Step 3, earn his trust.

What does it mean to trust someone? What does it take to earn someone’s trust?

It’s ironic how a hard-earned trust can crumble over a single lie. But it’s more ironic to think that a trust easily given cannot even be trusted.

Beware of those people whom you feel like you can trust easily.

And beware of those people who give you their trust easily.

--

“I need to get my car.” He stood up but I immediately held the seam of his shirt to stop him and made him sit again on the couch beside me.

“It’s dangerous. Can’t you stay here?”

He seems unsure of what to say. He’s baffled and confused but I can’t let him go back.

“But the bank is--”

“You already called the police, didn’t you? So stay here. I’m scared.” I scuffled my way onto his chest and embraced him tightly.

I never knew I had this natural talent for acting. Wow.

He was stoked at how touchy I am, but not long after, he returned the embrace and cuddled me. We are already inside his apartment. And his car is obviously still there in front of the bank. He called a bulky and scary-looking guy to pick us up.

I don’t have any idea what happened to my team. I don’t know if they succeeded or if they failed, if something happened or what. But right now, I can’t let the prince go there. And I have to prevent him from suspecting I have any involvement in that heist.

“Do you want me to drive you home?” he asked.

I immediately shook my head a couple of times. I embraced him a little bit more.

“I’m so scared, Neuron. What if something happens while we’re outside? What if someone tries to shoot you again? What if--” I raised my head and looked at him in the face.

The light from the fireplace is making him look more gorgeous than ever. Is that even possible?

He really has perfectly defined features. He gets more gorgeous at every glance.

I want to run my finger on his nose bridge to the tip of his nose.

I came to gaze at his attractive lips. The same lips that devoured mine on that alley. My face burned at the memory so I avoided his stare.

“Can I sleep here, Neuron?”

Instead of answering my question, he asked me another question. “Can you answer this one question for me, Rathna?”

“Hmm?”

“Did you kiss me because you were shocked by what happened? Did you kiss me because you want to avoid my question? Or did you kiss me because you wanted to?”

Liar. That’s three questions in total.

I unknowingly loosened my grip on him. I’m appalled by how straightforward he is on asking that.

“Is it normal to meet just three times and then kiss?” I asked instead.

He had a puzzling look on his face. Then it turned into an amused one. “I will say it’s normal if that’ll make you feel better.”

I rolled my eyes. Like that can make me feel better!

“Many people make out although they just met for fun,” he said.

“And are we one of those people?”

He stared straight into my eyes and said, “We could be. Or we could be something more.”

What he said actually made me nervous. I suddenly had this quick vision of us being romantically involved. Creeps!

“Then I will answer your question, sir,” I said. He raised his eyebrows at me like he’s waiting for my answer.

“I did because I wanted to.” That’s a half-lie and a half-truth. I did kiss him because I want to, but the real reason is that I want to avoid his question.

He gave me a really naughty grin and said, “Wrong answer, ma'am.”

He suddenly leaned really close to me which made me lie down on the couch because if I don’t our lips will touch. He crept and made his way on top of me.

Using his one hand as support, he used his other hand to brush off some strands of hair on my face. “Thank you,” he said very softly.

I felt a small tug on my chest. I also felt like there was a lump in my throat. I have this curious chill crawling on my skin. And it’s like there is a pool of heat in my stomach. What is this feeling?

I never expected him to thank me.

And is it even possible for a simple thank you to have this powerful effect?

“I know I would’ve been shot if it weren’t for you.”

He took my hands and pinned them on top of my head. I don’t know anymore how to deal with this very suggestive position we have on the couch. Him, being this close to me is so intoxicating that I can’t even think of anything else. I was intoxicated by the moment.

“I’m not going to ask what you were doing there,” he said. “I’m not going to ask everything that’s bothering me right now.”

“Neuron, I--”

I don’t freaking know why I can’t think rationally right now. I can’t even finish one freaking sentence.

“Did you, saving me from that gunshot, made me trust you?” he asked rhetorically. “No, not completely at least.”

That made me bite my lower lip. I’m freaking nervous and I don’t know why!

“But you, kissing me in that alley, is enough to make me crazy. So you’re paying.”

Before I could even ask what he meant by paying, he already claimed my mouth. The way his mouth moves, the way he flicks his tongue on mine, the feel of his hands pinning my hands over my head, his warm body covering mine, it’s a sensual combination I wish but also don't wish to have again. Because if I do, I think I will forget the very reason why I am seeing this man.

--

It’s past 2 am. After that hot kiss we shared on the couch, I borrowed his shower room. He told me he will ask someone to bring some clothes for me so I took my lovely time staying in the shower.

The bathroom is majestic!

The bathtub is beside the glass window, and you can stay there, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the outside view. Beside the whole ceiling-to-floor glass window, there’s another small squared window. The size is from the top of your head down to the chest. And then above it, two wind chimes are dangling from the ceiling. So that when you open the window and the wind comes in, you will hear that pretty sound coming from the wind chimes.

The sink is in front of the bathtub. The sink and the bathtub both have an alabaster shade. Then beside the sink, Neuron’s things are neatly arranged. On the far corner of the room, the shower is glass-walled.

If I stay in the tub while Neuron is taking a shower, I would literally see everything. As in everything. Wait! What am I thinking?!

And then to the opposite far-end corner, is where the toilet is. This is the most beautiful bathroom I have ever seen.

Compared to what we have in the camp, this is heavenly.

 After I showered, which by the way took me an hour because I loved how warm the water is, I overheard him from his room. He is talking to someone on the phone.

“My suspicions are never wrong, Michael. Alright. Deal with this quietly.” He said to Michael which I supposed is the one he is talking to on the phone. I never heard him talk again so I assumed the call was over. When I was sure he’s done talking, I went out of the shower wearing his bathrobe.

When he saw me he winked at me and gave me a very perverted look from head to toe. This jerk!

“What a sight for sore eyes, ma’am.”

“F--k you!”

He laughed out of amusement. He handed me a paper bag. “Wear this for now. You can sleep here, I’ll be outside.”

Before I could speak he had already left the room. So we’re not sleeping together? Wow. What a gentleman after what he did to me on the couch.

He shut the door when he left. As for me, I have a call to make.

I ran towards the door and locked it. But to my surprise, it seems that he’s still outside and he heard that I locked the door from the inside. “Lady, did you just lock me out of my own room?”

I jerked out of surprise when he spoke. “Don’t worry I won’t take a sneak peek.”

I just rolled my eyes even though I know he can’t see me. I leaned my ears on the door to make sure he’s no longer outside. And when I felt like he’s not there anymore, I took my phone and called Isagani.

“You almost killed the prince!” I screamed but in a hushed voice as soon as he took my call. I glanced at the door instantly. I have to be careful and make sure Neuron does not hear me talking.

“That was the prince?” Isagani responded out of shock.

“You know we can’t kill him. Not yet at least.”

“We were worried about you. We can’t reach you and--”

“I’m fine,” I cut him off. “How about the team? And the bank? What happened?”

“We secured the funds for the camp.”

I sighed in relief. “What was that shattering sound we heard? And why can’t we connect to them?”

“The bank had a more sophisticated security system than we expected. When the system noticed intrusion it killed off any signal from any device in its vicinity and they had to break the glass door to go out because all doors were completely shut off.”

“That was reckless! It was clear on the mission to never make a sound. Look what happened! The prince happened to be there! He happened to hear that sound! And if I didn’t distract him we could’ve all been in custody for robbery!”

“Are you sure he just happened to be there?”

What Isagani said instantly made me stop. “The probability of that being true is very low. Paul, there’s no way he could’ve been there without reason. The bank is not even on the main road, so why would he happen to pass by there?”

What is he implying then? That the prince knew about the heist? That’s absurd!

“He said he came from a friend’s house,” I said. I asked Neuron why he’s there and that’s exactly what he said to me.

“And you believe him?” He questioned. I couldn’t answer. His question hung on my mind for a moment.

“I can’t talk for long. I’ll go back to the camp if I can first thing in the morning.”

Without waiting for his answer I ended the call.

He said he came from a friend’s house. Was I too quick to believe that? Am I losing that same sense of suspicion on everything, which I always had? Or did I just choose to ignore how suspicious his reason was?

I stared at the paper bag he gave me.

I have this peculiar feeling that I’m in trouble.

Am I caught in my own trap? Did I just become my prey’s prey?

--

I only had a two-hour sleep. I intentionally woke up early to leave his place early, without him knowing. When I opened the window curtain in his room, the city was already alive but it’s still dark.

I went outside of his bedroom only to find him sleeping so uncomfortably on the couch. He is taller than the couch and he’s bending his body just so he could fit on the couch. His blanket is almost on the floor.

Anyone could look carefree and vulnerable when sleeping. Including him.

I covered his body properly with the blanket. He looks so peaceful while sleeping.

“Thanks for the bed. I still have your slippers so I’ll use that as an excuse to see you again.”

I was about to leave when he suddenly grabbed my hand. When I looked at him his eyes were still closed. I tried to get his hands off but then he spoke.

“At least have breakfast.”

He opened his eyes and gazed at me.

“I need to get home.”

“You will. After breakfast.” He said firmly. I gritted my teeth. Stubborn man!