CHAPTER 7: I DON’T HATE YOU ONE BIT

“I got it,” I placed the proof he asked from me on top of the table. “So, back off from now on.”

“You’re in no position to tell me what to do. I’m the one who decides.”

“You promised me this will end the matter!” I angrily pointed at the thing in front of him.

“Off course not. I will keep my watch. You think I’m stupid to let go of my hold on you? Not until I get what I want. You should know that by now. But rest assured, as long as I don’t see anything suspicious, I will not meddle.”

I clenched my fist. Right now, I really want to curse this devil.

“You’re a really greedy person. Everyone around you is just a toy for you. Just things you can use to get what you want.”

He tilted his head.

“I don’t give a damn about your emotions. Watch your words, you know who’s holding the power between the two of us,” there is an implicit warning in his voice and I seethed in anger.

“Be careful in your game. One wrong move and you might find us in the opposite sides of the court.”

“How poetic. You know very well that your loyalty should belong to me.”

=====

HARLEY.

I woke up with a start. It’s been a week since that day, but until now, I still cannot calm down about it. It’s frustrating!

I have to do something about it. I can’t bear to feel even a bit threatened. And I cannot bear this too formal air between the two of us in the office. Since I am the one who’s pissed, I cannot flirt with her even though I’ve had several chances to do just that.

I picked up my phone from the side table and dialed. After so many rings, the call was answered.

“Hello,” her voice is hoarse, my call must have woken her up from sleeping.

“I’m coming over.”

“Are you crazy? What time is it?!”

“Three o’clock,” I answered after glancing at the bedside clock.

“I know, dumdum. That was a rhetorical question.”

“I know that, too. I just want to annoy you because I’m pissed right now. I’m coming over in fifteen.”

“Harley, are you really crazy? You can’t just come over to someone’s house anytime you want! My sister’s here. And it’s three in the morning!”

“I don’t care. I need to see you.”

I heard her groan but I ignored it and dropped the call.

Then I quickly got ready and drove to her place.

Jewelle is outside the gate when I came, her hair is messily cascaded behind her. She looks cold even though she’s already wearing an oversized jacket. Underneath that, I can see a tank top and a boxer short.

Darn it, I hate the sight of that boxer short!

“What’s your problem?” she asked first thing when I approached her. “Let’s just talk here, I cannot let you in since my sister is still asleep.”

I smirked at her and pulled her hand without saying anything.

“Wait!” she protested as I opened the car door to the passenger side. “I am not coming with you, so just tell me what this is about.”

“I did not come to talk,” I grumbled and glared at her. She flinched. “Get in,” I ordered.

She looked hesitant but Jewelle still decided to get into my car. I quickly restarted it and drove away.

“Can we drop by a convenience store?” she asked.

I did not answer but I pulled over when I saw one along the road.

She went out quietly and I followed even though she did not ask me to.

“You’re always in a convenience store. What do you even need from here?” I remarked.

“I want their slurpee,” she said nonchalantly. I stared at her. She’s shivering in cold, but what did she want?? Slurpee? What, did she want to die of hypothermia?

I voiced out my thought when I saw her holding the cup and is about to put the content into it.

“Mind your own business. You’re not the one who will drink it.” She rolled her eyes at me and proceeded with what she intended to do.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Fine, since that’s what you want. Anyway, I can always hug you when you get too cold. I will be your human jacket,” I winked at her and grinned naughtily as I gave her an assessing look from head to toe.

I really wouldn’t mind enveloping her in my embrace.

She rolled her eyes again.

“You know what, I don’t know what’s your problem with your life. What do you even need from me that you’d come at this time of the night. For your information, it’s not working hours right now. And because you just forced me to meet you, you should pay me overtime.”

“Whatever,” I draped my arm around her that I am almost hugging her and then led her to the cashier.

“We-we-we-waaaait!” she said loudly and grabbed a huge pack of chips from the shelf we passed by. I stopped to let her get as much as she wants.

“Junk foods! Junk foods! Haven’t you heard of healthy living?”

“Healthy living your face. Is your lifestyle even healthy? Look at you, you’re always into junk sex, right!”

“Watch your potty mouth! You’re so vulgar!”

“Don’t be pretentious. What’s wrong with the word ‘sex’?”

People inside the convenience store started looking at us. Really, why are there so many people inside the store at this time of the night? Are there really so many nocturnal people in the world?

“Lower your voice!” I snapped. “And what junk sex are you talking about? Is there even such a term?"

“Now there is. I just coined it. Bwahahaha! But isn’t it true, anyway? Don’t you know that the first thing I learned about you in the office is you womanizing tendencies?”

This tactless woman really won’t be stopped. Tss, did she think I don’t know how to silence her?

I grinned at the thought. Hell yeah! There’s an effective way. Proven and tested!

“What? Did you give up defending yourself already?” she bugged.

“Why would I even bother defending it to you? It’s good that you know that already so that we can avoid expectations.”

“Expectations? Why would I expect anything from you?”

I went still and looked at her.

“You.. You know I want you, right?”

“Of course. You made it very evident that you want to f@ck me.”

Damn this woman.

My face went red as the people around us looked at me again when they heard what she said.

“Can’t you have a little more tact? You know, there’s a more subtle way of referring it. Didn’t you know about the term ‘making love’?” I whispered but she simply shrugged her shoulder.

“I don’t care what they think. Or what they will say. And the term you used is the biggest farce I’ve ever heard. No matter how much you romanticize it, it still sounds sex to me.”

“So, do you agree?”

“With what? Becoming fucking buddies with you?”

“You could have used FUBU,” I said.

“Tch!” she shook her head and picked up more junk foods.

“You know, I have more of that at home. Why do you need to buy so much?”

“Who told you I’m going with you? We’ll just stay here. Here, pay it. I will wait for you in that table,” she put everything in my hands and walked towards the table she pointed to.

What the hell-?!

JEWELLE.

My knees wobbled as I let myself down on the chair.

Did I really have that conversation with Harley? He did not even deny his womanizing acts? And he did not even shy away from offering me casual affair as if it is but an ordinary merchandise off the shelf.

I looked at him as he stands in the queue. He’s also looking in my direction, his face serious as if he’s thinking about something. I raised and eyebrow and he just smiled.

A sexy, seductive smile.

And I don’t know why, but my body suddenly felt hot in the way he is looking at me. Desire is written all over his face.

Why am I affected? Is being a flirt contagious?

A casual affair. A no-strings-attached sort of relationship. FUBU as he puts it.

Can I do that?

Seriously?! Why am I contemplating it??

Damn! Damn this man!

I gulped and looked away. Tch! This is a dangerous situation.

But he is really a good looking guy. And, well, the fact that he desires me gives me a sense of achievement. Who would have thought that the guy who asked my sister if I am her mother, the very guy who insulted me that way, will fall for my charm?

It’s flattering, and it boosts my confidence.

As long as I steer away from the ‘love’ department, I should be alright, right?

This should be a safer ground for me. I know what I’m doing, and I know what I’m getting out of it.

No expectations. No emotional tangles. No disappointments and heartbreaks.

I almost screamed in shock when I realized that he’s already behind me. His face over my shoulder and only inches away from me.

“WHAT THE HELL-? DID YOU NEED TO STICK TO ME LIKE THAT?!” I snapped. He was unperturbed by my outburst. He’s just looking at the white wall in front of us. “What are you looking at??”

“I was looking at what you’re looking at. Is there something in the wall that I cannot see? You’ve been looking at it and making difference expressions in your face earlier.”

My face turned red at his observation. What expressions did he see me make? Did I look stupid?

“In that wall, I can see different ways of murdering you,” I said and reached out for my slurpee but he held it away from me.

“I’m taking this hostage. Let’s go!”

I gaped at him.

“Wha- wait?! THAT’S MY SLURPEE, HEY GIVE IT!”

I chased after him but he ignored me. People were looking and I felt embarrassed so I just followed him to his car.

Fine, I will go with him.

He handed the cup to me once I am seated inside the car and I’ve put on the seat belt.

But before he did that, he took a gulp from it. I glared at him. If he also like it, he should have bought his own!

He did not seem affected by my glare and just turned his radio on. It annoyed me more.

“YOU-!” I was just about to rant but it was cut short.

Why?

Because he shut me up with his lips.

I gasped in surprise. Son of a gun! I was not prepared!

Wait, wait..! Did I even rinse my mouth when I got up earlier?

Crap! No time to think about it! I can already taste my slurpee in his lips, and I can already feel his tongue that’s trying to trespass inside my parted lips.

Waaait! Why is my tongue acting on its own? Is the world getting crazy? Did my tongue feel like it found a playmate? Waaait! Where are my brain cells?!

Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity

To seize everything you ever wanted- one moment.

Would you capture it or just let it slip?

I hear Eminem in the background, urging me on.

One, two, three, GO! OKAY MHEG JEWELLE ALCANTARA, YOU BETTER JOIN THE FUN! IT’S STUPID TO LET IT THE OPPORTUNITY PASS!

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment

You own it, you better never let it go

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime

“Shit!” I pushed Harley reflexively when I felt the cold drink pouring all over my chest from the cup that’s caught between our bodies.

Wow, good job, Slurpee! What great timing! And I have just begun enjoying myself! I hate you!

I looked up when I heard Harley chuckle. He raised his left hand and massage the area between my two eyebrows.

“What are you laughing about?” I snapped and pushed his hand away.

He looked unaffected by my grumpiness, instead, he looked down to my chest.

“What a waste of the drink. Should I make the best of it?”

“What?” I got confused.

But instead of answering me, he leaned closer and dipped his head. Then he licked the exposed skin below my neck. It’s soaked with the drink, but the coldness brought by the crushed ice instantly disappeared and was replaced by the warmth of his lips and tongue. I couldn’t react as my body froze.

“W-what are you doing..?” I gasped. Strength seemed to have abandoned me.

“One. Keeping you warm. Two. Keeping the slurpee from being wasted.”

“And three, taking advantage of my situation,” I added.

He laughed against my skin. “Yeah, that, too.”

He tugged at the bottom of my tank top so that more of my flesh will be exposed. He reached the soft curve of my cleavage and licked at the mound that is my breast.

I chewed on my lip because in truth..

I am liking what he’s doing.

And Slurpee.. I am taking back what I said. I don’t hate you one bit.