Lumabas ang galit na pinipigilan ko nang sagutin niya ang tawag. My chest is heaving up and down 'cause I can't control myself any longer. 

"For Pete's sake, Flavio! Are you even thinking?" I tried to suppress my anger while gritting my teeth. "Why did you even called?" 

He almost messed all of our plans earlier! At sa aming dalawa, ako ang mas hirap sa planong ito! Though I am not complaining. Ang sa akin lang, muntik na niyang sirain ang mga pinaghirapan ko! Dahil lang sa isang tawag.

"How are you?" he asked instead of answering my question. Don't tell me he risked our plan just to... fucking ask that?

I stopped on my track and gripped the railings of the balcony. "Bakit ka tumawag?" I demanded.

I heard a heavy sigh from the other line. "We need the money. He's dying." 

"Bullshit!" I cursed while still trying to calm my self, at least a bit. "There's no money if I got caught earlier! Ang sabi ko, tatawag ako kapag may pera na. I'm still not calling means there's still no money."

Rinig ko ang mabigat na paghinga niya mula sa kabilang linya. "I called just to give you heads up. He might die if we failed to transfer him in a decent hospital."

I know. Fuck. I know how critical his condition is. Kaya ganoon na lang ang inis ko kay Flavio dahil kung si Chaos ang nakasagot ng tawag niya, siguradong patay kami pare-pareho.

Mariin akong napapikit at napahilot sa aking sentido. "Humahanap lang ako ng tyempo." 

"Try to ask Chaos for money. Any amount will do. But five million is better." 

Five fucking million.

"Susubukan ko. But I won't promise that I can get money. You know that a fucking photo almost ruin our plans, right? Kagagaling lang namin ni Chaos sa away. Hindi ko alam kung makahihingi ako ng pera." I'm trying to take everything slow so Chaos won't suspect or at least doubt anything. Ayokong maisip niya na pera lang ang habol ko. 

"Let's just hope that he loves me enough to give me enough money," I muttered.

But I frowned when he mockingly laughed. "What did you say? He love–"

I ended the call. 

His laugh is simply annoying. Fuck that man.

I faced the glass door of the balcony. Mula sa aking kinatatayuan ay tanaw ko ang loob ng silid ni Chaos. Can't see him there so he must still in the bathroom.

I leaned on the railings while facing the glass door, remembering how much I need to fill everything. Five million? Fuck, is that enough? Well, for the medication and the operation, somehow it is. Hindi ko alam kung sasapat iyon sa lahat ng hospital bills kung lilipat sa disenteng ospital.

My boutique is making sales but it's just for our everyday needs. It wasn't enough. I need money.

I stayed on the balcony until I saw Chaos come out of the walk-in closet, drying his hair using his white towel. 

At nang nagtama ang aming mga mata ay agad akong tumuwid ng tayo at naglakad papasok ng silid. 

"Let me?" Nilahad ko ang kamay sa kanya nang huminto ako sa kanyang harapan. 

Bumagal ang paggalaw ng kanyang kamay na tinutuyo ang kanyang buhok. He stilled like he's too stunned on what I did. I pursed my lips. Ano namang nakakagulat doon? 

I gently snatched the towel from him and made him sit at the edge of the bed. 

"Have you talked to your client?" he asked when I started drying his hair using his towel. 

Nanatili akong nakatayo sa gitna ng kanyang mga hita, pinupunasan ang buhok niya habang siya ay nakaupo at titig na titig sa akin ang mga mata.

"I haven't."

"Why?" 

I timidly shrugged my shoulders off and heaved a deep sighed. My eyes was focused is his hair but he tried to catch my gaze. Pagod ko siyang nginitian nang nahuli niya ang aking mga mata. "The manager of my boutique called," I started. 

You can do it. Come on, tell him.

He grabbed the towel from me and gently pulled my hand that made me sat on his lap. Itinabi niya ang towel at ibinigay sa akin ang buong atensyon.

Tuwid akong nakaupo sa isang hita niya habang ang isang kamay niya ay nakasuporta sa aking likuran. My legs were basically in between his legs but seems like he doesn't care about it because his eyes were fixed on mine. "What's bothering you? Is there a problem?" 

I shook my head a bit. "I can manage," I whispered using my soft voice.

"Hon." May pagbabanta sa tono niya na para bang hindi sapat ang ikinikilos ko para maniwala siya sa akin. "I told you, you can tell me and I can help you."

"I can handl–"

"I know that you can. But I want to help," mariing sambit niya. "I'm your fiance, we'll marry soon. If you have a problem then that's my problem too, so don't hesitate to tell me, huh?"

I nibbled my bottom lip and lowered my head. I started fidgeting my fingers as a sign of discomfort but he immediately intertwined our hands. 

"Tell me. Or at least tell me what I can do to help." He nodded, encouraging me to do what he wants. "Come on, what's bothering you?" 

"Can I..." I trailed off and sighed, trying to think of any words that can make it better but I can't think of any. 

"C–can I borrow m–money from you?" Nag-aalinlangang pagtatapos ko sa sasabihin. I pressed my lips as my heart started palpitating. If this failed, I'm dead.

I stared at Chaos with my scrutinizing eyes, looking at how he would react. 

And my heart almost burst when a frown slowly formed in his forehead.

"Money?" He echoed. 

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I have f–funds but a–ayokong galawin 'yon. The bank will surely notify my parents. And they will ask me where I used the money. I can't tell them about my boutique. D–Dad won't let me... I badly need it. I can pay for an interest if–"

"Money?" He repeated with his forehead frowned. "That's what is bothering you these past few days?" nahihiwagaang sambit niya. "Damn, Hon. You should have told me earlier. And what interest are you talking about?"

"I–interest," I absentmindedly repeated. 

"You don't have to," he muttered before holding my arms and removed me from his lap. Tumayo siya ay umalis sa aking harapan habang ako ay nanatiling nakayuko. This won't fail, right? 

"If you need money, you can ask for it. Not borrow."

I tightly bit my lower lip when I almost squeal upon hearing his statement. Ask means give not borrow! Nanatili akong nakayuko at hindi na nag-abalang sundan siya ng tingin.

"Y–you know I can't do that." My voice trembled as I whispered. I was almost breathless as I'm suppressing my breath. Dahil pakiramdam ko, kung hindi ko sandaling pipigilan paghinga ay hindi ko mapipigilang kumalma ang sarili. 

I watched his steps nearing. Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang huminto siya sa aking harapan.

"But you should," he replied when our eyes met. 

I let my body fell on the bed. Inayos ko ang sarili sa pagkakaupo upang harapin si Chaos nang tumabi siya sa akin. 

We're sitting at the edge of our bed while facing each other. Chaos reached my hand and opened my palm.

"You can use this."

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa aking kamay nang ilagay ni Chaos doon ang isang card. And my eyes immediately widened when I saw a black card under Chaos's name in my hand!

Pakiramdam ko ay nawala ako sa sarili sa ilang sandaling iyon. Damn. Tila nagkabuhol-buhol ang mga lamang loob ko dahil doon. Shit. Get a grip of yourself, bitch!

I cleared my throat as my lips parted. I slowly shook my head while I cocked my head to see Chaos. "T–this is too much, Hon." 

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he shook his head. "There's no too much when it comes to you." 

Napakurap ako, hindi pa rin mapigilan ang sarili. Fucking shit! I can empty his money using this! But I still want to live so I won't do that.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakatulog sa kaiisip sa black card na iyon. I still can't believe that he gave it to me! I thought he'll just write a check for me but... he let me use his Centurion card. 

My mind's still floating the next morning while I'm making our breakfast. While Chaos is still in our room, preparing to go to his company. 

I told him I won't go in my family's company as I'll visit and fix the mess in my boutique. Nagpresinta siyang ihatid ako ngunit nagdahilan akong tanghali pa ang alis. 

I'll really visit the boutique though I have other commitments than that. Something that he doesn't need to know. 

I placed the plates on the dining table as I heard the doorbell of the condo rung. I quickly glanced at the stairs but there's still no signs of Chaos. 

It rung again after a few seconds. Kumunot ang aking noo dahil tila hindi makapaghintay ang taong nasa labas. I'm not expecting a visitor so probably whoever this is person is, si Chaos ang sadya niya.

I fix myself and wore the usual soft and tamed expression in my face before opening the door. Naghanda ako ng tipid na ngiti sa aking mga labi bilang pagbati matapos kong buksan ang pinto at bumungad sa akin ang lalaking sa tingin ko ay hindi nalalayo ang edad kay Chaos.

"Rieselle!" he called as he pulled me in his arms. Agad na pumulupot ang braso niya sa akin. 

A frown instantly formed in my forehead and was about to push him when he let go. Though his hands remained in my arms. 

"You're here! I was looking for you. They didn't let me in your engagement. What happened? Are you alright? Is he forcing you? I'm worried, Rieselle. I'm calling you yet you're not answering my calls."

Oh! Maybe he's the one repeatedly calling me. Sorry but I don't answer calls from someone I don't know.

And why is he acting like we're close friends? For Pete's sake who is he? Did I somehow suffer from amnesia? Kidding. I can't remember bashing my head somewhere so no.

"I thought you wouldn't marry Chaos? Did he blackmail you?" 

Napakurap ako at pinalis ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa magkabila kong braso.

Sinabi ko 'yon?

"I m–missed you, Rieselle. Let's get out of here. If he's blackmailing you, don't worry. I'm here to protect you–"

"Wait." I rudely cutted his words. "Do I know you?"

Laglag ang kanyang panga sa tinuran ko. My lips parted, mockingly demanding for his answer because I don't like the words coming out of his mouth.

"W–what?" Tila lutang siyang napapakurap. "No, you're just telling me that to make me leave. Tell me, is Chaos–"

"I'm sorry but I really can't remember you."

His shoulders fell while staring at me, digesting what I've said. Matapos ay mataman siyang napakurap at isang hakbang na lumapit sa akin. I stayed from where I am standing, not minding what he did.

"I don't believe you, Rieselle." Kumbinsidong tugon niya at hindi na ako binigyan ng pagkakataon na sumagot. 

Sa bilis ng galaw niya ay hindi ko na nasundan iyon. The next thing I know, my eyes enlarged his lips met mine while he's cupping my face. 

It lasted for a few seconds because I'm too shocked to digest what happened. I forcefully pushed him away.

"What the hell!" I shrieked, not thinking of what's coming out of my mouth.

Bumalatay ang sakit sa mga mata niya ngunit wala akong pakialam doon. Hinalikan niya ako! Ni hindi ko siya kilala! At dito pa sa condo ni Chaos! What the fuck will happen if Chaos saw what he did? I was trying so hard to fix my relationship with Chaos yet this is what this bastard did! Pure bullshit.

Namimilog ang mga mata niya at napalunok. "R–Rieselle." 

"Who the hell are you?! You idiot!" Wala na akong pakialam sa tono ng aking pananalita dahil sa galit. 

"Rie–"

"Didn't I told you I don't know you? Hindi ka ba makaintindi? For Pete's sake, leave!" I shut the door closed right in his face. I remained holding the handle of the door while my chest was heaving up and down, remembering who that idiot was because I really don't know hi—

Shit! 

He looks like—

No, he's the man I kissed—

I winced. 

Well, according to Chaos, because that's what he knows. The one who—according to Chaos—I kissed in front of him. What the hell. 

Sa tindi ng emosyon ko, nawalan na ako ng pakialam sa lahat. But the moment I turned my back on the door to go back in the dining area, that's how I regret what I did, and realized that my filthy mouth is the one who will ruin everything I plan.

I saw Chaos slowly descending on the stairs, his eyes were dark while directly looking at me, frowning with his lips in a grim line.

__________