The same night after their team-building seminar, they ate dinner at the resort's restaurant.
"Oh Lana, why are you so quiet?" Rodora asks when she notices her silence. "Since lunch, you've been like that. Why, don't you like your cottage?” she said in a teasing tone.
Lana shook her head, then handed over the glass of orange juice and drank. “N-No Rodge, I'm just tired. I haven't slept yet,” she reasoned.
Rodora nodded and then finished the food on her plate. “I'm going back to my cottage. I'm going to rest. You wanna come with? ” she asked her afterward.
Lana thought for a moment and then forced a smile before she consecutively shook her head. "I'm fine, just go ahead," she said.
Outside the restaurant, she parted ways with Rodora along with their other co-workers.
Lana smiled, just waving them goodbye, then started walking around.
She couldn't understand the nervousness she had been feeling since she found out that Andrew's cottage was next to hers.
The young lady laughed softly there.
After all, she must be happy. She should have been excited similar to the normal reaction of a fangirl. But she feels differently and that is the real reason she has been silent since earlier.
Lana also had fun walking around for a few minutes when she saw a familiar coffee shop.
The young lady smiled there. As a fan, she knows that Andrew and his sister Samantha own Scott’s Cafe.
She could not deny that she was one of the many loyal customers of that coffee shop. It's not because she idolizes the owner but also because their coffee is really delicious.
She likes their brewed coffee, which, for her, would be even tastier if it was partnered with Special Scott’s Kababayan or Scott's Special Muffin.
With that in mind, adding to the aroma of the coffee she was smelling, it was as if Lana’s feet had a mind of their own as they entered the coffee shop.
She had been sitting there for a while and was currently enjoying her coffee when one of the male employees of the coffee shop approached her.
"Excuse Ma'am," he told her with a smile.
"Yes?" she said, shifting her gaze to the sliced lemon cake in his hand and then to its nameplate where his position in the store as Branch Manager was written along with his name. "I didn't order a lemon cake," she kindly replied.
The man shook his head one after another. "This is a gift," he said.
The young lady's beautiful eyebrows met. "Gift?"
"It's from my boss," he said as he laid the plate on her table.
Lana couldn't speak at what she heard. Even when the man left her, she just nodded and then looked around as if she was looking for someone.
She automatically gasped when he saw at the end of the counter what she knew the branch manager was saying.
None other than Andrew.
Lana quickly felt mixed emotions because of that. She couldn't believe that Andrew had bothered to give her a present.
Actually, the gift is not the reason why she feels this way now. It was the thought the young man noticed her so he thought of giving her a simple gift.
She returned the smile to the man she had noticed who remained to stare at her. She doesn't even admit it, but his stares are disturbing and give her a strange feeling as if it is absorbing her energy.
When she saw him move, Lana's nervousness intensified. She knew he would approach her.
She is not like this; she knows herself. She has always been dignified when about everything. She was not shy, nor has she ever been shameless as well.
Lana secretly laughed at the last thought. But now, with Andrew? Actually earlier she was wondering to herself. The man just waved at her when he saw her on the veranda as if she was a rat hiding inside her den.
As the man approached, the feeling she had felt before was there again. But she knew it wouldn't look good if she ran out of the cafe, so Lana forced herself to stay there at the same time as she tried to retain her composure which she knew was slowly collapsing.
"I hope you don't mind," Andrew said, referring to her opposite vacant chair.
She shook her head and then sipped coffee to somehow cover up the intense nervousness she was feeling. "Thanks for the cake," she tried to normalize the tone of her voice and she succeeded there.
Andrew just smiled as he remained to stare at her. "By the way," he held out his hand to her. "I'm Andrew Scott," the young man introduced with a smile.
Lana's mind worked quickly. At that moment, she really feels like she is being blessed. But the intense nervousness in her chest still lingered.
It was as if she was slowly losing her brain, knowing what to do or what was right. That's why even before she was finally eaten by the strange magic spell of Andrew's charm, she accepted his handshake.
"Lana, Lana Montes," she replied smiling at the man.
The corner of Andrew's lip lifted, then he raised her hand and kissed it. And because she didn't expect that, Lana couldn't stop the slight panting that reached the man's hearing.
She saw the intense amusement in Andrew's eyes as he spoke. "It's beautiful, can be a screen name," he complimented, keeping her hand on his.
Lana felt the intense heat on her cheeks because of Andrew's words. Then she simply decided to withdraw her hand and smiled at him.
"Thank you, I'm sorry, but I also need to rest," in the end, due to the intense discomfort she felt, Lana decided to just say goodbye.
Even with the truth in her heart, she wanted to talk to the young man for a long time.
"Okay, allow me to walk you to your cottage," Andrew offered, but she immediately refused.
"Thanks but I'm good," she stood up. “Nice meeting you Andrew. By the way, I should tell you that, I’m a fan,” she also decided to admit the truth before leaving.
*****
Lana had just come out of the bathroom wearing pajamas and a cotton shirt when she heard a series of knocks on her door.
Her eyebrows met immediately. But thinking that maybe one of her co-workers is knocking, the young lady did not bother to use the peephole before opening the door.
"Hi!" Andrew's happy greeting to her.
Lana was stunned as she remained to stare at the young man standing outside the door of her cottage. "A-Andrew!" she exclaimed when she recovered.
"I just came to give you this," he said, handing her a paper bag.
"W-What is this?" she asked in surprise.
"Lemon cake, you didn't touch it because you are too busy to think of a way to avoid me," was Andrew's teasing tone followed by a weak but husky laugh.
Lana raised an eyebrow quickly at what was heard. “Hey! What made you think ---? ”
Lana couldn't continue her plan to reprimand the man because he suddenly bent down and kissed her on the lips.
The young lady's eyes widened as the pounding on her chest intensified. In addition to that is the delicious sensation like a voltage of electricity quickly spreading throughout her.
That is why she felt a great loss in her being when Andrew released her lips.
"Hey," Andrew whispered to her after a while, and she remained to stare at him, gaping.
Upon hearing that, it was as if Lana immediately woke up.
So next to that was the quick recoil of her hand that landed on Andrew's left cheek.
“Rude! Beast! Do you think because I am your fan and you are a famous celebrity I will just allow you to do what you did?” she said angrily then pointed a finger at the young man.
Andrew didn't answer and just stared at her instead. In his eyes was a mixture of amusement and intense longing for her.
“I’ll see you around. Good night,” the young man replied instead, and for the second time, he bowed again and then kissed her hard on the lips. And at that moment Lana seemed to find nothing else to do but close her eyes. "Let's continue kissing in the next few days," he whispered when he heard the unintentional growl of resistance that voluntarily escaped from her lips.
Lana's face quickly warmed at Andrew's words. Honestly, she couldn’t believe the sheer speed of events. It was like only yesterday that she dreamed of Andrew kissing her. And now, it has happened. Here on the paradise island of Palawan.
And his kiss. Just like how the young man kissed her in her dream. As well as the kind of feeling he gave her.
Eventually, the young lady just sighed and then closed the door. There were things she knew needed to be in private, and one of those was what happened between her and Andrew.
And why does she seem to have a feeling that that wasn't the last time something like that would happen to them?
Because the truth is, she feels strongly about being more likely to follow. At the last thought, Lana quickly shook her head.
Past five o'clock the next day, Lana woke up to a noise coming from her veranda. Sounds of cutlery and plates filled the air, and after a while, the fragrant aroma of brewed coffee finally made her get up from bed. "W-What the ---?" Lana was stunned to see a delicious breakfast prepared for two people on the veranda.** "Good morning," Andrew said as he sat down, obviously waiting for her. "Let's eat," he said, standing up and leaning over to approach her. "W-What are you doing?" she asked then spontaneously complied with what the man wanted to happen. The young man's thick eyebrows rose. "Why, don't you want this?" Lana was stunned and then quietly watched what the young man was doing. From the way he poured coffee into her cup to putting syrup and butter on her pancakes. "Thank you," she said shyly, smiling at Andrew afterward. "You know what, I've only just seen eyes like yours," he said, staring into her eyes. Lana laughed softly there and then started eating. “Really? That do
That evening, the same day, Lana's workmates invited her to go to a bar. At first, she didn't want to go. Whether she admits it or not, all day long she has been thinking about what Andrew said earlier that they will meet again. And even if she didn't speak, she couldn't deny to herself that she was looking forward to the next things that might happen between her and the young man. At the thought, Lana's face quickly blushed. “The next day we will be returning to Manila. Don't be a killjoy, you are the youngest in our group but you are the most 'aunty' when it comes to behavior,” Rodora preached to her as they left the conference hall. Lana sighed. "I'm just tired, Rodge," she reasoned yet somehow it was true. “Of course, we'll just be there for a while. We can't stay long because the meeting is early tomorrow,” said Lerma, who holds Region Five. That was when Lana sighed again. "O-Okay, it's like I still have a choice," she said laughing. Lana just made dressing up easy. She w
LANA felt at her feet the red dress that Andrew had dropped; thereafter, he unzipped it. "I was right about your body," he said, gazing all over her almost naked figure. "You are a goddess," he said, touching her waist afterward. "Tell me, sweetheart, is this your first time?" Andrew whispered, bringing his face even closer to hers. Lana let out a violent gasp as Andrew's hands began to move across her. "Mmmmm, y-yes," she moaned again when she felt the young man remove the hook of her bra. "I'll be gentle, I promise," the young man said, putting his hands inside her lacy pants, which were the only covering left of her body. "Oh god, Andrew!" Lana exclaimed when she felt the young man's finger that now seemed to be teasingly touching the clitoris of her womanhood. "Do you want this? Is it wonderful?" The young man speaks in a tone that only she can hear, even though they are the only ones there. "Tell me, don't be shy," he continued seductively. Lana's whole body trembled so much
LANA is no longer in her sanity, while Andrew seems to be recklessly flirting with her femininity using his own mouth and tongue. She is aware that someone like the young man is certainly good in this aspect. But the feeling that she is the one that Andrew is making happy is something that she still can't believe. "Nice, you're so nice, mmnnn," she growled, then pulled Andrew's hair. The young man did not speak. Instead, he inserted his finger back in her entrance again and then started to move it in and out. At the same time, he again caressed her femininity with his mouth. “Oh god, you're great! You are so great! "Lana said that she even danced her own hip unknowingly, even though there was no music. “Oh, I can’t take it anymore, Lana.” When Andrew lifted his face, that was when their eyes met. Lana saw the flame of intense desire in his eyes. That's why her longing to be finally claimed by Andrew also intensified. "Get inside me, deeper, nicer," she said, pulling Andrew's nec
Four hours into the morning, Lana woke up and could not go back to sleep. The young lady smiled and then stared at the perfect face beside her that was now sound asleep as he hugged her tightly. His red and thin lips. She never thought she would experience their kiss. But it happened. In fact, it was more than she had dreamed—more than anyone could have imagined she had experienced. Lana's face quickly warmed as she remembered everything that had happened to them last night. How Andrew claimed her. He made her feel the intense longing and happiness that she knew she would never feel with anyone again. “But our worlds are different. And whether I admit it or not, I have to wake up from this beautiful dream, for in the end I will not be hurt,” the young lady whispered, then stared at the handsome face of the man to whom she gave her virginity. That is true. What happened to them, she knew she would never forget. But she also had to admit to herself that what had happened would no
One month later... “Why did I notice that you weren't watching Andrew's new TV series? The story is good, so you should watch it,” said Mama Cecille one Sunday morning while they were eating breakfast. Lana shrugged her shoulders and then started eating. She also could not understand herself. The truth is that her feelings for the young man have not changed, except that they have intensified. And that started when something happened to them. Andrew turned all her fantasies about him into reality. But she also has to admit that she gets hurt whenever she sees Andrew and his perfectly handsome face, even just on TV. Lana secretly laughed at herself for that. She is a smart woman, but when it comes to love, like everyone else, she is a great fool. And that is something that she couldn't explain—how and why she feels like that? She knew for a fact that what happened between them that night was just a simple one-night stand. Something that is surely very common with Andrew and his wa
"What am I going to do, M-Mama?" Lana suppressed her emotion as she uttered those words. "Who is the child's father?" instead, her aunt questioned her. Lana felt resentment, not anger, in her Mama Cecille's voice. And that is the reason why all the tears that the young lady had been holding back have finally come out. "M-Mama, please," she protested, bursting into tears. "Does he already have a family?" Mama Cecille said, staring straight into her eyes. Lana shook her head. “Why don't you tell him the truth if he doesn't have a family? Will you let that child grow up without knowing his own father? Like your heartless mother did to you? ”Now her Mama Cecille is angry. "Who is the child's father? What is his name?" her aunt asked again after a while. Lana's head remained bowed as she continued to cry. "Answer me, Lana!" Cecille's voice was louder, so intense guilt engulfed the young lady's heart even more. "It's Andrew, Mama!" she replied between tears. Her aunt's eyes widene
Three years later... "Come on, get inside, Andrea. Wait for your Uncle Marius here." That was what Mama Cecille told Andrea. Lana's three-year-old daughter. That was when Andrea turned to Lana. “Mo---"—everything that the little girl was about to say was cut off when a familiar sound of an engine car stopped in front of their house. "Uncle Marius!" Andrea's cheerful cry as she enthusiastically runs towards the gate. Mama Cecille voluntarily followed Andrea. Lana was just smiling while watching them. Everything seems like only yesterday. It seems like only yesterday when she was so scared to confess to her aunt that she was pregnant with Andrea. Now, three years have passed quickly, and really, in her heart, she has no regrets about raising Andrea. Her daughter, in fact, was the result of her long-held fantasy with her father, Andrew Scott. Over time, Andrew’s career as an actor has remained good. In fact, he has won awards many times in recognition of his skill and acting prow