Chapter 3

Pinili ko na huwag na sabihan pa kay Marcus ang tungkol sa text. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero natatakot ako.

"Are you okay?"

Napabalik ako sa ulirat nang maramdaman ang kamay ni Marcus sa balikat ko. Nakatingin siya sa akin at halatang nag-aaalala.

Everyone finally gathers around the table for dinner. Niccolo still hasn't shown up, which wasn't new when eating with this family. I rarely saw him, and when I did he was usually upset about something.

I think their father's death has something to do with Niccolo's anger. I think his death had an impact on every one of them individually. Marcus tried getting a hold of him, but it just kept going to voice-mail. So he sent Ramzel to go fetch him from their nightclub called Fallen.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Don't mind me."

Pinilit ko alisin sa isip ko ang text kanina at nag-focus sa mga Fierdo. We all clasped our hands together and waited for Cesare to say grace. It was a rule in the Fierdo household. If you eat or drink without blessing the food first, then you have to be the one to say grace. It's often Cesare because he has a bottomless pit for a stomach. Once he's done and Mrs. Alina approves, everyone digs in.

The Gnocchi was amazing. I had to restrain myself from devouring my plate in seconds. I made sure to take small bites so I didn't seem fat. 

"This Gnocchi is amazing Mrs. Alina."

Ngumiti siya sa akin, tila ba proud sa sarili. Wala rin naman nakakapasa sa panlasa ko na makakatalo sa kanya kapag usapang pagkain. I hadn't realized how much I missed it until now.

I look over at Marcus. He's quieter than usual. I can tell he has something on his mind. I'm about to ask him what's wrong when he abruptly stands up, tossing his napkin on the table. Everyone's looking at him with confusion.

"Son..." Mrs. Alina says softly.

"Excuse me for a minute." He steps away from the table, pulling out his phone as he disappears around the corner.

Nagpalaam ako na susundan si Marcus. Malalaki ang hakbang ko para lang naabutan siya. When I find Marcus he's whispering into his phone in Italian. I don't know what happened just now, but I know that I want to be there for him.

Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya at niyakap siya mula sa likuran. Amoy na moy ko ang pabango niya. He always smells so damn good.

Marcus glances down at me before hanging up. He grabs my arm and pulls me in front of him. "Madel... hindi ka pa tapos kumain." Hearing the nickname he gave me three years ago when we first met makes me smile. He couldn't remember my name. I knew he was trying to get my attention, but I purposely didn't respond in the hopes that he would eventually learn my name.

Madel isn't a very complex name, but for some reason he just couldn't get it. So when he called me, quickly I responded. He doesn't say it as often now that he knows my name, but I look forward to hearing it when he does. Sometimes I even prefer it.

"I don't want to get all up in your Mafia business, pero anong problema?"

"Have you received some death threat?" He asked me, looking away.

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. Nakagat ko ang pang ibaba ng labi ko at dahan-dahang umiling.

Paano niya nalaman?

"B-Bakit naman may magbabanta sa akin?"

Hindi siya nagsalita, nakatingin lang sa akin. There was definitely something on his mind. I just wished he'd open up. He knows everything about me and yet, I know nothing about him. I don't even know what he really does for a living. I always assumed it was drugs or something, but now I'm not so sure since I've never seen any of them.

I knew it was going to take him some time, so I didn't press him further. I want him to be able to come to me on his own. His hand slides down my back, resting on the small of my back. I tense up at his touch as he leads us back into the dining room.

Everyone's finished eating and have moved on to dessert- Gelato. It was a highly favored dessert in Italy. At the time I didn't know what all the hype was about. That was until I actually tried some a few years ago. And they were right. America's ice cream had nothing on Italy's. There was just no competition.

I was far too full from the Gnocchi, so I offered to do the dishes. I walked around taking everyone's plate. Nagpasalamat sa akin si Mrs. Alina, halata sa itsura niya na pagod na siya kaya ako na ang gumawa ng dapat niyang gagawin.

I gave her a small smile and went into their beautiful spacious kitchen. Their entire mansion was a beautiful black and white aesthetic from top to bottom. The kitchen had a beautiful black and white marble counter that drew me in with its elegance. I set the plates down into the sink and turn on the water.

Hindi ko napansin na nasa likod ko si Marcus kung hindi pa siya nagsalita. Pinanonood niya ata simula pa kanina habang naghugas ng mga plato.

"We have a lot of maids here. Bakit ikaw ang gumagawa niyan?" His voice is low and soft, but still manages to sound confident and demanding.

"Ayos lang, kaya ko na ito." Ngiti ko sa kanya at nag-thumbs up pa. "Gusto mo ako tulungan?" biro ko pero hindi ko alam na seseryusohin niya talaga.

He nods, rolling up his sleeves and taking the plate from my hands. When his fingers brush mine, I quickly pull back in shock. Why do I suddenly feel so nervous around him? I've known him for three years and I have never been this nervous. I can feel the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

Pakiramdam ko ay may sakit ata ako. Bukas na bukas din ay magpapatingin ako sa doktor.

Marcus just so intimidating the way he hovers over me. He's so close that I can feel the heat radiating off him.

"Pwede bang magtanong?" My feelings for him have grown over the years. I'm not sure, but I think his feelings for me have grown as well. But you can never tell with a Fierdo. Especially one as serious and emotionless as Marcus.

"Shoot."

I couldn't help but giggle at his choice of words. I knew Marcus was strapped. In fact, the whole family was. Mrs. Alina even knows how to hold her own. She didn't push out four boys just to become the damsel in need of saving. I've seen her target practice and honestly, I'd hate to be on the receiving end. The Fierdo family doesn't play, especially when it comes to the people they care about.

Inabot ko sa kanya ang plato para punasan niya.

"I know you heard what your mother said to me earlier."

His face doesn't even budge as he begins putting away the dishes. He shifts past me, the pleasant scent of his Versace cologne filling my nostrils.

I've been so busy these past couple of months that I have never wondered if Mrs. Alina was right. What if we were meant for each other? We've been friends for quite some time now. And at 28 years old, and Marcus being 31 we aren't getting any younger.

Pangarap ko ikasal balang araw. Mag-alaga ng mga anak habang nasa trabaho ang asawa ko. Gusto ko sila ipagluto ng masarap na pagkain. Maybe Marcus was the one who could give that to me, kahit sabihin ko pang hindi ko siya type, siya lang ang lalaki na nagparamdam sa akin na wala dapat akong isipin kapag siya ang kasama ko. I feel safe with him. I know with his occupation, things might get complicated, but I don't want to spend my life wondering the what if?

He reaches above my head to put the plate in the cabinet. He looks down at me and nods. Pulling away, he takes a step back to create distance between us. "Huwag mo seryosohin ang mga sinasabi ni Mama. Don't take any offense to it. You know how much my mother likes to play matchmaker."

I can't tell what he's thinking at this moment. I can never tell with that permanent frown on his face.

"I'm not offended, Marcus. I'm just curious—"

"Madel."

I knew that tone. He was definitely about to come up with an excuse to make rejecting me hurt less. He'll give me some speech about how he can't be distracted. Before he can say anything else, I push myself off the counter and grip the folds of his suit jacket tightly.

Sinalubong ko ang mga mata niya. "So you're telling me that you've never thought about it? About us?" Maybe it was the glass of wine I had at dinner talking, but I've always wanted to know what he thought. Kaibigan lang ba talaga ako sa kanya? Pero hindi siya palakaibigan na tao, lalo na sa mga babae.

"I have. A little more than I'd like to admit." Marcus wasn't one to lie. But that didn't stop me from being surprised by his answer. He continues. "You make me vulnerable. You make me sad, angry, mad... and happy." He looks away as he says this, avoiding eye contact.

"Anong problema kung ganon?" I take my free hand and reach up to cup his face.

He looks back down at me with a sigh. He's about to respond when Cesare walks in. Did I mention what impeccable timing he has? I quickly pull away from Marcus, blushing with a small eye roll. Marcus just remains stoic like he always does. Cesare looks between the two of us, a mischievous smile forming.

"What do you want, Cesare?" His tone indicates that he's slightly annoyed by the interruption, as was I.

"Nic's back. You have to see him."

Marcus looks to me, and I take that as my cue to leave. "Ramzel will take you home."

He doesn't say anything else before he and Cesare disappear out of the kitchen. Being around Niccolo when he's in one of his moods never ends well. Dinig na dinig ko ang palitan ng sigaw sina Marcus at Niccolo. Malakas iyon at masasabi kong parehong galit.  I want to eavesdrop in on their conversation, but they are speaking in Italian. So there was no point in even trying.

Nagpaalam muna ako kay Mrs. Alina bago umalis. Pinahihintay pa sana sa akin si Marcus pero tumanggi ako at sumakay na sa sasakyan na naghihintay sa akin.

Sa likod na ako dumaan para hindi makita sina Marcus at Niccolo.

"Where to Miss David?"

"Sa bahay please."