I checked my phone for the nth time this morning. I've been doing it every chance I get since the moment I woke up which was seven o'clock in the morning. It was past nine now.
I won't even try to deny it or lie to myself. I was waiting for Hades' text. I was expecting him to resume with his silly messages since we met last night.
Wala naman nangyari nang umalis kami ng club. We didn't talk about that again. Hinatid niya lang ako sa tapat ng unit at matapos ay umakyat sa unit ni Takumi. Apparently, he was sleeping over at his friend's house because his house is currently empty aside from a housekeeper and a guard. Nasa Europe pa ang family niya at mag-isa siya ngayon sa Pinas.
"Ready na, Kaia?"
My eyes averted from my phone and followed the source of the voice. It was the photographer's assistant. She gave me a shy smile.
Ngumiti ako pabalik at tumango. Itinabi ko ang phone ko at sumama sa kanya.
The shoot ended at eleven. I changed into a casual attire for my next appointment. According to Emma, I have a lunch meeting with my manager, some big bosses, and an executive producer.
Nasa elevator ako pababa sa parking nang buksan ang phone ko para makita kung may text na nanggaling kay Hades.
There's three!
A smile escaped my lips and excitement filled my stomach. I quickly put on my poker face when I remembered that I wasn't alone.
I checked the people with me. Si Emma at ilang staff lang naman ang kasama ko. Mukhang hindi naman nila ako napansin.
Today 9:45AM
Hades:
Good morning!
Today 10:00AM
Hades:
Busy?
Today 10:05AM
Hades:
Oh. You have a shoot. Text me when you're done please?
I pursed my lips. Late na naman ito gumising. He did mention before that he's not a morning person. It's such a waste of daylight. Ang daming pwedeng gawin sa umaga like work out or meditate or bask in the sunrise while drinking coffee.
Seph:
Good morning. Shoot just ended. How did you know, btw?
It took less than a minute for him to reply. Mukhang nag-abang talaga siya para sa reply ko.
Hades:
Your IG Story. 😉
Hades:
What are you doing now?
Seph:
On my way to a lunch meeting. You?
Hades:
Just waiting for your texts.
Napakagat ako sa labi. Something was tickling my stomach.
"Kaia," pagtawag ni Emma sa atensyon ko. She was already outside the elevator, holding the door for me.
I cleared my throat before quickly going out of the elevator. I headed to where my car was. I got settled on my seat and checked my phone.
Hades:
Tagal mag-reply...
I rolled my eyes. It's been only three minutes!
Seph:
Ang clingy mo.
Hades:
So what if I'm clingy?
Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o ano. He didn't even deny it. Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay bigla siyang tumawag. It blared so loudly, disrupting the radio silence in the car.
I quickly ended the call and typed a fast message to him.
Seph:
I'm in a car. May mga kasama ako.
He called again even after I sent the text. Ngunit mukhang ayaw niyang magpatinag dahil muling nag-ring ang phone ko. He's not gonna stop.
I know I could just put my phone on silent but... I wanna know what he's going to say. I always look forward to his shenanigans. Kung ibang lalaki siguro ang may kaugali niya ay baka nainis ako kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit natutuwa ako kapag siya.
"What?"
"So what if I'm clingy? Bawal ba? Ayaw mo ng clingy?" sunod-sunod na tanong niya.
Umirap ako. "Wala akong sinabi."
"So it's okay if I'm clingy?"
"I didn't say that either."
"Then what, baby?" He chuckled. "Do you want me to be clingy or not?"
His voice was so seductive. Malalim at nanglalambing. Iyong parang marinig mo lang ay mapapasunod ka sa lahat ng gusto niya.
"Bahala ka kung anong gusto mong gawin." I meant it to be snarky but it came out so soft and womanly when I said it. Anong nangyayari sa'yo, Kaia Persephone?
"I'll be clingy then," he huskily said.
"Fine."
"Good. 'Cause I want to cling on you."
Napahinga ako nang malalim. I bit my lip. I don't know how to answer that. Nagpatuloy na naman ang kiliting nararamdaman sa tiyan ko.
"Takumi's place later?" he asked when he realized I wasn't gonna say anything else.
"I'm gonna work out after work."
"Takumi's got a home gym. Doon ka na lang mag-work out."
I don't mind working out anywhere. I was planning to just work out in my house using my resistance band.
"Fine."
"Fine," gaya niya sa tono ko at matapos ay humalakhak. "Bye, wife."
Kumunot ang noo ko. This is the second time I heard him address me with that.
"Why are you calling me that?"
"Because Persephone is Hades' wife. I'm Hades. You're Persephone. That makes you my wife, " he explained it in a condescending tone, as if I'm stupid for not getting it immediately.
I frowned. "Goodbye."
I heard him chuckle and say goodbye again right before I ended the call.
Dapat ay naiirita ako sa kalokohan niya pero hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili mula sa pagngiti.
It felt wrong. I closed my eyes tightly and leaned my head back against the headrest.
I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what we're doing.
What I do know is that Hadeon makes me feel good... and free, despite the collar on my neck and the ring on my finger.
I have a fiancé that I don't want to acknowledge because I firmly believe that what Gio and I have is just a fauxmance. Does that... make me a cheater?
What the hell am I going on about? We're friends! We didn't cross any boundary. Wala kaming ginawang masama. We're just... friends.
Right. Friends that constantly texts each other, friends that hangs out... Friends pero may pag gusto? Friends pero tinatawag ng baby 'yong isa?
Stop it, Kaia!
I shook off the unwanted thoughts in my head and focused on my upcoming lunch meeting. Hindi na naging mahirap dahil dumating na rin kami sa wakas sa restaurant.
My manager, Mama Ton, wasn't alone as expected. Kasama niya ang producer at dalawang big bosses. Meetings like this usually means there's a new project coming up for me and I was right.
"We're cooking a movie right now. The working title is Dream Girl," the producer, Mr. Benny, started soon after we placed our orders.
"I heard about that. 'Yan ba yung psycho-thriller movie?" tanong ni Mama Ton.
"Yes," he proudly replied. "We already started with the auditions... but we really think Kaia will be perfect for the lead role. The writer thought of Kaia when he wrote it and Direk Via was requesting for her, too."
"Wow. Give them my thanks po," mahinhin kong tawa. This is the reason why you have to be a people pleaser in this industry or simply have the right attitude. Connections are very important in one's career.
"It's going to be a big production, so we want the cast to be perfect," Mr. Benny added.
"That sounds promising. Lalo na it will be directed by Direk Via," Ma'am Faith commented.
"As long as the script is good, gusto 'yan ng alaga ko, ang kaso lang sobrang hectic ng schedule niya these days. We already have prior commitments until the December. I don't think makakayanan namin tumanggap ng project this year," sabi ni Mama Ton.
"That's already expected from the Asia's Sweetheart," tawa ng isa sa big bosses na si Sir Noel.
"Don't worry. Hindi pa naman start this year. We're still finalizing the production and all. The project will probably commence around January or February. And even then, we can definitely wait for Kaia's schedule to be free," the executive producer argued.
They badly wanted me for this movie. Hindi ako sumagot at ngumiti lang. Mama Ton handles this kind of thing. Kapag kaharap ay siya ang kumakausap. He'll just consult with me once it's just us.
"So far her schedule is free starting by mid-January. It will just be the TV Series taping," my manager exclaimed.
"You can send us the script so we can have a look at it," Ma'am Faith spoke.
The discussion about the movie went on. Sinubukan kong makisali sa usapan, but it's mostly them who talked. Naintindihan naman nila dahil galing akong shoot bago itong lunch at iniisip nilang pagod pa ako.
After the meeting, may isa pa akong shoot na pinuntahan. A billboard ad for a junk food. It ended around six. That was my last schedule. Kaya nang matapos ay hinatid ako sa aking unit.
I tied my hair in a ponytail and changed into my gym outfit. It's an all black cropped tank top and leggings that both fit my body like a second skin. Dala ko rin ang gym bag na may lamang Hydroflask, towel at pamalit.
I used the card to enter Takumi's unit. Sa foyer pa lang ay narinig ko na agad ang malakas na mura at tawanan mula sa loob.
The boys were playing a video game. Si Hades at Takumi ang naglalaro habang si Orion ay nanunuod lang.
"Bobo mo, Serrano!" nakatawang asar ni Orion.
"Kakatalo lang ni Takumi sa'yo, gago. Sinong mas bobo?" asik ni Hades.
I pursed my lips to stop myself from laughing. It was my first time to see him lose his cool. It was cute.
"Oh, hey, Seph," biglang bati ni Orion. Hindi ko napansin na nakatingin na pala ito sa akin dahil nasa iritadong mukha lang ni Hades ako nakatingin kanina.
"Hey," I greeted back. That made Hadeon stand up, completely abandoning the game. Hinarap niya agad ako.
"Hello, Seph!" Takumi happily greeted.
"You didn't text me na nakauwi ka na pala," Hades said as he crossed the room to close our distance.
I shrugged. "Where's the gym?"
"There." Takumi pointed at a door.
"Can I work out with you?" Hades asked in a low voice. Mukhang ayaw iparinig sa mga kaibigan. Ngunit hindi pa rin nakatakas sa pandinig ni Orion.
"Huh? 'Di ba nag-gym na tayo kaninang umaga?" inosenteng tanong ni Orion. I know better though. Iniinis na naman nito si Hades.
"Boy, wag mo naman sirain diskarte," tawa ni Takumi.
Iritadong bumaling si Hades sa mga kaibigan. "Shut the fuck up, you fucktards."
Hades brought his eyes back to me. Pumungay ang mga mata niya at mukhang nanunuyo. I pouted my lips to hide my amusement. "Fine."
Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot ni Hades at dumiretso na sa tinuro ni Takumi.
Takumi's gym was a small room with limited amount of equipments; muscle power station, set of weights, and a pull up bar. It was okay. All I needed for today was some space, a mat, and my resistance band anyway.
I did some warm ups first. Nakapagsimula na ako nang pumasok si Hades sa kwarto. He was topless. Isang itim na shorts lang ang suot ngayon.
This isn't my first time to see him or anyone topless but for some reason... naiilang na agad ako. Maybe it's because we were alone in a small room.
I pretended not to let it affect me. Magaling naman ako umarte kaya naging matagumpay ako. I smoothly finished my in and out squat with the band around my knees.
"Dito muna ako," paalam niya sa akin at umupo sa muscle power station.
"You're not gonna warm up?" I asked with a raise brow.
His lips slightly parted. Mukhang wala pa siya sa saliri pero agad din na nakabawi. "Oh. Yeah. I will."
Ngumuso na lang ako at nagpatuloy sa sunod na routine. I laid down for the butterfly bridge. My arms were flat on either side of my body. The band was now around my thigh. For this routine, I have to raise my hips and then stretch the band around my thighs.
Hades cleared his throat. It made me look at him as I did the routine. His gaze was on me but quickly averted it when I caught him staring.
Ganoon palagi. Mahuhuli ko siyang nakatingin at aarte naman ako na hindi naapektuhan sa paningin niya.
After nine minutes, I decided to take a break. I was slightly out of breath and sweating profusely.
Lumapit ako sa bag at sumalampak sa sahig para makainom ng tubig mula sa Hydroflask na dala ko.
Habang umiinom ako ay tinapunan ko ng tingin si Hades. Hindi na siya nagbubuhat ng weights. He made his way to where I was.
"You done?"
I shook my head. "Just taking a break."
He pursed his lips and stared at me for a long time. "You're sweaty. Wala kang towel?"
"Nasa bag," sabi ko at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-inom.
Hades licked his lips. Umupo siya sa harapan ko. He took my bag without asking for my permission. Hindi ko naman siya pinigilan. Inilabas niya ang towel ko mula sa bag.
When he faced me, his eyes targeted my forehead. Seryoso siya habang pinupunasan ang pawis ko. I let him since I was still drinking.
Marahan ang bawat pagdampi niya. I stopped from drinking and arched my neck so he could wipe it, too. Nakuha niya naman 'yon dahil agad na bumaba sa leeg ko ang towel.
I focused on Hades as he wiped my sweat. Ngayon na hindi na ako umiinom ay napansin ko kung gaano kalapit ang mga mukha naming dalawa ngayon.
Hades' eyes raised to mine. I saw how it glinted what seem like a fire... of desire. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa mga labi ko. His stares made me lick my lips.
Hades inhaled sharply. His hand froze at the side of my neck. He began to slowly lean in. I couldn't move away. I wasn't sure if I wanted to.
My eyes closed when the tip of our noses touched and I could feel his warm breath on my mouth.
Am I really going to do this? Am I going to let him? Am I going to let this begin when I know how this could end?
When our lips touched, I was overwhelmed by a lot of things inside of me happening all at once. My breath got caught, my stomach clenched, my heartbeat raised, and my blood sang.
When our lips touched, I instantly knew that the answer to all of my questions was yes.