I slowly turned to him while my mouth literally hung open. "W–what did you just call me?" 

"We're going home," he said instead as he reached my arm but I instantly dodged his hand.

"I can go home alone. Go back to your friend that you kissed and might as well spend the night with her! Now, what did you call me?!" I demanded.

"Why would I do that?"

I clenched my jaw when he replied with another question. Marahas akong nagpakawala ng hangin sa aking bibig. "I don't know. Maybe you've had enough of me? And then you found your friend willing so—"

Mariin akong napapikit nang putulin niya ang aking mga salita. 

"Had enough?" A note of firmness is evident in his voice. His eyes looked astounded as a wry smile touched his lips. "Damn, you think I've had enough, huh?" 

He tilted his head as he took a step closer. "Baby, I can't get enough of you. I don't think I can," he softly muttered under his breath but his tone remained firm.

A sardonic smile is at the edge of my lips as I laughed with no humor. "I'm not your fiancee." A hint of mockery is evident in my tone.

He intently matched my gaze. "And you think I don't know that? Do you really think you can fool me that long, Marcia?"

I blinked as I felt my lips parted. He fucking knew. Since when? "You knew?! Yet you didn't—" Napahinto ako nang may ilang babaeng lumabas ng club at papalapit sa direksyon namin ni Chaos. 

I shut my eyes off as they greeted Chaos. Matapos ay nilagpasan kami at sumakay na sa kanya kanyang sasakyan. 

Akmang muli akong magsasalita nang may naghahalikang lumabas mula sa club. I tightly pressed my lips as I shut my eyes. Marahas akong napahilot sa akin sentido.

"Let's talk inside my car," untag ni Chaos na agad kong inalmahan. 

"No! Who knows if I can still get out of your car alive?" I focus my attention on Chaos. But the kissing couple is distracting me as I can saw them at the side of my eyes. Napahinto ang dalawa at napalingon sa aming direksyon dahil bahagyang tumaas ang aking boses. Damn.

"You think I can kill you?" Ngayon ay puno na ng sarkasmo ang tono niya. 

I gave him a knowing look instead of answering him. Agad rin niyang naalala na maraming maaaring makarinig sa aming pinag-uusapan. "Damn it. Do you have your car with you?"

"Yes!"

"Inside your car then." Tila nagpipigil ang tono niya at para bang ilang salita na lang ay mauubos na ang pasensya niya. 

He gestured his hand in front of us, asking me to lead the way. "After you." 

I glared at him before rolling my eyes. Tinalikuran ko siya at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa aking sasakyan.

I opened the door in the driver's seat but Chaos instantly shut it closed. 

"What's your problem?" Iritadong baling ko. 

"You're drunk." He shook his head. "You're not driving." 

I shifted and faced him as my arms crossed. "I thought we'll talk?"

"Yeah. We'll go home after. I will drive."

"Who told you I'll go—"

"Just get in the car—"

I let out a sarcastic audible breath. "Don't you dare tell me what to do."

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto ang inabot namin sa pagtatalo sa kung sino ang uupo sa driver's seat. But the next thing I knew, he tried to open the door at the side of the passenger's seat for me but I already opened it without his help.

Padabog akong umupo roon. I leaned my back on the backrest as I waited for Chaos while he's settling himself on the driver's seat.

Nang nakitang nakaayos na siya ay pumihit ako patungo sa kanyang direksyon upang harapin siya. "Why aren't you suing me? Still looking for your fiancee? Don't worry, I'll free her—"

"I didn't come here with Leticia," he cutter my words like all he cares is to let those words come out of his mouth. "I just saw her and she's drunk. I helped her and that's it."

I tilted my head, I didn't get it at first. It took me a while to realize he's explaining. "Hmm. Reason why someone saw the two of you kissing. And why are you even explaining? I don't care about that! Why don't we talk about the problem I've caused instead. Don't you want to know where your fiancee is?" My face twisted in annoyance. 

I'm annoyed at him. I don't fucking know why.

He firmly nodded and fully shifted his body towards my direction. "Let's talk about your jealousy first."

"Jealousy?" nahihiwagaang sambit ko. "I'm jealous? Maybe in your fucking dreams."

"So this is Marcia Estelle," he muttered as a low chuckle escaped his lips.

I raised my brow. "Do you have a problem with that?" 

"I..." he paused a bit while there's a hint of playful smirk in his lips. "I have no complaints."

"As you should," I proudly stated while raising my brow. 

I didn't hear anything from him and silence instantly grew between us. The only thing I can hear are our heavy breathings.

Napabuntong hininga ako at napagpasyahang tapusin ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. "You should leave my car. I'm going home," taas noong utos ko. I know I'm being rude but my sudden annoyance won't let me shut my mouth. And my natural gestures is not really a great help.

But he looked at me and simply cocked his head. "I'll drive. Let me have your car keys."

"I'm going home, alone, if it's still not clear to you. Habang ikaw, you can go back to your friend inside." I smiled with full of sarcasm.

He languidly blinked as he stared at me. "Leticia lost her balance and slipped. Her lips landed on my cheek. Not on my lips. I didn't kiss her. I will never do that."

Now he's suddenly explaining?

And what? Will never kiss Leticia? Of course he won't. He doesn't love Leticia, at least not romantically. His kisses are only for his fiancee. "Because your kisses are only for the one you love, Maria Eselle, your fiancee."

I shifted a bit when his jaw clenched. "This is our problem. Stop mentioning Rieselle in our argument."

"Hmm. But is it true? Can you prove it? That your kisses are exclusively for your..." I trailed off and cruelly smirked. 

I moved my arms and slowly climbed towards the driver's seat where he's sitting as I sat on his lap while my legs were closed.

"What are you doing?" tanong niya sa kalagitnaan ng pag-aayos ko ng sarili sa kandungan niya.

I ignored him and clung my arms on his nape instead. "Let's see if it's true."

"You're drunk," mariing sambit niya bago ipinirmi ang aking baywang.

I chuckled but I immediately stopped as my eyes landed in his lustrous lips. A sly smirk is at the edge of my lips as I leaned closer to him, teasing his lips. 

Agad akong lumayo nang sandaling nagtagpo ang aming mga labi. He's staring at me as I felt his hand on my waist.

I stared back at him while tilting my head and leaned to reach his lips again. I shut my eyes closed as our lips met. His hand on my waist tightened as it crawled in my back, pulling me closer as he returned my kisses.

My left hand landed on his shoulder while my free hand caressed his cheek as I tried to deepened the kiss.

But he stilled. Tumigil siya sa paghalik at iniwas ang kanyang mukha upang maghiwalay ang aming mga labi, na para bang natauhan. "Stop it, you're drunk." Kunot ang noo at igting ang pangang pigil niya.

But I didn't listen. Sinubukan kong abutin ulit ang mga labi niya ngunit agad akong natigilan nang mariin niya akong pinirmi sa kanyang mga hita. "Marcia, fuck! I said, fucking stop." He ordered in his cold voice that made shiver ran down my spine.

Ang lamig ng boses niya ang nakapagpatigil sa akin. 

I let out as sarcastic chuckle as I felt something stabbed my heart. "Of course won't touch me. Hindi mo nga pala 'ko mahal. Maybe you're carried away... at ngayon ay natauhan?" Halos malasahan ko ang pait sa aking bibig.

A furrow formed in his forehead. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Hindi ako gagalaw ng babae, Mama kung hindi ko mahal," I repeated his own words earlier as I swallowed when I felt my throat contracting painfully. 

He slowly blinked while his forehead's still frowned. "You heard it." It was a statement like he's so sure of it. 

I smirked. "Obviously."

I rolled my eyes before heaving a heavy sigh. "I'll bring back your fiancee and you should just go back to her. She seems a good woman, she'll probably forgive you for mistaking her for someone else and still marry you in the end." 

I lifted my body, wanting to go back on where I am sitting earlier but Chaos instantly encircled his arm in my waist. Dahilan kung bakit muli akong napaupo sa kandungan niya.

Akmang muli akong aalis nang magsalita siya. "Didn't I told you I'll cancel the wedding," he declared.

Mabilis na bumalik sa akin ang mga salitang sinabi niya noon. 

I'll cancel the wedding and I'll marry you. 

That's his exact words back then. I clearly remember him saying that but I didn't get it. Does it fucking mean he already knew I'm not his fiancee that time?

Damn.

I chuckled fully with sarcasm. "That's not what I heard earlier. You said you'll marry this year and continue what's planned, which is to marry Rieselle."

"Will you marry me?" 

Natigilan ako sa agarang tanong niya, sa tono niya, para bang siguradong-sigurado siya sa mga salitang lumabas mula sa kanyang mga labi. I stopped, thinking I really am drunk reason why I'm hearing things but he remained silent.

Namilog ang aking mga mata nang matantong tama ang narinig ko at napapantastikuhang napatingin sa kanya. "What?!" nahihiwagaang sambit ko. I mockery breathe. "No. I won't!"

"Then I won't marry this year. Probably the next... when you finally agreed."

Napangiwi ako nang bumalik sa aking isipan ang mga bagay na ginawa ko kagabi. I... clearly remember every shits I did. And the first thing that came in my mind is Chaos knew that I'm not his fiancee. 

Since when? I have no idea.

My eyes roamed around the place and it widened the moment I realized where I am.

"Fuck," I cursed after seeing the room I used to share with Chaos.

Agad kong inayos ang sarili at tumayo. Ngunit natigilan ako nang matantong iba na ang aking suot. I'm wearing a set of black silk pajamas.

I stride towards the bedside table, ignoring the changes in my clothes, as my eyes landed at my phone lying atop of it. 

I grabbed my phone and lit up the screen. Kumunot ang aking noo nang bumungad sa akin ang ilang missed calls galing kay Flavio. I pressed the password of my phone and an email instantly came. 

I tilted my head upon seeing an unfamiliar sender. Thinking it was a random unimportant email or probably a scam, I ignored it. 

Kasabay naman noon ang muling pagpasok ng tawag mula kay Flavio. I instantly answered his call as I glanced at the closed door.

"Why—"

"Where the fuck are you? You're not answering my calls since last day."

I winced at his crisp greetings. "I'm at Chaos's condo as usual. Any problem?" I asked as his tone is screaming that there's something wrong.

"You're what?" Sunod-sunod na mura ang pinakawalan niya. "Get out of his unit," mariing utos niya. I can hear his heavy footsteps over the phone. "Fucking shit! Give me ten minutes, I'll fetch you—" 

"What? Ten minutes? Your condo's far from here. That's too fast, Flavio! The hell is the problem?" There must be a serious reason why Flavio's being like this.

"They got Rieselle."

My lips parted as I clenched my jaw. "What?! How come? I mean, what the hell happened? Don't tell me she escaped again?"

"She didn't. Men from the Zaldivars fucking break in my condo last night. Now, you have to leave that condo—"

Mariin akong napapikit at napahimas sa aking sentido. "Chaos knew I'm not his fiancee but he didn't do anything. I don't know what he's planning but I'll try to get out of here. I'll see you at the parking lot," may pinalidad na sambit ko bago ibinaba ang tawag. 

Akmang lalabas ako ng silid nang maalala ang email na pumasok sa aking phone. I immediately lit up the screen and opened the email. Isang voice recording lang ang naroon na ikinakunot ng aking noo. 

I pressed the play button as I waited for it to load. Ilang sandali lang ay narinig ko na ang isang pamilyar na boses. 

"They locked me in a room but they d–didn't try to harm me."

Marahas akong nagpakawala ng hangin sa aking bibig nang marinig ang marahang boses ni Rieselle.

"Aside from Marcia? Sino pang kasabwat niya? How about the man earlier?" This time the voice was from a man. 

But I didn't hear anything from Rieselle.

"Why don't we let her rest first?" Muli akong napapikit nang marinig ang boses malalim na boses. It was too familiar for me to not recognize it. 

"We're just asking her, Chaos. We need to move fast—" 

Noon ko natanto kung kanino ang isang boses ng lalaki. Chaos's cousin, Guerdon. 

"They won't escape." 

"You can't be so sure of that," a hint of contempt is evident in Guerdon's voice. "Don't be scared to tell everything, Ms. Serrano. We'll keep you safe. Tell us, did you hear anything? Theirs plans? The name of the man who tried to stop us earlier?"

And just like what I want, Rieselle told them that I'm planning to hide and fool them by booking several flights around the world. 

Iyon nga lang, sinabi rin niya ang pangalan ni Flavio. That is not part of my plan so Flavio have no choice too but to hide. 

Ilang minuto pa akong nanatili sa silid bago napagpasyahang lumabas. Kung susunduin nga ako ni Flavio, baka nariyan na siya lalo't sinabi niyang ilang minuto lang ay darating siya.

I went out of the room while massaging my temples. Iginala ko ang tingin sa kabuuan ng paligid. I didn't see Chaos reason why I hurriedly climb down the stairs. 

Dumiretso ako sa pinto ng condo at akmang bubuksan na iyon nang marinig ang boses ni Chaos.

"Where are you going?" 

I tightly shut my eyes and silently sighed. Marahan kong ikinalma ang sarili at naghanda ng ngiti sa mga labi. "Just outside. My friend's waiting for me downstairs," sambit ko gamit ang marahang boses. 

But a frown slowly formed in his forehead as he intensely stared at me. Tila inaaral ang mga ekspresyon sa aking mukha habang nahihiwagaan. 

"I'll be back in a wh—" 

"Aren't you getting tired?" he ruthlessly cutted my words. 

"H–huh? What are you saying?"

"Until when are you planning to fool me?" I caught a hint of anger in his tone. I know what he's saying but I choose to deny it.

I shifted and walked near him. Still with the expression in my eyes. "Hindi kita maintindihan, Hon—"

"You can't remember?" puno ng sarkasmong sambit niya habang bahagyang tumatango. Para bang alam niya kung ano na naman ang ginagawa ko.

I avoided his gaze. "I can't remember anything." 

"You can't or you refuse to remember?" he muttered hoarsely as he clenched his jaw.

I bit the side of my cheeks as I realized I have no other alibi for this and I need to face this. Marahas ko siyang binalingan gamit ang matalim na mga mata. "What do you want then? You already got your fiancee. If you want to sue me, do it. Hand me the warrant of arrest and I'll surrender. For now, I'll leave." 

Maluwag akong nakahinga nang hindi nanginginig ang malamig kong boses habang kaharap siya. Dahil salungat ng aking ipinapakita, nararamdaman ko ang pagguho ng aking kalooban. My insides were crumbling while my heart's beating painfully at our conversation.

"Why did you do it?" he asked. This time, his voice is more calm.

But I don't think I have to answer that right now. I just gave him a loud and proud smirk before turning my back on him. 

At nang talikuran ko siya, alam kong iyon na ang huli.

__________