SELENE [BOOK 2]

CHAPTER 7

"Steve," tawag ko kay Steve. Naabutan ko itong nasa kusina nang bumaba ako. Nakaligo at bihis na ako ng pang bahay. Nakatalikod ito sa akin. He's busy cooking while half naked, only wearing gray sweat pants. He's wearing a black apron.

Just gazing at his well-defined muscles from the back made me drool. I can't deny that the man in front of me is smoking hot. His bro flow, tousled hair only added to his attractiveness.

I watched him brush his hair with his fingers. I transferred my gaze to his fingers. Medyo maugat ito.

I gulped.

Well, he's been in the gym every day. The last time I joined him in the gym, he carried a 200-pound dumbbell. I tried it but I failed. Sobrang bigat kaya no'n. Baka pumitik na ugat sa ulo ko bago ko pa maiangat iyong mabigat na dumbell, but Steve made it look like it was easy to carry.

I cleared my throat when Steve looked at me and smiled. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanyang kamay. He stopped what he's doing and faced me.

Kinuha niya ang towel na nasa isang upuan nakalagay at pinunasan ang pawisang noo. "Are you okay now?" he asked carefully.

I nodded as a response. "Yes, I'm okay," sagot ko.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Marahang tanong niya sa akin.

I nodded at him.

I sighed. "I don't understand him, Steve. Masaya na kami ng mga anak ko. Bakit ba siya epal nang epal sa buhay ko-namin?" Problemadong usal ko.

"What actually happened?" Steve asked while intently staring at my face.

I sighed before telling him what had happened earlier. I even told him that I had shouted Solane earlier. I was just mad and disappointed.

Steve was attentive while I was telling him everything. He didn't talk or stop me when I was talking; he just let me finish.

"I see..." he paused. "Did you already talk to Solane?" Steve asked after I was done talking.

"Yes, she came into my room and apologized earlier,” I said and let out a heavy sigh. Solane has been an understanding daughter. That was the first time I raised a voice at her or in front of Lucas. I'm guilty.

I feel like I'm a bad mother. I just didn't really expect to see them with Nico. Especially in our own house. Isa pa naman sa mga bilin ko sa kanila na 'wag lalapit o makikipag-usap kahit kanino.

Agad na nag init ang dugo ko kanina nang makita ko si Nico kasama ang mga anak ko at nagtatawanan pa. Wala siyang karapatang lumapit at makipag-usap sa mga anak ko lalo na kay Lucas.

"I just want to protect them," I uttered in a low voice.

"Yeah, I know." Steve replied and let out a heavy sigh. "Nico already knows about Lucas; we can't hide him from his own father. Nico will do everything just to get close to his son, based on what you said earlier. What's your decision, Selene? Whatever it is, I'm just here." Steve's voice as he spoke was very calm.

My fist clenched. "I won't let him get close to my son, Steve. He can't even touch a single hair of my Lucas," I coldy said.

He once killed our baby.

Other people may call me selfish, but I don't care. Diyan lang naman magaling ang mga tao. Ang manghusga ng hindi inaalam ang pinagdaan ng isang tao. Wala sila sa posisyon ko.

"Okay, do you want me to hire guards to watch the kids?" Steve asked softly.

Agad akong napangiti. "Maybe that's a good idea, but as much as possible, I want them invisible, Steve. I don't want Lucas and Solane to wonder why there's a guard following them. They might get scared." Steve nodded at me.