Chasing the Forbidden (SERIE FEROCI 3)

Chapter Five

“You insisted on seducing him pero tanong ka rin naman nang tanong sa 'kin. Sana ako na lang ang nang-akit sa kanya, 'di ba?”

Napairap na lang ako sa sinabi ni Abi. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha n'ya.

“I just need advice, okay? I can handle him,” I muttered while gritting my teeth.

“Oh sure you can,” she said in a mocking tone.

“Whatever, just give me some advice. I'm a natural seductress, but Xanthos isn't an easy opponent.” I sighed and bit my nail unconsciously.

“Kiara, sa tingin ko si Xanthos 'yung tipo ng tao na mas gusto ang pakipot-type. Iwasan mo kaya siya, try mo.”

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi n'ya.

“Mas pabor sa kanya kapag ginawa ko 'yon,” sabi ko na lang at napailing. That's not a good idea.

“Kulitin mo na lang nang kulitin, ano pa ba'ng ibang option mo? Galingan mo na lang. Sa tingin ko naman bibigay rin siya kapag nakulitan sa 'yo.”

I sighed and put my hair into a messy bun. I don't know what trick will work for him anymore. Is he allergic to me or what?

“Dapat ba sunggaban ko na siya?” tila pabulong na tanong ko. Narinig kong napahagalpak ng tawa si Abi sa kabilang linya.

“Woooh! That's mah friend,” she said while laughing. I just rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth.

“Whatever, bye na.” Hindi ko na siya hinintay na sumagot at basta na lang binaba ang tawag.

I looked at myself in the mirror and took a deep breath. I stayed up late last night just to think of ways on how to make Xanthos surrender to his desires. I know he wants me too... he's just denying it. Yeah, I'm sure.

Instead of putting my hair into a messy bun, I just let it down. I want to show Xanthos that we both have curly hair. Well, my hair isn't curly like his, but it's wavy, we're still kind of meant to be.

What the hell am I thinking?

Napailing na lang ako at inayos ang buhok ko. I'm just wearing a simple large t-shirt and shorts but I still look fine.

Lumabas na agad ako ng silid ko at dumiretso sa kusina, pa-ika ika pa ako maglakad dahil masakit pa rin ang paa ko.

Natigilan ako nang maabutan ko ro'n si Xanthos na nagluluto. He's just wearing a white t-shirt and pants kaya kitang kita ang tattoos n'ya sa magkabilang braso n'ya, he's also wearing my Mom's pink apron. It looks cute although it contradicts his manly physique.

I sat on the table and stared at his back. I'm dying to hug him from behind. Mukhang bagong ligo lang siya, I bet he smells incredibly good right now.

“What do you want to eat?”

Napapitlag ako nang magtanong siya. Dahan-dahan na nga ang kilos ko para hindi n'ya ko marinig, e. Mukhang malakas ang pakiramdam ng isang 'to.

“You're not a food but it's you I wanna eat,” I said and smiled sweetly.

Hindi man lang nag-react si Xanthos sa sinabi ko at tinuloy lang ang pagluluto. My lips twitched in irritation.

Xanthos sighed and faced me. As usual, there's no emotion evident on his handsome face.

“You can't eat me, I'm too much for you to handle,” he said and gave me a small smile.

Damn, my heart almost fell with that small smile of his. Maybe he's really too much for me to handle. Even his simple movements can melt my insides. How can he be so effortlessly charming?

Damn, now I can't blame my Mom, she's clearly bewitched by this man. But that won't happen to me, I shouldn't let that happen to me. I will always be the master of this game.

I just cleared my throat and avoided his cold gaze.

“What did you cook by the way?” I asked, pulling myself off from his charm.

“Eggs and bacon,” he answered and put the plate on the table, beside me. My mouth agape when I saw his dish.

What the f**k? Bakit parang hilaw ang bacon? 'Yung itlog hindi rin naluto nang ayos.

“There's no way I'll eat this crap,” I said with gritting teeth and pushed the plate away from me.

“Then cook for us, I honestly don't know how to cook,” walang kaabog-abog na sabi ni Xanthos na tila ba hindi man lang siya nahiya sa 'kin.

“I can't touch those utensils, Xanthos... Believe me, I'll just end up burning this whole place,” I said and laughed awkwardly at him.

It's true. I always spend my time at work and partying, of course, because I rarely have time for that. Hindi ko na pinagkaabalahan pa ang aralin na magluto for I don't think it's necessary.

“This won't do, let's just order pizza,” I suggest and smiled at him.

Xanthos sighed and nodded. Natawa ako nang mapakamot siya sa batok n'ya. Kung magiging mag-asawa siguro kami, puro order na pagkain lang ang kakainin namin since wala sa amin ang marunong magluto.

Agad kong binuksan ang phone ko para um-order ng two boxes ng pizza. Minsan lang naman ako kumain ng mga ganito kaya okay lang. Mamayang gabi nga yayayain ko si Xanthos bumili ng beer at buffalo wings, para naman magkaroon kami ng moment.

Napatingin ako kay Xanthos nang umupo siya sa upuan na malapit sa 'kin. Napatingin ako sa tattoos n'ya sa arms n'ya... damn, I'll admire those forever.

Umangat naman ang tingin ko sa buhok n'ya. I gently touched his soft curly hair. Napapitlag naman siya sa ginawa ko at napakunot ang noo. Napangisi na lang ako sa reaksyon n'ya.

“Your hair makes you look like a Greek God from Mount Olympus,” I muttered and twirl his hair around my finger. Madaling iikot ang buhok n'ya sa daliri ko dahil may kahabaan nang kaunti ang buhok n'ya.

Napapitlag ako nang hawakan n'ya ang kamay ko at pabalyang inilayo ang kamay ko sa buhok n'ya.

Ang arte.

He just took his phone from his pocket and typed something there. Pasimpleng sumilip ako nang kaunti sa phone n'ya. He's texting his secretary.

“What are you gonna do after we eat?” I asked and touched his hair again.

“Magtatrabaho, ano pa ba?” sarkastikong sabi n'ya. Napaismid na lang ako.

“Look at my foot.” Itinaas ko ang paa ko na namamaga at ipinakita sa kanya. Napatingin naman siya ro'n. “Ganito na nga ang paa ko tapos iiwan mo pa 'ko. Paano kung may manloob dito ha?”

Xanthos scratched his eyebrow and tilted his head.

“You'll be guarded by my bodyguards,” he said then typed something in his phone again.

“I won't entrust my life to your bodyguards!” I exclaimed. Xanthos put his phone in his pocket and faced me.

“But you entrust your life to me? That's worse, Kiara,” he said while staring at me. Nakakatunaw ng pagkatao ang titig n'yang 'yan.

“It's fine, only you can ruin my life,” I said and smiled sweetly at him. I touched his chin and gently pinched it... so handsome.

Inalis n'ya agad ang kamay ko.

“I don't have time to babysit you, Kiara,” masungit na sabi n'ya.

“So sungit,” I muttered and rolled my eyes.

Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas, dumating na ang order naming pizza. Si Xanthos na ang kumuha at nagbayad since hindi ako nakakalakad nang ayos.

He put the boxes of pizza on the table and sat on the chair. Nanatili akong nakaupo sa table while swaying my feet. Xanthos opened the box of pizza. I gasped in excitement. I missed eating pizza.

Natigilan ako nang mapansin kong inaalis ni Xanthos ang pineapples sa pizza. I chuckled and took the pineapple from him and put it on my pizza.

“You don't like pineapple on pizza? Why? That's what social media tells you?” I asked and raised my eyebrow. Xanthos' forehead furrowed. 

“I don't even use social media. I just don't like pineapples,” he said and started eating his pizza. Ang cute n'ya kumain ng pizza.

“Sana pizza na lang ako,” I mumbled and pointed the pizza he's eating right now.

Napakunot ang noo ni Xanthos.

“Para ako ang kinakain mo.” I giggled. Mas lalo namang napakunot ang noo ni Xanthos.

“We're wishing the same thing, I wish you're a pizza like this. I just have to eat you and you're gone,” he said and continued eating his pizza again. Napaawang na lang ang labi ko habang nakatitig sa kanya.

Damn this man.

INIWAN PA rin ako ni Xanthos at pumasok sa trabaho kahit masakit ang paa ko. He's a heartless jerk. I almost though he has a soft side in him but he just... whatever, damn him!

“Kaya nga ako nagpunta rito kasi akala ko makikita ko ang future step-dad mo. Tapos nasa trabaho pala?” reklamo ni Cadence habang hinihilot ang paa ko. Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi n'ya.

“Lumilihis ka na ba ng landas, Cadence?” I asked and drank my orange juice.

Kung mababago man ang sexuality ni Cad, that's completely fine, there's nothing wrong with it naman. He's still my friend, but I guess if that's the case, I won't kiss him anymore... baka magalit pa siya sa 'kin.

“Ouch!” napahiyaw ako nang itulak n'ya ang paa ko na nasa kandungan n'ya.

“Issue ka masyado, e. Curious lang kasi ako, okay? Titingnan ko lang kung sinong mas guwapo sa 'ming dalawa.”

“Bakit kailangan mo pang tingnan?” nakataas-kilay na tanong ko.

“Siyempre, kapag mas guwapo ako, sige landiin mo lang siya... pero kapag mas guwapo siya, ako ang lalandi sa kanya,” nakangising sabi n'ya saka nagtaas-baba ng kilay.

I kicked his leg and punched his muscled arm. Napangiwi naman siya sa ginawa ko.

“Tangina, ang sakit ha! Banned ka na sa bar ko from now on, ekis ka na, girl.”

Napailing na lang ako sa mga nonsense na sinasabi ni Cadence. Kung hindi lang talaga busy si Abi, si Abi na lang ang yayayain ko rito, e.

Natigilan ako nang may maalala ako.

“Cadence, ano'ng pwedeng pag-usapan kapag late night talks?” tanong ko. Nagtatakang napatingin naman sa 'kin si Cadence. His forehead is furrowed as if I asked him something ridiculous.

“Ano pa ba? E 'di landian. Pwede naman mag-kwentuhan about life para kunwari deep... pwede rin dirty talks saka s*x--aray! Tangina naman, Kiarabog, seryoso akong nag-a-advise dito, e.” reklamo ni Cad nang batukan ko siya.

Cadence can't be serious even for a minute, but I guess that's what makes him more charming.

“Be serious!” I said and glared at him.

“Sus, kunwari pa 'to. Maharot ka naman kaya okay lang 'yan,” natatawang sabi n'ya at tinapik-tapik pa ang braso ko. Tinulak ko na lang siya palayo sa 'kin.

Kwentuhan about life? Pwede rin ang isang 'yon. I'll get to know him more. Pero ang problema ko, hindi naman ako sanay mag-bring up ng gano'ng topic.

“Pst, Kiara.”

I turned my gaze at Cadence. He looks serious this time. He sighed, held my hand, and gently squeezed it. He gave me a small smile and intertwined our fingers.

“Don't always let your emotions win over your mind. Isipin mo rin ang lahat ng consequences ng gagawin mo. The last thing I want is seeing you in pain. Loko-loko lang ako, but you know how much I care for you, right?” He gently caressed my cheek.

There are times that Cadence is like this. Magsisinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ako naaapektuhan o wala lang sa 'kin ang mga sinabi n'ya. I'm aware that he cherishes and cares for me so much and I'm so thankful to have him as my friend.

“If that future step-dad of yours hurt you in any ways possible, I won't step back and stay still, Kiara,” he mumbled while staring at me.

Ito ang mga pagkakataon na nakakatakot si Cadence. I know he's more than just a happy-go-lucky billionaire, I know there's still something more to know about him, but I'll still choose to trust him. He's my friend.

“Hindi bagay sa 'yo magseryoso,” natatawang sabi ko at hinawakan ang kamay n'ya na nakahawak sa pisngi ko.

“Parang gago naman 'to, feel na feel ko na, e. Feeling ko mas guwapo ako ng ten times sa gano'n tapos panira ka. Ang pangit mo ka-bonding,” napapailing na sabi n'ya saka binatukan ako.

Walang hiya talaga 'to!

Natigilan kami nang tumunog ang phone ni Cad, pasimple akong sumilip. May nag-text sa kanya na Zakarius ang pangalan.

“s**t, badtrip talaga. Aalis na 'ko, Kiara. Gusto ko pa sanang makita future step-dad mo kaso urgent 'to. Bukas na lang ulit, bye.”

Napakurap na lang ako nang basta siya tumayo at umalis. Mukhang seryoso nga ang kailangan n'yang puntahan dahil nakalimutan n'yang humalik sa 'kin na never nangyari.

I just ordered buffalo wings and canned beers pagkaalis ni Cadence. Medyo okay na ang paa ko, pero hindi pa rin ako makalakad nang ayos. Maybe I should refrain myself from always wearing high heels which is a real torture. I feel so confident whenever I wear high heels.

Agad akong napatayo nang bumukas ang pinto. Napangiti ako nang makitang si Xanthos 'yon. Pa-ika ikang naglakad ako papalapit sa kanya. Napakunot naman ang noo n'ya habang nakatingin sa 'kin.

“One of the guards told me that a man around your age came here,” he said and removed his coat.

Man around my age? Mukha bang ka-edad ko lang si Cadence? Mas matanda nga ng eight years sa akin ang lalaking 'yon, e.

“Ah, I invited my friend here,” I said and smiled at him.

“Sino?” tanong n'ya saka tumingin sa 'kin.

Damn... it's just ‘sino?’ but my heart almost literally came out of its ribcage.

“Why do you want to know?” I asked in a teasing voice and smiled sweetly at him.

“Don't tell me if you don't want to.”

Nilagpasan na n'ya ako pagkasabi no'n. Napaismid na lang ako nang agad siyang dumiretso sa silid n'ya at sinara ang pinto... He's so boring.

Nagtungo na lang ako sa kusina at kinuha sa ref ang isang plastic ng canned beer. Ininit ko rin ang buf wings na in-order ko. After that, bumalik ulit ako sa living room at nilagay sa mini table ang beer at buffalo wings.

Bakit hindi pa nalabas si Xanthos?

Makalipas ang ilan pang minuto, lumabas na si Xanthos. He's just wearing a huge plain t-shirt and cute blue-striped pajamas. Mukhang kaka-shower n'ya lang.

“Have you eaten already?” tanong ni Xanthos habang pinupunasan ang basa n'yang buhok gamit ang towel saka umupo sa tabi ko. Hindi naman sobrang lapit, mga ilang pulgada rin ang layo n'ya.

“Yup, may friend brought me something to eat. How about you? Kumain ka na?” tanong ko.

Tumango na lang siya. Natigilan siya nang mapatingin sa beer at buffalo wings na nasa mini table. Agad na napakunot ang noo n'ya.

“By the way, mag-bonding tayong dalawa.” I took one canned beer and opened it then gave it to him. Tinanggap naman n'ya 'yon kahit halatang nag-aalangan.

“I don't have time for this,” he said and put the beer on the table again. My forehead furrowed.

“Sige na. Hindi naman kita lalasingin tapos pipikutin 'no,” naiinis na sabi ko at muling ibinigay sa kanya ang beer.

Kumuha rin ako ng sa akin at binuksan 'yon.

“Cheers!” sabi ko saka pinagdikit ang canned beers na hawak namin. Napakamot na lang si Xanthos sa kilay n'ya saka tumango.

Pagkainom ko ng beer, inilapag ko 'yon sa mini table saka kumuha ng buffalo wings at kinain 'yon. Pasimple akong tumingin sa kanya at napangiti nang makitang ininom n'ya ang beer.

“Xanthos, look at me.”

Natigilan naman siya at tumingin sa 'kin.

“Do you honestly don't find me attractive?” I asked and took another bite on buffalo wing. Xanthos' forehead creased.

“You're beautiful... but you're not my type,” sabi n'ya saka muling uminom ng beer. Napaismid na lang ako.

“May kapatid ka ba?” tanong ko ulit. Tumango naman siya.

“I have a younger brother.”

Napasinghap ako sa sinabi n'ya. I suddenly want to see his brother. Magkamukha kaya sila ni Xanthos?

“Where's your parents?” I asked again out of curiousity.

Natigilan siya sa pag-inom dahil sa tanong ko.

“They're gone,” tipid na sagot na lang n'ya saka muling ininom ang beer. Napatikhim na lang ako at napakamot sa batok ko.

“S-sorry, I was insensitive,” I mumbled and scratched my nape.

“It's fine,” sabi na lang n'ya saka sumandal sa sandalan ng couch. Pasimple akong tumingin sa kanya. Mukha namang hindi siya na-offend, pero nakakahiya pa rin. I'm so insensitive.

Nawalan tuloy ako ng gana na landiin siya.

“Xanthos,” pagtawag ko sa kanya. Napatingin naman siya sa 'kin.

“Hmm?” he asked and opened another canned beer.

“Ano'ng iniisip mo tungkol sa 'kin?” tanong ko.

Xanthos gave me a sexy smirk and shook his head. Muli siyang uminom ng beer bago sinagot ang tanong ko.

“There will be no thrill at all if I tell you that, right?” he asked. I just rolled my eyes at him.

“Whatever,” bulong ko na lang saka inilapag ang canned beer na iniinom ko sa mini table. 

Natigilan ako nang tumayo na si Xanthos. Akmang aalis na siya nang hawakan ko ang kamay n'ya. Muli ko siyang hinila paupo sa tabi ko.

I sat on his lap and hugged his nape. Halatang nagulat siya sa ginawa ko at napatingin sa mukha ko. I just gave him a sweet smile and touched his curly hair.

“Diba magbo-bonding tayo? Bakit aalis ka kaaga--” Hindi na natuloy ang sasabihin ko nang walang kahirap-hirap na naihiga ako ni Xanthos sa couch. Napasinghap ako nang pumaibabaw siya sa 'kin.

Xanthos stare at my eyes with no emotion in his. He gently caressed my cheek down to my jaw then to my chin. I can't read what he's thinking right now. Halos magwala ang puso ko dahil sa kakaibang emosyon na hindi ko maipaliwanag.

Bakit ako kinakabahan? Diba ito ang gusto kong mangyari? Dapat handa na ako sa ganito... I'm not a freakin' newbie.

Halos matunaw ako sa intensidad ng titig n'ya. Tila may kuryente ring dumadaloy sa katawan ko dahil sa kamay n'ya na hinahaplos ang pisngi ko. I felt so weak and helpless beneath his large frame, beneath his touch, beneath his intense stare.

“I think should commend you for having the courage to seduce a veteran like me...  but you're still an amateur, Kiara. You are no match for me.”

Tumatama ang mainit n'yang hininga sa labi ko na lalong nagpahina sa sistema ko.

“I know what's running in this pretty head of yours, Kiara. You must be thinking that you'll be able to control me, you must be thinking that you can seduce me and play with my heart so I'll end up leaving your Mom. You're confident that I'll be at your mercy.” Inilapit n'ya ang labi sa tainga ko saka bumulong do'n. “I think it will be the other way around, Kiara.”

My whole body shivered because of his hot breath on my ear. Agad na nagtayuan ang mga balahibo ko kasabay ng panghihina ng mga tuhod ko.

Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag nang tumayo na siya at iniwan akong nakahiga sa couch, tulala pa rin at hindi makagalaw.

I don't know but his words kinda frighten me. The fact that he knows what I'm thinking scares me.

It seems like I underestimated Xanthos Archante; he's not an ordinary man... and definitely not an easy prey.