Chapter Thirteen

He was already preparing the table when she went out of his room. She was standing near the doorframe of the kitchen while playing with the hem of his shirt she was wearing and there was an uneasy smile on her lips. She had showered and dear lord, he can smell his soap from her body. She didn't know what she was doing to him going out of his room wearing only his shirt and boxer briefs. He had to look away before anything unnecessary happened.

"I bet you're hungry," he muttered. He felt her walking in his direction but he did not bother to look at her.

"Oh, I'm famished beyond words," Vodka answered drily before sitting in front of the dining table.

Hinayaan ito ni Eugene na kumain at tinungo ang cupboard upang magtimpla ng kape. "Coffee?" he asked without looking.

"I'll appreciate it."

Ibinigay niya rito ang isang tasa ng kape bago tumayo sa may island counter kaharap nito at sumandig. He tried not to look at her but it was challenging. His gaze was directed on her when she was making those small groans at every bite of the food she took.

He looked at her lips and throat as she swallowed the food. She was eating with enthusiasm but he wanted to eat her instead of the food she was eating. He bet it'll be sumptuous.

He groaned silently and looked in another direction before she caught him staring.

"What happened? Why did you saved me? How did you know where I was?" basag ni Vodka sa katahimikan pagkatapos ng ilang sandali. Inusog niya ang plato matapos kumain at pinahiran ng table napkin ang bibig. Nakatutok na ngayon sa binata ang mga mata niyang kumikislap sa mga katanungan.

Eugene had no choice but to look at her before answering. "I live in the outskirts of the city and you called me." Nakita niya ang paglarawan ng gulat at pagkapahiya sa mukha ng dalaga. He couldn't help but grin when he witnessed how her cheeks turned red. "I was playing billiards with Jasper when you called."

"I heard my name!"

Sabay na napatingin ang dalawa sa bungad ng kusina nang sumungaw roon ang isang lalaking may malaking ngisi sa mga labi. Eugene raised the mug he was holding to recognize his presence. Whilst Vodka was surprised when she saw the man who entered the kitchen and sat near her. His voice was familiar to her.

"This is Jasper. He was a race car driver, the reason why we caught up on your Lambo. He's a good racer, wonders why he quit," he said, a bit teasing.

"Oh!" it was Vodka.

"You fancy me, my man," Jasper answered, grinning from ear to ear. "I didn't realize that I miss the track after what happened."

"Gracias. I could've been dead."

"You're welcome but I cannot take all the credits," Jasper said lightly. "I'm not the one who made you jump out of your car."

Inilapag ni Eugene ang mug sa sink bago sinalubong ang mga mata ni Vodka na nakatingin na ngayon sa kanya. She looked edgy, gone the fierce woman he had seen the first time he met her.

"Thank you," she said in a low voice. Eugene shrugged his shoulders casually. "I... I don't know what happened to my car. I lost the brake."

Inilagay niya ang mga braso sa ibabaw ng dibdib bago nagsalita. "The brake was cut."

"Intentionally?" she asked confusedly and Eugene nodded in confirmation.

Kanina nang matanggap ang tawag mula sa mga imbestigador na nag-imbestiga sa nangyari sa sasakyan ng dalaga ay nalaman niyang sinadya ang pagputol sa preno ng sasakyan nito.

"Any enemies you have?" Jasper asked.

"Not that I know of," she answered bitterly. "So, someone wants me dead." Vodka was more confused than scared.

"Maybe," it was Eugene. Sandali siyang napatingin sa kaibigan na nagkibit lang ng balikat.

"I'll leave you guys here. I'll be out for a run," Jasper then bade his goodbye.

Marahil ay aayain siya nito na tumakbo. Jasper became his best buddy the moment he started living there. Jasper's house was only meters away from him, he was his closest neighbor.

Muli siyang tumingin sa dalaga nang tuluyang makaalis ang kaibigan. Tumayo ito, dinampot ang pinagkainan sa mesa at dinala sa lababo.

Lumakad siya patungo rito at tumabi rito habang hinuhugasan nito ang mga plato. He felt the urge to lean closer and feast on her neck. Tila siya nahihipnotismo habang nakatingin sa nakatagilid nitong mukha.

Vodka, who felt the intensity of Eugene's gaze, sighed deeply. Nilabanan niya ang pagkailang dahil sa binatang katabi.

"Great! I wonder whose trying to kill me." Ipinagpasalamat ni Vodka na hindi siya nautal at nalangkapan ng sarkasmo ang kanyang tinig.

"You scared?" he asked in an almost whisper.

"I have all the reason to be."

Hindi napigilan ni Eugene ang kamay at tila may sariling isip na umagat iyon pahawi sa buhok ng dalaga na nakatabing sa mukha nito. Vodka flinched and glanced at him in a what are you doing kind of look.

Nabitawan ni Vodka ang plato sa sink nang lalong lumapit si Eugene sa kanya.

Eugene leaned closer to her and met her now confused eyes. Bago pa lumapat ang kanyang palad sa pisngi ng dalaga ay marahan siya nitong itinulak at muling humarap sa lababo.

"I'll appreciate it if you'll leave a space between us," she muttered as cold as possible. She tried so hard to beat her lips from trembling. She can felt the broadness of his chest on her back and her body was reacting vigorously. Her nerves were raging in anxiousness and anticipation.

Eugene lost the will to distance his self to her. And like a pervert, his hands found her waist and was about to hold them firmly when she brushed them off.

"Fine, you wash the dishes!" Pumihit si Vodka at muling nagsalubong ang kanilang mga mata ni Eugene. Pamilyar sa kanya ang kislap sa mga mata nito. Nakita na niya iyon noong gabi ng fashion show ni Joey. Malakas niya itong itinulak kapagkuwan ay malalaki ang hakbang na tinungo ang silid na pinaggalingan at pumasok.

Nakasunod ang tingin ni Eugene sa dalaga at marahas na napaungol. No other women had made him feel such craving. Women came and go, they willingly jump to his bed without complication. Vodka was the first woman who cursed at him when they first met. The only woman who visited him in his dreams.

He wanted to bed her and get over this sexual frustration he felt for her. He will make her happy and she'll satisfy his needs and they will part ways smiling. It was simple but she made it complicated by avoiding him. He knew she wanted him too, he can feel it.

Tinapos ni Eugene ang paghuhugas. Paglabas niya ng kusina ay siya namang pagbukas ng kanyang silid at lumabas ang babaeng gumugulo sa kanyang isipan.

"I want to go home," she said indifferently. Suot na muli nito ang mga damit nito na hinubad mismo ni Eugene noong gabing dinala niya ito sa bahay niya.

"Follow me."

Lumakad siya palabas ng kanyang bahay at isinara ang pinto nang makalabas na ang dalaga. Lumakad siya palapit sa kanyang truck at binuksan ang pinto sa may passenger's seat. Akmang hahawakan niya ito sa beywang upang tulungan sa pag-akyat nang tabigin nito ang kanyang kamay.

"I can manage!" she hissed. Eugene raised his hands on his side in defeat and shook his head. Her feistiness was back again.

Pabagsak na isinarado nito ang pinto ng sasakyan nang hindi siya tinatapunan ng tingin. Pumakabila siya at pumasok sa driver's seat. Nang makitang maayos na itong nakaupo ay pinaandar niya ang sasakyan. Ginamit niya ang remote ng gate upang mabuksan iyon at lumabas.

Habang nasa daan ay patingin-tingin siya sa kasama na nanatiling tahimik at nakatingin sa labas ng sasakyan. Hindi niya makita ang mukha nito dahil nakatabing doon ang alon-alon nitong buhok. Subalit naririnig niya ang mahihina nitong buntung-hininga.

Hinayaan nalang niya itong manahimik at itinuon ang buong pansin sa kalsada hanggang sa makarating sila sa tapat ng condominium building na tinitirahan nito.

Dumukwang siya at tinanggal ang seatbealt na nakapalibot sa katawan nito. Sinadya niyang sagiin, gamit ang mga daliri, ang dibdib nito. Might as well make her suffer too than him alone.

"Stop it! Just stop!"

"What?" he asked, feigning his innocence.

She looked at him with disbelief and chuckled sarcastically. "You're impossible! You... you're deliberately seducing me! That night in Joey's, in your house and right now!"

"Woah!" he muttered amusedly and grinned. Umayos siya ng upo sa driver's seat at humalukipkip. "I'm glad I have that effect on you. Why are you trying so hard to hold your self back? There's something between us that we can't ignore."

She scoffed as if what he said was some kind of a joke. "I don't know what you're talking about. Relieve your lust to someone else!"

Hindi na ito pinigilan ni Eugene nang buksan nito ang pinto at lumabas.

"Pendejo!" anito habang nakatingin sa kanya, umirap bago isinarado ng malakas ang pinto.

Eugene's grin grew wider. Why does hearing her cuss made her sexier even more?

"I will have you, Hermosa."