"C-CASH..." I STUTTERED. I immediately stood up from my seat. I don't know why my heart is suddenly beating so fast inside my chest.

I pursed my lips together while staring back at him. He took a deep breath.

"Dinner?" he asked. His face softens.

I bit my lower lip. "I-I don't know, Cash." I replied.

I waited all day for him to reply to my single text message, but he didn't. And now, he will suddenly barge into here and ask me to have dinner with him.

It's just unfair.

I look over my shoulder and they're all looking at us.

Ang awkward...

Everyone's partying and having a great time here with the loud music, while I'm here having a staring contest with Cash, feeling really awkward.

Curtis cleared his throat. Guys, uh, By the way, this is my cousin, Cash, and Cash, this is everyone." Curtis said. They all say hi to Cash, while he just merely nods at them.

"It's your turn again, Sera," Trent announced. I saw how Cash tensed up while gritting his jaw when I sat back beside Trent.

"S-sorry," I said, stammering. Trent handed me another shot of Cuervo and a slice of lemon.

I quickly took the shot because I needed it right now. Nakatayo pa rin si Cash sa tapat ng table namin.

"Are you joining us, bro?" Trent asked Cash. I feel like Trent is already drunk because he can't notice how Cash was glaring at him as if he was ready to punch someone in the face. Napatingin ako sakaniya at agad na kumunot ang noo niya.

"Can you scoot over?" Cash said.

"You can just sit—" Curtis suggested, but he got cut off.

"I want to sit beside Serenity." Cash replied. Narinig nila Maddy iyong sinabi ni Cash kaya kusa silang umusod palapit sa pwesto ni Curtis kung saan may space pa para makaupo si Cash sa tabi ko.

We were sitting in a round table booth, and Trent and Cash were sitting by my side. Because of our situation, I feel a little bit suffocated. Cash took the little space beside me.

"Puwede ka naman doon sa tabi ni Curtis para mas maluwag," I suggested to him. Konti lang kasi iyong space na inuupuan niya. I feel like kasi na kalahati lang ng butt niya iyong nakaupo nang maayos e ang laki pa naman niya.

I am getting squeezed by these two large men. Para akong patty na pinag-gigitnaan ng dalawang burger bun. Trent has a huge build too but mas malaki pa rin ang katawan ni Cash compared to him. Well, I've seen Cash's body a lot of times, kaya I'm pretty sure talaga.

And I'm sitting in the middle of them!

He exhaled sharply, "I'm fine here..." he answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Unless you don't want me sitting beside you."

"I didn't say that."

"Good," he replied, and that's when I noticed that everyone was watching us. They all turned quiet, despite the loud music at the bar.

I glanced at Curtis and signaled to him to do or say something para mawala iyong awkwardness sa booth namin.

"Is it my turn now?" Curtis broke the silence and chuckled nervously.

I really don't get Cash sometimes. I don't get it when he acts like this.

Sometimes he's more complicated than women.

We started drinking again, except for Cash. He said he's driving, kaya he's not going to drink.

"Saang department ka pala Sera?" Maddy asked.

"I'll be working in the HR department," I answered before taking my shot. My head is starting to get heavy. I'm drunkna. Hindi ko alam kung nakailang bote na kami ng cuervo because I just keep on taking the shots that were given to me.

Even Curtis, who seldom drinks, was also drunk, which surprised me because he doesn't drink this much. I feel like there's something going on with him. I made a mental note at the back of my head to ask him what was bothering him.

I already felt that something was up when he asked me to have a drink with them. And I'm very positive that this involves her.

"Sayang. I work in the marketing department, but don't worry, your floor is just right above mine and I can just visit you," Trent said while smiling widely. His dimples popped out again. His ears and neck are red, which shows he's drunk just like everyone else.

"Mga the moves mo talaga Trent! Hindi pa nga nagsisimula si Miss Sera e pino-pormahan mo na agad," bulyaw ni Brienne na halatang lasing na rin. Nagtawanan silang lahat, except kay Cash, na katabi ko na tahimik simula kanina pa.

"Sera babalaan na kita, ha. Matinik 'tong kumpare ko!" Gabe laughed before smacking Trent in the back.

Trent was smiling while waving his head in front of him because of what his friends were saying.

"Sorry, they're just drunk. Don't believe what they're saying. I'm not a chikboy," Trent whispered. His face was just an inch away from mine so that I could clearly stare at his deep set of beautiful brown eyes. I won't deny that he's incredibly attractive too. His bone structure is very manly, which contradicts his dimples, which make him look really cute. Plus, he has a dashing personality and a cosmic smile that every woman likes.

I smiled back at him. "Really ba?" I arched one brow, and that made his smile even bigger.

"You tell me when you get to know me more."

"We'll see," I replied, grinning back at him.

I was startled when Cash suddenly stood up from his seat. I turned around to look at him. I can't read his face dahil lasing na rin ako and my head is spinning.

"Let's go dance!" I exclaimed before standing up from my seat.

We've been sitting here all-night kaya ang bilis kong malasing. I need to dance para mawala iyong pagkahilo ko. And because I stood up really quickly, I lost my balance.

"Woah. Are you okay? I think you should just stay here," Trent chuckled when he caught me in his arms. His arms were wrapped around my waist, supporting my back.

I giggled and slightly poked the dimple on his cheek. "I can manage, chikboy." I replied.

"You're drunk, Sera." Curtis agreed. "Cash, why don't you take Sera home?"

My eyes landed on Cash. He looks mad. He had a scowl on his face, and he was clenching his fist. I bit my lower lip because even when he looks angry while looking at me, he still looks so hot in my eyes.

I said, "I'm not drunk nga," I tried to stand up and walk out of the booth, but I lost my balance again, but this time Cash was the one who caught me.

"Let's go home," he firmly said. I was stunned because this time he looked angry na talaga kaya wala akong nagawa kung hindi tumango sakaniya.

My head felt heavy, and I couldn't properly walk. I just waved them goodbye. Cash's arms were wrapped around my waist to support my balance. I inhale his familiar scent. Bakit ang bango pa rin niya kahit maghapon siyang nagtrabaho? It's so unfair lang!

He carefully places me on the passenger side before he walks around to the driver's side. I watched him run his hand through his hair as soon as he sat on his side. He loosens up his necktie and unbuttons the first two buttons of his suit.

He looks so effing hot when he does that! He looks so frustrated, but he also looks so hot!

I chewed my lower lip before looking at him. "Are you mad?" I mumbled.

Tinignan niya ako bago huminga nang malalim. His eyes soften.

"No, I'm not mad."

I pouted a little. "Really ba? Then why do you look like that?"

"Like what?"

I replied, "Like you're going to punch someone in the throat," which made him chuckle. Nawala iyong kaba sa dibdib ko when I heard him laugh.

"I'm not mad nga," he repeated. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Prove it."

"How?" he asked, and I just gave him a shrug.

I rested my head on the headrest while looking at him. I waited for him to prove to me that he was not mad. He was in deep thought.

"Never mind. Hatid mo na nga lang ako." I gave up when he didn't do or say anything after a minute had passed. I crossed my arms against my chest and looked straight ahead.

He chuckled again. "You're unbelievable," he amusingly said.

I frowned at him, but he just grinned at me. I really wanted to ask him why he did not reply to my text this afternoon, but I feel like I'm crossing the line. I really should stop breaking our rules because this won't do any good for me. And besides, it's not like he has an obligation to reply to me whenever I send him a text 'di ba. So, I really can't do anything but just forget and move on.

"I want to rest." I just told him and closed my eyes.

I waited for him to start the engine of his car, but he didn't.

"I'm sorry. I was really busy at work because we were closing a huge deal with our client, and I didn't get a chance to reply to your text," he said before sighing deeply. My eyes remain closed because I'm afraid I'll say something that I'll regret if I look at him right now.

My heart is beating so fast!

Why is he suddenly explaining it to me?

"I promise I didn't intentionally ignore your text message because of what happened this morning. I was just really busy..." he sincerely said. His eyes didn't waver while he is explaining to me.

I breathed deeply. "Apology accepted," I said, before slowly opening my eyes.

His eyes landed on mine before he stared at my lips. I licked my lips unconsciously.

"You don't really have to explain—"

I couldn't finish my sentence because he quickly cupped my face and kissed me full on the lips. My arms automatically wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

"I'm sorry," he said, against my lips.

"Just shut up and kiss me," I replied, while kissing him deeply. I felt him smile against my lips.

I grabbed his hair and let myself get drowned by his kisses. His hand landed on my inner thigh and began gently squeezing it.

He was able to take control of my feelings so that I'm starting to get afraid that he might be able to put back the broken pieces that were once shattered.

"I'm sorry for not eating breakfast with you this morning," I said as we drew back to catch our breath.

He smiles at me. "Apology accepted," he replied.

"And let's have breakfast and dinner tomorrow."

"You don't have work tomorrow?" I asked, a little bit excited.

"I do, but that can wait," he answered. I smiled at him and nodded my head.

"Okay, let's do that." I agreed before pulling him and kissing him again on the lips.

Well, I guess our rules were set to be broken.

W H A T Y A S E Y