Delicate and Ruthless (SERIE FEROCI 11)

Chapter Four

My whole body is still aching like hell... but I still went out to buy some things, especially art materials.

I sighed and looked at the money inside the envelope. Nag-iwan ng three hundred thousand pesos si Lorden sa table bago siya umalis. To be honest, I don't want to accept his money. But my role here is to be his w***e. He said it clearly... that I'm his w***e. Kung hindi ko kukuhanin ito, baka maghinala siya sa akin.

I just shook my head and continued looking for art materials. Hindi ko nadala ang art materials ko sa mansyon. Hindi rin naman papayag si Papa.

"Hmm... the paint brush is smooth," I muttered.

I bit my lower lip and touched my thighs. Medyo mahirap maglakad.

Umiling na lang ako at tumuloy sa pamimili. I also bought some books. Binili ko na nang binili ang gusto ko dahil masyadong marami ang perang ibinigay ni Lorden. Kung palagi niya akong bibigyan ng ganito kalaking pera sa tuwing magse-s*x kami, baka hindi ko na alam kung saan gastusin.

I honestly want to donate the remaining money to some programs or orphanage. Pag-iisipan ko. Baka magduda rin kasi si Lorden.

"Oh. These are quite heavy," I muttered when I went out of the mall. Ang dami kong napamili at halos hindi ko na mabitbit nang ayos.

Pumara na lang ako agad ng taxi pabalik sa condo unit na tinutuluyan ni Lorden. Hirap na hirap pa akong maglakad. Buti na lang tinulungan ako ng guard na dalhin ang mga gamit na pinamili ko hanggang sa floor ng unit ni Lorden.

Natigilan lang ako at natulala sa tapat ng pinto ni Lorden nang may mapagtanto ako. I bit my lower lip and smacked my nape. Oh, goodness. I don't have a card or key to his unit!

Should I just wait here? Eh, paano kung anong oras na umuwi si Lorden? Or worse, what if it will take days for him to come back? I don't have his number. Mag-check in muna ba ako sa ibang hotel?

"Miss?"

I flinched when someone spoke beside me. I gasped and looked at him. My mind was too occupied, I didn't even notice someone was there. I stared at him... He's tall, masculine, and handsome just like Lorden. He smiled at me.

"Do you need something from Lorden? It seems like you're trying to enter..." he said and pointed the door.

I gulped. It seems like he's Lorden's friend. I can't say to him that I'm Lorden's w***e or what. Kapag naman hindi ako sumagot, baka isipin niya magnanakaw ako o kung ano man.

"Uhm... I-I'm his, uhm..." I stuttered.

"His what?" he asked. Mukhang naghihintay talaga siya sa sagot.

"I'm his, uhm... bedwarmer," I mumbled.

Bedwarmer is a more decent term, I guess? I read it in a book.

The handsome man blinked and looked at me with disbelief. "Bed... what?"

"Uhm, bedwarmer." I stared at him and nodded, as if I'm determined with my answer.

He went silent for a moment, then burst out laughing. Nagtatakang tumingin na lang ako sa kaniya. Ano naman kaya ang nakakatawa?

"You mean... you're like f**k buddies or something?" he asked, still laughing.

My cheeks heated. He used a very vulgar term.

"Y-yes, like that..." I nodded.

He nodded too. "Okay, that's cool... Pero alam mo, kung ako 'yon, hindi kita gaganyanin. Girlfriend agad, baka kasalan pa--"

"What are you doing, Draxon?"

Napapitlag kaming pareho nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na 'yon. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang pagtayuan ng mga balahibo ko. Hindi ko maipaliwanag, bakit ganito ang epekto niya sa'kin? Marinig ko lang ang boses niya, parang hindi na ako mapakali.

"Lorden, my favorite bro!" sabi ng lalaking Draxon daw ang pangalan.

Lumapit siya kay Lorden at umakbay. Lorden removed his arm on his shoulder and glared at him. Draxon just laughed and smacked Lorden's back, then he looked at me.

"Miss, I'm Draxon Laurent. As you can see, I'm Lorden's friend. Ikaw? What's your name?" he asked and smiled at me.

I smiled shyly. "K-Kate..."

"Wow, even your name sounds beautiful." He winked at me.

"What the f**k do you need, Draxon?" Lorden asked.

"Saglit nga, kausap ko pa si Kate." Lumapit sa akin si Draxon. "Are you sure you want Lorden? He's an asshole. He's not the romantic type. Very not suiting for a woman like you... Ayaw mo bang sa'kin na lang? I'm way better than this asshole--"

"You have a girlfriend," agad na pagputol ni Lorden.

"Oh," nasabi na lang ni Draxon saka napahawak sa batok niya. "Don't worry, Kate. I'll break up with her later. It's nothing serious, anyway. Besides--"

Hindi na naituloy ni Draxon ang sasabihin dahil hinila na siya ni Lorden palayo sa akin. Lorden held my wrist and swiped his card. Bumukas ang pinto at agad niya akong hinila papasok sa loob. Isasara niya sana agad ang pinto pero agad akong pumigil.

"W-wait, 'yung mga pinamili ko," bulong ko na lang.

Lorden hissed and took went out then took the paper bags. Lorden was about to close the door, but Draxon stopped him.

"Seryoso na, bro. Pinapatawag tayo nina Cadence, and we have to talk about..." Draxon looked at me, but he immediately turned his gaze at Lorden, "...some things."

"Let's talk about that later." Lorden closed the door after that. Talagang pinagsaraduhan si Draxon.

Inilagay ni Lorden ang mga pinamili ko sa table. Pasimple akong tumitingin sa kaniya. Ewan ko kung bakit ako kinakabahan.

"Why were you just standing there?" he asked. He started removing his watch.

"W-wala akong card or susi," bulong ko.

He stopped. He took a spare card from his pocket and put it on the table. "Right. I forgot about it."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at kinagat ang ibabang labi. "Umalis ka kasi agad," bulong ko. Humawak ako sa braso ko at hinimas-himas 'yon.

Lorden stopped unbuttoning his dress shirt and stared at me. He slightly tilted his head. "Are you mad?"

I gasped and shook my head. "N-no..."

Humakbang siya palapit sa akin. His full height towered over me, and I feel like a small kitten.

"You seem mad though," he muttered. It almost made me shiver.

"H-hindi nga..." bulong ko na lang saka marahang itinulak ang matigas na dibdib niya.

Hindi siya nagpatinag, mas lalo pang lumapit. "Why? You want cuddles?" he asked, then he smirked at me.

Mas lalong nag-init ang mukha ko. "H-hindi nga sabi!" Hindi ko napigilang magtaas ng boses.

"Did you just raise your voice?" he asked in a teasing voice.

I clenched my fists. "B-bakit mo ba ako inaasar?"

"Because you want cuddles... Right? You're mad because I didn't give you that. Right?" he asked, grinning.

I bit my lower lip as tears formed in my eyes. "H-hindi ko nga gusto 'yon."

Okay. I'm always like this. Despite everything that I had gone through from my father, I'm still emotionally weak. Hindi ako mahirap paiyakin. I remember crying over a cat on the street.

Natigilan siya, bahagyang napaatras. "Wow. You're too soft." He put his hand on the table. He lowered his head to meet my gaze. Napaiwas na lang ako ng tingin dahil masyadong malapit ang mukha niya sa akin.

I wiped my tears. My forehead creased as I clenched my fists. "Y-you're teasing me, and I hate it."

"For someone who agreed to be my w***e, you're quite emotional over cuddles," he said. He didn't even filter his words. Siguro nga ay ganiyan talaga siya. Walang pakialam sa sasabihin at mararamdaman ng iba.

"What do you expect? I-it was my first time..." I mumbled.

Lorden let out a sexy chuckle. He finally distanced his face from me and stroked his hair with his fingers. "I told you, I'm not the romantic type. I treat women like some whore... virgin or not."

I bit my lower lip and avoided his gaze. "I-I know..."

Lumapit na lang ako sa mga pinamili ko at nagkunwaring abala roon para hindi na niya ako kausapin pa tungkol sa cuddle cuddle na 'yon!

Pasimpleng tumingin na lang ako kay Lorden nang magtungo siya sa kama at umupo. He looked at me and tap his thigh. "Come here, sit. Let's cuddle."

Napasinghap ako sa sinabi niya. Pakiramdam ko nag-akyatan ang lahat ng dugo sa mukha ko. "T-there's no need for you to do that. I'm not mad over it!"

Lorden moved his index finger, gesturing me to come closer. "Come here, Kate," he said in his domineering voice.

I bit my lower lip and fidgeted. I took small steps and went closer to him. I know he's just teasing me, but I still went closer to him. "I-I told you to stop making fun of me," I whispered.

Lorden gripped my wrist and made me sit on his lap. I gasped hard. My cheeks heated even more. I gasped again when he snaked his arm on my waist and pulled me closer to him. Napahawak ako sa dibdib niya. Hindi ako makatingin sa kaniya kaya halos kung saan-saan na 'ko tumitingin.

"Come on. Hug me back, sweet flower," he muttered. I felt him slightly sniffing the side of my neck.

"A-ano ba'ng ginagawa mo? H-hindi na nga kailangan," nauutal na sabi ko saka napatingin sa kaniya.

"Why? You were crying over this... Ito na nga, oh," sabi niya. Tinaasan niya pa ako ng isang kilay.

"H-hindi naman 'yon ang iniyak ko. Inaasar mo kasi ako. A-ayoko ng inaasar ako," bulong ko.

He chuckled. My cheeks burned. It feels like he's teasing me again.

He held my hand and put it on his nape, making me hug him too. I just bit my lower lip and looked at the shiny floor. I gasped and straightened my back when he gently caressed my back with his huge hand. "I bet you're still sore... are you alright?" he asked.

I bit the insides of my cheeks. Does he always treat his whores like this?

"I-I'm alright," I lied. My legs and my core still hurt. Nahihirapan pa ako maglakad.

We both went silent after that. I just clenched my fists and roamed my eyes around, avoiding his intense gaze... Pwede na ba akong umalis sa kandungan niya?

"I-ilan ba kami?" bulong ko.

"What?" he asked, confused.

"I-ilan kami na a-ano... babae mo?" bulong ko pa saka pinaglaruan ang laylayan ng damit ko.

"I'm not a manwhore like Draxon." His forehead creased.

"S-so, a-ako lang? Sa ngayon?" tanong ko.

He nodded. "Of course."

I just bit the insides of my cheeks and nodded. I don't know why it made me a little happy when I shouldn't care about it. I'm here for a mission, not to play around.

"I'll only find another once I'm done with you," he added that shattered everything I had in my petty mind.

I bit my lower lip and nodded. "O-okay."

We both went silent again. Lorden touched my wrist. He gently caressed the scars there. Agad ko namang iniwas 'yon sa kaniya... Hindi ko alam... Nahihiya ako.

"What are those? Self-harm scars?" he asked and stared at me.

I bit my lower lip and nodded. "D-don't mind it, please," I said.

"I saw you have a lot of scars all over your body... Are those self-harm scars too?" he asked, not minding my request.

Those are from my father... but I lied to him. "Y-yes... Does it bother you?" I asked, nervous. I fidgeted.

"No. Not in the least. I have lots of scars too."

Inangat niya ang sleeves ng dress shirt niya. He showed me his wrist. Natigilan ako nang mapansing may mga peklat din doon na mukhang galing din sa self-harm. Hindi lang gaanong halata, dahil siguro sa tattoos niya. Marahan kong hinawakan 'yon.

I looked at him. I stared at his green eyes. He doesn't seem that bad... Hindi ito ang Lorden na inaasahan ko.

"Don't look at me like that..."

"H-huh? What do you mean?"

He grinned. "You look at me as if I'm some kind of an angel in disguise. I'm far from that... I'm the worst."

I bit my lower lip and nodded. "O-okay."

Natahimik na lang ulit kami. Napatingin na lang si Lorden sa mga pinamili ko na nasa ibabaw ng mesa. "What are those?" he asked.

"Uhm, books and art materials," I muttered.

"Art materials?"

I nodded. "Hmm... M-mahilig ako magdrawing at magpinta."

He looked at me. "That's cool."

My cheeks heated. "T-thank you." Agad na rin akong umalis sa kandungan niya saka napahawak sa batok ko.

Lorden stood up and put his hand in his pocket. "Are you still planning to stay here? I think I gave you enough money."

I licked my bottom lip and nodded. "Y-yes... Uhm, I think I prefer easy money like this. A-aalis na lang ako kapag uhm, nakapag-ipon na ako at kapag sawa ka na sa akin," bulong ko na lang.

Lorden nodded. "Okay."

He went to the bathroom and took a shower. Inayos ko na lang ang mga pinamili ko. Inayos ko ang canvas stand saka ang canvas pati paint brush. I giggled and stomped my feet repeatedly on the floor. I touched my chest to calm myself, then tried painting on the canvas. I started painting a vase of pink roses. I always paint dark abstract art, but I don't know why I'm in the mood to paint something light.

Natapos nang magshower si Lorden. Naramdaman kong nagtungo siya sa kusina pero hindi ko na pinansin dahil masyado akong abala sa ginagawa.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked me.

"Uhm, kahit ano," sabi ko na lang saka tumuloy sa pagpinta.

Hindi na nagsalita ulit si Lorden kaya tumuloy na lang ako sa ginagawa. Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras... Palagi naman akong gano'n sa tuwing nagpipinta ako.

Napapitlag lang ako nang maramdaman ang presensya ni Lorden sa likuran ko. Napatingin ako sa kaniya. He stared at my canvas.

"You're good... Pink roses? You like pink roses?" he asked, then looked at me.

"N-not really. Iyan lang unang pumasok sa isip ko." Napahawak ako sa batok ko.

He nodded. "I thought because you smell like roses," he muttered.

My eyes widened. I just cleared my throat and put the brush and palette down.

"Let's eat," sabi na lang ni Lorden at nagtungo na sa dining area.

I just stood up and followed him. Naghugas na ako ng kamay saka umupo. Naghain na siya. Napakunot ang noo ko at napatitig sa pagkain sa plato, puro vegetable iyon na may eggs . Hindi pamilyar sa akin.

"I'm not really a rice person... By the way, that's salade niçoise, a French dish," sabi niya. Mukhang napansin niya na hindi ako pamilyar sa pagkain. "If you don't like it. I'll just order another food for you."

"Oh, no need. Hindi naman ako mapili sa pagkain," sabi ko na lang.

Tinikman ko ang something salad na sinabi niya. Napatango na lang ako dahil masarap din naman iyon.

Tahimik lang kaming pareho habang kumakain. Pasimple akong napapatingin sa kaniya. Simpleng fitted t-shirt at sweatpants lang ang suot niya, pero ang lakas pa rin ng dating.

"Uhm, a-ano'ng mga hobby mo, Lorden?" tanong ko.

Right. I should start with small talks like this.

Lorden looked at me. "I do nothing aside from working my ass off..."

I blinked. "Wala kang ibang ginagawa maliban do'n?"

"Hmm... Exercise? Does that count?" he asked then ate a spoonful of salad.

Natahimik na lang ulit kaming pareho. Hindi na ako nagsalita at uminom ng tubig. "Thank you for the food," I murmured and smiled at him.

Tumayo na ako at kinuha ang plato ko. I washed it first before I put it on the plate rack. Bumalik na lang ako sa kinauupuan ko kanina para ituloy ang pagpinta. Naramdaman kong tumayo si Lorden. He went to the balcony and took a stick of cigarette and lit it. Napatitig na lang ako sa kaniya. Nakatingin siya sa kung saan habang naninigarilyo.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kaniya, hawak pa rin ang paint brush ko. Natigilan naman siya at napatingin sa akin.

"Lorden... D-do you want to be the subject of my art?" I asked. I was nervous, but I still shamelessly asked him.

I never painted someone before. I don't have the inspiration to do so. Now, I want to paint an image of him... Gusto ko magpinta ng iba. I don't know. Maybe because it feels like this will be my last mission, my last chance...

Lorden froze. Muntik niya pang mabitiwan ang sigarilyo. "What?" he asked. His forehead furrowed.

"I-I want to paint you... C-can I?" I asked him.

Lorden puffed on his cigarette. It took him a moment before he nodded. "Sure... I don't mind."

I smiled. "Thank you."

Lorden chuckled, then puffed on his cigarette again. He stared at me as if I'm amusing to him. My cheeks heated in embarrassment. I fidgeted. I'm nervous for some unknown reason.

He smirked. "It's such an honor to be the subject of your art."