Chapter 1

Ang VIP lounge ng Eclipse ay amoy mamahaling tabako, wood-aged scotch, at ang amoy ng kapangyarihan. Dito, ang bawat lamesa ay nagkakahalaga ng anim na digit—pero para sa mga lalaking nakaupo sa dulong booth, barya lang ’yun.

​"I’m telling you, Jace. Ang puso, parang witness sa korte 'yan. Pwedeng i-manipulate, pwedeng i-cross examine, at pwedeng piliting tumahimik."

​Humalakhak si Dylan Alcantara, ang tinaguriang "Devil’s Advocate" ng grupo. Inayos nito ang kanyang silk necktie habang ang mga mata ay parang radar na gumagala sa dance floor. Kung may Olympic gold sa pag-iscan ng mga magagandang babae, sigurado nang si Dylan ang may hawak ng record.

​"Stop using legal analogies, Dylan. You sound desperate," malamig na tugon ni Jace Villareal.

​Hindi man lang tinignan ni Jace ang kaibigan. Nanatili ang kanyang paningin sa baso ng Macallan 25. Ang kanyang puting polo shirt ay nakatupi hanggang siko, inilalantad ang mga ugat sa kanyang braso na sanay sa katumpakan ng scalpel.

​"Desperate? Me?" Inakbayan ni Dylan ang isang modelong dumaan at binigyan ito ng isang wink na nakakalunod. "I’m just enjoying the scenery. Unlike someone here na parang laging nag-o-operate ng patay sa sobrang seryoso."

​Lumingon si Drake Monteverde, ang Congressman na mas abala sa pag-swipe sa phone niya kaysa sa iniinom niya. "Hayaan mo na 'yan, Dylan. Bitter pa rin 'yan kay Sebastian. Sino ba namang mag-aakala na ang hari ng Quad, tatalab sa isang intern? It’s a disgrace to the title."

​"Exactly," Jace finally spoke, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave. "Sebastian let his guard down. He forgot that we are the hunters. Once you let the prey inside your head, you're done. Love is a chemical imbalance, a glitch. And I have zero tolerance for errors."

​"Naks! Glitch daw oh!" Kantiyaw ni Dylan habang kumukuha ng panibagong shot. "O sige, Doc. Let's see. Baka bukas makalawa, ikaw na ang susunod na luluhod. Balita ko may 'special guest' daw ngayong gabi. The Diamond of the Industry."

​"I don't care about diamonds," Jace dismissively said.

​Pero tila nakisama ang tadhana. Biglang huminto ang tugtog sa buong lounge. Ang dating dim lights ay napalitan ng isang spotlight na tumutok sa entrance.

​Pumasok siya.

​Zia Mondragon.

​She wasn't just walking; she was conquering the floor. Naka-backless silk red dress siya na hapit na hapit sa bawat kurba ng kanyang katawan. Ang buhok niya ay nakabagsak sa isang balikat, at ang kanyang mga labi ay pinahiran ng kulay ng dugo.

​"Holy mother of laws..." bulong ni Dylan, muntik nang mabulunan sa iniinom. "If being that beautiful is a crime, I'd defend her for free."

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​Napansin ni Jace ang pagtahimik ng paligid. Kahit si Drake ay naitigil ang pag-swipe sa phone. Jace looked up, intending to show his usual indifference—but for the first time in his life, his brain failed to send the "indifference" signal.

​Their eyes met across the crowded room. Zia didn't look away. Instead, she tilted her head, a playful, challenging smirk forming on her lips. She knew who he was. And she knew exactly what he just said about "hunters."

​"The 'Diamond' is coming this way, Jace," bulong ni Dylan, na tila excited na mapanood ang pagbagsak ng kaibigan. "Good luck with your 'glitch-free' life, Doc."

​Zia stopped right in front of Jace’s table. The scent of vanilla and expensive champagne hit him like a physical blow. It was intoxicating.

​"You're Jace Villareal, right?" Zia's voice was like velvet, low and vibrating. "The doctor who thinks he can fix anything?"

​Jace stood up, his height intimidating, but Zia didn't flinch. Inilapit ni Jace ang mukha niya sa babae, sapat na para maramdaman ang init nito. "I don't just fix things, Ms. Mondragon. I control them."

​"Control is boring," Zia whispered, her fingers ghosting over the lapel of Jace’s jacket. "Don't you want to try something... unpredictable for once?"

​Sa likod nila, nagbubulungan na ang Quad. "Ten bucks says he kisses her in five minutes," ani Dylan.

​"Twenty bucks says he takes her home tonight," sagot ni Drake.

​Pero hindi na sila naririnig ni Jace. Ang tanging naririnig niya ay ang mabilis na tibok ng sarili niyang puso—isang abnormal na ritmo na hindi niya mahanap sa anumang medical textbook.

​"You're a dangerous game, Zia," Jace growled, his hand gripping her waist tightly, pulling her flushed against his hard chest.

​"Then play me, Doc," Zia challenged, her eyes burning with a fire that Jace knew would consume him. "Unless you're afraid to lose."

​That night, the hunter forgot his own rules.