Seth's POV

Having to sleep next to a woman instead of sleeping with a woman was a whole different experience. As I held her in my arms and felt her warm breath on my neck, I knew something had changed with the way I feel for her. I mean, I still find her annoying but she had already gotten under my skin.

In a short span of time, she had been become an important part of my life. I'd become so dependent on her to a point where I felt like I couldn't function without her. Sa walong araw na hindi kami nagkita, to me it felt like eternity. I didn't know why but I always want to see her and be with her. I would trade a hot night with Megan Fox and Jessica Alba for a day like this with her. It was never out of clinginess. I just couldn't recall the last time I felt this at ease with someone. I never realized how familiar a stranger could be.

Damn, I missed her so much. I'd missed her so much that spending a few hours with her felt as if it still wasn't enough. That was why I spent the night here with her. I couldn't leave. I didn't want to be without her so I stayed. But wait, what I feel for her was just platonic, okay? It was like how a brother loves his little sister. Yeah, that's the perfect way to describe it. Lumaki kasi akong nag-iisang anak. Growing up, I'd always wanted a sibling. Siguro kay Marian ko nakita iyon.

Marian moved, snuggling closer to me and buried her face into my neck. Her breath tickled my sensitive flesh and I felt something weird. I breathed out a cuss. I never had any siblings but I was sure brothers never feel this way for their little sisters.

And what about the hand holding thing last night? Part of my brain asked. I just got kind of annoyed with her hand bumping against mine so I held it. It was really nothing but a casual hand holding with a friend.

Really? Gagawin mo din ba yun kay Axel, Nick, Wayne o Tristan? It mocked.

I looked down at Marian and took a deep sigh. She had affected me in a way no one had really ever had before. There was something about her open nature that appealed to me. I didn't see her the way I see other women. Hindi ko naman ipagkakailang magada si Marian. But she was my buddy, not some tasty morsel I want to devour. She feels ood against my side and she fits perfectly under my arm but so what? It didn't mean anything more than friendship.

I stiffened when she opened her eyes. She looked up and gave me a lazy, sleepy smile with her eyes still hooded from sleep. I felt something inside me stir, like awareness awakening. As much as I wanted to stay in bed, I felt a bit awkward. I had never shared a bed with a woman. Friends don't cuddle in bed. I looked away, pulling my arm under her waist and sitting up.

"Kanina pa ko nagugutom." I said as I sat on the edge of the bed. "I've been waiting for you to wake up."

Naramdaman kong gumalaw siya at umupo sa kama sa likod ko. She stretched out her arms and yawned. "Ano bang gusto mong kainin? May longganisa ako d'yan, may bacon, egg?

"Everything." I said.

"Of course." I could feel the eye rolling in her voice. "Maghihilamos lang ako at ipagluluto na kita ng iyong agahan, kamahalan."

It was like the most natural thing in the world, waking up with her in my arms, watching her get out of bed, her cooking breakfast for me. We never questioned what we were doing.

If only every morning was like this...

Marian's POV

Hindi ko pwedeng magustuhan si Seth. He was not the guy for me. Hindi pwede, hindi pwede, hindi talaga pwede...

Seth was everything I hated in a guy woven together. I wanted a mature, responsible, and stable guy with high moral values. Not someone who makes a living out of partying and beds women like it's his profession. I doubt he even had a single ounce of moral fiber in him. He treated sex like it's just something you do when you're bored, like a hobby. Bata pa lang ako isiniksik na sa utak ko ng mama ko na ang pagtatalik ay para sa mag-asawa lang.

If they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. I could hear my mom reading one of those verse inside my head.

But why? Why was I feeling this way for him? The feelings that began to surge through me was nothing I had ever felt before. I didn't even know what exactly it was.

Lalo na kagabi nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. But it was probably just nothing to him. He probably does that to every girl kaya hindi ko dapat bigyan ng kahulugan iyon.

I dried my body with a towel and wrapped it around me after taking a shower. Pagkatapos kong magluto ng almusal ni Seth ay naligo na ako. I had to open the shop and start working on the flowers for the wedding. Pagkatapos ay lilinisin ko na ang condo ni Seth.

I stepped out of the bathroom. Saktong paglabas ko nang pinto ng banyo ay ang pagbukas naman ng pinto ng kwarto ko. Seth stood under the door frame, his eyes scanned my body up and down but never moved a muscle. Something inside me went wicked. I wanted him to see me. I knew that in my rotten heart. I wanted to drop the towel and let him see me naked as the day I was born. I wanted to see the reaction in his eyes, I wanted to know what he would do...

Pray that you may not enter into temptation. I heard my mother's voice again.

"B-bakit?" Tanong ko ng makaipon ako ng lakas ng loob na magsalita.

He cleared his throat before lifting his eyes up my face. "Sasabay ka ba sa akin? Uuwi na ako."

"Mauna ka na. Magbubukas pa ako ng shop." I said, trying to make the words as cold as I could under the heated circumstances.

"Pero pupunta ka pa rin sa condo, right?" He asked.

"Yes, after I finish my work." I answered. "Pwede ba, pakisara ng pinto? Magbibihis na ako."

He immediately closed the door and I slumped against the wall, sending up a request for my salvation. Siguro kung nababasa lang ni mama ang utak ko malamang nakurot na ako sa singit 'nun.

Hindi na normal ito. Nahahawa na ako ng kahalayan ng lalaking iyon.

It took me three days to finish cleaning up Seth's mess. Isang bundok ng damit ang mga damit niya na nilabahan ko, hindi na makita ang sink niya dahil natabunan na iyon ng mga platong pinaggamitan niya nang dumating ako dito, pati yung mga lalagyanan ng frozen food na kinakain niya at mga take-outs hindi man lang matapon dahil pati ang basurahan niya puno na. I knew guys are messy but Seth took it to a whole new level.

Nagtitiklop na ako ng mga damit niya sa sala ng magring ang phone ko. It was a call from a number I couldn't place but I picked it up anyway.

"Hey." Bati ng boses ng lalaki sa kabilang linya.

"Hi?" I said, hesitantly.

"Marian, right?" Sabi nito.

"Who's this?"

"Patrick, the handkerchief guy, we saw each other again at a club, do you still remember me?" He said.

"Oh, right! Hi, Patrick." Sabi ko ng bumalik sa isip ko iyon.

"Sorry for not calling you right away. I've been really busy with work. Gusto ko lang malaman kung ginagamit mo pa ang handkerchief ko. Can I have it back?"

"Of course, you can. Saan ko ba pwedeng ipadala sa'yo?"

"I was hoping we'd meet each other out." He chuckled. "Are you free on Saturday?"

"A-are you asking me out?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ko.

"Yes, I am. Is it that obvious?" Natatawang sagot niya.

"Wait, you're not selling anything right? Hindi ka naman kasali sa mga networking company?" Tanong ko. Mahirap na at baka maulit na naman ang nangyari noon sa akin. Baka todo effort na naman ako tapos sa networking seminar din ako dadalhin nito katulad nung gagong kalbong 'yun.

"Uh, no." He said.

"Okay."

"Okay, what?"

"Okay, I'm free on Saturday." I smiled.

"Really? Great! Do you want me to pick you up or do you want us to meet at a restaurant?"

"Magkita na lang tayo sa restaurant."

We decided we'd meet in Chateau 1771 for a dinner and I couldn't help but squeal in excitement when I put down the phone. I was going to have a date! A real date. Patrick seemed like a decent gentleman. Siguro ito na yung hinihiling ko. Sana nga. I'd been praying for this for so long.

Lumabas si Seth mula sa kwarto niya na bagong gising. He looked at me with brows furrowed as I smiled stupidly.

"Why do you look so happy?" He asked, yawning.

"Guess who's going on a date on Saturday!" I couldn't contain my girlish squeal.

Lalong lumalim ang kunot sa noo ni Seth. "You're going on a date?"

"Yes, you got it right!" I said.

"With who?" Umupo siya sa tabi ko at sinampay ang kamay niya sa couch sa likod ko.

"Patrick." I smiled.

"Patrick who? Patrick the star? What have you been smoking?"

"Ano ba?" Naiinis na sabi ko. "Can't you take me seriously for once?"

"Sino bang Patrick yun?"

"Yung lalaki sa club kung saan mo ko sinama." I said with a wide smile.

He frowned and shook his head. "I don't like him."

"Bakit? Ikaw ba ang makikipagdate sa kanya?" I shot a brow at him.

"I'm just saying. Ang lamya niya gumalaw. He's probably a closet gay."

"Grabe ka naman! Gay agad, hindi mo pa nga kilala yung tao!" I exclaimed.

"I'm a guy, I can sense when another guy is not really a guy."

"Hindi gay si Patrick!" Pagtatanggol ko. "Ayaw mo talaga akong nakikitang masaya, 'no?"

He shrugged. "Sinasabi ko lang. Saan ba kayo magdadate?"

"Magkikita kami sa Chateau 1771." I squealed again.

"Then?"

"What?" I asked, kind of confused.

"Then what are you planning on doing after that? Are you going to sleep with him?"

I grimaced. "Hoy, hindi! Tinulad mo naman ako sa mga babae mo. Hindi ako cheap!"

"You're going to be put in the one night-stand category if you sleep with the guy on the first date."

"Alam ko at wala akong balak." I rolled my eyes.

"And don't wear something too short or too revealing. You wouldn't want to send the wrong message to him, do you?"

"Hindi ko alam. May conservative side ka rin pala." Natatawang sabi ko.

Umismid siya sa akin. "Ikaw na nga 'tong binibigyan ng advice." He shook his head before getting up his seat and marching away.

Did I say something wrong? Ano ba 'tong lalaking 'to. Daig pa ang babaeng nagp-PMS!