The Forbidden Temptation

18: Like You

"Hercules!" Maligayang naglakad si Phenoe papunta sa amin, nilagpasan ako na parang hindi nag-exist sa eksena. "Let us—"

"Phenoe, I am going home." Narinig kong mabigat ang sabi ni Hercules.

"Bakit naman?" Nakatalikod man ako, naiisip ko kung paano siya kinapit ni Phenoe, siguradong nagpapacute at baka may kasama pang pag-blink ng mata. Hayop na babaeng 'to.

Humakbang na ako papasok sa mansion nang magsalita si Hercules.

"I am going home with my girlfri—"

"Hercules!" Tawag ko agad para pigilan siya.

Bumilis ang pagtaas-baba ng dibdib ko nang harapin sila, at hindi niya maituloy ang sasabihin, nakakunot ang noo ni Phenoe habang nakatingin sa akin.

Sampalin kita d'yan! 'Wag mo akong tignan ng ganyan!

"Di-diba... tumawag si Pythos sayo na patay na si Momo, 'y-yong pusa niya... oh my gosh! That was sad. You need to go... oh! My bad! Wala akong kasama, ihatid mo muna ako sa amin tapos bumalik ka na lang dito."

Hinila ko na ang braso niyang hindi na inangkin ni Phenoe ngayon.

"Sasama ako," agap ni Phenoe. Lihim akong napairap.

Hindi ako magpapatalo sa award ng 'Best p****k na may determinasyon'—ako ang nauna kay Hercules. Step out, b***h!

"Ay naku! Phenoe, ayaw nong bad boy niyang kambal na may ibang kasama habang nililibing si Momo... magagalit 'yon. Hindi nga rin ako sasama eh," malungkot kong sabi.

"Yes. That's right... and you can't talk to me anymore because he would... uhm..." Nakakunot ang noo niya, pero isang segundo lang, nilinis niya ang linyang iyon, nagbalik sa malamig at walang-milagrosong aura.

Huh? Anong pinagsasabi ni Hercules? Hindi ba siya marunong magsinungaling?

"He'd surely ask me to get rid of the girl... whoever see Momo's dead body," saad muli ni Hercules.

Napakunot ang noo ni Phenoe sa sinabi ni Hercules. Sinong maniniwala sa sinasabi nito? Loko-loko!

A Heracleo Lesner Kingsman under his brother. What a juicy news, because I know he isn't the type to follow Pythos, even if he's the gentle type compared to the rough guy.

Sa pagkakarinig ko, si Pythos ang under sa kanya.

Mas effective ako magsinungaling.

"Bilisan mo, Hercules, or else your brother will raise hell!" O.a na ata!

"P-pero Hercules, babalik ka diba?" Naguguluhan si Phenoe, para siyang batang gustong sumama sa Mama niya. Gusto ko siyang belatan.

Kala mo d'yan! Ako ang 'legal girlfriend'.

Damn it, Kia, stop being so dramatic. You and Hercules were... you are just toying him!

Really?

Am I?

"And?" tanong ko, kumakapit ang tingin sa kanyang mata.

"We're going to our Vista."

"No!"

"I'm sorry but—"

"Maraming tao doon! I can't have you alone!"

Napahinto siya sa pagmamaneho nang sabihin ko iyon.

Ang bilis niyang naigilid, parang alam na alam niya ang bawat pagpulso at galaw ko, kahit sa simpleng tugon. Of course, I've seen him drive his F1 car; control is instinct.

"Kung gano'n, saan mo gusto?" tanong niya, restraint smirk on his lips, ruthless look in his eyes... but shock still dances in his gaze, as if he can't believe what just slipped out of my mouth.

I have said dirty things before, why is he still perplexed?

"Don't look at me as if I've said the most, we almost had our steamy thing earlier... gusto kong ituloy 'yon, nabitin ako—" 'di ko naituloy ang sasabihin ko nang mabilis niyang natanggal ang seat belt at hinalikan ako ng biglaan, firm but teasing.

"Words, Kia," anito, his voice low, deliberate, a dangerous kind of velvet.

"I want you alone! Iyong tayong dalawa lang... dalhin mo ako doon sa pinuntahan natin dati."

Napapanganga siya sa sinabi ko, pero hindi na siya nagsalita pa. His eyes lingered on mine, sharp, assessing, before finally giving in, and dinala niya nga ako doon.

Inalalayan niya ako habang naglalakad kami sa mga talahiban, every step deliberate, his hand brushing mine ever so slightly. My pulse raced at each contact.

Hanggang sa marating namin ang mapunong parte ng gilid ng lawa.

Gamit ang mga phone namin bilang flashlight, at ang bilog na buwan na umiilaw sa lawak ng tubig, ang tanawin ay parang nakadirekta sa amin. The moonlight danced on the ripples, silvering the surface, wrapping us in quiet intimacy, and for the first time that night, the world outside felt miles away.

It's so peaceful here. I can finally feel the air lighten in my lungs, each breath a small relief after the fury of seeing Phenoe glued to him all night.

"Alam mo, hindi kita maintindihan! I am your girlfriend, but you're with Phenoe letting her cling on your arms! Napipilitan ka lang talaga! Halata e."

I slammed my hands against his chest. The thump of my heartbeat echoed against his solid frame, feeding my adrenaline. After a few moments of tense silence, I felt my courage rekindling... I was ready to confront him fully now.

"Seriously? I thought you asked for a place for us so we could talk properly, pero naghanap ka lang pala ng lugar kung saan pwedeng mag-echo 'yang mga sigaw mo."

He blinked slowly, amusement flickering across his handsome, ruthless face.

"Alam mo, gago ka!" I yelled.

I pushed his shoulder, putting all my strength into it, desperate to make him feel even a fraction of my frustration. "You asked me to be your girlfriend, you ask for a commitment! You told me you'd satisfy me, but after a small fight you gave up? You are not worthy of my affection... I mean, future affections!" I shot back, chest heaving.

"Who told you I gave up? Binigyan lang kita ng oras baka magsawa ka, kasi sa edad mong yan mabilis kang magsawa," he said calmly.

Why was it that I was the one boiling over while he still looked unshakable, his expression calm, his eyes sharp, the hint of a restrained smile barely visible?

"You are attacking my age again! It's not about my age! It's about your incompetency as a boyfriend!" I shouted, voice cracking.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes narrowing, yet still unbothered.

"Where did our fight start again?" he asked, as if asking a trivial question, completely oblivious to how furious I was.

"I hate you!" I snapped, pure frustration rattling my tone. "It started when you kept teasing my age, and after that fight, you became an incompetent boyfriend!"

"Kia, I am calling you baby girl because you are my baby."

I refused to smile... how could I, when every nerve in me was screaming? Ayokong ngumiti, naiinis ako!

He stepped closer, gripping my elbows firmly, holding me in place. "I am not teasing your age. Kung sino man ang dapat mahiya sa atin, ako 'yon—"

"Ikinahihiya mong mas bata ako sa'yo?!" I spat out, incredulous.

"No, that's not it, Kia. Listen first, please, fruitcake, baby."

Parang tanga to! Kainis!

Before I could react, he closed the distance, pressing his lips against me, nipping and sucking with an intensity that made my skin tingle. Goosebumps rose across my arms and neck at the warmth of his lips and the ridiculous name he called me. I hated the nickname, but somehow it sounded... intoxicating right now.

"You are so young for these carnal things. I kind of feel bad when I took you.... I feel so... uhm... ashamed of myself. I wanted to make this relationship less... sexual... I want it a little bit innocent."

"Oh, shut up! I am not innocent even if I'm a virgin! Stop acting like you were the one who corrupted me, I did it myself! You just let me experience it firsthand. Wag mo akong paandaran ng pagiging good boy mo, hindi yan oobra sa akin!" I barked.

I watched his jaw lock, his features sharpening, his ruthlessness returning with lethal precision.

"Ikinahihiya mo nga," I whispered, my voice trembling with a cocktail of frustration and ache. I couldn't even scream the words that wanted to tear out of me, my chest tightened just thinking about how he could feel embarrassed over what had happened between us.

"Hindi." His voice was firm, yet velvety. He reached up, gripping my arm above the elbow, guiding me gently but with an undeniable authority. His other hand cupped my chin, tilting my face to meet his eyes, holding me in a spellbinding, intimate gaze.

"Nahihiya ako na kailangan pang ikaw ang unang gumawa noon e... syempre napakabata mo pa."

The words struck me like a sudden downpour. My eyes filled, hot tears threatening to fall, my lips quivering.

"Anong problema do'n?" I whispered, my voice breaking, a sob threatening to escape.

He leaned closer, his forehead brushing mine. His breath was warm, steady, almost intoxicating against my skin. There was no ridicule in his eyes,only raw vulnerability, a strange blend of regret and admiration, and a tenderness that made my heart hammer painfully in my chest.

"Malaking problema 'yon, Kia... malaking-malaki," he murmured, almost reverently.

I couldn't comprehend him. Am I not allowed to feel? Am I incapable of liking someone just because I'm young? And why does it matter that it's him, a Heracleo Lesner Kingsman, a man whose presence alone could command the world?

"Let's take it slow... fruitcake, please..."

"Ayoko nga..." I muttered, even as my voice betrayed a faint quiver.

He lifted his head slightly, as if losing patience, and let a crooked, infuriatingly charming smile tug at his lips.

"Fine... let's take it slow..."

"Sabi ko ayoko... ang sarap mo kaya... hmp!" I was cut off as he pressed his hand over my mouth, silencing me.

"Words, please..." he coaxed, voice low and commanding.

"You are pretty, you are likable... sometimes... but with it alone, I like it..."

His words hit me like a shiver straight to my chest. My heart skipped, thumped, trembled. Hey Kiashana... I was melting faster than I wanted to admit.

"So... pinagnanasaan mo rin ako?" My voice cracked, tinged with tears, yet my ears drank in every word he spoke. He furrowed his brow, exhaling slowly.

Sobrang sakit ko na ba sa ulo, Hercules?

The ache in my head throbbed as his confession poured over me.

"You make me ashamed that you can be more... badass than I am. Ginawa mo ang mga bagay na dapat ako ang gumagawa. Nakakahiya 'yon sa parte ko. Why did I even agree to your offer? If I didn't want you, I can't be forced. If I didn't really like you, why would I offer a commitment? It just scares me... how early this happened. I took you months after you turned eighteen, it makes me..." He sighed, the weight in his chest palpable. "You are too young, and it's shameful for me... did you get it? Hindi ako napipilitan lang."

Every word, every admission, ignited a storm inside me, the wild thump of my heart, the heat coiling through my veins, the dizzying twist of sensation in my stomach. It wasn't normal. None of it felt normal.

"Kung ganoon... if we had a fight, you wouldn't care? You'd wait a whole week before approaching me? 'Di mo ko susuyuin?" I pressed, tilting my lips defiantly.

"Ang bata mo pa... napakabata mo pa," he said, his eyes narrowing with that mix of amusement and frustration. "Kapag ba nag-seryoso ako, seseryosohin mo ba ako?"

"Of course! Why am I even here then? This isn't a game anymore, neither a tryout nor a free taste, Hercules! It's real! Can't you see it? I... I like you. I want us to be real."

I didn't overthink my words. I refused to spin around doubts or hesitations. I wasn't letting anything hold me back tonight. I wanted him, I wanted this... and I wasn't about to mince words anymore.

"Really, Kia?" His smile was lopsided but searching, as if he was carefully tracing the truth in my gaze. "Look at me, fruitcake."

"Your endearment is ridiculous," I scoffed, nudging him playfully.

"Are you saying this... this is for real?"

I nudged him again, firmer this time. "I thought you were smart. Why do you need me to repeat it? Didn't you get it the first time? Or are you just pretending to read me to score more points in your godlike hotness?" I smirked, seeing him roll his eyes but c***k a laugh anyway.

"I can't believe this," he muttered, shaking his head, his voice low and rough.

"What's unbelievable?" I pressed again, enjoying how flustered he was.

"You... being an eighteen-year-old—"

"And I am of legal age, era," I shot back, eyes daring him.

"Still makes you... technically a minor. Damn... I can't believe I... took you at—" He trailed off, a flush creeping up his neck, his jaw tightening. "I'm going to have to wait for years."

"So... are you telling me we're not going to do anything until I'm nineteen? Twenty? Twenty-one? Is that it?" I challenged, leaning in closer, letting the heat of my voice and my gaze press against his composure.

His lips twitched, that brutal half-smile returning, dangerous and amused all at once. "Kia... you're reckless."

"Reckless? Maybe. But I'm yours. And if you're not going to catch me now, I'll keep jumping anyway."

The tension between us thickened, every word and every glance sparking a storm neither of us wanted to calm. Tonight, it wasn't just about teasing or testing... it was about claiming, daring, and refusing to hold back.