Mischievous

Kumilos siya kahit hindi pa nagpapalit ng kulay ang signal. Ngunit may maagap na pumigil sa kanya. Marahas siya nitong ipinilig upang salubungin ang lutang niyang kaisipan.

"What are you trying to do, Thaysky?" he dangerously yelled on her face.

Samut-saring emosyon ang nagpabigat sa kanyang dibdib. The sadness and loneliness that was already rooted on her heart, grew more and felt heavier. And the sight of Zedrick's grim face fueled the brim of her eyes. Nag-unahan ang mga luha sa kanyang pisngi. Pumiksi siya pero matigas nitong hinila siya patungo sa nakaparadang sasakyan nito. Pinagbuksan siya nito ng pinto, ito pa ang nagsuot ng seatbelt sa kanya. Ang bilis ng bawat kilos nito magmula sa pagsara ng pinto sa gilid niya, pag-ikot at pagsakay sa driver's seat.

May kinuha ito sa likuran na puting tuwalya at ipinatong sa hita niya.

"Dry yourself," he said as he started the engine.

Hindi niya ito nilingon. Tahimik siyang humikbi habang nakatanaw sa labas. May kasalanan siya kaya humantong sa ganoon si Eury. Sinisisi niya ang kanyang sarili, kaya ngayon ay dala niya ang sumpa ng pagiging makasarili at pagbubulagbulagan noon.

Muling bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. Pinabagal ni Zedrick ang kilos ng sasakyan nila dahil hindi maaninag ang daan. Kung kailan gusto niya nang umuwi at itutulog nalang ang hinagpis na nadarama.

She frowned when Zedrick took the other lane from the intersection. "Saan mo ako dadalhin?"

"Alam kong alam mo na ang daan patungo sa inyo ay binabaha. I cannot take the risk for us to stay all night in this car in the middle of the flood. My place is near or else you want us to book in the nearest hotel."

Mas pipiliin niya na sana ang ikalawang option pero sa pagkakatanda niya sa lugar kung saan sila naroroon ay pahabang karugtong ng North Gate. Walang kabahayan doon mas lalong walang hotel. He is staying on the twin tower. And it was really near before the hotel he might be referring too. The hell was a little bit far so she doesn't have any choice.

"Fine. Your place," she said, a bit uneasy at the thought of going to his place. His sinful crib where he brought his woman to warm his bed every night.

She is pokerfaced the whole ride 'til she saw the skyscrapers of the Twin Tower. She doesn't give much time to awe it since she wasn't happy to go there. But she cannot hide the curiosity on how it looks like.

She followed him when he jumped out of the car after the parking. They ride the elevator and she checked the number where they heading through. When the door opened she got surprised by the huge manly living room. It wasn't full of decoration but the furniture is all looking costly, clear, and organized.

Sinundan niya ito nang tingin na ngayon ay paakyat sa stairwells. He is now under his black slacks alone, so sleek with his every smooth movement while his coat and white button-down shirt are lazily swinging on his hand. Did he own this whole floor? He is goddamn filthy rich. She put the towel around her to warm herself. No one is inside when they came but the air condition is at the maximum.

"Why are you still there?"

Sumunod siya rito paakyat. There are actually three doors on the second floor, she can't tour around because he wants her to follow him. Dinala siya nito sa master's bedroom. Her eyes stuck on the bigger as the California King Bed that coated with a grey bedsheet and full of fluffy pillows.

She expected him to say anything but they pass through it to go to the contemporary pad bathroom. Nakuha niya na ang gusto nitong mangyari. Kailangan niya munang maligo dahil baka kapitan siya ng sakit. Walang imik siya nitong iniwan doon, kaya naman nagsimula na siyang mag-shower.

She noticed that all his essentials and towels are all properly arranged with only three colors as the motif of the whole place— grey, black, and white. She wondered now if how many women she brought in there. Did they make out on the bathtub? How about in the huge living room? On the big bed? Kahit magpagulung-gulong sila roon ay nakapa-cozy.

Huminga siya nang malalim nang makaramdam ng hapdi sa tiyan. Muli ay binalot siya nang kalungkutan at pangungulila sa hindi niya mapangalanang dahilan. Kakambal niya na ba ngayon ang salitang loneliness?

Katok sa pinto ang nagpabalik sa kanya sa reyalidad. She opened the door wide and met Zedrick's weary eyes. His jaw clenched when his eyes fell on her naked body that was only covered with the white towel. He looked away and handed over to her the white t-shirt and boxer shorts.

Ingat na ingat siya sa pagkuha noon na huwag makaling ang balat nito. "Thanks," she said and immediately slammed the door close like a sensitive virgin.

Nagmukhang dress ang malaking t-shirt kaya hindi niya na sinuot ang boxers nito. Hindi naman siya nag-aalala kung babakat ang nipple niya. Sa walang brassiere na ibinigay kahit extra panty. Maybe he is used with sketchy visitors, especially with the woman. This technique is not new to her. She is a modern lady, not a classic and as bright as Dorothy.

Taas noo niyang binuksan ang pinto. She can't feel his presence inside the room, so she immediately folded the boxers on the side table. While brushing her dump long hair, she gaped from the window the Owl City. The rain is getting angrier as it showered the whole city. At this moment it should be still a busy night hour but because of the rain, everyone needs to go home early. No one is outside. Some of the shops closed early too.

The rain made the night forlorn. Dark shouldn't be reunited with sadness. That is why she doesn't like the rainy season. It made her feel lonely. As much as possible she wanted the sunny days.

Bumaba siya sa kusina nang kumalam ang kanyang sikmura. Mula sa hagdan ay bumagal ang hakbang niya. Amoy na amoy ang mabangong aroma na niluluto ng kung sino. Nagmadali siya sa pagbaba at sumilip sa pinto ng kusina. Naabutan niya ang nakatalikod at busy sa paglulutong si Zedrick.

He is only under his sweatpants and an apron. His back frame never failed her senses to sear an overwhelming sexy appeal. She wanted to watch him but she doesn't want to disturb him. He looked passionate about cooking too. Actually in everything he does.

Pumuwesto siya sa isang counter table habang nakaupo sa mataas na round chair. Mangha at tulala kahit pa likod lang ang nakikita niya. The smell of his dish makes her starved more.

He turned around to put the plates to where she is. He got surprised but immediately back on his arrogant stunts as if her presence won't intimidate him.

"Is that an Australian recipe? Chicken, isn't it?" she queried.

Hindi siya inimik nito. Mula sa hawak na fry pan ay pinatong nito sa dalawang plato ang tinutukoy niyang breast chicken. It was cooked well done. Looking juicy when he added a tomato crushed toppings and some leafy garnish. Hindi pa ito nakuntento roon. Tinabihan din nito iyon ng wine glass at vintage wine.

Tumayo siya upang abutin ang baso. Gusto niyang tikman ang bagong salin na inumin pero maagap siya nitong pinigil. Mariin ang mga titig nito sa kanyang suot.

"Why the fuck you didn't wear the boxer shorts?"

She is annoyed and eager to get the glass. She snatched it with him and shrugged. "What's the matter with that? As if someone would see me like this except you." Tinungga niya ang alak at tumango sa sarap noon. Nilahad niya iyon para humingi ng isa pa.

"Kahit na. Madalas mo bang ginagawa 'yan sa inyo?"

Saglit siyang nag-isip. Normally she slept under her undies alone, sometimes nothing. "Well, sort of," inosente niyang sagot, tinulak ang baso sa harap nito.

Zedrick cussed enormously. "You had a secret eye even at night, Thaysky. What the fuck!" he confessed unconsciously. Padarag nitong binitiwan ang hawak na wine bottle at mabilis na may tinawagan. Saglit siyang iniwan nito kaya dinampot niya ang bote.

Sinalinan niya ang kanyang baso bago tumawa. What if I told him I'm not wearing anything? Humagalpak siyang muli kahit pa nakabalik na ito. Nagsisimula na rin siyang kumain.

Matalim nitong sinulyapan ang tiyak na bakat niyang nipple. Gusto niya pa sana itong asarin kaso nahaharangan ng mesa ang ibaba niyang parte ng katawan. He would surely exploded when he sees she doesn't even had an underwear.

"This dish version of yours is yummy," she moaned on the last bite. "I tried it the last time but I overcooked the meat."

"Use an oven for the accuracy if you aren't used on the frying pan."

Tumango siya. Pinaglaruan ang baso ng wine dahil wala siyang ibang masabi. But actually, at the back of her mind, she wanted to speak with him about his life, career, or those seven years. He seemed cool down and casual, maybe the food made them so but she really wanted to ask him a little. It is not bad right? Since she cannot sleep after this. He doesn't seem busy too? Mabilis lang na tanungan, para malaman niya ang kaunti sa buhay nito bukod doon sa ilang sinabi nito noon tungkol sa pamilya.

Binitiwan niya ang baso at matapang na sinalubong ang mga titig nito.

"What did that boy told you?"

"How are you?"

They simultaneously asked.