"HOW DID you know that I was here?"

He grins at me. "Not to brag, but I have my ways, you know," he replied, and I playfully punched his shoulder. I pulled away from him. He chuckled.

God, his laughter is like music to my ears. I wouldn't mind listening to his laugh all day.

He was staring intently at me. I turn my back on him because of the intensity of his stares. By the way he looks at me, I feel like he's staring at my deepest soul.

I cleared my throat. "Do you want to go inside?" I asked without looking at him.

I know I shouldn't have asked him that. My whole family is inside. I don't want them to question my relationship with him. Lalo na at nandoon si Kuya Baker sa loob. Siguradong magtataka siya kung bakit nandito si Cash sa mini-reunion ng pamilya namin. Kuya Baker's smart and he'll realize, sooner or later, why Cash and I were always together.

I simply stood there staring at the lovely fountain in front of me.

I gasped as I felt him brush up against the tattoo on the back of my left shoulder. When he softly touched my lips with his warm thumb, my eyes involuntarily shut and my lips parted slightly.

"What are you doing, C-Cash?" I stammered.

"It looks perfect on you,"

"I know... Thank you for picking out the tattoo for me," I said. He was standing just behind me. I couldn't move an inch because I was so taken with the way he was touching me.

This is the only time he saw my tattoo clearly because when we're together—naked, inside the room—we're too busy doing each other for him to have time to look at my tattoo.

I almost moaned as he suddenly planted little kisses on my naked shoulder–where my tattoo is.

"Cash..." I groaned. I pressed my bottom lips together to prevent myself from moaning. He threw his arms around my waist and kissed my exposed shoulder and neck again. I could feel his proud soldier poking behind me.

I don't want him to stop, but we can't do it in here because anybody may walk straight into us, and I don't want that to happen.

"Let's go," I told him, and I quickly held his hand, pulling him towards his expensive car.

"Where?" he asked after starting the engine of his car.

"Anywhere... basta walang makakita satin,"

The side of his lips rose. "Roger that," he said before starting to drive.

I quickly grabbed my phone and sent a text message to Kuya Baker saying that I had already left, before setting my phone in silent mode. Right now, we don't need any distractions.

I glance at Cash, who's seriously driving. His eyes were glued to the road, and it was already dark outside. He took a quick glance at me before placing his right hand on my left inner thigh.

Oh, gosh...

He's killing me!

Malayo pa naman 'tong lugar sa mismong city. Halos 45 minutes kaming nag-drive sa daan na 'to kanina kaya alam ko. It's very dark outside, and it's just us on the road. Cash kept on caressing my thigh, and I couldn't take it anymore. I just want him right here, right now!

"Stop the car." I moaned.

"In here?"

I nodded, "Yes. "Just park on the side of the road," I said, and he did as I instructed.

As soon as he put the car in park, I immediately cupped his face and kissed him full on the lips. He answered every stroke of my lips with the same intensity. He lifted me up and I sat on his lap. I instantly felt a sense of déjà vu.

"I want you now, Cash. Right here, right now..." I said, against his lips. I felt him smiling.

I started unbuttoning his clothes when he suddenly stopped kissing me.

Kumunot agad iyong noo ko. It was very dark outside, and I could only see a glimpse of his face because of the moon shining above us.

"I'm so glad I met you," he said before crashing his lips into mine.

I wanted to say that I'm also glad that I met him, but I chose to grab his hair and deepen our kiss, so he would know that I also feel the same way about him.

#

"Kuya, what are you doing here?"

Kuya Baker just glared at me before entering my unit. My heart is beating so fast. Why is he here at 7 in the morning!

I gulped when he started walking towards my living room and started checking the surroundings.

"Kuya, I'm still sleepy. What do you need ba? Ang aga pa oh," I nervously said.

I feel like I'm going to puke any minute now! Cash is inside my room right now because he slept here last night because we did it again all night and I made him stay because he's too tired and sleepy to even drive back to his condo.

Kuya looked at me suspiciously. "Who picked you up at the party last night?" His face looks serious, but he doesn't look really mad naman.

I sighed deeply. "S-Si Curtis, Why? Did Auntie look for me?" I lied.

I didn't know that Kuya kept on calling me pala last night, kahit na nagtext ako sakaniya. And my phone was set in silent mode. Nakita ko nalang kanina iyong missed calls niya when he started knocking at my door.

"Are you sure it was Curtis who picked you up?"

I let out a nervous chuckle before walking to my kitchen. Kuya Baker followed me, "O-Of course naman Kuya. May iba pa bang susunod sa'kin?" I replied.

I grab a cup of water to drink. Kuya's eyes were not leaving mine. I can't look him straight in the eye.

"Nothing..." he trailed off, "I just thought Cash was the one who picked you up because he's been asking me where I amlast night and if I'm with you,"

Muntik ko nang mabitawan iyong hawak kong baso.

Because of what Kuya said, I couldn't utter a single word.

"Anyway, just let me know if you need anything. And good luck on your first day at work," Kuya said before leaving.

"Kuya wait!" I called him up before he could leave.

I took a deep breath. He's staring at me, waiting for me to say something.

"A-Are you going to be mad ba if ever Cash was the one who picked me up last night?" I anxiously asked.

I waited for him to answer my question, but he just gave me a shrug before walking out of my unit. Hindi ko alam if he's mad ba or what. He didn't answer my question, and now it's killing me because I'm really curious if he's going to be mad!

I wanted to confide to Kuya because I really hate that I'm lying to him but also... I don't want to ruin their friendship. I'm sure Kuya will get mad at Cash for going behind his back, and I don't want that to happen. I know that they've been friends for a long time, and I don't want to be the reason for ruining their friendship.

"Did he leave?" I heard Cash as he walked out of my room wearing only his boxers.

My gosh, umagang-umaga naman Cash Evander! Hindi pa ako nakaka-recover kagabi!

I averted my gaze from his sinful, perfect body. "Yeah, he left," I answered.

Bumalik ako sa kuwarto at sinundan niya ako. I'm still sleepy, but I couldn't go back to bed knowing that Cash is here, inside my bedroom, almost naked!

"I'm starving. What do you want for breakfast?" he asked while he was eyeing me going around in circles inside my bedroom. Hindi ako mapakali kasi nasa loob siya ng bedroom ko in broad daylight!

Ang laki niyang tukso!

"Aren't you going to leave now?" I asked without looking at him.

He didn't answer me, kaya I turned around to face him.

"Right..." he mumbled. He lifted his gaze and his eyes met mine. I saw a pain shot cross his eyes.

"Yeah... I'm going to leave," he said, a weak smile on his face. I feel guilty because of what I said.

He started picking up his clothes that were scattered on the floor before going to my bathroom.

I sat at the foot of my bed and sighed.

Mali ba iyong sinabi ko? I don't know...

This is the first time we spent the night together, as in natulog nang magkatabi sa kama, because usually one of us will leave at midnight after we have had sex. But last night, I made him stay... And now, I'm making him leave agad without even eating breakfast.

Cash came back fully clothed. I gave him a small smile. My head is about to explode! My chest tightened when he averted his gaze from mine. My heart wants him to stay, but my mind says otherwise, that I'm going to regret my decision if I make him stay.

It should always be mind over heart. There's nothing good that comes out when I let my heart rule my head. I'll just get broken again... just like my previous relationships did.

"I'm going to leave. Thank you for letting me stay last night," he said without looking me in the eye.

I nodded, "Okay... Drive safely," I replied, and just let him walk away.

#

"Ang tahimik mo ngayon," Tia said while she was cooking my favourite sinigang na hipon. I went here after Cash left because I didn't want to eat alone.

I really feel guilty after making Cash leave like that. But what can I do? We have rules.

I sighed.

"May problema ka ba? Iyan ba iyong sa may lalaking ka-anuhan mo?" she asked before sitting in the chair across from me. Natawa ako dahil sa term na ginamit niya.

She doesn't know Cash's name kasi. I didn't tell her. I just want to keep Cash's name a secret. What Cash and I are doing is just between us. Sometimes, I vent out to her, but I don't tell her everything that's happening between Cash and me. I don't want to involve anyone between us.

"Tia ka-sex. You can use the word "sex," you know. We're both adults in here," I laughed at her reaction. Her eyes widened. Evo's not here in the kitchen naman because he's busy playing in the living room.

"Baka marinig ka ni Evo!" saway niya sa'kin and I just laughed at her. She stood up and checked the sinigang na hipon that I requested.

I saw Evo running towards me. I lifted him up and made him sit on my lap. I slightly pinched his cute button nose.

"Miss mo si Tita Sera ganda?" I asked, and Evo immediately nodded his head. Tia chuckled every time I put the word ganda after my name.

"Sobra po Tita Sera Ganda!" Evo replied before hugging me tightly. Mas lalong tumawa si Tia dahil sa tawag ni Evo sa'kin.

"Miss ka rin ni Tita Sera Ganda."

"Tapos na 'tong sinigang. Kain na tayo," Tia announced. Before we started eating, I helped her set the table.

It's great that I came here because Evo could take my mind off of thinking about Cash too much. After we ate, I volunteered to clean the dishes while she started peeling some apples at the table.

"Sera nandito lang ako ha kung may problema ka. Makikinig lang ako," Tia said. I looked over my shoulder and gave her a smile.

"Thank you, Tia. I'm really glad that I met you. You're like a big sister to me now," I replied before continuing doing the dishes.

I grew up without any brothers or sisters. I was alone, and my mom was the only one that I had. That's why I was really glad that I met Tia and Evo. She's like a big sister to me.

I excused myself to the washroom after I washed the dishes.

I was so busy guarding my heart against him that I didn't notice how he started occupying my mind instead.

With my shaking finger, I swiftly took my phone out and started typing on my phone.

To: Cash

Want to grab dinner later tonight?

W H A T Y A S E Y