Chapter 32: peace and quiet

COOLER

Wet clothes were scattered across the floor, with random damp spots marking the places where we’d stood long enough to leave a trace. I gathered the clothes and tossed them into the washing machine. When I returned to the room, she was still asleep, her tiny body curled up on the blood-stained white sheets.

Last night was... incredible. It started as angry, messy sex, but it turned into something more. I sighed as I moved to the cabinet, where she had set aside a space for my things. I grabbed a pair of shorts and underwear, took a shower, and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

This was new for me—doing this for someone else. I usually only cook for myself since I live alone. But now, I had this urge to do things for her. Gusto kong pagsilbihan siya. She could just sit back while I handled everything, and she would still get the credit.

I had so many questions about last night, one of them being why it was her first time. Hindi ko iyon ginagawang big deal—I’m just genuinely curious, knowing she lived with her douche ex. Does it matter if she’s not? Nope, definitely not. A woman’s value isn’t measured by such things.

I moved around the kitchen, multitasking. By the time my phone rang, I had finished frying eggs and bacon. Poseidon’s name flashed on the screen, so I answered without hesitation.

“Zeus.”

“You heard what happened?” he asked.

“What happened?”

He sighed. “The Commission’s angry.”

I snorted. “Wala bang bago?”

Another sigh. “Achilles wants to see you. I’m guessing it’s about what we did to Ace.”

Pressing the button on the coffee maker, I shrugged slightly. “He’s still alive?”

“Alam mong hindi natin pwedeng patayin si Ace. It’s like waging war with the Monteclaros.”

Shame. It would’ve been easier to kill a bastard like Ace, but Poseidon was right. Cronus would come back roaring if I shot everyone who upset me.

“He can still talk with that mouth?” I asked. I’d practically sliced it off, so I was surprised he had anything left to say.

“What are we gonna do about Achilles?” Poseidon asked, getting to the real problem.

Yeah, what are we gonna do with him? He’s gonna flip, and it’s not just my hearing that’s at risk. I can’t kill him, that would be like putting a bullet through my own head.

But I’ve already made my move. Pera—iyon lamang ang mahalaga sa kanila. Even if they don’t like me that much, as long as I bring billions to the business, that’s what matters.

“Tell him to book an appointment with me,” I replied.

“Book a what?”

I grabbed a stool and sat in front of the coffee maker, watching the coffee drip into the pot. “Appointment. I’m a busy man, Poseidon. He can’t just see me whenever he feels like it.”

There was a brief silence on the other line, probably while he processed what I said. “Fine, I’ll direct it to your secretary.”

“Thanks, Poseidon.”

Another silence, but I could hear him sighing on the other end. I knew he was worried about me but hesitated to ask.

“If you’re curious, I’m okay, so don’t worry. I’m with Rustia right now,” I assured him.

This time, I heard a sigh of relief. “I see.”

“Yes, kaya wala kang kailangang ipag-alala,” I said, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Rustia wasn’t nearby. “Also, we’re off to the Cayman Islands in three days.”

“Ano?”

I laughed. “Bring Artemis too.”

“Pretty sure it’s not a vacation, right?”

Of course not. I have to meet with an African agent who supplies guns and ammunition to a militia force somewhere. It’s a small deal on a global scale, but for the Vander Mafia, this will be one of the biggest trades. I can’t mess this up. And there’s a good reason it has to be in the Cayman Islands, being one of the world’s tax havens. Once the deal’s closed, I can take a day off so Rustia and I can go on a proper vacation.

“Nope, it’s not.”

“You sure about this?” Poseidon asked.

“Yup, don’t worry about it. Kapag nakuha natin 'to, there’s a huge possibility of a bigger repeat order and a potential contact with a dealer who has access to the depot in Sierra Leone.”

Another silence, but it didn’t take him long to trust me. “Alright. I’ll make sure everything is in order.”

“Thanks, Poseidon,” I said before hanging up and returning to the toaster. The bread was done, and as I poured the coffee, I heard Rustia clear her throat.

“Hey, pretty. Good morning!” I greeted, walking over to her and pulling her into a quick kiss. She froze for a moment, gently biting her lower lip and pulling it slightly. This time, she smiled and wrapped her arms around my waist.

She pressed her cheek against my chest, giving me the perfect angle to kiss the top of her head. She had already showered and was wearing a spaghetti strap top, which made me notice the red marks on her chest and shoulders.

There was even one on her wrist.

And oh, her legs.

Embarrassed, she tugged down her shorts, trying to hide the marks on her body. Her eyes widened as I suddenly lifted her and carried her to the dining table.

“C-Cooler?!” She tried to squirm. “Anong ginagawa mo?”

I didn’t answer until I set her down in front of the table. “You might be sore and limping, so—”

“Cooler!” She quickly covered her face with her hands. I could see her red ears, so I chuckled.

I poured her a cup of coffee and pulled out a chair so I could sit beside her. “What? There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

She blushed even more, while I felt myself getting aroused just by remembering what happened last night. I’m pretty sure I broke her because we spent the whole night making love. It was a night to remember, and I hope she had a good time too.

“Let’s eat,” I said and started eating.

I noticed she was looking at me, so I smiled at her. “Any problem?”

I saw a hint of tenderness in her eyes. “Hindi ka na galit sa akin?”

“Nope, hindi ako galit... wait, do you think galit ako kaya binigay mo—”

She quickly cut me off. “No. I did it because I want to.”

I stared at her for a moment, and I knew she meant what she said. I was itching to ask her why, why I was the first, knowing she lived with her ex. She looked into my eyes, as if she could read my questions.

“Pwede kang magtanong,” she said, taking a bite.

I shook my head. “No questions, your honor.”

Watching her right now brings a feeling of contentment. My life has been predetermined since the day I was born. Rake in money, please the family, take over, be useful. Nothing ever told me to be what I wanted to be.

And what if the me I wanted to be is the me with her? I don’t want to be a president, or a hero. I don’t want the grandest things in life. I wasn’t even planning anything for myself—lahat ng mga desisyon ko ay kailangan kong i-consider ang responsibilidad na kaakibat ng pagiging Vander. But having her in my life, I think I found a new reason to at least put things in my life in perspective.

The truth is, I was hurt when Ace rubbed it in my face that Rustia only had an agenda with me when our paths crossed. Pero masyado akong minaliit ni Ace—does he think I don’t know that?

I am Zeus, the great and mighty. Alam ko sa umpisa pa lang. I know her every move, every conversation, I know everything but she doesn't need to know about it. I have my ways. It’s not easy to deceive me. Her brother might have thought I was stupid not to know.

What he didn’t know was that I pretended to play into the palms of his hands without him realizing he was the one playing in my bigger arena. Well, that’s what you get for playing stupid games. Sooner or later, he’s gonna get his stupid prize.

She chewed on her bacon before looking up at me with her perfect, innocent eyes. “Tungkol kahapon...” She looked down as if motivating herself to talk about it. “It w-was true. Sa umpisa, I only wanted to work for you because of the money. But eventually, I learned to like you, and I forgot about the money.”

I blinked without saying anything, so she continued. “G-gusto kong kausapin si Brad at sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol sa atin, so you two can meet.”

I took a sip of my coffee, trying to make sense of what she just said. “You want me to meet your brother?”

She nodded.

“Hmm, we already met though,” I replied, counting on my fingers. “We met more than thrice.”

She frowned. “Formally. Hindi iyong nakaposas ka.”

I laughed a bit. "Oh, good point. So... any plans when? I have a trip out of the country in three days."

Tila nawalan ng kulay ang kanyang mukha. "Aalis ka?"

Tumango ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. "I'll be gone for three days too—" I frowned. "Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" tanong niya.

"Like I just asked for both your kidneys," sagot ko. I reached over, yanking her seat closer to me. She was startled, ngunit agad na namula nang mapagtantong napakalapit namin. "It's just three days, okay? Before you know it, I'm back."

Tumango siya at pilit na ngumiti, bago nagpatuloy sa pagkain. She was avoiding my eyes, probably to hide the tears about to spring.

Inilapag ko ang maliit na papel sa harap niya. "Here, I wrote you a note."

She blushed even more nang muli siyang napatingin sa akin at kinuha ang papel at tahimik na binasa.

Roses are red 
Violets are blue 
Last night was heaven, 
Wanna do it again?

She choked on her food and tiningnan ako nang masama. "Cooler!"

"Just kidding." I giggled before grabbing the note from her, nilamukos iyon at inihagis sa basurahan. It went in perfectly. Kinuha ko ang isa pang papel at ibinigay iyon sa kanya.

A, you're adorable 
B, you're so beautiful 
C, you're a cutie full of charms 
D, you're a darling and 
E, you're exciting 
F, you're a feather in my arms 
G, you look good to me 
H, you're so heavenly 

I, I love you... It's all that matters... I'm in love with you... I always will.

Bumaling siya sa akin at hinawakan ang pisngi ko. The warmth of her hands was so comforting that we could stay like that for hours. Bahagya siyang tumayo, reaching me for a quick kiss.

"I love you more, Cooler. I really do," sabi niya, sabay haplos sa mukha ko. The warmth of her hand felt like fire on my skin, but it wasn't just that. She just told me she loves me. For the first time, she really said she loves me.

Does that mean she also ran out of her levels of liking me, and now I've entered the tier of love?

I cupped her chin with my hand at nang sa gano'n ay mapatingin siya sa mata ko. Smiling, I kissed her on the lips.

"You just told me you love me. Wala nang bawian," paalala ko sa kanya.

Tumawa siya at tumango. "Okay."

"Good. There's no return, no exchange," wika ko. She has no idea how much she made me the happiest man on earth! Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at hinalikan siya.

She immediately clung to my neck, so I pulled her closer to kiss her more. Her lips tasted like happiness—I'm not even sure if that's a flavor. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa baywang niya at bahagyang binuhat siya, carefully placing her on the sofa without breaking the kiss. Her body arched into mine as she met my kisses with equal hunger and wanting.

Mayamaya ay napahawak siya sa magkabilang pisngi ko upang itigil ang halik. "Uhmm... ang almusal natin...?"

I kissed her on the crook of her neck. "We can heat it up again." She only replied with a hum dahil muli kong binalikan ang mga labi niya.

I pulled away to her surprise, pero nasa ganoong posisyon pa rin kami, with me straddling on top of her. "I have a question, what do you think about moving to the countryside?"

Napakunot ang noo niya. "Countryside?"

"You know, somewhere far, with peace and quiet. With a little house, a little backyard where we can keep our cattle or goats or an elephant, maybe? We can also have a dog, a cat... chickens?"

She laughed a bit. "That would be nice."

"I see," sagot ko.

Nagtatakang napatingin siya sa akin. "Bakit mo natanong?"

I immediately shook my head. "No reason, just asking."

"Oh, okay," sagot niya at muli akong hinalikan.

Somewhere far with peace and quiet—napakasimple lamang niyon, but it's actually very hard to achieve. Almost impossible, but for her, I'll take the shot to get that.

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