“GOOD morning, my love!” Ingrid said with a wide smile on her face the moment Mark opens his apartment’s door. She has a pink paper bag with a panda print which he assumes with food his mom prepared for him.

“You don’t have to do this for me, Ingrid. I already told mom about this too and like you, she never listens.”

Even before she invited her in, she already went inside. “Like I’m always telling you too, I love doing this for you. And please just keep to yourself whatever you want to say next. My ears choose words it wants to hear so it’s going to be useless,” Ingrid looked at her wristwatch. “You’re lucky it’s still early, you‘ll get the chance to eat breakfast with a beautiful woman.”

Ingrid is his childhood friend. Their parents were actually the best of friends. They’ve known each other since they were five. Since they were kids, a lot of boys admire Ingrid. She’s loved by many because of her bubbly and friendly personality. But for him, she’s just like a younger sister but Ingrid sees him differently.

It has been four years since she confessed that she likes him. He already told her he doesn’t feel the same but like what she said, her ears only listen to words it wants to hear.

He doesn’t usually eat breakfast but because of his mom and Ingrid, he thinks he’s gaining weight.

“Are you still not going to accept my offer? I’m generous with people that I like, Mark. You know that.”

Ingrid has her own label of undergarments personally designed by her. And just this year, she started making undergarments for men and she wants him to be her model. She’s persistent even if he keeps on declining her offer every time she visits him.

“It’s still a no, Ingrid and it will always be a no.”

Ingrid pouted her lips like a kid not getting what she wanted from her parents. She’s usually strict and very sophisticated in front of other people especially to her employees but with him, she acts like a child.

“I hate you. Because of you, I can’t launch my new collection.”

“It’s because you’re hard-headed.”

“Can’t you really do it for me? You already rejected my feelings and now, this is the only thing I want you to do for me but you still keeps on refusing.”

“Because obviously, I’m not the right person for that. You’re just making fun of me.”

“What the hell? Do you think I’ll do all these efforts just because I want to make fun of you? You’re hurting my feelings.”

He took a deep breath. “Why don’t you just choose someone else to model your product? Someone famous.”

“They’re expensive.”

“Which I know you can afford. You’re a generous person, aren’t you?”

“Only to people that I like. And besides, you were the one I’m imagining while creating those designs. So it’s just right if it’s you who’s going to be our model.

“Come on, Mark. Your body looks great so it’s just right that you show it. What’s the point of working out if you won't flaunt that sexy body of yours?”

“I think you’re over imagining things. I don’t even have abs.”

He does exercise but not to the extent of wanting to produce toned abs or big arms. He just wants to be healthy.

“I’ve already seen everything in you, Mark. There’s no point in lying.”

He felt his cheeks getting hot seeing the naughty smile on Ingrid’s face. It was a year ago when he got so drunk and got so wild that he no longer remembers what he did. The next day, he just woke up naked on Ingrid’s bed.

“I told you, just find someone else.”

“Fine. You’re so hard to persuade. I give up.”

It was the first time he heard Ingrid giving up. She usually never stops until she gets what she wants. But he’s glad that she finally realized that she can’t make him agree with her.

“So,” she crossed her arms. “Anyone in mind?”

“It’s your choice. That’s your business.”

“You’re my only choice but since you declined, it’s now your responsibility to find me a new- oh right, I remember. I actually have someone in mind. Are you familiar with Adrian Salvador? He’s image fits well with my new product.”

His eyebrow furrows after Ingrid mentioned Adrian’s name. “Fits well with your product?”

“You don’t know him? Well, he’s someone who dates different celebrities, models, or maybe as long as it’s a woman,” Ingrid laughs. “I’m going to show them a glimpse of the reason why women fall for him through my undergarments. I just hope he doesn’t disappoint. You know, down there,” Ingrid pointing his shorts.

“And here I am thinking you’re innocent.”

Ingrid laughs out loud. “You’re the one who’s innocent, Mark, not me.”

Good thing his phone rings before their conversation becomes more awkward for him. It was Adrian who’s calling. But when he answered the phone, it was a woman.

“H-hello, you’re on his emergency contact and I really don’t know what to do. I’m scared. What if he dies? Oh my God!”

The woman sounds so nervous, scared, and in panic and he thinks he already knows why. He turned on the app to locate Adrian’s phone. They’re in a condominium. He supposes that’s where the woman lives.

“Just calm down, okay? Whose car did you use to get there?”

“H-his car.”

He felt relieved to hear that. “Go to the car and get the inhaler in the compartment. Call me once you get it, I’ll instruct you how to use it. I’m on my way,” he cancels the call and went up to his room to change. While he’s heading there, he called an ambulance.

When he came down, Ingrid was still there and looks so worried and confused about what’s going on.

“Hey, what’s happening?”

“It’s my boss. Lock the door when you leave. I have to go.”

No one knows in his family or even Ingrid that he’s working as a driver and bodyguard. They just know that he runs his own business which is true but most of the time, he’s with Adrian. Ingrid would surely be surprised if she really happens to get Adrian as her product endorser and finds out he’s his boss. And for sure when that moment comes, his mom will find it out too and would start questioning him. He guesses by that time, he’ll have no choice but to just tell her everything.