Mas malakas ang ulan nang magising ako kinabukasan. Bahagya pa akong nagulat nang nasa loob na ako ng silid na aking inookupa. Ang huli kong natatandaan ay sa sofa ako sa baba nakatulog. Did Hans carry me up into the bedroom? The thought was unsettling, yet it warmed my supposed cold heart. The idea of him carrying me, of him taking care of me even when we were in such a complicated situation, tugged at something deep inside me. But I quickly got up before my mind wandered too far down that path. I needed a distraction.

I quickly took a shower and changed into fresh clothes. It was cold, and much to my frustration, I couldn't find a bra among all my things. Damn! I sighed, grabbing a cotton shirt na may katamtamang kapal. It would have to do for now.

When I went downstairs, I found Hans setting the table for breakfast. My eyebrows raised in surprise when I saw pancakes and a variety of syrups. He had a sandwich in his hand and looked up as I entered the room.

"Good morning, Señorita Caice," he said, his voice calm and neutral. "Maupo ka na at mag-almusal."

I hesitated, still feeling the residual anger and confusion from yesterday. Pero gutom rin naman ako, isa pa ay may usapan kaming kailangan namin isantabi ang anumang nararamdaman namin para sa isa't isa at pilitin na kahit paano ay magkasundo. Kaya naman naupo ako sa ipinaghila niyang upuan.

"Tigilan mo ang kakatawag sa akin ng Señorita. Bahay mo ito, if anything you are the Señor." Pasimple kong inabot ang tinidor, kunwari ay wala lang saakin ang ginawa niyang pag-yuko sa aking likuran upang makabulong sa aking tainga. Damn, why did he have to smell so good? Mabuti na lang at naligo rin ako bago bumaba, kahit paano ay hindi nakakahiya sa lapit niya sa akin.

"Bagay mo ang Señorita, sa akin ay hindi. Huwag mo nang subukan." His voice sent a shiver down my spine. He stood straight and then took the seat across from me, his eyes never leaving mine.

Ano ba sa tingin niya ang ginagawa niya?

I focused on my pancakes, trying to ignore the way he looked while eating his tuna sandwich. Hans had this effortless sexiness about him, even in the simplest of actions. Noon pa'y ganyan na siya! Naalala ko kung paani ako nahuhumaling panuorin siyang kumain ng tanghalian noon sa kubo. Ang hindi ko lang maunawaan ay kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay tila bata pa rin ako kung maapektuhan! Dammit, I'm a grown woman!

I still couldn't help but take notice. The way he held his sandwich, his fingers brushing against the bread, his lips parting as he took a bite, and the slight tilt of his head as he chewed—it was maddening. He looked so composed and natural, completely at ease, and it made me feel self-conscious in comparison.

Malamig naman ang buong kabahayan dahil sa malakas na ulan sa labas, but suddenly I felt hot. The tension between us, the unresolved issues, and the undeniable attraction made the air feel thick. I glanced up, and our eyes met. He caught me staring.

Mukhang nasiyahan pa siya sa nangyari.

A slow smile spread across his face, a mix of amusement and something deeper that I couldn't quite decipher. "Kakain ka ba o papanuorin mo lang akong kumain?"

My cheeks burned, and I quickly looked down at my plate, shoveling a forkful of pancakes into my mouth. "I wasn't watching you!" I muttered, my voice sounding unconvincing even to my own ears.

Hans chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that made my stomach flip. "Masarap ba?"

Siguro naman ay ang pagkain ang tinutukoy niya, 'di ba?

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without betraying the swirl of emotions inside me. The pancakes were delicious, but I couldn't fully enjoy them with the way Hans was watching me. Bigla akong nahiya, baka dapat nga hindi ko rin siya panuoring kumain para patas lang.

"Good," he said, taking another bite of his sandwich. "I wanted to make sure you had something you liked."

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. It was hard to reconcile this Hans, the one who was being considerate and kind, with the Hans who had broken my heart. The juxtaposition was jarring, and it made me feel unsteady, like I was walking on a tightrope.

We continued eating in silence. Hindi ako nagsasalita at hindi rin naman sinubukan ni Hans na magbukas ng usapan. Every so often, I'd steal a glance at him, and more often than not, he'd catch me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse race.

"Ang ganda mo pa rin..." Biglang sabi niya na halos magpaubo na sa akin.

I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. I reached for the glass of water, my hand trembling slightly as I lifted it to my lips. I downed it in one go, the cool liquid soothing the fire that Hans's words had ignited inside me. I set the glass down with a soft thud, trying to compose myself and not let him see how much his words affected me. Simpleng papuri lang naman iyon, ah? I heard better compliments than that.

I forced myself to keep my expression neutral, kahit pa gusto ko nang isaksak sa kaniya ang tinidor na hawak ko. Anong karapatan niyang ganyan ganyanan ako? Bakit ba kung umasta siya ay parang hindi niya isinara ang libro kung saan namin pinaghirapang isulat ang lahat ng tungkol sa aming dalawa. I took a deep breath, willing myself to remain calm and composed. Sana ay mag-Wednesday na!

Hans didn't say anything else, and the rest of the meal passed in tense silence. When we were finished, he cleared the table without a word, and I helped him wash the dishes.

As we worked side by side in the kitchen, I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the times when things had been simpler between us. But those days were long gone, buried beneath a mountain of hurt and betrayal.

Finally, we were done, and I dried my hands on a dish towel, avoiding Hans's gaze. "Manunuod lang ako ng tv sa sala,"

Tumango siya tapos ay sandali akong niyuko. I froze as Hans's hand closed around my arm, his touch sending a jolt of electricity coursing through me. I tried to pull away, but his grip was firm, trapping me against the counter. Muli ay ikinulong niya ako sa kaniyang katawan at matamang pinagmasdan na halos magpatunaw na sa akin sa mismong kinatatayuan ko.

I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze, my eyes fixed on a spot just over his shoulder as my heart pounded in my chest. Hindi na halos ako makahinga dahil natatakot ako na baka pag ginawa ko ay magunaw ang lahat ng pagpipilit kong balewalain ang presensya niya.

And then he spoke, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down my spine. "Ang ganda ganda mo,"

Para akong hinahaplos ng namamaos niyang tinig at hindi ko man gusto ay halos hindi na ako makagalaw. And then his gaze lowered, lingering on my chest, and I realized with a shock that my nipples were hardened beneath my shirt, betraying the effect his words were having on me.

A flush crept up my neck, coloring my cheeks crimson, as I struggled to maintain my composure. I wanted to push him away, to escape the magnetic pull he had over me, but I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Hans licked his bottom lip, his eyes dark with desire as he watched my body's response to him. I could feel the heat rising between us, a potent mixture of longing and frustration, and I knew that I should put an end to this before things spiraled out of control.

Hindi dapat.

Hindi tama.

But instead, I found myself leaning closer to him, drawn in by the magnetic pull of his presence. His scent enveloped me, warm and intoxicating, and I couldn't resist the urge to close the distance between us.

Inabot ni Hans ang dulo ng suot kong t-shrit at dinama ang tela, tama lang naman ang kapal noon. Malamig lang talaga, bukod pa sa tumutugon ang katawan ko sa kada maliit na bagay na gagawin niya.

"Wala kang bra?" Inosenteng tanong niya, binitawan na ang shirt ko.

Ano ba namang tanong 'yan? Malamang? Sasadyain ko bang hindi magsuot? Para ano? Para akitin siya? Bakit ko naman iyon gagawin?

"I didn't see one in the cabinet upstairs," miski ako ay nagulat na hindi man lang nabasag ang tinig ko nang tangkain kong sumagot.

I felt him nod, ang mga mata ay nasa dibdib ko pa rin. Lalo tuloy tumugon ang tuktok ng aking dibdib. Napansin niya iyon kaya marahan siyang napamura.

"Stop looking, Hans..."

I stood there, frozen in place, as Hans withdrew his grip from my arm and instead wrapped his hand around my waist. Sapat na iyon upang mapaigtad ako. No one had ever had this effect on me. Si Hans lang noon, siya pa rin ngayon.

I could feel the heat radiating off his palm as it pressed against my skin.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, as his fingers tightened around my waist, drawing me closer to him. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound thundering in my ears, as I struggled to maintain my composure.

His eyes never left mine, dark and intense, as if searching for something in the depths of my soul. Mas lalo akong nagliyab, I could feel the fire burning inside me as the space between us narrowed to nothing.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from him, couldn't look away from the raw desire burning in his eyes. And then, without a word, he stepped even closer, his body pressing against mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Kasinungalingang maituturing kung sasabihin kong hindi ako nangulila kay Hans sa loob ng mga taong iyon. Sa kabila ng sakit ay alam kong hinahanap-hanap ko pa rin siya at ang lahat ng damdaming pilit niyang ginigising sa akin.

The warmth of his touch seeped into my skin as his palm slid lower, trailing down the curve of my waist. I could feel the outline of my hardened nipples pressing against the fabric of my shirt, betraying the effect his proximity was having on me.

He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my skin, as he whispered in my ear. "Puwede ba kitang damhin, Señorita Caice?"

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I struggled to form a coherent response. My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, desire warring with apprehension, as I weighed the consequences of giving in to him.

But deep down, I knew that I wanted nothing more than to feel his touch, ang muling magpaubaya sa kaniya. Tuluyan na nga siguro akong naliro at nawala sa sariling pag-iisip. With a trembling breath, I nodded, giving him the permission he sought.

Hans's lips curved into a slow, predatory smile as he lowered his hand, his fingers brushing against the fabric of my shirt. I gasped softly as his touch sent sparks flying through me.

And then, with agonizing slowness, he cupped my breast in his hand, his touch gentle yet possessive. I arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips as he teased my hardened nipple through the fabric of my shirt.

"Gustong gusto mo pa rin akong pinapanuod kumain, huh?" He pinched my nipples as though it was a punishment for watching him a while ago.

His touch was electric, and I could feel the heat pooling between my thighs as he teased and tormented me.

Halos tuluyan akong panawan ng lakas nang pumailalim ang kaniyang mga kamay sa suot kong shirt at damhin ng mga ito ang aking dibdib ng buong-buo. My mind was a fog of desire, consumed by the overwhelming need for him that pulsed through every fiber of my being.

With a trembling hand, I reached out to him, my fingers tangling in his hair as I pulled him closer. I could feel the heat of his body pressed against mine, his breath hot against my skin as he trailed kisses along my neck and collarbone.

Nagiging mapangahas ang bawat galaw ni Hans at hindi ako ni minsan man tumanggi sa mga atake niya. Ang alam ko lang ay nakakapanghina ang ganito.

"Tangina, Caice," he groaned, his voice rough with desire, as his hand slid lower, trailing down the curve of my waist. I arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips as his fingers dipped beneath the waistband of my pants, tracing tantalizing circles against my skin.

Every nerve in my body was on fire, electric with need. Hinayaan ko lang siya nang ipaloob niya ang kaniyang kamay doon, I even parted my legs as a sign of approval. Hans groaned again.

"Gusto mo ba?" he whispered, his voice a seductive murmur against my ear, as his hand continued to explore the contours of my body. I could feel the heat rising within me, a fierce, burning need that threatened to consume me whole.

At that moment, there was no room for hesitation or doubt. All I could feel was the overwhelming hunger that pulsed through me, driving me to the brink of madness as I surrendered myself to the pleasure of his touch.