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George's plan wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. Jarvis agreed—though reluctantly, to help her make Dos realize her worth. Or at least get herself the right closure. Because this would be the last time she'd chase after him. Pagkatapos nito, she'll let go and move on for good.

It wasn't hard to convince the Montecillos about her and Jarvis since they've been always in touch with each other. Tita Saturn even welcomed her with open arms and was thrilled about it. Box was the first to congratulate them and was followed by Inno who was really shocked by their revelation. Yvo did not comment about it that much and just uttered a simple 'congrats'. Seven, however, saw right through them almost immediately but did not rat them out. The only people left in their family that did not know was River and Dos himself. Kaya nga pupunta sila ngayon ni Jarvis nang magkasama sa isang family dinner to formally 'announce' their relationship.

But of all the plot twists fate had to throw towards them, and pagbabalik pa ni Naia ang sumalubong sa kanila. Jarvis was a nervous wreck even before they could make it to their mansion.

"Relax, Jarv," she said trying to calm him down as soon as the car stopped in front of the grandiose mansion. "We just need to get through this night and I'll let you do your thing. I just need to see his reaction and then we're done."

Huminga ito ng malalim bago tumango. It's not like after tonight ay malalaman agad ni Naia that Jarvis is in a relationship or something. It was just an intimate family dinner with the Montecillos.

"Hijo!"

Clearly, the universe was against her and her plans. An elegant and beautiful girl in a red haltered dress slowly turned towards them and she immediately recognized her.

Danaia Martienne Uychengco. Jarvis's girl. In the flesh.

Hindi niya alam kung paano magrereact and she felt like Jarvis too didn't know what to do. She had to act quick dahil baka makahalata ang ibang nakakakita sa kanila.

She clung on to Jarvis' arm at pasimpleng hinila ito patungo sa kinatatayuan ng tiyahin at babaeng pinakamamahal. Maybe if they don't mention it, baka makaligtas sila and Naia would think that she's only a friend.

"Xaris, hija," Tita Saturn said as their cheeks touched. "I'm so glad you can join us. Your boyfriend here tends to keep you for himself and I miss shopping with you."

Alanganing napangiti siya. She forgot how Jarvis' aunt was. And part of their act was to be on her good side para mas madaling mapaniwala ang iba thus the shopping trips. Plus, she did really enjoy the lady of the Montecillo household's company.

"Tita—"

She clearly saw the shock in Naia's face. Pero agad namang nakabawi ang babae but the sadness in her eyes was hard to miss. May binulong dito ang isa sa kambal which the girl answered with a forced smile.

She silently cursed herself. If only she knew this would happen ay hindi niya na sana kinumbinsi si Jarvis to do the fake relationship thing. Or, sana hindi na lang siya sumama ngayon gabi dito.

"So I've been thinking of remodeling the mansion," ani Tita Saturn who refused to let her out of her sight. She already shooed Jarvis away para mabigyan ito ng chance makausap si Naia and clear things out. He can always just tell her it's an act. Basta huwag lang mahahalata ni Dos. "Ikaw ang kukunin kong interior designer ha."

"Of course, tita. I would love to!" she answered smiling.

They talked about the older woman's vision and plans for the remodeling and she listened—half-listened. Pasimple siyang tumitingin sa paligid in search for Dos who from her sources just arrived a few days ahead.

"I know the boys will soon marry kaya kailangan nang i-baby proof ang bahay—"

Just then she saw the man she's been looking for. In his black long-sleeved button down, he looked as handsome as the last time she saw him. Only now he looked like he gained some weight and a little less paler than the usual. His hair wasn't in an undercut but his bangs suited him. In short, he was still drop-dead gorgeous.

Bigla siyang kinabahan. She also felt a sudden gush of wind against her skin sending shivers down her spine.

What should she do? Did he see her na ba? Where's Jarvis? She needed to be next to him when Dos sees her.

Pagtingin niya muli sa kinaroroonan nito kanina't biglang nagtama ang kanilang paningin. She saw how Dos' forehead crease when he saw her.

Shit.

She abruptly excused herself from Tita Saturn as soon as one of the Uychengcos came to to talk to her. Iginala niya ang tingin sa paligid and sa Jarvis talking with Naia.

She didn't want to ruin their moment but she saw Dos was already walking towards her direction so she had to act quick.

I'm so sorry, Jarvis. Naia. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

"There you are!" she said and sat next to Jarvis.

She smiled and leaned a bit close—but not too close. Saglit siyang napatingin sa direksyon ni Dos who looked at them with his brows furrowed even more. Mukhang nakita naman ito agad ni Jarvis so he placed his arm around her shoulder like how a good boyfriend should.

Sorry talaga, Jarv. I'll make it up to you, I promise!

She saw how Naia looked a bit uneasy so she had to say something.

"Hi!" she said and smiled. "I'm Xaris Georgina Gray. But you can call me George. It's nice to finally put a face on the infamous Danaia Uychengco."

Nakita niya ang gulat sa mukha ni Naia. Oh, right. They don't know each other. She might've sounded like a bitchy girlfriend so she needed to be a lot friendlier.

"I've heard so much good things about you," bawi niya agad.

Saglit nanaman siyang napatingin kay Dos who just stood a few meters away from them, confused. Ibinalik na lang niya ang atensyon sa kausap and make it look like she didn't see him or notice him at all.

Naia was really nice. Sa konting minutong nakausap niya ito, she already felt like there's a big possibility that they'll be good friends. And the way she talked and carried herself throughout the conversation was full of elegance. Grabe. She's really a good match for Jarvis. They're so bagay.

"I—"

Naia was cut off when Dos suddenly barged into the conversation.

"What are you doing?"

Napalunok siya. Why does he look ten times scarier than he usually does?

"O-Oh hi, Dos!" she said and smiled. She just hoped it looked natural or else she's screwed. "Jarvis invited me over. He said it was—hey!"

Dos forcibly pulled her by her arm away from Jarvis and Naia. She wasn't able to protest because she was afraid to cause any ruckus in the house. Marami pa namang guests so it wouldn't look good for the Montecillos if she caused a scene. He had managed to pull her inside the house's kitchen.

"What the hell are you doing here, Georgina?" Dos blurted out as soon as they were alone. "This is a family event."

Hindi siya makasagot as Dos still held her wrists tightly. Too tightly, in fact.

"Teka lang Dos, masaki—"

"Answer me!" he roared making her flinch. Her heart drumming inside her chest like there's not tomorrow. She was scared. Who is this man? She doesn't recognize him anymore. "What are you doing here—"

"She's with me."

Agad siyang napatingin sa may pinto and relief suddenly washed over her.

"She's my girlfriend so I brought her here as my plus one," ani Jarvis. She felt Dos lossen his grip kaya agad siyang kumawala at tumakbo palapit sa kasintahan. "So if you'll excuse us, hinahanap na siya nina mama."

Dos stared at her for a quick minute before looking away.

"Girlfriend, my ass," he muttered before walking past them and slamming the kitchen door shut. She heard Jarvis sigh.

"At least we know he still loves you."

She immediately regretted her plan. A part of it was because she was still in shock at how Dos reacted. But mainly it was because she could see the pain and frustration inside Jarvis' eyes. If only she could take it all back.

But they can't back down now and tell everyone it was all for show. Ano 'yon, sisigaw na lang siya bigla ng "It's a prank!" to get themselves off the hook? She heaved a sigh. But at least things won't get any worse, right? After all this, Jarvis can clear everything with Naia and they can finally live happily ever after.

Wrong. She was wrong about that one again.

Apparently, Naia and Inno—Jarvis' older brother are arranged to be married. Kaya pala may dinner ngayon gabi ay para i-celebrate ang engagement ng dalawa. And by the looks of it, Naia had no idea about it. Pati si Inno ay nagulat sa naganap. It was so chaotic that night as the newly engaged couple suddenly walked out on them. Jarvis looked defeated too and excused himself from the table leaving her amongst the chaos.

The only good thing she got form that night was the fact that Dos did not have a girlfriend and Aki was actually River's girlfriend. Sinundo lang daw nito ang girlfriend using Dos' car since his was coding that day. She felt really stupid that time.

A few weeks passed and nagkita nanaman sila nina Naia sa isang cafe. It was a coincidence since she was just having a meeting with her client when she saw them. She was only going to say "hi" to them but witnessed something else instead.

Naia got into a fight with some girl who she seemed to have had a huge grudge on. Jarvis was the first to break the fight but ultimately ended up scolding Naia causing her to break down and let all her frustrations out.

She felt her heart break for her. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang furstrations nito and she couldn't help herself but feel angry towards that bitch who seem to have ruined hers and Jarvis' life. Also, she pitied Naia for having to conform to her family's idea of perfection.

They laid low for a couple more days since she knew that Jarvis was already having a difficult time. But it did help them that she came by the mansion frequently for the remodeling. Kailangan niya i-check ang existing areas for construction to be able to submit designs for it.

"Ano nanaman ang ginagawa mo dito?" bungad sa kanya ni Dos as she entered the kitchen. He was wearing an apron while he was mixing something on a bowl.

She rolled her eyes. He's like that all the time. And her answer was still the same.

"I'm here to visit my boyfriend and take measurements for the remodeling," she answered. "Ano ba, Dos. Paulit-ulit?"

"Tss."

He resumed to ignore her again and continued doing whatever it was he was doing before she arrived. Siya naman ay nilabas ang kanyang steel tape and proceeded with getting measurements.

Maya-maya ay napansin niyang ingredients for making a cake dough and ginagawa nito. But he was mixing the dry and wet ingredients agad. Hindi siya nakapagpigil.

"You're doing it wrong," she said making Dos turn to her with an eyebrow raised.

"Really?" ani pa nito.

"Really," she said not threatened by his not-so friendly tone. "Don't you know that dry and wet ingredients shouldn't be mixed like that? You should do it separately muna!"

Dos' lips formed into a teasing smirk before letting go of the whisk and the bowl.

"If you're so good at baking, then why don't you show it to me then?" he challenged as if she had no clue what she was saying. So she's gonna prove him wrong.

"Move," she said as she left her stuff by the kitchen table and went to where Dos was standing. "Boys. What can you expect. Can't you read cook books?"

Even without an apron, she went beside him and started to teach him what he should be doing with the cake batter. She started with the dry ones first then the wet ones.

"You have to make sure the measurements are right para it would bake right. Otherwise, you're just wasting ingredients like that one," she added while mixing the ingredients together. "Why are you baking ba? You could just buy a cake."

Dos rolled his eyes before taking the whisk away from her.

"It's none of your business," he spat. "At alam ko ang ginagawa ko. Yung pagsusukat na lng diyan ang atupagi mo."

"I'm helping you na nga tapos you're like that pa," she scoffed. "You're so masungit talaga. Hmp!"

"And you're pakealamera talaga," he mocked making her mouth fall open.

"Are you mocking me?!" she blurted out.

"aRe yOu mOcKinG mE?!" he taunted even more. Siyempre she got annoyed at him kaya kung ano ang una niyang nakita ay inabot niya agad at binato dito. In this case, it was the flour.

Dos froze as the powdered flour hit his face. She laughed so hard dahil parang nakain pa ata nito ng kaunti yung powder.

"I see no difference," she teased. It was slightly true because he was really light-skinned. "Serves you right for mocking me—hey!"

Bumawi si Dos by dipping his hand on to flour too. Her eyes grew wide as she knew what he was going to do. Pero hindi siya nakawala mula dito when he held her arms and wiped the whole thing on her face. She clearly saw the sinister grin etched on his lips as she screamed.

"Oh my God!" she blurted out and took a step back. "I have a client meeting pa! Ugh! You're so annoying, Dos!"

"Sino ba ang nauna?" Dos was chuckling. "Ikaw yung annoying."

"I was just helping you kaya! Ugh!" She grabbed another handful of the flour and threw it at him.

A war erupted in the kitchen leaving her and Dos running around the room like kids.

"Dos ano ba?!" she screamed as he caught her inside his arm. "I have a meeting later!"

"Not my problem," he replied and just proceeded to wiping more flour to her face.

"If I knew you'd do this to my face, I wouldn't have worn foundation! Ugh!"

Tumawa lang ito as he had his arms wrapped around her. She turned to face him and their eyes met. Biglang lumakas ang tibok ng kanyang puso.

Their faces were only a few inches away. Her eyes fell down to his lips that were also covered in flour.

How would they taste like kaya? God, she misses him—

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata when Dos suddenly kissed her. Her back hit the fridge so she had no way to escape. But it's not like she was going to.

Her eyes closed and her arms automatically wrapped around his nape. God, she missed him! It's been year and it had always been him—

"Kuya Dos?"

Both Dos and her turned towards the intruder. A shocked Yvo—who looked like he just woke up came into full view.

"Ate George?!"

She immediately pushed Dos away at inayos ang sarili.

"Y-Yvo," she stuttered. "I can explain."

The younger guy—who was still wide-eyed and shocked, turned to her.

"What you were doing pretty much explains everything—"

"I was just teaching him how to bake!" she defended. "It was... um... it was—"

"That's just wrong, Ate," he said with his forehead creased.

She panicked. Now Yvo would think she's cheating on Jarvis—

"Why would you teach a baker how to bake?!"

It was now her turn to go wide-eyed and turn to Dos. He smirked before looking away.

You sneaky, sneaky bastard!

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so... may chance na magpasobra ako ng kaunting chapters. di ko pa sure. baka lang.