CHAPTER EIGHT

SUMASAKIT na ang mga paa niya dahil sa haba ng nilakad ngunit nagpatuloy siya para lang makalayo sa restaurant, kina Korbin at Caston.

Nagpupuyos ang kanyang damdamin sa sobrang iritasyon at kabiguan na halos bumagsak ang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata. Magkakuyom ang mga kamao, sinikap niyang ignorahin kung sino ang sumusunod sa kanya.

Zalanna pretended to be deaf and continued to ignore Caston who's behind her, following her. She wanted to escape from him and here he was, tailing her like a dog to his master.

Ang plano niya ay uuwi na siya pagkalabas niya sa restaurant kaya lang ay nagkamali siya ng liko. Napalayo tuloy siya!

"Zalanna." Caston grabbed her elbow, making her stop from walking.

Humugot siya ng hangin sa dibdib. Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang pinaghalong galit, kahihiyan, at iritasyon niya sa nangyari kanina at sa ginawa ng lalaking ito! They caught attention and that's very embarrassing!

That dinner should be peaceful. Bakit kailangan pa nitong lumapit sa lamesa nila at kulang na lang ay ihagis si Korbin palabas? The stunt that Caston made was not right and very disappointing.

"Will you stop following me?!" she hissed at him, vexed.

The lights from the posts on the side illuminated their surrounding, aside from the lights from the car that passing by. Dumoble ang hingal niya dahil bukod sa emosyon ay pagod na siya.

"Ihahatid na kita," marahan ang boses na sabi ni Caston.

Zalanna shook her head in disappointment. Hindi na siya makapaghintay na makaalis sa hawak nito at baka sakaling bumalik ang kalayaan na mayroon siya noong hindi pa nagtatagpo ang landas nilang dalawa.

Caston was too much for her. She can't handle him, his presence, him being territorial, and all of him. Hindi siya sanay na may taong nariyan lang para manduhan siya. His imposing attitude was so hard to deal with.

She was raised and she lived her life that the only commands she always obeyed were the commands from her parents and that's for her own good.

Most of her life, she's the one being followed. She's the one giving orders and the people around her obeyed her, not the other way around!

And then, unfortunately, Caston came to her peaceful life and started giving commands and even invading her personal life and decisions!

She completely understood that he may be doing that because he wanted her to pay him for bumping his luxury car, but he's really too hard to handle. She can't stand his bossiness, his commands, and his power over her!

She wanted this over! She wanted to get rid off him! Right now!

"I don't understand why do you need to be always around me or why do you keep on following me! You can just stay away and just text me if you need my damn time! Give me my own time, Caston!" she almost shouted at him because of her mixed emotions.

Iwinaksi niya ang kamay ngunit hindi naman binitawan ni Caston ang kanyang siko. Kung pipilitin niyang hilahin nang hilahin palayo rito ang braso niya, mapapagod lang siya.

The way he gripped her may be in a gentle way but it's also stern at the same time.

Isang matalim na tingin ang ipinukol niya kay Caston nang humakbang pa ito palapit sa kanya kahit nakatingala na siya.

He's damn tall. Her five and eight inches height could never level his, even if she's wearing damn high heeled stilettos.

"That bastard shouldn't kiss your hands."

Naipikit ni Zalanna ang mga mata, sobrang dismayado sa dahilan ng lalaki sa harap niya. Who cares if Korbin kissed her hand? It was just a fucking kiss and he reacted like a mad beast!

"Siguro mas maiintindihan ko ang galit mo kung sa labi ako hinalikan at nakita mong labag sa 'kin!"

At tiyak na pati siya ay magagalit din kung hinalikan nga siya ni Korbin sa labi, pero hindi naman. Kaya ano ang dahilan nito bakit ganito umasta?!

"Magkakagulo na talaga kapag gano'n." Napapaos ang medyo galit na boses nito.

Pero kahit sino ang humalik sa labi niya ay wala dapat itong pakialam! Wala naman sila nitong relasyon! He looked like a jealous boyfriend. Damn him!

Ayaw niyang isipin na nagselos si Caston dahil imposible 'yon. Sobrang imposible! The reason why she can't understand why he's so mad and did that stunt in the restaurant in front of other people!

Nang padulasin ni Caston ang palad galing sa tiyan niya papunta sa baywang niya, habang ang isang kamay ay nanatiling hawak ang kanyang siko, sinamaan niya ito ng tingin para malaman na hindi siya natutuwa sa pagiging malapit na naman nito sa kanya.

She can feel the heat from the sides of her eyes because of her emotions. At dahil ngayon na nakalapit na sa kanya si Caston at hawak pa siya, nabibitin sa mga mata niya ang luhang dapat ay kanina pa bumagsak.

Napapasulyap sa kanilang dalawa ang mga ilang dumadaan at nagdya-jogging doon. He's being touchy even in public.

They looked like a real couple and she was the girlfriend who's having tantrums, and the man in front of her was her boyfriend who's very willing to give all her whims so he would win her back.

"You're not my boyfriend! Stop acting like you are!" she blurted out.

"Hmm..."

"Kaya wala ka dapat pakialam kung makipag-date ako!"

"Now tell me, how to be your boyfriend?" His husky voice was solemn.

Zalanna narrowed her eyes. She can feel the heat on her cheeks. He looked serious and sincere when he asked that. At habang nakakatitig sa kanya, marahang hinahaplos nito ang kanyang baywang. Natutunaw ang kanyang mga tuhod.

Sa takot na baka biglang bumagsak doon, humawak siya sa matigas na braso ni Caston.

"Why are you asking that? Noong isang araw lang tayo nagkakilala!"

She's still aggressive because of her emotions and now, the fast beating of her heart was making her annoyed at herself.

Hindi katanggap-tanggap na gusto agad siya ni Caston. Maybe yes, because they shared something? And it could be the reason. Siguro ay nasarapan sa kanya? Kaya gusto siya?

Uminit lalo ang pisngi niya nang maisip ang kahalayan na 'yon. What a lame reason to like her. Mas katanggap-tanggap na nabighani ito sa ganda niya, katulad ng ibang lalaking nagkakagusto sa kanya.

She needed to stop herself from thinking about dirty stuff. Her mind suddenly became corrupted with naughty and erotic images.

"Let's say... I'm interested..." he trailed off, without breaking their eye contact.

"O baka naman nasarapan ka sa 'kin kaya gusto mo ako?" taas noong tanong niya at huli niya nang natanto 'yon!

Zalanna bit the inside of her cheek when she saw how Caston's lips curved up. He has a ghost smile on his lips.

He lowered his head until his lips reached her ear.

"You can say that too," he whispered sensually, making her gulp. "Hmm, hindi ba halata na gano'n nga? Na nasarapan ako sa 'yo... kaya ilang beses kong inulit kahit natutulog ka?"

Sa kahihiyan ay kinurot niya ang matigas na braso ni Caston dahilan kung bakit mahina itong napamura.

Sumimangot siya. Tila namamanhid ang ulo niya dahil sa narinig. Biglang nawala ang iritasyon niya at kumakalma siya kahit papa'no. He's that good in diverting their topic to another one so she would calm down.

"Hindi na 'yon mauulit!" pagalit na sabi niya nang maramdaman na nawala ang iritasyon niya bigla.

"Uh-huh." May aliw sa tono nito. "Okay then, let me take you home."

"Ayaw kong maglakad! Masakit ang mga paa ko." Humalukipkip siya.

Caston stared at her for a while and in one swift move, he carried her in a bridal style. Zalanna gasped and her eyes widened because of his move.

"Sana all binubuhat!"

"Ang guwapo!"

"Maawa naman kayo sa mga single!"

Narinig niya ang mga salitang 'yon sa isang grupo ng kabataan na nadaanan nila tapos ay naghagikhikan ang mga ito.

Leering at herself, Zalanna buried her face on Caston's chest, hiding like a scared kitten.

Kahit na nakarating na sila sa lobby ng condominium, hindi pa rin siya ibinababa ni Caston.

He's obviously familiar with the streets that he found a short cut to their building by just walking. He did not even bother to go back to the restaurant for his car.

Deretso ang lakad nito sa elevator. Nanatili namang nakatago ang mukha niya dahil may mga kasabayan sila sa loob. She's also smelling his scent. Palagi itong mabango, gusto niya 'yon.

When Paloma opened the door for them, she heard a squeal from her.

"Parang bagong kasal!" ani pa nito sabay binuksan nang malaki ang pinto. "Bakit parang pagod ang Senyorita? Nauna ba ang honeymoon, Sir Caston?"

"Paloma!" May gigil sa boses niya.

Marahan lang na natawa si Caston. Ibinaba siya nito sa mahabang sofa. Si Paloma naman ay aktibo at naghanda kaagad ng maiinom.

Caston squatted in front of her and held her feet. Hindi na siya nagprotesta nang alisin nito ang sapatos niya. She can see the redness on her heels and all over her feet.

"Okay lang 'yan. Mawawala rin ang pamumula mamaya..." mahina ang boses na sambit niya.

Caston continued to massage her feet. She tiredly rested her back. Napapapikit din siya dahil sa paraan ng pagmamasahe nito sa kanyang mga paa. He knew how and where was the right spot. It relaxed her and at the same time tickled her but it was bearable.

Zalanna glared at Paloma who was dreamily watching them. Para bang botong-boto ito kay Caston, kulang na lang ay ipagsigawan pa. Sinenyasan niya itong pumasok sa silid nito. Paloma was disappointed but she obeyed.

Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali ay tumabi na si Caston sa kanya ngunit ang mga binti niya ay nasa kandungan nito. Sa ganoong posisyon ay ipinagpatuloy nito ang marahan na pagmasahe.

"Masakit pa?" Banayad ang boses nito, para siyang hinehele.

"A bit."

His hand from her feet traveled up to her legs. Hantad na ang kanyang hita dahil umuurong na pataas ang dulo ng kanyang dress.

Caston's tanned skin was perfectly combined with her creamy white skin. Even his skin looked so virile.

Dumulas pa ang magaspang na palad nito pataas sa hita niya at umirap siya. Though he was massaging her legs, her mind was wandering again about them doing what they did last time.

"Caston." Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mata nang umabot sa hita niya ang palad nito.

"What? I'm just doing a massage," he innocently said with his low tone.

Then he continued massaging her legs up to her thighs like it was normal for him. Baka normal lang talaga rito ang ginagawa at siya lang ang nag-iisip na hindi 'yon normal? Siya lang yata ang mahalay mag-isip.

Kalaunan ay lumakas nang bahagya ang loob ni Zalanna dahil pinatay na ni Paloma ang ilaw sa kusina bago ito pumasok sa silid.

There's only a dimmed light in living room where they were sitting. At kung bigla ngang lumabas si Paloma, hindi rin naman agad sila mapapansin kung may ginagawa man silang kababalaghan doon.

At bakit niya iniisip na may kahalayan nga silang gagawin? 'Di ba ay galit siya sa ginawa nito kanina? Nasaan na nga pala ang galit niya? Nilayasan siya bigla?

"Umm, Caston..." halos paungol niyang sinabi.

He raised a brow and his hand remained near her inner thighs. His fingers slightly touched her lace thong. Ang isang kamay naman nito ay nasa paa niya, marahan lang ang pagpisil sa parteng 'yon.

"Are you teasing me?" She squinted her eyes suspiciously.

"No."

"Massage lang," she reminded him. "Stop your fingers from going somewhere."

Marahan itong natawa, pero hindi naman din siya pinakinggan. Bagkus, mas lalo pang pinag-igihan ang paghaplos sa kanyang hita at paminsan-minsan ay dumdaplis ang daliri sa manipis na tela na nagtatakip sa kanyang kaselanan.

Masyado siyang pagod para sa panibagong argumento kaya hinayaan niya na lang si Caston, lalo at nare-relax naman siya sa ginagawa nito sa kanya.

Nanghihina na halos isandal ni Zalanna ang ulo sa sandalan ng sofa. Caston pulled her closer to him until she's almost on his lap.

Malambing na isiniksik niya ang ulo sa may leeg nito. His scent attacked her nose again that made her sleepy and satisfied too.

"I have a question," she drawled.

"What is it?"

"Can a finger break a hymen?"

Naisip niya si Zakia. At bakit ba sa ganoon pang pagkakataon? Sa dami ng pwede niyang itanong, bakit 'yon pa talaga?! It was a shame but she's very curious like a wild cat.

Natigilan pansamantala si Caston sa paghaplos sa kanyang hita. Napaisip din siguro sa wala sa lugar niyang tanong.

"It depends," he whispered hoarsely.

"What do you mean?"

Caston groaned, then he slid his finger under her thong. Medyo napaahon siya sa pinaghalong pagkabigla at kaluguran. Lalo siyang sumiksik kay Caston. Ngayon ay nanghihina na talaga siyaat daig pa ang uminom ng alak dahil tila nalasing siya kaagad.

"It depends on how deep and strong you insert a finger," he said that on her ear.

"D-did you finger me last night?" Kahit siya ay hindi na halos marinig ang napakahinang boses niya.

She did not notice if he ever did? Masyado siyang lunod sa sarap at hibang sa init, hindi niya alam kung ginawa ba ni Caston 'yon sa kanya? Wala siyang maalala. Ang tanging alaala niya lang ay ang dila nito na paulit-ulit na humagod sa pagkababae niya.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Well, I tried to insert my tongue."

Kinagat ni Zalanna ang labi at bahagya itong hinampas sa dibdib na marahan na nagpatawa rito. She remembered that! He tried to tease her entrance and tried to go in. Kinikilabutan siya kapag naaalala niya dahil hanggang sa mga sandaling 'yon ay apektado siya.

Zalanna let out a small sweet moan when Caston started to slide his long finger on her femininity. Wala sa sariling ibinuka niya nang kaunti ang hita, hindi rin alam kung bakit. Her body was dominating her again.

"This will make you sleepy." He kissed her head and continued with his slow pace.

Wala pang ilang minuto ay nararamdaman niya na ang pagkabasa ng daliring 'yon dahil sa likidong inilalabas niya nang paunti-unti. She's very aroused.

"Are you going to insert your finger on me?" nakapikit na tanong niya, medyo umaawang ang labi.

"Do you want me to?"

"Your long finger could break my hymen."

"Hmm, let's try?"

Why was his voice so tempting?

Zalanna closed her eyes when she felt his finger tried to enter her, while his thumb was doing circular motion on her clitoris.

Nahahati tuloy siya. Hindi niya alam kung saan ba ang mas masarap—ang marahan na pagsubok nito na ipasok ang daliri sa entrada niya o ang paglalaro nito sa sensitibong kuntil niya.

"Caston..." she almost begged when almost half of his finger finally made it to her entrance.

"Does it hurt?" Pinatakan nito ng halik ang kanyang noo.

"Not really, but it's kinda uncomfortable?"

"It's normal."

Zalanna contented herself with that. Kinakagat niya ang balikat ni Caston kapag sobra nang nasasarapan sa paraan ng paggalaw ng daliri nito sa pagkababae niya para hindi umalpas ang halinghing niya.

Her toes curled when he focused to rub her clitoris with his thumb. Medyo dinidiinan nito ang hinlalaki roon tapos ay napakarahan na papaikutin, na nagpapabaliw sa kanya sa tahimik na paraan.

Hindi nito ipinasok ang buong daliri sa loob niya dahil na rin sa kagustuhan niya. Nakapirmi lang sa loob habang ang hinlalaki nito ang gumagalaw upang paluguran siya.

Nahihibang sa sensasyon, nakagat ni Zalanna ulit ang balikat ng binata at pinakawalan ang likido na naipon sa kanyang puson.

Caston chuckled and kissed her forehead. "My baby is so hot..."

She's damn fertile. She just realized it. She came just like that? He really knew how to please her even only using his fingers.

Caston brought her to her bed. Nawalan siya ng lakas dahil sa ginawa nilang kababalaghan.

"Please, lock the door when you leave," inaantok na bilin niya.

Nakaupo ito sa gilid ng kama niya habang nakatanday naman ang isa niyang braso sa hita nito. Kung titingnan, para bang ayaw niya itong umalis at doon na lang sa tabi niya.

"I'll see you this weekend," he said that made her open her eyes.

Sa weekend pa? Bakit parang gusto niyang magreklamo bigla? Kumunot ang noo niya, iwinaglit sa isip na hindi dapat siya madismaya kung ilang araw niya itong hindi makikita. Mabuti nga 'yon para hindi na ito aaligid sa kanya kahit ilang araw lang.

"Okay."

"But we'll keep in touch."

Of course. May atraso siya rito kaya hindi ito papayag na wala silang komunikasyon. Mukhang takot itong takbuhan niya.

"Takot ka bang takbuhan kita?"

"Hindi." Mataman ang titig ni Caston sa kanya. Hindi niya naman masuklian dahil kumakalabog lang ang puso niya kapag nagtatama ang kanilang mga mata. "Hindi mo ako matatakasan, Zalanna, kahit saan ka pa magpunta."

"Talaga, ha..." medyo mayabang niyang sinabi.

"Uh-huh. You should know by now that you cannot escape from me." He lowered his head until his lips found the side of her lips. "... understand?" Then he claimed her lips, making her close her eyes.

It was just a quick kiss, like a good night kiss. Naiwang nakaawang ang labi niya nang ilayo nito ang mukha nang bahagya. Ikinahihiya niya ang reaksyon niyang 'yon.

"I'll text you when I get home."

Inayos nito ang kumot niya, tinitigan siya nang matagal... tapos ay bumuntonghininga.

"And I'm sorry for the trouble," he sincerely whispered.

Gusto niyang mangiti ngunit pinigil niyang huwag. She did not realize how his apology mattered to her not until he apologized for what he did in the restaurant. He knew his mistake and he admitted it.

Zalanna chose to stay silent. When he realized that she did not want to speak anymore, he stood up like as if he did not really wanted to go but he had no choice.

Nang makaalis na si Caston ay gumulong si Zalanna sa kama niya na para bang nababaliw na habang sapo ang dibdib dahil sa lakas ng tibok ng kanyang puso!

Hindi niya akalain na nakaya niyang kumalma at magpanggap na wala lang ang lahat! She's really a good actress.

She wanted to call Zakia so bad to tell her what she feels about Caston, but she also needed to take this slow.

Maybe she's just overacting or being assuming? Baka naman walang kahulugan ang lahat ng ito? Hindi siya dapat umasa nang gano'n lang.

After a few minutes, Zalanna rolled over to get her iPhone on the side table.

Nakita niya kung sino ang nag-text at sa totoo lang, medyo nakaramdam siya ng saya. Kung para saan ay hindi niya rin alam!

From: Unknown Number

I'm home. Are you still awake?

Nilagay niya sa dibdib ang iPhone. Nangingiti siya. This was madness!

Bakit ba parang boyfriend niya si Caston? Ayos lang naman sa kanya kahit hindi ito mag-text. Bakit ba nagte-text pa rin ito?

Sa huli, isinantabi niya ang lahat ng tanong sa isip at nagtipa ng reply.

To: Unknown Number

Yes.

Kahit isang salita lang ang reply niya, at least nag-reply siya! It was rude if she did not reply, right?

Kaya lang para siyang nalulungkot nang hindi na nag-reply si Caston. Maybe he's not really into text thing? Well, he's mature. Maybe it's not really his thing.

"Or maybe he's with his girlfriend?" she asked herself.

Zalanna shook her head to stop from thinking about that. The woman he was with in the restaurant seemed like not his girlfriend by the way.

How did that woman address him again? Boss? Or maybe it was their endearment? It could be!

Napabalikwas si Zalanna nang mag-vibrate ang iPhone na nasa ibabaw ng dibdib at halos mapigtas ang paghinga nang makitang si Caston ang tumatawag!

Torn between pressing the red or green button, in the end, she chose the latter.

"Hello?" aniya sa malamyos na boses.

Caston remained unresponsive, so she spoke again.

"Why did you call?"

"I just wanna hear your voice," Caston said with huskiness on his tone.

Kahit ang boses nito sa tawag ay ang guwapo pakinggan! How unfair.

Zalanna played with her lips using her finger.

"You're hearing me now..." Naging malambing ang boses niya. Hindi niya alam kung paano nangyari 'yon. "Happy?" medyo pasarkastiko niyang sabi, may bahid na ng ngiti sa labi.

"Very." Then he chortled heartily.

"Are you going to be busy until weekend?"

"Yes..."

"Work?" hinuha niya.

"Yeah, and other stuff."

"Oh, okay. I'll be busy next week for my masters."

"Let me know your schedule then."

"I'll text you my schedule." She paused. "What's your work schedule?"

It was too late to realize her question. Bakit siya nagtanong ng gano'n? Dapat ay wala siyang pakialam, ha!

"It depends on the situation. Mostly, busy on weekdays."

Tumango siya. Medyo natuwa dahil kahit papa'no, alam niya ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon kahit maliit lang.

"Is your job risky?"

"Not really," he answered casually.

He appeared like he's uninterested with that topic about his job. Wala na siyang ibang maisip kaya nagpaalam na siyang matutulog na.

"I'm going to sleep."

Caston sighed on the other line.

"Alright, baby."

Ngumuso siya para supilin ang ngiti na gustong kumawala sa labi. That endearment was not bad at all.

"Good night... Caston..." his name escaped her lips softly.