back to each other

I felt so heavy. Something is weighing me down. My lips were dry. I tried to swallow saliva. I opened my eyes and studied the place. White ceilings and pendant chandeliers were the first things that immediately popped up in my sight. I squinted. The light hurts my eyes. I moved my hand but something stopped me. I looked at my side and saw Maverick’s face. He sat in a chair next to the bed and rested his head on the mattress. He’s holding my hand.

I closed my eyes and mentally pinched Dave. That kid is such a brat. I already told him not to inform Maverick.

I looked up and examined the sleeping man. His position is really uncomfortable. His eyebrows are slightly raised and his forehead is furrowed. I smiled while reaching for the crease on his forehead and straightening them out.

I then straightened his eyebrow and spent a few minutes just staring at his face. He is definitely troubled. I can tell by his expression that something is really bothering him.

I stroked his soft hair as I recalled what had happened. I really thought I was at my end. But when I woke up in the hospital and found Dave in tears, I knew what I needed to do. The child could not be involved in the mess so I immediately decided to be released from the hospital. Who knew if they would get me back there.

And now that I’m here with Maverick, all my fears have dissipated. He’s the last person in my mind before everything went black and he’s also the first person I woke up to now.

I am so thankful to God for giving me another chance to see the man I love again. Yes, I had long admitted to myself that I loved him. And this time, I promised to myself that I’ll make it right. The man moved and finally opened his eyes. He turned to get up when he saw that I was awake and held my face.

“H-Hey, Fem. How are you feeling? Are you still in pain? Do you need anything? Say it. I’ll get it for you,” he said in a haste, not knowing what to do next.

“Water,” I answered.

“Yes, water. Yes.”

He got the water bottle from the side table and poured it into a glass.

“Here.”

He put the glass on my mouth and assisted me while drinking it. After returning the water and the glass, he turned to me again.

“How are you feeling?”

“Just tired and groggy.”

I yawned.

“Of course. The doctor said you need a complete bed rest.” He fixed my blanket around my body. “Sleep. I’ll just be here. I’ll watch you over.”

“I know.” I whispered. “But I can’t sleep with all the lights.”

“Right. Sorry for that.”

He stood up and turned off the main switch. He also returned immediately to the seat after opening the lamp shade.

“Mav..”

“Yes, babe.”

“Come here. Hold me, please.”

I looked at him, begging, amidst a torch of the dim light. He complied and took off his t-shirt and then climbed into bed beside me. He slid inside the covers and put his arms around me. I placed my hand on his bare chest and felt the inviting hardness and warmth coming from him.

I closed my eyes and heed his heart beat. The sound he makes, the heat he emits, and the hardness pressed against me, all remind me that I’m alive. That I’m still given a chance to be with him.

I buried my face in his neck and wept. I poured out my fears and uncertainties through crying. He hugged me tightly and I felt him kiss me on the head as he caressed my back.

“Let it out. I’m here for you, always. Just cry it all out and please know that I’ll always be here for you starting now. I’m sorry for failing to protect you, Fem. But that will be the first and the last. I promise you that.”

Concern and anger mingled in his voice. He kissed my temple and gently rocked me. My tears flowed even more as I remembered what had happened to me. A chill ran down my spine when I made a mental note of what that man told me.

“I’m really scared, Mav. I thought I wouldn’t make it. I thought I wouldn’t see you again.”

I sniffed.

“Shhh. Let it out of your mind. You’re safe now. I will not let you get hurt again. Now sleep. You need to regain your energy.”

He wiped away my tears.

“Where’s Dave? Is he safe?”

He nodded. “Don’t worry. He’s okay. He’s sleeping in the next unit.”

I sighed in relief. “I’m glad. I’m also glad that I’m here with you.”

He kissed my nose. “Me too. More than you could imagine.”

I squeezed myself into his body and closed my eyes.

The rain is now over but there’s still a storm coming that will change everything. I really hope that we can still weather until then.

The next time I opened my eyes, Maverick was no longer beside me. The smell of him was left on the pillow I’m hugging so I inhaled it.

The sun was high outside. It penetrates the drawn curtain. I stretched and smiled to myself. I felt better than yesterday.

I got up and went to the bathroom. I still hesitated which of the two doors should I open.

It turned out that the other one was a walk-in closet. I entered the door and washed my face. I smiled when I saw a drawer full of women’s toiletries. How thoughtful of him.

I started taking a quick hot shower. Then I went to the closet wearing the bathrobe and draped the towel over my head. The clothes are neatly lined up from office wear, casual clothes and more. It was even color coded. There is also a rack at the end that is full of expensive shoes.

Drawers were also filled with expensive watches, cufflinks and other jewelry. This closet is worth millions already.

I noticed some shopping bags on top of a cabinet. These were the same brands Maverick brought for me when we were on the island. I opened it and was startled by the sets of panties, brassiere, nighties and other casual clothes inside.

I got a pair of panties and a bra and put them on. Instead of taking a shirt inside the bag, I opted to scavenge through Maverick’s clothes. I picked out a black shirt with a logo of his company printed on the front. I don’t know why but sharing clothes with him felt so intimate.

I stepped out of the closet and looked around the room. The room is bigger than his previous unit. Same minimalistic style and design but just bigger and more spacious.

I made the bed first before looking for Mav. I found him facing the stove and cooking. He’s topless again, his muscular back is showing and did I say that he’s got one hell of a fine ass?

I leaned on the wall and watched his performance of kitchen acrobatics.

“Good morning.”

He immediately turned to me. He smiled at me but his facial expression quickly changed. He left the stove and ran to me to help me sit on the stool near the kitchen counter.

“Good morning, gorgeous. Why did you suddenly get up without calling for me? You should be in your bed now. How are you feeling? Still dizzy?” he asked one question after another so I took his hand on my chin and squeezed it.

“I’m okay, Mav. No need to fret. I’m not as weak as you think I am. Just like you, I’ve survived more horrible attempts other than that yesterday. So far, I’m still alive.”

What I said made his face darker.

“There are worst cases? God Femella! What have you been doing? Don’t answer me. You’re still pale. I’ll take you back to bed.”

“Not before I taste your cooking,” I stopped him from carrying me. “Please?”

He sighed.

“Okay but you should just stay here.”

I smiled sweetly at him. “Promise.”

He went back to stirring a pot of soup while glancing at me.

“Where are you going again?”

He asked me using that parental tone again when I tried to stand up.

“Coffee. I’ll make coffee.”

He raised his finger to me.

“Stay there. I’ll make you coffee.”

I just watched his back as he made me coffee.

“Nice view.”

I whistled as he turned at me. I licked my lips. He just winked at me and jokingly moved his ass.

“Nah, yours is nicer, plumper, softer, and creamier.”

I put my hand on my cheek. “Really? Nicer than Monica’s?” Hw turned to me again with a funny face. I raised my brows. “Why? I’m just asking.”

He stared at me for a long time before a smile slowly formed in the corner of his mouth.

“You’re jealous,” he said matter of factly.

“Do I need to be jealous?”

“No. Of course not. Monica is just a friend.”

“A friend who loves you, who obsesses over you.”

He walked to me with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“And it happened to be that the man you’re talking about obsesses over you.” He brushed my chin after setting the mug on the counter. “So get over it.”

I was caught off guard by his sudden confession. My cheeks burned and I felt the familiar tightening in my stomach. I sipped on my coffee to hide my blushing but it didn’t go unnoticed to Maverick.

He went back behind the stove and continued stirring whatever he’s cooking. My eyes remained on him. Awe and gratefulness are written on my face.

“Did I pass?” He broke the silence.

“Pass what?”

“Do I pass as a husband to you now?”

I laughed loudly. For some reason, he looks more like a playboy who’s role-playing as a chef than a husband for me. I bit my lips at the image in my head. Good lord.

“Hmmmm, if you’re a houseband then I must be the housewife? Does that even make sense?”

“I see you have a dry humor. Let’s work on that.”

I rolled my eyes and drank coffee.

“Fem, your belongings from the apartment will arrive soon. I have already sent my staff over there. They’ll be here any later today.”

My smile faded and I slammed down the mug on the table. I don’t like everything he said.

“What did you say? You decided on behalf of me without even consulting if I agree on this?”

My nostrils flared because of annoyance.

Maverick sighed. “I only want what’s best for you. You cannot go back there. You’re not safe there anymore.”

“Yeah, I know. Do you think I don’t know that? But it’s a different story when you try to decide for me.”

His face became serious. “Your safety is my number one business. I won’t let you get back to that place.”

“It’s not for you to decide, Fuentebella,” pinal kong saad.

He shot me a blank look.

“There is no argument here. I won’t let you go back in there. Now let’s eat.”

He put the cooked food on the table and then came back to lift me to sit on the chair and came back for the mug of coffee. He quietly served me before he sat down next to me to eat. He picked out his cellphone and typed something on it.

As I look at the dishes he cooked for me, I can’t help but feel guilty and bad. Here I am being too narrow-minded for the man who has all the right to be angry at me. But instead of him using it against me, here he is. All caring and protective of me. I reached for his hand and squeezed it. He turned to me.

“I’m sorry if I misinterpreted your actions. It’s just that I’ve been too used to making the decisions on my own. It’s the first time after a long time that someone did it for me. I really do appreciate all of this though. I hope you understand, Mav.”

“Thank goodness the Mav is back.” He returned my smile. “No need to say sorry. I understand. It’s my fault because I didn’t inform you first. I’ve already cancelled it.”

I gently brushed my fingers on his knuckles in a playful manner. “I still felt bad. What can I do to make it up to you?” I asked suggestively.

He picked up the glass of water and drank it all up.

“Stop it, Fem. I might forget the fact that you’re still sick.”

“Is that why you’re not kissing me?”

“Oh, you like to be kissed now? My pleasure.”

He reached out to me and kissed me on the forehead but before he could take his face away I locked it in my hands and reached for his mouth. I kissed him long and hard until we both ran out of breath.

“Would that be enough, hmmm?”

I asked after I released him. I don’t know if I should laugh or what when he suddenly stood up.

“Wooh! So hot! I need ice.”

He went to the fridge.

Laughing, I returned my focus on my plate.

“It’s delicious!”

After eating, we watched a movie and then he cooked again for our lunch. He insisted that I should go back to sleep but I don’t want to go to bed again. It makes me feel weak and sick, the two things I hate feeling the most.

He wasn’t able to force me to go back to the room so he just laid a blanket in the living room. We watched another movie before I fell asleep. I just woke up to the faint sound of typing. I opened my eyes and saw Maverick on his glasses typing on his laptop. His back is leaning on the sofa while his lower body is under the blanket with me. The laptop is on his lap.

In my half-awake state, I managed to snuggle closer to him. I pressed my face to the side of his stomach and hugged my arm around his thigh. I felt his caress on my head.

“Don’t scare me again like that. I might blow up an entire building the next time.”

He kissed my head and went back to his work.

I sighed contentedly. This feels heaven on earth.