"Dad, did you send those noobs to kill him?"

"Yeah, I did. I'm so sorry, daughter," he looks sincere.

"Sabi na nga ba."

"But when someone told me that you're in the car, I had to stop the mission," aniya.

I sighed heavily and ruffled my hair.

"Why are you in that man's car, George?" dad sounds serious.

"He took me with him. I went shopping pero sinundan niya ako. Maybe I should ki-" dad cuts my words off.

"Don't. Just leave him to us, daughter. Focus on saving amd treating people, okay?"

Tumango ako kahit hindi ako sang-ayon sa kanyang gusto. I closed the laptop when I end the call and slumped my face on the desk.

I forgot how it feels to kill because I've been resisting the urge to do it. I want blood all over my hands and being a surgeon is different from what I really want. Blood from killing is different with blood from saving.

I received a message from Joey telling me that I should come quick to the hospital because we have a patient.

Mabilis akong pumara ng taxi papuntang hospital. I haven't seen Crescent since yesterday and that's a good thing.

"Malavar Hospital."

"Right away, Georgia."

Natigil ako sa pagcecellphone nang marinig ang kanyang boses. He was smirking at me through the mirror. Magsasalita pa sana ako nang pinaharurot na niya ang sasakyan.

I should pay more attention to every cars! Ang bilis niyang makabili ng bago. Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng pera.

"Sinusundan mo pa rin ba ako?"

"After what happened yesterday, yes."

Napairap ako sa kawalan at sumuko sa pagsasalita. Arguments are useless since he's the supposed to be target of my dad's assassins. Bumaba ako ng sasakyan pagkatapos makarating sa hospital. Hindi ko siya binigyan ng pagkakataong magsalita at mabilis na isinara ang kotse.

"Ms. Sicillian, patient in the emergency room needs immediate medical attention," sabi ni Joey na pinapantayan ang bilis ng aking lakad.

"What happened?" I asked as she puts my labcoat and surgical gloves on.

"There's a cut in his abdomen, a long and deep cut. And we also found out that he was Mr. Torres' brother."

"What?"

"He is."

"Is it... a knife?" pagtataka ko.

"We're not sure, doc. But I guess it's a long blade... like a katana sword."

I bit my lower lip and told Joey to call Coleman instead. This is out of my expertise. Wala akong alam sa espada but Coleman is built different. He knows about swords, guns, and knife. But me? I'm very much into guns.

"Yes, doc."

Tinanggal ko ang gloves na nasa kamay ko at itinapon iyon sa basurahan. I sighed in frustration while looking for Coleman. Hindi ko siya matawagan so I guess he's been smoking outside.

"Dr. Coleman is here!" sigaw ni Joey.

He approached me and gave me his pack of cigarette and a lighter.

"Sayo muna."

Tinulungan siya ni Joey na hubarin ang kanyang labcoat at isinuot ang surgical gloves. Napatingin ako sa pakete. As expected, he was smoking.

"Is it a cut?" tanong niya sa akin.

"I haven't seen it but Joey said that it could possibly be a sword."

He tsked and gritted his teeth. Mabilis siyang nawala sa paningin namin ni Joe. Nakatitig lang kami sa kanya habang papasok ng emergency room. I'm sorry, Cole, but I don't like swords either.

"I'll go take my break, George. Uuwi ka na ba?" tanong ni Joey.

"Maybe I should wait for Cole. Isasauli ko pa itong sigarilyo and I need to talk to him."

"Well, he calms down when he sees you so good luck," she winked at umalis.

Naupo ako sa bakanteng waiting chair habang hinihintay si Coleman matapos sa kanyang panggagamot. It took me two hours to wait, muntikan na nga akong makatulog dahil sa paghihintay.

Nakita ko siyang lumabas ng emergency room. Ni wala akong nakitang pamilya o kamag-anak ng biktima. Don't tell me Mr. Torres' has no other family member?

"Did you wait? How long have you been here, George?" Cole asked when he left the room.

"Two hours," I smiled. Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang pakete at lighter. "Your cigarette. You will need it."

"You could have just left it in my office. Nag-abala ka pa," I saw how he frustratingly throws the bloody gloves in the trash can before taking the pack.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I think he's alive."

Sisindihan na niya sana ang sigarilyo nang pigilan ko siya.

"We should go outside, Cole," hinawakan ko siya ng mahigpit sa kanyang damit at hinila papuntang terrace.

Bawal ang sigarilyo sa loob dahil maaamoy iyon ng ibang pasyente. They the smell of cigarette, ganun din naman ako.

"Ayan, dito ka humithit hanggang gusto mo."

"I'm sorry, George," he sighed at sinindihan ang sigarilyo.

I looked away when the smoke almost got me. Ang baho talaga but this is Cole's stress reliever kaya hindi ko siya pwedeng pagbawalan. Ayokong pakealaman ang buhay niya.

"Ako nga ang dapat na magsorry. I made you do the work of treating him," I said.

Alam niyo kung bakit ayaw na ayaw ko ang mga pasyente na may malaking hiwa sa tiyan? Simple. Because of hemorrhage. Nawawalan ng maraming dugo ang pasyente kapag ganun kalaki ang sugat at kapag nakakakita ako ng maraming dugo, nawawalan ako ng pag-asang gamutin ang pasyenteng iyon. I'm not used to seeing my patient die after treating them.

It's a fucking big deal to me!

But not to Coleman. He's impressive, he can handle death no one has done before, and that's what I like about him.

"You want another one?" I asked and gave him another stick.

"Thanks."

"You didn't save him, didn't you?"

He sipped smoke and exhaled it before answering me.

"I can't do anything about it. He lost too much blood, George."

I looked at him with pity in my eyes. Not that he really cares but I get emotional when I find sad news like this. But Cole... he doesn't care and I mean it. He doesn't care if someone dies. He is ruthless. And I like that, I envy that because I can't do that.

Napansin ko na nakatingin siya sa ibaba kaya't natingin na rin ako.

"He's been glaring at us for five minutes," aniya at pinatay ang sigarilyo gamit ang metal na hawakan.

"Why is he still here?"

Nakatitig pa rin siya ng masama sa amin... akin! Ano bang problema niya?

"You know him?"

"Just a friend of mine," I smiled.

"Friends don't glare like that," tawa niya at kumaway kay Crescent.

I saw how Crescent looked away, annoyed by Coleman's gestures.

"He's mad," nawala ang ngiti ni Cole. "Anong ginawa ko?"

"Hayaan mo na yan. Parang baliw."

"I think you should go home, George. Hinihintay ka ata ng kaibigan mo," ibinulsa niya ang pakete at lighter bago tuluyang umalis.

I looked down to see Crescent but he was gone kaya't napagdesisyunan ko nang bumaba. I took the elevator and pressed 1. I keep glancing at my watch, thinking kung ano ang dapat kong kainin mamayang gabi.

Maybe I should get a whole bowl of parmesan chicken. Pero wala iyon sa menu ng hotel. Only one restaurant serves it to me pero sirado na yata ang restaurant na yun ngayon. I heard it's under renovation.

Ting!

The elevator door opens. Lumabas ako ng hospital only to see Crescent waiting for me outside while leaning his back against the car.

"Is that your boyfriend?" bungad niya.

Nagulat ako but at the same time amused. How could he ask me that question directly?

"You mean Cole? Nah, he's my colleague."

"Do you like guys that smoke?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Bubuksan ko na sana ang kotse nang pigilan niya ang kamay ko at hinila paharap sa kanya.

"Answer me."

"What is it with you and my type?" binawi ko ng marahas ang aking braso. "And, no. I don't like him if that's what you want to know."

"Then who do you like?"

Tinitigan niya akong mabuti. I bit my lip at binuksan ang pinto sa likuran. Doon na lang ako uupo. Naiinis ako sa pagmumukha niya.

"Iuuwi mo ba ako o magpapataasan tayo ng pride rito?" my brows arched.

He sighed deeply as his chest heaved. Binuksan niya ang driver's seat at pinagdrive ako pauwing condo. I haven't been able to call and update dad. Busy din iyon for sure because he has a very important investor to take care of.

Nakamasid lang ako sa labas ng bintana. Pinagmamasdan ko rin siya paminsan-minsan sa rear view mirror tapos nahuli ko pa siyang nakatingin sa akin.

If he looks at me like that, I wll definitely fold on my knees.

"Stop staring me with those eyes, Crescent. Naiirita ako sa mukha mo."

"If you hate it, then I'll keep doing it."

Tangina naman! May scalpel ako sa bulsa, baka gusto niyang mahiwa ko siya ng konti sa gwapo niyang mukha.

Nahinto kami sa harap ng condo kaya't dumiretso na ako sa itaas. Ipaparada pa niya iyang sasakyan, bagong bili yan, e.

"Ms. Sicillian, welcome back."

"Good evening. Please don't disturb me for tonight. I'll just call if I need something," paalala ko bago pinindot ang elevator.

"What should we do about Mr. Fritz?"

Nahinto ako napatingin sa babae. "Let him in my room."

"Noted, Ms. Sicillian. Have a good night."

The usual routine. I took a bath and drink some red wine after. Ni hindi pa ako kumakain pero umiinom na ako ng wine.

"Did you eat already?" boses ni Crescent na nakatayo sa harap ng pinto ko habang nakapameywang akong tinitignan.

"Hindi pa."

Wala ba talagang courtesy ang lalaking ito at basta-basta na lang pumapasok sa banyo habang naliligo ako? Tsk.

"Good," he sighed. "'Cause I cooked."

"You did?" tumayo ako ng mabilis.

I noticed how he shyly looked away and went back to the kitchen. He really can't stand seeing me naked, does he? Nilunok ko ang natirang wine sa wineglass at nagbanlaw ng tubig.

Nagbath robe ako bago lumabas ng banyo. Nakita ko siyang nagtatanggal ng itim na apron at binalik iyon sa sabitanan.

"Eat."

"Ano ito?"

"Parmesan Chicken," naupo siya sa kaharap kong upuan.

"Gusto ko rin magkanin."

I looked everywhere pero walang kanin sa mesa. Inis siyang tumayo at kumuha ng kanin sa rice cooker. Binigyan niya ako ng isang bowl.

"Thanks, Crescent."

"Now, eat."

Hindi niya man lang ako hinintay. Kumain siya agad mag-isa. But since he cooked chicken, kakain ako ng marami. Eto pa ang gustong-gusto kong kainin simula kanina. Hindi ko alam na magaling pala siyang magluto. Maybe I can hire him as my personal chef.

Nabusog ako sa kinain ko kanina kaya nagpadala ako ng hotel service upang hugasan ang pinagkainan namin.

"I guess bukas pa pupunta iyong tagahugas."

Nahiga ako sa sofa habang nanonood ng TV. Maganda ang palabas kaso nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Naiinis talaga ako sa kanya. Bakit ang sama niyang tumitig? Pinanganak yata ito upang tignan ako ng masama, e.

"Galit ka ba sa akin?" taas kilay kong tanong.

"I just can't stop thinking..."

"Mag-isip ka lang-"

"Of you."

"Ha?"

"On how to kill you dramatically or do I have to torture you," he playfully hold his hair. "I think it's fun to torture you first before killing you."

Napalunok ako. Akala ko kasi ano. Hays. All he thinks about is my death. But I think that's good.

"You can't stop thinking about me, Crescent," I grinned. "That's sweet."

"I know."

Ang lamig ng ibaba ko. Hindi pa naman ako nakapag-underwear.

"Umuwi ka na, matutulog na ako."

"I'll stay here."

"No! Umalis ka na," asik ko.

"Make me."

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinila ang kanyang necktie. Gusto ko siyang sakalin gamit iyon pero hindi ko siya pwedeng patayin dito. Masisira ako sa publiko. I should kill him somewhere else.

I kneel on his lap while pulling him closer to my face. Hindi siya natinag sa ginawa. I can't believe this, men fall in love with me two seconds after staring at my eyes. But this man didn't even flinch.

"What are you trying to do, Georgia?" he asked in his deep fucking voice.

"Seducing you," lumukot ang noo ko pagkatapos. "Men fold before me, but I guess it's not worki-"

In a swift fluid of motion, he grabs my ass, pulling me closer to his manhood. Halos sumabog ang dibdib ko dahil sa sobrang kaba na ako lang din ang may gawa.

"You had your knee on other men's lap?" galit niyang tanong.

"In the past."

I gasped when he grips my ass harder. "This is all mine, Georgia."

"I'm not yours, Crescent... and will never be," I smirked.

Hindi ko alam ang nangyari pero nabaliktad na lang ang posisyon namin. I'm leaning against the sofa's headdress and he was in front of me. Napagitnaan ng kanyang tuhod ang gitnang bahagi ng binti ko kaya hirap akong makaalis.

"What are you... doing?" nagpumiglas ako.

"Seducing you. Is it working?"

"No! Get off me!"

Bakit ang tigas niyang paalisin? This is not how human body works. At sa tuwing nagpupumiglas ako, mas lalo akong nanghihina.

"Stop seducing me, Georgia. Learn your lesson," he demands.

"Is it working?"

"Yes."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. I hate him. I so so hate him! Pwede niya namang aminin na may gusto siya sa akin, e. Bakit idadaan niya pa sa panghaharass?

Pasikreto akong napangiti nang bigla niya akong halikan sa labi. I tried pushing him away but he keeps coming back stronger. Binisigan niya ako sa magkabilang kamay kaya hindi na ako nakatakas pa at sumuko na lang. Hinayaan ko siyang halikan ako.

His kisses were deep and hot. Literal na mainit. Hindi niya man lang ako binigyan ng sapat na oras upang makabawi ng oxygen.

"I hate you..."

He kissed me again.

"I really..."

And again.

"Really hate..."

And again.

"You, Crescent."

Tumigil siya sa paghalik sa akin. Naiiyak ko siyang tinignan dahil sa sobrang inis. He glared at me with those devilishly mad eyes. Nagulo rin ng konti ang kanyang buhok, imbes na magmukhang bakulaw, mas gumwapo siya lalo.

"I know that, Georgia."

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