CHAPTER 2

Bella woke up the next morning with her heart still racing. The taste of Raf’s lips lingered on hers, and kahit anong pilit niya, hindi niya maalis sa isip ang lalaki

“Ano ba ‘to sa akin?” she whispered to herself while sipping her morning coffee

“Hindi ko siya kilala… pero bakit parang hindi ko siya malimutan?”

Si Raf, meanwhile, hindi rin nagpahuli. By noon, may message na sa phone ni Bella

Raf: “Missing you. Don’t pretend you’re not.”

Bella stared at her phone, unsure how to respond. Heart beating fast, she typed

Bella: “Stop teasing me. We barely know each other.”

But deep down, alam niya, hindi niya kayang i-ignore si Raf. There was something dangerous about him, yes… pero mas masarap ang thrill

By evening, Bella received another message

Raf: “I have a place you’ll love. Just me, you, and no distractions. Tonight?”

No distractions? Bella’s knees weakened. She knew it was risky—very risky—but curiosity won

“Fine,” she typed back. “Pero this is just… friendly, ha.”

When she arrived at Raf’s penthouse that night, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Raf greeted her with that same confident grin

“You look… stunning,” he said, pulling her into a hug that lingered a second too long

“Raf…” Bella murmured, feeling her face heat up

“I told you… just friendly.”

“Friendly?” Raf teased, inching closer

“With this chemistry? I don’t think we know the meaning of that word.”

Bella swallowed hard. Raf’s nearness, the faint scent of his cologne, and the way he looked at her made her knees tremble. Her mind screamed “This is a mistake!” but her body whispered “Do it.”

They sat on the couch, music soft in the background, champagne glasses in hand. Raf’s hand brushed hers occasionally, every touch sending shivers down her spine

“So… tell me about you,” Raf said, leaning closer. “The real Bella. Not the perfect girl everyone sees.”

Bella hesitated. Usually, she’s private. Pero sa kanya, sa presence ni Raf, parang wala siyang choice

“I… I study a lot. I help my mom. I try to stay out of trouble,” she said, voice soft

“That’s boring compared to you, I guess.”

Raf chuckled, tracing a finger along her jawline

“Boring? I don’t think so. You’re… interesting. Dangerous, even. Don’t lie—you liked the party last night. You liked me teasing you.”

Bella felt her heartbeat speeding up

“Stop saying that,” she whispered, though part of her wanted more

Raf leaned in slowly, his eyes locked with hers. “I don’t want to stop,” he murmured, before capturing her lips in a slow, teasing kiss

This time, Bella didn’t resist. Hands tangled in his hair, lips moving in sync, the couch suddenly too small for the fire that sparked between them. Every kiss, every touch, every whisper made her forget logic, rules, and the world outside

“Raf… wait—” she gasped. But Raf only smiled against her lips, pressing her closer.

“No waiting. Not tonight,” he whispered, his hand sliding to the small of her back.

Bella felt her body respond even though her mind screamed

“This is wrong!” Every nerve alive, every sense tingling. She couldn’t believe she was doing this—but she wanted to. She needed to

Hours passed in a blur of whispers, kisses, and touches that left both of them breathless. Raf’s presence was intoxicating, dangerous, and addictive all at once. And though Bella knew this could never end well, she couldn’t stop herself from wanting more

Finally, they paused, foreheads pressed together, breathing heavily

“Bella…” Raf murmured

“You feel it too, right? This… us?”

Bella’s chest ached. She nodded slowly

“Yeah… I feel it.”

Raf smiled, dangerous yet tender

“Then stop thinking. Just feel. Forget the world. Tonight, it’s just us.”

And just like that, Bella gave in to the temptation. The night stretched endlessly, a dance of passion, whispers, and the kind of intimacy that left no room for regret—at least, not yet

As dawn crept through the penthouse windows, Bella sat against Raf, exhausted, breathless, and emotionally tangled. She knew this was only the beginning

A beginning that would change everything… her heart, her mind, and perhaps even her life.