Chapter 20 Torn

BEFORE the clock hits two, Marco and Elaine arrived at her place. She opened the car door as soon as Marco parked it in front of their house.

“I can manage. Thanks again,” Elaine said when Marco attempted to got off from his seat to open the door for her.

“I guess your husband’s home already. Gigi made sure she turned the lights off,” Marco said. Gigi was Marco’s cousin who was in junior highschool. She was the only daughter of Marco’s Uncle who was a retired police officer.

Elaine turn her face to their house and noticed that the whole place was dim-lighted. Marco was right, Tan was home. She could see his car parked inside their garage.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” Marco reminded her. Elaine earlier was forced to give him his phone number. She nodded quietly and got off the car. She already made a few steps away when Marco called her. He was quick to get off the car and walked towards her. She was surprised when he took his jacket off and drape it over her shoulders.

Marco cleared his throat, smiling a little. “You said you don’t want your husband to know. It will be hard to keep it from him. For now, cover those scratches with that.”

Elaine blinked. It felt good having a man like Marco beside her. She once or twice thought he was nothing but a nuisance but she didn’t realize he could be a friend a savior until a while ago.

“Go. I’ll leave once you enter the house.”

She nodded and turned around. The gate was left open. She was nervous and anxious at the same time. What if Jack appears and tries to harm her again?

Elaine shook her head. Tan was inside the house and Marco was guarding from outside. Nothing bad will happen to her. She took a deep sigh and walked towards the gate. She waved at Marco when at last she was able to get inside.

Marco nodded, smiling and prompted her to enter the house. Elaine closed the gate and tightly closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she avoided looking at the side where Jack attacked her. She focused her gaze at the door.

Elaine did not even realize how she quickly made it to the doorway when she realized something. She doesn’t have the key. She was about to knock at the door when all of a sudden, it opened.

Elaine was surprised to see Tan. His left hand tucked inside his pocket. Her heart beat a little faster when he raised his eyes to her face. After a few seconds of staring at her, his eyes travelled down to her body, then his eyebrows furrowed as he gaze at the jacket over her shoulders.

“I-I borrowed from a friend. The night was cold and - ”

Elaine stopped at mid-sentence. Tan would not give a damn even if she’d have a closet full of jackets from different men. She noticed he was holding a trash bin on the other hand. She wondered why he was throwing it already when there were only 2 empty bottles inside.

“I’ll do it,” she said and tried to take it from Tan.

“Don’t bother. You can’t even take care of yourself,” Tan said. His voice was as cold as his gaze.

Elaine gave herself a quick check when Tan walked pass her. She bit her lower lip, Marco’s jacket failed to hide her torn shirt. Elaine looked at Tan who already opened the gate and stepped outside. Her eyes grew a little wider when she saw Marco from her standpoint. Both men did not budge as they held each other’s angry glare.

TAN found Elaine in the living room. She was now wearing the jacket well. Too well that the zipper almost reached her chin. Pretty well that she was able to hide her torn shirt. He walked pass her to put the bin back to the kitchen.

“The guy outside – “ she started but Tan turned to her.

“That doesn’t sound like my concern, Elaine. Go to bed,” he cut her off, totally dismissing her. He saw her bite her lower lip, then he turned around and quietly walked towards her own room and closed the door.

Tan sighed painfully. His eyes darted on her bedroom door.

Elaine turned the lights on when she entered her room. She saw her phone at the top of the side table, picked it up then sat at the edge of the bed. She’d tell Drew about Jack to warn her. She was afraid he’d do something again.

Her eyebrows knotted, heart raced, when she saw she missed two calls from Tan. The first one was at 12:25 when the other was dropped at 1:05. She couldn’t contain her happiness. She felt warm, light hands caressing her heart. She brought her phone to her chest, imagining it was Tan who she was holding.

Elaine jerked when she heard a soft ringing. Her eyes grew wide when she realized she unintentionally dialed Tan’s number. Her heart skipped a few beats when the timer started – informing her that the call went through.

“H-hello…”

No answer but she heard him sigh.

“Tan, are you there?”

“What is it this time?” he asked in a very unfriendly tone.

Elaine swallowed the imaginary lump in her throat. Should she drop the call? His voice was scary and icy cold.

“You earlier called. I left my phone at home… Sorry if I made you worry.”

It took a while before she heard Tan’s reply. “Don’t get your hopes up. The front door is locked. I left my keys that’s why I called.”

Elaine closed her eyes, embarrassed. She did not think of that.

“I see…” she uttered. She did not want to sound disappointed so she tone her voice up. “Did you taste what I cooked? I left it at the – “

But the call was dropped even before Elaine finished her sentence. She sighed sadly and put the phone beside her.

It wasn’t like him to be rude like that. But she could not blame Tan. It was her fault why Tan was treating her like that. A slow and small smile worked its way across her face. She needed to be optimistic. Though he was still as cold, she’d consider him taking her call as a good sign.

Then her phone beeped. She quickly read the message, hoping it was Tan. But it was the cool cop reminding her with their date at the precinct at 9.

TAN held his phone tightly. Fuck. What the hell was wrong with him? Why did he answer Elaine’s call? And why was he still standing in front of her room – waiting for her to come out and check on her?

It was past two in the morning and there he was, wide awake. He wasn’t supposed to give a damn no matter what happened but why does he felt anxious and restless?

He was tired from work when he drove home , but he could not afford a nap knowing that Elaine was not home yet. Where did she go and who was that man who took her home? Why was her shirt torn? What’s the bandage for? Was she hurt?

Tan closed his eyes tightly and groaned in dismay. He restrained the urge to kick the trash bin he foolishly picked up when he heard a car honk earlier. He walked towards his room, angry at himself. He felt ridiculously stupid for worrying about the woman who mercilessly broke his heart three years ago and tore it pieces by pieces.