*ARLENE’s POV*
“Do you want something to drink?” Mago’s voice pulled me back to the present.
“Uh, yeah,” I answered, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Timid, huh?” he smiled, handing me a bottle of beer. “Why don’t you drink some of this for confidence.”
I accepted the bottle, feeling my cheeks flush under his gaze. “Thanks.”
“You know,” he said, his tone dropping to something more serious, “I find women who don’t say much sexy.”
I blushed furiously and took a gulp of the beer, the cool liquid doing nothing to calm the heat rising to my face. Mago shifted closer, his hand resting on my shoulder, fingers brushing lightly down my arm. His touch sent shivers through me, but I fought to keep my composure.
“So, how did you and Patricia meet?” he asked casually, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin.
I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the way his closeness made it harder to breathe. “We’re in the same department.”
“Really? Hotel and Restaurant Management?” He raised an eyebrow. “That means we’ve been in the same building all this time, and I never noticed you?” His voice was teasing, but it stung more than I wanted to admit.
I forced a smile, “I’m always with Janine.”
“Janine?” he seemed surprised. “You hang out with Miss Mystery Girl? Guess that makes you both temptresses, hiding behind the scenes.”
“Temptress?” I repeated, my heart thudding.
“Yeah, temptress,” he said, moving even closer. I could smell his cologne—something dark and intoxicating. The space between us felt suffocating, like I was drowning in his presence.
I licked my lips, trying to moisten them against the dry air, and his gaze dropped to my mouth. His eyes darkened, filled with an intensity that made me shiver.
“Sexy,” he murmured, his stare never leaving my lips.
I could feel the tension between us thickening, my heart racing as I tried to hold onto any semblance of control. Mago leaned in, his hand brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering as they trailed down my neck, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.
Gosh, I need to focus. I need to remind myself of Patricia’s warning. I need to stop this.
"Hey," his eyes tried to meet mine, "are you nervous?"
But when he smiled at me like that—like I was the only girl in the room—all logic slipped away.
“Hey,” he whispered, his voice a low rumble, “are you nervous?”
I couldn’t answer. I didn’t trust my voice. I didn’t trust myself around him.
“Relax,” he said, his smile widening. “I won’t bite.”
I swallowed hard, wishing the beer would dull my senses, but instead, I only felt more aware of every single movement, every touch.
"Are you really this quiet?" he chuckled sexily.
Gosh! If this guy continues to seduce me, I swear I'll harass him.
"Anyway, do you dance like your friends?” he asked, leaning back slightly, though his gaze still held me captive.
I shook my head, too flustered to speak.
“Sing, maybe?” he teased, one brow raised.
Ugh! Why does he have to be sexy in everything he does?
*MAGO’s POV*Of all the girls I’ve dated, this one had to be the most boring. I couldn’t help but wonder how she and Patricia were even friends. Every time I tried to start a conversation, she’d shut it down with a one-word answer, her disinterest as clear as day. I liked women, but I didn’t want to chase them. Hard-to-get girls? They were the ones I hated the most.But there was something about her—the way she was dressed, her makeup, the way she carried herself. It screamed player. Her sexy dress clung to her body like a second skin, hinting at experience, confidence. She was the kind of girl who played innocent, all coy glances and soft shrugs, but I knew better. I’d seen it all before—girls like her only wanted to prove they could make men like me crawl.“I like music,” she finally offered, her voice so flat it could’ve been a statement about the weather.“Music? Well, that makes us the same. What kind of music do you like?” I asked, trying to reel her in, hoping to find some comm
*ARLENE’s POV*We walked across the wooden bridge that stretched over the water, leading us to the secluded bungalow. Each creak of the wood beneath my feet seemed to echo in the stillness, heightening my unease. My knees trembled, and I couldn't tell if it was from the cool breeze coming off the water or the proximity of Mago walking beside me. His presence made my heart race, and I struggled to steady my breathing.Mago broke the silence. “I bet you belong to an organization at the university,” he said, glancing at me. “Which one?”“Music,” I replied, my voice sounding smaller than I intended. Why was I suddenly tongue-tied around him?He nodded, his lips curving into a smile. “What do you do there?”“I play stringed instruments,” I explained, my gaze flicking between him and the path ahead. “The guitar is my favorite.”“That’s perfect. We’ll get along just fine then,” he said, flashing that heart-stopping smile.His words made me blush, and I bit my lip, trying to hide it. The trut
*MAGO’s POV*What the hell? She kissed my cheek. That completely threw me off. I wasn’t expecting it, and now I found myself more intrigued than ever. She was playing hard to get, and I had to admit—it was working. The chase was driving me crazy, pulling me in deeper.She settled onto the lounger, wrapping her arms around her legs, looking so innocent. She had no idea how tempting her simple gestures were—especially when she bit her lip like that. It was killing me.I cleared my throat, trying to keep my cool. “What song do you want me to play?” I asked, sitting beside her.She thought for a moment, biting her lip again. I nearly groaned. “Your Love by Alamid,” she finally said with a soft smile.Of course. A hopeless romantic. Her song choice gave her away, and now I knew exactly how to handle her. I started strumming the guitar, watching her closely. Her wide eyes filled with wonder as she listened, and suddenly, I felt the tables turn. I was supposed to be the one seducing her, but
*ARLENE’s POV*I hadn’t expected us to tumble onto the bed, but the fire in Mago's eyes told me exactly where this was headed. My heart pounded. I knew what was coming, but I felt powerless to stop it.He kissed me.Oh no, what am I supposed to do? Should I open my mouth? Should I kiss him back the way he kissed me? I have no idea! I should’ve asked Patricia about this!“Is this your first kiss?” His voice was soft, but there was surprise in his eyes.I nodded, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Instantly, he pulled away from me, standing up like he’d touched something burning.What just happened? Did I say something wrong? Shouldn't he be happy that he’s the first one to kiss me?“M-MAGO?” I called out, my voice shaking with confusion.He avoided my gaze. Was he upset because I didn’t kiss him back the right way? I could learn, couldn’t I? Desperation bubbled up inside me. I couldn’t let this moment slip away.“I’m sorry,” he muttered, heading towards the door. “I think I should
*MAGO’s POV*It was strange, even unsettling, to find myself talking about my preferences in women with her. I’d never discussed it with anyone before, but something about her drew me in. Her boldness, her determination—it ignited something inside me that I couldn’t deny. If only she wasn’t a virgin, I’d already have had my way with her, exploring every inch until my desire was sated.The bet seemed like the perfect solution. If I win, I’ll get a taste of her without the burden of responsibility. Virgins always came with strings attached—clinging, expectations, emotional messes I had no interest in. But if this deal gave me a way to enjoy her without those complications, I’d do everything in my power to win.For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I half-expected her to back out, to realize how reckless she was being. But then, to my surprise, she looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Deal.”A spark of excitement shot through me. I checked my smartwatch, hiding
*MAGO’s POV*"Stop it, Miguel!" my mother's voice pierced through the darkness, sharp and filled with pain. "You're hurting me!"I clamped my small hands over my ears, squeezing my eyes shut. ‘Don't cry’, I told myself. Daddy always said crying was for girls, and I wasn't allowed to cry."Please, I beg you, stop," she whimpered, her voice breaking.It was always like this—Daddy forcing himself on Mommy. Even at six years old, I understood more than I should. But what could I do? I was just a child, powerless against the storm raging in the next room. All I could do was hide in the closet, curled up among the shadows, waiting for the nightmare to end."MAGO," Nana's gentle voice called softly. "You can come out now."I must have fallen asleep, tears drying stiff on my cheeks. As the closet door creaked open, I rubbed my eyes, blinking up at Nana's kind but weary face. She was the only one who knew my hiding place, the only one who cared enough to find me."Where's Mommy?" I whispered,
*MAGO’s POV*“What now? Mago!” Libra’s voice sliced through the air; her frustration sharp enough to make anyone else flinch. “Where on earth are we going to find another wedding singer now?”I sighed, keeping my tone calm, despite the storm of tension brewing around us. “I’ll sing it solo.”“Are you insane?” Libra snapped, barely containing her fury. “The song was written for a duet! I can’t believe she just bailed at the last second. The rehearsal last night was perfect! Why would she do this now?”Marco, always the peacekeeper, stepped in quickly. “Don’t worry, Lib. We’ll figure something out.”“You better fix this!” she barked, stomping her foot, the sound echoing sharply across the room, punctuating her frustration.Marco turned to me, narrowing his eyes. “Seriously, man, you were with her last night. What happened?”I shrugged, keeping my face unreadable. “Nothing. I just dropped her off at her apartment.”Kaz chuckled, shaking his head knowingly. “Yeah, right. ‘Nothing.’ We all
*ARLENE’s POV*I hadn’t been myself for weeks. Not since that night. Not since spending a night in his room, lying awake on his bed while he slept on the sofa across the room. Nothing happened—just silence and distance between us. And yet, that night lingered like a fleeting memory I couldn’t shake. After that, he disappeared, like a ghost, vanishing from my life as quickly as he had entered it.And still, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.Janine and Patricia dragged me to Marco’s brother's wedding, insisting it was the perfect opportunity to see him again. ‘I wasn’t ready—God, I wasn’t ready”. I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready. But here I was, standing on the edge of something I couldn’t name, heart pounding with anticipation and dread." Arlene! Come with me!" Janine grabbed my arm and pulled me forward, right into the heart of the gathering. My breath caught in my throat the second I saw him—MAGO. He stood there like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t just upended my entire wo