SOFT

"UNA NA kami, Zar!"

I look up from the screen and push my glasses that are already sliding down my nose. "Uwi na kayo?"

"Gabi na kasi. Baka ma-traffic pa kami pauwi," ani Pauline habang hinihintay si Jason, her boyfriend and my genius co-worker. She always picks him up when we stay late at work. Ganoon din si Jason kapag siya naman ang maagang nakakauwi.

"Sigurado kang mamaya ka pa uuwi? Pwede kang sumabay sa amin," Jason offers after he collects his stuff from his table. Alam niyang coding ako ngayon kaya hindi ko dala ang koste ko.

Nauna na ang mga kasamahan namin at kami na lang ang natitira sa opisina, pero ngayon mukhang ako na lang mag-isa.

I sigh. "Mayroon pa akong tatapusin e. Ayos lang, nasa baba pa naman si Kuya David."

I need to get this done before tomorrow. Bukas na ang schedule ng dress fitting ni Angel at mahigpit akong sinabihan ni Cynthia na kailangan kong pumunta, considering that I skipped our first dress fitting.

Kung hindi lang sinabi ni Kiefer sa akin na day off ko bukas dahil kailangan ako n'on, I don't have to stay overtime to finish my work.

Matatapos ko na sana ito kahapon pa, but that bastard...

Pumikit ako at huminga nang malalim. This is not the time to be bothered, Zara. You need to focus with lots of energy!

Binalik ko ang mata ko sa screen at hinanap ang naka-pause na video na nahanap ko sa YouTube kanina. I click play and resume watching compilation videos of cute cats. I just find cats calming ever since I was a kid. They're my comfort friends when I feel overwhelmed with emotions.

Pagkatapos ng nangyari kahapon sa opisina ni Blue, I just couldn't calm myself. The desire to commit violence was so strong it was making me mad! Wala nang ibang laman ang isip ko kundi ang mag-isip ng kung anu-anong masasama na pwede kong gawin sa lalaking iyon, kaya wala halos akong natapos kagabi hanggang sa pauwiin na kami ni Kiefer.

Meow.

Napangiti ako sa ginagawa ng pusa. It's a beautiful black and white Aegean cat that reminds me of my Kiki.

She's an Aegean breed given to me by my mom when I was fourteen. It's the white cat with deep golden eyes that was lingering around our doorstep every day.

I always feel homesick when I first came to Athens. I was twelve then, and I was sad about leaving my grandma and my grandpa and my friends. Marami ang stray cats sa lugar namin. They're everywhere, and people just love to feed them kahit na hindi nila mga alaga. Given how loving my mother was, she just adopted Kiki and took it home one day. She said cats could comfort me when I'm lonely or feeling overwhelmed.

At least, that was what I believed then.

What I didn't know was she only brought it home so she could take distract me every time my dad would try to beat her. She knew I was fond of cats and Kiki was just so lovely. She would tell me to walk Kiki and play with her when Dad comes home.

I didn't know it until I was eighteen when Kiki died. Dad came home late and drunk and my mom was in my room trying to comfort me because of the death of my cat. Bigla ay hinatak niya si Mama at hinila pabalik sa kwarto nila.

I can't forget that night. Dad was so furious, and Mom was just yelling at me to stay in my room and not to worry. And she's saying that with so much fear in her eyes.

Itinuon ko ulit ang isip ko sa pinapanood ko. Thinking about the past only breaks me, at ayoko nang balikan pa iyon.

I'm pulled out from my thoughts when I hear my phone ringing on my desk. Sinilip ko iyon at napakunot ang noo nang makita ko ang contact name. It's Kiefer.

A blasting noise greets me upon answering, at bahagya ko pa iyong nailayo sa tainga ko sa gulo at lakas ng ingay. "Boss?" I say, not sure if he can even hear me. Masyadong maingay ang paligid niya.

"Overtime ka ngayon?" he asks at the top of his voice. "Who's there with you?"

"Kakauwi lang ni Sam at Jason kanina," malakas ko ring sigaw, at rinig na rinig iyon sa sa buong floor. I sound completely crazy.

"Office?" I hear someone shouting from the line. It's Blue.

Where are they anyway? Sounds like they're in a club.

"Si Zara..." Kiefer's telling him, pero hindi ko na sila marinig nang maayos. The music is muffled and all I hear is the movement of his hand. He must be covering his phone while talking to Blue.

Instant irritation fills me once again when I remember how he humiliated me yesterday at lunch. Mabuti na lang at umuwi din siya kaagad kahapon, because I couldn't have faced him and his arrogant smirk.

Oh my God! That was so embarrassing! Kahit hanggang ngayon ay gusto kong ibaon ang mukha ko sa kamay ko sa kahihiyan. I was so alarmingly close from allowing him to kiss me, damn it! How could I be so naïve and fell into his trap! He even dared to use his devil charm to make a move on me, and I didn't even realize it.

Oh, he played me so well, I'll give him that. At naiinis ako kung bakit ko hinayaan ang sarili kong mauto.

He wouldn't even mean it if he kissed me then. Katulad ng sinabi niya, actions can lie too. So anong ibig niyang ipunto? Na hindi lahat ng nasa article tungkol sa kanya ay totoo?

"Zara," tawag ni Kiefer nang makabalik siya sa kabilang linya. "Anong oras ka matatapos d'yan mamaya?"

"Depende." I check my screen for the time and count an estimate of three hours. "Maybe I'll check out at nine." I just hope I finish everything by then. Hindi ko pa man din dala ang kotse ko ngayon.

"Okay. I'll tell David to check up on you from time to time," he says, referring to our security guard. Mabuti na lang at si David ang duty ngayon. Hindi sa wala akong tiwala sa ibang personnel dito, but I just feel safe when he's the one guarding the building.

Napangiwi ulit ako nang marinig ko ang malakas na hiyawan nila. "Try not to stay too late, okay? Ayokong mapagalitan na naman ng kaibigan mo kapag hindi ka dumating bukas."

I chuckle at that because I know exactly what he means. Cynthia might be a brat, but she has a knack for snapping orders at anyone. Kawawa lang itong boss ko sa kanya.

I go back to work right after he ends the call, burying all thoughts of Blue and his devil grin.

***

I CAN feel the strain pulling on my eyes. Hindi ko na alam kung anong hilod ang gagawin ko sa ulo ko para lang mawala ang antok ko. I even tied up my hair haphazardly, which I rarely do just to make my head feel a little lighter.

It's only eight in the evening. May isang oras pa ako rito, but I already feel sleepy. I want to take a nap, pero nag-aalinlangan ako dahil baka makatulog ako at hindi ko mabantayan ang oras. Kaunti na lang ang hindi ko natatapos, so if I can manage to stay awake for the next hour, I will. Ayokong may hinahabol na naman akong trabaho, and Cynthia will be very mad if I bring my Mac tomorrow.

Coffee, I tell myself. I just need coffee.

Agad kong naramdaman ang pagod ng katawan ko sa pagtayo ko dahil sa kakaupo nang ilang oras. My back and shoulders are aching, and my ass is burning. God, I need to do yoga again. Kaya siguro mabilis akong mapagod ngayon dahil ilang buwan na akong hindi nakakapasok sa yoga class ko.

I take off my glasses and do some quick stretching before heading to the mini kitchen where they store several snacks and instant coffee packets, pero pinili kong uminom ng organic black coffee dahil kailangan ko ng mas matapang na kape para hindi antukin.

But the freaking machine isn't even working. "What the..." Pinindot ko ulit iyon pero wala pa ring nangyari. Damn it!

I stab the button again. And again. Nothing happens. "Come on!" I groan in frustration.

"Maybe you should try pressing it gently. Baka mas gumana," a deep voice says behind me.

What the fuck!

Mabilis akong napalingon sa takot. "Gia ónoma tou Theoú!" I gasp, clutching at my chest, feeling as if my heart jumped inside my throat. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" I snap, slightly relieved when I recognize Blue—and not some crazy killer.

He's leaning against the wall of the door, crossing one ankle over the other while his jacket is hanging on the crook of his finger, holding it behind him. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he says amusedly, not sounding sorry at all.

I give him a glare before turning around to turn my attention back to my coffee. 'Di ba nandoon siya sa club? What's he doing here, anyway?

"Was that Greek?" I hear him say as I continued stabbing the machine. "That explains the sexy accent."

Ugh. I groan inwardly and roll my eyes. This manslut just never stops, does he?

"May kailangan ka?" I ask, not hiding my irritation. Gabing-gabi na. Ano pang ginagawa niya rito sa opisina? He didn't even bother coming this morning.

"Just checking on you. I'm a concerned boss, and I couldn't let Kiefer's favorite employee stay here unattended," he mocks.

How sweet.

Mas lalo kong pinanggigilan ang coffee machine. Damn it! Come on, you stupid thing!

"That poor thing," narinig ko ulit na sabi niya. "Don't push it so savagely," he says, and suddenly, he's there. Behind me.

My breath catches as soon as I feel his tall presence looming over me. I can feel the way his chest pressed between my shoulder blades and the soft touch of his hard and strong thighs against the cheeks of my bottom.

Crap!

I suddenly feel the need to escape and be as far away from him, but he stops me when he covers my hand with his wide one, sending electricity through my entire body.

"Mahinahon dapat," he drawls against my ear, his breath teasing the tiny hair on my nape in a warm caress as those long strong fingers guided my fingertips to the button and pressed on it softer than I did. "There, do it like that."

And just like that, the stupid coffee machine works.

"Try it next time. Don't terrorize the poor thing," he mocks as the machine filled my cup with hot liquid.

Noon ko lang siya nagawang lingunin nang magsimula siyang lumayo sa akin at muling bumalik sa pintuan. He leans there again as his half-lidded gaze slides over me, and I feel it like a caress. Fuck! I don't really react this way to anyone, and my heart just wouldn't calm down!

"Thanks," I mutter stiffly. Why didn't I feel like this for Nico? He was my first boyfriend. He was handsome, nice, and sweet, but I never thought of him as someone attractive.

Because he was a boy. And Blue Steele was not a boy at all.

I cup my coffee between my hands and let the heat soak through my skin. I notice he's in a white shirt that molds his masculine chest perfectly. The top buttons are undone, and his sleeves are rolled up halfway, revealing those hair-roughened forearms. Just by looking at it, I could tell he was earning those gym visits pretty well.

Tinitigan ko siya. Now that I'm looking at him properly—which I realize I haven't done since that night at the club—I notice he has a set of thick eyebrows that cloak his dark eyes and expressive lashes, perfectly sculptured nose, and a hard jaw peppered with a day-old dark stubble. My gaze moves lower to his lips. He has a fuller lower lip, sensual and naughty.

His tall built and virile body could make any woman feel dainty and vulnerable. He can intoxicate your senses just by the mere touch of his gaze. He has a potent charm, and I can understand why women fall like dominoes when he flashes that fallen angel's smile. He has that wildness in him that every girl wants to tame. He represents everything sinful and wicked.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanya. His seducing eyes welcomed my assessing ones. "I keep thinking about yesterday," aniya. "I bet those hands are itching to slap me right now, huh."

"Bakit ko naman gagawin iyon?" Liar. Ngayon pa lang iniisip ko nang itapon itong kape sa kanya.

"Cute," he says, unconvinced. "But I don't believe you. I haven't forgotten what you did to my foot. Aminin mo na. Gustong-gusto mo nang ibato sa 'kin iyang baso." Naningkit ang mga mata niya nang ngumiti siya.

"Hindi po ako gano'n kaagresibo, sir." I give him my best saccharine smile.

He suddenly laughs his deep melodious laugh and shakes his head. "Aren't we past the formality by now? Besides, tayo lang naman ang nandito. It isn't office hours, so Blue is fine."

"Well, I'm a polite person, so sir is fine," sabi ko sabay iling. Thanks to him, I remember I'm supposed to be doing something and not having this idle chat.

I push myself away from the counter and decide to leave him there, pero hindi siya tumabi para padaanin ako. He stays there, not moving, his size blocking half of the entryway. Pwede naman akong lumusot, but that would mean brushing either my breast or my butt cheeks on him.

"If you don't mind?" I say politely, placing my cup of coffee between us. I feel like I need to put some distance from him and a barrier, especially when his dark brooding eyes are gleaming with interest as his gaze slides over me.

But my cup doesn't stop him from coming closer. Nothing can really stop him if he wanted something.

Despite the desire to appear strong and unfazed, there's just something about him that's causing me to take a step back. Pero pinilit kong huwag gumalaw, and it's hard especially when he reaches out to touch the fallen strands of my hair.

"I'm curious," he says softly, brushing my hair away from my face. "What would be my penalty if I steal a kiss from you?"

Isa na naman siguro 'to sa mga pickup lines niya. Gusto kong mailing. What makes him think I'm that easy? Dahil sa nangyari kahapon sa opisina niya?

"Ba't 'di mo subukan?" I hold his gaze with a flicker of challenge.

His eyes narrow as they fall temptingly to my mouth and go back up at my eyes. It's as if he's mutely asking me if it's okay to take it and have a taste. "Are you flirting with me, kitten?"

I scowl. "Tabi!" Damn politeness!

But he only flashes a mocking grin at my infuriation. "Denying it won't change the truth, you know."

I swear, there's something wrong with this man!

Sa inis ko'y itinulak ko na siya nang bahagya para dumaan. "Just so you know, I would've kicked your balls if you tried to kiss me."

"What makes you think I'd kiss you?" rinig na rinig ko pa ang panunukso sa boses niya.

Are we playing some sort of lying game here? Kapal ng mukha.

"Sabi mo kanina hindi ka nananakit. Aren't you self-contradicting?" tuloy niya habang nakabuntot sa akin. "Well, I was tempted, but there are CCTV cameras here if you didn't notice."

"I didn't know you're so worried about your reputation," I say mockingly. Of course. Blue Steele only goes out on dates with hot models and actresses and beauty queens. Not old plain jane.

He chuckles, sounding pretty close behind me. Kahit ano pang bilis ng lakad ko, I can't shake him off. "Just didn't want Kiefer to think I'm taking advantage of his favorite employee."

Talaga lang, ha?

"I have an idea," biglang sabi niya.

I slow down and round my gaze on him, curious, but his hot intense look is making me think twice. "'Wag mo nang ituloy."

But he still does. "Let's go out tonight, have dinner, talk, spend the night together..." He's looking at me like he owns me, and it makes little sparks fly around inside my stomach like a fluttering bird.

"Are you tempting me to sleep with you?"

"Is that a bad idea?" With one eyebrow arched, his voice drops lower into a drawl. "You know you want me."

"Sobra," I say dryly with a roll of my eyes and walk away, cursing the betraying blush I could feel all over my neck. What is wrong with me?

He laughs and falls into step beside me. "Just tell the truth, Zara. You're afraid to let yourself go with me."

I just roll my eyes again as my heart rushes off to another excited trot when his sleeve brushes against me. "Not everyone thinks you're irresistible, you know," I tell him, trying to ignore his closeness but my darn body won't allow it. His warm and near presence is making me feel conscious of my body in a way that I never felt before. "And stop seducing me, because it will never work."

"Where's your sense of fun?" he teases. "Just imagine what we can do together..." he trailed off with a seductive voice that was full of promise. "Are you really sure you want to turn down my offer?"

I send him a censuring look that belied the turmoil that was going on with my body. "Oo, dahil wala akong mapapala."

"Honey, you're wrong."

Tumigil ako para na rin lumayo sa kanya at hinarap siya nang nakahalukipkip. "Really? Then what's in it for me?"

His eyes gleam provocatively. Primitively. Dangerously. "You can have me for as long as you like. Kahit paulit-ulit pa."

Pinasadhan ko siya ng tingin. "Sorry, don't want it," I reject, quickly looking away from that devilish glint and walking away. Mabilis akong umupo sa swivel chair ko at ibinaba roon ang hawak kong baso. The thing has gone almost cold now.

Nakasunod pa rin sa akin ang salot. He takes his time walking over until he's standing beside my desk. He rests his hip on it while pushing a hand inside his pocket. Hawak pa rin niya ang hinubad niyang jacket.

He's suddenly quiet, making me feel suspicious, but I can still sense his gaze resting on me, cutting and dissecting me.

Never mind him.

I pick up my glasses and put them on. Hindi ko na-realize na hindi ko pala suot ang salamin ko kanina pa. I look at the screen and see that I only have less than an hour to finish. If I fail, baka nga kailanganin kong magdala ng Macbook bukas, but I would rather stay longer in here and finish than do that. To face Cynthia's wrath is worse than my mood swings.

Nagsimula na akong magtipa ng mga letra nang marinig ko siya. "Did you love him?"

Napamaang ako sa kanya. "Huh?"

"Your ex," he says, looking uncomfortable now. "Did you—um—love him?" Tumikhim pa siya.

I give him an ironic glance before I resume typing. Hindi ko mapigilan ang ngiting lumabas sa bibig ko.

"Are you smiling?"

"Because that was a funny question, especially coming from you."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Why's that?"

I stop to look at him. "You don't date, remember? You're the nation's favorite playboy!"

Kumunot ang noo niya na tila hindi maintindihan ang ibig kong sabihin.

I sigh. "Na-in love ka na ba?"

His frown deepens and he hesitates a little too long. "No."

"Do you see yourself falling in love in the near future?"

He gives me a sardonic look. "I thought we're talking about you."

I sigh again. Ayoko sanang sagutin ang tanong, but I figured he wouldn't stop pressing until I surrender. "No, I did not love him," I say honestly. Mas mabuti nang sagutin siya ng diretso para matapos na. "I don't think I was really in love."

They say that when you get heartbroken, the deeper you fell, the harder to move on. But when we broke up, I didn't even cry. I was angry, but I didn't really bawl my eyes out, and that's how I realized I didn't really love him the way people do when they fall in love. The way my mom did with my dad.

Maybe that's why she didn't leave him even when he was hurting her.

"How do you do it?" I silently ask him.

"Do what?"

"Move on so easily from one girl to the another. Hindi ka ba natatakot na may nasasaktan ka?" Does he have any conscience at all?

His lips tilted in an ironic smile as if he found my question so ridiculous. "I'm always clear about what I want and what I can and can't give. No promises, no commitments, no ring, no expectations, no strings attached, and no heart will be broken. That's it."

Nothing but physical and lust.

I squint my eyes at him. "Did you ever 'love' someone? What?" I say defensively when he was going to dodge again. "Hindi pwedeng ako lang ang sumasagot,"

"I don't believe in...it." His brows knot as I watch his dark brown eyes lock me out like a shutter coming down.

He doesn't believe in love.

"Why not?" wala sa sarili kong naitanong, because thinking that we both have the same thoughts is suddenly disrupting to me. What happened to him that has affected his perception of the word? Word, because the emotion itself is still unknown to me.

He only answers with a neglectful shrug as if it were the most boring question and rests his chin on his palm. "When was the last time since you shared a bed with a man?" he suddenly asks me while his eyes dance with interest, effectively changing the subject.

I hold his eyes thoughtfully. I have to give him points for outmaneuvering me so fast, but I'm starting to think that behind that devil-may-care attitude he has, there's a dark scar he's hiding somewhere inside.

"I won't answer that." Inayos ko ang salamin ko at binalingan na lang ang mga letra sa harap ko. Codes are simpler than this indecipherable man.

"Hey," tawag niya sa akin. "Why do you wear contacts?"

"What?" Bumalik ulit ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"Your eyes. They're hazel..."

I blink self-consciously.

"They're violet yesterday. They were dark brown last Saturday," he enumerates. "Why are you wearing glasses if you already have contacts?"

Now it's my turn to curb his curiosity, pero bago ko pa man siya magawang sagutin ay bigla siyang napatingin sa bulsa niya. Inilabas niya mula roon ang cellphone niya at nagtaas ng hintuturo sa akin. "I'll be back."

Wala sa sariling napahawak ako sa salamin ko at itinaas iyon kahit na hindi naman iyon nawawala sa ayos. How did he notice my lenses, anyway?

***

AGAD kong ibinagsak ang katawan ko nang matapos ko rin sa wakas ang trabaho. I'm relieved that I took only thirty minutes to finish checking and fixing some errors at pwede na akong mag-day-off bukas.

I reach for my unfinished coffee at napangiwi ako nang malasahan ang malamig na laman. I never really needed the damn caffeine because Blue kept me awake.

Speaking of, hindi na ulit bumalik ang lalaking iyon pagkatapos niyang sagutin ang tawag niya. That must be a girl he quickly ran off to.

Ayos na rin iyon kaysa sa narito siya. He would only keep me away from my work. Baka kung anu-ano pa ang maisipan niyang itanong sa akin o sabihin, and it's not like I was keeping him entertained.

Tiningnan ko ang oras. Ilang minute na lang bago mag-alas nwebe. I need to go home, baka wala pa akong masakyan. Naghihintay na rin si Kuya David sa ibaba, at nakakahiya naman kung paghihintayin ko pa siya.

I move to pick up my bag, at napaigik ako nang maramdaman ko ang sakit sa batok ko. Mabilis ko iyong hinilod.

Oh my God! Buti na lang at may spa appointment kami bukas because I think I really need it. I've never been so grateful for Cynthia!

Ilang sandaling stretching pa ang ginawa ko bago ko inayos ang mga gamit ko at saka pinatay ang desk lamp. Now that it's off, I realize how dark and deep the night is. Ang dilim-dilim na pala kahit alas nwebe pa lang.

Mabilis akong sumakay sa nakabukas na elevator at agad na pinindot ang ground floor imbis na sa basement kung saan ako nagpa-park tuwing hindi ako coding. Darkness doesn't really scare me, pero kapag tinatakot ko na ang sarili ko, ibang usapan na iyon.

"Uwi na po kayo, ma'am?" si Kuya David nang makababa ako galing elevator.

I smile at him when I reach the revolving door and walk out of the building, sniffing the warm night breeze. "Salamat, kuya. Pasensya na natagalan. Uwi ka na rin at magpahinga."

"Sige po, ma'am. Ingat po kayo ni sir."

My shoes halt at that. "Sino—"

"Finally," a voice interrupts just as I'm about to turn to the guard. Hinanap ko ang boses na iyon, and only then that I see Blue casually leaning over the hood of his Rover.

Bumangon siya at tumalon mula roon na tila walang pakialam kahit mawala man sa ayos ang damit niya. But in fairness to him, his shirt seems to like clinging to his chest because it looks perfectly sleek on him. That also goes to his pants.

"You done?" salubong niya sa akin.

Pinakatitigan ko siya. Don't tell me...

"Told you I was here as a concerned boss," he says, reading the unspoken question on my face. "Let's go if you're ready to leave." Iyon lang at naglakad na siya pabalik sa kotse niya.

"Let's go out tonight, have dinner, talk, spend the night together...just imagine what we can do..."

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko nang biglang pumasok sa utak ko ang mga pinagsasasabi niya kanina sa opisina.

Skatá!

He stops when he opens his door, frowning when he notices I'm still standing where he left me. "Don't be scared, kitten," he teases. "As much as I want to, I'm not the kind to force a woman. I wait. And I'm good at waiting." At pumasok na siya sa loob. He even honks to get me moving.

Damn brute!

I open the door and get in. I buckle my seatbelt and try to calm the racing of my heartbeat as he begins driving away from the parking lot. Sa unahan ko lang itinutok ang buong paningin ko, but I can still see him every time he's trying to glance at me.

He shifts gears and I have to stop myself from moving my legs away from his touch. This car is stupidly small. He just makes everything seem so small.

I hear him chuckle kaya napatingin ako sa kanya, and I feel my heart flip over. "Relax, Zara. You're safer with me than some stranger. And before you think if I was planning to take you home, I didn't. This is me doing your friend a favor."

"Sino?"

"Cynthia," agad niyang sagot.

My shoulders loosen. How come Cynthia knows about my schedule? Na mag-o-overtime ako? Probably Kiefer? Or him? Tinapunan ko si Blue ng tingin.

Nakaangat ang labi niya habang pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa daan at sa akin. "You seem more relax now."

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. Now that the tension left my body, exhaustion takes over me. I don't even want to talk to him. Hindi ko na napigilan ang paglabas ng hikab sa bibig ko. Two days of working overtime left me drained, and I can't wait for that spa treatment.

"You can rest. Mukhang napagod ka kanina."

Tinapunan ko siya ng masamang tingin at agad siyang natawa. "Seriously, you should stop suspecting my every word and action. Mabait talaga akong tao."

"Why don't I believe that?" I murmur weakly. Kailangan ko na sigurong kumain. Mababa na naman ang blood sugar ko nito.

"Here," aniya. Itinigil niya bigla ang koste sa gilid ng daan at agad na nagbukas ng seatbelt niya. I don't even have the chance to ask what's he doing because he's already leaning over me and reaching for something under my seat.

I'm just holding my breath while my heart bounces like crazy inside my chest. And then my seat smoothly moves lower.

"That okay?" Blue asks me and I can only nod because he was just so fucking near me. "Try to sleep. Gigisingin agad kita kapag andoon na tayo," he says as he moves back to his seat.

Pinagmasdan ko siya habang isinusuot niya pabalik ang seatbelt niya. "Papaano mo malalaman ang address ko kung matutulog ako?"

"I've got that covered, kitten. Now sleep and get some rest." He smiles, and I fucking think that I'm already dreaming—because Blue Steele doesn't smile gently.

***

THE CAR isn't moving. Iyon agad ang napansin ko nang magising ako.

And then I remember I was on my way home...with Blue.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon mula sa upuan nang matagpuan ko siyang nakatitig sa akin. Has he been watching me this whole time I was asleep?

"Bakit hindi mo ako ginising? You said you were gonna wake me up!"

He chuckles. "Believe me, I did. Pero pinapalo mo lang ang kamay ko at sinasabi mong ayaw mong paistorbo."

I did that?!

"Yeah, you did. And you were mumbling a lot so I couldn't really steal a kiss."

Pinandilatan ko siya. That was what he meant when he said I'm safer with him?

"Relax, I'm only kidding. You're too uptight."

He was still talking when I swiftly unbuckle my seatbelt in case he pulls another stupid thought. Narinig ko siyang tumawa. "I'm not going to jump on you, you know. I'm still a perfect gentleman."

I scoff. Gentleman, my ass!

You can't really lower your guard when you're with this man. His talent in charming ladies is not to be underestimated—one thing I learned about him. No wonder he has the reputation of being irresistible.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan ko at bumaba agad. Narinig ko din siyang bumaba sa kabila. Why is he stepping down?

I'm frowning the whole time I walk to my front door, biting my cheeks. I think I've never been this nervous. At bakit ba ako nininerbyos nang ganito? This isn't me.

I mentally slap myself to come back to my senses. Nang masiguro kong medyo maayos na ulit ang tibok ng puso ko ay nilingon ko si Blue. He's just watching my obvious discomfort in amusement while standing a few feet away from me, hands in his pockets.

"Do you know what you need?" he asks. "You need a little fun in your life. Something that will loosen your knots and let your hair down. A little promiscuity, perhaps?"

I scoff. "Hindi ako katulad ng ibang babaeng..." naikama mo na, I wante to say. But I stop myself. "You're just saying that because you want to test me and see if I will invite you in. But I'm not that kind of girl you have sex with and leave the next morning." I may not believe in love, but I value my dignity and my body. And this body deserves better than a one-night stand.

Tahimik siya habang dahan-dahang lumapit. His face is unreadable. I can't tell if he's angry or offended or just his usual mischievous self, but I sure am feeling the nerves tingling all over my body.

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang tumayo siya sa harap ko. I refuse to feel intimidated by his height and close proximity, damn it! But I just can't help but feel that way with how he's looking at me. His eyes are heavily lidded and unbelievably sexy right now.

"Answer me this, then," he murmurs while looking at me with that crazy I-want-to-fuck-you eyes. Bedroom eyes. "If you could have an affair—nothing serious, just a month of wild sex—would you invite me in?"

Napaatras ako. I suddenly feel anxious that if I don't step back, his words will suck me in. But I don't go that far because he's holding my hands. He closes the gap between us without even seeming to take a step. I draw in a scratchy breath, smelling the martini on his shirt and the familiar citrus scent of his aftershave.

And then I watch his head leaning closer, his mouth coming down. For the briefest moment, I feel his firm yet soft lips on me, touching mine in a whisper of a kiss. It leaves my lips tingling for more. Wanting for more. But he's already pulling away from me.

He's smiling, eyes dancing with such evil wickedness. "Told you, soft works like magic every time," he whispers just before he turns away, climbing inside his car and driving off, leaving me there snarling in silent rage at the reminder of the broken coffee machine.

Ano ako? Sirang coffee machine na kailangan niyang ayusin?

Fuck you, Steele!