The Forbidden Temptation

19: Life's Lethal

"No Phenoe for you or any other girls. Do you hear me?" I pressed, tapping his chest twice with a mischievous grin.

"No Ygen and boys for you," he countered, his voice low but firm.

"But Ygen is my friend," I teased, arching an eyebrow.

"Bawal ka na niyang akbayan."

I smirked at that, leaning closer.

"So we're fine now?" I asked, and he responded by planting three soft, deliberate kisses on my head.

"So... baby girl and fruitcake are fine too?"

"Okay," I giggled. Sometimes, he was annoyingly easy to manipulate.

We stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms until he carried me over to a nearby tree and set me down on the soft grass. He hugged me from behind, and together we gazed at the lake, its surface mirroring the full moon like liquid silver. Silence with him so close felt like a balm, something unspoken unraveling inside me, easing the fire he'd ignited earlier.

"Do you have extra clothes in your car?" I asked, tilting my head.

"And what are you planning, Kia?" His tone sharp, but there was amusement hiding underneath that familiar stoic mask.

I smiled wickedly. How could he stay so holy when I was the chaos in this setup? Tonight, I was the daredevil, and he was the angel trying to restrain the storm.

"We need to go to the Vista so we can eat, and I'll introduce you to my sister," he said cautiously.

"I want you alone, Hercules. Alone in that lake. I want a dip."

"We can't. We'll go back to Marcellano—swim in the pavilion until you're tired. Not here."

"Why? Are there insects? Crocodiles? Poison in the water?" I teased, tapping his chest playfully.

"Gabi na. Walang ilaw... delikado—"

"I can see the raft from here. It's not that dark," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Kia, sa susunod na lang. It's late."

"Alam mo lahat ng kontra mo lagi," I muttered. I could see the muscles in his jaw tighten as he exhaled sharply. The word delikado was like an invitation, daring me even more.

We followed the wooden trail down to the lake, the large stones forming steps, the three trees by the water still holding their familiar presence. He tried to reach for my hand and waist as we descended, but I pulled away just enough to assert control.

Once at the water's edge, I kicked off my ankle boots, peeled off my mini skirt and t-shirt, leaving only my undergarments. I perched on the grass, smirking as he glanced at me, visibly struggling with self-control.

"We only live once, Hercules. If we don't do this tonight, who knows when we'll get another chance. So might as well now, while your girlfriend is..." I paused, letting my words hang in the air, biting my lip. "...asking you nicely before I abandon you for your hesitation."

His eyes softened, but there was a flicker of tension as he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the chiseled lines I'd dreamed of seeing. I let my gaze linger, a little too impressed, letting him stew.

"How did you get so ripped?" I asked innocently, teasing. "Oh—why am I asking? Work out, of course. You work out to get girls, right?"

He froze mid-motion, eyes narrowing, jaw tight. "I'm just asking, duh! You're so... boring sometimes. You take everything seriously," I mocked, stepping closer, enjoying how his composure started to c***k.

His mouth opened, then closed, exhaling sharply as I circled him, under the dim moonlight, teasing. He glanced down at my undergarments, swallowing hard, and I couldn't resist grinning.

"Kia!" he barked, exasperated.

I knelt in front of him, ready to undo his pants, and his hands shot out, yanking me upright. "Stop being naughty, will you? For a second, please?"

I pressed closer, whispering in a teasing tone, "Stop being so uptight. I told you—let's be wild. I want what I want, and I'm doing it because I want it."

"Kia... we are not here for—" He faltered, running a hand through his hair, his expression that mix of exasperation, frustration, and lust. He looked like he was about to get a headache from my relentless teasing.

"s*x? Duh! It makes the relationship exciting!" I smiled wickedly, leaning in closer.

Nakikita ko kung paano siya mag-iwas ng tingin sa katawan ko nang mapadako siya roon.

"Pre-marital s*x is a sin."

Tinawanan ko siya sa kanyang sinabi. "Wag mo nga akong paandaran sa mga ganyan mong alam, we already did it!"

"Kia! What the hell!" sigaw nito.

Kaya siya galit na galit kasi dinilaan ko lang naman ang dibdib niya at mabilis na tumakbo at tumalon sa lawa. Masyado siyang nagsi-stick sa mga rules niya.

Boring ang ganoon!

"Whoa!" I squealed as the icy water hit my skin. Winter had fully arrived in the lake. I jerked my head back just as he jumped, sending another splash over both of us.

"It's cold!" he shouted, his deep voice cracking slightly.

"Don't be a wimp, Hercules." I swam closer, looping my arm over his shoulder. He edged to the rocky side of the lake, gripping a stone with one hand and wrapping his other arm around my waist, steadying me.

His heart was hammering beneath my ear. Strong, fast, and warm—so warm it made the cold water feel almost negligible. I couldn't help but stare, silently drinking him in, and he met my gaze with the same quiet intensity.

"You should stop being so uptight," I teased, voice low, sultry. "I want the Hercules who doesn't care about age differences—me, eighteen, and you, all chivalry and restraint. I don't want your gentleman routine right now. I want you wild, free, naughty... especially when we're alone in this dark, freezing lake."

His breath hitched sharply, and I could feel him tense around me.

"Kia... you're young. What if I can't control myself? You're too young... you could get pregnant," he said, almost strangled with restraint.

"You... don't have a condom?" I shot back, smirking.

His sharp intake of breath made my chest swell with wicked satisfaction. I swatted his shoulder lightly, forcing him to look at me.

"Stop being like this! You're used to my mouth already, you infuriating man," I teased, grinning.

"I want this relationship... pure. Innocent, Kia. Please... stop tempting me."

I wrenched my arm free and swam toward the distant raft, still tied at the edge of the lake. I climbed aboard, standing tall, daring him with my eyes. He followed, each step measured, his expression a mix of exasperation and desire.

I felt like a provocateur, and yes—slutty, teasing, and dangerously irresistible. It pricked my ego how his insistence on innocence challenged every bold move I made. I wanted him wild, reckless with me—but he was so damn disciplined it stung.

Still... who cared? Toxic energy, here I come.

I reached for my scattered clothes, picking them up with one hand while he hoisted me lightly with the other.

"Kia..." His exhale was low, frustrated, almost a growl.

"What?" I said, trying to sound firm. "I'm cold now. I want to change." I avoided his gaze, swallowing, forcing a smile. "I wanna go home."

He stepped closer, cupping my cheek and the back of my neck, brushing a soft, lingering kiss over my skin. I froze—caught between wanting to melt into him and resisting because I knew he was still holding back, fighting the pull he clearly felt.

A wicked thought curled through me. Next time... I'll make him lose control. I nudged him, pushing his chest lightly.

"Let's go home, Hercules," I said, voice teasing, soft but charged.

He exhaled, surrendering just a fraction, his stubborn pride battling the way I toyed with him. Only a little longer... just a little longer, and he'll be mine fully.

Life is lethal. And to be honest, brutally, painfully obvious, the world around us can be lethal too.

Humans... their minds, their ambitions, their obsessions... can poison just as much as they can inspire.

Toxicity blooms silently in hearts and thoughts, convincing us that life itself is conspiring against us, when, in truth, we are the ones feeding the venom. Yet the human mind is not just a foe, it is also a battlefield, a forge, a place where chaos and clarity collide.

Time itself is lethal. Every night we sleep, we gamble on the unknown... will we be granted another sunrise, another heartbeat, another chance to wander through this chaotic, beautiful world? And when the morning comes, the weight of the hours reminds us: every second is borrowed, fleeting, precious.

So cherish it. Savor it. Live it. That is how I choose to spend my time.

No one has the right to question my choices, the audacious, the scandalous, the dirty little joys I take, because they are mine.

They satisfy me in ways words cannot capture. If they truly knew my thoughts, peered into the labyrinth of my mind, they might understand how I see the world, not in black and white, not in limits, but in infinite, reckless color.

Time is limited. Life is a fleeting blade. I told Hercules that night, by the still lake, beneath the indifferent gaze of the moon, that we only live once—and our time must not be squandered. If we deny ourselves today, tomorrow may never grant the same freedom.

I am not breaking laws. I am breaking the ordinary. I am shattering the invisible cages society has placed around girls: do this, don't do that, stay small, stay polite, stay contained. No. If you desire it, take it. Seize it. Make it yours.

Who says being a slut is mere vulgarity, a careless jest? No. When done with audacity, with elegance, and with the fire of intention, it becomes art. Lavish. Regal. Masterful.

And what I am doing... what I have done is nothing short of that... being a slut not in shame, but in opulent rebellion. A deliberate, provocative creation. A testament of power, desire, and audacity. And yes... that includes forcing the impossible, taking the Heracleo Lesner Kingsman as my muse, my challenge, my conquest.

Because life is lethal, time is lethal, humans are lethal—and I? I am the reckoning that refuses to be tamed.