Chapter 4 - I'm afraid of burning the kitchen

She had been keeping an eye on this delivery guy. She noticed that he has been looking inside the house and had been acting strangely. He might be planning badly against her! She thought about it.

Magulo ang kaniyang isipan at hindi makapag-isip ng plano kung paano niya mapoprotektahan ang kaniyang sarili kung sakali mang atakihin siya ng lalaking kaharap, she panicked when she realized that she was only wearing a thin nightgown.

She was breathing hard, her pulse was beating, and cold perspiration was dripping down her whole body.

As she noticed him taking a step closer to her, she lowered her gaze into her chest and quickly covered it with her arms. She freaked out ng maramdaman nya ang kamay sa kanyang balikat na mula sa kanyang likuran.

Her heart was beating fast as if she was going to have a heart attack.

 Naramdaman niya ang paghatak nito sa kaniya palapit sa matipuno nitong katawan. Hindi malaman ni Steph kung ano na ang susunod na mangyayari sa kaniya but Stephanie Alicia Villamar was swearing to do everything to avoid Caspian Ardiente.

"I want to be free from him and not see him again in my next life," she closed her eyes as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Do you need anything else?" She recognized the voice of the guy who was clutching her. She inspected him cautiously, from his physique to his face. Nanlaki ang kanyang singkit na mga mata ng makilala niya kung sino ang lalaking kanina ay nasa kanyang likuran.

"Caspian," mahina nyang bulong, she felt safe knowing he was at her side.

"Wala na, sir," she heard the delivery man shyly replies.

Stephanie was intrigued by how he seemed behind her and didn't know he had been instinctively drawing her into the home.

She moves away from him, wondering, “paano ka nakapasok dito ng hindi ko namamalayan?"

"I used the back door." He casually mentioned.

But her facial reaction seemed to indicate that she did not understand what she meant. He grins as he stares at her, stupefied.

"Bahay ko ito, remember? Normal lang na alam ko ang pasikot-sikot dito."

Stephanie's face brightens and she seems to understand what he meant this time, but her grin fades as she recalls what he did.

"What exactly are you doing here? Didn't you tell me last night that you'd be gone and didn't know when you'd return?"

A smile flashed on his lips and he tilted his head to the other side, "I heard from my cousin that my mom will send someone to look for us this day, and I believe that the delivery man is on the lookout. And you better play it by ear or our parents will find out our deepest secret," he warns her.

"What do you mean? Nandito tayo sa loob ng bahay kaya paanong malalaman nila?” Duda niya.

"Hindi siya basta simpleng delivery man, he is from the intelligent department and we better be careful because all of our movements the whole day will be monitored," he seriously mentioned.

Stephanie drew her brows closer and stepped towards him, raising her head high enough to reach his chin. "Do you mean that man is better than you that you can’t fool him?" She asked with an insulting tone.

He twisted his lips, "y-yes." Pagsisinungaling nito.

She turned around and crossed her arms, "I thought he was good, but I guess there is someone who is better than him. All this time, I believed that he's talented," she laughs in a mocking tone.

Nagulat si Stephanie ng maramdaman niya ang pagyakap ng binata mula sa kaniyang likuran. She glanced at the arm and realized that he is cuddling her. Her face suddenly heated up and didn’t know what to do.

Nais ni Stephanie na magreklamo sa lalaki, but her body was weakened as she felt the scorching skin of him touch her skin.

She tried to look behind him, but his chin was resting on her shoulder, which gave her butterflies.

"Wag kang gumalaw, they are watching us." He whispered softly.

"I shouldn’t surrender to his game. I must not get affected by his flirtatious actions or I will lose to him forever. Wake up, Stephanie Alicia Villamar," sinusubukan niyang gisingin ang kanyang nahihimbing na isipan mula sa pantasya.

"Wag mo akong paglaruan! I know you're flirting with me, but I'm sorry to say that what you said has had no effect on me. If I were you, I would stop fantasizing and wasting my time because I would never fall in love with you." Prangka niyang tugon.

Hindi maitatangi ni Caspian na inapakan ng isang Stephanie Villamar ang kanyang pagkatao and upset him when he discovered that this girl wasn't into him ngunit hindi niya nais tumigil hangga’t hindi nahuhulog ang loob nito sa kanyang alindog.

Caspian’s mind and heart were at odds. He didn’t want to do it, but he wasn’t happy because she was not charmed by him.

"I’m not trying to do anything, I am just saving our faces from embarrassment." Pagpapaalala ni Caspian.

"What are you trying to say?" Iritang tanong ni Stephanie.

"Raise your head and you will see what I am trying to say."

She quickly followed him, and when she noticed the CCTV in the corner of their house, she covered her lips in surprise."Wh—at can I do now?" He heard her murmur.

"I will stay here the whole day, I want you to be sweet with me and I’ll do the same and with that, our parents will not doubt us," suhestiyon nito.

"Now, serve us our breakfast," he orders her as he lets go of her. Nakangising umakyat sa itaas si Caspian habang ang kanyang asawa ay gulat na gulat dahil sa wala siyang alam sa pagluluto.

She ran through the stairs but she stopped halfway, asking herself, "wait! Bakit ko kailangang sundin ang inuutos niya? As if I’m his maid."

Stephanie sluggishly went down the stairs and came to the bathroom na matatagpuan sa kusina. She rinsed her face and brushed her teeth at pagkatapos ay binuksan ang pinto, but her husband appeared in front of her as soon as she opened it.

Her jaw dropped when her eyes darted at his tantalizing eyes staring at her. He was wearing a black robe that suited his masculinity, while his shiny black hair was dripping water from it down to his face.

"Where is our breakfast?" He sounded angry with his authoritative voice.

"For your information, hindi ako katulong mo," matapang at nakapamewang niyang sagot at lumabas sa banyo.

"Akala ko ba nag-usap na tayo?"

"Yes but I will not—" iniyapak niya ang kanyang mga paa sa sahig at nayapak sa madulas na parte nito, making her lose balance. Tumili si Steph habang hinablot ang suot na robe ni Caspian sa bandang dibdib nito upang hindi sya bumagsak sa sahig.

Caspian didn't know what was going on in his head, but his arm felt compelled to hold her and save her from falling. His arm wrapped snugly over her shoulder at inalalayan ang kanyang bewang upang hindi bumagsak and they didn't aware that they were both looking at one other's eyes.

Stephanie had the bravery to shift her gaze as he slowly helped her stand and let go of her. "I didn’t dare to cook because I—‘m afraid of burning the whole kitchen," nahihiya nyang pag-amin sa kaniya.

He was quiet and turned around, getting vegetables in the refrigerator and a few pieces of meat, washing it while Stephanie was observing.

"Do you know how to cook?" Hindi napigilan ni Steph na magtanong.

"Yes, I was assigned to cook for the officer throughout my training, and I had no option but to learn," he chattered as he turned to face her. "Marunong ka naman bang magbalat at maghiwa ng gulay?"

"Y-yes," she hesitantly replied.

He handed her the potato, carrot, and celery, "anong gagawin ko sa mga ito?" She foolishly asked.

"Hindi ba’t sinabi mong marunong kang magbalat at maghiwa?" He retorted sarcastically. 

"He's acting like a superior because he knows how to cook!" She received it with a sigh and a roll of the eyes.

"What is so good about cooking?" She murmured.

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