LOVE IN PRIVATE, NOT A SECRET!

LOVE IN PRIVATE, NOT A SECRET Written by Miss Moon CHAPTER 1 The Man Who Doesn't Want to Be Seen “Are you always this quiet, or am I just not interesting enough?” Napatingin ako sa lalaking nakaupo sa harap ko. Adrian Montevista. Tall, handsome, and annoyingly calm. He was wearing a black polo shirt with the sleeves folded just below his elbows. His expensive watch glistened under the warm lights of the café, but what caught my attention the most were his eyes. Cold. Mysterious. Unreadable. He slowly put down his coffee before looking at me. “Would you prefer me to talk nonsense just to entertain you?” I raised an eyebrow. “Wow. May attitude.” “And you talk too much.” I gasped dramatically. “Excuse me? Ako pa talaga ang madaldal?” “Do you want me to count how many questions you've asked since you arrived?” I crossed my arms and leaned against my chair. “Fine. Don't talk to me.” He smirked. “Gladly.” I stared at him in disbelief. This man was impossible. And the worst part? I had agreed to meet him again. Why? Because despite his cold personality, there was something about Adrian Montevista that made me curious. Something I couldn't explain, no matter how hard I tried. Maybe it was the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn't paying attention. Or maybe I was simply losing my mind. “Callista.” I blinked when I heard him say my name. “What?” “I'm asking you something.” “Then ask.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on mine. “What do you want from me?” For a moment, I didn't know what to say. It was such a simple question, yet the way he asked it made it sound like a warning. I swallowed before answering. “Nothing complicated. I just want to get to know you.” “Why?” “Because you agreed to meet me.” “That doesn't mean you have to expect anything.” I smiled, though a little awkwardly. “Relax, Adrian. It's just coffee. Hindi kita inaaya para pakasalan ako.” For the first time that afternoon, he laughed. It was brief, almost inaudible, but enough to change his entire face. And damn it. He looked even more handsome when he smiled. “Good,” he said, reaching for his cup. “Because I'm not looking for a relationship.” I looked away, pretending his words didn't bother me. “Who said I was?” “Your eyes.” My head snapped back toward him. “Excuse me?” “You heard me.” I wanted to throw a napkin at his face. Instead, I took a deep breath and gave him my sweetest smile. “Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Montevista.” “I'm not.” “Good.” “Good.” We stared at each other for two seconds before I burst out laughing. He shook his head, but I caught the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. For a little while, everything felt easy. We talked about work, our favorite food, and the places we wanted to visit. Adrian wasn't as boring as I had expected. He was actually funny when he wanted to be, although his sarcasm could probably ruin someone's entire day. But just when I thought I was beginning to understand him, his phone rang. One glance at the screen was enough to change his expression. The smile disappeared. He stood up and answered the call. “I'm busy.” A pause. “I said I'm busy.” Another pause. His jaw tightened. “Don't tell anyone about this. I'll handle it myself.” Then he ended the call. I watched him return to his seat. “Everything okay?” I asked. “Yeah.” “You don't look okay.” “I'm fine, Callista.” I pressed my lips together. There it was again. That invisible wall he kept putting between us whenever something bothered him. I didn't push him. We had only just started getting to know each other, and I wasn't entitled to every detail of his life. Still, I couldn't help wondering what kind of secrets a man like Adrian Montevista was keeping. After a few minutes, he checked his watch. “I have to go.” “Oh. Okay.” He took out his wallet, but I immediately stopped him. “Don't worry. I'll pay for mine.” He looked at me. “I invited you. I'll pay.” “Then thank you for the coffee.” He nodded and walked me toward the café entrance. Outside, the afternoon breeze brushed against my skin. I was about to say goodbye when he suddenly spoke. “Callista.” I turned around. “Hmm?” “Can I see you again?” I stared at him. For someone who had just told me he wasn't looking for a relationship, he certainly knew how to confuse a woman. I tilted my head. “Why? I thought you weren't looking for anything.” “I'm not.” “Then why ask?” He slipped one hand into his pocket. “Because I want to see you again.” My heart did something embarrassing inside my chest. I hated that. I hated how a simple sentence from a man I barely knew could make me feel this way. But I wasn't going to make it easy for him. I smiled sweetly. “Let's see, Adrian.” He chuckled. “Playing hard to get?” “No. I'm just not that easy to impress.” “Challenge accepted.” He walked toward his car, leaving me standing there with a ridiculous smile on my face. I watched him drive away, completely unaware that this small meeting would eventually change my life. Because three weeks later, Adrian Montevista would kiss me for the first time. And two months after that, he would hold my hand in the darkness and whisper words I would never forget. I want you, Callista. But I can't let the world know about us. I should have walked away the moment he said those words. I should have protected my heart before it was too late. But how could I? When the man who didn't want a relationship was slowly becoming the only man I wanted one with? And that was how my story with Adrian Montevista began. A love that was meant to stay private. But never a secret.