Chapter 3

"Yie! Lylia's getting all lovey-dovey! Just a while ago you two were fighting, and now there's a kiss? What's your deal?" Love teased.

I'd probably tell them about it later.

"Don't make a big deal out of it, it was nothing!" I hissed at her. "What were you two talking about earlier? Why did you stop?"

She and Lira exchanged knowing glances. "We were just intrigued about your score with Raze. I mean, we're in a VIP room now, and I overheard Doc earlier that he paid for Lira's bills and medicine, and now he's even buying our food. Spill the tea," Love teased again, and she and Lira giggled.

I could only sigh. I'd just tell them to get it over with.

I told them about my deal with Raze, and they both stared at me, mouths agape, in disbelief.

"Shocks!" Love exclaimed. "You agreed?"

"I had to," I said, scratching my head.

Nothing good would come of keeping it a secret from them anyway. They'd find out eventually. It was better if they knew from the start rather than assume we were in a relationship when we really weren'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?" Love's words lingered in my mind, a puzzle that kept me up all night.

"My only advice, sis, is don't fall in love if you know you'll be the one to lose in the end. Stop yourself if you have to," my sister advised, and I etched her words into my mind.

I was a mess the next morning because of their advice.

I really thought hard about whether my decision regarding the deal with Raze was right, but I couldn't take it back since I had already said yes to him. Besides, the man had 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.

I didn't even manage to wash my face because we were discharged from the hospital early.

We also didn't wait for Raze to pick us up because Ashel, who delivered the food last night instead of Raze, didn't say anything about him coming.

I didn't know where that man went, but I didn't care anymore. We were just doing the deal, and that was it.

We just took a tricycle home because I still needed to go to the market for what we would sell today since it was another cockfighting day.

There weren't too many people yet, and they would probably eat later in the afternoon since they were busy conditioning their roosters.

"Sister Lylia! Can I borrow some viand? I'll pay you later!" Buboy greeted me.

"I haven't gone to the market yet, so there's no viand."

"Eh?" He scratched his head with a grimace.

"You have a tricycle, right? Come with me to the market so your meal today will be free—"

"Sure thing—oh, it's Captain!"

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

"Ouch!"

I opened it prematurely and frantically grabbed his hand. Good thing he quickly caught the cover, or it would have fallen on my head.

"Does it hurt?" I asked worriedly because there was blood. It looked like it really got caught.

"Yes," he replied. I ignored his stare at me and continued to examine his wound. "Are you mad—ouch, Lylia! Don't squeeze it. Be gentle."

"Does it hurt?" I asked sarcastically, looking up at him. "Where have you been?"

He smirked. "You want to know?"

I glared at him. "Obviously. Would I be asking?" I retorted.

"At the church—where we'll get married."

I stared blankly. "Huh?"

"Taking care of where we'll get married," 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 agrees with us getting married." I lowered his hand.

"How about you?" he asked.

"Recall 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 to face him by grabbing 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 come with you." He initiated.

"It's okay, I can manage." But that was a lie. I have a lot to buy that's why I asked Buboy to come with me.

"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 consider taking back his offer and just let me pay monthly.

"What do you want? Are you mad because I didn't come back last night? I'll make it up to you, Lyl," he coaxed.

"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."

He fell silent. "Do you want us to make it real?"

Now it was my turn to be silent. "I-I don't like you that 'way'."

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

"I have nothing to say to you anymore, Raze!" I marched out of the eatery and walked down the hill. "Don't follow me—Raze!"

"You're so stubborn, Lylia." He pulled me into his car and almost forgot to breathe when he put on my seatbelt. I couldn't help but inhale his scent again. "Smells good?" he stared at me.

"Yes—no!" I looked away, feeling awkward!

"Then why are you sniffing? And you're blushing," he said playfully.

"What blushing?! It's just hot, okay!" I said defensively. "A-And I'm not sniffing! You're so full of yourself!"

"Don't you like to taste it?" he teased.

My eyes widened. "Huh?!" I pushed him, and he laughed.

"What's on your mind then?"

I felt even hotter. "W-What's there to taste about you?! Nothing, right?!"

"There is, two things. You want to know?" I almost went cross-eyed staring at him as he leaned even closer.

"Stop teasing or I'll smack your face," I threatened, but he just grinned mischievously.

"One up here, one down there. Want to see?" he smirked.

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

"One is long, the other is curved."

What was he referring to? Damn it!