Chapter 7

"You're going to get drunk, Mallory." Saway sa akin ni Sage.

I glared at him before turning back to the waitress. "Another bottle please,"

She sent Sage a knowing look before she nodded at me and scurried away.

"It's okay. You're here with me, right? I supposed you're not going to dump me in the street when I gets drunk."

Sage shot me an unbelievable look before he shook his head. Napatingin siya sa bintana nang biglang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. My heart clenched. I could only imagine Leon looking out for me right now.

Truth is, I still don't have the courage to be with him for a long time. After everything that had happened between the two of us, I think it's not even right that we're seeing each other. Hence, I need to borrow courage from the alcohol and prevent myself from shouting at him or cursing his goddamn mother.

"This is your last bottle of champagne," Sage scowled at me as the waitress placed the sealed bottle in our table. Dali-dali siyang umalis sa aming table.

"Whatever you say," I shrugged. I was about to grab the bottle but Sage caught it first. Binuksan niya iyon nang walang kahirap-hirap. He poured me a glass. Sinalinan niya din ang kaniyang sarili. Pansin kong mas maraming laman ang kaniyang baso kaysa sa akin.

I cocked an eyebrow. "So you're trying to get drunk as well?"

"I can still drive." Wika niya.

Napailing na lamang ako. For the next half an hour, we took turns sipping wine and gazing at the window. Walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa. It was supposed to be awkward and uncomfortable but with Sage, oddly, I felt at peace. Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang titigan ako hanggang sa maubos na namin ang laman ng bote.

"Waitress—"

"Okay, that's enough." Wika ni Sage. "Bill, please."

I glared at him and stomped on my chair like a child. Inilapag ng waitress ang aming bill. Sage placed his credit card and pulled himself up.

"Let's go . . ." he said.

I swatted his hands away when he tried to touch me. "I said no touching, remember?"

Sage sighed. "Fine."

"Sir, excuse me po . . ." the waitress nervously tapped him on the shoulder. Napalingon si Sage sa kaniya. "There's a problem with your credit card. Hindi po siya binabasa ng aming machine,"

"Goddamit," kumunot ang noo ni Sage at sinundan ang babae papunta sa counter. I took it as an opportunity to head out of the restaurant, trying to walk straight.

Nang makalabas na ako ay dali-dali kong hinubad ang aking suot na heels. "Damn heels," I gritted my teeth and looked around.

Suddenly, I heard a chuckling voice from a distance. Napalingon ako. A tall guy in a suit is sitting just outside the restaurant, smoking.

"If it hurts your feet, why bother wearing them?" he asked as he drags his cigarette from his mouth.

"Who the hell are you?"

Namataan kong papalapit na si Sage sa aming direksiyon. Biglang sumama ang kaniyang mukha lalo pa't lumapit ako sa lalaki.

"Nevermind it. I'm Mallory Rose Castillo . . ." I stuck out my hand. Saktong paglabas ni Sage mula sa pintuan. "Care to drop on my place tonight?"

"Mallory!" galit na asik ni Sage. Bago ko pa man matanggap ang kaniyang kamay ay hinablot niya ito papalayo sa lalaki at sinamaan siya ng tingin. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What? I'm just making friends!" protesta ko.

He took a deep breath, as if he's trying to restrain himself. "Let's go home." Aniya

"Bye!" I waved at the man and even blew him a flying kiss. Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak ni Sage sa akin at sumama ang kaniyang mukha. Napahalakhak ako sa aking isipan.

Sage- 1

Mallory- 1

We both raced to his car since it's raining but we eventually got soaked in the rain the moment we climbed inside his vehicle. Itinapon ko sa backseat ang aking heels at minasahe ang aking namamagang paa. I didn't know a pair of heels that beautiful is enough to make me suffer the entire night.

"Don't do it again." Tiim-bagang na wika ni Sage habang inaatras ang kaniyang sasakyan.

"Do what?" pagmaang-maangan ko.

"Don't offer yourself to strangers like that!" galit niyang sigaw. "What are you, a stripper?"

Nawala ang ngiti ko sa mukha sa kaniyang sinabi. "What?"

"First, you accepted the darn photoshoot for our yearly calendar. You're posing in front of men almost naked! And now, you're flirting with the guy—"

"I'm not flirting with him!" singhal ko sa kaniya. When he saw my face reddening in anger, his features softened. "Who are you to say that to me?"

"Mal . . ." anito nang bagsak ang balikat.

Okay, fine! What if I'm really flirting with him? I just wanted to make him jealous! See if I could piss him off. But to tell that I'm acting like a stripper? That's too much!

"Just get me home." Matigas kong wika habang pinipigilan ang pagbabadya ng luha sa aking mga mata.

"Mallory, I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"

"Just get me home, goddamit!" I turned my body away from him and curled up in a ball. The vehicle remained unmoving for a few minutes, before he slowly drove.

Due to exhaustion and my anger to Sage, I fell asleep on the car.

---

An unfamiliar scent filled my nostrils when I woke up. My eyes flew open as I scanned the surroundings.

Goodness, where am I?

I blinked, trying to think but my head hurts like a bitch. It must've been because of the wine. Right. The damn wine. I went on a date with Sage last night.

And now . . .  well, I supposed I'm in his place.

I freaked out when I realized I am wearing an oversized white shirt with no undies on. I gathered the blanket to myself and looked around frantically. Hindi ko na din makita ang mga damit ko.

I wrapped the blanket around my body and padded out of the door. Napapamura na lamang ako sa aking isipan dahil sa sobrang sakit ng aking ulo. I opened the door, revealing a Scandinavian living room in blue and grey color schemes. Iginala ko ang aking paningin. It's just a small condo unit.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad patungo sa couch. I immediately saw Sage's left feet tucked on top of it. When I leaned closer, I saw him sleeping on the couch, snoring softly. He had also changed into a pair of black boxers and white shirt.

I swallowed. God, please tell me nothing happened between the two of us last night. Leon is going to kill me. But before that, I'm going to kill myself first for being so reckless. How can I let him bring me to his condo unit?

Hinanap ko ang aking damit. Hindi ko na talaga makita. Is he the one who discarded all of my wet clothes last night? Nag-init ang aking mga pisngi sa naisip. That's so embarrassing!

The microwave oven suddenly chimed, making me jump on my feet. Hindi pa rin nagigising si Sage. Dali-dali akong nagpunta sa kaniyang kusina at binuksan ang microwave oven. I frowned upon seeing a melted blue liquid in a ceramic bowl. What the heck is this?

I examined it closer and the strong chemical smell confirmed that it was the SD card from yesterday! He burned the files? Burning the SD card is the safest ways to eliminate files permanently. Napatitig ako sa umuusok na SD card.

"You're awake . . ."

Nagulat ako sa kaniyang baritonong boses mula sa couch. He slowly pulled himself up and yawned. I stared at him in bewilderment.

"You burned this?" bahagya ko pang itinaas ang ceramic bowl upang ipakita ito sa kaniya.

"Yeah. I can't risk anyone discovering your photos from yesterday," anito habang naglalakad papunta sa akin. "Unless you have other similar photoshoots?" his voice went low and dangerous.

Kaagad akong umiling. To be honest, it was the first time I wore lingerie for my photoshoot. I didn't prioritize modelling when I was still in Japan. I just do it for fun and most of the time, I paraded around with branded clothes and not for products and services. I'm still an engineer and has a reputation to take care of. I didn't know what struck me when I accepted their offer of modelling contract.

"Where's my clothes?" I demanded. I tried to keep a stoic face but I know my face are burning so bad right now, knowing that I'm standing in front of Sage with no underwear on.

"I'll get it for you downstairs. Pina-laundry ko na."

"D-Did you—" I stammered, my face flushing even more.

"No." he answered immediately, pouring himself a glass of water. "If you're thinking that I was the one who undressed you last night, the answer is no."

I swallowed hard. "T-That's good."

Really, Mallory, stammering? Really?

Tinitigan ako ni Sage habang umiinom siya ng tubig. Bigla niyang iniwas ang kaniyang tingin sa akin.

"Anyway, I've got to fetch those clothes for you . . ." he trailed off. "You're standing inside my condo with no underwear on and God knows how much I'm restraining myself right now."

"Sage!" I shrieked, cheeks burning.

He just chuckled, but his neck and ears are starting to turn pink as well, which means he's getting awkward too. It just made the situation a whole lot worse.