LOGIN“We shouldn’t be doing this,” Imani whispered, her voice trembling more from want than from fear of her brother barging in and catching her leaning in to kiss his ex-best-friend now turned enemy. “Then stop me,” he murmured back, his fingers brushing her jaw, his breath hot against her skin. But neither of them moved. The distance between them had already disappeared, along with every rule she’d promised not to break. *** When Imani Grayson, a quiet psychology major, is assigned to mentor the university’s star hockey captain, Nicolas Jameson, she expects arrogance not the kind of chemistry that keeps her up at night. What begins as a simple assignment spirals into late-night tutoring sessions, stolen glances, and kisses that blur every boundary she’s ever set. But with jealous teammates watching, old wounds resurfacing, and a love too intense to hide, the game they started might be the one that shatters them both. Imani will soon learn that some games can’t be won without losing everything, and Nicolas, that even in the game of hearts, the strongest player can fall to his knees.
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“Mommy! Mommy!” patakbong lumapit ang sampung taong si Hera Armida sa kanyang mommy na si Sophia Conti Saavedra Birthday ngayon ng tito Lucian Philippe Segovia at nandito sila lahat para ipagdiwang ang mahalagang okasyon na ito. Pero gaya noon, napapaiyak na lang siya dahil sa pang-aasar sa kanya ng kanyang Kuya Dylan Glenn Samaniego, ang panganay na anak ng tito Anton Drake at tita Valeen Alicia. “Why?” tanong naman agad ng mommy niya although my idea na siya kung bakit umiiyak na naman ang anak niya “Mommy si kuya Dylan, kinuha niya po si Agatha! Ayaw niya pong ibalik sa akin! sumbong ni Hera sa mommy niya na ang tinutukoy ay ang manika na palaging dala niya kahit saan siya magpunta Sa lahat kasi ng manika niya,, ito ang pinakapaborito niya and it was a gift from her daddy, Hendrix James Saavedra. Narinig naman ito ni Valeen since nasa iisang mesa lang naman sila na maybahay ng limang itlog. “Naku! Eto nanaman!” inis na sabi ni Valeen saka siya tumayo “Wait princess! Kakausapin ko ang kuya Dylan mo!” pang-aalo pa ng tita Valeen niya sa kanya “Dylan! Dylan! You better come here!” galit na sigaw ni Valeen lalo at alam niyang nagtatago sa kanya ang panganay niya Hindi naman nagtagal ay lumapit na si Dylan dala si Agatha at nakangiwi siya dahil sigurado siyang nagsumbong na si Hera. “Dylan, pinaiyak mo na naman si Hera!” galit na sabi ni Valeen sa panganay niya “Sorry mommy!” “You better go to your tita Sophia and Hera! Tell them that you are sorry!” utos ni Valeen sa labing-apat na taong gulang niyang anak Hindi din maubos maisip ni Valeen kung bakit palagi nalang ganito si Dylan. Kapag may family gatherings sila, asahan mong iiyak at iiyak si Hera dahil sa pang-aasar ni Dylan. Ilang beses na din niya itong pinagsabihan pero ganun pa rin ang nangyayari! Agad na lumapit si Dylan kay Hera at inabot nito si Agatha sa kanya. “Here’s your doll! Sorry na!!Tita sorry po!” sabi naman ni Dylan pero imbes na si Sophia ang sumagot, si Hera ang nagsalita “Your always making me cry! Sei Pazzo!” sabi pa ni Hera pero sinaway agad ito ni Sophia (Sei pazzo- you’re crazy!) “Hera! Stop it!” Suminghot naman si Hera saka siya yumakap ng mahigpit sa mommy niya. “Sorry, mommy!” Lumapit si Dylan at inabot niya ang manika ni Hera at agad namang kinuha iyon ng huli. “Huwag ka ng umiyak! Sige ka papangit ka!” hirit pa ni Dylan kaya pinandilatan na siya ng mata ng mommy niya “Pero mommy, totoo po iyon! Pumapangit po talaga si Hera kapag umiiyak siya! And Hera, stop playing with dolls! Ang laki-laki mo na eh! You’re not a baby anymore!” Hindi naman nagsalita si Hera pero sinimangutan niya si Dylan. “Naku mare, pagpasensyahan mo na si Dylan!” sabi pa ni Valeen pero tumawa lang si Sophia “Hay naku, okay lang yan! Ganyan talaga ang mga bata!” sabi pa ni Sophia sa kaibigan niyang si Valeen Tinitigan pa ni Dylan si Hera na ngayon ay namumula ang pisngi dahil sa pag-iyak niya saka siya napahinga ng malalim. ****** Dylan Nandito ako ngayon sa launch ng Bella Dolcezza, ang isa mga negosyong naipundar ng daddy ko kasama ang apat na kaibigan niya noon kabataan nila. Twenty-four years old na ako at bilang panganay, I need to step up since walang hilig sa negosyo ang kapatid kong si Dwight. All he want is to do is bum around! Ang bunso naman naming kapatid ay nag-aaral pa lang sa college at sa palagay ko siya ang makakatuwang ko sa pagma-manage ng kumpanya once na makatapos na siya. Ngayon ang launching ng Summer Collection na gawa ni Hera Armida ang bunsong anak ng mga Saavedra. Isa na siya sa mga senior designers ng Bella Dolcezza at sikat na sikat na siya even at her young age. Namana talaga niya ang husay ng lola at mommy niya when it comes to designing. “Kanina ka pa?” Napalingon ako at nakita ko si Josh na kakarating lang “Wala pa si Helious?” tanong ko kay Josh “Baka nasa back stage yun, sinasamahan si Hera! Alam mo naman napaka-protective non sa kapatid niya!” balewalng sagot ni Josh na lumilibot na ang mata kaya sure ako na naghahanap na ito ng mabibiktima Napatingin ako sa gawing kaliwa at nakita ko ang isang grupo ng mga babae na nakatingin sa amin. Itinaas ng isa ang wineglass nito and Josh did the same! Napailing na lang ako and for sure, mamaya lang, may uwing babae na ito sa unit niya. Halos magkakaedad lang kami ni Helious at ni Josh at palagi kaming sumasama kay Kuya Michell. Malaki ang impluwensya niya sa amin since siya ang panganay sa aming lahat na magkababata. Idagdag pa si Ate Maegan na kambal ni Kuya Michell at si Ate Hya. Sila ang mga nauna sa amin kaya naman sila din ang takbuhan namin sa oras ng problema. Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na si Kuya Michell. As usual, seryoso na naman ang mukha nito. Yung tipong nonchalant lang pero may kalokohan namang tinatago sa katawan. Sa lahat, sa kanya talaga ako close! Madami siyang naibibigay na advice sa akin pagdating sa negosyo at pagdating sa babae. Kunh may nonchalant na playboy, siya yun! Si Kuya Michell Blake Thompson. “Late ka!” bulong ko dito at nakita ko na may mapula siya sa kanyang leeg kaya napangisi na lang ako Mukhang sumingit pa ng dalawang round bago magpunta dito. “Madami akong trabaho!” maiksing sagot niya sa akin pero hindi naman ako naniwala siyempre Ang katwiran ni kuya, ayaw niyang itali ang sarili niya sa isang relasyon kasi hindi naman kailangan. With his looks, kayang-kaya niyang makuha ang gusto niya. And for him, istorbo lang ang mga babae. Hindi pa lang siguro niya nahahanap ang katapat niya. Napalingon ako at nakita ko na tumabi na kay Josh si Helious kaya sa palagay ko magsisimula na show. Inirampa na nga ng mga modelo ang mga gawa ni Hera and I can say na napakahusay talaga niya. She has a different approach pagdating sa mga damit but it is still classy and elegant. Sigurado ako na madami na namang kliyente ang pipila sa Bella Dolcezza makabili lang ng mga damit na idinisenyo ni Hera. Most of her designs are not for mass production at kahit mataas ang price ng mga ito ay patok na patok pa rin sila sa mga clients. They know naman kasi na quality ang mga gawa ng kumpanya so kahit pricey ang mga damit, they still buy it! Nang mailabas na lahat ang mga damit ay rumampa na muli ang mga modelo at nasa gitna nila si Hera na suot din ang isa sa mga creation niya. Ang ganda-ganda talaga niya! She is the most beautiful woman here at kapag nakikita ko siya, hindi talaga matigil ang malakas na tibok ng puso ko. Pero may problema! She hates me! When we are young palagi ko siyang inaasar. I don’t know pero dahil hindi niya ako pinapansin, nagpapansin ako. Inaasar ko siya at nung mga bata pa kami, palagi siyang umiiyak. She would run to her mom at kapag narinig ito ng Mommy ko, mapapagalitan akong tiyak. Ngayon hindi na siya umiiyak kapag inaasar ko siya! She fights me back at dun na ako nag-eenjoy! Ang ganda niya kasi kapag galit! Yung tipong umuusok na ang ilong niya sa sobrang galit pero ang ganda-ganda pa rin niya! Lumapit si Helious at inabutan ng bulaklak ang kapatid niya at ganun din si Tito Hendrix at si tita Sophia. They greeted their one and only daughter and they are so proud of her and the success of her launch. I am also proud of her pero hindi ko naman maipakita dahil inis na inis nga siya sa akin. After the launch ay may party na inihanda ang marketing ng Bella Dolcezza para sa mga taong dumalo sa okasyong ito. Nanatili lang ako sa pwesto pero dahil kailangan, napilitan akong lapitan si Hera para icongratulate. “Hera, congratulations!” sabi ko dito pero ni hindi man lang ngumiti sa akin ang babaeng ito “Thanks!” maiksing sagot niya saka niya ibinaling ang tingin kay Regina, ang kapatid ni Kuya Michell at isa sa mga triplets Napahinga ako ng malalim saka ko kinuha sa bulsa ng coat ko ang regalo ko para kay Hera. Nabili ko ito noong may business trip ako sa US and I guess babagay ito sa kanya. “Gift ko sayo!” sabi ko sabay abot sa kanya ng kahon Siguro kahit naiinis sa akin si Hera ay napilitan siyang kunin ang ibinigay ko para hindi ako mapahiya and for me that’s enough. Ang importante, tinanggap niya. “Thank you!” sabi niya at agad iyong inilagay sa sling bag niya saka muling hinarap si Regina Hindi na ako kumibo dahil ayaw naman niya akong kausapin at nang makita ko na kumakaway si Josh ay agad ko itong nilapitan. “Dylan, my men, I would like you to meet Hailey, Hailey this is my dear friend, Dylan!” pakilala niya sa isang babae na halos kasing tangkad ni Hera Mestiza ito so I guess may lahing foreigner. “Nice to meet you, Dylan!” sabi ni Hailey saka inabot ang kamay niya which I gladly accepted “Same here! I am Dylan!” pakilala ko sa kanya Nagkwentuhan kami at napag-alaman ko na bakasyunista lang pala dito si Hailey. Mabait naman siyang kausap and she’s also an American. “Nag-aaya sila sa bar? Sama tayo?” bulong sa akin ni Josh Pumayag naman ako since linggo naman bukas at walang trabaho. “Alright!” sigaw pa ni Josh bago siya lumapit kay Helious para sabihin dito na aalis na kami pati na din kay Kuya Michell And knowing Helious, tiyak na susunod din namin ito sa amin. Ewan ko lang kay Kuya Michell dahil kasama niya ngayon si Ate Hya. Paalis na kami sa venue ng launch at ng mapalingon ako, nakita ko ang nagliliyab na mata ni Hera. Nakasimangot ito at pero dahil paalis na kami ay hindi ko na pinansin lalo pa at hinila na ni Hailey ang braso ko. Lilingunin ko sana ulit si Hera pero nakatalikod na siya at kausap naman ang mga modelo.Imani’s POVWhen I agreed to hangout, I told myself the evening was harmless.That it was just an opportuniy for me to get to know Ryder better outside classes and the occasional hellos. I convinced myself that it was just Nicolas still trying to make amends and I wanted to show him some grace.That was the story I repeated in my head as I walked back to my apartment, my keys clutched tightly in my hand, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The evening had been harmless. Normal. Friendly.Just people hanging out. Just Ryder being kind. Just Nicolas being… there.Nothing more.And yet my heart hadn’t stopped racing since I left. Being in Nicolas’s personal space made me feel like I was seeing another part of him. Sure Ryder was nice and he was fun to hangout with him, but I couldn’t get my mind off Nicolas. One thing was for certain.I was so fucked.I unlocked the door quietly, slipping inside and closing it behind me with more care than necessary. June wasn’t home yet, whic
Nicolas’s POVWhen the idea first hit me, I told myself it wasn’t manipulation. That was the first lie.The second was that Ryder had anything to do with why I wanted Imani at my place. It had fuck all to do with him, but I knew she wouldn’t show up if it we were going to be alone.I stared at my phone for a full minute before texting her, thumb hovering like the truth might crawl out if I waited too long. My apartment felt unusually quiet around me, like it knew what I was about to do and disapproved.I hadn’t crossed any boundaries lately. I’d been careful. I’ve played by every one of her rules and kept a respectful distance during our tutoring sessions. I hadn’t even brought up the fact that she told me to teach her how to kiss. It was something I still obsessed over.But being careful didn’t suddenly mean I was innocent.So I took the leap and texted her.Ryder’s coming by later. He mentioned wanting to hang out with you sometime. Thought I’d ask if you wanted to stop by.I watche
Nicolas’s POVI didn’t like thinking about Ryder.Which was inconvenient, considering Ryder was one of my friends.We weren’t inseparable or anything dramatic like that, but we’d known each other long enough, shared classes, shared practices, shared enough late nights and bad decision that there was a level of trust there. He was solid. Honest. Annoyingly perceptive when he wanted to be.And lately, he’d been looking at me like he knew something was off.I should’ve seen this coming.We were in the student gym, sprawled across the benches after a brutal morning workout. Sweat clung to my skin, my muscles aching in that dull, familiar way that usually helped clear my head.Today, it wasn’t working.Ryder tossed me a bottle of water. “You’ve been weird lately.”I caught it one-handed. “Weird how?”He snorted. “You’re asking questions. That’s how.”I rolled my eyes. “Real funny.”“I’m serious,” he said, leaning back against the locker, arms crossed. “You’re quieter. Grumpier. You’ve got
Imani’s POVI hadn’t expected Nicolas respecting my boundaries to feel like this.That was the part no one warned you about.I thought putting distance between me and Nicolas would make everything easier, cleaner, quieter, safer. I thought once he stopped pushing, once he stayed firmly on his side of the line, I’d feel relieved.Instead, I felt… unsettled.Our last tutoring session had been textbook perfect. He arrived early. He stayed focused. He didn’t tease me, didn’t provoke me, didn’t flirt. He didn’t linger when it was over.He followed every rule I set like they were sacred. And somehow, that hurt more than when he’d been reckless.I stared at my notes for the third time without actually reading them, my mind replaying the way he’d stood at the door that night, the look on is face deliberate, restrained. Like he was afraid one wrong move would shatter something fragile.Maybe it already had.I closed my notebook with a soft thud and leaned back against the couch just as June wa






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