Chapter 27 Fight back

"Is that your boyfriend?"

"What? No!"

Lourd raised his eyebrow at me and followed Mariel and Jomar's gaze in the distance.

"Then why did he kiss you?"

My eyes widened at what he said. We what ?!

"He didn't kiss me!"

"I saw it! There on the wall!"

"We didn't! Why would I kiss Jomar ?!"

"That's why I'm asking."

I rubbed my forehead at what he said. He won't believe me. I left him standing there and voluntarily opened the door of his car in the back even though I was struggling with my clothes. He chased me and helped me climb because of my clothes. He loses his phone in the ring and ignores it.

"Let me!"

He groaned at my reaction and got into the driver's seat. Why the hell I would kiss Jomar? He's a friend!

"Yes? ... yeah. I saw her bidding her goodbye with her man through a kiss."

"What !?"

Who is he talking to and is he really insulting me to others. This man! My eyes were trembling with annoyance and no one knew who he was talking to.

"He didn't kiss me! Nothing like that happened!"

He didn't react to my rage and continued talking.

"Yeah. Whatever."

I gritted my teeth and think about how much I don't want to go to hell and stopped myself from killing someone.

"Look at you Cyreese, I'm so proud of you."

Ate Celest reached for an embrace when she told me that. I cried hugging her, she's been good to me ever since I stayed here. Anyone would dream of him being a brother.

I glanced at Ma'am Mira and Sir Constantine looking so proud while staring at our little emotional moment. I can't stop feeling a mixture of joy and sadness, it feels like goodbye. I'm leaving this place eventually, my heart is tied up here. They are my second family. I can't count the dozens of people, each exporting an expensive looking clothing.

The moon serves as the source of light in the darkness, the dainty fairy lights are like thousand of stars in the dark atmosphere. Everybody clapped at my entourage, while I'm being escorted by Lourd.

A subtle melody can be heard everywhere, all eyes are on me like I'm the only one who matters. The faces are unfamiliar, aside from my friends, teachers and maids in the house, they're all unfamiliar.

"Good and you were able to attend."

Oli's girlfriend looks well off. Its eyes are round and the face is gentle. I smiled at her and she exchanged hers too. Oli looked Constipated the whole time we talked. Only Chloe can talk to me. It looks like we can't talk properly either. All night my heart was divided in the space it felt. All the greetings and gifts I received tonight evanesce each of time, like everything that I want was here but my heart's needs are so far away.

The crowd feels suffocating, the food tastes dull, the merry faces of people doesn't help my disconsolated feelings. The night was cold and dry. I stare at the waves crashing into the shore with a soft hiss. The sound of it chilled through me. I removed my rivet wedge sandals, my feet hurts from wearing it.

I covered it with one hand and placed it on the back. I close my eyes, the sweet air drifted my dress and some strands of my hair that are falling. There's this silence in my soul, and this is where I belong. Not with those blinding lights and deafening sounds and cheers. I miss those nights with just a single bulb inside our house, with a single dish prepared. I miss the tranquil memoriesof my heart. I opened my eyes and all I saw was darkness, the moon and the little crystals it reflection in the ocean. I'm in the recent, this world became my noise of reality, the past turned to distractions and sometimes your home of darkness needs to be lighted a bit in order for you to move forward. Stream of tears flowed in my cheeks.

The salty tears taste like my own sorrow. Pain, empty and hollow. At this time, I hope and beg to all the gods who can hear me, that when I open my eyes, they will give me my lead.

The road that I'll follow until I reach my limit. I let out a deep sigh, calmed myself and wipe my tears gently. I need to go back, they are definitely looking for me. I turned away my sight from the ocean, my skipped every beat like crazy.

The figure of the man standing in front of me knocked every wisp of my air from my lungs. I suddenly don't now how to breath, how to speak, as I draw his name to my brain.

"Levi."

One hand covered the fabric of my dress and stepped closer to her. I smiled at him but I received nothing but his cold stares.

"Do you have a job here again?"

I couldn't control my vibration. I can't stand the way he looks at me. It's dangerous like he's slowly crashing my soul and he's slowly building it up for him. I averted my gaze because I could no longer.

"Maybe it's fun in Manila so you've been late. In the lounge? Right?"

I could clearly see the tension in his jaw at what was said. I waited for answers but instead he stepped forward. My breath hitched at his steps. He slipped his cellphone into his pocket. Even in the dark I can clearly see the change in his appearance, his stubles have grown and his eyes look different, It looks tired and stressed out.

I really wanted to ask him how he was and if he was okay. I want to stroke his hair and feel his skin into mine. But no, all I can hear right now is my conscience ranting. This is the man you want but Ava can never. He will never be yours. You will only look at him in under a month but he will never be yours.

"I'll return your cellphone. I'll just take it."

I want to stop my tear but I can't, I immediately stepped forward and turned away so that he couldn't see the tears he wanted to hide. But before I could do that, his steps became fast and before I knew it he caught my wrist and saw the stream in my eyes. My emotions seemed to be triggered and the tears could not be stopped.

His curses drip like an acid as he saw me being miserable, I tried to get out of his hands but he pulled me away. I crouched down while one hand held the shoe and one hand was wrapped around him. I can't see anything forward, all I see was his hands on my wrist. I suppressed the sobs and my chest tightened. I could think of nothing else but to stop it all. I saw an unfamiliar car and he opened it. I didn't think to go in there and when the door slammed next to me my tears flowed even more.

"What's wrong?"

I caught my breath as he approached me. My lips trembled and I couldn't say anything. I shook my head slowly. I heard him cheap again. He's so near and locking me in my seat.

"Do we have a problem Ava?"

I bit my lips and told myself for the nth time to stop sobbing. I shook again. He groaned and his curses grew louder. Hellos shake my world at what he did. The engine roared and I look so dumb while looking back at the event we just left. No words came out of my mouth and when I stared at him I could almost feel the anger in his eyes. The veins on his hands in the steering wheel are popping because of the strong grip. I didn't say a word while the tears were still flowing.

I bent down in my dress with tiny crystals. I played with my hands, convincing myself that nothing had happened when I stopped crying. But, it seems that I have also betrayed myself. Tears wont stop as the car roll at his own speed. A few minutes passed and the car stopped. I heard him removed his seatbelt and came up to me again and locked me up again. He hold my chin and made me look at his eyes.

I can't imagine how miserable he sees me look now, the runaway hairs on me are already sticking to my face with so many of my tears. I think my tears disappeared even more when I felt his skin and saw his pleading eyes looking at me. He wiped my tears even though it was pointless.

"It's you're birthday, you're supposed to be happy."

He whispered and tried to shush my sobs. He sighed like a surrender, he removed my seat belt and he got out of the car. I did the same. He greeted me at the door as he scanned me. I put down my sandal and he immediately knelt down and helped me put it on. He got up back again and without a word his large hand claimed mine. His fingers wrapped around me and I couldn't take my eyes off it even though he was ahead of us on our walk.

We are in a parking lot and when we get in the elevator I felt him looked at me again. I bent down and looked at my feet, I could feel the warmth of his palm, it seemed to caress my cold heart. The elevator tinged and his manly posture trail down the long aisle.

We're on their hotel? With one hand he opened the far door using a card. Inside a strange smell enveloped, as if a man had stayed here for a long time. It smells minty and manly at the same time. He let go of my hands and he went to a door there.

This is almost the same with Lourd's unit, there's a large sofa, in front of it was the mini table and the TV. There's this bed too, but what makes it different is the wide mirror in his bedroom, I can almost see the whole center there. He got out so fast and held my hand again, he dressed me on the sofa and there silence enveloped us.

He wiped my tears away, he just stared at me for a few seconds before he spoke. Ava, don't forget the reason you are crying. He shifted on his seat, one of his hands on the back of the sofa behind me. While one of his hands gently caressed me. He sighed.

"Why did you bring me here?They will look for me."

His jaw tightened and his eyes darkened.

"Tell me what's the problem."

"I don't have a problem!"

"Uh-huh?"

I sobbed and narrowed my eyes at him. I have very little patience left and I don't want to get there. I want to leave him here, or I want him to leave me! His eyes turned soft again, they squinted and his finger quickly caught my tears. "

Baby, what is it? Tell me."

I closed my eyes to his tone,my eyes ache with tears. He wrapped his arms around me.

"You've been cold to me since the last 2 weeks. You won't answer my calls and reply to my texts, and now, I came back and the first thing I saw was your tears?"

I touched her dress and was very close to the pain I felt.

"Is it me Ava? Did you get tired of me?"

I immediately shook his chest soaked that he was now wet with my useless tears.

"My brother told me he saw you kissing that boy. Is that Ava? Did you realize that you don't like me?"

"No!"

I sobbed and slapped his arm as I sank into his chest.

"I didn't kiss Jomar!"

I slapped his chest steadily and he sucked it effortlessly.

"Stop lying."

"You're the liar! You said you like me but you have a girlfriend in Manila!"

His grip on my wrist loosen and his eyebrows meet in a flat line.

"Didn't you? When you said you were going to sleep, you two went out! Is that right? In the lounge?"

He tilted his head and look so confused on my words. He's still pretending!

"I'm sure you've been so long because of that!"

I cried more. I removed his hold on me and wiped away my own tears. From a confused eyes, I saw a hint of amusement in it.

"You promised me, you said you'll be back after 2 weeks!"

He licked his lips and now I'm sure what I see in his eyes is pure amazement.

"Molly Hampton! She's your girlfriend isn't she? She called and I read her texts to you!"

He was speechless and I saw the ghostly smile on his lips as he wet his lower lip and looked up. He cursed softly. He pulled me away, closing the space between us.

"I finished all my work so I could stay here longer and be with you. Sorry if I took so long."

His arms snaked around my waist. I repeatedly talked to myself to calm the fire I was feeling.

"I never went to lounge ever since I stepped on Manila. Molly is just a friend. Where did you get that news?"

"Liar! I saw the picture of him hugging you and just kissing you!"

"But did we kiss though?"

I was silenced by the tightness of his hold on me. Probably that's what happened! I looked at him badly. He chuckled.

"That photo was taken a year ago. As far as I can remember my supposed to be girlfriend was left here in Mar De Vena."

My heart beat went crazy. I half heartedly removed myself to him but he just put me back in his arms.

"Let go of me."

His eyes widened as he stared at me. He smiled a little. Why is this? Am I not mad at him but here he is and he takes me with his simple smiles!

"Is that all Ava? Is that the only reason for your tears?"

"I do not believe you."

He smiled with his tired eyes.

"And just when I thought you realize that this was all infatuation."

"Don't change the subject. Go back to Manila and-" He groaned.

My eyes automatically shut as I felt his lips brushed into mine. Butterflies flew everywhere. My anger seemed to disappear. His kiss was very soft and tender. It was just fast and I almost chased after his lip when he removed it from me. My eyes were drowsy and so was his.

"I'll let you talk to her if that's the thing that concerns you, but for now answer my questions."

He said with authority.

"Did you kiss that boy?"

"No!"

"But my brother saw it- "

"He didn't kiss me! He leaned me against the wall and he did nothing!"

I frustratedly said.

"Why do you sound dissapointed?"

"Don't turn the conversation around because you lied to me-"

He ignored it and I felt his lips again. I almost cursed at him at the speed of the kiss he awarded.

"So I'm the only who kissed you."

His thumb touched my lower lip. His voice was hoarse as he simultaneously caressed my waist.

"Of course, you're the one I want. Why should I just kiss my friend?"

His motion stopped and his eyes went a little wide. I bit my lip so hard.

"What did you say?" "W-which one?" I stuttered.

"Please baby," He begged.

"I-I like you .."

His smile went wide and he restrained it, the amusement on his eyes are clear. He stare at my eyes down to my lips.

"god damn it ..." he whispered and kissed me again.

This time it's a bit longer. His lips were tender, He parted my lips when I felt him suck the lower. I seemed to have a fever from the heat caused by his kisses. I can hear my chest pounding so loud. Dizzy at the successive touch of his lips.

I opened my eyes and I saw his eyes closed seemingly stunned by what he was doing, I returned the kisses he gave me. I lifted my hands and wrapped them around his neck. I grasped at his hair, and he stopped. We gasped as we stared at each other. His eyes were sharp and dangerous.

"Damn, stop fighting back." He groaned.

One lick at his lips and he's back again. The mad butterflies celebrated in my stomach. I'm so lost with all his touch, one of his hands is behind me while the other is catching my jaw. I moaned a bit when I felt his tongue twirled inside my mouth. He sucked my lips again and released me again. He sighed and looked up and seemed to have difficulty with what was happening. His eyes darkened as he stared at my lips.

"I'm the only one to kiss you. There's no one Ava."

his tone was husky while panting. I nodded to myself, not taking my gaze away from his lips. I brought myself closer to him. I did what he did to me, I touched his lower lip as I felt his gaze follow me.

"I'm the only one to kiss you too. Not Molly." I whispered.

He closed his eyes tightly and leaned back on the sofa. It seemed so hard and so exhausting that I couldn't understand. I looked at the little sweat on his forehead, his polo is almost half open, it's cold here so why is he sweating? I wiped his sweats with my hands.

He took my hands and went back to the way he had been before. He locked me up again.

"Fuck the waiting. You're mine, I'll be your boyfriend."

The one who calmed my heart went crazy. Boyfriend? She?

"I don't want to see you cry again. I want to have a stand in your life, no confusion, no limits. I'm all yours Ava. And you're mine."

I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes to what he said.