2 - Intention PART I, II

PART 1: INTENTION

Habang tahimik na tinatahak ng limousine ang basa at madulas na highway, sumulyap si Sed, ang driver, sa rearview mirror bago marahang nilinaw ang kanyang lalamunan.

"Miss Snow, si Sir Demetri po. Kuya ni Sir Marcus," aniya, bahagyang tumingin sa lalaking nakaupo sa tabi niya.

Bahagyang napalingon si Snow, halatang nagulat. Her hazel-brown eyes met the striking yet undeniably intimidating gaze of the man beside her. Ngunit si Demetri, sa halip na bumati, saglit lang siyang tiningnan bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa bintana, tila walang interes sa presensya niya.

Nakaramdam ng kaunting pagka-ilang si Snow sa malamig na aura nito, pero pinilit niyang ngumiti nang magalang.

"Nice meeting you," she said hesitantly.

Inilahad niya ang kamay, kasabay ng pagpapakilala.

"I’m Snow Hidalgo, fiancée ni Marcus."

Muling bumaba ang tingin ni Demetri, hindi sa kamay niya kundi mas bumaba pa. His gaze lingered a second too long on her chest, where the damp fabric of her white blouse clung to her skin. Dahil sa ulan kanina, naging masyadong manipis ang tela, at kahit bahagya lang, lumitaw ang outline ng kanyang pulang lace bra at ang banayad na hubog ng kanyang cleavage.

Napansin agad ni Snow ang direksyon ng tingin niya. She instinctively straightened up, subtly clearing her throat. Magsasalita na sana siya nang biglang hinubad ni Demetri ang suot niyang coat at inabot iyon sa kanya.

"It’s cold. You should wear this," he said, his voice low and calm.

Napatingin si Snow, bahagyang nagulat sa hindi inaasahang kilos nito. Saglit siyang natigilan bago marahang tumango at isinuot ang coat.

Nanatiling tahimik ang biyahe. Snow shifted uncomfortably in her seat, counting the minutes and praying na sana makaabot na sila sa hotel.

---

**At the Hotel**

Pagkarating nila sa harap ng engrandeng hotel, tuluyan siyang nakahinga ng maluwag. Agad siyang bumaba, maingat na tinanggap ang pagbati ng mga staff bago sinundan ang receptionist patungo sa pribadong mesa na ni-reserve ni Marcus. Samantalang si Demetri, nanatili sa likuran.

Bago siya tuluyang lumayo, lumingon siya upang isauli ang coat na ipinahiram nito sa kanya.

"Thanks for this," she said softly, at halata ang senseridad sa boses niya.

Saglit siyang tinitigan ni Demetri bago tinanggap ang coat. Bahagya siyang ngumiti, pero nanatili siyang walang imik. His silence and the unreadable look in his eyes sent a small wave of unease through her chest.

Pero hindi na niya masyadong pinansin.

Maya-maya pa’y dumating na si Marcus. From the entrance, his tall figure stood out, and the moment their eyes met, his blue eyes lit up. Sa isang iglap, naglakad ito palapit sa kanya, suot ang pamilyar na mainit na ngiti.

"Sorry, I’m late," he apologized before leaning down to press a quick kiss on her cheek. 

"The rain slowed me down." He explained.

"It’s okay. Honestly, if it weren’t for Mang Sed picking me up, I might’ve been even later than you," Snow replied with a chuckle.

Umupo si Marcus sa tapat niya, bahagyang itinagilid ang ulo na may halong pagtataka.

"Sed picked you up? Akala ko naka-assign siya kay Demetri today."

"He was," she confirmed.

"I rode with your brother on the way here."

At that, Marcus’ expression darkened slightly. Bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo, at ang panga niya’y humigpit nang bahagya.

"You rode with Demetri?"

Snow blinked at his sudden shift in mood, then gave a small nod.

"Yeah. He was in the car with me."

She subtly gestured toward Demetri, who was seated across the room, engaged in conversation with a stunning woman.

Sinundan ni Marcus ang tingin niya at nakita ang nakatatandang kapatid. Napansin ni Demetri ang atensyon sa kanya, kaya nagpakawala ng isang ngisi at bahagyang itinaas ang kamay bilang pagbati. Pero hindi iyon sinuklian ni Marcus. Instead, he faced Snow again, his tone cold but laced with something else… a fit of jealousy.

"He’s handsome, isn’t he?" He asked casually, but there was a sharpness in his voice.

Napansin agad iyon ni Snow and she giggled.

"You were so excited for me to meet him earlier. And now you’re acting like this?"

Marcus scoffed, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, I wanted to be the one to introduce you to him. I didn’t expect you two to cross paths like that. Dapat ako na lang ang sumundo sa'yo."

Snow sighed, shaking her head.

"You’re being ridiculous again," she teased. Then, leaning forward slightly, she added with a playful smile, " Oo, your brother is handsome."

Naningkit ng bahagya ang mga mata ni Marcus.

"Pero ikaw..." she continued, swirling her glass of wine before taking a sip, "mas gwapo ka kaysa sa kanya." Dagdag niya pa upang pakalmahan ang kanyang fiancé kahit papaano.

Muling naibaling niya ang mga mata kay Demetri. He was deep in conversation with the woman across from him. Nakangiting nakadikit ang babae kay Demetri, ang isang kamay nito ay nakakapit sa braso ng binata. And then, without hesitation, Demetri pulled the woman for a slow kiss.

A strange, uneasy feeling stirred in Snow’s stomach. Pero alam niyang nakikita siya ni Demetri dahil sakto nang nagtagpo ang mga mata nila, hinalikan nitong muli ang babae at this time, even deeper na parang sinasadya nito na makita niya.

Her lips parted slightly, taken aback. ‘Was that intentional?’ tanong ni Snow sa utak niya.

Ngunit mas pinili niya na lamang na i-ignore ang ginawa ni Demetri. She turned her focus back to Marcus, who had also seen what happened. He looked offended by his brother's action. Marami kasing tao na nakakakita.

"Such a womanizer," aniya.

Snow lifted a brow.

"You think so?"

Marcus nodded.

"I know so. He’s never been the type to settle down."

Snow hummed in thought, then smirked.

"Good thing I’m allergic to playboys," she joked.

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. Kilala na niya ang nobya, she had always despised men who toyed with women’s hearts. At gayon pa man, nang lingunin ni Snow si Demetri sa huling pagkakataon, she couldn't shake the feeling that something about him was... different. Not in a good means.

***

PART 2: STARTING OBSESSION

Demetri couldn’t focus.

Alvira was sitting right in front of him, habang nakapatong ang kamay nito sa kanyang hita, dahan-dahang gumagalaw ang mga daliri nito. Any other night, he would have entertained her and indulged in the game she so eagerly wanted to play. But not tonight.

Tonight, his attention was elsewhere.

Across the room, Snow sat with Marcus, nakahawak siya ng marahan sa tangkay ng wine glass, bahagyang nakangiti habang nakikinig sa nobyo. Ang paraan ng pagtingin niya kay Marcus, may kung anong gumulo sa loob ni Demetri. Inggit? Inis? O mas malalim pa.

Marcus had always been the golden child, the one who could do no wrong in their father’s eyes. The responsible one. The favored son.

And now, he had her.

Demetri smirked to himself, swirling the drink in his hand. Nakuha na niya ang ilang bagay mula kay Marcus noon. It was almost too easy.

What if… gawin niya ulit?

His fingers curled into a fist beneath the table, his mind betraying him with forbidden images. Snow’s lips parted in a gasp beneath his. Ang mainit ng balat nito sa ilalim ng mga daliri niya. The sound of his name whispered from those pretty lips instead of Marcus’.

Maybe… just maybe… he’d make sure Snow wouldn’t remain Marcus’ fiancée for long.

Alvira leaned in. She tilted her head, lips curved into a teasing smirk.

“So… where are we going after this?” she murmured, voice dripping with suggestion.

Tinitigan ni Demetri ang mga mata nito, dahan-dahang gumuhit ang isang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Ramdam niya ang init ng haplos nito, ang paraan ng paggalaw ng mga dulo ng daliri na may malinaw na layunin. Maliwanag kung ano ang gusto nito, and he wasn’t one to reject a woman who knew exactly how to ask. Leaning closer, he lowered his voice to a whisper against her ear.

“That depends… where do you want to go?”

She chuckled, mababa at may halong pananabik. Wala nang sinabi pa, tumayo ito at tumingin sa kanya, isang sulyap na hindi na kailangang ipaliwanag. Tumayo rin siya at sumunod sa kanya palabas ng silid, na may kasabikan ang loob niya.

The door closed behind them, at sa isang iglap, nakadikit na ito agad sa kanya, her lips crashing against his, her body pressing close as if she belonged there. His hands moved on their own, tracing the curves beneath her dress, ramdam niya ang init ng balat nito kahit nakasuot pa ito ng damit. Hinayaan nito ang mga kamay niya’y gumapang pa, and letting his lips trail lower to her neck and sucked her skin.

But then, for a split second, his mind betrayed him.

He saw her. Snow.

The thought of her crashed into him like a tidal wave. He could almost feel the softness of her skin, hear the breathless hitch in her voice, and see the way her lips slightly parted. Wala siya rito, pero parang nararamdaman niya ang presensya nito. The mere thought ignited something deeper in him.

Mas hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa beywang ni Alvira, his movements growing more urgent, but not because of her. It’s the fantasy unraveling in his head, the one he shouldn’t be having. In his mind, it’s Snow against him. Snow gasping under his touch. Snow whispering his name.

That's Snow moaning with his touch.

Damn it!

He knew it was wrong. She belonged to Marcus. Pero wala siyang pakialam. Not now. Not tonight.

Alvira moaned, nails digging into his back but his thoughts were lost in someone else.

No one but Snow.

And the more he imagined Snow, the more he wanted her.

---

Kinaumagahan

A ringtone shattered Demetri’s sleep.

Napaungol siya, pilit inabot ang phone sa nightstand at sinagot ang tawag.

"What?" tamad na sagot niya dahil inaantok pa talaga siya.

[Boss, sorry for disturbing you. Is the deal still on for tonight?] Pluto’s voice came through, steady and businesslike.

Demetri let out a slow exhale at napahilamos ng mukha.

"Of course, it’s still on. Mr. Torres is waiting for his supply, ecstasy, coke, whatever his spoiled clients are begging for. You know how impatient he gets."

[Understood. I’ll take care of it.]

With a faint click, natapos ang tawag.

Napaupo siya sa kama bago sinuklay ang buhok niya. His body still ached from exhaustion, pero tuluyan nang nawala ang antok niya. With a quiet sigh, tumayo siya at nag-inat at tumungo sa may bintana. Hinawi niya ang kurtina.

Sa labas, the estate was busy with activity. String lights hung across the garden, giving off a soft, golden glow. Ang mga staff abala sa pag-aayos, naghahanda ng mga mesa, dekorasyon, at sinisiguradong perpekto ang lahat. Para may gaganaping isang engrandeng selebrasyon.

Hindi niya mapigilan na mapakunot ng noo.

"What the hell is all this?"

The door creaked open behind him. Bago pa siya lumingon, the familiar scent of honey and warm tea drifted into the room.

Manang Lucelle, ang mayordoma, pumasok siyang may dalang tray na maingat niyang binabalanse sa kamay. Nakita niya si Demetri na walang saplot lahat.

"Dios mío, hijo!" bulalas nito.

"Bakit ka n*******d?"

He smirked.

"I love being naked—presko sa pakiramdam," tugon na lamang niya sa matanda.

Napailing na lamang ang mayordoma.

Kumaha siya ng damit mula sa wardrobe at isinuot iyon.

"Magpapaparty ang ama mo para kay Marcus," aniya.

"Despedida para sa nalalabi niyang mga araw bilang binata," dagdag pa niya.

Ah… Demetri hummed.

Bago lumapit at kinuha ang mainit na tasa ng tsaa. He took a slow sip, hinayaang lumapat ang tamis sa dila niya.

So, Marcus was tying himself down. Settling into the life their father wanted for him.

He smirked, his fingers tapping idly against the rim of the cup.

Well… that just made things more interesting.

Dahil kung may isang bagay na palagi niyang nagagawa, it was taking what he wanted.

And he wanted her. He wanted Marcus' fiancée under his possession.