We arrived on Vynz's penthouse and I started arranging the ingredients on the countertop. I started slicing the ingredients for Korean barbecue. Good thing that some vegetables na nabili namin na kaylangan sa chop suey was already chopped. Vynz is leaning on the countertop in front of me habang pinapanood ang bawat galaw ko.

"Can I ask you a question?" Vynz suddenly broke the silence between us.

I glanced at him while cooking the Korean barbecue then I tastes it if its okay na. "Yeah. What is it?"

"Are you married?" He asked at base sa mga tingin niya ay gusto niyang sumagot ako ng hindi.

"What if I am?" I replied at nakita ko ang pagbagsak ng mga balikat niya ngunit agad itong nakabawi. I just want to see his reaction.

"Are you in good terms with your husband? I mean you can divorce or have an annulment if.....you know." Mabagal at dahan dahan ang pagbigkas niya sa bawat salitang binitawan. Seriously Vynz? I wonder if ganon siya sa lahat ng babae niya. If married ay aayain niyang makipagdivorce or annul?

He uttered a soft curse. "What are you saying?" Bulong niya sa sarili niya na para bang natauhan sa mga pinagsasabi niya. May iba pa siyang binulong pero hindi ko na narinig.

"I don't need divorce or annulment, Mr. Devaughne," I muttered using a serious tone while eyeing him.

"I'm sorry, I don't kno-"

"I'm not married, Vynz," I muttered, shutting him up. Sinumulan ko ng lutuin ang chop suey habang ang korean barbecue naman at patapos na.

I know he thought Creed is my husband because of Crizzy but unfortunately not. Creed is my friend and I treat his daughter as my daughter too at alam ko na ganoon din sila Astrid kay Crizzy. And kung asawa ko nga si Creed ay hindi ko hahayaan na may umaaligid sa kanyang isang Cerys. Knowing her at ang mga nagawa niya dati? If Creed is my husband ay hindi ko hahayaan si Cerys na lumapit siya sa asawa ko. But I like her guts and I like her for Creed sa kabila ng mga nagawa niya dati.

"Creed Ferron is not your husband?" He asked.

"No, I told you he's just a friend."

"Good." He seems relieved. "Can I have a taste?" Nagtataka akong tumingin sa kanya at ng makita ko na nakaturo siya sa kaluluto lang na korean barbecue ay bigla akong natauhan. Gosh! Bakit iba ang iniisip ko?

I repeatedly nodded my head. "Yeah, its for you hindi ba?" He didn't answer. Sa halip ay kumuha siya ng kutsara at tinikman ang niluto ko. I watched him at hinintay ang reaksyon niya. I'm a good cook at kung hindi niya magugustuhan ang niluto ko ay nasisiguro ko na sira ang panlasa niya.

"What can you say?" I'm smiling widely as I excitedly asked him after tasting the food.

"It's uhm... Good." I frowned. I'm not dumb para hindi malaman ang pilit niyang pagpapasigla ng boses. He even gave me a thumbs up. Good lang ang sasabihin niya? Masarap naman ang luto ko huh?!

I snatched his spoon and I don't care if may saliva niya 'yon. I used his spoon para tikman ang niluto ko na sinabi niyang good lang.

"What the hell?" I whispered after tasting my korean barbecue. Bakit sobrang tamis? Sabi ni Vynz, this is good but what the hell?! This is the worst. It tastes like a dessert sa sobrang tamis.

"Maaayos pa siguro to?" Akmang ilalayo ko sa kanya ang niluto ko ng pigilan niya akong kunin iyon.

"I'll eat this...maybe after lunch, it's good for dessert," He muttered while grinning widely as he wiggles his brows. What...the...fuck?! I knew him as a cold, stiff and ruthless mafia boss and now he's in front of me, teasing me while wiggling his brows with a grin?

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata kaya naman agad niyang binawi ang sinabi. "Kidding. But I'll really eat this," Sambit niya bago muling kumuha ng niluto ko.

I checked the chop suey if it tastes okay na at ilang sandali na lang ay naluto na ito. I transferred the chop suey in a glass bowl at nilagay iyon sa dining table. Kumuha din ako ng rice, dalawang plates at spoons and forks para sa amin ni Vynz.

After preparing, he pulled a chair for me sa tabi ng kabisera.

Even now I'm still amazed sa penthouse ni Vynz. Everything seems modern. Even the black glass table, the chairs, dark fabric curtains they looks modern in a simple way.

Umupo si Vynz sa kabisera at  nilagyan ng kanin ang pinggan ko.

"What do you want chop suey or the dessert?" He asked habang may mapangasar na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

"Ako na!" I snatched my plate at nilagyan iyon ng chop suey. I want the korean barbecue but hindi ko siguro matitiis kainin iyon ng ganoon katamis ayoko pa magkaroon ng diabetes.

I saw Vynz got a small bowl for him at naglagay ng chop suey doon at nilagay ang korean sa plato niya kasama ng kanin. He tastes the chop suey at hinintay ko ang reaksyon niya.

"It's good," He uttered at para akong nanlumo dahil sa sinabi niya. Ganoon rin ang sinabi niya sa korean barbecue na napakatamis. Hindi kaya napakaalat naman ng chop suey?

I tastes the chop suey at hindi naman maalat. Sakto lang at maayos ang lasa kumpara sa nauna kong niluto ngunit parehas lang ang sinabi niya. Dahil sa inis ay I rolled my eyes on him at nagsimula ng kumain.

Nagtatakang tumingin siya sa akin at nagtatanong ang mga mata kung may nagawa siyang masama dahil sa ginawa ko. For the second time, I rolled my eyes on him at itinuon ko na ang pansin sa pagkain na siya ring ginawa ni Vynz at hindi na nagtanong.

Minutes passed and there was a deafening silence between the two of us kaya naman ako na ang bumasag sa katahimikang iyon. "I wonder why you're still with me."

He turned his gaze on me at parang hindi nakuha ang tanong ko. "Huh?"

"You know you have this reputation that you're an another day, another girl type of man..." I mentally counted kung ilang araw na simula nung- nevermind.

Nakita kong binitawan niya ang kutsara at tinidor. He intently looked at me. "And obviously you're with me for almost a month? Not literally with me, what I mean is....you know.... Why is that?"

Minutes passed and he's just staring at me then he picked up his spoon and forks and he resumed eating his food.

I thought hindi na siya magsasalita but when we finally finished our food, he looked at me and he suddenly spoke.

"Thank you for this." He is pertaining to the food that I cooked. "I like the chop suey and this very sweet korean barbecue......and you, more than this two." He muttered while pointing his finger to the food that I cooked.

"Huh?" I asked because really, I don't get him.

"I like you more than those food that you cooked for me, Mirae." I blinked once, then twice and his words suddenly sunk into my pretty head. My heart hammered wildly on my ribcage. Fuck it, Mirae! Mali iyan. I cleared my fucked up thoughts. Remember your plans, Mirae! Cosmos needs to be on top and that means kailangan mawala ng Devaughne.

I don't know if what Vynz said is true but I don't care. I'll take that confession as an advantage to win this.

I was speechless for minutes that's why Vynz continue. "I like you, Mirae. I'll court you." Pretend, Mirae. Remember your plans and control your heart movement for fuck's sake! dahil kung hindi ay malapit na iyang lumabas ng katawan mo.

"Why?" Despite of erratical movement of my heart I still managed to spoke without stammering and I'm fucking proud of that one word.

"Why, why?" Vynz asked.

"Why, Delailah?" Its a song, right?

He frowned as he tilted his head. "Who's Delailah?" Gosh! Hindi niya na gets. What do I expect? Muntik ko ng makalimutan mafia boss nga pala siya at busy siya sa mga business niya at wala siyang time para makinig ng mga songs.

Alanganin akong ngumiti sa kanya dahil sa tanong niya. "Wala. what I mean is bakit ako. You have a lot of women out there."

"Because you're Mirae," He muttered as he gave me a smile. I ignored those fucking insects inside my stomach. I actually don't know how to react that's why I was thankful when my phone suddenly rung. My forehead creased when I saw that it was my Mom.

"I'll just answer this." Paalam ko kay Vynz. Hindi na ako nagabalang lumayo at sinagot na ang tawag.

"Mirae, anak." She's crying when I answered the phone. I shifted on my seat, hindi iiyakan ni Mommy ang mga maliliit na bagay.

"Why, Mommy? Why are you crying?" Vynz is silently listening.

"Pumunta ka sa bahay ngayon na. Inatake ang papa, anak ang lolo mo mahina na." She cried. What? I thought Lolo's healthy? Last time, our family doctor checked him and he said Lolo is okay, ngayon ay inatake? Oh God! Not my lolo.

"P-papunta na 'ko, Mom. Can I talk to Lolo?" I stammered. Ramdam ko ang paginit ng gilid ng mga mata ko dahil sa nagbabadyang luha. Dahil doon ay naalerto si Vynz at parang hindi alam ang gagawin niya.

"Anak ang Lolo mo h-hindi na..." Mommy can't finish her sentence because of her continuous sobs. My tears streamed down my face. I covered my mouth using my palm para hindi marinig ni Mommy ang mga hikbi ko

"A-alright, I'm coming, Mom." The call ended and Vynz offered me a ride papunta sa bahay, hindi ko na iyon tinanggihan dahil bukod sa wala akong dalang kotse ay nagmamadali ako at wala akong oras para maginarte pa. Vynz was about to hug me kanina to comfort me siguro pero agad akong lumayo sa kanya dahil alam kong lalo lang akong iiyak sa mga bisig niya at magtatagal kami.

I heard Vynz asking me kung saan ang bahay namin pero hindi ko siya nasagot dahil sa kakaiyak ko. Hinayaan ko na rin dahil alam ko naman na kaya niyang gawan ng paraan 'yon, kaya niyang malaman kung nasaan ang bahay namin kahit hindi ko sabihin sa kanya. I saw him typing something on his phone as he maneuvered the car palayo sa penthouse niya.

I don't know what happened to Lolo at inatake siya. Is it because of Auntie Ellena again? But the last time I checked ay ayos na sila ni Lolo. I can't think of anything that can trigger his condition. I cried and I don't care kahit makita ako ni Vynz.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakahinto na pala ang sasakyan at nasa tapat na kami ng mansyon. Hindi ko na hinintay si Vynz na makalabas ng sasakyan. Our large mansion towered over me as I entered. Wala ni isa akong nakita sa tanggapan ng mansyon. I walked towards the dining room and as I walked near it ay wala akong marinig na iyak from my relatives, all I can hear is a bunch of laughters.

I saw my relatives gathered in the dining table, seating on the very comfortable chairs while all of them is laughing at parang katatapos lang kumain. I saw Lolo, very alive and kicking at prenteng nakaupo sa kabisera ng hapag. Sa kaliwa niya ay si Mommy na kanina lang ay umiiyak but now she's laughing elegantly, ang katabing upuan ni Mommy ay bakante at ang katabi niyon ay si Damien. Sa kanan naman ni Lolo ay si Uncle David na katabi ang asawa at anak. Naroon din si Auntie Ellena at ang kanyang asawa. My relatives were complete at ako lang ang kulang roon.

Natigil sila sa tawanan nang makita ako and they were shocked to see my crying face.

"Mirae, apo." My relatives greeted me at nanguna roon ang dalawang pinsan ko na pawang lalaki na tinanong pa ako kung ano ang nangyari and I just said I'm okay. Ako lang ang nagiisang apo ni lolo na babae and we're close to each other.

I have a hunch about this set up and I confirmed it when Damien smirked at me bago siya lumabas ng hapag. I knew it! Kasabwat siya ni Mommy.

"Lo, I thought." naguguluhang bigkas ko. I turned to my lolo and he hugged me.

"I was kidding, Anak. I know you won't come if I didn't said that," She explained but that was not enough.
I know that she just wants me to come here pero hindi dapat sa ganoong paraan. I was nervous and... Gosh! Nakakahiya kay Vynz and speaking of Vynz.

"I miss my favorite granddaughter," Lolo muttered.

"I'm your only granddaughter, Lolo." I pouted and he chuckled.

I saw Damien running back to the dining area.

"May kalaban, Ate! Pinapasok ni Manang," He said nang makalapit siya sa akin. Kalaban na pinapasok ni manang?

"Huh? Nasaan?" I asked but he just smirked at me again at nagpaalam na.

"Adios, everyone." His left hand is in his pocket while he waved his other hand habang palabas sa back door. 

I saw Manang Nelly at sa likod niya ay si Vynz.

"Magandang araw po," Vynz greeted my family.

Everyone was just looking at Vynz at ang iba ay masama pa ang tingin. Sino ang hindi sasama ang tingin kung pasukin ng Devaughne ang aming mansyon at ang mismong mafia boss pa.

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