"Ano'ng ginagawa mo?" Napakapit si Vanna sa leeg ni Cloud nang pangkuin siya nito.

"Taking you home." He smiled as he walked towards the door.

"Hindi ako puwedeng umuwi. My mom will overreact if she sees my wounds," kontra niya. Hindi naman pinansin ng binata ang sinabi niya at nagpatuloy lang sa paglakad.

Her forehead creased.

"Ibaba mo na lang ako. Kaya kong maglakad," she bargained when he still didn't stop. Naasiwa siya na buhat-buhat siya nito. Tinawanan lang siya nito at pumasok sa elevator.

"Cloud, ibaba mo ako," she said in a serious tone. Tiningnan siya nito ng mataman na parang tinatantiya ang reaksyon niya. Nanatili naman siyang seryoso kahit na sa loob-loob ay parang gusto niyang matawa sa itsura nila.

Cloud slowly put her down a minute later. Her leg hurts a bit when she tried to put her weight on it. Hindi na lamang niya ito ipinahalata.

"I can't really go home in this condition," she said as she scrutinized her face on her reflection. Sariwa pa ang ilang gasgas niya sa mukha.

"Hindi naman kita sa bahay n'yo iuuwi, sa bahay ko." Ngumiti ito.

"-natin dati," dagdag nito. He smiled as he pulled her waist and tugged her close to him. Her heart trembled in delight. She momentarily closed her eyes when he kissed her temple.

"Puwede namang sa suite na lang tayo magpalipas ng gabi," sambit niya. His manly scent filled her nostrils as she buried her face on his neck. She could feel his adam's apple moving and it felt good.

"Kung ganito tayo ka-sweet, hindi tayo puwedeng magtagal sa teritoryo ni Vaughn Filan," natatawa nitong sambit.

Kunot-noo siyang napatingala rito.

"You're still afraid of my dad until now?" she asked.

"Nah." He shook his head.

"Your hotel has full surveillance cameras, baka bigla tayong pasukin, ayoko lang maistorbo," he winked.

Napangiti na lamang siya nang halikan siya nito sa noo.

*****

Nakapangalumbaba si Vanna sa kitchen counter habang pinagmamasdan si Cloud na nagluluto ng pancake. Pareho na silang late nagising kanina.

He's only wearing boxer shorts and blue apron. Kita ang maliit na pilat sa tagiliran nito. He looks hot while putting the freshly cooked pancake on a plate.

Napangiti ito ng lingunin siya. Lumapit ito sa kinaroroonan niya at inilagay ang pancake sa harapan niya kasama ang maple syrup.

"Tikman mo nga kung masarap," nakangiti nitong wika.

"No need. For sure masarap 'yan parang ikaw," biro niya rito. She teasingly raked her eyes on his body.

"Naughty," Cloud chuckled as he kissed the tip of her nose. Pinamulahan siya. Only then she realized the implication of her sentence.

Kung may makaririnig sigurong iba ay mag-iisip na nang kung ano-ano.

She smiled as she remembered what happened last night. Pareho na silang inaantok nang makauwi sa bahay ni Cloud. They slept on his bed just like how they used to. Ang kaibahan lang, yakap-yakap na siya nito habang natutulog at hinayaan naman niya.

She loved burying her face on his chest and inhaling his manly scent especially that he's half naked. The mixed smell of his cologne, aftershave and sweat is intoxicating. She loved it more when she woke up with the same smell.

"What's your plan for today?" Cloud asked as he walked towards the refrigerator. Naglabas ito ng pipino, lettuce, grapes at apple.

"Pupunta sa school para isubmit 'yong arranged schedules ko for internship tapos pupunta sa orphanage," tugon naman niya. She whipped some syrup on her pancake and tasted a mouthful.

"This tastes sooo heavenly," she said in exaggeration. Napatawa naman ang binata.

"Para sa taong hindi marunong magluto, lahat masarap," natatawa naman nitong sambit. Natawa na lang din siya.

Binuhat niya ang plato at dinala sa table bago lumapit sa kinaroroonan nito. He's already putting the washed grapes on a bowl with the lettuce.

Cloud was slicing the cucumber when she stood behind him and encircled her arms around his waist. She buried her face on his bare back sniffing his scent.

"Hey, I'm making you a salad," he told her. He went static.

"It feels great waking up with you again," she murmured on his back not minding what he said. Tiningala niya ito nang lingunin siya. She saw him inhaling deeply. Then he gave her a warm smile.

"You have no idea how great it is to me, either." Tumitig ito sa kanya. She saw his sincerity.

"Talaga ba?" nanunudyo niyang tanong rito. Tumawa naman ito ng mahina bago tumango.

"Paano kung dumating si dad tapos makita niya tayo ng ganito?" tanong niya rito. He's testing how he'd react. Napatawa ulit ito ng mahina.

"My house is secured," sambit nito. He continued slicing the cucumber thinly.

"Takot ka pa rin talaga kay dad hanggang ngayon."

Cloud put the knife and cucumber down on the chopping board. Niluwagan niya ang yakap nang humarap ito sa kanya.

"Nope," he said looking on her eyes. Huminga ito ng malalim.

"Isa lang ang kinatatakutan ko ngayon," wika nito. She looked at him puzzled.

"What is it?" she asked when he stopped talking.

Huminga ulit ito ng malalim. He wrapped his arms on her shoulder as he kissed the top of her head. She found the gesture sweet. Her lips even smiled voluntarily at the touch of his lips.

He held her chin and tilted her head upwards to face him.

Her eyes automatically closed when his lips brushed hers. Magaan lang ang paghalik nito. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her face.

Ngumiti ito bago nagsalita.

"I'm afraid I'd wake up and realize that all of this are just part of a dream," sambit nito. Lumamlam ang kanina'y mapupungay nitong mga mata.

Napangiti siya. She felt like her eyes watered a bit seeing his sincerity. She wrapped her arms on his shoulder. Tumingkayad siya para maabot ang mga labi nito. She kissed him slowly gently nibbling his lower lip. Cloud was static at first but later responded to her kiss. Saka naman niya ito kinagat sa pang-ibabang labi.

"Sh!t, Vanna!" he muttered as their lips parted. Napatawa naman siya ng mahina.

"That hurts," dagdag nito at pinitik ng mahina ang ilong niya.

"You are not dreaming, boss," saad niya rito. She saw how his blue eyes flickered. Then, he lowered his head for another kiss. His lips gently devoured hers as their tongue intertwined. It was slow and gentle.

Tumawa ito ng mahina nang maghinang ang mga labi nila.

"Yep, I am not dreaming," sambit nito. He kissed her lightly on the lips releasing her from his embrace.

"I think I need to take a quick shower," dagdag nito. She was a bit puzzled until she felt his bulging front.

Natatawa siyang lumayo rito.

"Sabay na tayo," biro niya pero pinitik lang siya nito sa ilong ng mahina.

"Naughty," he murmured as he walked past her.

Natatawa na lang niya itong sinundan ng tingin. She continued where he left off on the salad. She also toasted some bread and prepared their coffee.

Paglabas nito mula sa kuwarto ay naka-navy blue jogging pants na at white shirt. He smiled when he saw that the table is already prepared.

"Can you just submit your sched at school some other time?" tanong ni Cloud nang kumakain na sila. He was seated next to her instead of sitting on the opposite chair.

Itatanong sana niya kung bakit pero nagsalita ulit ito.

"Let's go out for a date," he muttered after sipping his coffee. Napangiti siya. He's no longer asking. Gone is the old Klein Rich who's always uncertain of them.

"I-da-drop ko lang naman 'yong sched. Hindi ako magtatagal," komento niya.

"Okay. How about at the orphanage? Puwedeng sa ibang araw na lang?" tanong ulit nito.

She chewed the toast on her mouth before speaking.

"You know I can't skip my Friday visit to Gel," tugon niya rito. She regularly visits the little girl at the orphanage.

Cloud smiled as he nodded. "Baby Gel. I miss her, too," he muttered. Napangiti siya. Madalas niyang kasama ang binata na bumibisita roon dati.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, boss, tuturuan ko na siya na tawagin kang daddy," natatawa niyang sambit. Tumawa rin ito.

"Okay, mommy boss," he teased.  Kumindat pa ito.

"Ang corny mo!" she laughed out. Hindi pa niya namalayang hampasin ito ng hawak na tinidor na agad nitong inilagan.