A/N: The original title of this story was ‘The CEO’s obsession’ (Tagalog) but decided to revised into Dylan's Obsession and tranlated into English. I have already published this in other sites but I was not able to continue due to some personal reasons. Hopefully, I can finish this here. Enjoy reading!

S Y N O P S I S

CARRYING my resentment I boldly opened the big door. I could not breathe due to chest tightness. And any time for me to faint.

“Wait a minute!” core force that I shout causes to focus on me all the attention except the groom. Here are my tears again. I couldn’t stop them and I could barely see because of the blurring of the eyes. Very painful. “Pangga why? I thought you wanted to be with me for life? But why is this? Why would you marry someone else?”

A/N: “PANGGA” is something sweet endearment in Filipino, especially to Cebuano/Cebuana.

I don’t care even if people are already looking at me like a villain. I don’t care even if they seem to laugh at the way I look. What if I look like a mountaineer, er---that’s where I live anyway. Andrie was the one I went to and they weren’t. So why should I be shy?! What if the bride is so beautiful? The hell I care! I’m Andrie’s lover. And I must be in her place.

“Pangga please don’t. Let’s go home and start again. Didn’t you say we will build our own family?” I was still crying. “Come with me, please..” I can’t help but cover my face just to control my emotions. I can’t seem to cope with the pain of thinking that Andrie can’t even look at me.

“What is going on, Dylan? Who is that woman?!” I heard someone asked in an angry tone, it was a voice of an old man. I was momentarily stunned and quickly looked ahead.

“D-Dylan?” I repeated what the old man said. I was immediately taken aback.

“I am sorry, Grandpa..”

It was as if I had been knocked to the ground when I saw the groom’s face. My God, but why? The address given by Lily was right and the time as well. With trembling hands, I prayed that I would sink and be swallowed by the earth. I couldn’t bear to meet the bride’s angry looks. Merciful God what did I do ?!

“Ah, er, I-Im sorry!” I said in shock. In an instant, my previously grieving feelings were replaced by shame. I thought for a while what could be done but in the end I also chose to turn away as if nothing had happened. The steps were big as I headed for the door. I had to get out of the church before I could be killed inside. The big scandal I made. But I almost jumped in panic when suddenly someone pulled my hand away. I’ve run as well. But why? What does the groom need from me?!

“PLEASE don't hurt me ..!” I bowed my head while apologizing. I feel fear and shame.

“And why on earth would I do that? I should thank you for saving me..”

From the nod I lifted my face. It was only then that I examined the groom’s face up close. Shocking, handsome! Suddenly I became conscious of how I looked. It was only then that I also noticed where we were. Located at a bus station.

“I r-really am s-sorry.”

“I’m not that old yet. You look even older than me.” he said looking at the watch he was wearing. “Do you have money there?” again he uttered and looked at me.

Bastard!

“I’m only twenty -five.” I whispered. I was not asked but I want to justify with what this man accused. For pete’ sake I am not yet old!

“Really? You are a year younger but why does it look like you are ten years older than me?”

Really bastard!

“So what now? Do you have money?”

“Y-yeah, but..” uncertainly, I answered. In fact, my father sold our lone buffalo just so I could get here in Manila. I almost went crazy with grief when the news broke that Andrie would marry his boss’s Daughter. So my parents made a way for me to somehow stop Andrie’s decision. I will fight for him, that I will not go home alone. I need to return my ‘pangga’ in Leyte. Although I am poor in material things, I am full of my parents’ love. They are so supportive.

”Lemme lend first.”

“B-but..”

“I’ll give them back tomorrow. I didn’t bring anything.”

I was scratching my head. How can I charge him, since I don’t know his house. I don’t know him either.

“Are you not going to ride?”

“Are you going home?” I asked back.

He just smirked before speaking. “I don’t want to die yet.”

He is right. At this time, the bride’s family is still angry. But what I don’t understand is that he can explain that it was just a mistake but he didn’t. He instead acted like a runaway groom. But it was also my fault. If I didn’t excrete that wouldn’t happen.

I don’t know but I spontaneously stepped my feet following the stranger on the bus. I also have nowhere to go and I don’t know the ins and outs here in Manila.

In the vacant seats in front we sat.

“Two of you, Sir?” said the conductor to the guy who is with me.

“Yes please.”

“One hundred pesos.”

The man looked at me and so did I.

“You pay.” he snout. Then I just understood. I pulled out the purse and took a money.

Thirty minutes later we stopped at a bus station. The other passengers also stood up. Because I was at the front I was the first to open the door. But I still can’t open it after a few slides.

“I think it’s locked.”

I said to the passenger who is after me. He is about to laugh that I don’t understand. So did the other passengers who were watching me.

“It’s automatic, Ma’am.” said the driver then pressed the button in front of him. Then the door opened.

“W-wow, it’s great..” I just smiled. How embarrassing.

And guess what, the bastard laughed like he was tickled. Bad.

We entered a mall. I don’t know what we’re going to do inside but I am nervous. Jesus, this is what I got from my misfortune. It looks like my companion will make me an ATM card.

“W-wait ..!” I stopped him as he was about to climb the moving stairs. “What are you going to do above?”

“Obviously, shopping.”

“Do you have money?”

“Nothing. But you have.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry, I can double or triple everything you can spend.”

I was about to answer but he turned around and climbed the stairs. Argh, why did he leave me? I don’t even know how to ride.

“Come on!”

I shook. They might eat my feet. But why are the others in such easy for them? Even the kids are running.

“Hey? Will you go up or not?” the guy uttered again. His voice was full of impatience.

I blew air a few times before hitting the stairs. It’s hard, maybe my companion will come down again and strangle me. He probably just makes me feel better because of the scandal I caused earlier. He reciprocates, so he demands and demand. But my God, if I only knew I was going to ride like this, I should have practiced in Leyte. Not with no malls there but literally nothing like this on the mountain.

One, two --- as so I did too. I climbed without stairs eating my toes. But why is that? I feel like I’m fainting?! This is what I’m saying. So I don’t just walk into the mall. It is even better to persevere in the markets. It’s more cheaper there. Not a hassle yet. I tightened my grip on both sides of the stairs so I wouldn't fall.

“Miss, don’t tighten!” shouted the male guard above.

And my companion disappeared. Why is that man leaving?

I quickly followed what the guard said but nothing happened. I have lost my balance. With my eyes closed, I just shouted.

“My God, you are embarrassing.” suddenly a voice whispered in my ear. The guy. It was only then that I noticed my lift. I also heard the applause of the people around. “Which mountain are you from and you are so ignorant?”

“I-in H-hilonggos Leyte.”

“Really answered, huh.”

Holding the sling of the bag I bent down my head after he put me down.

“Don’t stay away from me. You might be damned.” he said calmly. He’s not mad nor pleased.

AFTER my tiring and embarrassing experience at the mall earlier we checked-in to a small inn at night. The ease of the day. I didn’t even notice the passage of time.

I sighed and closed my eyes. I didn’t accomplish my goal in Manila. Is Andrie already married? I ran out of money without anything happen. Only three thousand are left. My God, I don’t want to go home to Leyte without my pangga.

“Aren’t you going to get dressed?”

I leaped looking at the guy. He was wearing a shirt and shorts we had bought earlier. Shameless, the courage to shop but no money at all. And now we are still together in a small room.

“I won’t. What if you’ll do anything to me?” I don’t know why I said that. It’s too late to withdraw.

“Silly. Who is insane guy would want to get involved with an ignorant mountaineer woman? I guess it’s just your boyfriend. But still left you.”

Ouch!

“So are you happy with that?” I asked. The guts to insult, bastard!

“Yes. Go and change your clothes. I don’t want to have a smelly neighbor beside me.”

The nerve!

“Er---then move to another room!”

“You do. You have money, don’t you?

I breathe hard. I was forced to stand up and grabbed the paper bag. It contained a purple dress he chose earlier.

“You should dress such more often so your boyfriend won’t left you.” ATM guy commented when I came out of the bathroom. I wish I could have smiled more.

“Love is not selective.” I responded at his insulting allusion.

“Then I guess he doesn’t have it for you.”

Gosh, his hondsomeness is a big regret, too rude. No respect for women.

IT’S past Eleven but I still can’t sleep. But the guy with me is already sleeping as if his angels lulling him like a baby. I secretly swallowed as I looked at him. This is the first time I have a man next to me sleeping. In the three years Andrie and I have neither slept together. He asked for something but I did not want to give because I believe it is sacred. So maybe that was the reason why he looked for someone else.

I went a little closer to the side and took a good look at ATM guy. I thought I had actually seen an actor. He is the type of male protagonist that I usually read in novels.

“Dylan..” I whispered. That’s the name I heard earlier. His face is tilted to the other side so I am free to talk to him up close. One more thing, he was already asleep.

“Hey Dy---.” I backed away in a panic and covered myself with a blanket. I was almost deaf from the force of my heartbeat.

What was that?

“Oh no, no! I didn’t mean to ..!” I whispered like a an idiot under the blanket. Swear I didn’t really mean to. God knows I am innocent.

But then it was as if teasing, squeezing on my brain how Dylan turned forward in slow motion. And so I accidentally kissed him.

Gosh, good thing he was already asleep if not, I’ll be definitely dead in shame again.