Nagising ako nang biglaan akong uminat at may natamaan akong katawan dahil do’n. I was facing the window and its white curtain when I open my sleepy eyes. Gagalaw na sana ako nang maramdaman ko ang hapdi ng aking pagkababae kasabay ng pagdama ko ng isang brasong nakapulupot sa aking beywang.

And it drawn on me, Callum went to the guestroom last night, apologize to me, and we . . . made love last night. He was murmuring something I didn’t clearly heard because I fell asleep the moment I released.

My cheeks heated profusely. We’re still here at the guestroom. I look at my back, at his peaceful feature while sleeping. I can’t imagine him because so soft and such a cute guy while sleeping beside me. He always has this rough and ruthless facade that’s why I always adore his soft feature every time I have a chance to.

And then my father’s voice lingered my mind.

“Seduce him. Romance him. Make him fall in love with you . . .”

How can I do that? I’m done in seducing him, and romancing him, but make him fall in love to me? Is beyond impossible. That’s really next to impossible. He won’t fall in love with me. This is just a marriage for convenience. Both Callum and Dad were benefiting in this marriage, our companies were now . . . merging. At dahil sa pagpayag ni Callum sa gusto ni Daddy, tuwang-tuwa na ito dahil makakapasok na siya sa kompanya ni Callum nang walang kahirap-hirap. And I wonder what Daddy can do.

“I can almost hear your thoughts, my wife.”

Napabalik ako sa reyalidad nang marinig ang baritonong boses ni Callum. Kumunot ang noo ko at nag-angat ng tingin mula sa kaniyang dibdib patungo sa kaniyang mukha. Nakapikit pa rin siya at mukhang antok pa rin.

“I’m just thinking about my work today. Marami akong meeting at paniguradong magiging abala ako. Though my team were already doing their best, I still can’t help but to worry about the client’s feedbacks.” I said, halfheartedly.

After saying that, inaya ko na siyang tumayo at mag-asikaso na para sa trabaho. Kahit tinatamad siya ay nagpahila na siya sa akin. Nagpatianod siya sa akin papunta sa kuwarto namin. Nauna akong maligo habang siya ay humiga muna sa kama nang padapa. Hindi ko na lang siya muna kinulit dahil paniguradong may hangover pa siya kahit konti.

Nang matapos akong maligo ay naroon pa rin siya, mukhang malalim na naman ang tulog. Nasa ganoong posisyon pa rin siya kaya napahinga ako nang malalim.

Lumapit ako sa kama at umupo sa gilid. Dumantay ang aking kamay sa kaniyang hubad na katawan. He didn’t move, though. Marahan kong hinaplos ang kaniyang likod. I’m on my white robe while doing it.

I crouched a little to whisper to him.

“Callum, gising na. You should prepare for work now. Ano’ng oras na, oh.” sambit ko kasabay ng pag-ungol niya sa marahan kong haplos sa kaniyang likod. “Callum . . .” I called him softly.

One growl and in one swift move, he’s now on top of me, hovering my body. He planted a soft kiss on my lips and smiled. A genuine and damn handsome smile.

“Good morning,” he greet in his bedroom voice.

“Good m-morning . . .” I greet back in almost a whisper tone.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa labi ko bago umuklo at hinalikan ‘yon — isang marahang halik. Bakit ang daya niya? Kapag ako ang bagong gising, pakiramdam ko ang baho ng hininga ko, pero siya parang ang bango-bango niya? The world is really so unfair for some people.

“You smell so nice,” he whispered before crouching more to kiss my neck.

It sents tingling sensations throughout my body as he planted a soft kiss on my neck. I had the urge to moan but stopped myself. Baka hindi kami makapasok kung may gawin na naman kaming milagro ngayon! Ang isa kong kamay ay nasa kaniyang braso, ang isa naman ay nasa dibdib niya, handa na sana siyang itulak pero nawawalan ako ng lakas habang nararamdaman ang mararahan niyang halik sa aking leeg.

“Ang bango-bango mo . . .” he whispered sensually.

I shivered but still managed to speak.

“Cal . . . may trabaho pa tayo. We need to prepare. Please,” tunog nagmamakaawa at hindi ang aking boses. Hindi dahil gusto ko ang sitwasyon namin ngayon — ang posisyon. Pero kailangan naming pumasok sa trabaho.

“Tomorrow is your day off?” he asked lowly.

“Oo,” tugon ko habang nilalaro ang mabibining balahibo sa kaniyang dibdib at braso.

He nuzzled my neck, “I’ll take a day off, too, tomorrow. We’ll have a date.”

A date . . . again?! Do he really love to date me? Or this is just a normal thing for him? Like what he’s doing to his other girls?

I want so bad to ask him about it but I stopped myself from uttering a word. Baka ma-badtrip na naman siya sa akin kapag nagtanong pa ako ng gano'ng klaseng tanong.

We stayed in our bed for minutes before he finally got up and decided to prepare for work. Ako naman ay nagbihis at nag-ayos na habang nasa banyo siya. After that, I got my bag.

“Callum, sa baba lang ako, ah. I’ll prepare your breakfast!” sigaw ko mula sa labas ng banyo.

“Alright!” he shout back.

Kaya naman lumabas na ako at bumaba para makapunta sa kusina. Inilapag ko muna sa isang lamesa ang aking bag at handa na sanang pumasok sa kusina nang makitang may pumasok sa loob ng mansyon.

I stopped walking when I saw her grazed the whole mansion in her most elegance and intimidating aura. In just wearing a simple designer clothes — a red fancy dress that hugged her boddy tightly giving emphasize in her curves, a Louise Vuitton bag, her expensive jewellery. She looks like a princess that can rule your whole life while standing there, looking around the living room. Ang kulay gatas niyang balat ay nakakasilaw, makinis at matangkas. Her hair is in a clean ponytail that emphasize her heart shaped face. She’s almost perfect. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung maganda ang ugali. Dahil alam kong karamihan sa magaganda ay masasama ang ugali. Bilang na lang ang mabait at mapagpakumbaba. And I think she don’t belong to the latter.

Until her gaze held mine. But I didn’t show any reaction, even I startled a bit by her gaze, I didn’t show it. She smiled menacingly. She started walking towards me and stopped two to three meters away from me. Then her smile turns sarcastic.

“Are you Callum’s new secretary?” she asked me in a very girly voice.

Kamuntikan pa akong matawa dahil sa tinanong niya. Gusto kong ngumisi pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko dahil mukhang mataray ang isang ‘to. I don’t want to have a cat fight with this woman, magtatrabaho pa ako.

“Uh . . . Miss Faith, n-nasa kuwarto pa ho si sir Callum,” ang pinakabatang kasambahay ang sumagot.

Base sa pagkakautal niya, alam mo nang may takot siya sa babaeng ito.

Faith . . . Where did I heard her name, again?

“I’m asking her, she’s the secretary, why are you answering me, instead?” mataray nitong singhal sa kasambahay. Itinuro pa niya ako sa nakakainsultong paraan.

“Nasa taas pa siya, naliligo.” sagot ko sa isang malamig na boses.

Hindi dapat ako magpatalo sa babaeng ito. Sino ba ito at narito siya sa mansyon ni Callum? And then a memory popped up in my head . . .

“You really have a good taste in women, Kuya. But I like Faith more for you.”

Calvin mentioned her the last time I met him. Faith . . . Callum’s ex-girlfriend. His . . . ex-girlfriend. Why is she here, by the way? Ano’ng kailangan niya at hinahanap niya si Callum?

“Is that a nice way to treat me as his secretary, huh? I’ll report you to him to fire you. Clearly, you’re not suit to be as his secretary.” mataray niyang sambit sa akin.

Hindi ko na napigilan at napangisi na ako. A smirk without humor at all. Then I arched my brow at her.

“Tell him, then. I don’t care.”

Inirapan ko siya at dumiretso na sa kusina. I prepared Callum’s breakfast and mine. Habang ginagawa ko ang kape ni Callum ay narinig ko ang pagbaba niya.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Faith?” I heard his thunderous voice echoed in the whole living room.

“Honey!” Faith respond instead.

Huminga ako nang malalim at parang may dumagan sa aking dibdib habang tinatapos ang ginagawa. Just by hearing him utter her name feels like a knife to me. It’s like he’s really used to call her that way. Even in a growl, or a dangerous voice, it feels so soft uttering her name.

“Why the fuck are you here?” Callum asked again.

I didn't heard Faith’s response. Pinadala ko ang breakfast ni Callum sa dinning area habang ako ay sa loob na kumain.

“Hindi mo ba sasabayan kumain ang asawa mo, Hailey?” Napatingin ako kay Nanay Juliet nang sabihin niya ‘yon.

I gave her a half smile, “ayos lang po. Uh . . . hindi na rin po ako magtatagal dito, papasok na po ako sa trabaho. Male-late na po kasi ako, e.”

Tinitigan niya ako, tila inaarok ang aking isipan kaya nag-iwas ako ng tingin habang nakakunot ang noo.

“Nagseselos ka.” It’s not even a question.

I closed my eyes tightly. I heave a deep sigh. And look at Nany Juliet, letting her see all of my emotions. She look at me with wesry eyes. Nilapitan niya ako at hinawakan ang aking siko sa isang marahang paraan.

“Alam niyo po ang sitwasyon namin ni Callum . . . It’s too complicated to just confess to him, ‘Nay Juliet. Gusto kong malaman niya na . . . mahal ko siya pero alam kong hindi kami parehas ng nararamdaman. He may think I’m desperate for attention or for love that I might force him to like me, too. Kaya po . . . mas mabuting ganito na lang. I-Itatago ko na lang lahat ng ‘to, at hayaan siya.”

“Asawa ka niya, Hailey. Natural lang na makaramdam ka niyan. Kahit na hindi kayo kinasal dahil sa pagmamahalan niyo, may karapatan ka pa ring makaramdam ng selos. At isa pa, gaya ng sabi mo, mahal mo siya. Kaya naiintindihan kita. Pero wala ako sa tamang posisyon para pangunahan ka. Kung gusto mo ng makakausap, narito lang ako palagi. Kausapin mo ‘ko at pakikinggan at dadamayan kita.” I smiled and hugger her tight.

“Thank you po, ‘Nay Juliet.” It feels so warm in her arms. Feels like a mother hugging me that it gives me so much warmth.

Hindi ko naabutan sa sala sina Callum at Faith. Ang sabi ng kasambahay ay nasa dinning area. Hinahanap ako ni Callum at pinapapunta roon pero hindi na ako roon pumunta. Dumiretso ako sa labas at nagpahatid kay Kuya Benjie sa trabaho.

Later on, my phone bombarded with his messages and calls but I did not reply nor answer any of his calls. Hanggang sa makarating ako sa trabaho ay nag-focus ako roon. Hindi na inalintana ang madalas na pag-iingay ng aking cellphone. Pinatay ko na lang ‘yon para makapagtrabaho. I have important things to do. A lot of things to do.

After work, I’ve decided to go to my parent’s house. Hindi ko na inabala si Kuya Benjie para sunduin ako kahit pa nag-text na siyang papunta na siya sa company. I texted him to go back to the mansion because I’m going to my parents. Hindi ko alam kung anong reply niya dahil nasa taxi na ako.

Nang makarating doon ay agad akong pinagbuksan ng gate. Nilakad ko ang kaunting distansya papunta sa mansyon at doon ay nakita ko si Ate na nakaabang sa malaking pinto ng bahay. I smiled when I saw her there. Hindi niya siguro inaasahan na pupunta ako rito dahil nakita ko ang gulat sa kaniyang mga mata.

“Ate!” tawag ko pero mukha siyang nakakita ng multo dahil sa pagtawag ko sa kaniya.

I frowned while looking at her shock expression. Nang makahuma ay umayos siya ng tayo at hinintay akong makalapit sa kaniya. She smiled hesitantly at me.

“Ate,”

“H-Hailey, nandito ka pala.” she said a bit off.

“Bakit parang ayaw mo?” I joke and chuckled lightly.

Ngumiti naman siya at umiling, “hindi naman. Medyo hindi ko lang inasahan na narito ka ulit after a month. Akala ko hindi ka na pinapayagan ni Callum pumunta rito.”

“Bakit naman hindi niya ako papayagan? Hindi naman siguro siya gano’n ka-strikto para hindi niya ako payagan, ‘di ba?”

“A-Akala ko lang,”

Kahit medyo nagdududa sa kinikilos niya ay hindi ko isinatinig ‘yon. Inaya ko siya sa loob at umupo kami sa couch.

“Mom and Dad are in the . . . study room,” she said while looking away.

“Ah, okay lang, Ate. I’ll wait.”

“Bakit ka nga pala narito? Nag-away kayo ni Callum?”

Mabilis akong umiling dahil totoo namang hindi, hindi ko lang talaga siya pinansin maghapon.

“I’m just visiting Mom and Dad, and also you. But I thought you’re in your condo.”

Umiling siya, “Mom requested me to sleep here.”

Tumango ako. Buti pa si Ate naaaya nilang matulog dito dahil miss na nila. Pero ako . . . well, technically, I’m not their own daughter.

Nagkwentuhan na lang kami roon hanggang sa bumaba sina Mommy at Daddy.

“I told you this is a big risk, Nathaniel. You are risking our company.” I heard Mom said while going downstairs.

“Just trust me, Karmela. These are all under my control. Don’t worry.” Dad replied in a subtle way.

Nang makita kami sa salas ay ngumiti si Mommy sa amin habang si Daddy ay seryoso.

“My! My two precious daughters!” Mom exclaimed exaggeratedly before walking towards us.

Tumayo kami at sinalubong si Mommy ng yakap at pagbeso. Gano’n din ang ginawa ko kay Daddy. Napansin kong hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ni Ate kaya kumunot ulit ang noo ko. Inaya na kami ni Mommy na mag-dinner.

She’s the only one whose lighting up the tension between us. Medyo galit kasi ang ekspresyon ni Ate at masyadong tahimik.

“Kiara, why are you . . . in a bad mood?” Mom asked her.

“Nothing, Mom. Periods,”

“Oh,” tumango-tango siya, naiintindihan ang ibig sabihin.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pagkain at nagkwentuhan na rin. Halos puro tungkol sa amin ni Callum ang tanong nila kaya medyo nahihiya akong sumagot sa kanila. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko.

It’s already 9PM when the housemaid went to us while we’re in the garden.

“Yes, Alma?” Mom asked.

“Madame, nasa salas po ang asawa ni Ma’am Hailey.”

Nanlamig ang sistema ko nang marinig ‘yon. Why is he here?

“Sinusundo na raw po si Ma’am,”

O my gosh!