I didn't know if I should still tell him what happened and what I heard earlier at the convenience store if this is already his reaction upon knowing I went out briefly. He might yell at me and shoot me because of my stubbornness.
And besides, how will I obey him if he acts tough and demanding! He acts like a boss around me. I can't stomach that because I'm not used to being ordered around by a man. My father didn't even do that when he was still alive.
We ate there peacefully; I also gave him the energy drink I bought. Along with that was a medicine to somehow soothe the pain he felt from his wound. It might still be hurting, he's just not telling me that it is.
I am cleaning his wound again because it bled again from what he did earlier, sitting in his living room. I told him so, that sitting like that isn't good for his wound! He's just so stubborn!
"I can do it myself. You should take a rest and sleep here. I'll take the couch." He moved from his bed while holding my hand to stop me from helping him. We were already inside his room, because that's where I bandaged him so it would be easy for him to get into position when he's ready to sleep.
He's the one with the wound, yet I'm still the one he's worrying about? Can he just set aside his gentleman act just for his sake? It won't be good for him to act like this right now. It won't even benefit him.
I sighed and continued cleaning his wound, not minding the things he said. Every pressure I put on his wound, no reaction came out on his face. It must have gone numb since it's been several hours since he stitched his wound.
"You sleep here. The more comfortable you rest, the faster you heal," I pushed.
"No, that's bullshit. I won't let a woman sleep on my couch." He shook his head while adjusting his seat to leave because I had already bandaged his wound properly.
Just how stubborn is he? Doesn't he understand his situation? He's injured! That's why he should be the one making himself comfortable right now and not me! I can take care of myself. And also, what is his reason? Didn't he just have Penelope come here recently? Don't tell me he offered her his bed as well?
"So you'd rather let them sleep on your bed, is that it? You just exposed yourself, Villamor," I smirked and rolled my eyes at nothing because of the sudden irritation I felt.
This is the exact reason why I don't want to be with any man. They are so messy to be with and will only cause me headaches. Especially being with this man. I don't understand every emotion I feel when I'm talking to him.
"Exposed—" he uttered in shock while his eyes widened and his lips slightly formed a smirk, unable to believe what I said. "What?" he added.
"You bring women here and ask them to sleep on the bed with you," I uttered bitterly to him.
Even I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth. They are getting out of my lips unexpectedly, I didn't even really want to say those things. I'm just enveloped by an unknown emotion.
"No, that's not even my exact point here, Ensley. Your reasons are getting out of topic." He reached for my wrist which I immediately dodged because of my annoyance with him.
What did he say? Out of topic? But that cannot remove the fact, that is one of the scopes of letting girls here in his unit! A factor that he might offer that kind of favor.
"But that is possible," I raised my eyebrow while my arms were crossed in front of my chest. I also averted my gaze because I'm afraid that if I look at him for too long, I might suddenly give in to our argument.
This isn't even worth it to fight for. If you think about it, what other women do here should be nothing to me. It's his business, and not mine. I just really can't help but ask, maybe because of curiosity.
"Look, you're the only woman I bring home. I can assure you that." He caught my arms before letting his rough palms slide down to my wrists. With what he did, I couldn't help but look at him. My heart abnormally beats fast when his line of vision met mine. His forehead was creased, seemingly determined to make me believe what he said.
"W-what about Penelope?" I was surprised by the tone of my voice. It became gentle and no longer sounded irritated.
The heck?
I can't stop acting this way. I want to question him about what Penelope did here and why he still needed to have her come here to his unit? What's her business to gain the rights to come here? That being said, what is also my right to ask and come here? And it's not like she's a stranger to me, she's my friend.
"Ms. Dawson is just one of my acquaintances," he smiled before gently pulling me toward him and tapping the bed. Saying I should be the one to take the spot there.
I didn't answer his last statement anymore. I don't want to prolong our conversation even more because it won't lead anywhere anyway. He might even question me why I keep asking about her; if that happens I don't have any answer to give him. Because even I don't know why I'm acting like this.
At the end, we both ended up sleeping on the same bed. My reason was that it was big anyway, enough for two people to sleep. The only thing that's separating us are the two pillows placed between us.
"You're growing a beard, I see," I remarked when I turned toward his direction, lying on my stomach on my part of the bed. I gazed at the man beside me. He was just looking at his ceiling, seemingly deep in thought.
When he realized I was talking to him, he looked at me. He touched his chin, feeling the hairs I was referring to.
"Of course. What am I? A kid?" he responded to what I said as if what I uttered was a worthless statement.
"I just noticed it's getting long, look." I pointed at his chin.
"Really? Then, I'll look for a razor to shave it." He got up from his spot to go to his bathroom which was inside his room. I also helped him so his wound wouldn't get strained. He might bleed again if he isn't careful again.
He stayed inside for a while. I actually thought he had finished shaving because of how long it took, but I almost giggled when he came out frowning and scratching his head. Failed in what he planned to do inside his bathroom.
"Guess I'll just do it tomorrow." He took off the robe he was wearing before slowly lying down. He even turned his back to my direction when he noticed I was watching his every move.
"Right now. I saw a pair of tweezers in your living room." I pulled his arm to make him lie down properly.
"Tweezers? Isn't that for girls to use?" he asked irritably. He was looking at me again while his forehead was creased. His right hand was placed at the side of his head while his elbow was resting comfortably on his pillow.
Is this person real? Or is he just that rich that he hasn't used tweezers yet? I can't believe that the great Atty. Villamor is lowkey a sexist. I couldn't help but smirk, thinking of the joke that I have thought. Upon seeing my reaction, he's already raising an eyebrow questioning why I am smiling to myself.
"You have that tool in your house but you don't know what it is?" I asked while suppressing the widening of my smile.
He might kick me out of his unit later if I annoy him further. I've been asking him all sorts of things earlier, it's a good thing he doesn't get fed up with the things I say and ask.
"My friends often leave things here, especially Rafa." He let out a breath from his lungs while his eyes were closed.
If that's the case, his friends come here often too. But the only one I've seen coming back and forth to this condo is Kiefer. I've probably only seen Axel and Rafa come here once or twice.
"You see Mr. Villamor, tweezers can be used by both genders," I explained.
"Isn't that fucking painful?" he asked me with a frown.
When he finally agreed to use the tweezers, I immediately grabbed the tool I spotted in the living room. At first, it seemed like he was changing his mind about plucking his small beard hairs. But I was just so insistent, so he had no choice but to indulge me.
"Fucking hell! Easy! Do you have a grudge against me?" he uttered in annoyance when I plucked a hair again, I lost count of which one it was.
We were both sitting in an Indian seat position on his bed now. While he was slightly looking up to give me a good angle of his chin, my gaze was focused there, which is why our faces were close.
"You quickly assume things. And besides, when you get hit by a bullet, you have no complaints, but with this simple plucking you have so much to say," I looked at him while maintaining my position. I was holding his chin to keep him looking up.
"I'd rather be shot than this! I'm done!" he slightly pushed me to make us stop.
It's a good thing there were only a few left that I hadn't plucked, in case he really wanted to stop what I was doing to him. It really is painful, especially if he isn't really used to that method.
"Oh really? Should I shoot you now?" I asked, which was returned with a sharp look from the man in front of me. "Just kidding," I joked.
Our teasing lasted for a while before he let me finish what I was plucking. I was even smiling because he kept closing his eyes with every pluck I made, clearly just enduring it.
We finished with him frowning while lying back in his spot on the bed. He keeps holding his chin, seemingly still in pain from the plucking done to it. Sometimes, he can really look like an ordinary person. Not intimidating.
I can't believe that this man right here is facing a lot of problems right now. He even caught a bullet just for me when we were trying to escape.
"Woman," he called to me after letting out a heavy breath.
I blinked twice before looking at him. He was also facing me, waiting for me to answer him even though my attention was already on him.
"Hmm?" I said while slightly smiling. He averted his gaze again, directly facing the ceiling of his room before placing his left arm over it.
Here is my heart again, getting riled up just because of that swift eye contact. The man beside me didn't do anything else but catch my attention to say something.
"Trust me whatever solution I come up with. Just go with it even if it'll look like it's selfish," he said while his position didn't change, which is why my attention shifted to his red lips.
His jaw clenched when his lips formed into a thin line. I looked away. It feels like it's forbidden to be this up close and freely be able to look at him like this.
At first, I didn't understand what he was saying. When I saw how serious he had become, that's when I realized what he was referring to. He's asking me to be protected in his own way.
I shouldn't be that picky when someone is willing to help.
"Isn't that why I'm here on your side right now? I trust you to the point that I can sleep beside you like this."
Besides, if he's planning something bad for me, he should have chased me down a long time ago. And he is known as a good lawyer, who fights for justice, so he has a good image before it was tarnished by the Salazars.
So when we finished talking to go to sleep, I couldn't help but hope and pray that I wouldn't be taken out of this world yet. I want to be with him, to be on his side as the fight goes on. I want to support him, just like what he did to me during the time that I'm facing mine.
I woke up with Perseus no longer by my side. At first, I was nervous because I thought I had returned to my world, but I also immediately realized I hadn't because of the room's design I saw.
I went out of the room to go straight to the kitchen and cook breakfast for the both of us, Perseus and me. I noticed that it was still early, about 7 am in the morning. I figured he wouldn't be able to cook properly because of the wound he sustained last night.
I stopped before turning to the kitchen when I heard voices coming from the living room. Before you could reach his kitchen, you would pass the living room of his condo unit. That's why any little noise coming from the kitchen or the living room can be heard in both spots.
"For me to protect her, she needs to be tied to me first," I heard Perseus utter.
I was puzzled by that because I didn't understand what he was saying. Does he want me to marry him? But I'm not a person who will just get married just because it was suddenly thought of. I want to be married to the person I like and love. Not in this way.
"What?! Aren't you putting her in even more danger with that? You're drawing their attention to her more!" I heard Rafa say.
I didn't immediately approach them. I want to hear what they're about to debate and to see their reactions about it, especially the things he will say and his reaction. Everything that they'll discuss and his every reaction.
"I think she's right, Patrinus. She could be in more danger if she entered our family," Axel uttered with a frown.
They were all gathered while only Axel and Kiefer were standing. Axel was leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, facing Kiefer. Meanwhile, Kiefer was standing beside Perseus, arms crossed.
The friend they were lecturing was just sitting in a single sofa there, leaning back while his two hands were resting on both armrests of the chair. He's still wearing only the robe from last night, exposing the gauze on his lower side. The only person that I cannot see properly is Rafa, because he is facing away from me, probably because he's positioned on the long sofa.
"I am the reason why the Lobos are targeting her. It's my fault because I asked her to dine with me publicly," Perseus uttered while looking up, eyes closed and massaging both temples with one hand.
"Let's just not oppose him. He knows what he's doing, and he's the only one to be followed anyway," Kiefer said seriously. He was standing there with a frown and seemed to be deep in thought as well.
His friends couldn't speak immediately because it seemed like what Kiefer said was right. This is also the first time I saw Kiefer quiet and serious, seemingly not the man I usually talk to and joke with whenever I see or pass by him.
I couldn't stop myself from speaking because a lot of things were entering my mind. Is it okay with Perseus to be married to someone he doesn't love? He can go through these lengths just to protect an acquaintance?
"Wait, why is it necessary to be tied to you before you lend a hand?" I walked toward their spot. Their heads turned my way immediately as soon as I spoke. Their expressions were shocked, except for his. It seemed like he knew I had been standing there and listening for a while.
Axel sighed before answering me, "It's against the rules to help anyone that is not part of the family."
"What family? Is that the Zadkiel? And what rule?" I asked in confusion.
"How did you know about the Zadkiel?" Perseus turned to me with a shocked reaction that was immediately replaced by anger. His jaw was clenching while his gaze deepened and darkened. "Never mind, you'll know about it, but not now," he added before looking away.
Am I going to continue looking like a fool here? Having no knowledge of what's happening? This makes me feel so useless and defenseless. Is this his way of protecting me? Making me feel like this?
"No. I don't want to be like this anymore, a useless one that makes me feel like a hindrance!" I approached Perseus's spot.
"Really, Ensley. Just do as I say. If you obediently do the things I told you to, there will be no problem," Perseus uttered, looking very troubled.
This is how it always goes! I can't read him because of his quick mood changes. If last night he was easy to talk to, now I can't understand him because he's acting like a jerk again.
"But, is it bad to ask—" I looked to the side because I couldn't fight the heaviness of his stares. I saw from the corner of my eyes that his three friends were looking at the two of us.
It seems like their friend's thoughts are not light either.
"You said you trust me, right?" Perseus.
"I do. But is it forbidden for me to know first what is happening? I've been so scared since last night because someone is lurking around the condo! I even encountered two of them!" I suddenly blurted out the thing I didn't actually plan to let him know.
I just want to know what is happening. Is that bad? Isn't it better if they let me know the events? Now that they are gathered in front of me, I couldn't help but state my thoughts.
It seemed like a storm passed through his eyes. They are dark and cold, piercing through me. It sent shivers to my spine that my heart couldn't handle.
"What the fuck did you say?" he uttered with emphasis on every word spoken. He stood up from his seat, which was the reason why I immediately stepped back because of his approach. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?! This is the exact reason why I asked you to stay here last night! To not leave! But look what you did! You almost put your feet on a quick fucking sand!" he stared intently into my eyes. His eyes are filled with irritation and his lips are on a thin line.
Is it my fault? I know my situation now, I just want to know what I got into!
"That's enough. You guys aren't even married yet and you're already fighting." Kiefer stopped us. He positioned himself in our middle to separate us. His hand was resting on Perseus's shoulder, which was also immediately brushed off by the latter.
What did he say? Married? Where the heck did that come from? Are we really getting married?
Perseus sighed while his two hands were on his waist, causing the robe he was wearing to be slightly lifted.
"Did you clear the surroundings? Penelope told me last night that enemies might be lurking the area," Perseus uttered to Axel before taking a stick of cigarette from the table there and shamelessly lighting it in front of us.
"Yes, every single one outside the condominium," answered the friend he questioned. He straightened up before approaching Perseus and showing him something on his phone.
"Good," he flicked the cigarette before putting it back to his lips. "Carson, escort her to her unit. It should be safe for her, even just for the meantime." He then turned to the friend who was also just observing the events.
I remembered the two men I encountered at the store last night. The nervousness and fear I felt after I encountered those men seemed to come back to me. They are plotting something about me!
"Can't I just stay here for a while? What if some of them are left?" I said fearfully.
"You just heard Axel. He cleared the area." He puffed out smoke after taking a hit from his cigarette and placed the hand with the cigarette on his forehead. His eyes were closed while his forehead was slightly creased. It's like he's forcing himself to calm down.
"Is this your way of protecting me?" I asked tearfully.
If this is his way, then isn't this just another way of hurting me? I am scared for myself! I may have trust in him, but not in the people around us. Anytime, a stranger can come at me and kill me.
"Yes, so don't question the things I do. Just follow my orders before I tell them to drag you out." He blew smoke in my face and walked away from me while his left hand was on his waist and the other was at his lips. Preparing for his next hit.
I coughed at what he did. He really has no manners! What if inhaling cigarette smoke is bad for me? He doesn't even know if I have a condition or not!
Last night he was still fine, why is he treating me like this now? Is his anger toward me that grave for him to act like this? This is the reason why I didn't tell him that!
"Come on, Serafina. Let's give him some peace of head." He gently pulled me to move from where I was standing.
"It's peace of mind, Kiefer," Rafa chimed in before we completely got near the unit door.
"Lol, you're annoying. Didn't you know that's my version?" Kiefer rolled his eyes at his friend who was teasing him.
Even though the two joked, I couldn't bring myself to laugh because of my annoyance with their friend. I looked at him before leaving his unit, he didn't even look at me as I left! He's just sitting on his couch, looking at his phone!
While walking toward my room, I couldn't help but keep thinking about that man. One time he's good but later he'll act like a douche! He's so confusing to understand! And he even makes me feel that he's my boss!
"Don't think about him anymore. He just worried about you," Kiefer uttered while his hands were in his pockets. We were walking slowly, even though my unit was at the end of this hallway.
"But he doesn't need to be a jerk," I couldn't help but say using an irritated tone.
Kiefer laughed out loud. I think it even reached the other side before he spoke again, "He's really like that. If you ask me, that's his normal behavior." He uttered with a shake of his head while smiling. "Be surprised if he starts to be soft around you. Because that isn't him."
We talked more there about different things. Like what is happening to my business and to him. We talked about a lot of things so I didn't notice that we were already in front of my unit.
"Thanks, Kiefer," I said goodbye to him when we arrived in front of the door.
"It's nothing. Mr. P ordered it so it had to be done," he answered.
There it is again, making it sound like every order from Perseus must be done. What is up with them that they act like this? They are treating him like he's the boss when in fact they have their own businesses that they also run.
Is this related to Zadkiel? What really is this?
"Still, thank you," I pushed.
He nodded, which I immediately returned with a smile because I had nothing else to say besides gratitude.
I was about to enter the door of my unit when Kiefer suddenly stopped me from entering, "What is it?" I replied.
"Don't open the door, especially if you aren't expecting a visitor to arrive," he uttered seriously while looking at me.
After several seconds of me not answering, he backed away to be able to return to his friend's unit. "Alright, go inside or someone might get paranoid if I stay here longer," he smiled before turning his back and waving.
I'm the one who's probably going to get paranoid because of what he said. They'll leave me here alone, after warning me about my surroundings.
If only father were here, maybe I could endure this somehow. But he's not here, and I have to face these things on my own. So I have decided to not think about my father in that way, to refrain myself from being hurt.
So I stayed there for several hours, conditioning myself to turn my back on the thing I need to let go of.