CHAPTER 1

MELISSA QUIZON

"Hi." I put down the book I was reading and looked up at the owner of that voice. I was secretly shocked to see in front of me the man who caused the madness of women all over our campus. He sat in the vacant seat in front of me, then handed me a long-stemmed rose. "Uh, for you..."

The women at another table started whispering again. The air was filled with whispering noises.

"What does Wright see in that woman? I'm better than her."

"She charmed our Wright! That bitch!"

"Girl, you are disgusting. Your saliva is on my arms. Look!"

I took a deep breath. I had been receiving insults from those women for two weeks now. I was already getting used to it. I stood up and arranged my books. I also put my bag on my shoulder. "Uh, I can't accept that. I'm sorry."

I was about to leave when a warm hand grabbed my arm. The women at the other table sighed. The murmurs grew louder. I confronted him. He was still holding the rose and looking at me seriously. "Don't listen to what others are saying to you. Just believe me. I'm serious about you."

I stared at him. He was six feet tall and all muscles and had the most arresting face—thin lips, straight nose, chiseled jaw, hypnotizing eyes. Sometimes, I got caught staring into those eyes and forgot where I was. Wright was the sexiest man to have ever graced my eyes. I swallowed and averted my gaze before I melted into the intensity of his gaze.

"Why me?" I kept my voice from shaking.

"Why not you?"

What were his intentions? We had only met because of coffee. I had been passing by the shop, but a woman bumped into me. To my great annoyance, she then poured the hot coffee left in her cup on me. My skin had turned red.

Wright had gotten angry with the woman and dragged me to the clinic for treatment. He had also lent me the varsity jacket he was wearing.

Yes, Wright had been kind to me, but I hadn't liked the way he approached me every day after that. I thought that with every step I took, someone would kill me.

"I mean, there are a lot of beautiful women who like you. Why don't you just date them, so you won't have a hard time anymore?" It wasn't like I was counting, but he'd been courting me for two weeks. Others said that Wright was the only one who had ever courted me for so long.

"I'm surrounded by women who want me, but you're the only one I want." He touched my hair and pinned some loose strands behind my ear. When he smiled, my knees almost softened. "I love your simplicity, Melissa."

This wasn't good.

"Uh... th-thank you." I quickly took the rose in his hand to end our conversation. I adjusted my glasses. "I might be late for my class."

I walked over to the door. I breathed a sigh of relief when I got out and quickened my pace. My heart was still beating fast. Curse his silver tongue!

I stopped when Wright blocked my way. I walked backward. What else did he need?

"Why are you here?" I asked.

He scratched his neck like a shy teenager. "We have a gig later at Floderizo Bar. Can you come?"

Bar? Floderizo? That bar was known because that was where many well-known personalities went. The only ones who could get in there were members. Not just members—rich people.

"Uh, I don't want to. Sorry," I said quickly. Disappointment was reflected in his eyes. I averted my gaze. "And Grandma won't let me."

"I'll pick you up," he said, determined.

"You don't know my address," I said. I adjusted my glasses again and walked to his side.

I felt his warm hand on my arm again. I was starting to get pissed. "Tell me so I know."

"You're too persistent, Wright."

He stared at me. "Can you...Can you say that again?"

"What?" What did I say?

"My name."

"Uh..." What was the matter with that? That was his name, right? Jeez! "Wright."

"Music in my ears, babe." I stared as his eyes closed.

I swallowed. "Wright...P-please let go of my arm."

"Not until you give me your address." I couldn't do anything. I took a deep breath. I gave up. I said my full address. "I will pick you up at six o'clock."

Six? Wait! What would I say to Grandma?

"Huh? Wait—" I couldn't speak anymore because he already ran away from me. I even saw his hand raise as if he had won the lotto. I rubbed my forehead.

After my class at four o'clock, I went home immediately. I waved to Grandma when I saw her crocheting in her rocking chair. Grandma was still strong; I sometimes helped her sell vegetables in the market. I cooked Grandma dinner before I went into my room and got dressed.

I chose to wear a black skater skirt and a black sleeveless shirt. Because I was wearing all black, my white skin stuck out even more. I also combed my shoulder-length hair. It naturally curled up at the end. Wright might say I prepared for him, but I just didn't want to be out of place or embarrass him because I looked like a maid when he was with me. I went out of the room and walked up to Grandma, who was standing in front of my door.

Her eyes pierced through my whole being. Suddenly, her eyes twinkled, and a smile grew on her lips. "Sweetheart, where are you going, and why are you all dressed up?"

I was too embarrassed to smile. "I have...a friend who will pick me up."

She caressed my hair. Grandma rarely saw me with my hair down, so maybe she was excited to touch it. "Friend? Be careful, sweetheart."

"Yes, Grandma," I said. I no longer had a father and mother. They died in an accident, and Grandma was the only relative who took me in. I didn't know any of my other relatives besides her; she was Mama's mother. "Mom and Dad are always watching over me."

"My granddaughter is so beautiful. You got the beauty of your mother and the strong will of your father." Her hands covered my cheek, and then she lowered her head. She kissed me softly on the cheek.

Grandma and I looked at the door when there was a knock. I opened the door. Wright was wearing just a dark, collared shirt with sleeves folded up to the elbow, but his elegance was still visible. No matter what beautiful dress I put on, I would still look like a maid when I stood next to him.

"Good evening." His eyes dropped to the dress I was wearing. I bit my lower lip. "Beautiful."

"Is that your friend, Melissa?" Grandma adjusted her glasses. Her smile widened even more on her lips. She even laughed softly.

"Grandma, this is Wright. He is just a friend," I explained.

"You're so handsome, son."

"All right, Grandma. We're leaving. Don't forget to lock up," I ordered, then hurriedly pulled Wright along with me.

He opened the passenger's seat door of his car for me. Oh, so that was how he found our house. His car had GPS. I shouldn't underestimate someone like him.

I took a deep breath. He turned to me, still with a smile on his lips, and I looked straight at the side of the road. "Wright, after we finish, can you take me home as soon as possible? I still have a project to do."

His forehead wrinkled when he turned to me. "We haven't arrived yet, and already you want to go home. Don't you want to be with me? Don't you want me?"

"If I say, ‘No, I don't like you,’ would you stop?"

He no longer spoke and instead caressed his jaw. I just looked out of the car and didn't say a word. After half an hour, we arrived at Floderizo Bar. Wright helped me get out of the car.

Five bouncers were standing in front of the back door. I was still hesitant, so I stopped walking. Wright seemed to feel my hesitation. He touched my waist. I looked up at him.

"I'm here," he said softly. I nodded and walked with him. Those big guys let us in right away. The backstage was noisy and disastrous.

A woman interrupted us and wrapped her arm around Wright. "Long time no see, Wright."

She was tall with a shapely body. But I knew what a fake chest looked like, and hers was screaming fake. And I didn't know why I felt annoyed when it pressed against Wright's arm.

Wright just smiled at her and then removed his arm from the woman's hold. The woman was not amused at what Wright did. He pulled me back and continued walking. Many women greeted him, but he ignored all of them.

"Hey, Wright."

Who was she?

"You wanna get laid tonight? I'm free," the woman said seductively. He ignored her and pushed her away. I saw Wright's eyebrows meet.

He gripped both of the woman's arms tightly and pushed hard. She would have fallen if a man hadn't caught her. "I. Don't. Need. You. Bitch. Back off."

He took my hand. I saw his chest rise and fall because of the speed of his breathing. Oh my God, he was so pissed. Wright looked at me as I squeezed his hand. I bit my lower lip. He let out a deep breath and then squeezed my hand back. I smiled as he calmed down.

We went to the second floor. Wright pulled me into a room full of glass. When you looked at the floor, you could see the people dancing on the dance floor.

"We've been waiting for you for a while, Wright." Another woman approached us. I knew her. She was the vocalist of Wright's band, Raquel Aquino. Many men worshipped her. How could they not? She was so beautiful, and once she sang, you would be hypnotized by her angelic voice. She looked down at me. "Why did you bring her here?"

Wright's eyebrows met again. "What's wrong if I bring the person I'm dating, Racky?"

"Are you serious? I thought—"

"Shut up!" I winced when Wright shouted. This was the only time I had ever heard him shout like that.

"Easy, dude." I looked behind Raquel. It was also one of Wright's bandmates, Leon Salvador, Wright's most mysterious friend. He rarely smiled, and when he stared at you, it was as if you were very small to him. "You don't need to shout at her."

"Hey!" said another man. He went to Wright and put one arm on his shoulder. Only one person I know had that kind of red hair. It was Fier Joaquin. Who wouldn't know him, with his reputation as the hourly boyfriend? Different women were always with him. "You took Melissa with you. I'm Fier."

"Nice to meet you." I winced at the greeting.

He laughed and went in front of me. "Nice? Hey, sweetheart, I'm an asshole."

"Then let me rephrase my greeting. It's so nice to meet an asshole like you, Fier." The words just slipped off my tongue.

"I like you." After Fier said that, I quickly went behind Wright.

"She's not your toy, Fier," Wright said in a warning tone.

He smirked. "I know. She's yours."

"Fier, Wright, Racky. We're ready," Leon said authoritatively. The two men stopped giving each other the death glare.

Wright pulled me toward the glass. He pushed me to the place where I could see the stage.

"Watch me," he whispered from behind me. I sighed as he quickly kissed my cheek.

The band descended onto the stage. People shouted as they started playing. I watched how some people got lost in the music. I also saw some well-known personalities who almost lost their heads with all the headbanging. I couldn't help but be startled by the sound.

"Why is your grandmother the only one with you in your house?" Wright asked me once his band finished playing. We were already in the middle of the dance floor and slow dancing to the tune. It was not just pure rock that was played in bars. My hands were on his shoulders. His hands were wrapped around my waist.

"Because my parents are dead. They died when I was only seven years old."

"Oh... I'm sorry." He kissed my hair. "As for me, my parents are still alive, but I can't feel their presence."

"Business?"

"Yup."

I smiled. "You can't have it all. Something is always missing. No one has a perfect life."

"When you become mine, I'll be whole."

I raised an eyebrow at him. I was sure he wasn’t drunk yet. "How many girls have you caught using that sweet tongue of yours?"

"Damn. I've never sweet-talked any girl I've fucked. It was all just pure sex." I winced at what he said. The music was getting louder. "Wrong choice of words?"

I blushed. "I'm a virgin, but my mind is not that innocent, Wright. I'm aware of the male libido."

"But you're different, Melissa. Just give me a chance to prove it."

I just stared into his eyes. I felt his hands disappear from my waist and move to either side of my face.

"What will you do?"

He touched my glasses. "I'll just look at what you're hiding under these thick glasses."

"H-huh? No. I can't see without them."

"Just a moment." I closed my eyes when Wright took them off. Gradually, I stared at his face. Even though my vision was a bit blurry, I knew he was smiling. "You're hiding the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."

"I-I can't see, Wright. Give them back to me." I tried to take the glasses, but he raised his hand.

"You don't need these. Just close your eyes and feel me."

I did what he ordered. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I felt something warm and soft touch my lips. Wright's eyes were closed. Because of the soft and addictive sweetness of his lips, my eyelids felt heavy and gradually closed again. Wright kissed me softly as if he were just helping me adjust to the sensation. He was making me feel. My thoughts were all tangled, and I no longer knew where we were.

I stared as he parted from me.

"So beautiful," he whispered. He pressed our foreheads together. "Did you feel it?"

I couldn't lie to myself anymore. "Y-yes..."

"Happy to hear it."