(KABANATA) 01

Lorraine's POV

"It's Mark, baby..." bulalas niya habang isa-isang tinatanggal ang butones ng suot kong damit.

Ilang segundo pa lamang ang nakalipas ng kanyang inilayo ang labi sa akin. Pero muli ko siyang hinila sa kanyang batok, at ako na mismo ang humalik sa kanya.

"F*ck!" he cursed while responding to my kiss.

And when he finally removed the buttons of my clothes...he threw it somewhere and positioned himself on top of me.

"So f*cking sexy..." he murmured, his hands were tracing the curves of my body...pressing it with his fingers.

My breath hitched the moment his lips found mine again.

Mas mabagal na ngayon. Mas sinadya. Parang hindi na lang basta init ang habol… kundi ang mismong pakiramdam ng bawat segundo.

“Easy…” he whispered against my lips, his voice rough, almost teasing. “You’re rushing.”

But his hands didn’t match his words.

They were warm. Firm. Moving slowly along my sides, as if memorizing every curve they passed. I felt his touch linger… deliberate… making my skin react in ways I couldn’t control.

Napapikit ako nang mariin. Hindi dahil gusto kong umiwas. Kundi dahil gusto kong damhin lahat.

Every breath. Every shift. Every inch of closeness between us.

“Look at me,” he murmured.

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I opened my eyes again.

He was already watching me.

Too focused. Too intense.

Parang ako lang ang nakikita niya sa buong mundo.

“Still sure about this?” he asked, his thumb brushing lightly against my jaw, slow… grounding… but dangerous all the same.

I swallowed.

“Don’t stop now,” bulong ko, mabigat ang bawat paghinga.

Something in his expression darkened...not in a bad way… but in a way that made my heart race harder.

“Careful what you ask for,” he said softly, almost amused.

Then he leaned down again, but this time, his kiss was different.

Not rushed.

Not desperate.

Controlled.

Slow enough to make me feel every second stretch… every breath deepen… every tiny sound escape my lips without permission.

A soft gasp slipped from me when his hand pressed gently against my waist, pulling me closer.

“See?” he murmured against my skin, his voice lower now, closer to a whisper. “You react to everything.”

My fingers tightened slightly against him.

I hated how right he was. Hated how easily he could read me more than my own husband does.

I didn’t pull away.

Didn’t stop him.

"I will make you feel satisfied tonight, Lorraine..." he whispered and kissed me again.

~~~~****~~~~

The room felt quieter now.

Not peaceful.

Just… heavy.

Parang may naiwan sa hangin....init, paghinga, mga bagay na hindi na mababawi.

I sat at the edge of the bed, slowly reaching for my clothes scattered across the floor. My movements were calm… controlled… as if nothing inside me had shifted.

But I knew better.

I could still feel his gaze on me.

Bare. Unapologetic.

Watching.

Tahimik siyang nakahiga, isang braso ang nakapatong sa noo habang sinusundan ng mga mata ang bawat galaw ko habang nagbibihis.

I didn’t look at him right away.

Hindi pa.

Because somehow… that felt more dangerous than everything we just did.

After slipping into my dress, I paused.

Then without a word, I reached for my bag.

The sound of the zipper was louder than it should’ve been.

I took out the money.

Counted it once.

Twice.

Then placed it neatly on the bed… beside him.

Deliberate.

Clear.

A line drawn.

“Here's the payment for your service,” I said quietly, finally meeting his eyes.

There was no shame in my voice.

Just certainty.

His gaze shifted from the money… back to me.

Slow.

Unreadable.

“Did I look like I needed it?” he asked, his voice low, carrying that same calm danger from earlier.

I tilted my head slightly.

“No,” I admitted. “But that’s what we agreed on.”

A pause stretched between us.

He let out a soft breath...almost a laugh, but not quite.

“Agreement,” he repeated, like the word amused him.

I picked up my heels, holding them in one hand as I stepped closer, not too close, but enough.

“Don’t overthink it,” I added, my tone softer now. “You were…”

I stopped for a second.

Choosing my words.

Not because I didn’t know what to say...but because I didn’t expect myself to say it.

“…good,” I finished.

His brow lifted slightly.

“Just good?” he teased.

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

“Too good,” I corrected, meeting his gaze directly. “Satisfied?”

This time, he actually smirked.

Slow. Confident. But there was something else behind it now.

Something quieter.

Something that lingered.

“Depends,” he murmured. “Is that a compliment… or a review?”

I let out a soft breath. A half amused and half tired. Dahil hindi pa masyadong nakaka-recover ang katawan ko sa ginawa namin.

“Take it however you want,” I said.

Then I straightened. Putting distance back where it belonged.

“This was just tonight,” I reminded him gently. “Nothing more.”

His eyes stayed on me.

Not arguing.

Not agreeing.

Just… watching.

Like he was trying to decide something.

Or maybe… memorizing.

I turned toward the door.

Hand already on the knob.

But for a brief second...I hesitated.

Then I spoke, without looking back.

“Goodbye, Mark. And I hope that we don’t see each other again.”

For a split second, the room went still.

Then, suddenly he laughed. A low… amused… like something about that hit him in a way he didn’t expect.

“Ouch,” he muttered, a hand coming up to rest behind his head again. “That actually hurts, you know.”

There was a playful edge to his voice, but it didn’t completely hide the weight underneath.

I glanced over my shoulder.

One last look.

“Wasn’t meant to,” I said calmly.

His eyes met mine instantly.

“Really?” he asked, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Because it sounded very intentional. Pagang sinasadya mo talagang wasakin ang kumpyansa ko na napasaya kita sa kama."

I exhaled softly.

“Maybe it was.”

Another silence stretched between us, but this one felt different.

He shook his head slightly, a quiet chuckle slipping from his lips.

“You pay me, compliment me, then tell me you never want to see me again,” he said. “You don’t do things halfway, do you?”

I smiled as I shook my head. "Fine. We can see each other again, but let's pretend we don't know each other."

Matapos kong sabihin iyon ay tuluyan na akong naglakad palabas ng kwarto. At sa pagkakataong ito ay wala na akong maramdaman na mabigat na bagay sa dibdib ko.

At alam kong handa na muli akong humarap sa dalawang taong sumira sa akin...at tapusin ang lahat.

TO BE CONTINUED.....