Chapter 4

Hindi inaalis ni Liza ang tingin mula kay Hunter na abala sa paglibot ng tingin sa kabuuan ng sala ng kanyang bahay. Magkaharap na silang dalawa na nakaupo sa couch, at ang dalawang kasama nito na dalawang lalaki ay nasa labas lamang ng sira ng pintuan ng kanyang bahay. 

"Not bad." Komento ni Hunter at ibinalik na ang tingin sa kanya na kaagad naman niyang sinalubong. "For a B-list celebrity, this house is not bad."

"Should I take that as a compliment or what? And how did you find my house?" 

"Seems like what we did last did not take a toll on your body since you can still run your mouth like that." 

Gustong matawa ni Liza. Their sexing did not affect her body? Does he even remember what he did to her body? He covered her in hickeys, and she still felt the pain in her womanhood, breasts, and thighs. And the sexing they did took a toll not only on her body but also on her fucking career! But she won't say it aloud. She won't tell Hunter that the fucking they did wreak havoc on her life. Because she has this feeling that if she tells him, Hunter will think she liked the sex so much and that he did such a good job fucking her that she just let him do whatever he wanted even though she was aware of the consequences; kahit pa totoo naman na na-enjoy niya talaga ang naging p********k nila. But she still won't say it. Her pride cannot allow it.

"And did you like the sex so much that you went crazy over me and even followed me here in my house like a damn stalker?" Nanunuya niyang tanong naman rito pabalik. Liza expected Hunter to deny her accusation and be enraged, but he replied with a flat "Yes." But her surprise was short-lived, and an incredulous half-smile quickly replaced it as she scoffed. "So? What are you going to do about it?" She asked, shaking her head. "Don't tell me you came here to tell me you want to have a serious relationship with me because I am telling you now; I will not accept it. I am all for one-night stands, but sleeping with the same person twice and being in a serious relationship is not my forte. If you understand that, leave me a payment for my door that your men broke and leave quietly and never come back." She said sternly before standing up and turning her back on Hunter. Ngunit nakaka-ilang hakbang pa lamang si Liza ay nagsalita ng muli si Hunter. "I'm not going anywhere, woman. Not until you hear me out and say yes."

Her brow furrowed in perplexity, and she came to a halt. What in the world is this jerk saying?

She gave him a stern look. "Hindi ako interesado sa kung ano ang gusto mong sabihin o itanong kaya uulitin ko, just leave a damn payment for my door and fuck off; I am not in the mood to play games with you," she said as she turned away from Hunter and began to walk towards the stairs.

She knows she's crazy for letting Hunter and the other men into her home, even though they invited themselves with force and leaving them to roam freely around her house without even calling the cops, but right now, she doesn't care. She lost her job and dream, and her body is still aching and sore. At sapat na dahilan na ang mga iyon upang mawalan na siya ng pakialam sa kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanya at sa buhay niya. She wants to take a break from everything that has happened today.

"Are you sure you don't want to listen to me? Even if it's about your career?" Kaagad na napatigil si Liza sa akmang pagpanhik sa ikalawang palapag ng kanyang bahay matapos makuha ng tanong na iyon ni Hunter ang atensyon niya. Nakakunot ang noo na nilingon niya ang lalaki. "That piqued your interest, huh?" Hunter asked, his face blank, making it difficult for Liza to tell what was on his mind and what he was up to. Hindi nagsalita si Liza. Tinitigan niya si Hunter, not even trying to hide her interest in what Hunter said, and waited for him to say something else. "If you want to hear more, come back here, take another seat, and listen to me," Hunter continues.

"You'll have to say more than that if you want me to stay and listen," Liza replied bravely, looking into Hunter's eyes.

Sinalubong ni Hunter ang mga tingin ni Liza, and with a blank expression, he said, "I can make you the biggest celebrity in the country." And that's all it took for Liza to return to the couch where she was just a few moments ago, and she lent all her ears to Hunter while crossing her legs without saying anything, and Hunter understood it meant Liza wanted to hear more, so he continued to speak. "I understand that your agency has finally let you go because you could not meet one of the terms of your contract."

Muli na namang kumunot ang noo ni Liza matapos marinig ang sinabing iyon ni Hunter.

Paano niya nalaman 'yun? Kakatapos lang ng usapan namin ni Sahara kaya paanong alam na niyang binitawan na ako ng M&D? And how did he know that I am working in the entertainment industry? And lastly, how did he find my address? I do not remember telling him anything about me except for my name. Just who the hell is this guy? Is he really my stalker?

"You seem to have a lot of questions inside your head." Muling pag salita ni Hunter na siyang dahilan upang matigil ang napakaraming tanong sa utak ni Liza. "Go on. Ask. Voice out your thoughts and questions." 

"Stalker ba kita?" Ang kaagad na tanong ni Liza na bahagya pang ikinagulat ni Hunter. 

Why is he acting surprised? He told me to ask and voice out my thoughts and questions, is what Liza thought as she rolled her eyes.

An amused grin appeared on Hunter's face. "And how did you go to that conclusion?" 

"Do not answer my question with a question." 

"So now you are the only one allowed to ask?"

"If you don't want me to end this conversation, chase you and your minions away, and call the police, then give me an answer. Are you my stalker? Did you plan everything that happened last night?"

The amused grin on Hunter's face grew wider. He then said, "It was you who came unto me first. You seduced me, so how could you think I planned everything that happened last night?"

Kaagad na pumula at nag-init ang mga pisngi ni Liza matapos ang sinabing iyon ni Hunter. 

Hunter was right. It was she who came unto him and seduced him. 

Now she's feeling embarrassed for asking that question. But then, another set of thoughts came inside her head. Thoughts like, paano kung naunahan niya lang ito? Paano kung plano naman talaga nitong lapitan siya? He was staring at her intently last night, which is why he caught her attention. What if Hunter planned to go unto her? That's why he was staring at her intensely the previous night. And it just happened na naunahan niya lang ito, and so he grabbed that opportunity para akitin siya? 

Ngunit natigil na namang muli ang mga kaisipan ni Liza nang magsalita ulit si Hunter.

"As for the case of whether I am your stalker or not, well, I guess you could say that yes, I am a stalker." 

Liza's eyes widened, and a gasp escaped her lips, and she thought, I was right! He is a stalker!

And the moment she thought of Hunter being her stalker, her fear slowly crept up. She's heard many dangerous and scary stories and rumors about stalkers doing unimaginable things to the people they are obsessed with. Some of it even resulted in killing.

That explains why Hunter knew what was happening with her career and address.

Mula kay Hunter ay tumungo ang tingin ni Liza sa sirang pintuan ng kanyang bahay kung saan nakabantay sa ang dalawang lalaki na kasama ni Hunter saka niya ibinalik ang tingin kay Hunter na nakangisi.

Tumayo ang mga balahibo sa katawan ni Liza. 

Hindi niya ito napansin kagabi dahil tanging sa mukha at katawan ni Hunter, at kung paano ito madadala sa kama, nakatuon ang atensyon niya. But now that she's seeing him in daylight and her thoughts aren't confused by lust, she can see and feel Hunter's unsettling and dangerous aura. She can feel the same aura around Hunter's minions, but she's not sure how to explain it. Hunter just seems different. Because, aside from the creepiness and danger she can sense from him, Hunter emits a domineering personality that his minions lack. 

How did Hunter even know her? As far as she knows, she isn't widely popular or has done significant projects yet, so having a stalker has never crossed her mind. So how could she get Hunter's attention? Where, when, and how did he get to know her? What did she even do for this handsome man to start stalking her? 

"You don't have to be alert and look scared. I told you, I am not going to hurt you as long as you cooperate with me." Pagsasalita ulit ni Hunter na siya na namang dahilan upang matigil ang mga iniisip niya.

Tumalas ang mga mata ni Liza. "But you will kapag hindi ako sumunod sa gusto mo. Gago ka rin, ano?" She scoffed then continues to speak, "Alam mo, sinasayang mo lang ang oras ko. Umalis ka na nga lang. And don't bother leaving a payment for my door anymore. Just leave and never come back," she said, standing up and turned around, and was about to leave again when Hunter spoke up again.

"Ever heard of Starsnest?" 

Kaagad na na-estatwa si Liza at tila lumaki ang kanyang mga tainga matapos banggitin ni Hunter ang Starsnest. And every aspiring celebrity would probably have the same reaction as hers once they heard that company's name.

Starsnest Corporation is the Philippines' most prominent and most popular media and entertainment company, where most of the biggest, finest, and highest-paid celebrities come from. It is the entertainment company that every Filipino who aspires to be a celebrity wants to be signed.

Hindi sumagot si Liza sa tanong ni Hunter at hindi niya rin ito nilingon, but her ears are more than willing to hear more on about what he wants to say. Tila pansamantala na nga niyang nakalimutan ang tungkol sa pagiging stalker ni Hunter. The only word that pops up inside her head is Starsnest.

Hindi pa rin nililingon ni Liza si Hunter ngunit ramdam niya ang bawat galaw nito. She felt him standing up from the couch, then she heard Hunter's footsteps going towards her, and the next thing she knew, Hunter is already right in front of her and their faces are so close together it surprised her and made her gasp a little and took a few steps back. But everytime she takes a step back, Hunter steps forward. Hanggang sa tila naubusan na ng pasensya si Hunter at bago pa man siya maka-atras muli ay ipinalibot na nito ang kamay nito sa kanyang bewang at hinila siya palapit rito hanggang sa magdikit na ang kanilang mga katawan. 

Muli na naman siyang nagulat sa ginawa nito ngunit kaagad din siyang nahimasmasan at mabilis niya itong itinulak sa dibdib ngunit hindi siya pinakawalan ng lalaki. 

"Let go of me." She said through gritted teeth. 

"Didn't you like our bodies being so close that air can't come between us? I remember you clinging so much to me last night." Pilyong sagot sa kanya ni Hunter.

"You son of a—"

"I told you I am not leaving without hearing you say yes." Putol ni Hunter sa kanyang sasabihin. "And I will not let you get away from me either." 

"You're crazy." 

"Yes, I am. I am crazy for you." Mabilis na sagot ni Hunter habang nakangisi. "And I'd go even crazier if you refused my offer." 

'Just what does this asshole want from me?'

The way Hunter is trying to flirt with her, and even the way he stares at her as if she's some delicacy that he cannot wait to taste, makes her feel uncomfortable and, simultaneously, annoying her. She just wanted to know what he meant when he mentioned her career and Starsnest.

Isang malalim muna na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ni Liza bago niya seryosong tinitigan sa mata si Hunter. "I will lend you my ears about the offer you are talking about and what you have to say about my career and Starsnest, so let go of me and let's go back to the couch." She said in a serious voice.

"We can just talk like this. And all you need to do is listen and give me the answer I want. Besides, don't you find this position comfortable?" 

"No, I don't—"

"I will make you the most popular Starsnest artist and the biggest celebrity in the country."

Kumunot ang noo ni Liza, and said, "I need more explanation than tha—" ngunit hindi na naman niya natuloy ang kanyang gustong sabihin nang gamit ang isang kamay ni Hunter ay may hinugot ito mula bulsa na nasa dibdib ng black suit na suot nito at saka inilahad sa kanya. 

Nakakunot pa rin ang noo na pinaglipat-lipat ni Liza ang tingin kay Hunter at sa bagay na inilalahad nito. 

"Take it." Says Hunter nang hindi niya pa rin niya kinuha ang bagay na inilalahad nito. 

Nagdadalawang-isip pa si Liza kung kukunin ba niya ang inilalahad nito ngunit sa huli ay tinanggap na rin niya iyon. 

Tiningnan niya ang bagay na ibinigay ni Hunter. It is a calling card. 

Binasa niya ang mga nakasulat sa calling card, at ganoon na lamang ang panlalaki ng kanyang mga mata. 

Nakaawang ang bibig at hindi makapaniwalang ibinalik ni Liza ang tingin kay Hunter na nakangisi pa rin na nakatitig sa kanya. 

Sa hindi makapaniwalang boses ay nagsalita si Liza, "You are..."

"Yes, sweetheart. I am Hunter Ramirez, the CEO of Starsnest Corporation."