"SHE IS... nothing but a woman I enjoy in bed."

Those words keep on repeating in my head, just like a broken disk.

I overheard a lot of things during their conversation, but Cash's words stuck with me the most.

I clenched my fist. My sharp and long fingernails dug into my palm. I bit my lower lip while staring back at my reflection in the mirror. I've been here at the washroom for God knows how long since I've heard the conversation between Cash and his father.

My phone keeps vibrating, but I didn't bother answering it... I didn't have the strength to talk to anyone right now.

I'm not crying anymore, but the immense pain that I'm feeling inside my chest right now is... unbearable.

Those words that came out of Cash's mouth are echoing... I feel like I'm gone insane dahil naririnig ko paulit-ulit iyong mga sinabi niya.

Masakit

That's the word.

Pain, excruciating pain.

"Sera! Andito ka lang pala. They've been looking for you kanina pa," nagulat ako nang biglang pumasok si Maddy sa loob ng washroom. I thought I could get a sense of peace here.

I forced a smile before facing her.

"A-Ah..." was all I could say. I feel like I'm going to break down if I say more words. I bit the inside of my cheeks to stop the tears on the verge of falling.

Her brow was slightly creased. She probably noticed the redness in my eyes.

"Okay ka lang ba?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"I'm okay lang..." I lied, and before she could even come near me, I walked past her. "I'll go ahead na," I told her. A concerned look on her face was evident. She just answered me with a small nod.

Pag labas ako ng washroom sinalubong ako ni Curtis. His face looks so worried too.

"Where have you been? I've been looking around for you! I thought something bad happened to you!" His voice was slightly raised.

I sighed and then smiled a little. "Sorry," I replied, before patting his shoulder.

"I was really worried about you, Sera."

"I know... and I'm sorry that I didn't answer your calls," I replied.

"Did you cry?" he asked and as if on cue a tear fell from my eye. I immediately wiped it away. Mas lalong nag alala iyong mukha niya. I couldn't utter a single word. Then I just felt his arms wrapping around me.

I don't know what to say...

Because how could I tell him that I'm hurting because of his cousin when I know, in fact, what I got myself into in the first place? I agreed to be just friends with benefits with Cash, and we even made some rules. We both agreed that we couldn't fall in love. We both agreed that there were no strings attached. And yet, we still broke those rules and crossed the lines.

I crossed those lines...

So, how could I tell anyone that I'm hurting when I know that I did this to myself.

It is my fault that I let myself have feelings for him when I knew he was not capable of reciprocating them.

I dug this hell hole to myself.

I dug my own grave.

I broke the hug and gently pulled away from Curtis. I gave him a small smile to reassure him that I am okay.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked.

"I can go home alone. You should stay. Your dad will get mad if he finds out that you left the company's anniversary." I replied. He just sighed because he knew that I was right.

Mag pinsan nga sila ni Cash. Their fathers were both a pain in their asses. Hindi naman magkapatid ang mga tatay nila and yet they're like twins in how they treat their children.

"I can ask Kuya Crew's driver to send you back home." he offered. "Please?" he added. He looks so worried kaya I nodded my head.

"All right," I replied. He sighed in relief.

Curtis left to talk to Kuya Crew first, and I told him that I'd just wait for him outside.

I was walking my way outside nang bigla kong makasalubong si Sir VM. Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. He was just alone. Hindi kagaya dati na parati niyang buntot si Hank.

I swallowed hard and put my chin up.

"Sir VM..." I said. He's not my boss, but I know he can do great damage to my work life if I disrespect him.

He scoffed while staring back at me. "Did you enjoy listening to our conversation?" he asked, the side of his lips turning up.

"You're not the first woman in my son's life, and you should know that by now because you stubbornly eavesdropped... And you should know your place, Serenity Rose Madriaga, if you don't want to go through the same path as Cynthia," he said before walking past me.

I was shaking in anger while clenching my teeth. I let out a frustrated sighed before I resume walking away.

I just stood outside while waiting for Curtis to come back. It was quiet in here compared to the inside, where everyone was talking nonstop. I started hearing those words again now that I'm alone again.

Halo-halong emotion na iyong nararamdaman ko. I feel anger, sadness, pain, and frustration!

I just want to smash my head on the wall para mawala sa utak ko iyong mga narinig ko.

I knew there was nothing good about eavesdropping, but I still did it anyway. And what's worse is that Sir VM knew that I was listening at sinadya niyang tanungin si Cash nang ganoon because he knew that I was listening!

But even if Sir VM knew that I was listening or not, that's not why I was hurting. What Cash said to his father hurts me the most.

What if I didn't hear what Cash said to his father? What if I didn't follow Cash? What if I didn't listen to their conversation? Will I be hurting this much?

No...

I'm still probably oblivious to what Cash thinks of me...

I probably don't have any idea that I'm just someone Cash enjoys in bed.

I heard footsteps behind me, and I immediately turned around to look for Curtis, but then it was Cash that I saw.

My breathing hitched and my heart started beating faster.

See how my body reacts to him? Just the mere sight of him can make my heart do a somersault.

"C-Cash..." I stammer. His eyes landed on mine.

"Serenity..." he called before he stopped in front of me.

I exhaled sharply and immediately averted my gaze from him.

"Are you leaving?" he asked, and I merely nodded my head.

"Okay," he said, and then I felt his hand on my arm before he started walking, but I immediately pulled my arm away. His brows furrowed in confusion.

"I'm leaving... alone. You stay." I said, mas lalong kumunot iyong noo niya dahil sa sinabi ko.

"I'll drive you—"

"You don't have to."

"I insist."

"I said I'm leaving alone!" medyo tumaas iyong boses ko at pareho kaming nabigla. I didn't mean to yell at him. He doesn't know that I heard him talking to his father. He doesn't know that I heard about his ex-girlfriend Cynthia, and especially he doesn't know that I heard him say that I was just his bed warmer.

"S-Sorry..." I mumbled.

He took a step forward and held my face, making me look him in the eye.

"Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong? Do we have a problem?" Sunod-sunod na tanong niya while he was staring deeply into my eyes. Those beautiful eyes of his that I liked to stare at.

I slowly peeled his hand off my face before shaking my head.

"I'm just really tired, Cash, and I just want to go home. Besides, I am not your girlfriend, kaya you're not obligated paraihatid ako."

He didn't say anything after what I said at eksaktong nakita ko si Curtis na naglalakad na palapit samin. Napalingon din si Cash kay Curtis.

"Let's go?" I instantly said to Curtis, He looked so confused while looking at me and Cash, but he just nodded his head anyway.

"Goodnight Cash," I said without looking at him before Curtis walked me to Kuya Crew's car.

"Thanks," I told Curtis, and smiled at him when I got inside the car. The driver was sitting on the driver's side and just waiting for Curtis to close the door on my side.

"Did you two fight? Did he make you cry?" Bakas sa boses ni Curtis iyong galit.

"No." I lied. "I don't really want to talk about it," I added.

He just sighed in defeat. "Call me when you get home," he said before closing the door of the car.

I grabbed my phone to text Sir Andres sana baka kasi hanapin niya ako sa party. Hindi na rin ako nakapag paalam sakaniya, but as soon as I open my phone, I saw a lot of missed calls and unread text messages from Cash.

I ignored the missed calls and immediately deleted Cash's text messages.

I should stop torturing myself.

I should stop liking him.

He can't love someone... Siya na rin mismo ang nagsabi nun.

I should just treat him the way I treated him when I first met him.

#

"Tita Sera!" Evo beamed as soon as he saw me. I crouched down to be level with him, and he immediately wrapped his arms around my nape.

"Did you miss me ba?" I asked and he nodded his head agad.

"Tita may ipapakita po ako sayo," sabi niya at mabilis niya akong hinatak papasok ng kuwarto niya. Nginitian ko si Tia when she saw me getting pulled by Evo.

"Wait lang po Tita," he said in a cute, tiny voice while he was going through his stuff. I patiently waited for Evo.

"Wow!" I said in awe while looking at the drawing that Evo handed me.

"Ikaw nag draw nito?" I said, and he nodded his head while smiling proudly at me.

"Who is this?" I curiously asked because there were four people in the drawing. There's Tia, me, and Evo, and then there's one more guy beside me, holding my hand.

He smiled at me cheekily. "Boyfriend!" he beamed. Nabigla ako sa sinabi ni Evo at dahan-dahan kumunot iyong noo ko.

"Boyfriend?" I chuckled. "Tita Sera doesn't have a boyfriend, baby,"

Evo pouted his lips. "Bakit sabi po ni Tito Curtis dati may boyfriend po kayong iba. Kaya po sinama ko siya sa drawing ko." malungkot na sagot niya. Agad ko siyang nilapitan at niyakap.

Mabuti nalang at dumating na si Tia.

"Mama wala palang boyfriend si Tita," malungkot na sabi ni Evo sa Mama niya. Nagkatinginan nalang kami ni Tia.

"Ginawan kita ng sandwich anak. Tara kain na tayo," sabi ni Tia sa anak niya at agad namang ngumiti si Evo. I followed them to the kitchen, where we ate the sandwich that Tia made.

"Pasensya kana kay Evo ha," Tia said after Evo finished eating and left to play in his room.

I just smiled at her. "Okay lang," sagot ko. "How is he pala?" I asked.

"Okay naman na siya pero kagaya ng dati bawal pa rin masyadong mapagod nang sobra," sagot ni Tia. "Ikaw? Kamusta na iyang paa mo?"

"It's as good as new na," I replied.

It's been a couple of weeks since the Anniversary Party of The Empress and it's been a couple of weeks since I started avoiding Cash as well, but he is a very persistent person talaga. He still keeps on visiting me at my office, and he still keeps on showing up outside my unit anytime he wants.

Ako lang iyong napapagod kakatanggi sakaniya but in the end, I can't push him away.

Do we still have sex? Yes. But this time, I know my limitations and I'm keeping the rules.

I'm not going to let him sleep in my unit. I don't let him cuddle me, and especially, I will not let him crawl inside my heart again.

It was challenging, but I knew that I must endure it... because it was my fault for loving him.

"Hindi mo ba sasagutin iyang tawag?" Tia said, and that's when I came back to my senses and heard my phone ringing.

It was Cash...

W H A T Y A S E Y