QUATRO

Mila stared at the card, then at him as he walked away.

"Call him, my ass," she muttered, rolling her eyes at the empty space before turning back toward the VIP lounge where her friends were waiting.

Pagpasok niya sa lounge, nakapwesto na ang barkada at nagsisimula na silang mag-inuman. Exhausted, she slumped into the plush couch next to Stacey. She noticed her friend was acting weird—kanina pa ito tingin nang tingin sa cellphone at halatang hindi mapakali.

"You good, girl? Sabihin mo lang sa akin kung may problema, ako ang bahala sa iyo," Mila said, trying to comfort her.

Stacey let out a nervous laugh. "No, I'm okay. I'm just… a little bit nervous."

"Oh, come on. You didn't do anything wrong, okay? I'm sure he wouldn't think it's a big deal."

Right after she said that, the heavy VIP lounge doors suddenly burst open, and three men stormed inside.

Lahat sila natigilan, unable to look away from the three men who had just entered. Khail’s eyes were locked onto Mila, his intense gaze fixed on her. Meanwhile, his two friends immediately started walking toward Chloe and Stacey's side of the room.

Nanlaki ang mata niya habang isa-isang tinitingnan ang mga kaibigan na ngayon ay halatang kinakabahan. Agad naman na kumapit sa braso niya si Stacey.

"Hello, ladies. I'm Maksim Volkov," nakangiting pakilala ng lalaki na lumapit sa tabi ni Stacey.

"Rom," maikling pakilala naman ng lalaki sa katabi ni Chloe.

"Come on, man. Don't be so nonchalant," tukso naman ng lalaking nagpakilalang Maksim.

Mila couldn't help but stare. Nakakastarstruck ang mga lalaking nasa harap niya.

"So ladies, his name is Roman Sokolov. Masyado lang siyang cold, pabida kasi."

Habang madaldal si Maksim, Khail remained completely silent. Hindi man lang niya tinapunan ng tingin ang mga kaibigan niya. His heavy gaze was still locked onto Mila, making the tension in the room grow thicker by the second.

Naramdaman ni Mila ang panginginig ng kamay ni Stacey na nakahawak pa rin sa braso niya. She swallowed hard, trying to look brave even though her heart was pounding. Khail took a slow step forward, causing the noisy VIP lounge to suddenly feel suffocatingly quiet.

"Sino ba kayo?" agad na tanong ng dalaga habang hinahawakan ang nanginginig na kamay ni Stacey.

"Me?" agad na turo ni Maksim sa sarili. "I'm her man."

"N-no, he's not!" agad na depensa ni Stacey.

Nawala ang nakakalokong ngiti sa mga labi ng binata at hinawakan ang kamay ng kaibigan niya. Handa na sana niyang itulak ang lalaki nang bigla siyang binuhat nang marahan ni Khail at pinaupo sa kandungan nito.

"W-what?"

"Mind your own business, honey," Khail murmured.

Mila froze, her mind completely blanking out as she felt the solid warmth of Khail's thighs beneath her. The sheer audacity of this man! Awtomatiko siyang napaatras, trying to push against his broad chest to get away, but his arm wrapped tightly around her waist like a steel bar.

"Bitiwan mo nga ako!" she hissed, glaring down at him. Subalit hindi man lang siya pinansin ni Khail. He just tightened his grip, pulling her flush against his chest as if she belonged there all along. The sudden intimacy left her breathless and incredibly frustrated.

"H-hey!"

Pilit siyang kumawala sa hawak nito, pero mas lalo lang hinigpitan ng lalaki ang pagkakahawak sa kanya. Agad siyang naalarma nang makitang binuhat ng lalaking nagpakilalang Roman ang kaibigan niyang si Chloe.

"Bitiwan mo siya!" sigaw ni Mila.

Kita niya ang pagpupumiglas ni Chloe sa mga bisig nito.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything to your friend," Roman said coldly, his voice calm despite the chaos. "There's just some debt that she needs to pay."

"No!" Chloe screamed.

Roman immediately walked through the door, leaving them behind with her friend still trapped in his arms.

Mila tried to launch herself forward to rescue Chloe, but Khail’s grip tightened around her waist like a vice, pinning her down. "Let me go! Ang kaibigan ko—!"

"Hush," Khail whispered, his breath hot against her ear. He leaned in so close his lips brushed her jawline, causing a sudden shiver to run down her spine. "Huwag kang makialam sa kanila, honey. Focus on me. Mas malaki ang utang mo sa akin kaysa sa kanya."

Mila froze, her heart hammering against her ribs as his words sank in.

"Bitawan mo siya!" Stacey yelled, finally snapping out of her shock. She tried to rush toward them to pull Mila away, but Maksim easily caught her by the waist, effortlessly holding her back. "Let go of me! Bitawan mo ako, sabi!"

Khail didn't even look up at the commotion. He just kept his eyes locked on Mila’s pale face and gave Maksim a sharp, single nod.

"Let’s give them some privacy, babe," Maksim murmured with a smirk, ignoring Stacey’s struggles as he practically dragged her out of the VIP lounge.

The heavy doors slammed shut, leaving a deafening silence behind. Mila was now completely alone with Khail, trapped on his lap, with nowhere left to run.

"Umm, ano?" Mabilis na napatingin si Mila sa katabing upuan kung nasaan sina Kiara at Aiya.

"We probably should go," ani Kiara.

Mabilis na umiling si Mila at iniabot ang kamay sa kanila. "No, no! Help me!"

"Don't be too harsh to our friend, Khail. May exam pa kami bukas—"

"Baliw ba kayo?!" Napaiktad ang dalawa sa lakas ng sigaw niya.

"Bye!" madali nitong paalam, and they rushed out the door, leaving the young woman frozen in shock while still trapped in the man's arms.

Khail chuckled, his voice low and vibrating against her back. "Your friends just sold you."

Galit niyang binalingan ng tingin ang binata at malakas itong sinampal sa mukha. "Bitiwan mo nga ako! What is wrong with you? Wala naman akong ginawang masama sa iyo, ah!"

"You didn't? Are you sure?" Khail asked, his face barely moving from the impact, his gaze darkening.

"Yes! That kiss didn't happen anyway, and I'm sorry about it. So please, let me go—"

"No. If it didn't happen, we can still make it happen right now if you want."

"Are you crazy?!"

"Maybe I am," Khail muttered, his eyes dropping to her lips. "You keep messing with my mind, Mila. And I don't like it."

Buong lakas niyang itinulak ang dibdib nito, pero mabilis nitong hinuli ang kanyang mga kamay at mas lalo pa siyang idiniin sa dibdib nito.

"You slapped me. And it just added to your debts," Khail murmured, a dark, slow smirk forming on his lips. "And I don't let anyone walk away from me without paying their dues."

"Utang? Seryoso ka ba?!" Mila spat out, trying to mask the tremors in her voice with pure defiance. She glared straight into his dark eyes. "Magkano ba, ha? Sabihin mo sa akin kung magkano ang bayad sa letcheng halik at sampal na 'yan para matapos na 'to at makaalis na ako!"

Khail let out a low, dangerous chuckle, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in even closer. Kasing-tigas ng bakal ang hawak niya sa kanyang baywang.

"Hindi pera ang tinutukoy kong bayad, mila," Khail whispered, his lips inches away from hers. "You have two choices. You stay here with me tonight and pay it off willingly... or I take you out of here myself and make sure you never get away from me again. Choose wisely."

"Fuck you!" she shouted right at his face.

"You asked for it," Khail replied darkly, his smirk vanishing as he leaned in.

Bago pa man siya makaalma, Khail crashed his lips onto hers.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Mila as the sudden, forceful impact took her breath away. She tried to fight back—pumalag siya at pilit na iniwas ang mukha—but Khail’s hand immediately gripped her chin, holding her perfectly still. The kiss wasn't gentle, it was fierce and demanding, as if he was proving to her that she couldn't just walk away untouched.

Slowly, the anger in his movements began to shift into something deeper and much more dangerous, leaving Mila completely overwhelmed in his embrace.

Sumidhi ang galit ni Mila sa kanyang dibdib. Fuelled by sheer panic and anger, she waited for the exact moment he deepened the kiss—and bit his lower lip hard.

"Damn it!" Khail hissed, pulling back instantly.

Mila finally caught her breath, gasping for air as she glared at him. A tiny drop of blood appeared on his lip, but instead of looking furious, Khail slowly wiped it away with his thumb. He looked at the blood on his skin, then let out a dark, amused chuckle that made her blood run cold.

"Feisty," he murmured, his gaze locking onto her trembling lips. "Sige, tingnan natin kung hanggang kailan mo kaya 'yan."

"Look what you did! Nasugatan ka na nga, kaya bitiwan mo na ako!" suway ni Mila habang nakatitig sa dugong nasa labi nito. Sinubukan niyang gamitin ang pagkakataong iyon para itulak siya palayo. "Isang malaking gulo lang 'to kung ipagpapatuloy mo pa, Khail. So let me go!"

Hindi man lang nakinig ang binata sa mga katwiran niya. Instead of backing off, Khail suddenly stood up from the couch—effortlessly lifting her body along with him.

"S-sandali! Ano ba!" Mila gasped, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck to prevent herself from falling.

"You talk too much, honey," Khail muttered coldly. He didn't care about the small cut on his lip or her endless protests. Firmly locking his arms around her waist and thighs, he began walking straight toward the exit, completely ignoring her resistance.

"Ibaba mo nga ako! Isusumbong kita sa lola ko!"

Mila threatened, kicking her legs slightly in a desperate attempt to break free.

Khail didn't even skip a beat. Hearing her mention her grandmother only made a small, amused smirk return to his face as he pushed open the VIP lounge doors.

"Isusumbong mo'ko sa lola mo?" Khail chuckled, his deep voice vibrating right against her chest as he carried her down the exclusive hallway. "Sure, honey. Tell her I’ll be introducing myself as her future grandson-in-law anyway."

"Kapal ng mukha mo!" Mila shrieked, her face flushing bright red from both anger and embarrassment.

Pumalag siya sa pag kakahawak nito, pero mas lalo lang hiningpitan ni Khail ang kapit sa kanya para hindi makawala habang nilalagpasan nila ang madaming tao sa club. He pushed open the heavy back exit doors, at sinalubong sila ng malamig na hangin paglabas sa private VIP parking lot. Dire-diretso itong naglakad papunta sa isang makintab at itim na luxury sports car na nakapark sa ilalim ng malamlam na ilaw, sabay bunot ng susi niya para i-unlock ito.

"Saan mo ba ako dadalhin?" tanong ni Mila, her voice cracking slightly. Huminto siya sa pagpalag at napahawak na lang sa balikat nito, her eyes turning wide and anxious. "Please, Khail. I'm tired, at may pasok pa ako bukas. Iuuwi mo na ba ako?"

Napatigil ang binata sa mismong tapat ng p***o ng kotse at napatitig sa kanya. Her sudden change of tone and the slight tremor in her voice made his dark eyes soften for a brief second.

He opened the passenger door, but instead of forcing her inside, he gently placed her on the seat, leaning down so their faces were close.

"I'm taking you somewhere quiet where we can finally talk, honey," Khail murmured, his tone surprisingly calm but firm. "Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi kita sasaktan. But you're staying with me tonight."

"But I don't want to," Mila protested, glaring up at him with tears of frustration blurring her vision.

"I don't care," Khail stated flatly.

Realizing he wasn't going to change his mind, sumandal na lang si Mila sa upuan habang isinasara ni Khail ang p***o ng kotse. She crossed her arms tightly, refusing to look at him.

Pag-ikot ni Khail sa driver's seat, sumakay agad ito at pinaandar ang makina ng kotse. But before he shifted gears, he tossed his phone onto her lap.

"Text your grandmother. Sabihin mo sa kanya na hindi ka makakauwi dahil may tatapusin kang importante," he ordered calmly, glancing at her profile. "I don't want your family calling the cops on me."

"Hindi ba mas mag-aalala siya kung phone mo ang gagamitin ko?! Nag-iisip ka ba?!" asik niya sabay t***n pabalik ng cellphone sa kandungan nito. "Take your phone. I have my own."

Khail just glanced at the phone on his lap, completely unfazed by her outburst. He let out a low chuckle, shifting the car into gear as they started moving out of the parking lot.

"Bakit mo ba 'to ginagawa? I don't even know you," pangbabasag niya sa gitna ng katahimikan.

"Then I'll give you all the days to know me better," Khail replied smoothly, his eyes fixed on the road as a faint smile touched his lips.

Mila immediately looked out the window, shifting her gaze to the passing streetlights para lang maitago ang biglang pag-init ng kanyang mga pisngi.

The audacity of this man! She scoffed under her breath, Ginagawa ang lahat para mag mukhang galit kahit na bumibilis na naman ang tibok ng puso niya dahil sa sinabi nito.

"Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo," she muttered, rolling her eyes at her own reflection in the glass. "Hindi mo nga sinagot ang tanong ko. You're practically kidnapping me right now!"

Khail didn't look back at her, but she could see the faint twitch of his lips from the corner of her eye. "It's not kidnapping if I'm taking you somewhere safe, honey. Just text your lola before I confiscate that phone."

"Bakit mo naman gagawin 'yon?! You don't own me, and you don't have the right to do it!" asik niya, turning her head back sharply to glare at him.

Khail remained quiet, his long fingers gripping the steering wheel effortlessly as he navigated through the city streets. The cold silence inside the car only made his presence feel more suffocating.

"I don't own you yet, Mila," Khail corrected calmly, his voice smooth but laced with a subtle warning as he turned a corner. "But I have every right to protect what's mine. That kiss made you my business. Now, text your lola before I lose my patience."

Mila bit her lower lip, frustrated because no matter how much she yelled, she couldn't break his composure. Realizing she had no other choice at the moment, padabog niyang kinuha ang sarili niyang cellphone mula sa bag.

With trembling fingers, she typed a quick lie to her lola, telling her she was staying over at Stacey’s house to study for their exam tomorrow. After hitting send, she locked her phone and shoved it back into her bag, staring angrily out the window as the car continued to speed through the dark city streets.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, biglang bumagal ang takbo ng sports car hanggang sa huminto ito sa isang grand entrance and high-end, heavily secured luxury condominium. The massive iron gates opened automatically upon recognizing Khail’s car, leading them into a private underground parking area.

Mila's heart skipped a beat. Napatingin siya sa paligid habang ipinaparada ni Khail ang sasakyan sa isang exclusive slot. It was completely secluded, away from the bustling city noise.

"Nasaan tayo?" untag niya, her voice barely a whisper as the engine died, wrapping them in a sudden, heavy silence.

Khail unbuckled his seatbelt and turned his head to look at her, his eyes dark and unreadable under the dim parking lights. "My place. Dito tayo mag-uusap nang walang istorbo."

Kinakabahan na bumama ang dalaga sa sasakyan. Sinubukan niyang magmukhang matapang habang naglalakad sila patungo sa private elevator lobby. Bago pa nito mapindot ang button agad niyang hinarangan ang binata.

"Dito? Sa condo mo?" asik niya. "Bago tayo sumakay diyan sa elevator, magtapat ka nga sa akin. Ano ba talaga ang kailangan mo sa akin, Khail? Bakit kailangan mo pa akong dalhin dito?!"

Naglakad ito palapit sa kanya, Hanggang sa naramdaman niya nalang ang malamig na metal ng elevator sa kanyang likuran.

He leaned down, pinning her with his gaze.

"I already told you, honey. We are going to settle your debts," he murmured, his voice echoing softly in the quiet space. "And I prefer doing it where no one can interrupt us. Now, get in."

"Ano ba talaga ang gusto mo?" aniya at itinulak ang kamay nito palayo.

"I'm planning to collect my payments," Khail replied coolly, completely unfazed by her resistance.

"Ano?!"

"I told you before—I'll collect the payments from you whenever I like. So, this is now," anito sabay talikod at tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng elevator.

Nakatayo si Khail sa gitna ng elevator, seryoso ang mukha habang nakapamulsa ang isang kamay. Ang isa naman niyang kamay ay nakapindot sa open button para hindi sumara ang p***o. Direkta siyang nakatitig kay Mila, mapanghamon ang mga mata na tila ba sinasabing wala nang kawala ang dalaga.

"Ano, tatayo ka na lang ba riyan o hihintayin mo pang ako mismo ang humila sa iyo papasok?" malamig na tanong ng binata.

Napalunok si Mila habang nakatingin sa bumubukas-sarang p***o. Alam niyang kapag humakbang siya papasok sa elevator na 'yan, tuluyan na siyang papasok sa mundo ni Khail—at wala na siyang magagawa para umatras pa.

Bago pa man makapagsalita muli si Khail, biglang tumalikod si Mila at buong lakas na tumakbo patungo sa exit ng parking lot. Ang tanging nasa isip niya ay ang makalayo sa lalaking ito at sa mapanganib niyang mga banta.

Pero hindi pa siya nakakalayo nang marinig niya ang mabilis na yabag ng mga paa ng binata sa likod niya. Sa isang kurap lang ng mata, naramdaman na ni Mila ang isang malakas na kamay na humawak sa kanyang braso at marahang hinila siya pabalik.

"Sabi ko na nga ba, susubukan mo," bulong ni Khail sa likod ng kanyang tainga, hingal na hingal ngunit may halong pagka mangha ang boses habang nakakulong na naman si Mila sa kanyang mga bisig " No one can escape from me, Mila. Lalo na kung ako mismo ang nagdala sa 'yo rito."

Buong lakas na nagpumiglas si Mila at pinagpapalo ang dibdib ni Khail habang pilit siya nitong ibinabalik sa elevator. "Bitiwan mo ako! Let me go, you psycho! Saklolo! Tulong! Guard—!"

Bago pa man niya matapos ang isisigaw niya, Khail immediately covered her mouth with his large hand, cutting off her voice completely. He lifted her off her feet easily, trapping her arms against his solid chest so she couldn't strike him again.

"Don't waste your breath, honey. Safe ang parking lot na 'to at walang makakarinig sa iyo," Khail murmured darkly into her ear habang tuluyan na silang pumapasok sa loob ng elevator. The doors slid shut behind them with a soft chime, sealing her inside with him as the lift began to move upward.