KABANATA 2

The moment I stepped out of Heavenly, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

Zech’s scent still clung to me—subtle cologne, danger, and something unexplainably addictive.

His words echoed in my ears. “Kung kaya ko alisin ‘yan sayo, gagawin ko.”

He said it like a promise. Like someone who meant it.

But promises from men like him? They come with sharp edges and hidden daggers.

Pumasok ako sa kotse at mabilis na isinara ang pinto. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, forcing myself to remember why I was doing this.

This isn’t about him. This is about them. My parents. Their screams. Their blood. Their silence.

At kung siya nga ang konektado sa lahat ng ‘yon, I will burn his empire to the ground. Piece by piece. Starting with his heart. And the worst part? I think he’s already offering it.

Kinabukasan, I received a message.

Unknown Number: Hope I didn’t ruin your night, Reighn. I’d like to see you again.

Zech.

In his connections, it is not impossible to make a move to find my number to him. 

I stared at my phone for a long second. Heart pounding. Not because I was thrilled but because I knew what came next.

It’s working. He took the bait. Two nights later, I showed up again. Same club. Same bar seat.

This time, I wore white silk. Harmless. Innocent. The kind of girl you’d want to protect. The kind of illusion that traps men like Zech.

“Back for the wine?” a familiar voice said behind me.

“No. Back for the mystery,” sagot ko.

Naupo siya sa tabi ko, dressed in a charcoal black shirt, sleeves rolled, veins on his forearms prominent.

God. He’s dangerous. Not just physically. Emotionally. And I hate that I noticed.

“You looked like you had something to run from last time,” he said while sipping his drink. “Or someone to run to.”

“I’m always running,” I admitted. “The trick is to look like I’m not.”

Napangiti siya. “You fascinate me.”

“You scare me,” I shot back, eyes locking with his.

He didn’t flinch. “Good.”

He leaned closer. “Because people only fear what has power over them.”

Tumahimik kami.

The music changed to a slow, almost haunting jazz piece. That was when he asked me something I didn’t expect.

“What would you do if someone hurt your family?”

Napakagat ako sa labi. The air around us turned colder.

I felt my body tense but I played it cool. I smiled, casually swirling the wine in my glass.

“Simple,” sagot ko. “I’d make sure they never breathe the same peace I lost.”

He didn’t react. But I saw something in his eyes. Recognition? Pain? Or guilt? I couldn’t tell.

But I could feel it. There was something buried deep inside him, something broken.

“Have you ever hurt someone innocent?” I asked softly.

He looked at me, quiet.

“I don’t believe in innocence,” he finally said.

“That’s a dangerous philosophy.”

He leaned in, his breath brushing my skin. “So is falling for someone like you.”

Those words?

They struck harder than they should’ve. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything.

But there was something about the way he said it—like he knew we were headed for disaster, but he was running straight toward it anyway. And the terrifying part?

So was I.

We ended up in one of the VIP lounges. Private. Dimly lit. Too close.

I kept my guard up, but he was getting under my skin. Every look. Every carefully chosen word. Every glance that lingered a second too long.

“So… what do you do, Reighn?” he asked.

“Something quiet. Boring,” I lied. “Numbers. Screens. Files.”

“And yet here you are… in my world.”

“I like danger sometimes,” I said, tilting my head. “It makes me feel alive.”

His eyes darkened. “And do I make you feel alive?”

I stared at him. Dead silent.

One wrong move, and this entire game would crumble.

“Yes,” I whispered, almost against my will.

His lips curved into a smirk but there was no arrogance. It was… hunger. Possession. Obsession.

That’s when I knew. He was falling. And I was winning. But deep down, something about that didn’t feel like victory.

Hours passed like minutes. Then suddenly, we were outside the club again. Sa parking lot, nakaawang ang malamig na hangin, pero mainit ang katawan ko mula sa tensyon.

“I don’t usually do this,” he said, standing too close. “But I want to see you again. Tomorrow. My place.”

I froze. That was it. The access I needed.

If I was going to find out the truth, about him, his connections, and his crimes—I had to get closer.

Close enough to read the blood on his hands.

Or the cracks in his soul. So I smiled.

Pretending it was for him.

“Text me the address.”

He exhaled like I just gave him the whole world.

And maybe I did. Because after tomorrow… there’s no turning back.

Pagkabukas ng pinto ng penthouse ni Zech, ramdam ko agad ang bigat ng presensya niya. Tahimik ang paligid, pero parang ang bawat sulok ng silid ay humihinga kasama niya. Malamig ang hangin sa loob, pero ang katawan ko’y nag-aapoy sa tensyong hindi ko maipaliwanag.

“Welcome,” aniya, ang boses niya’y parang alon, malamig sa una pero kapag tumama sa balat, mariin at mahirap takasan.

Hindi ako sumagot. Tinapakan ko ang marble floor, marahan ang bawat hakbang, habang sinusuri ang silid. Modernong klaseng marangal—glass walls, dark wood, black and gold accents. Pero ang pinakamabigat na bagay sa kwartong ito ay hindi ang chandelier, kundi ang mga mata ni Zech na nakatutok lang sa akin.

“I had this place built for people I trust. And tonight… that’s you,” bulong niya habang marahang isinasara ang pinto.

Nasa gitna kami ng silid nang lumapit siya. Hindi ako gumalaw. Hindi rin ako tumingin. Pero ramdam ko ang init ng hininga niya sa batok ko. Mabagal. Maingat. Nakakapaso.

“Bakit ako?” tanong ko, mahina.

“Because the moment I saw you… I knew,” aniya. “You’re the kind of chaos I want to burn in.”

Ramdam ko ang pagdapo ng mga daliri niya sa balikat ko. Banayad sa simula, pero lumalalim. Hindi ko alam kung titigil ako o babagsak na lang sa kanya. Hindi ito parte ng plano ko.

Pero para bang siya ang plano. At ako ang hindi handa.

“Gusto mo bang umalis?” tanong niya, ang mga labi niya nasa gilid ng tenga ko.

Gusto ko sanang sumagot ng oo. Pero hindi ko magawa. Kasi hindi lang obsession niya ang problema. Ako rin.

I’m getting pulled in.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at dinala ako sa loob ng master bedroom. Ang kama, malambot at malawak. Ang mga ilaw, dim. Puno ng init ang paligid kahit naka-aircon.

“Sabihin mong ayaw mo,” sabi niya habang marahang inihiga ako sa kama. “Sabihin mong tigilan ko.”

Pero hindi ko sinabi.

Dahan-dahan siyang yumuko. Hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi, sa baba, sa leeg. Bawat halik ay parang sumpa. Bawat haplos ay parang pakiusap. Marahan niyang tinanggal ang damit ko, ang bawat piraso ng tela ay tila saksi sa unti-unting pagbagsak ng mga panlaban ko.

“Virgin ka, ‘di ba?” tanong niya, halos hindi marinig ang tinig.

Tumango lang ako, mahina. At sa pag-amin kong iyon, mas lalong lumalim ang tingin niya.

“I’ll be gentle,” aniya. “But I won’t stop.”

Hinubad din niya ang damit niya. At sa unang pagkakataon, nakita ko siyang buo—hindi lang pisikal, kundi ang lalim ng sugat niya. Para bang hubad din ang kaluluwa niya habang nakatitig sa akin.

Pumatong siya. Hinalikan niya ulit ako mas marahan, mas malalim. Pinagapang niya ang mga labi niya sa dibdib ko, sa tiyan ko, sa balakang ko. Bawat sandali ay parang patak ng ulan sa tuyong disyerto.

Pagpasok niya, masakit. Napa-iyak ako. Pero hindi siya tumigil. Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko, hinalikan ang luha ko, at binulong, “Breathe. Let me in. Let me make you mine.”

At nang magpatuloy siya, ramdam ko ang unti-unting pagbitaw ko sa sarili ko. Hindi lang katawan ko ang ibinigay ko sa kanya pati puso ko, kahit hindi ko balak.

Ulit-ulit. Mabagal. Malalim. Hanggang sa nawala ang sakit. Napalitan ng init. Napalitan ng pagnanasa. Napalitan ng isang uri ng koneksyon na mas matalim pa sa punyal.

“Reighn…” ungol niya habang tinitigan ako. “You don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

Alam ko. Kasi pareho kami. Parehong nalulunod sa apoy na tayo rin ang nagsindi.

Pagkatapos, niyakap niya ako. Hindi siya nagsalita. Hindi rin ako. Pero sa bawat tibok ng puso namin, ramdam ko… this wasn’t just physical.

It was obsession dressed as love.

And I was willingly walking into the fire.