VLS 4: DESIRABLE TEMPTATION (ON HOLD)

Zarria felt her heart overflowing with joy when she got home. She noticed how crumpled her bed sheet was from her rolling around and jumping on it earlier. Maybe because this was the first time she spent time with a guy, Devin, aside from Max, who was always the one she went to the mall with.

After Devin confessed to her, he didn't say anything about courting her. She knew it would be fast, and besides, she wanted to get to know him better. Kinuha din nito ang kaniyang number. Even though they only talked briefly while eating pizza, she enjoyed that moment. She completely forgot about the grudge she was holding against Maximo.

Speaking of Max, he called her earlier, and she accidentally answered because she thought it was Devin. Before he could say anything, she quickly ended the call.

From Devin: Hey, it's me. Thomas Devin.

She wasn't sure what to press at first but just typed after letting out a deep sigh.

To Devin: Hey.

She had no idea what to say next.

"Zar?"

She almost dropped her phone when she heard his voice. It was Max, and his voice was full of tenderness.

He only speaks that way when he knows she's upset. She didn't open the door, but she did answer him.

"Go home, Max. We have classes tomorrow. Look at what time is it?" Even though it was still early to sleep. She didn't care if he thought she didn't want to talk to him and was sending him home. That was the truth. That's what she wanted to tell him, but Maximo was too stubborn.

"Ayoko, let's talk first. I know you are still mad."

'At least you know!' She wanted to shout, but instead, she just quietly spoke. "Go home. Let's talk tomorrow. Let's just meet..." She stopped. That was a mistake. She shouldn't have agreed to that. "Are you with Pauline? Let's just meet at the cafeteria for lunch, or are you having lunch with her too?" She couldn't help being a little sarcastic.

It took him a while to respond. "We're done," his voice was more serious now. There was seriousness in his tone, no more tenderness. "I already told her that we're done, after that—" he coughed. He couldn't continue what he was saying.

She opened the door. He almost lost his balance and almost fell into her. She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "After you two had sx? Farewell sx, and that's why you didn't make it? I was waiting for you, Max. I waited for an hour and a half for you. Still, I waited. You could have just texted me that you had a s*x date with Pauline. I would've understood. Not when it's already dark, and then you call. I'm really thankful that Devin was there and told me you had already left the campus—"

"Devin? Thomas Devin?" He asked, making sure that's what she meant.

"Yeah. He's living here too. Good thing he brought me along."

His jaw tightened. Annoyance showed on his handsome face. "I told you to stay away from him!"

It seemed like the situation quickly changed. She was the one angry, right? Did he forget that?

"Is this about your f*cking ego again? Stop with your lost pride. Nakakainis ka na! Nagtatampo na nga ako sa'yo! Sinisigawan mo pa ako!" She got teary-eyed. He was the only one who could ruin her mood like this, the only one who could make her cry.

It seemed like he realized he needed to fix things. Fortunately, he remembered that he should be apologizing, not shouting. "Sorry. I'm really sorry, Zar."

"Are you going to stay that way? F*cking different girls at school? Stop it now, Max. Are you not afraid you might catch an STD? Baka mamaya may AIDS ka na pala. You should stop doing that. I'm a girl too. Hindi mo ba naiisip na kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon ng mga babaeng kinakama mo, and then you make them cry after? Didn't you think about it?"