Chapter 4

LYLIA'S POV

"Stop it," I snapped at him. "Whatever you can 'taste' on me is yours. I'm not interested."

"Will you still say that when we're married?" he asked after lowering my hand. "I'm just kidding, Lyl, but it seems like I like what's on your mind."

"You're such a pervert!" I yelled at him.

He burst into laughter. "So, perversion is on your mind huh?"

I froze. I was caught! Oh my God! "No!" I defended as my eyes widened. "Get away from me! I can't breathe!"

"Fine, fine... stop pushing me," he moved away from me, but still laughing. "I didn't know you knew about that. You're not that innocent. Hm, so ready for me."

I glared at him. "Ready for what? Want to taste a smack on your face?"

"I already offered earlier, but you didn't want to." He said with a grin.

I glared at him. "T-That's not what I mean! One more time, Raze, and you’ll see. You still owe me."

"For not coming back last night? Like I said, I was taking care of our wedding."

"Are you in a hurry?"

"Yes, I need to rush it, who knows you might escape."

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not.”

A moment of silence...

We avoided eye contact, and after a moment, I heard him chuckle softly. "Damn, beautiful woman."

"Huh?"

"Nothing," he shrugged. This Captain really had a screw loose. "Maybe you want to close your legs? You're sitting with them spread open." The second he said that, he closed the car door, leaving me staring at my splayed legs.

"Raze!" I cupped my face, mortified.

I only just noticed my legs were open! So embarrassing! Why didn't he say something sooner? He's so annoying!

I glanced at his side as soon as he sat in the driver's seat, then turned my back to him, legs curled.

"What are you doing? Does your stomach hurt? Or just avoiding me?" I could hear the playfulness in his voice. He's teasing me! So irritating!

"You're having so much fun, aren't you?" I turned to him and sat properly. "When's the wedding? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"You'll know," he said and started driving. "You'll find out anyway, because you'll be my wife."

"Once we get married, is my debt paid?"

He glanced at me. "Nope. You still owe one million."

Damn it! I thought it would be paid, but it turned out, it wasn't. "Make things clear." I complained.

"We'll get there soon."

"I'm impatient."

"I know."

"Raze, seriously!"

I'm getting annoyed with him!

"Once we're married, one million is paid. And I won't demolish your house and eatery." He clarified.

"The remaining one million?"

"I'll think about it—don't pressure me, Lyl."

"I know what I'll do!"

He glanced at me. "What are you thinking?"

"I'll be your maid," I suggested. I yelped when he suddenly slammed on the brakes. "Raze! Do you want us to crash?!"

"Sorry, what did you say again?"

"I said I'll be your maid so I can gradually pay you back!”

"I thought you'd be my helper in making a baby," he whispered, so I didn't hear him.

"Did you say something?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing. I said I'll think about it." He said with a smile.

"Suspicious. You're scheming something, aren't you?" I poked his cheek. "You're planning something, aren't you?"

"Stop it, Lyl, I'm driving." He stopped me while smiling strangely.

"You're planning something, aren't you? Tell me..." I stopped teasing him when he caught both of my hands.

"Naughty. I haven't planned anything yet. Maybe tomorrow, I will."

"I knew it! I don't want to get married anymore!" I pulled my hands away, making him laugh.

"Are you sure about that?"

I remained silent.

"Lyl…”

Just keep counting, idiot! I don't care.

"Two—"

"Are we getting married at the church? Can't we just have a private ceremony?" I asked.

Now he was silent. I felt like I'd done something wrong. There was nothing wrong with my question, though.

"They won't believe it." He answered coldly.

"Will everyone attend the wedding?"

"Everyone."

"Do they know that—"

"Stop questioning me."

He's so moody, honestly. Sometimes sweet, sometimes grumpy, sometimes—he's so hard to figure out. How much more if we get married? I might not last. Oh well, it's just a deal.

When we arrived at the market, I didn't wait for him to open the door for me and got out first, carrying my basket for vegetables and fish.

I saw him park the car and was about to chase me, but someone stopped him. I think they were his barangay colleagues. He is a barangay chairman, after all.

I went to the inner part of the market and bought fresh vegetables, fish, and ingredients to make a good viand and sell it later. I also bought meat but not much because it's expensive—

"Here," I looked up at the man taking my things. "Please add more meat."

"It's you, Captain," the vendor briefly looked at me before adding more meat to the scale. "Is this okay, Captain?"

"Add more." He ordered, so the vendor added more. "That's enough. How much is it all?"

"Five hundred pesos only, Captain."

Raze gave him a thousand. "Keep the change."

"But—"

"Let's go, Lyl."

I couldn't protest when he took my hand and pulled me along. We were being stared at and whispered about.

"What else do we need?" he asked, walking straight ahead. "Lyl?"

"Huh?" I blinked. I didn't realize I'd been staring at him. "N-Nothing." I looked down.

"Rice?"

"N-No—"

He stopped at the rice store. "Two sacks of rice. Please send them to my car."

"C-Captain!" The vendor seemed to have just recovered, rubbing his eyes. This was probably the first time he'd seen Raze in a while. "Oh my, you're back, Captain."

Raze nodded with a smile. "Yes, just the other day. How much is it all?"

Before the vendor could answer, Raze handed him five thousand pesos. "Captain, that's too much—"

"It's okay, keep it."

I thought he was stingy? Why is he giving money away?

"Thank you, Captain. Is she your girlfriend?"

I was about to answer when he beat me to it. "She will be my wife," Raze replied, smiling.

"Wow, you hit the jackpot!" I secretly laughed when the vendor clapped. "You're a perfect match! Both are beautiful.”

I felt Raze's gaze on me, so I looked up at him. "Why?"

"Are you still mad at me?"

"Do I look mad?" I tilted my head, which made him smile. "Do I look angry, Captain?"

"I want to kiss you." His sudden words made my eyes widen and my heart skip a beat.

I glared at him despite what he just said. "Y-You pervert!" How could he say that so casually? There were so many people around here!

He grinned. "You’re spacing out a while ago. What were you thinking?

"Nothing! Let's go home before you start teasing me again," I snapped.

We said goodbye to the vendor, and I pulled him out of the market.

"Captain?" We turned to the woman who called out to Raze.

"S-Sheila?"

They know each other?