SIXTY SIX

DAMON

“Damon, it’s almost time,” my mother said, stopping me from craning my neck once again to check if Selena was already at the airport. I checked either way.

She wasn’t around. I have been searching for her in the many crowds for hours and no matter how hard I looked, she wasn't there. “Damon…” My mother called again and I sighed.

Ever since that intense night in my house, I haven’t heard from Selena. No texts and no calls. All the messages I sent to her to inform her about the flight were read and successfully ignored.

Honestly, I don’t know what to feel.

When I told her about my plans to leave the country, I knew that she could choose to say farewell to me and the short time we had together, but this is not how I imagined our goodbye.

I wanted our farewell to be meaningful. I wished to remind her once again that despite everything that happened, I was grateful for the time we spent together, and that I would never forget her.

I wanted to see her face one last time.

But I guess that won’t be happening.

“It doesn’t seem like she’ll be coming, Damon,” my mom said again as she got up and reached for Rebecca’s hand. “I think you might have to let her go.”

Excluding the fact that Selena was The Dangerous Dame, I told my mom all about the woman my heart continuously longs for. While I informed her that Selena might join us on our journey, my mother asked one question.

She wanted to know if I was sure that Selena felt the same way I did.

My mother pointed out the fact that in a relationship, love is never equal. Someone always loves more than the other. And, she feared that I was the one that gave more. Concern grew in her eyes when she said I could greatly get hurt if Selena doesn't show up.

So, when I looked into my mother’s eyes, I could tell that she was trying to confirm the things she told me. Even though she didn’t voice it, I knew that was what she was thinking.

My mother's fears were understandable. But one thing she did not get was the fact that I don’t expect Selena to leave with me. As I said, I just want to see her one last time.

“It’s all good, ma. Things can’t always go the way we expect.” I looked ahead and saw that people were already queuing, getting ready to advance into the waiting plane. “Let’s go.”

“You can give her another call,” she suggested.

“It’s no use. Let’s go.”

After smacking her lips and getting rid of the pity in her eyes, my mother began to lead Rebecca toward the queue and I followed. But that was after I took another look at the many people who were going about their lives.

Soon, we were settling in the aircraft and I began to accept the fact that Selena Danniman would soon become a part of my past. While I will remember her from time to time, I can’t dispute the fact that as years fly by, Selena might become a distant memory.

That scares me…

I sound all calm, but I am not. I am insanely afraid.

But at the same time, I tried to accept the way things are.

A heavy sigh fell from my lips and I paused my scary thoughts.

After securing my seatbelt, I proceeded to close my eyes. Perhaps if I sleep throughout the flight, my heart will feel less burdened.

“Hello.” That feminine voice caused my eyes to snap open. When my gaze landed on the woman who hurriedly sat beside me, the stirring in my heart transformed into disappointment. She wasn’t Selena. “I am your neighbour during this flight,” the dark-haired woman informed with cheer in her voice and I shot her a forced smile. “You are quite handsome. We should-”

I quickly faced the other side before the woman could get the idea that I would be interested in talking to her.

My heart is mourning, I can’t deal with unnecessary conversations.

While I waited for further announcements, I grabbed one of the weirdly-titled magazines beside my seat.

My inspection of the cover was soon interrupted by deep panting sounds. For a second, I thought it was the woman beside me and I wished to ignore her. But the deep exhales sounded too abnormal for me not to take a look.

The noise was not from her.

By the time I lifted my head to take a further look, that heavy stirring returned to my heart, and the crazy tingling that always caused tears to well in my eyes returned.

There she was, forehead slick with sweat, hair looking absolutely rough, and chest heaving insanely. Her presence dimmed the bustling that came from the passengers who were still settling in their seats.

Her eyes stayed locked with mine for the first few seconds and all I could see was her. And, I didn't miss the way her gaze turned deadly and rested on the woman beside me.

“Get up,” she ordered.

“Why would I do that?” the woman retorted and Selena quickly shoved a piece of paper in her face.

“You are in my seat, woman. Get up.”

“Jeez, okay. The seat was empty anyway…” Murmuring the rest of her words in an annoying way, the woman got up and quickly walked away.

Her deep breaths a little more relaxed, Selena plopped into her seat.

When she sharply turned to face me, I swallowed hard, unable to say a word, my eyes still bulged with perplexity.

“I am a little late, aren’t I?”

“U-uh…”

“I am sorry I couldn’t answer your texts. I was very busy sorting things out.”

My eyes narrowed at her as I tried to stay calm. My happiness was gradually returning but I needed to be sure that she was there. So, with caution in my voice, I asked. “Are you really here?”

“Damon…” A little chuckle and she reached for my sweaty hand and I became more than certain. “I am here.”

“You decided to leave everything?” Voicing that question made me realize how insane it would be if Selena did leave everything. The gang was her entire life. She put her all into it.

“Hmm…” The sides of her eyes wore a tender look and she started to play with my fingers. “I didn’t leave everything, but I am no longer the leader. I abdicated the seat to Lucius.”

“Lucius?”

“Yes. I can’t trust my father to do a great job. That man is too blinded by the sins of his past.”

“Wow.”

“Yes, wow.” Selena laughed and the genuinity in that chuckle made me more convinced that Selena was actually seated next to me. “I can’t believe that I chose this path, but I am happy I did.”

“I am glad you are here, Selena.”

“You were worried, weren’t you?”

“I was. I couldn’t reach you and you weren’t at the mansion.”

“I am sorry I made you worry.”

“You are apologizing?” That happiness I was waiting for started to flutter in my heart and it barely felt like I was plunged into gloominess a few minutes ago. “This is surprising. Did you decide to become a new person now that we are moving to a new country?”

“I am still good old me, Damon.” Our eyes met and I feasted on the short smile that tugged on her lips. “I knew my silence would have messed with your mind. I know that feeling way too well. Each time you distanced yourself from me, it always felt like my soul was plunged into great catastrophe.”

Feeling more relaxed, I began to inspect the slenderness of her hand that was still wrapped in mine. Then, I said, “This is somewhat strange.”

“It is,” she confirmed. “But it is amazing. I have always wondered how life would be outside the gang and thanks to you, I will get the chance to know.”

Holding her hand assuredly, I said, “I am glad we didn’t have to say goodbye to each other.”

“That would have sucked…” Selena become more relaxed and I helped her with her seatbelt.

After, I turned to face my mother who had been keenly staring at me. When I quietly informed her that Selena had arrived, she shoved her phone in my face. The image on the screen displayed big letters that strung to form a highly surprising headline.

“We are free,” my mother whispered. “We are free from them.”

Once I faced the front, I looked at Selena whose eyes were closed and I asked, “Did you kill yourself?”

“I had to get rid of The Dangerous Dame.”

“Did you kill Malik?”

“Malik killed The Dangerous Dame and he had to pay for his sins.”

“That’s scary,” I said and Selena opened her eyes. “You are scary.”

“I know. I had to kill her to escape from those shackles you talked about. The chains holding Selena Danniman down came in the form of The Dangerous Dame. So I got rid of her.” The lethal tone in her voice quickly disappeared. As she cupped the side of my face and called my name, fondness returned to her voice and she said, “I am ready to do this, Damon. I am ready to start this new life… with you.”

With haste, my palm covered her hand and I returned the compassionate gaze in her eyes. Then she continued, “I can’t promise that I will be the best companion, but I can promise you this one thing. I won’t run away from loving you.”

“Selena…”

“You probably don’t know this, but the first time we had sex, I didn’t stop mid-way because of your commanding words. I stopped because of the way I felt at that moment. It was a very scary thing, Damon.” Her touch tried to slip away but I stopped it. I wanted her face close to mine so that I can take note of every detail. “I felt like I had been exposed and I didn’t like that feeling. But each time we got together, each time we touched, that feeling came back and it scared me. I considered that feeling to be poison for my soul.” Her head slowly danced from left to right while her eyes continued to wear a look that supported every word she uttered.

“Not anymore. I might still have some fears, but I will stop running away. The way I feel for you is not poison. No, it is salvation for my damned and tortured soul.”

The more I listened to her words, the more I realized that it would have been hard for me if Selena hadn’t shown up at the last minute.

“Selena,” I gave her all my attention. “The thing we have between us isn’t perfect. And, I won’t lie to you, I have felt resentment toward you in the past. But do you know why that hatred didn’t grow? Because it couldn’t. It didn’t stand a chance beside the affection I have for you. That affection keeps growing bigger and bigger. So I can assure you of one thing.” I left a quick kiss on her lips and I suddenly felt the urge to intensify it. “I will always love and care for you.”

“I am glad, Damon.” Our foreheads met as our whispered words became more hushed. “I am so glad.”

Quickly, I captured her lips and satisfied that earlier urge. My hands were about to find her waist when someone kicked my seat.

“Will you two keep it down? Rebecca is right behind you.”

Selena shyly pulled away as my mother glared at us.

Almost chuckling, I faced Selena and said, “That’s my mother.”

“I know. She’s feisty.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t be living with her. She doesn’t want to see my face every day when she settles in her new house.”

With a smile on her face, Selena snuggled closer. “I would prefer it if we lived separately as well.”

“Why?”

“I need my space. This will be the first time I will be living alone.”

“I guess I will be living alone for a while then.”

“Yes. Until we get married.”

A huge grin lighted my face and I repeated her words, “Until we get married.” Seconds later, I planted a kiss on her forehead and watched her as she closed her eyes and welcomed the embrace of sleep.

While I calmly and elatedly stared at her, my ears caught the conversation of the people seated in front of us. With great surprise, they talked about the President’s death. They were more shocked by the fact that the President was Malik, the leader of the second most-influential gang in Poblacion.

In reaction to their words, I wore a smirk. I have decided to leave the country and that means anything related to the country will be none of my business. And I liked for things to stay that way.

As I took another look at Selena, someone tapped me from behind and my eyes met Rebecca’s.

“Girlfriend?” she mouthed, her cute eyes placed on Selena.

With a quick nod, that huge smile still maintained, I replied quietly, “Girlfriend.”

I saw my brother’s smile on Rebecca’s lips and I felt apologetic for a second.

I felt sorry for my brother who got caught up in my father’s mess. But I am glad that I was able to solve the mystery of his death. Even though I had to kill a man, I am glad for what I was able to achieve. I will just have to live with my sin since it is my burden to bear.

“Good for you.” A surprisingly neat wink followed that whispered word and my smile lasted for as long as it could as I looked out of the window and waited for the plane to take us all to the next stage of our lives.

~~~

THE END

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW AND LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE; AUTHOR LOLA BEN

THANK YOU FOR READING.