Enjoy reading! <3

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TATIANA

B-bakit may brief sa unan ko?!

I swear to God, I didn't have any idea that this shit was inside my pillow. Oh, my god. That's so disgusting. I hope it's a brand new brief. If it's used, I don't know how I will react.

"Now, answer me." Nag angat ako ng tingin kay Bristole nang mag salita siya.

"Why did you steal it?" Tanong niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

Brief? Stole?

Sounds like Bristole. What am I even thinking? I need to clear my name right away. This is so embarrassing.

Agad na nag salubong ang mga kilay ko sa narinig ko. "You're not my type." Diretsong sagot ko.

Tumango tango siya. "There's a 50% possibility that you're lying right now. I just saw my brief on your favorite pillow based on your actions earlier. You didn't smell it, did you? "

Gulat ko siyang tinignan. "Stop tainting my mind!" Hindi ko napigilan na sumigaw.

I didn't even steal it from him! Why would I even do that from the start if it will absolutely cause me trouble in the future? Out of everything that culprit could steal, why the fuck choose a freaking brief?! That's so nasty!

"That thing," he pointed his finger in the brief's direction, "belongs to me." He said it with his face still looking grumpy, but he still managed to nail it.

"Oh? If that's yours, why would you even let someone take it from you? "

"I didn't give the culprit my permission. Which explains why I didn't let her or him take it from my closet. They took it without me realizing it. Perhaps, someone stole it. " sarkastikong sagot niya.

He has a point, but still— uh, I'm being bias. But, I just want to clear my name. I didn't notice that I was blaming the incident on the culprit's victim.

I tsked, "I didn't steal your thing. I don't even know where you live. Bakit ko nanakawin 'yan? " I explained in a sarcastic manner.

"Then, how are you going to explain this? " He asked, pointing at the brief on the floor.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Why should I explain myself? I didn't steal it from your closet. " Pigil inis na sabi ko.

Sino naman kasi ang hindi maiinis diba? Ngayon ay naiintindihan ko na ang nararamdaman ng mga inosenteng tao na basta na lang pinag bintangan sa mga bagay na hindi naman nila ginawa. I'm innocent as well. Of course, we're on the same boat.

A minutes had passed yet he didn't even speak as a response and I did the same thing. I kept silent the whole time the way he did. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin ng diretso na para bang iniinspeksiyon niya ang reaction at ekspresiyon na gagawin ko ano mang oras.

Nangasim ang mukha ko ng naalala ko na naman na yakap-yakap ko ang unan ko kung saan nakalagay ang brief niya raw kuno. In the meantime, I felt like my whole stomach would burst out at anytime because of this uneasy feeling in it. I hope that I didn't sniff my pillow, I really hope so.

"I'm fucked up." I whispered while wearing my disgusted face.

Napabalik ako sa ulirat nang marinig kong may tumawa ng mahina at tila ayaw pa iparinig sa akin. Sinamaan ko kaagad ng tingin si Bristole nang mas lakasan niya pa ang tawa niya para inisin lalo ako, and he did a great job of making me mad. He really nailed it. I mean it.

"How could you laugh while I'm right here, being frustrated because of your fucking brief? YOU FUCKING RETARDED JERK. "

He silently chuckled before waving his hand as if he's objecting to what I said, "No, it's not like that, pfft!" He can't even finish a sentence! He covered his mouth with his hands, trying to surpass his laughter.

Ano bang nakakatawa? His mind is definitely a— I don't even know what word to use in order to describe it.

"H-hindi ko alam kung bakit ako natatawa sa itsura mo. You're really upset about it. Y-you're pouting while glaring at me, then after a minute, you'd roll your eyes in unison. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! I don't even know why I find it funny." He explained while still trying to overcome his laughter.

"If we met again, I don't think I would be able to erase this memory of mine." Natatawang aniya.

I was beyond speechless as I watched him laugh in front of me. He may look good with his grumpy look, but his happy face makes my mind feel this soothing feeling that I couldn't even define.

Hindi ako nagsalita, ni mag ingay ay hindi ko magawa. Nanahimik lang ako habang nakatitig sa masayang ekspresiyon niya. I didn't know seeing someone this happy could make me feel this kind of felling which I couldn't even define, even its origin.

I stared at him, "If we met again, I don't think I would want to erase this memory of mine." I whispered.

Natigil lang ako sa kabaliwan ko ng napansin kong nakatitig rin siya sa akin, nakasimangot na 'uli. "What's wrong?" I asked, which made me shocked, as I said that softly.

What the fuck was that? Did I just get bewitched by this grumpy guy?

Mukhang maging siya ay nagulat ngunit sa huli ay nagtanong siya, "I got carried away. If you ever see me laughing again, just forget it. I know it doesn't suit me. I don't even deserve to laugh right now. " Seryosong aniya bago tumayo na at bahagya pang inayos ang bagulo niyang kama ko dahil sa kakatawa niya.

I watched the way he fixed my comforter and my pillows. He even fixed my bedsheets because they got crumpled up with each other. When he finished his business in my hospital bed, he was about to sit on the nearest couch, but for some reason, he stopped. Natigilan siya sandali bago siya nagmamadaling naglakad papunta sa direksiyon ng bintana na sinarado niya rin kanina.

"What are you planning to do?" Takang tanong ko ng buksan niya ang bintana sa pamamagitan ng pagtulak ng dalawang sliding door nito palayo sa isat-isa.

Napasimangot na lang ako ng hindi man lang niya ako sinagot at nanatiling nakatingin do'n. Sandali niya akong nilingon bago muling ibinalika ng buong atensiyon niya doon. Binuksan niya 'yon at sandaling pumikit bago yumuko do'n.

I got startled a little, but somehow regained my natural poise as I watched him. My eyeballs almost popped out of my eyes when he lowered his body, making his half body stand here while his other half was looking out beneath the window.

I stood up, "Hey! Nababaliw ka na ba? Anong ginagawa mo diyan? Hindi mo ba alam na delikado ang ginagawa mo? " Sunod sunod na tanong ko.

Is it because of his brief? I'll just buy him another set if he wants to! But that doesn't mean I stole his brief.

"Don't you dare jump, you shithead!" I shouted. "If it's because of your brief, I'll just buy you a set, no— I could give you its whole branch!"

If he jumps, it would probably look like I pushed him. I don't want to get accused of killing him. That'll be murder, If he survives, it'll be attempted murder. No way, getting accused of something I didn't do twice in just a day is fucked up.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang i-angat niya muli ang kalahati ng katawan niya, pero nanatili pa rin siyang nakatalikod sa akin.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng bigla siyang dumukwang sa bintana. Akala ko mahuhulog siya dahil binti na lang niya ang nakikita ko pero hindi. Umangat muli ang kalahati ng kawatan niya. Nakatalikod siya sa akin.

It looks like it worked.

Tatayo sana ako para lapitan siya, pero natigilan ako ng magsalita siya. "RUN." aniya habang panay ang hinga ng malalim. "TATIANA, RUN!" He shouted as I heard an explosion outside from the open window.

I can't move. My legs were shaking while I couldn't look away from Bristole's direction as he shouted, run.

Kahit hindi kaya ng mga paa ko, pinilit kong igalaw kahit isa man lang. Kung kailan balak ko nang tumakbo palabas, nakita ko naman ang isang anino ng tao mula sa isa pang salamin. That window was protected by bulletproof glass, but in just a split of a second, I heard a loud bang as I stared at the broken glass falling on the floor. I heard a lot of shattering of pieces of glass, but I didn't mind it.

Hingal na hingal akong napahawak sa door knob ng pinto. Hindi ko pa napipihit 'yon ay may kutsilyo nang bumulusok malapit lang sa kamay ko. I saw an envelope under it, but I couldn't keep my focus on it as I saw the person behind it.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko habang nakahawak sa pihitan ng pintuan. I saw a person sitting at the window. She had just broken it. Yes, it's a she. Even though that person was covered in an all black suit, I could still say that she was a woman based on her figure. I couldn't see her face because of the weird mask she was wearing, which was somehow familiar to me, yet I couldn't tell anything I knew about it.

Dahil nasa tapat lang ng kalapit na bintana si Bristole, napansin niya kaagad ang presensiya nito. Instead of running for his life, he ran in my direction before pulling me behind the cabinet to hide behind it as the woman started firing around my room. Tinakpan ko ang parehong tainga ko dahil sa ingay na ginawa ng hawak na baril ng babae.

"Anong gagawin natin?!" Kinakabahang sigaw ko at pilit na kumakapit kay Bristole dahil sa takot at kaba. The cabinet was big enough to support both of us, but it wouldnt protect us from the rain of bullets that woman kept on firing at us.

Ayoko pang mamatay! I haven't made my parents proud yet! I can't die, not now!

"Calm down, Maurer." Kalmadong sabi niya para pakalmahin ako. Kalamado lang siya na nakatingin sa akin habang pinakalma ako.

How? How could you maintain your calm face as if you were just reading a boring book?

Kahit ano mang pagpapakalma niya ay hindi ko magawang kumalma. Gustohin ko man ay hindi ko magawa dahil sa paulit ulit na tunog ng bala at mga nasisirang bagay sa paligid ko. Imbis na kumalma ay mas lalo akong kinabahan at natakot para sa sarili ko.

"Kumalma ka sabi." Hindi man halata sa mukha niya, pakiramdam ko ay mapang asar pa niyang sinabi 'yon.

"H-hindi ko kaya! I don't want to die! " Mangiyak ngiyak na sigaw ko dahil sa ingay ng paligid, maging kami ay hindi na magkarinigan.

"You won't die, dummy. Hindi ko hahayaang mamatay ka. " Mahinang aniya.

"Paano? Paano kung isa rin siya sa may galit sa pamilya namin? Sa akin? Madadamay ka pa! "

I even got someone in danger with me. He just came here to get his brief and yet he's here with me, hiding from a hundred bullets showering into the whole room.

Mas lalo kong inilapit ang sarili ko sa kaniya nang muntik ng may balang tumama sa akin. Kung may makakakita siguro sa amin ay iisipin na mukha akong ahas na nakapulupot sa kaniya dahil sa takot.

Of course, I'm scared of death as well.

Namutla ako ng makarinig ako ng bagay na nasisira mula sa likuran ko. Bristolw wrapped his left hand around my neck as he pulled me towards him. My face was so close to his torso.

"That was close." I heard him whispering. I could feel him breathing in and out from my position.

"They're not after you." Sabi niya habang yakap-yakap pa rin ako sa ulo hanggang sa balikat. Nagulat ako nang i-angat niya ako nang dahan-dahan bago ikinandong sa kandungan niya.

"W-what—?"

He wrapped his arms around me, "I'm covering you with my body. I'll be your bulletproof vest from behind. You should thank me after this. " Bulong niya sa tainga ko na nagpataas ng mga balahibo ko.

"I'll say it again, they're not after you." Bulong niya 'uli sa akin.

"What do you mean?! " Sigaw ko dahil halos hindi na kami mag ka rinigan dahil sa pag papaulan ng bala sa amin. Maswerte pa nga kami dahil hindi pa kami tinatamaan ng bala.

Hindi ba siya nauubusan ng bala? Ang mas pinagtaka ko ay paanong hindi pa rin ako pinupuntahan at pinapasok ng mga bodyguards ko sa labas? Impossible kasing hindu nila nalalaman ang pangyayari dahil sigurado akong maraming nakakita mula sa baba nang pagsabog at nang pagdating ng babae.

"That person is after my life." Kahit medyo mahina ang pag kakasabi niya ay parang rinig na rinig ko.

"She's not after you, but after me from the beginning. That person is here to assassinate me, not you. "Dagdag niya.

Kusang gumalaw ang kamay ko at pinaghahampas ang hita niya baging ang braso niyang nakayakap sa akin mula sa likuran. "Ano?! Bakit mo naman kase naisipan na pumunta dito? Nadamay tuloy ako! " Mangiyak ngiyak na sabi ko habang hinahampas siya.

Agad naman siyang umilag sa mga hampas ko at pilit akong pinipigilan.

"Stop! Hindi kita dinamay—"

"Fuck you!"

"Kung hindi mo ninakaw ang brief ko edi sana—aww! That hurts, you know! "

"Hindi ko nga ninakaw ang brief mo! Ano bang paki sa brief mo? 'wag mo nga akong gawing manyakis! "

"Hindi nga kita sabi dinamay! It's not my fault that you stole my brief because you wanted to sniff it! "

"Hindi! Kasalanan mo! Kung hindi ka pumunta dito edi sana hindi tayo pinapaulanan ng bala ngayon--"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita ang posisyon kamay niya na mukhang ihahampas niya sa akin. Alam ko ang pinaplano niya dahil 'yon lang ang nasayahan ako sa tinuturo sa akin na self defense ni Master Zhiang. I swiftly moved my body away from him, but was still enough to be protected by the almost shattered cabinet.

I glare at him. "Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?!" malakas na sigaw ko.

Nasaan na ba kasi ang mga body guards ko?! Imposibleng hindi nila alam na may sumabog sa baba! Ngayon ay naalala ko ang mga salitang paulit ulit na sinasabi sa akin ni Mom.

"You're so noisy. Pinapatahimik lang kita. " Nakasimangot na aniya.

Mas lalong sumama ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "By hitting me?! Hindi mo ba alam na masakit 'yon?! Babae ako! "

"What the fuck?!" Napahiyaw ako ng biglang may bala na lumitaw sa may gilid ko at muntik na akong tamaan.

Damn! Muntik na ko dun! Hindi ba siya napapagod sa pag papaulan ng bala sa amin? Hindi ba siya nauubusan ng bala? I don't want to die!

"Idiot! Don't you dare let someone trample over you! You shouldn't be afraid of anyone. You must turn into a fearless and badass woman. " I don't know why I suddenly heard her voice in my mind.

"Mas lalo tayong mapapahamak sa ginagawa mo. Alam mo ba 'yon? "

"Nakakainis ka kasi!"

"Don't move. You might get a bullet from behind! " Inis na sigaw sa akin ni Bristole.

"I won't! Halos mamatay na ko sa takot dito tas hahampasin mo pa ako?! Siraulo ka ba? "

"Stop shouting will you? " Inis na sabi niya at akmang ihahanda ang kamay niya para hampasin ako sa may leeg, pero huminto rin at tumingin sa akin ng seryoso.

"What?! You'll silence me??By what kind of method? By hitting m— " My eyes widen in shock as something soft and fluffy lands on my lips. I didn't close my eyes. I stared at him, then directly at his eyes, which were also studying my face. There was a glimpse of emotion inside it which I couldn't figure out what it was. His eyelashes were as long as mine. I didn't know what was happening around us. It was just the two of us, staring at each other as his lips moved. I didn't have any idea what to do. My mind was just blank as I followed the way he moved his lips. I indeed know nothing about this, but my lips are acting on their own, kissing him back.

I gained my conscience after feeling numbness around my legs. I tried to push him away, but he locked his arms around me, which made me feel so powerless and weak.

"Don't move." He whispered between our kisses.

WHAT.THE.FUCK.WAS.THAT.

How did I end up like this with him? OH, MY FUCKING GOD. I could feel my heart beating so fast as if I was running for an hour, as if it was about to explode at any moment.

I glared at him. "Get away from me! Stop! We might get ourselves shot by a bullet, shithead!" I whispered, still trying to get away from his arms.

Inipon ko ang lakas ko at buong lakas siyang tinulak. Lihim akong napangiti ng makitang napalayo siya sa akin maging ang labi niya, pero agad din 'yong nawala ng makitang kasama ako sa pag tumba niya dahil hinila niya ako. Ngayon ay nasa ibabaw na niya ako, gulat na gulat dahil sa sarili kong katangahan.

I was about to get off of him, but he hugged me again, as if he was trying to cover me from something. My eyes grew bigger as I saw him grunt in pain. He closed his eyes while biting his lip as if he was trying to endure and overcome something painful.

"H-hey." Kinakabahan na sabi ko at bahagya siyang sinampal.

Mahina lang 'yon okay?

Sandali akong natigilan nang biglang tumahimik ang buong paligid. Wala ng mga balang umuulan sa buong kwarto ko. Nilibot ko ang panigin ko sa buong kwarto, bago dumako ang tingin ko sa babae na naabutan kong nakatingin din sa akin, sa amin. I noticed how her hands, which held the gun, were trembling.

Sandali kaming nag ka titigan bago siya umatras sa bintana bago tumalom do'n. Akala ay nahulog na siya ngunit ang mas nakakagulat ay ang pag angat niya pataas. I forgot that she was above us before coming down here using her harness. May isa pa kong napansin sa kaniya, sa mga mata niya. Pain and regret were visible in her eyes without a doubt. I could see them before she left, which made me confused. Why? Why after having a gaze at us?

Agad akong tumayo at inalalayan si Bristole. Napangiwi ako ng makitang napa igik siya ng mahawakan ko ang tama niya ng bala sa may bandang balikat.

I would like to punch him because he stole a kiss from me which I've preserved for so many years. Nevertheless, he saved me earlier from a bullet.

He saved me even though I was acting like a retarded bitch earlier. He did.

"Why?" I asked out of nowhere.

Hindi naman kami mag ka kilala. Hindi rin kami close. Bakit niya ako niligtas? Pwede naman niya akong pabayaan na tamaan nung bala, pero humarang siya. Bakit? I don't get it. Ang sama ng pakikitungo ko sa kaniya, pero niligtas niya pa rin ako.

I owe him some shit again.

He looked at me. "Dahil Babae ka?" Patanong na sagot niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean by that?" I asked back, confused by his answer.

This time, siya naman ang kumunot ang noo, "Didn't you tell me earlier that you're a woman? I don't want to hurt you. That's why I kissed you instead of using another painful technique. " Mahabang paliwanag niya habang inosenteng nakatingin sa akin na para bang hindi big deal 'yung ginawa niya.

Natigilan ako. Mag kaiba pala ang iniisip namin na tanong! Ang itinatanong ko ay kung bakit niya ako niligtas hindi kung bakit niya ako hinalikan. Well, I was about to ask him about that too.

"Why did you save me?"

"I think you should call for help. I'm injured, you know? " Singit niya sa usapan kaya agad kong pinindot yung nurse call button malapit sa headboard ng kama ko.

Napasimangot ako ng makitang puro na pala 'yon tama ng bala. Dahil wala na akong choice, lumabas na ako ng kwarto ko para humingi ng tulong. Pag labas ko ay naabutan ko si Samuel na nakatayo, malapit lang sa pintuan ng kwarto ko, kaya agad ko siyang kinalabit.

I was shocked by how fast he moved. Instantly, I just got a gun pointed at my head while my mouth was about to gape open. He was so scary! It seemed like he was ready to knock me out without even sweating. Maging siya ay nagulat rin ng makitang ako pala ang tinututukan niya ng baril. Agad niyang binaba ang baril niya at humingi ng tawad dahil sa kinilos niya na tinanggap ko naman dahil ginagawa lang niya ang trabaho niya.

"Pasensiya na, Miss Maurer. Kailangan kasi talaga sa trabaho ko ang maging alerto sa mga bagay-bagay. " Paliwanag niya kaya tumango na lang ako at agad na sinabi na kailangan ko ng tulong.

"It's okay." I said. "Pero hindi niyo ba alam na pinapaulanan na kami ng bala sa loob? " Taas kilay na tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Sound proof—"

"My bad, I know. But your job is to fucking protect me. Diba dapat ay chinecheck niyo ang kalagayan ko sa loob kung buhay pa ako? You all know that I'm not safe wherever I go. " Inis na sabi ko.

Kahit ako ay naiinis na rin sa sarili ko. I knew that Butler Lee told them to not bother checking on me every minute because I told him. Ngayong, sinunod naman nila ang hiniling ko, nagagalit ako sa kanila. What's wrong with me?

"I want you to call every doctor who could come. Someone I knew got shot. " Utos ko.

Samuel nodded in response before informing his men about the incident.

Biruin mo, ang dami dami nila sa labas ng kwarto ko na nag babantay tapos wala man lang ang nakaka alam na halos mamatay na ko sa loob? Now, I'm starting to hate soundproofed rooms. It's not even convenient for me today.

Umalis 'yung dalawang body guard habang yung iba ay nanatili sa labas at nag bantay pa rin. Lumapit sa akin si Samuel, "Okay na, Miss Maurer. Dalawa na sa mga kasama ko ang inutusan kong tumawag ng doctor. I already called Mister Lee to inform him about what happened here. Again, I'm sorry for our incompetence on behalf of my crew. " He explained before giving me an apology, which made me smile. "No worries. It's not your fault. Don't be sorry. "

Agad akong pumasok sa loob ng kwarto, pero ngayon ay kasama ko na sila Samuel at ang iba pang body guards ko habang ang iba ay naiwan sa labas para mag bantay pa rin.

Agad na hinanap ng mga mata ko si Bristole, pero halos libutin na ng mga mata ko ang buong kwarto, hindi ko pa rin siya makita. Tanging mga bakas lang ng dugo niya ang nakita ko.

"Miss Maurer, Nasaan na ang kasama mo na napuruhan? " Tanong ni Samuel.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know." I answered. "That jerk left without even informing me." I answered.

He should be okay. I'll fulfill my promise to him. I'm going to buy a Calvin Klein branch for him, but before that, I want to punch him first.

He had me call for help even though he was planning to leave! Pwede naman na sabihan na lang ako na aalis na lang siya nang tahimik para wala ng problema. Edi sana ay hindi ako nag alala na mauubusan siya ng dugo. He's really a shithead.

What a jerk!

Sumimangot ako at umupo sa sofa na hindi kalayuan sa bintana kung saan ko nakita ang babae kanina. Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng pagod. Ikaw ba naman ang paulanan ng bala sinong hindi mapapagod? Idagdag mo pa yung kaba at takot.

Ngayon lang rumehistro sa utak ko ang isang bagay. Agad akong tumayo at patakbong lumapit sa salamin na sira sira, pero may parte na pwede pa rin gamitin para magsalamin. Hindi pa aki nakakrating sa salamin para icheck kung may mga sugat o dumi ba ang mukha ko ay natumba na ako. Mabuti na lang at lumabas saglit sila Samuel para icheck ang buong hospital at para na rin salubungin sila Butler Lee na parating na raw. Kung hindi ay nakakahiya ako tignan.

Tinignan ko ang bagay na naapakan ko na dahilan nang pag kaka dulas ko at halos layuan ko 'yon ng makita ko kung ano 'yon.

Eww, kadiri.

Bakit hindi pa niya 'to inuwi kasama niya? Tutal nagpunta naman ata siya dito para kunin 'to? The reason why I slipped on the floor was his brief, which is the main reason why this shit happened here.

Puro butas na ito at halos mukha ng basahan. Nakikita ko pa ang tatak at ang kulay nito na asul. I wanted to look away after seeing its size.

Dahil sa pag iwas ko ng tingin mula sa size ni Bristole, nahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang dagger na nakasaksak sa pintuan malapit sa door knob. Nilapitan ko 'yon at agad na hinugot ang pagkaka saksak ng dagger sa isang envelope na kulay ginto.

Dahil hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko, binasa ko na ang laman nito na dapat pala ay hindi ko na ginawa.

"I just came to say hi to your one and only heiress, Maurers. Do you have any idea who I am right now? So, allow me to introduce myself. I shouldn't offend you, royalties, should I? I am your greatest foe, your worst destroyer, and your Achilles' heel. "

I was her target from the beginning, not Bristole. I got someone involved in our own problem. Damn.

Fuck, it looks like I have a lot to repay to that jerk. Hmm, how about cooking a graham for him? This sounds nice, but this bitch had to add another problem for me to resolve.

~~~

Sorry for typos and grammatical errors, hehe.