3

Auxerre Kailani Vixen

"Yes, Cai. How many times do I have to repeat myself? Can you just please hurry kasi baka sa oras na dumating ka rito ay ubos na 'yung dugo ng kasama ko kaka-explain ko sa'yo." Reklamo ko bago bumuntong hinga.

I faced Hubert before giving him a head-to-toe look.

"Stop looking at me like that. It looks like you're judging me." His brows furrowed.

"I am. Sinong tanga ang sasalo ng bala just to save a normal stranger? Bullshit." I scoffed before texting my dad.

"Tinulungan na nga ang dami pang reklamo, psh." I heard him whisper under his breath making me roll my eyes.

Sino ba nagsabing tulungan n'ya ako? Now he's fucking dragged into this mess and I don't know how to get him out.

To: Dad

Organization Red decided to attack me today. I'm safe, I didn't get hurt but someone else got shot. Can you order someone to check what they're up to? Hindi sila aatake ng ganito nang walang dahilan.

I stared at Hubert after sending that message. He's busy putting pressure on his arm with his eyes closed.

He fought the org that easily...the way he threw punches, the way he kicks, the way he dodges, the way he moves...those aren't normal.

Maybe he trained in martial arts? But still...hindi ganoon kadali talunin ang mga tao nila. I had to train for years to be able to fight back, years just for self-defense! Sino ka ba talaga?

Natigil lang ako sa pag-iisip nang biglang tumabi sa'kin si Zeyn. "Who is he? Close ba kayo?"

"It's none of your business." Pag-tataray ko sa kan'ya. He should really stop being nosy.

"I'm sure he's attracted to you, he caught a bullet for you, that's a big deal."

"Daig ka pa nga, diba?" I stared at his eyes while saying this. "Go home, baka hinahanap ka na ng pamilya mo. Never tell them that this happened, Maclise."

"Impossibleng 'di nila malalaman, Auxi. Pareho tayo ng background, alam natin kapag may nangyayaring ganito." He has a point. Kailangan lahat alam mo kung ayaw mong malamangan ka.

"I can fix this. Ako na bahala, just keep your mouth shut and wala tayong problema." That's the last thing I said before opening the door for him. Can he get out of my sight already?

It took at least 10 minutes bago ko s'ya napilit na umuwi na. Now I have to deal with Hubert. Where the hell si Cai?

I sat down beside him and removed his hand from the piece of cloth na pinangprepress n'ya sa sugat n'ya. "Ako na," I said because he looks so sleepy. Na-drain siguro lahat ng energy nito, bakit ba kasi nakikisali pa s'ya sa gulo ng ibang tao?

I waved at Cai when I saw him running towards us. "Hindi ko s'ya kaya alalayan mag-isa," I stated and he quickly helped me.

"Don't you dare bleed on my car." He threatened Hubert but Hubert didn't care and just plopped himself in the backseat.

I chuckled because of what he did and sat down sa passenger seat. I checked my phone when I heard a notification.

From: Dad

I already sent someone. Who got hurt? Is it Cai? If it's a random person patahimikin mo na. Don't mess up, Auxerre.

I sighed before looking away. He didn't even bother to ask kung kamusta na 'yung kalagayan nung nasaktan. As I grow older, mas narerealize ko lang na wala s'yang pake sa ibang tao. Kahit may masaktan, kahit may mapahamak, kahit may mawalan ng buhay...imahe at kapakanan lang ng n'ya ang iniintindi n'ya palagi. Selfish.

"Did you tell tito about what happened?" Cai curiously asked me, obviously being careful with the words he spits out since Hubert is just in the back seat.

"Yep. Samahan mo 'ko bukas kapag kinausap ko s'ya," I told him before resting my head onto the window. I'm so tired...I feel like barfing. They could've at least waited a few more hours to give me time to digest my food.

We decided to bring him to my condo since we can't bring him to the hospital. They'll ask too many questions and will get the police involved. We can't let that happen, my parents will kill me.

"Call dr. Montemayor para mabilisan na." He quickly helped Hubert get out of the car and back to my condo. His blood is slowly dripping as Cai assists him, hindi na kinakaya nung cloth 'yung wound n'ya.

"Cai can you acompany him muna? I'll cook us food para hindi sayang sa oras." I went to the kitchen and instantly started preparing food for Hubert and for Cai. I just cooked a simple grilled chicken and mushroom soup on the side since it's the most leisurely meal I can think of.

Sakto naman na paglabas ko ay nandoon na si Dr. Montemayor, busy gamutin si Hubert. While Cai on the other hand is messaging someone on the phone, probably his parents.

Dr. Montemayor walked toward me before speaking, "He's doing good. Nagamot ko na 'yung sugat n'ya pero I recommend na magpahinga muna s'ya at 'wag masyadong gagalaw dahil baka bumuka 'yung sugat."

I thanked him before walking him out the door. He's a family doctor kaya walang problema dahil alam naman n'ya lahat ng ginagawa ng mga magulang ko.

I went back to the kitchen and prepared the table for myself and  Cai. I heard him sigh before sitting in front of me.

"He's asleep," he stated while I gave him a glass of cold water. Bakit mukhang mas pagod pa s'ya kesa sa'kin? "What happened? All this time, I was worried about Zayn, bakit biglang nandoon 'yung mga 'yon?!" He started raising his voice because of frustration.

My brows furrowed before telling him to keep it down. "Do you want a fucking mic? Baka nakakalimutan mong hindi lang tayong dalawa ang tao dito." I warned him before sitting down. Kulang nalang ipaalam n'ya sa lahat ng tao sa floor na 'to 'yung nangyari.

"I don't know, okay? Pauwi na sana s'ya and I was supposed to wait for you but someone fired a shot at us. We barely managed to escape them but dumating si Hubert, he helped us..." I paused before biting my lower lip.

"And he's the one who caught the bullet that was aimed for you, tama?" Cai said out loud as if he was almost reading my mind. I nodded and stood up to get the rice. Papakainin ko nalang s'ya para tumahimik na s'ya.

"Pero wait...Hubert helped you take down Organization Red?" He suddenly asked me after taking a sip of my soup. I nodded because my mouth is full. "Gago...paano?"

"I've been asking that question to myself for the past hour now. Zeyn and I both almost gave up pero ang dami padin nila. So I really don't know paano 'yon nakaya ni Hubert."

"I'll tell my dad to do a background check on him. Baka mamaya hindi lang pala 'yan random guy na nakilala mo sa club," Cai said before eating his meal. I nodded in approval and ate my meal as well.

I quickly reheated the food again para kay Hubert, while Cai is cleaning the table for me.

"You can leave it sa sink, ako nalang maglilinis mamaya. Dadalhin ko lang 'to kay Hubert." I picked up the tray before walking to the guest room.

Pinatong ko lang 'yung tray sa lamesa before gently tapping his arm. "Kumain ka muna," I stated when he slowly opened his eyes.

He didn't even bother to answer me, dahan dahan lang s'yang naupo before eating. "It's good." He praised the food causing me to form a small smile.

I won't tell him but that's just a small thank you for saving my life. Even my parents don't know that I cook. Silang dalawa lang ni Cai ang may alam at ang nakatikim ng luto ko.

I handed him the meds once he was finished eating. Hindi naman halatang gutom s'ya dahil wala na halos natira sa mga plato n'ya.

"Wow ah, lumelevel up tayo bigla ah...bringing him dinner." Cai teased me but I scoffed.

"Shut up ka nga muna Cairo." I teased him back by calling him by his full name. I saw how he glared at me in return causing me to laugh. "Pikon,"

"Do you really think that he's a spy? I mean with the way he fought with the Organization Red is already suspicious...but the fact that he came there on time..." I whispered to myself but I made sure it was loud enough for Cai to hear.

"That's what I've been warning you about, Auxerre," he said in a tone like, "I told you so."

"Can I have water?" Hubert suddenly barged in out of nowhere, making Cai curse and making me almost jump out of my seat.

"Y-yeah...meron doon sa ref." I pointed at the ref and he proceeded to get some water. Cai faced me with a confused look kasi masaki s'ya hindi napansin that Hubert was already in the kitchen.

This happened before though...the first time we met, pero I just thought na baka coincidence lang 'yon...but now I'm starting to think that it's not.

"Thanks," Hubert said and gave me and Cai a nod before walking back to the guest room.

"See?! He managed to enter a room without us feeling his presence or hearing his footsteps!" Cai aggressively told me but he made sure na kaming dalawa lang ang nakakarinig sa usapan namin.

"If he's really a spy...why would he catch the bullet for you though?"

Exactly. If he's a spy why would he let himself get hurt just because of me? Or maybe he wants me to think that he's on my side even if he's not...sino ka ba talaga, Hubert? And what do you want from me?

Cai left after that since he needed to attend a meeting with his parents. I stretched before walking towards the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee pero naabutan ko na si Hubert sa sala. Looking at my table na may nakapatong na pictures ko simula pagkabata.

"Hey," I caught his attention and he looked at me with guilty eyes before pointing at the kitchen. He cooked garlic fried rice, bacon, and eggs. Smells good ah.

"Sorry, pinakielaman ko kitchen mo. I cooked breakfast as a way of saying thank you for yesterday." I saw how he slowly hid something in his pocket, making me raise one brow.

"And I'm gonna get going now...see you when I see you," he said before winking at me. Baliw. Malamang magkikita kami at magkalapit lang kami ng condo.

I shook my head at hinayaan s'ya maglakad palabasa ng condo ko. Malaki na s'ya, kaya na n'ya 'yan.

I was eating the food that he cooked when Cai called me. I drank my juice before answering his call. "What?"

"Wala man lang good morning?" Pabalang n'yang sagot sa'kin. I rolled my eyes before sighing, I heard how he chuckled from the other side of the line.

"Anyways, I ran a background check on Hubert. Kunin mo nalang sa'kin dito 'yung envelope bago ka pmunta kila tito," he said and hung up the phone.

I finished eating quickly and took a bath bago umalis. I wore a black tie top and paired it with white trousers. I drove to the nearest coffee shop I can find before going to Cai's. I just need coffee. I can't function properly without coffee.

"Hi yes can I get a large iced caramel latte?" I ordered and quickly took out my card but a rude guy suddenly interfered.

"I'll get a large iced americano, also paki-add na 'yung order n'ya sa bill ko, thanks." A familiar voice said making me stare at his back. I think that he felt my stare that's why he turned his head and gave me a small smile. I spent the fucking night with him inside my condo and up until now pagmumukha padin n'ya ang nakikita ko!

"Are you following me?" I shamelessly asked him. Well, I have the right to ask him that since as far as I know nauna ako dito!

"You're beautiful, but no," he said before chuckling, making my head boil. I know I'm beautiful pero hindi ko matanggap kapag sa kan'ya galing.

I shook my head before opening my wallet and took out a one thousand bill. Inabot ko naman sa kan'ya and he gave me that confused look. "Bayad for the coffee," I said with the tone 'duh'.

He chuckled but in a boastful way before leaning towards me. He had to lower his head since he's still a little taller than me even though I'm already wearing heels.

"That's my treat, Ms. Kailani." I cringed when I heard him say my second name. Kadiri.

I tried so hard to hide the cringe I felt when he said my second name. "Wow, second name basis na ba tayo ngayon Mr. Atticus?" Ganti ko sa kan'ya before smiling innocently.

I saw how his adam's apple moved and how he loosened his tie. He's probably going to work now kaya he ordered coffee, but that isn't the point here.

"Ginayuma mo ba ako?" He asked me before grinning. "Siguro may gayuma 'yung pagkain na niluto mo kagabi." He chuckled.

"Alam mo, pwede mo naman aminin na naaadik ka na sa'kin...tatanggapin ko naman. No need to accuse me na ginayuma kita kasi as far as I know, 'yang pagkabaliw mo sa'kin na 'yan, normal 'yan Mr. Atticus," I said as I tucked the loose strands of my hair behind my ear.

"Call me Atticus one more time and I swear..." Is he threatening me? I chuckled before stepping toward him, minimizing the small gap between us.

"Then what, Atticus?" I teased him one more time but I instantly regretted it.

"I'll make you scream that fucking name in bed while you beg me to go faster, Auxerre Kailani."

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