21 - Defense

A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means it has not yet been proofread or edited.

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To: Miss Architect

Where are you?

He hit the send button with excitement. Kalonice looked into her phone when she received that message.

To: Stupid Master

Why do you ask?

Midas rolled his eyes from that reply.

To: Miss Architect

How dare you question me??? Where are you!

Kalonice, irritated, dropped her pen to reply.

To: Stupid Master

In the campus! What do you want? I'm reviewing!

Midas hissed, but it's good to know that she's already in the campus.

To: Miss Architect

You're next. Come here already. We're taking a break. I'm exhausted.

From: Miss Architect

So? Did I ask? I don't need updates from you.

Midas almost slammed his phone against the table. First, because it felt embarrassing. Second, she's annoying! Lastly, it's hard to break through her defenses!

Kalonice collected her things and went to the location where she will defend her thesis. Her batch mates were lined up outside, waiting for their turn. When they found her, they asked her about her thesis and exchanged tips on how to pass it. They're all anxious. Some groups' thesis only needed revising, while there are ones that had to do it all over again.

Kalonice opened her bag and took the chocolate Candice had given her earlier before they parted. It even had a 'Good luck, Mommy!' note pasted on it.

After hours of waiting, it's finally her turn.

"Good luck, Kally!" Her batch mates cheered and she smiled at them before going inside with herself and her materials.

"You have five minutes to prepare before you begin, Ms. Montecristo," one of the panels said while cleaning the table.

The moment Kalonice stepped into the room, Midas felt his breath hitch. She wasn't wearing anything extravagant---just a below-the-knee black skirt, a neatly tucked-in long-sleeve top, and her hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. But somehow, that simplicity only amplified her presence. The elegance in her posture, the quiet confidence in her stride, the way her heels clicked softly against the floor---it was enough to set his nerves ablaze.

Kalonice inserted her flash drive in the viewboard and searched for her presentation. When it's flashed on the screen, she walked to their table and handed out copies of her thesis. She noticed that Midas...is acting odd.

"Sir, are you okay?" she asked him with genuine concern because his face is so red. It's like he's hyperventilating.

His jaw tightened as he forced himself to look away, but it was impossible. The way her outfit hugged her form just right, the delicate grace in her movements---it all left him restless. His fingers curled into fists on his lap, his heart hammering against his ribs. This wasn't the time, nor the place, but his body betrayed him, and every rational thought dissolved into something primal.

A sharp exhale left his lips. He couldn't do this. Not here. Not now.

He even assured her that he's a gentleman and even used his mother's way of parenting. Turns out he's no different from those men.

"Ms. Montecristo, is that a proper formal attire? Without a blazer?" He scolded her when he can't even look at her.

Kalonice looked at herself.

"Are you okay?"

There's nothing wrong with her attire??? What's his problem? Why is he making it a big deal? Just because she's not wearing a blazer?

But God knows that if it happened that she's wearing one, Midas will lose his mind.

"Are you ready, Ms. Montecristo?" asked the Chairman, so Kalonice composed herself and nodded.

Like a switch, her demeanor and aura changed. She smiled.

That pushed Midas's triggers.

Without a word, he abruptly pushed back his chair, the screech echoing through the room. Heads turned, but he didn't care. His entire body was burning, his patience fraying by the second. He stormed out, his pace quick, his breathing uneven. By the time he reached his car, he was already peeling off his tie, desperate for air.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!? What's wrong with me!?" He cursed out loud and slapped himself.

Ain't no way her simple formal attire gave him a boner!

Is it a kink? No, he's no better, really! He's no better than those beasts!

"No, fuck! I messed up!" He tweaked his hair. He's tweaking.

Should he return? She might misunderstood his leave. She definitely will. But he left because of her! Her effect on him is gradually getting stronger. If this effect is not strong enough, he might as well take his life than embarras himself for the events to come.

There's no turning back. It's starting to hurt.

The moment he hit the accelerator, his destination was clear---home. He needed to release this tension, this unbearable heat coursing through him. Because if he stayed a second longer in that room, watching her stand there, exuding effortless poise and unknowingly driving him mad---he just might lose all control and be the beast she despises.

"Ahhh... Fuck... Fuck..."

He opened his legs and stroked his manhood faster. His buckle clings with each movement. He's groaning and growling, imagining wild fantasies in his dirty mind.

He's feeling guilt while taking all the pleasure, too. Guilty as sin for giving her the assurance that he's different from most men, when he's like this in private when it's not even a week since he said that to her. Pathetic. Hypocrisy at its finest!

"Oooh, I'm cumming! Baby, f---uck! A-Ahhh! Hnngh, motherfucker... Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

He grabbed onto the couch tight and grind his hips as he shoot loads.

His guilt worsened even more that he wanted to cry and shoot himself.

Now, he unravel something about himself. That is that he's a man through and through, and men are beasts.

This was the second time he touched himself. The first time is when he was younger and was curious and exploring. After that, he felt so bad and cried about it to his parents for doing something so 'dirty' to himself. The second time is this, older and grown. Still feeling bad, though, in a different way. He's guilty.

He took a bath to wash away his guilt only for it to grow stronger.

His defenses crumbled helplessly.

He drove back to ALY-IC with a gift in hand. He searched for Kalonice and found her about to leave.

"Woman," he called to get her attention.

Kalonice stopped from organizing her things and looked over him. She gave him an empty look before going back to her business.

"Hey,"

He closed the distance between them and left the paper bag beside her bag.

"What's that for?" Her tone was flat.

"I didn't mean to leave like that. I... I had reasons."

"I don't care. Thanks to you, I wasn't anxious anymore and defended my thesis like it's a piece of cake."

She zipped her bag and wore it on her shoulders. Midas followed her.

"You're upset, I know, but I didn't mean to do that! I---I had reasons!"

Kalonice stopped pivot to face him. Her eyes were the usual: serious and unbothered.

"Aren't you the mighty Midas Yzaguirre? Why apologize? That's not new to you. You know what, you're actually fit to be a father. Because you leave like one."

"What---"

Kalonice turned her back and walked faster. She's avoiding the gazes of her schoolmates. They are gossiping about them. She hates it. She hates attention.

"Woman!"

When she made it past the school gates, Midas grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to his car. He opened the door for her and pushed her inside. To prevent her from leaving, he locked her door and sat on the driver's seat.

"What the hell is your problem, Yzaguirre!? Let me go! I don't need your stupid apology!"

"You turned me on!"

Kalonice blinked, unsure if she had heard him correctly. A slow wave of heat crept up her neck as Midas sat before her, his expression both intense and apologetic. His face is red.

"You---what?" she stammered, gripping the edge of her seat as if it could somehow ground her.

Midas exhaled, raking a hand through his hair, then locked his eyes onto hers.

"I left because of you," he admitted, voice low and weighted, "Because watching you stand there, so effortlessly confident, so goddamn stunning in something as simple as a skirt and a ponytail---"

He stopped, jaw tightening. He covered his face with his hands to hide his humiliation.

"It made me hard. I-I'm sorry, alright!? It's your fault!"

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. A thousand emotions crashed over her---shock, disbelief, and something dangerously close to thrill. She had spent years perfecting a composed, unshakable demeanor, yet here she was, completely undone by a confession she hadn't seen coming.

And there she thought because she upset him in some way.

"You left in the before I could even start my defense because you---" She swallowed, struggling to keep her voice even, "Because you were turned on?"

Midas had the audacity to smirk, though his eyes burned with something darker, something raw.

"I couldn't sit there any longer without losing control," he admitted, "So I left."

Kalonice stared at him, her mind spinning. Of all the reasons she had imagined for his sudden departure---boredom, disinterest, even annoyance---this had never crossed her mind.

She covered her body.

"You're unbelievable. Pervert." she muttered, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed her.

"Excuse me---!? I'm not gonna---" Midas palmed his red face in frustration. He saw how Kalonice's eyes stride down to his lap, to 'that'.

"Where are you looking, woman!? Don't look at it! You're weird!"

"I'm weird!? I AM??? When you're the on who got turned on---"

He covered her mouth with his hands. They fought like siblings do. Kalonice was hella strong!

"I'm calling your Dad!"

"No, what the fuck!? Stop it! Give me that!"

And they fought again over her phone, until they're in an awkward position. Kalonice's hands were up behind her head, while Midas is leaning towards her to reach it.

He smell good. Really, really good. His face is so clean and smooth. But she's far too drawn to his smell. Is it perfume or the soap he used?

She 'harmlessly' closed the gap of her face to his neck to smell him.

"H-H---Hey!"

Midas shivered.

"You smell nice," she said, nonchalant. She's aware of their awkward position but she can't help it, alright?

He smell like a man.

Midas gulped. Kalonice's face is inches away from his face. They're so near together and he's fighting the urge to kiss her. He's doing his best, okay!? He's barely hanging on!

"Do you want to kiss me?"

His heart skipped a beat.

"C-Can...I?" He gulped, his muscles tightening.

"What am I gonna get in return?" Kalonice smiled, teasing him.

Midas let out a shaky breath.

"Me."

"I don't want you---"

But he do. He do want her, so what is she gonna do about it---when he's already kissing her?

Right, thesis defended but her lips aren't.