Seth's POV

A hard smack on the face woke me right the fuck up. With my hand on my stinging cheek, I jerked up like a bolt of lightning. I could see, with moonlight shining through the window, an outline of a person. My eyes adjusted to the dark and I saw Marian sitting next to me. I reached for the lampshade next to my bed and switched it on.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked in an irritated tone.

"Manyak ka talaga! Bastos ka!" She angrily said, hugging herself.

"What did I do?" My brows wrinkled.

"Ano'ng what did you do? Huwag kang magmaang-maangan! Kunwari ka pang wala kang alam, alam mo ginawa mo!" Ugh, her voice was like an annoying dog who wouldn't stop barking.

"Hindi ako magtatanong sa'yo kung alam ko ang ginawa ko. What are you doing here anyway? This is my room." I said, combing my fingers through my aching head.

"Sinadya mo lahat 'to. Tinakot mo ako para pumunta ako dito, para tumabi ako sa'yo at mahawakan mo ang... ang boobs ko." She said, hugging herself tighter.

I gave her a snide grin, my eyes lowering to her breasts. "You call that boobs? Akala ko pantal."

Galit na kinuha niya ang unan sa tabi niya at ipinalo niya sa akin. "Hoy, ang kapal ng mukha mo! Palibhasa, di ka pa kasi nakakakita ng natural boobs. Puro mga siliconed boobs ang nakikita at nahahawakan mo."

"Sige nga, patingin nga ng sa'yo." I said, teasing her.

"Neknek mo! Over my dead body."

"Meh, I'm not into necrophilia." I chuckled. "At hinding-hindi ko pagnanasahan yang boobs mo. Nakita mong natutulog ako, malay ko bang nandyan ang boobs mo. Ikaw yata itong may balak sa akin."

"Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo. Gwapong-gwapo ka talaga sa sarili mo, 'no?"

I stretched out my arms and yawned, drowsiness overtaking me. "Go back to your room, I want to go to sleep. Maaga pa tayo aalis bukas."

"Ayoko." Mahinang sabi niya.

"I'm tired, Marian." Humiga na ulit ako sa kama.

"Minumulto ako ni Abuela mo." She said, almost in a whisper.

"Don't you think you're a little too old to believe in ghosts? Walang multo, Marian. Go back to Abuela's room."

"Dito na lang ako."

"Ayoko ng may katabi."

"Huwag ka ngang maarte. Nagtabi na naman tayo noon."

"Wala akong choice noon." I sighed.

"Basta dito ako matutulog." She said. Kumuha siya ng unan at inilagay iyon sa pagitan namin. "That's your space and this is mine. Huwag kang lalagpas dito."

I was too tired to argue with her. Pinabayaan ko na siya sa gusto niya at ipinikit ko na ang mga mata ko. I felt her laying down on the bed and I caught a whiff of her scent. My sleepiness suddenly went away, woke me up faster than a bucket of cold water. It was so womanly and natural. Her scent was suddenly all around me, sweetly and cruelly surrounding me.

It wasn't like this when we first slept in bed together, she smelt of smoke and alcohol from the club. Now it was different. She smelled so good, I figured she'd taste even better. Suddenly I found it hard to breathe. My body went stiff at that inappropriate thought. I shifted, turning my back to her so I wouldn't be able smell her scent.

"Seth." I heard her call me.

"Mmm?" I replied with a lazy moan.

"Di ka man lang magsosorry sa akin?" She said.

"Sorry for what?" I scowled.

"For touching my breast!"

"I'm not responsible for my actions while I'm asleep." I said. A part of me wished I felt how soft her breast were in my palm. I swallowed, forcing the thought away.

"Kahit na. Dapat mag-sorry ka pa rin."

"Would you shut up and let me sleep if I apologize?"

"Maybe."

"I'm sorry for accidentally touching your non-existent breast."

"Magsosorry na nga lang, may dagdag pang insulto." She mumbled.

There was only silence after that. Maybe, she'd gone to sleep but me, I couldn't go back to sleep even if I wanted to. I tried to shut my eyes real tight and started counting sheeps. I counted to 67 before I deciding to stop and give up.

"Marian?" I wanted to make sure if she was already asleep.

"Bakit?" Narinig kong sabi niya.

It took me a good thirty seconds before I thought of what to say to her. "Don't you think you should apologize to me too?"

"Bakit ako magsosorry sa'yo?"

"You slapped me in the face." I said.

"I'm sorry." She said. "But I think you deserve that."

"You're such a bitch." I murmured.

"Seth, kahit kailan ba hindi mo talaga ako pinagnasahan? Not even that night when I was sleeping next to you in only my underwears?" She asked.

"NO!" I instantly answered. I swallowed again, feeling the temperature in the room rising. My breathing became shallow and tight in my chest.

"Kahit konti? You've never thought of doing anything naughty to me?"

"Hell no! Why are you even asking me these questions?" Iritang sabi ko. I could feel droplets of sweat forming on my forehead even though it was cold in my room. My boxers tightened, I closed my eyes and thought of other things. Anything to turn me off and distract me. My parents in the other room, my Abuela, my terror professor in college Mrs. Montoya.

"Is it my breasts? Kapag ba nagpa breast implant ako, may chance na pagnasahan mo ako?"

"Where are all these questions coming from?"

"Wala lang, naisip ko lang." I heard her taking a deep breath. "Hindi naman daw ako pangit. Ano bang kulang sa akin? Ano bang mali sa akin? Do I need bigger breasts? Bakit ba walang magkagusto-gusto sa akin?"

"Here we go again." I sighed.

"Seryoso ako, Seth. Sa'yo ko itinatanong kasi lalaki ka." The bed move as she shifted her position.

"Stay in your space." I suddenly felt threatened when she moved closer to me. It was already driving me mad having to lie next to her.

"Seth, why aren't men attracted to me?" She asked.

"Hindi ko alam." I said in a stoic tone. "I'm going to sleep."

"Seth, huwag mo muna akong tulugan." I felt her lean over my arm the same time I shifted to my back. Dumausdos siya sa dibdib ko at muntik ng sumubsob ang mukha niya sa akin pero mabilis niyang napigilan iyon gamit ang kamay niya. Our faces were only inches apart. I could smell her sweet breath, the way a breath's supposed to smell after brushing without that toothpaste scent. I could feel her warm inhale and exhale against my own lips. My throat had suddenly gone dry and I had to swallow.

She propped herself up with her hand, mumbling a soft apology. She threw herself next to me and just silently layed there. I was seized by an urge to get on top of her but it wouldn't be right. Suddenly it was hard to breathe. I closed my eyes, breathing in a lung full of air. I didn't know how I was able to sleep that night but fortunately, I did.

Marian's POV

It was getting colder so I cuddled closer to the warmth next to me. Kuntentong idiniin ko pa ang katawan ko sa init na iyon. The warmth felt so good and comfy against my body that it made me want to stay a little longer in bed.

Five more minutes. Sabi ko sa sarili ko. Ang sarap talaga ng panahon na ganito. Malamig ang hangin at nakabalot ka sa mainit na kumot. It always makes me want to stay in bed the whole day with my favorite blanket around me while I watch a movie or read a book.

Halos mapatili ako ng maramdaman kong may gumalaw sa likod ko. It wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at doon ko nakita na nakahilig ang ulo ko sa hubad na dibdib ni Seth, nakasiksik ako sa tagiliran niya, at nakapulupot ang isang hita ko sa baywang niya. Wala nang unan sa pagitan namin ang naghihiwalay sa amin. I liked the feeling. Ang sarap pala ng pakiramdam na magising kang nakapulupot sa bisig ng isang lalaki. Would it feel like this every morning with my future husband?

I should be getting up now but I couldn't. My body loved the warmth, my mind loved the feeling... Would it be wrong if I stay for a few more minutes? Ang bango-bango niya. I took in a deep breath. There was a faint hint of an expensive men's cologne he probably wore yesterday mixed with his natural manly scent.

Naramdaman ko ang paghagod ng kamay niya sa likod ko pataas sa buhok ko. It sent shivers down my spine. Instictively, napasinghap ako sa sensasyon.

Biglang parang napaso ang mga kamay na iyon at inilayo niya iyon. Seth sat up like a jack-in-the-box.

"Good morning?" I said, still a bit hazed.

"Get up, we're leaving early." He scowled before jumping out of bed and going through the door to the bathroom. Sungit!

Bumangon ako sa kama at niligpit ko ang mga pinaghigaan namin. Lumabas ako nang kwarto at dumaan sa kwarto ni Abuela para maghilamos at nagmumog ng mouthwash sa bathroom. Natatakot pa din ako pero hindi na gaano dahil maliwanag na, nagmamadali akong lumabas sa kwarto na iyon nang matapos ako. Nakakahiya naman kasing bumaba ako ng may muta pa at morning breath.

Bumaba ako sa kusina at nakita ang kasambahay na naghahanda ng almusal. Nakahanda sa ibabaw ng mesa ang french toasts, poached eggs at iba't ibang prutas. I knew those wouldn't be enough for Seth. Matakaw si Seth, hindi halata sa katawan niya dahil palagi siyang nagwowork out pero sobrang takaw niya.

I asked if they had any bacon, sausage and spam and the maid told me they did. Inilabas niya ang mga hiningi ko at niluto ko iyon. Habang nagluluto ako ay pumasok sa kusina si tita Liza.

"O, bakit ikaw nagluluto d'yan? Hindi mo ba gusto ang almusal?" She asked.

"Para po sa anak niyo 'to. Appetizer lang po ni Seth ang nakahandang almusal doon." Natatawang sabi ko.

She leaned against the counter next to me and gave me a slight smile. "Sigurado ka bang hindi ka girlfriend ng anak ko?"

"Nako, positive! Hindi po talaga. PA niya lang po ako, promise." Agad na sagot ko, halos mahulog ko na ang hawak kong spatula sa tanong ni tita Liza.

"Gusto kita para kay Seth." She smiled even wider, warmer. "Alam kong kagabi pa lang tayo nagkakilala pero ang gaan ng loob ko sa'yo. My son is like his father. A little boy stuck in a grown man's body. I can see that you can take good care of him."

"Ginagawa ko lang po ang trabaho ko. At saka, yaya po ang kailangan ng anak niyo, hindi girlfriend." Sabi ko at natawa si tita Liza. Masaya kaming nag-uusap ni tita Liza nang bumaba na ang asawa niya, ilang minuto lang ay si Seth naman ang bumaba. We served the food I cooked and we all had breakfast together.