PROLOGUE

"Now, about the deal," diretsahan nitong sagot.

I sighed. "What do you want-"

"You."

Nanuyot ang aking lalamunan at bahagyang napaawang ang aking mga labi.

I'm already yours. From the first moment you kissed me, sayo na ako.

Hindi ako makagalaw. Ni makapagsalita ay hindi ko rin magawa. I'm speechless. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasagot, napipi na yata ako.

Kahit pilit kung ipinaiintindi sa sarili ko na hindi dapat kami magkaroon ng ugnayan na higit pa sa pagkakaibigan ay mayroong maliit na parteng umaayaw. 

May sumasalungat. Palagi naman.

Deep inside, I am aching and yearning for him to ask me out. There's a small part of me that was waiting for this moment.

"Go out with me. Date me." Tumayo ito at dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin hanggang ilang metro nalang ang aming layo sa isa't-isa.

Sapat na para madama ang mga nagbabaga naming mga katawan.

"But I'm your brother's past," usal ko para masigurado na alam niya ang sinasabi niya.

He cocked his head. "So?" he asked like my question was a very stupid one.

"Why do you want to date me?" I crossed my arms.

Hindi ako pakipot, but I won't give in so easily. Kahit gusto ko na siyang hagkan ay kailangan ko munang makasigurado. Maybe he just wants me for one thing— sex.

Pero alam kong hindi siya ganoong lalaki at napatunayan ko na iyon noong may muntik nang mangyari sa amin sa kwarto ko.

Pero kailangan ko pa ring makasigurado. I have to double check or else I'll be risking too much.

"Because I see something in you that I can't explain. You're driving me crazy. The more I pulled away myself from you, the more I found myself going back."

I have to bite my lip very hard just so I can contain the ecstatic feeling that’s consuming me.

"Baka gusto mo lang akong maikama?"

"And that, too." Paglabas ng mga salitang iyon ay nanghina ang mga tuhod ko.

Napatulala ako sa maamo niyang mukha. I don't know what to say about his straight-forward honesty.

"Alam kong marami ng lalaking nagsabi sa ‘yo nito. It may sound cliche, but hell—” He looks frustrated as he clenched his jaw. 

He smiled devilishly. “I would be lying if I said I did not desire you. You're the only woman who keeps me up at night. Pag—" 

His words were my undoing. I don’t know what has gotten into me. Dali-dali kong sinara ang pagitan sa aming dalawa. Ipinulupot ko ang aking mga braso sa kanyang leeg at siniil siya ng halik.

The kiss I never knew I can give.

Oh, how I miss the taste of his lips. Sweeter than ever.

Fuck control.

Fuck consequences.

Fuck temptations.

There's no stopping me now.