INFERNO HEARTS

Give and take

"This will be your room from now on. Miss Diana." nakangiting wika ni Seb kay Diana pagbukas nito sa pinto ng isang silid.

Pinauna siyang pinapasok nito sa loob bago sumunod.

Isang marangyang kwarto ang bumungad sa kaniya.

The interior of the room is adorned in two distinct hues. Gold and cream. The cream-colored walls and the glass window that spans from ceiling to the floor provide a breathtaking view of the outside scenery.

The ash-colored curtain with gold flowers embroidered on it gives the impression that the scenery is like a work of art, also a single seater chair and a round table with gold outlines residing close to the glass window as if it was put there on purpose for you to witness the magnificent view.

Cosy vibes were brought to the space by a huge, exquisite bed backdrop with a cherry blossom tree art. There is also a dazzling chandelier made entirely of crystal that almost outshines the light source itself, a small bedside table, and a bed too large for one person to lay on.

Hindi maikakaila na mapera ang mga nakatira doon.

Usually na nakikita niya lang ang ganito karangyang silid sa tv o sa picture. Malayong malayo sa bahay na tinitirahan nila ni Chronos na simple at very minimalist, walang masyadong gamit at lahat ng naroroon ay essential. Still, they find peace in their home.

"Please let me know if there is anything in the room that you would like to change, and we will do so." ani Seb na hindi nawawala ang ngiti kay Diana.

Are you kidding me? This is too much for one person who's been living a simple life in her entire life!

"Uhh, no. I'm okay with it."

"Alright, if you say so. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me or anyone here, Miss Diana."

"You can call me Diana. And thank you...Seb."

Laking pasasalamat ni Diana dito. The guy is very friendly, and he is the only person in the whole mansion who welcomes her so warmly.

"You're welcome, Diana." he said after leaving her alone.

lumapit si Diana sa queen-sized bed at pabagsak na inihiga ang pagod niyang katawan sa malambot na kama.

Up until this moment, she couldn't believe that she convinced the high and mighty Cassius.

-Flashbacks-

"What?" tanong ni Cassius habang salubong ang dalawang makapal na kilay.

"Y-You can have me." lakas loob niyang ulit kahit alam niyang narinig naman nito ang sinabi niya. "All...of me."

To her surprise, Cassius laughed so hard.

Diana was supposed to feel offended, but she was actually in awe since she had never seen him laugh before. Ni hindi nga niya alam kung capable ba itong ngumiti dahil sa hindi magandang impression niya dito noong una silang nagkita. All he did back then was smirk.

"Oh f**k, seriously." natatawa nitong sabi. " You never failed to amazed me, Diana. Like, everytime."

"I am dead serious." madiin niyang sagot.

"Are you?" he asked, grinning. "Have you ever realized how heavy those words that you said are?"

Natameme si Diana. Of course, she knows. And she should not say that dahil sa mata ng Diyos at ng tao ay kasal siya sa kapatid nitong si Chronos kahit pa patay na ang asawa niya.

Mahirap man at masakit para sa kaniya dahil pakiramdam niya ay nagtataksil siya sa namayapang asawa pero wala siyang ibang pagpipilian. Gusto niyang mabuhay dahil gusto niyang malaman ang totoo. Kailangan niyang malaman kung bakit may nagtatangka sa buhay niya at kung sinong pumatay sa pinakamamahal niyang asawa. Kaya gagawin niya ang lahat kahit pa ang makipagsayaw sa demonyo.

Malakas na kumabog ang dibdib ni Diana nang magsimulang lumapit sa kaniya si Cassius. Nanatili siya sa pwesto hanggang sa maramdaman niya ito sa kaniyang likuran. He was so near that she could feel his chest against her upper back.

Then he leans against the table, trapping her between his two strong arms. He is so masculine and tall. Hanggang kilikili lang si Diana nito.

With a breathy, deep voice, Cassius asked, "Has it ever occurred to you that I can bed any woman I want?"

Napapikit si Diana nang magbigay ng kilabot sa kaniyang likuran papuntang ulo ang hininga ni Cassius na dumampi sa leeg niya.

"Yes..." matapang niyang sagot. "But they are not me.

Pinaninindigan niya ang gut feeling niyang naramdaman noon at nararamdaman hanggang ngayon.

"And what is it that you have that they don't have, hmm?" mahinang bulong ulit nito sa tenga niya.

Lakas loob na humarap si Diana kay Cassius kahit pa nasa loob siya ng mga bisig nito ay pinilit niyang gumalaw. Pagkatapos ay inilapit niya ang katawan niya sa katawan nito hanggang sa wala ng space na natitira sa pagitan nila.

And that bold move drove a thousand currents through her entire body, right down to her fingertips.

"Feel that?" panggagaya niya sa sinabi nito sa kaniya noon. "That's what I have that they don't have."

The undeniably s****l tension between them that sends shiver down their spine.

He greeted her with a piercing gaze and his jaw moved.

That's it. That was the desire that I saw back then in your eyes.

Diana was sweating as the tension between them intensified. Eye to eye, nose and lips are almost touching, she can feel his breath. At the same time, she can't stop admiring Cassius' features. She couldn't deny his attractiveness, especially from that close-up.

Gwapo talaga ng lintik.

Tinanggal niya ang natitirang kahihiyan and she began unbuttoning her top. Cassius grabbed her hand swiftly, causing her to stop.

"What are you doing?" kunot noo nitong tanong sa kaniya.

"Anything. I will do anything you ask me to, Cassius." salubong niya sa mga mata nito. "You want me to strip right now? Do you want me in your bed every night? I will do that. Whatever it is that you want me to do, I will do it. J-Just help me... I wanted to know the truth, please! At ikaw lang ang makakatulong sa 'kin."

Hindi mabasa ni Diana kung ano ang nasa isip ni Cassius sa mga oras na 'yon. Basta lang itong nakatingin sa mga mata niya.

After a moment, he sighed heavily.

"Button up." utos nito sa kaniya na kaagad niya namang sinunod.

Muli itong bumalik sa kabilang side ng table at nagsindi ng sigarilyo bago lumapit sa malaking glass window at tumanaw doon.

Nakalubog na ang araw pero may naiwan pa rin itong kulay sa kalangitan.

"I am going to help you until you gain your memories."

Daig pa ni Diana ang nanalo sa lotto nang marinig iyon mula kay Cassius.

"Thank—"

"I don't do charity, Diana." putol nito sa sasabihin niya.

Kaagad siyang natahimik.

"I'm doing this because I'll benefit from it in some way," wika nito sabay baling sa kaniya. "Do you remember what you said earlier? That you will comply with whatever demands I make?"

Tumango siya.

"Then be ready, I am the type of guy that takes anything and everything until nothing is left." banta nito. "And mind you, i don't just f**k. I f**k— hard."

Hindi alam ni Diana kung paano mag rerespond sa sinabi ni Cassius kaya pinili na lang niyang itikom ang bibig pero hindi niya maiwasang mamula ang mukha.

Maya-maya pa ay pumunta ito sa table nito at may pinindot sa intercom.

Ilang segundo lang ay may kumatok sa pinto kasunod ang pagbukas no'n at pumasok si Seb na may dalang tray, naro'n ang isang basong tubig at glass na pitsel.

"Diana will be living here starting now," anito kay Seb. "Give her one of the guest rooms close to my room."

Saglit na natigilan si Seb bago sumagot ng "Noted, boss."

Pagkatapos ay sa kaniya naman bumaling si Cassius.

"Tell Seb what you need, and he will bring it to you. In our next meeting, I'll tell you what the plan is, and I expect you to follow through."

Tanging tango lang ang naging sagot ni Diana sa lahat ng sinabi nito dahil mukhang sanay si Cassius na nasa kanya ang pinal na desisyon.

- End of flashback.-

Hindi alam ni Diana kung ano ang magiging plano ni Cassius pero kailangan niya dito na magtiwala.

Nakasalalay sa taong iyon ang buhay niya. Hindi man sabihin ni Cassius sa kaniya ay alam ni Diana na nais nitong malaman ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng nakababatang kapatid. At ang ala-ala niya ang susi doon.

Sa sobrang pagod at pagkatapos pakawalan ni Diana ang lahat ng tensiyon na nararamdaman niya magmula nang takasan niya ang mga humahabol sa kaniya hanggang sa makarating siya dito, kaagad siyang hinila ng antok.

Wala sa hinagap ni Diana na ang planong naisip ni Cassius ay babaguhin nang tuluyan hindi lang ang takbo ng buhay niya kundi pati na rin ang buo niyang pagkatao.