"I wanna try bangs, too." 

My head snapped in Alex's direction. I was trying to fix my hair in front of my vanity mirror while she sat on the edge of my bed, staring at me. 

"I can make it happen for you." I chuckled. "But we need your mother's permission, Alex. I don't want her to get mad at our impulsive decision."

"Right, pretty..." She nodded.

"Just call me Tita," I told her. "Tita Aya, I'd love it if you call me Tita Aya." 

She stood up and ran towards me, then pulled my sleeves. "We must go and ask mommy, Tita Aya." 

"Alright, love..."

I breathed heavily as we went out of my house as I held her hand. I can't help but be conscious of my outfit. I just wore a raw edge denim skirt, picked it for a purpose, and paired it with a black sweater plus white shoes. I dressed like a teenager, but that's how I wanted. Now I wonder what style Lexin likes. 

"Your legs, Tita."

"What about my legs?" I glanced at her, not giving a fuck about the driver of the car who just blew its horn as it passed by. 

"Mom loves legs, Tita Aya. Like how she loves drumsticks, she always chose the drumstick among other chicken's parts." 

"Is that so?" I smiled inwardly. Legs, huh? 

Once we climbed on the three-step stairs to their porch, Alex promptly let go of my left hand and approached Lexin who was standing in the doorway, arms crossed above her chest. She looked so serious, it vanished shortly when she attended Alex but, the moment her eyes landed on mine, her face became more strict.

She told Alex to get inside which she gladly followed without hesitation.

I swallowed hard. If only her eyes had lightning, I would probably have been hit.

"Good morning," I acknowledged. "Thanks for the baked-macaroni, Lexin. It tasted nice."

"Just nice and..." Her brows shot up. "Thanks? Is that how you appreciate MY effort?" 

My lips slightly parted at her tone. It took me a while for her words to register in my brain. I don't know if I should feel offended or maybe I shouldn't just take it seriously. It sounded like she was obliged to cook and give me food when in fact, I didn't ask her to! 

"We say thank you as a sign of appreciation. That said, I appreciated your effort in cooking a baked-macaroni for me..." my voice weakened at the end.

I suddenly lose my will to say sorry for what happened. But still, I didn't let her words affect me. 

"Come here," she commanded in a low voice. 

My brows furrowed. "Don't boss me around, Lexin. I don't like it." 

She sneered. "Just submit yourself to me, Aya." 

I stare down at her, trying to show that I won't get persuaded by her. We were standing an arm or two lengths away from each other. No one doesn't seem to make a move and I won't either. I made sure that she could see the confidence in my eyes, and the eagerness to not be defeated by her coffee brown eyes. 

"I guess you're a heavy sleeper," she says it all very quickly and I blink as I take it in. 

"What?" I was agitated at first. But when I realized it, I swiftly turned my gaze away from her momentarily.

The side of her lips rose up. "I have called you a lot of times earlier but you didn't pick up. Although I understand, you must have been awake 'till morning because of the kiss."

My eyes rounded in surprise. I stood there with my jaw on the floor, totally in shock at how boastful she was! My mouth gaped open and I was trying to say something but no words came out. I had to blow a deep breath to stop myself from letting out a laugh!

"Oh my god," I snorted. "You call that a kiss?! Was licking this," I touched the part she licked last night. "A kiss now? Was it even considered a kiss?" I retorted mockingly. 

I'm supposed to say sorry but here I am, questioning her. This would add up to my transgression and I will deal with it later. I just can't believe that she brought this thing up and seriously, a kiss?! I can barely recall what happened!

All I could think of after last night was the fact that Lexin is not straight! It was an opportunity.

I felt like a door has opened up for me and I would absolutely love to enter and explore what's inside if given a chance. I just didn't overthink about it because god, even if she won't allow it to happen, I will make my way inside and I won't ever back down. 

I wanted to explore that side of Lexin, in all aspects. At all costs, I will succeed.

"You know what? I honestly came here to say sorry for I wasn't able to pick you up from the hospital. I guess you were right about me being a heavy sleeper," I told her instead. "But I did really like the cheesy baked mac you gave, Lexin. And about your keys..." 

Right, I intentionally left her car keys at my house. 

She held out her palm. "Give it to me."

Biting my lip, I pointed to my house. "I think I misplaced it. I'll go and find it." 

"No need to do that now," she rumbled. "I'll see you around, Aya."

She, then, turned her back from me, and just like the first time, she closed the door behind her without a word.

I licked my bottom lip. She was probably sleepy, I could see it through her eyes. I would let her slip away now but the next time we saw each other again, she must get ready. Or is it another way around? 

The whole morning, I spent reading and replying to emails. Aside from my mini business here in a small town, I also have a main job in the big city. I may not be on good terms with my parents but, the money I used to start my main business when I was a teen came from their pockets, although it was part of my inheritance yet, I'm still thankful for them. 

My parents still serve in the church, I guess they will until their last breath. We still have connections but it was my uncle who works for it. I never communicated with them through me, there must be someone who will serve as the bridge between us and that's how we do it.

As someone who ended up liking girls despite growing up in a family who always reminded me that girls were for boys only, and vice versa, I didn't question why my father disowned me. 

It was fine. I also don't want to live with controlling parents. Leaving means doing everything I wanted, having a police record wasn't one of it, though. I just happened to be an unlucky person when it comes to not getting caught red-handed.

"The polluted air welcomed me," I heard Sid on the other line. "I hate cities, Aya. If I could just live there permanently, I would absolutely live there in Summerville forever!" 

"Sell your company, then..." I snickered. "And start building one here in the province. Not only you'd have to stay here for as long as your heart desires, but you can also help decrease the unemployment rate." 

"Don't give me an idea," I could feel the sarcasm in his voice.

I pour fresh milk on my glass and lean on the kitchen countertop. Crossing my legs, I sip on the glass while listening to Sid. My phone was on the table, in a loudspeaker, so I could hear him clearly. 

"And you know what?" his voice railed off. "I think I saw your neighbor on a billboard when I was leaving the airport. She looked so fierce, girl! Intimidating! She has this aura that would make everyone bow their head!" 

I puffed. "What is she? A queen?" 

"Girl, she's in the business world. There's a low chance that she and our paths will cross in the industry because she has a big name and reputation in the corporate society!" 

My mind fell into the depths. Lexin Santos... Where did I hear that name again? I grabbed my phone.

"Her name doesn't sound familiar." I stood straight and drank the milk all at once. I put it in the sink and went to the living room, where my laptop was lying on the center table. 

"She's using a different surname, wait... I'll look it up for you." 

"Be quick," I said in exasperation. "How come she's here in Summerville? Do big-time people usually run here after getting tired of living as a city girl? Just like how you did?"

"I appreciate you addressing me as a girl but no. That's actually pretty unusual. Some big-time I knew would just book a last-minute ticket and enjoy a trip to Europe."

"Give me the name," I urged him.

The sound of tapping the keyboard was heard on the other line.

"Alright, wait a sec., Okay, here's what the portal says, she's using Diaz as her surname, Lexin Diaz... Ring a bell?"

"Got it, thanks." I ended the call and typed her name on the search bar.

I was biting my nail as I waited for the results to come out. My heart cavorted when her name with a picture showed up, at the right side of the screen, showing her career below the name Lexin Santos - Diaz. 

It says, the vice president of Santos Corporation. Nothing more... It's a family-owned company but, Diaz? Was it her family surname or maybe, someone shared a surname with her! 

I scrolled down, then my eyes stopped at the bold letter that says spouse, then a date inside a close parenthesis.

"She's a widow..." My back hit the edge of the sofa after further readings on her profile. 

My heart's pounding like a blacksmith hammer in my chest. I felt like my head was hit by a huge and heavy object that made me come to my senses. Damn it, Aya. 

It's too early for me to know this! I haven't even started making my way to her life and this... I don't know what to think. She was married, a widow and even though her husband died years ago, I don't think I'm capable of handling someone like her. 

Another thing, we're totally strangers and there's a lot to consider. She has a reputation to take care of, while I'm someone who really doesn't care about it. We're totally opposite. 

I would accept it if she happens to be just a hot single mom but, to think that she has tied a knot with someone before? And the fact that she's not just an ordinary woman. She's the vice president of Santos Corporation!

It's one of the top fruit and vegetable processing companies! 

"Compose yourself, Aya. Stick to the original plan. Stay away from her, and act as if you two don't know each other," I whispered to myself. 

I am not matured enough for a married woman. Although I'm two years older than her, I still don't think that I'm ready to be with someone like Lexin who's completely out of my reach. 

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Note: Last update for this month. Don't worry, I'll start updating Desiring Her daily by next month. Also, I joined New Adult Romance Writing Contest. If you'd like, do vote for my story. Thank you.