LOGIN“You’re a bag of trouble, Angel.” Gabriel said, his restraint already cracking. “I know that already. Now kiss me.” *** Noel Evander Laurent has spent his entire life trying to prove he isn't a burden. Fresh out of law school, he expects his first internship to be the start of his independence. Instead, his father drops a bombshell, Noel will be working under his lifelong best friend. Gabriel August Sterling. New York's most intimidating attorney. His boss. His father's best friend. And the infuriating man who still insists on calling him Angel. Noel is determined to keep things professional. That plan falls apart the moment they're forced to work together... then live under the same roof. Gabriel is patient, protective, and impossible to read. Noel is sarcastic, stubborn, and determined to fight the feelings he never saw coming. Every stolen glance, every teasing argument, and every quiet moment between them pulls them closer to a line neither of them should ever cross. But forbidden feelings are only the beginning. Because Gabriel isn't just hiding his own heart. He's hiding a secret that could destroy everything Noel believes about his family, his past... and the people he loves most. Some lines were never meant to be crossed. Some secrets were never meant to be uncovered. And some people become impossible to stop loving... even when they should.
View MoreWARNING: Some scenes are not suitable for young readers. Read at your risk⚠️
_________ Huminga ako ng malalim at pilit na inaalis ang kaba sa aking sistema. Mula sa repleksyon ng salamin, inayos ko ang takas na buhok at itinukod ito sa aking tainga. Ngumiti ako ng malawak, pinapraktis kung paano maging formal at welcoming ang aking itsura. I want to leave a good expression to the new family of my mother. Mommy caressed my shoulder. "Thank you for doing this for me." Tipid akong ngumiti. "If doing this will make you happy, I will do it." Masakit para sa akin ang mag-asawa ulit ang aking ina ngunit hindi ko naman pwedeng hayaan siyang malungkot. Dad and I promised that we will always consider my mother's happiness. Alam ko rin na masaya rin si dad sa langit dahil may nagpapasaya na kay mama matapos niyang mawala. Noong unang pinagtapat sa akin ni mom na mayroon siyang nobyo, hindi ko talaga matanggap. Hindi ko matanggap na may makakasama na siyang iba bukod sa ama ko ngunit kalaunan ay natanggap ko rin. I can't be selfish. "Thank you for that sweetheart." A lone tear escaped to my mother's eyes. "Always remember that your dad will always have a special place in my heart. Also, remember that he will never be forgotten." Muntikan na din akong umiyak ngunit kaagad ko iyong pinigilan. Ayaw kong mamaga ang mata pagpunta sa bahay ng kasintahan ng aking ina. Matapos ang drama ay dumating na din ang aming sundo kaya kinailangan na naming umalis. Sinigurado kong kumpleto ang nadala kong gamit dahil simula ngayon ay doon na ako titira. Nagyaya na ng kasal si Tito Alfredo, ang kasintahan ni mom at gusto na nila magsama sa iisang bahay kaya kailangan kong makisama sa bagong pamilya ng aking ina. "Mayroong isang anak na lalaki si Alfredo anak. Sana maging close kayo. You wanted a brother right?" Tumango ako. Gusto ko talaga ng kapatid noon pero nag-iisa akong anak. Miracle baby pa. Maselang magbuntis si mom at lagi siya noong nalaglagan ng anak. Ako lang ang tanging naka-survive. Pre-mature baby pa ako no'n. Gusto ko ng kapatid dati dahil lonely ang maging only child. Well, for me, I feel lonely. Naiinggit ako sa mga kaibigan kong close na close sa kanilang kapatid kaya gusto ko din may kapatid. "Well now, you will meet him. Umaasa ako na magiging close kayo." Tipid akong ngumiti. "I hope he likes me." "He will. Sweet ka naman at mabait." I want to be positive. Isa pa, having a brother is okay right? Sana lang talaga mabait siya. Hindi na ako nakaimik pa sa sobrang kaba sa buong biyahe. Puno ng scenario ang isip ko kung paano ko sila sasalabungin. I just hope that this will end well. Tumigil ang sasakyan kaya tumingin ako sa labas. I saw a tall gate. "Here we are" bulong niya sa akin. Pinagbuksan kami ng driver ng pinto. Sinalubong naman kami ng gwardiya sa labas at binuhat ang mga gamit namin. "Gina!" It was Tito Alfredo who welcome us. Kaagad niyang sinalubong ng yakap ang aking ina. May kaunting kirot ang puso ko nang makita ang pagkislap ng pagmamahal sa kanilang mata. Nakaka-bitter pa rin pala talaga. Tanggap mo na diba? Lumingon si Tito Alfredo sa akin kaya kaagad kong pinagsawalang bahala ang nararamdaman. "Hi..." lapit niya sa akin. "You must be Happie." Nahihiya akong tumango. "Hello po Tito Alfredo." "I'm glad to meet you, Happie. Masaya ako na tinanggap mo ang proposal ko sa iyong ina." Tipid akong ngumiti. "Gusto ko siyang maging masaya kaya po sana lagi niyo siyang pasiyahin. Itrato niyo po siya ng mabuti. Iyon lang ang gusto ko." "You don't need to remind me that hija. I'll treat your mother as my queen. I will make sure to make her happy for the rest of our life." I could see how Tito Alfredo's eyes sparkled with joy when he glanced at my mother. Namula naman ang aking ina at nahihiyang umiwas ng tingin. Lumawak ang ngiti ko. They look genuine. "Promise?" "Promised hija. Sana rin ay matanggap mo ako bilang step-father mo. I'll treat you as a daughter too." "We'll get there Tito." "I understand." tumango siya bago kinuha ang kamay ng aking ina para isukbit sa kaniyang braso. "Welcome to my humble house. I hope you enjoy your stay here hija" Pumasok na kami sa loob at hindi ko maiwasang mamangha. May kaya naman ang pamilya namin but Tito Alfredo's wealth is no compared to us. Lush green lawns and perfectly manicured gardens surround the grand whitewashed mansion with ornate columns and wings. Ang magandang pasukan ay nakapapangilabot dahil sa mga dobleng pintuan na may kasama na malalaking haligi at isang magandang fountain sa gitna. Pagpasok namin sa loob ay sinalubong ako ng mga matatayog na ceiling kung saan may nakasabit na magagandang crystal chandeliers. Ang mga gamit at furniture na makikita ko ay matatakot kang galawin dahil alam mong mamahalin. Nilibot kami ni Tito Alfredo sa mansion. There's an outdoor pool that shares the green space with the jacuzzi and gazebo. The kitchen is state-of-art with professional-grade appliances, marble countertops, and a full-sized pantry. Nakanganga lang ako habang naglilibot. This is so amazing. "Ang laki ng bahay mo...Alfredo" namamanghang sambit ng aking ina sa kaniyang kasintahan. "Earn from hardwork" nahihiya niyang sambit. "Anyway, Happie..." Lumingon ako kay Tito Alfredo. Tinikom ko na din ang bibig dahil narealize kong nakanganga pala ako. "Po?" "Do you want to check your room?" "S-Sige po." Nalulula na ako sa laki nito. Mommy chuckled. "Mukhang nalula na ang anak ko sa laki ng bahay mo Alfredo." "Kailangan kong magpapresko sa anak mo Gina." Hinampas niya ng mahina si tito. "Baliw." Ngumiwi ako. Medyo nandiri ako ng slight. Tito Alfredo guide the way to my room. Habang paakyat ay nagtanong na si mom tungkol sa anak niya. "Where's your son? I want to meet him." "Ahm..." Tumingin ako kay Tito. He seems so unsure about his son. "She doesn't like my mother?" Direkta kong tanong. "Ahm...it's not like that." Huminga siya ng malalim bago mahigpit na kinapitan ang kamay ng aking ina. "He's still needs time to...accept your mother Happi—" "JERK!" Naputol ang sasabihin niya nang makarinig kami ng boses ng isang babae. "Who's that Alfredo?" Tanong ni mama. Bago pa siya makasagot ay nakasalubong namin ang babaeng gulo gulo ang buhok. Puno ng chikinini ang kaniyang leeg at dibdib. Naka-bra at panty ito habang hawak-hawak ang dress sa isang braso. At kasunod niya ang isang lalaki na naka-boxer lang. He has a rugged look. Mayroon siyang tamad na hugis ng mata. Makakapal ang kaniyang kilay na magkasalubong lagi. Ang detalye ng kaniyang panga ay kitang kita kaya kita ko ang pag-igting no'n. Mayroon siyang kaunting bigote na mas lalong nagpamanly sa kaniya. May piercing siya sa tainga at sa kaniyang lower lip. Hala, ang gwapo. "Hey slut! Here's your short!" Sigaw nito sa babae na basta na lang tinapon sa mukha ng babae 'yong short na parang wala kami doon. "I hate you!" Sambit ng babae bago nahihiyang tumakbo paalis. After that scene, the guy has the face to look at us like it was only the time he noticed us. Tumama ang tingin niya sa akin. He surveyed my body like I'm naked. I immediately feel concious about his stares. Namula ang aking pisngi. Pervert! "Oh...we have a visitors here." he said. Lumingon siya sa ina ko bago tumingin sa kaniyang ama. "Hi Dad." "I'm sorry for this Gina and Happie." huminga ng malalim si Tito Alfredo. "Pwede bang kayo na lang muna ang magpunta sa kwarto? I'll just talk to my son." Pinakawalan niya ang kamay ni mom bago dire-diretsyong nagtungo sa kaniyang anak at hinila papunta kung saan. Matapos matauhan ay tumingin ako kay mom. Nakita ko ang lungkot sa kaniyang mata. That scene only show something. He's not in favor with us.Noel waited until Friday night, when Benjamin had gone to a dinner with old colleagues and Gabriel's house was quiet around them. He had rehearsed the question on the drive over and decided the best approach was to sound mildly curious, the way someone might ask about a traffic delay. He was leaning against the kitchen counter with a glass of water when he said it."Did Priya ever finish that Hendricks memo? She seemed off after the strategy meeting yesterday."Gabriel, who was slicing a lemon at the other end of the counter, did not look up right away. "She finished it this morning.""Good. I just noticed she left in a hurry.""She asked me to dinner," Gabriel said, in the tone he might have used to report a filing deadline. "I told her no.""Oh." Noel turned the glass a quarter turn on the counter. "That's a pretty direct thing to do at work.""It was.""Was she okay about it?""She said she understood." Gabriel set down the knife and finally looked at him, and something in his expr
Benjamin was emptying the dishwasher when he started counting on his fingers. "That's four dinners this week," he said, pointing a plate at Gabriel. "You have a perfectly good house across town, you know."Gabriel looked up from the glass of water he had been holding for several minutes without drinking. "I like your cooking.""You like my wine." Benjamin slid the plate into the cupboard and laughed at his own joke. "You might as well move in properly. Take the guest room, save yourself the gas. You've been eating at this table since before Noel could hold a fork, so it's not like anyone would notice the difference."Noel sat at the kitchen table with his laptop open to a brief he had read the same paragraph of three times. He opened his mouth to say something easy and found that nothing easy was within reach. What came out was a laugh that arrived a second late and sounded like it belonged to someone else."You'd regret it within a week," Gabriel said. "I'd have you on a chore chart
POV: Noel (Third Person)Benjamin was frying eggs when Noel came down the next morning, humming to himself, clearly delighted to be standing in his own kitchen again."Sit," Benjamin said. "I'm making enough for three. Gabriel's coming by later, so I figured I'd practice.""Don't make them dry," Noel said, sliding onto a stool. "He'll defend them anyway, but..."He stopped. The rest of the sentence was already formed, a joke about Gabriel's eggs and the argument they'd had over them more than once, an argument that belonged to a kitchen on the other side of town."But what?" Benjamin asked, glancing back."Just don't overcook them," Noel said. "I like them soft.""Soft it is."Benjamin turned back to the pan, and nothing in his face had changed. Noel picked up his coffee and held on to it a little too hard. He had not lied. He had only swapped one sentence for another. But the swap had cost him something, a small flash of effort he could feel in his shoulders, and the day had barely s
POV: NoelBenjamin's car pulled into the driveway a little after noon, and Noel was at the front door before the engine had finished cutting off.His father climbed out looking rumpled and tired and entirely pleased with himself, a garment bag over one arm and a suitcase that had clearly lost an argument with the airline dragging behind him."There he is," Benjamin said, dropping everything on the porch to pull Noel into a hug. "Let me look at you. Still in one piece.""Gabriel kept me fed. Mostly.""Mostly?" Benjamin laughed and clapped him on the back. "Help me with this bag and I'll tell you about the hotel that lost my reservation twice."Noel carried the suitcase inside, and Benjamin talked the whole way through the hallway and into the kitchen. The hotel. The opposing counsel who had apparently brought his own chair to every meeting. The flight home that had been delayed so long he'd eaten dinner at the gate. Noel laughed in the right places, and a lot of the laughter was real.






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