Chapter 5

“What are you doing here? I thought you were in Canada? When did you come back?” Raze fired off question after question, clearly unable to believe the woman was standing there. “Why didn’t you call me? I should’ve picked you up at the airport.”

The woman chuckled. “That’s exactly why. You’re always the one picking me up. I wanted something different for once.”

Raze’s hand tightened, as if he didn’t like what she said. “Then who picked you up? Ashel?”

She shook her head. “No. Your cousin, Nicole. She’s actually with me… oh, there she is.” She waved. “Girl, here!”

“Surprise, coz!”

Raze let go of my hand when the woman hugged him from behind.

“Do you like my surprise?” she said with a smile, even pinching his cheek. “You can finally continue the wedding.”

I froze.

W-Wedding? If that was the case, then the woman standing in front of us now was supposed to be the one he would marry?

I took a small step back when I almost got bumped by his cousin, then decided to move farther away.

I wanted to leave. Aside from feeling completely out of place, customers might start coming in soon, some of them usually had breakfast at the eatery.

Raze wouldn’t get mad if I left, right?

“Hey! Who’s with you?” Nicole asked him.

Sheila looked at me. I instantly felt small as she scanned me from head to toe.

Compared to me, dressed in market clothes, she was the complete opposite. You could tell she was rich just by how she dressed.

“She’s right here…” I heard Raze murmur, so I stepped closer.

They both looked at me, and just like Sheila, Nicole also sized me up. I didn’t miss her grimace that it made my bl00d boil.

I decided I’d just excuse myself from Raze. I might not be able to hold myself back with his cousin or his ex.

“You already hired a house helper?”

My grip tightened on the plastic bag as I tried to calm myself.

“I’m heading home, Raze,” I said, then turned to his cousin. “You look more like the house helper.”

I turned my back on them and headed to the tricycle terminal. But before I could get on one, someone grabbed my right hand.

I was about to scream when I recognized who it was.

“Raf?”

I let him take the things I was carrying.

“Don’t go there, come with me instead,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me toward the parking area. “Tricycles are cramped.”

“What are you doing here? Did you go to the market too?”

Raf had been my friend since college, but after I stopped studying, we rarely saw each other. Sometimes he visited our place, but never stayed long since he was busy with school.

“Yeah. I missed the veggies here at the market, then I saw you. Looks like you were about to fight those women with the Captain. Are you close with Raze?” he asked after opening the car door for me.

I got in and buckled my seatbelt. “No,” I answered shortly, still pissed.

He nodded. “Anyway, I have something to tell you.”

My eyes widened when he suddenly leaned close to my face.

“H-Hey, what are you doing? Someone might see us,” I said softly, pushing him away as he laughed. “W-What do you want to ask? You don’t have to get that close.”

“You didn’t wash your face, did you? You’ve got eye gunk,” he said, laughing out loud.

I cûrsed silently and rubbed my face. Damn it! Of all things, that’s what he noticed?

“You jerk!” I smacked his chest.

“That’s what you get for going to the market without washing your face,” he said, still laughing.

“How was I supposed to know you’d notice?” I snapped.

“Reason, Lylia.”

I dropped my hand and shot him a glare.

“You happy now? Fine, I’ll just get out—”

“Hey, I’m kidding. I’m serious now. Listen, okay?”

I rolled my eyes. “Make sure what you’re about to say is good, or you’ll regret it.”

“Yeah, yeah. So listen and give me advice, okay? I’m planning to run for district chairman in the next election. It’s next month, right? Do you think I’ll win?”

My jaw dropped. “Seriously? Didn’t you say you hated politics because it’s dirty?”

He sighed. “Well, I changed my mind. Support me, okay?”

I was left staring blankly when he closed the car door, but I almost jumped when it opened again. I swallowed hard when I saw who was standing there.

“W-What are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer. He just stared at me with cold eyes.

“C-Captain? What are you—”

“Raze!” I yelled when he unbuckled my seatbelt and, without warning, lifted me like a sack of rice. “Hey! Put me down!”

“Shut up!”

I stiffened when he squeezed my thigh.

“Captain! Put me down!” I struggled even as people started staring at us. “What are you doing?!”

But it was too late, he shoved me inside his car.

“Have you lost your mind?! What will people say—”

My eyes widened at what he did next. It felt like my heart stopped when his soft lips pressed against mine.

“Then be quiet too,” he said coolly. “Got anything else to say?”

I blinked several times.

Did he really just kiss me?