Chapter 37

CHAPTER 37: Bad News

IVYNA woke up with an arm hugging her from behind. Last night, she didn’t sleep properly since she heard what Taese murmured in his sleep. She wasn’t expecting anything or didn’t give any other meaning of it since she knew him. She knew that he's just playing around like how he was. However, her heart contracted what her mind thinks. She got bothered about it and that made her sleep late.

“Hmm…”

She groaned once someone from her behind moved closer to her and pulled her towards to him. At first, Ivyna let the person behind her do what he wants not until that person whispered to her ears.

“Enjoying, eh?”

She immediately removed his hand and sat down after hearing his voice. She didn’t realize that they’re sleeping together. She moved away from him and then faced him.

Taese smiled at her.

“Good morning. Did I cause you trouble last night?”

“Yes, you are!” she said. “You didn’t give me a chance to go home.”

He smiled. He then sat down and put his one arm to his knee while looking at her.

“Well, sorry then.” He then looked around. “Where are the others?”

“They sleep in the room next to us.”

Taese smirked realizing their alone.

“Woah! Never thought, you’ll like sleeping next to me, huh.”

She rolled her eyes.

“As if I have choice. I don’t know your friends, so I would like to sleep next to you rather than sleeping next to them.”

He chuckled.

‘Too cute in the morning.’ He thought.

“So?”

“So?” Ivyna repeated. “Get up and drive me home. My parents surely kill me if I didn’t show up.” She lied because she knew herself that her parents don’t care about her.

“Well,” he removed the blanket and get up. “Let’s get going.”

“Later. Let me wash my face first. I don’t want to go outside without cleaning my face.” She walked towards the bathroom.

Taese smirked then shook his head watching him.

‘You still look good though.’

After almost an hour, they went outside the room. And that’s when Taese friend went outside of their room. Once Jeff saw the two coming out the room, he can’t stop his mind but to think dirty.

‘My buddy got Ace yesterday night.’ He thought.

“Hey, Taese, morning, bud!” Gerson greeted him first.

“Morning.” Taese greeted back.

“Let’s eat first.” Jeff said. “I already reserve a table for us.”

Gerson and Clarence nodded.

The three walked ahead while Ivyna and Taese were behind of them. Taese noticed Ivyna yawned.

“Didn’t get enough sleep last night?” he whispered.

She nodded.

“Do you want to sleep?”

She shook her head.

“No. I will sleep once we get home. I’ll take absent today, okay?”

“Hmm.”

Once they reached the first floor, the staff guides them to the restaurant that Jeff reserved. They entered the restaurant and sat down. Ivyna and Taese was sitting next to each other while in front of them was Gerson and Clarence. And Jeff was sitting in the center.

“Order what you want, it’s my treat.” Jeff said.

Gerson and Clarence cheered.

“I hope your birthday is everyday so you always treat us.” Clarence jokingly said.

Jeffrey shook his head before looking at Taese and Ivyna.

"You can order what you want, Miss— what's your name again?" Jeffrey asked.

But before Ivyna could answer him, Taese spoke for her.

"Ivyna." He said looking at his friend, coldly. "My secretary, Jeff."

Jeff smile at him.

"Yeah, yeah, I remember now." He said.

"Your secretary?" Clarence butt in to their conversation. "I thought another fling."

"Same thought, bud." Gerson patted Clarence' shoulder and looked at the two. "You didn't tell us you have a hot and sexy secretary, Tae."

"Gerson." He coldy says.

"What?" He chuckle. "It's compliment, bud." Then he look to Ivyna. "Don't be offended, Miss Ivyna, right?"

Ivyna didn't do anything but nodded. She's sleepy so she doesn't care about it. And it's not that big deal, too.

But for Taese, it is. It is big deal. Compliment from other guys can boil his blood. How the fuck he said that in front of him?

He stares deadly at Gerson who continued complimenting Ivyna.

Jeffry noticed the stares that Taese giving to Gerson. So he silently patted Gerson's shoulder and signal him to stop. But Gerson didn't get what he mean.

"What?"

"I said, stop. You're making her uncomfortable." Jeff whispered to him.

"I'm not. See? She's responding to me so that's mean she's not uncomfortable to me—"

"Stop it, Ger. If don't want to have a black eye, stop it already."

Gerson frowned. "What do you mean, bud?"

"Just stop it."

Gerson didn't understand what Jeffrey wanted to say but once he look again to Ivyna, his eyes averted to his friend who's sitting next to her and glaring at him.

"What?" He mouthed to Taese but Taese just glared at him more.

'What's wrong with these two?' Gerson thought.

The food arrived that kept the mouth of Gerson and Clarence off.

The lunch was fine until they separated their ways.

"Thanks again, Jeff. We're going." Taese said once they reached the parking lot. "We're going." He nodded at the two behind him.

The three nodded.

"I'll take these two." Jeff said.

"Bye, Miss Ivyna!" Gerson waved his hand at Ivyna.

"Bye." Ivyna said ignoring the stares of Taese on her.

Jeff nudge Gerson's shoulder and pulled him away.

"We're going, too, Tae!"

Taese just nodded at him.

Ivyna and Taese also entered his car. And they left the parking without any conversation. They are on their way when Taese spoke up.

"Where's your home?"

Ivyna's eyes was close and she's resting herself.

"Just drop me off at train station, I can go home alone."

But Taese didn't listen to her, instead he asked her again with the same question.

"Where's your home? Give me the address so I can drop you off there."

Ivyna shook her head.

"No need. I can go alone—"

"Just give me your damn address!"

That's when Ivyna opened her eyes, she directly looked at him. He's not looking at her because his eyes was focus on the road.

"Tsk. Bossy." She whispered to herself. "Okay. Drop me off to my home."

And that's what happened. Their now on the road of the subdivision of Ivyna's home when they noticed a wide fire.

"What's happening?" Ivyna asked as she saw the crowded entrance of the subdivision.

Taese park his car on the sidewalk before they went out.

Screams, sound of sirene and a lot of noises could hear from the people who's affected by the fire.

Ivyna doesn't know she felt something off. She immediately walks towards the wave of people.

"Ivyna!" Taese followed her.

Ivyna didn't look back. She continued walking in the waves of people. Once she surpass the wave of people, she then stopped and roam her eyes to find their home.

Tears filled her eyes once she saw their home buring with fire. Her heart ache as she saw their house was eaten by the fire. Her feet was froz at where they are.

"Ma... Pa..."

She unconsciously stepped her feet but a hand stopped her.

Once Taese saw her, he grabbed his hand towards him.

"Don't. It's dangerous."

"Ma... Pa..." Ivyna whispered to him before she looked at him. "S-Sir, m-my parents... They're..."

Taese curse when he saw her tears fell down. He immediately hugged her and cage her to his arms.

"Shh. They're fine."

Almost five minutes passed once an old lady noticed Ivyna.

"Hija? Is that you, hija?"

Ivyna moved away to Taese and looked at the lady who noticed her. Then, Ivyna remembered her. She's their neighbor.

"Hija!" The old lady walked towards them. "Why are you still here? Didn't you know your parents was in the hospital already? They bring at the hospital one hour ago!"

Ivyna was perplexed to what she said. Why they brought her parents to the hospital?

"W-Why? What happened to... them?"

"I can't tell you. Just go to the hospital now!"

"Let's go." Taese pulled her towards him and they walked away.

Ivyna looked at him. "Let's go to the hospital."

Taese nodded at her.

___

DB