Chapter 3

LYLIA'S POV

"Yie! Lylia is smitten! You were arguing a while ago, and now there's kissing? Hm, smells something fishy.” Love teased.

I just glared at her and pretended I knew nothing. I'd tell them what Raze and I had talked about but maybe later.

"Don't be nosy, it's just nothing!" I snapped at her. "What were you two talking about earlier? Why did you stop?"

She and Lira exchanged knowing glances. "We were curious about your 'score' with the Captain. We're in a VIP room now, right? And I heard from the doctor earlier that he paid Lira's bills and medicine, and now he's buying our food. Spill the tea." Love teased as they both giggled.

I heave a sigh. I might as well tell them now and get it over with.

I told them about my deal with Raze, and they both gaped in disbelief.

"W-Wow!" Love exclaimed. "So, you accepted his proposal huh?"

"I had to," I scratched my head.

There was nothing to be gained by keeping it a secret. They would eventually find out. It was better that they knew from the start rather than assuming we had a relationship when, in fact, we didn't.

"What if you fall for him? What will happen? Will he catch you? Or will he just let you fall and get hurt in the end?" That's what Love left me with, a question that haunted me all night.

“My only advice, sis,” my sister said, “is to avoid falling in love if you know it will end badly. Stop it if you must.” I took her words to heart.

I was groggy the next morning because of their advice.

I seriously thought about whether my decision about my deal with Raze was right, but I couldn't take it back because I'd already agreed to it. Besides, he helped me even though we owed him a lot.

Whatever happened with our deal, it was all on me because I was the one who decided.

We didn't wait for Raze to pick us up when we were discharged from the hospital. Ashel hadn't mentioned anything about Raze picking up the food last night. He was the one who delivered it.

I didn't know where Raze had gone last night, and frankly speaking, I don’t mind. We were simply fulfilling our agreement, that was all.

We took a tricycle home since I still have to go to the market for the ingredients of viand that we would be selling today because it was another cockfighting day.

There weren't many people yet, but that was fine, they only ate in the afternoon since they were busy conditioning their roosters in the morning.

“Lylia! Do you have any food? I’ll pay you back later!” Buboy approached, looking like a zombie with his messy hair.

“I haven’t been to the market yet, so there’s nothing to eat.”

Buboy winced. “Oh.” He scratched his head.

“You have a tricycle, right? Let’s go to the market. Your lunch is on me!”

"Sure thing—hey, it's the Captain!"

I quickly followed his gaze, and when I saw that it was Raze, I immediately dropped the cover of the eatery—

"Ouch!"

I opened it without thinking and frantically grabbed his hand. Luckily, he quickly grabbed the eatery's cover, or it would have fallen on my head.

"Does it hurt?" I asked worriedly because there was blood on his finger. It looked like it got pinched.

"Yeah," he replied. I ignored his stare as I continued examining his wound. "Are you angry—ouch, Lylia! Don't squeeze it. Be gentle, please.”

"Does it hurt?" I asked sarcastically as I looked up at him. "Where were you?"

He grinned. "Want to know? Were you worried?"

I glared at him. "Of course. Would I ask if I didn't?" I retorted.

"At the church—to where we're getting married."

I froze. "Huh?"

"I was taking care of the wedding arrangements," he explained. "That's why I didn't come back last night. Didn't Ashel tell you?" he asked, frowning.

I shook my head. "He didn't say anything."

I heard him curse, so I covered his mouth. "No cursing, Captain. Why didn't you just tell me right away? Ashel? We're not in good terms, and I don't think he approves of us getting married."

He fell silent. "Hey, are you sure about this?" he asked after I lowered my hand.

I grimaced. "Go back to my answer from yesterday." I turned my back on him.

"Why are you so grumpy? I already explained myself, Lyl." He tried to turn me around by holding my hand, but I quickly pulled it away.

"I'm busy," I said curtly. "I need to go to the market."

"Then we'll go. I'll go with you." He initiated.

"No, I can manage." Even if I couldn't because I had a lot to buy.

"Why are you so stubborn, Lylia?"

"I’m not, Raze." I said firmly.

I heard him let out a loud sigh. I hoped he would reconsider his offer and just let me pay, even monthly.

"What do you want? Are you angry because I didn't come back last night? I'll make it up to you, Lyl." He tried to appease me.

"No," I replied coldly. "This is just a deal, right? So it's no big deal. I have my own life, you have yours, we're good."

"Do you want us to make this real?"

Now it was my turn to be silent. "I-I don't. I'm not into you."

"Face me and say that," he challenged. "Look at me, Lyl, and say that to me, eye to eye."

"I don't know what to say to you, Raze!" I marched out of the eatery and walked down. "Don't follow me—Raze!" I was so shocked when he pulled me inside his car.

"You're so stubborn, Lylia." I almost forgot to breathe when he fastened my seatbelt, and couldn't help but inhale his scent. "Smells good?" he looked at me.

"Yes—no!" I averted my gaze because it was awkward!

"Why are you sniffing it then? And you're blushing, Lyl," he said playfully. “Such a good liar.”

"What blushing?! It's just hot, okay?! A-And I'm not sniffing it!” I said, defensively.

"Don't you want to taste it?"

My eyes widened. "Taste what?! Pervert!" I pushed him, causing him to laugh again.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, teasingly.

"W-What are you talking about?!”

"There are two. Want to know?"

Two what?!

"Raze..." I warned, but he just grinned mischievously.

"One on top, one on the bottom. Want to see?"

"W-What are you saying?" I tried to push him again, but he didn't budge.

"One is hard rocking long, the other is curved."

What was he referring to? Is he referring to his… oh God!