Chapter 3

Nakikita ni Nick si Sunny sa ilang events ng kompanya nila, kasama ang step cousin niyang si Efren. Hindi naman sila close ni Efren, hindi sila nag-uusap tungkol sa usapang pamilya. Pure work lang, at hindi rin maikakaila ni Nick na magaling si Efren sa trabaho. They'd never had much interaction beyond polite exchanges, but Nick knew Efren well enough to dislike him. If it weren’t for the lack of concrete reasons, he would’ve fired him a long time ago.

Pero curious siya kung bakit narito ang asawa ni Efren sa bar ngayon, umiinom ng malala at walang balak huminto.

"Leave us," bulong ni Nick kay Arjay.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Arjay. "I'm drinking, dude. Bakit ako aalis, ako nagyaya sayo rito."

Siniko ni Nick si Arjay at isinenyas si Sunny.

"Oh, the desert for tonight," pilyong ngiti ni Arjay at tumayo na. "Fine, fine. Hahanap na rin ako ng akin." At tuluyan na itong umalis.

“Sunny, right?” Nick asked as he approached.

Binalingan siya ni Sunny at bahagyang nagulat pa. For a brief second, Nick saw that she recognized him, followed by weariness in her eyes.

“Mr. Nick Watson...." she said, her voice soft but surprised. "Efren's boss."

“That’s me,” he said with a nod. "I didn’t expect to see you here. Is everything alright?”

Bahagyang nag-iwas ng tingin si Sunny at dinampot ang baso para muling uminom.

“It’s been a rough day,” she finally admitted. "Gusto ko lang makalimot. Needed to clear my head.”

Something inside Nick softened. He wasn’t a stranger to long, draining days, but there was something deeper in her tone, something he couldn’t ignore. Sa tuwing nakikita niya si Sunny sa mga event ay hindi niya maiwasan na hindi ito nakawan ng tingin. Napakaganda nito, pero malungkot ang mga mata.

Nick felt an unexpected urge to help her, to offer her some kind of escape from whatever had her looking so lost.

“Sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Ngumiti si Sunny at umiling. Hindi naman mapigilan ni Nick na hindi rin mapangiti. Sa dinami-dami ng babae na nirereto sa kanya, bakit naman sa may asawa pa siya nagkainterest?

“Salamat, gusto ko lang talaga uminom."

"I'll join you, then. Nandito rin ako para uminom."

Ramdam ni Nick na may problema ito tungkol kay Efren at gusto niya iyon malaman. Something happened to her, and he felt drawn to understanding what it was.

“You mentioned needing to clear your head. What’s been going on?” Hindi na siya nagpaligoy-ligoy pa.

Her face clouded, and he could see her struggling with whether to share her story or not. After a moment, she sighed, looking down at her drink.

“Birthday ko ngayon..." Bigla itong umiiyak. "Pero alam mo ba ang ginawa ng magaling kong asawa? He handed me divorce papers. Niloko niya ako. Niloko nila ako ng kapatid ko. Nalaman ko pa na hindi ako anak ng magulang na kinalakihan ko."

A surge of anger shot through Nick.

Efren, that bastard and her family, Nick didn't know her well enough to make any excuses for her. But no one deserves to be treated the way she was, especially on her birthday.

"Ginawa nila lahat yun sayo ngayong araw?"

Nick swallowed her fury, focusing on the pain he saw in Sunny's eyes. She was trying to hold herself together, but he could tell it was taking everything in her not to break down.

“I’m so sorry. That’s... that’s awful."

"Nakakatawa diba? Lahat pinasabog nila ngayong birthday ko."

“You don’t have to go through this alone. If you need to talk or just... forget about it for a while, I’m here.” Hindi alam ni Nick kung saan niya nahugot ang mga salita na iyon, but he meant every word.

Nagtama ang mga mata nila. At sa unang pagkakataon, Nick saw something there, a vulnerability that called to him, that made him want to protect her, to take her pain away.

Nagbuntong-hininga si Sunny at pinunas ang mga luha. "Akala ko kaya ko harapin lahat. Akala ko kaya ko na mag-isa. Pero.... Pero hindi ko talaga. I was lost. Wala akong mapagsabihan."

Nick didn’t think twice. He reached out, resting a hand on her back, offering silent comfort. She leaned into him, her body trembling as she let her emotions spill over.

“It’s okay,” bulong ni Nick, his arm wrapping around her. "You don’t have to hold it together. Let it go.” For a few moments, she cried, her body warm against him.

He held her, feeling the rise and fall of her breath as she began to calm down. When she pulled away, her cheeks were damp, her eyes red but grateful.

“I’m sorry, carried away lang ako," she whispered, wiping at her face. "Ganito pala ang pakiramdam nang may mapagsabihan."

“You have nothing to apologize for. Hindi mo kasalan ang lahat. Yu’ve been through hell. If you want, we can leave. Get something to eat? Maybe somewhere quieter.”

Nakita ni Nick ang pag-alangan ni Sunny, pero ilang segundo lang ay tumango rin ito.

Nagpaalam si Nick kay Arjay. Proud naman sa kanya si Arjay dahil finally, nag-uwi rin siya ng babae.

"Medyo magulo. Hindi pa pumupunta ang naglilinis," basag ni Nick sa katahimikan nang makarating sila sa penthouse. 

"Ayos lang, hindi naman halata. Wala nga akong makita na kalat," mahinang natawa si Sunny.

"Do you want something? Food? Soup?" he offered.

"Can I have a soup?" Humawak sa ulo si Sunny at agad naman inalalayan ni Nick.

"Maupo ka muna. Ipagluluto kita."

As he cooked, he could feel her watching her, her presence stirring something in me he hadn’t expected. There was a connection, an unspoken pull between them, and he could tell she felt it, too.

“I... feel so lost tonight,” she whispered. "I don’t know why, but... I don’t want to be alone. Ayaw ko mag-isa. Natatakot ako na baka may gawin ako sa sarili ko..." Bago pa naman makapagsalita si Nick ay nilapitan na siya mi Sunny. Her lips brushing against him, soft and tentative.

The kiss was electric, charged with a need neither of them could ignore. Nick pulled her into his room, their kisses deepening, the connection between them growing stronger with every touch.

"Sunny, tell me you want this. Ayaw ko magsisi ka," husky na wika ni Nicka sa tainga ni Sunny.

"Gusto ko. Hindi ako magsisisi..."

This wasn’t about the past or the pain. It was about finding something real in each other, something that neither of them had expected but both desperately needed.

Nick guided her into his room without thinking, their kisses becoming more urgent. He took his time exploring her body, savoring every touch and every caress.

Naglakbay ang mga kamay ni Sunny sa likod ni Nick habang patuloy silang naghahalikan. Nang bumaba ang halik ni Nick sa leeg ni Sunny ay malakas na napaungol si Sunny.

"Aah! Nick!"

They tore at each other's clothes, not wanting to wait any longer. Then Nick picked her up and carried her to the bed while kissing her at the same time.

"Damn, Sunny. This will make me crazy."

Nick gently lay her down and pulled away so that he could look at her. She's so beautiful, tender, and soft. She just needs someone to care for her, and he would be happy to help.

"Nick, please..." pakiusap ni Sunny.

Napangiti si Nick. "Please what, Sunny? Sabihin mo."

"I want... you..."

Nick bent down and kissed her again, not stopping until she was moaning out loud. His lips left hers, and she moaned as he made his way down to her soft neck.

Slowly, he placed gentle kisses there while using his feet to part hers. He took his time kissing her until he was at her breasts. Her nipples were already stiff and waiting for her tongue.

"Pigilan mo ako," wika ni Nick, halos mawalan na sa wisyo.

"Ayaw ko..." ungol na sagot ni Sunny.

"Mabilis akong kausap." Nick reached over in the drawer, took out a condom then, slipped it on, and positioned himself between her legs once more.

Gusto niyang s******n ang butas nito, pero mas gusto niya munang pasukin. He took his time guiding my dickk inside her pussy that was already wet and waiting for him.

Nang masanay na si Sunny sa haba ng alaga ni Nick ay nagsimula umulos si Nick. Labas pasok ang ginagawa niya kay Sunny. Puro ungol naman ni Sunny ang naririnig sa buong penthouse niya.

It was at that time that Nick realized that this alone was making me fall for her. He would have to leave hus feelings for another time though, because tonight was just about pleasuring her. Pero ngayong alam niya na hiwalay na ito sa gago nitong asawa, hindi na siya magsasayang ng oras.

Kukunin niya ito, aangkinin.