ENIGMA licked her teeth under her lips before standing up and staring the dead body of the men from Impel organization. These men made her expectation so low. Not even a single tingle she was satisfied by what happened.

They didn't scream. They lack frightening emotions too. Or rather they chose not to show it.

"You're such a let down, Edgar." She kicked his forehead she just shot. "I even told you about your brother, and yet here you are, refusing to quench my desire."

She didn't wait for him to reply because how could he? She had already took his life. There was no point talking to a dead man who couldn't even bury himself underground. She might as well leave him to rot.

She started walking away. But instead of going out from the clothing store, she slid her feet to a rack full of hoodie and took three black pieces.

"Nero will look good in this." She smiled cheerfully and stormed out of the store.

Wala siyang ibang yabag na naririnig maliban sa kaniya habang naglalakad siya sa higanteng mall. Pakiramdam niya tuloy parang siya ang nagmamay-ari nito.

"Hey." Someone's arm wrapped around hers. "I forgot to say it back. I love you too."

She just let out a chuckle and locked her fingers in between the spaces of Nero's hands. "You're not sulking anymore?"

Napatigil naman ito sa paglalakad kaya napalingon siya. Salubong ang mga kilay nitong nakatingin sa kaniya. Ilang saglit, bigla siya nitong inirapan. "Ngayon ka pa talaga nagtanong? Ngayon pa na nakalimutan ko nang nagtampo nga pala ako sa 'yo."

"Ah, ganoon ba? Sana pala 'di ko na lang pinaalala." She took a step forward and tiptoed to reach his lips.

It was supposed to be a quick kiss, but Nero kissed back as soon as their lips met. Preventing her from pulling away, he held her waist and pulled her closer to his body.

She formed a little smile between their kisses and wrapped her arms around his neck. Pinaglaruan niya ang tainga nito habang tinutugunan ang bawat halik ng lalaki. Hanggang sa napunta ang mga labi nito sa kaniyang leeg, hinayaan niya lang ito.

She was supposed to say something when a loud shout echoed inside the mall, making them jolt and pull away from each other.

"Hoy! Mamaya na 'yan! May iuuwi pa tayong bata!"

Her lips twitched in annoyance. Inis niyang nilingon si Seven na nasa pintuan ng mall at karga-karga si Belle. He signaled his hand for them to come out immediately.

"Lintek na isturbo." Hinila niya ang kamay ni Nero at padabog na lumabas ng mall.

Narinig naman niya ang maliit na tawa sa kaniyang tabi kaya lalo lang siyang nabuwisit.

"I'm going to kill you later, so don't you dare laugh."

Lalo lang itong tumawa at kinuha ang tatlong hoodie na hawak niya. "Is this for me?"

"Yeah."

"Did you pay for this?"

"Wala namang cashier, so why bother paying?" Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Where is my jewelries, by the way?"

"I handed it to Belle."

Tuluyan na silang nakalabas ng mall at inirapan niya lang si Seven bilang pagbati. Buhat-buhat pa rin nito si Belle na nakatakip ang mga kamay sa mukha habang ang mga jewelry bag ay nakakabit sa balikat.

Inalis ang mga kamay nito. "We're not kissing anymore, kid. And pakisabi sa dad mo, I'll have these hoddies as special payment of my service, okay?" Tinuro niya ang hawak na mga hoodie ni Nero.

"Oh, okay! Small things, Ate." Belle put her thumbs up and smiled.

She pinched her cheeks before looking at Seven. "So? Have you succeeded?" Inikot niya ang tingin at wala siyang makitang isang bangkay na nakaratay. "It seems that you have already disposed the men, too. Ang bilis mo talaga."

She patted his shoulder and grinned. "Mayroon pang naiwang tatlo sa loob. Ikaw na bahala ro'n, ah?"

Napangiwi naman si Seven pero kaagad ding tumango. "I didn't kill the men. I just put them in a place somewhere. You know, there are too many witnesses," sabi nito at tinuro ang mga civilian na nasa kabilang kalsada.

Hindi na siya nagtanong pa kung paano iyon ginawa ng lalaki at nag-thumbs up. "Mabuti 'yan."

"And I can't say I succeeded because Codious escaped. I only killed one of them."

"Oh, the computer guy, huh?" She crossed her arms and acted as if she was thinking of something. But the truth was, she didn't really care. She wasn't willing to chase Codious nor take the trouble to come up with another plan and add more extra time for this urgent mission.

Gusto na niyang umuwi at makasama ang lalaking nasa likuran niya na nasa mga hoodie ang atensyon.

"Well, let's just call this a day and take Belle home. There's nothing we can do about it anymore. Hindi naman puwedeng unahin natin siya lalo na't ang pangunahin nating mission ay iuwi si Belle," she said. Nilingon niya si Nero at marahang hinila ang kamay nito.

"Let's go, Nero."

Nakangiti niyang nilampasan si Seven. Hindi niya pinansin ang matalim nitong mga tingin at nagtuloy-tuloy lang sa paglalakad.

"Talaga ba, Rogue? Ang sabihin mo, makukuha mo naman pa rin ang bayad mo sa misyong ito kahit hindi natin madakip si Codious."

Nilingon niya naman ito. "That is so on point. Good job. You're getting sharper every day, Seven."

"Ewan ko sa 'yo. Here, take Belle home. I still need to clean your mess. And I still need to be responsible for these people." Binigay nito si Belle sa kaniya at tinuro ang mga civilian na pinalabas nila kanina. Nasa kabilang dulo ng kalsada ang mga ito at nag-aabang sa balita patungkol sa bombang pineke nila kanina.

"Go ahead, mister responsible." Kinarga na niya si Belle at muling naglakad kasabay si Nero.

"Here's yours, Ate." Binigay nito ang bag ng mga pinamili niyang jewelry kanina.

Pumunta na sila sa parking lot at pumasok na sa sasakyan. Kaagad nilang tinungo ang Haybara's residence upang iuwi na si Belle.

Bago ito lumabas, nagpaalam muna si Belle. "Thank you, Ate. Thank you, mister. And thank you rin sa isa pang mister kanina. Bye na po!"

"Take care," sabay nilang sabi ni Nero habang pinanood ang bata na naglakad na papasok ng kanilang gate. Nang may sumalubong nang maid kay Belle saka lang niya napagpasyahang umalis.

Habang pauwi na sila, panay ang paghikab ng katabi niya. Mag-a-alas dose pa lang ng hapon pero inaantok na si Nero. He must have been tired from all of what happened this morning.

"Sleep."

Hindi na ito sumagot at kagaya ng sinabi niya, natulog nga ito. Hinayaan lang niya ang lalaki at hanggang makarating sila sa mansiyon, hindi niya ito ginising. Lumabas siya at binuksan ang pintuan katabi ng lalaki. Dahan-dahan niyang binuhat si Nero papunta sa kanilang kuwarto.

Sinalubong siya ng kaniyang mga maid at kinuha ang mga pinamili niya kanina.

Pinagbuksan siya ng isa sa kanilang kuwarto.

"Thanks. Prepare me a warm bath," utos niya na mabilis namang sinunod ng maid.

Maingat niyang nilagay si Nero sa kama bago nagbihis at pumasok na sa bathroom. Ilang minuto siyang nagtagal do'n bago napagpasyahang lumabas, nagtungo sa drawer at kinuha ang bag ng jewelry.

Kinuha niya sa bag ang isang maliit na box na naglalaman ng anklet. Nakangiti niyang pinagmasdan ang itim na gemstone na nakakabit sa anklet.

Naupo siya sa dulo ng kama at bahagyang tinaas ang dulo ng pantalon na sinuot ni Nero. "This is for you." Sinuot niya ito sa kanang paa ng lalaki.

Bigla naman itong gumalaw kaya napaangat ang tingin niya.

"En?" His hoarse voice spoke. Pumipikit pa ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kaniya. "What are you doing?" Sinilip nito ang paa at tinitigan ang sinuot niyang anklet.

"It's a gift." Tinabihan niya ang lalaki at hinalikan ang noo nito. "I'm sorry for breaking my promise. As compensation, I will not entertain any mission until this year ends."

"You better be," sagot nito at niyakap siya. Siniksik nito ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg. She felt his breath, and he was smelling her too. "Did you just finish taking a bath?"

"Yeah."

"You're just wearing a robe?"

"Yeah."

Bahagya itong lumayo at tinignan ang kaniyang suot. Ilang saglit ay bigla itong ngumiti nang pagkatamis-tamis sa kaniya kaya napairap siya. Hinilamos niya sa mukha nito ang kaniyang kamay.

"Mamaya na. Matulog ka muna."

"Okay!" masigla nitong sagot at muling siniksik ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg.

She planted a kiss on top of his hair before closing her eyes and hugging him too. Bago pa siya makatulog, muling nagsalita si Nero.

"En, I almost forget. What do you want to tell me earlier?"

"You mean in the jewelry store?"

He nodded.

"Oh, that." She chuckled and pinched his ear slightly. "You looked good while carrying Belle earlier. And I think you'll look much better when it's our kid you'll hold."

Hindi naman sumagot si Nero pero pansin niya ang paghigpit ng yakap nito. Lalo pa nitong dinutdot ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg kaya bahagya siyang natawa. Binaba niya ang tingin sa tainga nito at napahagalpak sa tawa nang makita ang pamumula nito.

"Wow, nahiya ka pa. Ikaw ha! Lakas talaga ng tama mo sa akin."

"Shut up." He bit her neck.

"Aw! That hurts, you know." It did hurt, but she refused to push him away and laughed instead.

"I hate you."

"Yeah. I love you, too."