Good thing there's shampoo and shower gel inside the shower room — though she'll have the same scent as Khairro. Who cares? Hygiene is important.

Eliza sighed heavily as she wrapped herself in a towel. "I never thought showering could be this exhausting..."

Lumabas siya ng banyo pagkatapos niyang i-blow-dry ang buhok saka sinuot ang damit ni Khairro. At dahil hindi niya kayang umulit ng bra, wala siyang bra na suot ngayon.

"Great." She muttered while looking at her breast. They're not small, but not big either. Tama lang ang size no'n at dahil malaki naman ang t-shirt ni Khairro, hindi 'yon masyadong kita. "Salamat naman."

Speaking of that guy ...

Kinuha ni Eliza ang isang unan sa kama at naghanap siya ng bagong kumot sa closet nito saka lumabas ng kuwarto.

I need to take care of him since he's protecting me and all. Yeah, that's all there is to this.

The living room was in dim light but it was enough to see Khairro. He was already fast asleep while laying on his side.

Nilapitan ni Eliza ang binata saka maingat na ini-angat ang ulo nito para mailagay niya ang unan saka kinumotan niya ito. Kapagkuwan ay wala sa sariling napatitig siya sa mukha ni Khairro.

Eliza's face softened. "Thank you for protecting me." She, then, pressed her lips on Khairro's forehead. "Good night, Captain."

Then Eliza stood up and went back to Khairro's room in a dazed. "I can't believe I kissed his forehead..." Eliza was in shock, she just stood there in the middle of the room.

And I kissed him outside my condo too.

"Oh my God, Eliza, what were you thinking? Hindi ba nagkaroon ka ng crush trauma dahil sa kaniya?" Pagkausap niya sa sarili. "Self, katawan ko," niyakap niya ang sarili, "parang awa mo na, huwag kang lumandi. Masasaktan ka lang. Sapat nang ma-reject ako ng isang beses. Ayoko nang masundan 'yon."

Once is enough, twice is too much. I won't let the same flame burn me twice.

Saying that but she french kissed the guy. Goodness! Good thing Khairro didn't brought the kiss up.

Pabagsak na nahiga si Eliza sa kama saka napatitig sa kisame. Buti hindi siya nagising sa ginawa ko. That would have been so embarrassing.

That was what Eliza thought and it made her feel at ease and sleep soundly, but what she didn't know was that when she left the living room, Khairro who woke up when Eliza lift his head opened his eyes.

Yes, Captain Khairro Sanford was awake with a small smile on his lips.

CECELIB | C.C.