Chapter 17

⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️

This chapter contains scenes with sexual content. Please read with discretion and remember that these actions are part of fictional storytelling—do not replicate them in real life. These scenes serve a purpose in the development of the story. If you're uncomfortable, feel free to skip this chapter.

/ LEOX ACHERON /

Dal's question wasn't hard to answer, but I saw Laura's recent interview and it's possible that Dal saw it too. If I denied it, he'd probably think I was a liar. If I admitted it, he would be confused.

Why the hell would Laura tell everyone about what we had?

"But I think you have the right to know," I said, looking him in the eye.

Dal quickly evaded my gaze, his eyes were out of focus. I couldn't see the emotions in them because he kept avoiding my gaze. I hated seeing him this way, although I wasn't sure if he was affected by what Laura had said.

"Though... what were you thinking when you asked me that, Dal?"

"Nothing in particular."

His voice turned cold, and his eyes returned to that emotion I hated witnessing. Those blue orbs gradually lost their spark.

"Tell me honestly, did you watch Laura's interview?"

There was no point in thinking negatively, it would only add to the tension. Asking directly felt like the right thing to do.

Dal looked at me for a brief moment before returning his gaze to his empty plate. He seemed to be thinking deeply, so I put some food on his plate.

Part of me wanted him to ask about us, but another part was afraid.
What if I was the only one who thought there was something romantic between us?
What if I was the only one expecting a good outcome?

"Oo, but I didn’t mean anything by my question. Tungkol naman sa interview... it's too obvious that it's Crown Entertainment's way to divert people’s attention towards Laura Gallac and to clean up your name."

So he didn’t believe what she said?

Dal smiled at me, but I noticed it didn’t reach his eyes. Sadness lingered in them, but it wasn’t just that. There was another emotion, and it made me wonder if he, somehow, cared for me.

"I think so," I said and got up.

I went to my little bar counter and took out a wine for us to share. It was our new product, and people loved it, so I figured he would too.

Nang bumalik ako sa lamesa, naabutan ko si Dal na nililigpit ang pinagkainan naming dalawa.

"I’ll wash the dishes," I said and placed the wine on the table.

"Ako na. Ikaw ang nagluto eh. Pakilagay na lang ang ibang hugasin dito sa lababo."

Before he could turn his back to me, I stopped him and gently held him, slowly taking the plates and placing them in the sink. I saw wonder in his eyes, although above all, sadness was visible.

I didn’t know how to erase that negative emotion. I didn’t even know why he felt that way.
If I could wipe the sadness from his eyes, I would—without thinking twice.

"What the hell are you doing, Acheron?"

He looked me straight in the eye and pushed me slightly, but his force was too weak to move me.

"Don’t," I said under my breath.

I pushed him a little and wrapped my arms around his waist. I could feel his heavy breath, as if he already knew what I was about to do.

But as much as I wanted to ravage his almost-parted lips, I couldn’t. His eyes were bugging me. I touched the area under them with utmost care. I couldn’t handle those emotions, so I pulled him in and kissed him.

Our lips touched, and the suppressed urges tried to escape from my grip.
If I let myself indulge in a simple kiss, I might scare him. So I pushed him again, lightly, and looked into his eyes once more.

The sadness was gone, replaced by an emotion I was familiar with. An emotion I had seen just once, from him, when I kissed him at the falls.
I could feel his fingers trembling. I clasped them, as if telling him not to be afraid of me.

"You... you shouldn't do that," his voice turning hoarse, and he was trying to get loose from my arms.

"Look at me, Dal."

"There’s no need. Bitawan mo na ako, Acheron."

"Your eyes... what are you thinking right now for them to scream in sadness so loudly?" I said in a low voice, trying to lock our gaze, but Dal kept avoiding it.

"How could I wipe away those thoughts, Dal? How could I make you happy?"

I hugged him tightly and closed my eyes, afraid that Dal might believe what Laura said.

Afraid he might believe her and leave me.

Afraid he might close the door he unknowingly opened for me to step into.

Above all, I was afraid of what would come after tonight.

"I... don’t know what... you’re talking about."

If I were to be asked how I felt, I would say I was desperate.

Desperate to replace the gloom clinging to him.
But at the same time, I was also afraid.

Afraid I might suffocate him with my presence.

---

/ DAL LUBOMIR /

Fuck!

I guess jealousy ate at my mind when I pushed Acheron away from hugging me, then pulled him back.
I kissed him because I didn’t know what else to do.

Throughout dinner, my thoughts had been loud. Laura’s interview played in my head like a cruel reality, and I hated that it got to me. I hated that the moment I started to believe him—really believe him—something dragged me back into doubt.

But when I looked at Leox, everything in me still leaned toward him.

So I kissed him.

Not to accuse, not to test—just to feel him. To ask without words if he still meant what he said.

Hindi siya lumayo, pero ramdam ko ang tensyon niya.

His lips pressed back with a patience I didn’t deserve, and when we parted, I stayed close. Our foreheads nearly touched, and I couldn’t breathe.

"I’m sorry," I murmured, already pulling back. "I shouldn’t have—"

"It’s okay," he whispered. And somehow, it felt like more than forgiveness.

He looked at me like he understood the storm inside my head, even the parts I hadn’t said out loud. Ramdam ko ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib.

His fingers brushed against my cheek, then through my hair... so gently it almost hurt. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch. That alone felt dangerous. Intimate. More than anything I’d let myself want.

"I don’t want to hurt you, Dal," he said softly.

His voice wasn’t a warning. It was a promise.

I opened my eyes. And before I could talk myself out of it, I kissed him again.

This time, I didn’t stop.

We made it to the bed in slow, halting steps, like we weren’t sure if we were allowed to want this. He touched me like I mattered. No rush, no pulling. Just asking with every brush of his lips, Is this okay?

It was more than okay.

His hands ran down my back, steady and firm, holding me like I might slip away. My clothes came off in pieces. Not stripped, not torn, just unwrapped, like I was something precious. And when I reached for his shirt, I paused, unsure.

Tinulungan niya akong mahubad ito nang hindi inaalis ang tingin namin sa isat isa.

Every inch of skin he revealed felt sacred. Familiar and new all at once. He wasn’t sculpted like a god, but he was warm. Human. Real. And when he finally lay above me, I felt a stillness settle between us, like the world had gone quiet.

He looked down at me. "We can stop."

"No," I said.  "I want this. I want you."

Something  flickered in his eyes, na para bang hindi niya iyon inaasahang marinig mula sa akin.

When he touched me again, I trembled.

But it wasn’t from fear.

It was from everything I’d kept locked inside. Every wall. Every ache. Every lie I told myself, that I didn’t need anyone.

His body fit against mine like we had always known how to do this.

The way he kissed down my neck, down my chest—soft, deliberate—made my breath catch. And when his hand found mine and squeezed, I held on like I needed it to survive.

He asked wordlessly for permission, and I gave it.

There was a sharp inhale. A stretch. Then heat, full and overwhelming. He paused, just for a second, eyes locked with mine.

"I’ve got you," he whispered.

And he did.

He moved slowly, deeply, like he wasn’t trying to take, only to give. Every push forward unraveled me. Every retreat pulled a sound from my throat I didn’t recognize. My legs wrapped around him out of instinct, and he kissed me through it all.

Not a single word felt necessary.

His name fell from my lips in a whisper. Not because I wanted to say it.

Because I needed to.

"Leox..."

"I’m here," he said, his voice tight, tender.

"I’m scared," I admitted. It came out before I could stop it.

He kissed my temple. "Then we go slow."

And he did.

Although I was scared of something else...

When I came undone, I wasn’t loud. I wasn’t wild. I just... let go. Of doubt. Of control. Of everything.

He followed soon after, burying his face into my neck, breath hitching as he stilled inside me. His weight settled gently over me, warm and grounding. I didn’t move.

I didn’t want to.

The silence after should’ve felt awkward. But it didn’t. His arms wrapped around me, protective, and for the first time in forever, I let myself be held.

"I’m still afraid," I whispered.

"I know," he said. "But I’m not going anywhere."

And even if I couldn’t fully believe it yet... I wanted to.

So I closed my eyes and held on.

---

It was midnight when I suddenly woke up from thirst. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen to drink some water. While walking, I realized I didn’t feel uncomfortable, and I was wearing Acheron’s clothes. They smelled like him.

As I drank the water, flashes of memory from last night surged in my mind. I placed the glass on the table, staring into nothing.

We did it.

Hinayaan ko siyang sirain ang pader na pinaghirapan kong patibayin ng ilang pagsubok at taon. Hinayaan ko siyang makita akong mahina.

Paano kung malaman ni Acheron na ako ang lalaking hinalikan niya sa bar?

Ang lalaking dapat kasali sa gulo niya... dahilan ng pagkaguho ng karer niya.

Those touches. Kisses. Gentleness. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi maalala ang nangyari kagabi. Lahat ng emosyon na pinaramdam niya sa akin ay totoo... at nakakatakot.

Fuck! I’m afraid!

Napahilamos ako ng mukha nang maalala kung bakit ako nandito sa Lindenvale. It's not just because of my issue. God knows I can handle it, but I would risk my safety.

After what happened, I know it’s going to be hard to avoid Acheron.

I put the pitcher back in the fridge and looked for my phone in the living room. Good thing I found it immediately. I dialed Leum’s number, and after a few rings, he answered.

"Thank God you called! Dal, you need to leave Lindenvale as soon as possible."

Kaagad nanginig ang kamay ko nang marinig ang sinabi nang nasa kabilang linya. Alam na niya kung nasaan ako.

Napabaling ang tingin ko sa balcony. Mahimbing pa rin ang tulog nito. Hindi man lang niya namalayan na wala na ako sa tabi niya.

It’s happening so soon. I... I like him, but having me in his life would bring danger.

Fuck! Why did I let myself get dragged into this kind of emotion?

"When are we leaving?"

"I’m on my way with my yacht, so get your stuff ready."

"Okay."

I immediately ended the call since I had a hunch Leum sensed my tone. Before leaving, I went to the balcony to check on Acheron.

He was there, sleeping soundly.

"I hope... our paths never crossed," I whispered as the wind blew coldly. My heart ached as the idea of not seeing him again lingered in my mind.

I carefully walked out of the house. The rain had stopped. As I walked through the concrete path, the light posts gradually lit up until I reached the gate.

Leaving is the best way to protect him. I didn’t plan to like him, but I let him do whatever he wanted because I felt like I had to.

I'm sorry, Acheron.

It actually hurts to leave him because he only showed me care and pure goodness.

Perhaps this is the end... I had just ended something that hadn’t even started.

Pagdating ko sa dalampasigan ay agad kong nakita ang jet ski na ginamit namin papunta rito. The key was there. Agad ko itong sinakyan at pinaandar pabalik sa Lindenvale.

I kept on telling myself that this is the right thing to do.

Kung maayos na ang gulo... gulong tanging ako lang ang nakakaalam, babalikan ko siya.

- B M -