Aya tried so hard to maintain eye contact with Nick after what he just said. Is he even serious? Does he even know what his words meant? Bakit ba bigla na lang din naisipan nito ang bagay na iyon? He's going to take care of her and it's sort of included in package of being his bed warmer? His whore? Gusto niyang mainsulto and at the same time, she felt butterflies in her stomach--butterflies that have no business being there.

On the other hand, would it be so bad to be taken cared of by Nick Ferrera? Hindi ba't parang ganon na rin naman ang ginagawa nito sa kanya? He's already taking care of her sexually, ano pa bang nais nito?

"There are so many ways a man can take care of a woman, Aya," he said, as if reading her thoughts. "I'm ready to provide for you--"

"I don't need you to do that." may kasama ng diin na sagot ni Aya. Heto na naman ito at mukhang balak na naman I-flex sa kanya ang pagiging bilyonaryo nito. "Like I said before, you don't need to spoil me with expensive gifts. Maliwanag naman sa akin kung ano ang extent ng relasyon natin dalawa. As long as we satisfy each other's sexual needs, that's fine with me."

"But I am not talking about taking care of your sexual needs,"

"The what are we even talking about?"

"I want you to tell me what you need me to do, where you need me to be."

Noong una ay napakurap siya sa sinabi nito. Hanggang sa nagsukatan silang dalawa ng tingin. Mukhang determinado talaga si Nick sa sinasabi nito base na rin sa paraan ng pagtitig nito sa kanya. His eyes stared at her intently as if trying to reach the depth of her soul. Napalunok si Aya. She couldn't find the right words to say.

"There you are! We've been looking for you!"

Napapitlag siya nang biglang pumasok sa veranda ang pinsan niyang si Thea kasama ang kapatid niyang si Jax at isa pa nilang pinsan na si Dolly. Mabilis siyang umayos nang upo. Nick did not look bothered at all. He sat back on his chair, looked up to the newcomers and smiled.

"Oh, Nick! You're here, too!" about tenga ang ngiti ng pinsan niya nang makita si Nick. He politely stood up to greet her cousin. Thea hugged him as if they were close which made Aya squint her eyes. Matapos ang yapusan ng dalawa ay ipinakilala rin nito sina Dolly at Jax kay Nick na siya namang kinamayan nito.

"I thought you left already," her cousin flirtatiously put her hand on Nick's chest. 

"No, I was just having a chat with Ms. Valderama. I didn't know you two were cousins." he looked at her meaningfully. Gusto sana niyang pandilatan ng mata ito ngunit aware din siyang nakatuon ang mata ng mga pinsan at kapatid niya sa kanya.

"You two know each other?" nagpalipat lipat ang mata ni Thea sa kanilang dalawa.

"Yeah, we've met...several times." makahulugang sabi ni Nick. Gusto niyang tapakan ang paa nito ngunit pinigil niya ang sarili. Ayaw niyang magkaron ng suspetsa ang kapatid niya sa anumang ugnayan nila ni Nick. Napansin niyang kunot noo na itong nakatingin sa lalaki.

She cleared her throat. "We accidentally met in a coffee shop before. It's a long story." she said, trying to dismiss the conversation.

It seemed to have worked with her cousin when Thea who's all smiles again shifted her gaze at Nick. "So? How's the gallery? Did you enjoy the party?"

"Of course! I'm actually planning on acquiring some of your paintings," he politely smiled at her. "Congratulations."

Thea beamed at him. Hindi na maiiwasan ni Aya na magtaka tungkol sa relasyon ng dalawa. Hindi kaya may nakaraan ang mga ito? Was Thea one of Nick's former lover or something? If so, this is so fucking awkward.

And annoying.

Sinawata agad ni Aya ang parteng iyon ng isip niya. Why would she be annoyed? Ano naman kung naging lover or FuBu rin ni Nick si Thea? That's none of her business. Pilit niyang ipinaiintindi sa sarili na hindi niya pag-aari si Nick, ngunit may bahagi niya na naghihimagsik sa ideya na ikinama rin ni Nick ang pinsan niya. Hindi naman sila ganon kalapit ni Thea. She grew up in the States anyway and she rarely see her. Kung hindi nga siya isinama ng kanyang ina sa event ay baka hindi siya imbitahan nito. But still, she's family. And the idea that both of them having shared a man in bed--even if it's not in the same timeline--doesn't sit well with her.

Lalong hindi niya na pigilan ang paninikip ng dibdib nang makitang umabrisyete ang pinsan niya kay Nick. Naikuyom niya ang palad bago pa niya hindi mapigilan ang sarili na kalmutin ang mukha ng pinsan.

Oh my God, Aya! That's your cousin!

She knew that and yet she wanted to rip her arm off her lover.

Lover? At kailan pa niya ikinonsidera na lover niya si Nick?

She didn't realize she was glaring at them until her brother went to stand beside her. He might have felt her unease and came to her rescue. "I don't think my sister's feeling well, Thea. Can you excuse us?"

May halong pag-aalala ang titig sa kanya ni Nick. He stepped towards her but she saw how Thea's hand tightened around his arm. 

"Are you okay, Aya?" tanong ng pinsan niya sa kanya.

"I'm fine," kumapit siya sa braso ng kapatid niya para sakyan ang pagdadahilan nito. "I think we should call it a night."

Nagpaalam na silang mag kapatid sa mga pinsan. Pinili niyang huwag salubungin ang mga mata ni Nick at kunwaring tinanguan na lamang ito. Matapos iyon ay inalalayan na siya ni Jax palayo sa mga kasama. Nasa may hagdan na sila nang bulungan siya nito. "Are you okay, Ate? Is that guy bothering you?"

Mabilis na umiling siya. "No! Ano ka ba?"

"Speaking as if hindi kita kilala," nakaismid na sagot ng kapatid niya. "I saw how you looked at Thea and that guy as if you're ready to throw hands. Is he your secret boyfriend?"

"I told you, it's nothing! Bakit ko naman gagawin kay Thea yon? And I barely know that guy. Siguro pagod ka na rin and we should probably go home."

Hindi na nag-usisa pa si Jax sa nangyari. He might have sensed her reluctance to pursue the topic at ayaw na rin naman ni Aya na dagdagan pa ang pagsisinungaling sa kapatid. Pinuntahan na lamang nila ang mga magulang na tila giliw na giliw pa sa pakikipagkwentuhan sa mga kaedaran nito. Some of them are their relatives and some are colleagues in the construction industry.

"Looks like we're not going home anytime soon." mahinang komento niya.

"Do you want me to take you home? Balikan ko na lang sila mom?"

"No need, you can stay here with them and I'll just book a Grab," she told Jax while fishing her phone from her purse.

"Ate--"

"I'll be fine, ano ka ba?" she dismissed him.

Nagpumilit ang kapatid niya na mag-book na siya ng Grab bago lumabas ng establisyimento. Hindi pa naman ganon ka-late at sigurado rin namang marami pang tao sa labas dahil maraming offices na nakapalibot sa kanila. Minsan ay masyado lang rin over-protective si Jax sa kanya.

Nang makatanggap siya ng mensahe mula sa Grab driver niya ay nakita niyang abala na ang kapatid niya sa pakikipag-usap sa ipinakilala nito sa kanyang mga classmate nito noong highschool. Hindi na niya inabala pa ito at tumuloy na sa labas. She decided to just text them that she's leaving and sent them the screenshot of her driver's profile. 

Mabilis naman niyang nakita ang kulay itim na Honda Civic na naghihintay sa tapat mismo ng entrance ng Hotel. May ilang habang na lamang ang layo niya mula sa kotse nang may biglang humagip sa braso niya. It was Nick.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Home?" maang na sagot niya rito.

He looked at the car and back at her. "That's not your car."

"Yes I know. It's a Grab." Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa tinutungo ng usapan nila. "It's been a long night, Mr. Ferrera. Enjoy the rest of the evening." kinalas niya ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa braso niya bago binuksan ang pinto ng Civic.

"You're not going home in a taxi." he said between gritted teeth. Tinanggal nito ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa pinto. He opened the door himself and spoke to the driver. Maang lamang niyang pinanood ito matapos nitong bigyan ng ilang libuhin ang driver pagkatapos ay pinaalis na iyon.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Tumuwid ito ng tayo. "I'm driving you home. You think I will let a stranger take you home?"

"It's completely safe. It's an app and I have the driver's information--"

"It's not safe, Aya. Hindi ako papayag na uuwi kang mag-isa lalo na't hindi ka sakay ng sarili mong kotse. Where's your brother anyway? I thought he was taking you home?"

"He's with our folks. Ang sasakyan ng daddy ang dala namin and we both left our cars at home."

Nick shook his head. "Hindi dapat siya pumayag na umuwi ka na mag-isa."

"I insisted."

"Kahit na." hinawakan siya nito sa siko at iginiya sa ka bilang panig ng building kung saan naghihintay ang isang valet na hawak ang susi ng isang itim na BMW sabay abot kay Nick.

"New car?"

"No. I just don't feel like using the Raptor today." Ipinagbukas siya nito ng pinto. Naisip rin  niya na kung ang pick up nito ang dala nitong sasakyan ay baka nahirapan siyang lumulan doon dahil sa taas ng takong na suot niya at sikip ng bodycon dress niya. 

She watched as Nick walked towards the other side of his car. He looked really attractive in his tux and even sexier with this kind of dominant attitude. Ngunit nang malala niya kung panong kumapit ang pinsan niya sa braso nito ay biglang nangasim ang tyan niya. She was grumbling under her breath when Nick got inside the car. Tumingin lamang ito sa kanya at piniling hindi kumibo kahit pa alam niyang marami itong gustong sabihin at itanong. He started the engine and drove off to the highway instead.

Tahimik silang pareho sa loob ng sasakyan hanggang sa sumapit sila sa isang stoplight. Once his car halted, he looked at her. "Tell me what's wrong and don't you dare lie to me. Alam kong may iniisip kang hindi maganda because we we're doing just fine before your cousins and brother entered the balcony. What's going on, Aya?"

Was she that easy to read? Napaisip si Aya. She contemplated whether to lie or just tell him what was bothering her. And since Nick already warned her about lying, she took a deep breath and decided to just get it over with. Besides, Nick could see through her anyway. Walang saysay ang pagsisinungaling dito dahil hindi rin naman ito titigil hanggat hindi nalalaman ang totoo.

"Do you have history with my cousin?" kagat labing tanong niya.

"Thea?"

Aya rolled her eyes. "Who else? Sino pa bang parang sawa kung pumulupot sa'yo kanina?"

Nick laughed at what she said. "Are you jealous, Aya? Have you forgotten about the rules?"

Heat seared her cheeks after what Nick said. Naalala nga pala niyang nakalagay sa rules na maaari itong makipag-date sa kung sinumang gustuhin nito at idinagdag mismo ni Nick na bawal silang magselos. What was she thinking? That was so fucking stupid of her. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" He asked after the lights turned green and he started driving again.

"I forgot about those rules."

Narinig niyang may ibinubulong si Nick ngunit hindi niya naiintindihan ang sinabi nito. She was about to ask him to repeat when he spoke before her. "I am not dating Thea and no we don't have history with each other. Yes, I have fucked women before you but I don't think you're going to meet any of them since most of them are either based in the states or I don't have business with them anymore that requires us to see each other occasionally."

Halos hindi matanggal ni Aya ang mata niya kay Nick habang sinasabi nito ang mga bagay na iyon. Nakahiga naman siya nang maluwag nang malamang walang anuman na namamagitan dito at sa pinsan niya. "She seems to like you."

"I am aware." he said after glancing at her for a quick moment. "But I have made it clear that I am not interested in any romantic involvement with her."

Napanguso si Aya. "Why? Maganda naman ang pinsan ko."

"It's hard to see how beautiful she is when I already have my eyes on you, Miss Valderama."