Dangerously Yours (SERIE FEROCI 10)

Chapter Five

We were both quiet, hanggang sa makauwi, tahimik lang. I want to know what Caius is thinking right now, though I already have an idea.

Caius put my bag on the couch, in the living room. He sat there and stroked his hair with his tattooed fingers. He glanced at me and pointed the single couch chair, as if he was telling me to sit there, and I did.

"Let's talk about the rules and limitations in this house," he said in a cold tone, it made me shiver. "You have to follow my rules. Isipin mo na lang na iyon ang kapalit para sa pagpirma ko sa gusto mo, Luisa."

Caius calling my name sent shivers down to my spine again. I just cleared my throat and nodded.

"Okay."

"First. You are not allowed to sleep in my room."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I was about to protest but I stopped myself when I saw his eyes, his raging eyes. It seems like he's just restraining himself from bursting into anger. I couldn't blame him though. What he saw in my apartment must have freaked him out. It's as if he's just trying to calm himself right now.

"Second. You are now allowed to stalk me again. You already got what you want, right? I think there's no reason for you to stalk me again."

I remained silent. Hindi na ako nagprotesta kahit alam ko sa sarili ko na baka hindi ko masunod ang rule niyang iyan.

"Third. You must provide for your own needs. I won't buy food for you or cook for you. Lahat ng kailangan mo, huwag mong hihingiin sa akin dahil hindi ko ibibigay."

Hindi na ako nagsalita at tumango na lang.

"Fourth. Don't talk to me all the time. I have work, I have things to do. Don't disturb me. If it's possible, just don't talk to me at all."

It's impossible! I can't do that. Ngayon ko pa ba siya hindi kakausapin ngayong tuluyan na kaming magkasama?

"I will try not to bother you all the time," I murmured.

Caius didn't leave a comment on that and continued with his so-called rules. "Lastly, you must know that you have no control over my life. I will do whatever the hell I want. Do whatever you want too, of course, without concerning me." He put his elbows and his thighs and intertwined his fingers while staring intently at me. "That's it."

It was so hot, but I did my best not to show him that I'm so crazy about him, in everything he does. I don't want to freak him out again.

"If I'm not allowed in your room... saan ako matutulog?" tanong ko sa mahinang boses.

Caius stood up. "You can sleep here on the couch, on the floor, on the guest room... I don't care. Basta hindi sa kuwarto ko... and last thing, remove all those f*****g hidden cameras in my house."

Pagkasabi niya no'n ay agad din siyang umalis at nagtungo sa silid niya. Hinabol ko na lang siya ng tingin at natahimik. I really really want to sleep beside him. But I guess that can wait... Kung kakayanin ko.

Knowing that he's just within my reach will make it harder for me to suppress myself. He's just few meters away from me. How can I stop myself from leeching on him? It's too bad he won't allow it though. How can I make him surrender? Should I just blackmail him with Lynne again? But I don't think I'll enjoy that. I want him to voluntarily surrender... pero mangyayari ba ang ganoon?

I just shook my head and stood up. I know about Caius' guest rooms. I also put hidden cameras there. Nagtungo ako sa mga silid na iyon para tingnan... Mukha namang komportable sa mga silid na 'yon, pero mas prefer ko yata na matulog sa living room. Mas reachable si Caius kapag doon ako natulog.

Kumuha na lang ako ng unan at kumot saka bumalik na sa living room. I put the pillow and blanket on the couch... Napangiti ako nang mapansing nagluluto si Caius. I know he said he won't cook for me again. I don't mind. Hindi rin naman ako palaging kumakain. I grew up not knowing how to cook. Palagi lang akong bumibili ng pagkain ko, madalas instant food. Unhealthy, yes, but I don't mind.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya. I know he felt my presence, but he didn't look at me. I just touched my nape.

"Mamimili ako... may gusto ka ipabili?" I asked.

"Wala," tipid na sagot niya.

Tumango na lang ako at pinanood pa siya saglit bago ako bumalik sa living room at kinuha ang wallet ko. Umalis na rin ako agad para makauwi nang maaga. I want to spend time with Caius, though I know he'll just ignore me.

I checked the remaining cash in my wallet. I only have nine thousand pesos left. I think this will last for two months, baka higit pa dahil wala na akong babayarang upa, pero hindi ko pa nakukuha ang mga gamit ko sa apartment. I don't know if I can take it with me. Baka magalit si Caius at hindi pumayag lalo pa't nakita niya ang apartment ko.

I checked the money in my bank account. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil bigla iyong nadagdagan ng isang milyon. I now have a total of 4.5 million in my bank account. Hindi pa nagbigay ng gaanoong kalaking pera ang pamilya ko sa akin. Naglalaro sa fifty to one hundred thousand ang ibinibigay nila sa akin every month at dahil hindi naman ako gaanong magastos, naiipon lang. Si Caius lang naman ang pinagkakagastusan ko nang matindi... Alam kong wala lang din naman 'yon sa mga magulang ko, they are filthy rich.

Ite-text ko na sana si Mama para magtanong, pero nag-text na agad sa akin si Papa. Natigilan ako nang mabasa ang text niya.

I wired one million in your bank account. That will be the last time. Hindi na kami magbibigay ng pera sayo ulit. You're not affiliated with us anymore.

Hindi na lang ako nagreply. I stared at my phone's screen for a couple of seconds. I didn't expect this day will come. Knowing them, siguradong wala na silang ilalaan na inheritance sa akin kundi sa mga kapatid ko lang. I don't give a s**t about money anyway. Ang problema ko lang, wala akong alam na trabaho at hindi ko rin naman sineseryoso ang pag-aaral ko. Kailangan kong pagkasyahin ang 4.5 million para sa panghabang buhay ko.

I think that won't be hard for me. Hindi naman ako magastos. I only have ten pieces of clothes. I only buy necessities. Hindi rin naman ako mahilig kumain.

I just shrugged and went to the grocery. Namili na ako ng mga kakailanganin ko, pati mga processed and instant food. Malaki naman ang ref ni Caius.

Binitbit ko na ang mga pinamili ko at lumabas ng grocery. Tatawag na sana ako ng masasakyan, pero tumunog ang phone ko. Neron just texted me.

Neron: Saan ka?

Me: Mall nina Papa. Bakit?

Sina Papa ang may ari ng mall na 'to.

Neron: Sa main entrance ka lang. Pupuntahan kita.

Me: Okay.

Inilapag ko muna ang mga pinamili ko sa malapit na bench. Medyo mabigat dahil marami akong pinamili. I just waited for almost a minute. Saglit lang ay nakita ko na ang kotse ni Neron sa tapat ko. He immediately got off the car and smiled at me. Halos mapatingin sa kaniya ang mga babaeng dumadaan. He's handsome and charming, I'm not surprised.

"Akin na 'yan," sabi niya saka kinuha ang mga pinamili ko.

I just let him put my grocery bags in the backseat of his car. He opened the car door for me. I just get in and sat on the shotgun seat. Agad na umikot si Neron at sumakay na rin sa kotse.

"Saan kita ihahatid? Sa bahay ng asawa mo kuno?" he asked in a mocking tone.

I just nodded. "Bakit ka nakipagkita?" tanong ko na lang.

"Alam mo na ba? Your family won't support your financial needs anymore," sabi na lang niya saka pinaandar na ang kotse.

"Yeah," tipid na sinabi ko na lang.

"Hindi ka ba nalulungkot? Tuluyan ka nang mawawalan ng ugnayan sa kanila."

"Hindi. Wala naman akong pakialam." Tumingin ako sa bintana.

"Why did I even bother asking that?" Neron chuckled. "By the way, do you want me to be your financial provider instead? You know... I may not be as rich as your family, but I'm hella rich too."

"You don't have to do that. Kasya na sa akin ang pera ko," sabi ko na lang.

"Okay. Sabihin mo na lang sa'kin kapag may kailangan ka. You know I'm just one call away."

Hindi na ako nagsalita at nanatiling nakatingin sa labas dahil wala na rn naman akong masabi sa kaniya.

Saglit lang, nakarating na kami sa bahay ni Caius. Agad na bumaba si Neron para pagbuksan ako. Hindi na lang ako kumibo at hinayaan siya. He also carried my grocery bags.

"Ako na riyan," sabi ko at akmang kukuhanin sa kaniya ang grocery bags pero umiling siya.

"These are heavy. Ako na ang magbibitbit."

"Doon na lang naman sa loob. Kaya ko na 'yan. Besides, Caius won't let you in... Pwede ka nang umalis."

Neron tilted his head and licked his lower lip. He stared at me. "He's a lucky bastard," he murmured.

My forehead furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Neron chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing. Sure ka ba na kaya mo na?" tanong pa niya.

Tumango na lang ako at kinuha sa kaniya ang mga pinamili ko. "Pwede ka nang umalis. Baka hanapin ka na ni Papa. Salamat sa paghatid," sabi ko na lang.

Neron smiled at me and gently caressed my hair. "Tawag ka lang sa'kin kapag kailangan mo ako o ng tulong ko. Your family won't provide for you anymore but I'm here."

Wala na akong sinabi. Ngumiti na lang ulit sa akin si Neron saka humalik sa noo ko bago nagtungo sa kotse niya. Pinaharurot niya na rin iyon at hinabol ko na lang ng tingin ang papalayo niyang kotse.

Pumasok na 'ko sa loob. Naabutan ko si Caius na nakatingin sa bintana habang umiinom ng kape. Natigilan ako... Kung ganoon nakita niya kami ni Neron mula sa bintana.

Caius turned his gaze at me. He drank his coffee and shrugged. "Why don't you just marry that man instead? He seems pretty interested in you."

"I'm not interested in him. He's just a friend."

Hindi na nagsalita si Caius. I went straight to the kitchen. Inayos ko na ang mga pinamili ko. Buti na lang maraming space na pwedeng paglagyan sa mga kitchen cabinet niya at sa ref. Natigilan ako sa pag-aayos nang maramdaman na lumapit si Caius. He washed the cup that he used.

Natigilan din siya at napatingin sa mga inaayos ko. I felt my cheeks heated. I can smell his scent lingering in the air. I bit my lower lip and just continued what I was doing. I tried not to look affected by his presence and stare.

"What's that? Puro instant food?" he asked. For some reason, he seems annoyed.

I nodded. "I don't know how to cook. Lagi naman ganito kinakain ko."

Naramdaman kong pinapanood pa rin ako ni Caius. Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos, kumuha ako ng isang cup noodles. Natigilan lang ako nang humawak siya sa braso ko. Para akong nakuryente dahil doon.

"May natirang ulam at kanin. Iyon na lang ang kainin mo," biglang sinabi niya pa.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. Once again, I got lost in his eyes. My knees weakened. I bit the insides of my cheeks to suppress my smile. Concerned na ba siya sa'kin?

Bumitiw rin siya agad sa akin. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Eating too much instant food is unhealthy."

Yeah. Just like my obsession with you. Unhealthy and fatal.

Tinalikuran niya na rin agad ako saka umalis sa kusina. Inilapag ko na lang ulit ang cup noodles. Napatingin ako sa mesa. May ulam nga na nakatakip doon. Tiningnan ko. Sinigang ang niluto niya. Hindi ko na maalala ang huling beses na kumain ako no'n.

Kumuha ako ng plato at nagsandok ng kanin. Tinikman ko ang luto niya at napangiti dahil masarap 'yon. Masarap talaga siya magluto.

Ganado akong kumain. I don't really like eating heavy meals, pero marami akong nakain. Nag-alala pa ako dahil baka magalit si Caius dahil inubusan ko siya.

I prepared for my night rituals after that. I took a shower and changed my clothes. Napatingin pa ako sa pinto ng silid ni Caius bago humiga sa couch at nagkumot. A smile crept in my lips. My stomach and heart is full. I couldn't remember anymore the last time that I was this happy.

"Good night, Caius," I murmured as I stared at his door.

I hope it reached his heart.

MY HEART FELT light when I woke up. Inayos ko na agad ang tinulugan ko at tiniklop ang kumot. It's still 5 a.m. Ang aga kong gumising.

Lumapit ako sa pinto ng silid ni Caius. Marahan kong binuksan 'yon at sumilip. Natutulog pa siya.

Dahan-dahan akong pumasok sa loob. I sat on the other side of the bed and stared at his sleeping face. His handsome face looks peaceful.

I just shook my head and stood up. Dumiretso ako sa wardrobe niya at hinanda ang mga susuotin niya mamaya, pati ang relo at panyo niya na naka-schedule para sa araw na 'to dahil alam ko na lahat 'yon.

Tulog pa rin siya nang lumabas ako ng silid niya. Nagtungo ako sa kusina. I searched for how to cook fried rice. Pati pagprito, mukhang madali lang din. Ilang beses na siyang nagluto para sa'kin, gusto kong bumawi.

I tried to cook rice then chopped garlic. So far, so good. Hindi naman ako nagkakamali, sa tingin ko. Nagsisi ako na hindi ko inaral ang pagluluto noon pa. Kung alam ko lang na mapapangasawa ko si Caius, edi sana, kinder pa lang ako pinag-aralan ko na.

Tinikman ko ang niluto ko. "It's not bad."

Nagtimpla na rin ako ng kape para sa kaniya. Napansin ko na mahilig din siya sa kape. Sakto na lumabas na siya mula sa kuwarto niya, nagsusuot ng relo.

I smiled at him. "Caius..." My smile disappeared when I noticed he wasn't wearing what I prepared for him. Ang damit, panyo, at relo na hinanda ko sa kaniya, hindi niya sinuot. I'm sure tama ang inihanda ko... Mukhang sinadya niya na hindi suotin.

"Uhm... I prepared breakfast for us."

Malamig na tumingin siya sa akin pagkatapos niyang magsuot ng relo. Hindi siya nagsalita at agad na ring binitbit ang bag niya at umalis. He didn't even glance at the food on the table.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair... I guess I still have a long way to go.