The clouds are getting denser and darker overhead. With the earthy tang in the air wafting through his nostrils, Lakan knows he won't make it to Torogan, one of his family's luxury hotel chains, before it rains.

Furthermore, it will be more challenging for his albino eyes to drive his big bike in the pouring rain since the sun is already halfway below the horizon.

He now regrets declining Walding's insistence on driving him, despite the forecast of a high chance of rain before nightfall.

After he became the head of their family's hotel empire, he no longer behaves recklessly like the feral teenager he once was, doing death-defying feats and up for brawls all the time. Many people rely on him now, particularly the children at the orphanage he founded a few years ago.

He no longer puts his life in danger because he believes it's no longer his alone.

Upon feeling the raindrops lightly tapping his alabaster cheeks, he quickly lowers his helmet's visor before they get to his eyeglasses and makes a U-turn.

Good thing Mayumi lives nearby. He intends to wait out the rain in her apartment because it's closer than their hotel. Yet the question is, will Mayumi offer him sanctuary when she loathes being around him?

They have known each other since they were young, but bickering has been their only form of interaction. For some reason, he takes pleasure in getting on every fiber of her nerves.

His lips curl into a foolish grin, imagining the scowl on Mayumi's face once she sees him.

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"So, have you told your family about it?"

As they await their order, Mayumi glances at Sali, who's standing next to her beneath the roof of a small store. "Not yet." She looks back to the variety of meats being grilled in front of them and adds, "I will once I find a new job."

Sali lets out a sigh. "I'm sure you can find a new job in no time if it isn't the middle of the school year."

Mayumi can't help but sigh as well. It has been two weeks since she started looking for a new teaching post, but she hasn't gotten any callbacks since then. Teachers have difficulty finding employment at this time of the year since schools are already operating at full capacity. "You're just saying that because you're my friend," she says with her lips pursed.

"Heck no!" Sali turns to Mayumi with a serious expression. "You graduated magna cum laude, have a master's, and even topped the licensure exam. You're overqualified for any teaching post, especially if we're gonna mention your love and dedication to your students." It appears as though smoke is coming out of Sali's nostrils as she continues. "The school doesn't deserve you, Yumi." All of a sudden, her face lights up. "Why don't you finally accept your hot friend's offer?"

Since they both started teaching together, Sali and Mayumi have grown close. Thus, she has already spent time with Lakan, Aki, her cousin, and the rest of her good friends from her hometown. "Correction, we're not really friends," she rebuts.

Despite being stuck in the same circle for more than two decades, she has never really thought of Lakan as a friend. How can she when they're exactly like two opposite poles and when he does nothing but annoy her?

Lakan is just someone she knows and can't get away from because they have formed strong bonds with the same individuals.

Sali gives Mayumi a meaningful look. "But you agree Lakan's a hottie, right?"

Mayumi makes an indignant expression. "Well, he makes my blood boil. Does that count?" Mayumi shrugs with a straight face.

Sali puts a hand on Mayumi's shoulder as she erupts into hearty laughter. "I guess that still counts."

Yes, Mayumi doesn't deny the fact that Lakan fits society's standard of being attractive. In fact, his otherworldly albino beauty surpasses it. But practically growing up with him, she's aware of how childish, arrogant, loud, blunt, and obnoxious the brat could be.

There's no way she'll ever be sexually attracted to him. Just the mere thought of it gives her shivers.

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"Ahchoo!" Lakan sniffs. He would assume that someone was talking about him if he were her grandmother, but he doesn't buy into that sort of crap. It is undoubtedly the result of the much colder wind that is pelting him.

Though unsure if it is the correct route, he turns down the alley. It will be his first time going to Mayumi's apartment unaccompanied by their drunk friends. It's their go-to place after a drinking spree whenever they are in the city.

Passing by the café he's been wanting to visit since he first saw it confirms he isn't lost. Soon enough, the three-story apartment comes into view.

He twists the throttle to pick up a little more speed and pulls over one of the parking spaces.

"Crap," he mutters under his breath when the drizzle turns into a complete downpour. He hurriedly turns off the engine and darts to the building's entrance to take cover.

As he starts his way upstairs to Mayumi's apartment, he takes his helmet off and fishes his phone out of his gray pleated trousers with his free hand.

Grumpy Old Hag. A tiny chuckle escapes him as soon as the moniker he gave Mayumi comes on screen. He holds his phone up to his ear after hitting the dial button. However, the call abruptly ends after only a few rings.

His brows furrowed in disbelief.

Thinking she could still be in class, he checks the time on his phone but sees that it's past school hours already.

"That old hag," he mumbles with a grimace on his face after realizing that she indeed rejected his call. But why? Even though Mayumi doesn't like talking to him, she's not the type to ignore calls, even from unknown callers.

Either her phone keeps ringing because she left it on her desk in the faculty, or she'll ask what he needs right after picking it up. If he begins blabbering, which he often does, she'll tell him to cut the crap, and that's the only time she hangs up.

Reaching her apartment, he knocks on the door, but when no one answers, he holds up his phone in front of his chest.

"Where are you? I'm at your apartment," he says in a low drawl while typing. Just when he's about to bury his phone in his pocket, it pings. He excitedly checks whether the message is from Mayumi.

Why are you there?

A Cheshire-cat smile instantly spreads across his face. What time will you be home?

I won't be home tonight. Be sleeping at a friend's house. What do you need?

Lakan's eyes widened with curiosity. At last, you found yourself a boyfriend, grumpy old hag. ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡

It's not what you think, brat. Now get lost. I won't be responding after this.

Lakan can't help but giggle at how easily Mayumi loses her patience with him. But did she actually start seeing someone? If it's the truth, she's the first in their circle to enter into a commitment, as most of them prioritize work.

She has, however, made no secret of her desire to start a family of her own ever since they were little. At 31, she's now at the perfect age to do so.

Although he's looking forward to their usual banter, it appears that he'll leave her in peace. But perhaps not after a devious idea comes to mind. He takes a screenshot of their conversation and sends it to their group chat.

Looks like Yumi has finally gotten herself a guy. This is absolutely worth drinking, right? For you guys, at least. I'll stick with my milkshake.

Just don't forget to use protection, old hag. Other than that, have fun! ^•ﻌ•^ฅ♡

He giggles, thinking how riled up Mayumi will be once she sees it. Hearing the consecutive pings, he grins at the uproar his message caused and chooses to forgo further conversation to let Mayumi handle their friends' interrogations alone. After all, there's a big problem at hand. Looks like the rain will last for a little longer, and Mayumi's apartment is no longer available for temporary refuge.

He dials Walding's number and hopes he answers since he doesn't want to idly wait around outside Mayumi's apartment till the rain stops. He's the type who gets bored easily.

After failing to reach Walding twice, it's only then that he remembers that he told his long-time personal driver to take some time off to see his children, who live in the city.

Even though he's aware that the odds are slim because it's rush hour, he still tries to book a cab. He finally gives up after a few attempts and shoves his phone back into his pocket.

Frustrated, he plants a hand on his hip. Something cold pressing against his knuckles catches his attention. He glances down to his side and finds the safety pin he used to secure his trouser.

He has lost a lot of weight.

In the past months, he hasn't been able to eat regularly or get enough sleep because he's been closely overseeing the plans for their new hotel, expediting the adoption process for children who are about to age out, reinforcing more alternative plans in case they don't get adopted, meeting with potential sponsors, and formulating ideas of how to make the orphanage self-sufficient.

Being filthy rich doesn't mean he can't run out of money. And now that he has plans to take in more children, he has to be clever and resourceful if he wishes to keep both their hotel business and orphanage alive.

He's unsure if he's suddenly feeling extremely cold because his onyx polo is soaked and the chilly night breeze is settling in, or if it's his fatigue finally taking its toll. Mid-thought, his face beams. He unfastens the safety pin and pulls it out of his waistband.

Who says Mayumi needs to know that he'll take shelter at her place?

He'll only have to come and go without leaving a trace.

But if he still has the knack for unlocking doors, that's something he's about to find out.

He pulls the spear farther away from the pinhead and slides it into the keyhole. He finds it funny that he'd still make use of what Bagani taught him as an adult when they only used to do it for fun.

After a few twists and turns, he finally heard a click. "Gotcha."

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To be continued…