Chapter 2

Galit na naupo si Kuro sa sofa pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya sa kanyang condominium unit.

She didn't expect a man with such a handsome face and a perfect body to be so shameless. Kung nakakapatay lamang ang tingin, malamang ay matagal na niyang pinatay si Caleb.

Napabuntong-hininga siya at inilapag ang kanyang sling bag sa center table. Pagkatapos ay isinandal niya ang likod sa sofa at mariing ipinikit ang mga mata.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung ano ba ang tumatakbo sa isip ng lalaking iyon, ni kung bakit tila wala itong preno kung magsalita.

Bastos.

That was the only word lingering in her mind every time she recalled what he had said in the hallway.

Kuro let out another sigh before reaching for her phone, which had been vibrating incessantly for the past few minutes.

The moment she unlocked the screen, a message from her boyfriend greeted her.

Hey babe, I miss you. 😙

Kusang sumilay ang isang munting ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Halos tatlong taon na rin silang magkasintahan.

For three years, he never once betrayed her, hurt her, or gave her a reason to question the love he had for her.

She love him.

And she knew he loved her just as much.

Shaking her head, she quickly typed out a reply to her boyfriend's message.

Tumayo siya mula sa kanyang kinauupuan at tahimik na nagtungo sa kusina, nananatiling hawak ang kanyang cellphone

She picked up a glass of water and emptied it in a single gulp.

Tahimik siyang nagtungo sa kanyang silid. Halos lamunin na siya ng pagod, at bawat hakbang ay tila mas mabigat kaysa sa nauna. Pakiramdam niya, anumang oras ay maaari na lamang siyang bumigay.

Pagdating sa kanyang kuwarto, agad siyang nagpalit ng komportableng damit pambahay bago dumiretso sa kama.

Sa sandaling dumikit ang kanyang katawan sa malambot na kutson, kusa niyang ipinikit ang mga mata, hinahayaan ang pagod na unti-unting manaig.

For the first time that day, she finally allowed herself to rest.

While Caleb was engrossed in reading the document in his hand, his secretary entered the office and placed a folder on his desk. Caleb immediately looked up before slowly shifting his gaze to the folder lying in front of him.

"What's this?" he asked the secretary while pointing to the folder on the table.

The secretary straightened up. "Didn't you order us to find a lawyer for your upcoming case, sir?"

Caleb leaned back in his swivel chair before resting one elbow on the armrest.

"Then?" he asked coldly.

"We have selected five of the best lawyers. They all have excellent reputations and high success rates in cases like yours."

Caleb just nodded before handing over the folder.

Habang dahan-dahan niyang binubuklat ang mga profile, isa-isa niya iyong sinuri.

Attorney Caleah Rodriguez.

Thirty-five years old.

One of the country's top litigation lawyers.

Tahimik niyang sinuri ang mga credentials bago binuksan ang kasunod na profile.

Attorney Marcus Villanueva.

Forty-two years old.

Specialized in corporate and criminal litigation.

He kept turning the pages without much interest.

His hand froze.

A familiar face greeted him from the next page.

Attorney Kuro Valdez.

Twenty-nine years old.

Cum Laude.

One of the youngest lawyers to win several high-profile cases. Bahagyang tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ni Caleb.

What a coincidence.

"So she's really a lawyer," he whispered.

"Sir?" nagtatakang tanong ng sekretarya.

He ignored it.

He silently stared at Kuro's photograph before methodically reading every detail on her profile.

A faint smile slowly appeared on his lips. "I want her."

The secretary's eyes widened. "Attorney Valdez, sir?"

"Set up a meeting."

"But, sir..." His secretary looked at him hesitantly. "She's one of the busiest lawyers in the country. It's not easy to get an appointment with her."

Caleb slowly closed the folder. "Then make sure I'm the exception."

"Yes, sir."

Tahimik na yumuko ang sekretarya bago lumabas ng opisina. Nang tuluyan na siyang maiwang mag-isa, muling ibinaling ni Caleb ang kanyang tingin sa litrato ni Kuro.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips. "Looks like we'll be seeing each other again, Habibti."

Makalipas ang ilang minuto, tumunog ang kanyang cellphone. Napatingin si Caleb sa screen nito bago dahan-dahan niya itong dinampot at sinagot ang tawag.

"Hey, man!" came the cheerful greeting from the other end of the line.

"What?" Caleb replied flatly.

"Kael's back."

Caleb let out a sigh. "So?"

"There's a party at his house!" he shouted, causing Caleb to immediately pull the phone away from his ear. "You're invited."

Caleb's jaw tightened before putting the phone back to his ear. "I won't attend."

"Yes, a-attend ka."

Napahigpit ang hawak ni Caleb sa kanyang cellphone. Kilala niya si Laurence—kahit sabihin pa niyang abala siya, hindi ito titigil hangga't hindi nito nakukuha ang gusto.

"Martinez," he called out, using the surname of his friend Laurence.

"Salamat pumayag ka," he said, then hung up without waiting for a response.

Caleb lowered his phone and stared at the screen after the call was abruptly disconnected. "Damn idiot," he muttered as he dropped the cellphone on the table.

He let out a small shake of his head.

Sa kanilang magkakaibigan, si Laurence ang pinakamaingay at pinakamatigas ang ulo. Kapag may naisip itong gawin, wala nang makakapigil dito hanggang sa mangyari ang gusto nito.

He sighed before turning back to the folder in front of him. He opened the picture of Attorney Kuro Valdez again. He stared at it silently for a few seconds.

Then he closed the folder.

May mas mahahalagang bagay siyang kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin kaysa sa babaeng iyon.

Tahimik na ipinarada ni Caleb ang kanyang itim na Rolls-Royce sa driveway ng malawak na mansyon ni Kael.

Hindi pa man siya tuluyang nakabababa ng sasakyan, umalingawngaw na sa kanyang pandinig ang malalakas na tawanan mula sa loob.

"As expected," he murmured to himself.

The moment he entered the mansion, he was greeted by a familiar face.

"There he is!" Laurence called out, lifting the glass in his hand.

Every head turned toward him.

"Damn," Kidlat said with a grin. "I didn't think you'd actually come."

"I wasn't planning to," he replied coldly.

"Then why are you here?" Calex asked with a grin.

Caleb simply shook his head. "Because one annoying bastard wouldn't stop calling me."

The entire group burst into laughter.

"That annoying bastard would be me," Laurence declared proudly, raising both hands in surrender.

"I know."

Silak chuckled. "Come on. Sit down."

Tahimik na naupo si Caleb sa bakanteng sofa at isa-isang sinulyapan ang kanyang mga kaibigan. Sa lahat ng mga negosyanteng nakilala niya, sila lang ang grupong kayang magkulitan na parang mga bata kahit pawang mga bilyonaryo na.

"So..." Kael said, idly swirling the wine in his glass.

"Any interesting updates?"

"Nothing," Caleb said without a hint of emotion.

Laurence smirked. "Really?"

"Really."

"So wala kang babaeng iniisip?"

Caleb stopped in his tracks.

A familiar face flashed inside his mind.Mabilis niyang inalis ang isip doon bago malamig na tumingin kay Laurence.

"Shut up."

Hindi iyon nakaligtas sa mapanuring tingin ni Calex.

A slow grin appeared on his lips. "Oh..."

"Interesting," Alaric drawled teasingly.

"What's so interesting?" Kidlat asked.

Calex leaned back against the couch. "Our dear Caleb..."

Alaric chuckle. "I think he's finally interested in a woman."

Biglang nagtawanan ang lahat, maliban kay Ulap na nanatiling tahimik. Sa pagkakaalam ni Caleb, may babaeng matagal na nitong nagugustuhan sa probinsya. Ngunit kamakailan lamang, nag-message ito sa kanilang group chat na tinapos na ng babae ang anumang namamagitan sa kanila.

"Bullshit!" Laurence exclaimed.

"Impossible!"

"Caleb?" Silak scoffed. "The guy doesn't even believe in love."

Caleb merely shook his head before taking a sip of his whiskey.

Mahimbing ang tulog ni Kuro hanggang sa sunod-sunod na pag-vibrate ng kanyang cellphone ang gumising sa kanya.

Dahan-dahan niyang iminulat ang mga mata at inabot ang cellphone sa ibabaw ng bedside table.

Napangiti siya nang makita ang pangalang nakalagay sa screen.

David Calling...

Wala nang pag-aalinlangan pa, agad niyang sinagot ang video call.

"Hey, sleepyhead," David greeted with a smile.

A smile found its way onto Kuro's lips. "Good evening."

"Good evening?" he chuckled. "Do you realize you've been asleep for almost three hours?"

Kuro glanced at the wall clock.

It was already eight in the evening.

"I guess I was really tired."

"You've been overworking yourself again."

She smiled helplessly. "Occupational hazard."

Napailing si David. "You should learn how to rest."

"I am resting."

"Not enough."

Silence settled between them for a moment before Kuro smiled.

"I miss you."

"I miss you too," her boyfriend replied.

They stayed on the video call, chatting about how their day had gone.

Hindi man sila palaging magkasama dahil sa kani-kanilang trabaho, sinisiguro nilang may oras pa rin sila para sa isa't isa.

"So..." David began. "How did your hearing go today?"

"It went well."

"I knew you'd win."

Kuro shook her head. "The case is still ongoing."

"But I know you."

She simply smiled.

Biglang sumagi sa isip niya ang nangyari sa elevator kanina. At ang walang kahihiyang papuri nito sa kanyang katawan.

She shook her head.

"What's wrong?" David asked immediately.

"Nothing."

"You're shaking your head again."

Kuro paused for a moment.

She hadn't even realized she'd done it again.

"It's nothing," she replied calmly. "I just remembered someone... who's unbelievably annoying."

David chuckled. "Then don't waste your energy thinking about that person."

"I won't."

Ngunit nang matapos ang tawag at tuluyang dumilim ang screen ng kanyang cellphone. Hindi niya maiwasang maalala ang pamilyar na malamig na boses ng lalaking iyon.

"Why do you always shake your head, Habibti?"

She shut her eyes tightly.

"Damn it," she cursed under her breath.

Bakit ba sa dami ng puwedeng maalala bakit ang lalaki pa iyon?

Napaigtad si Kuro sa pagkakahiga nang marinig ang katok mula sa labas ng kanyang condominium unit. Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon at tumayo.

Bago nagtungo sa pinto, napasilip muna siya sa wall clock. Alas otso na ng gabi. Napakunot-noo siya. Sino ang pupunta sa ganitong oras?

Sino kaya 'to? tanong ng bahagi niyang isip.

She slowly opened the door, only to find Caleb standing right outside.

One of her brows arched. "What do you want?"

A mischievous smile tugged at Caleb's lips.

"Ready?" he asked.

Kuro looked at him in confusion. "Huh?"

Caleb immediately undressed in front of her, revealing his vibrant manhood to her. Kuro's eyes widened as she stared at the man's penis.

"Did you enjoy the view?" he asked teasingly.

No words came out of Kuro's mouth.

He watched Caleb put on his pants before he turned his back on him. He watched the young man's bulk walk away from his door.

Kuro touched his face because he felt it heat up with shame.

Damn! He has a nice, big dick.