“Denver…”
My arms were wrapped around his waist as he hugged me. I was holding the hem of his shirt. I don’t why I am nervous about being too close to him. But at the same time, I also feel comfortable with his embrace. It felt warm. A kind of embrace I never expected I needed, especially since it was Denver who did this.
He was the one who hugged me. I don’t understand myself why it was a big deal to me. Does it because he’s the one I like? All I know is that I will cherish this moment. That once in my life, a Denver Velasquez once cared and comforted me. That would be enough for me.
“You should go inside my room. It’s late already,” he said. I nodded and moved backward. I didn’t look up to him. I heard him sigh before he lifts my chin and meet my eyes. “You want to talk about it?”
I shook my head as I stared at his gray eyes. They were as if reading through mine. I kept my gaze, and I just felt my heart beating so fast just looking at him.
“I’m fine. I was just carried away.” I showed him a smile and he just nodded, still not convinced. He tapped my shoulder and caressed my cheeks.
“Good night, then,” he uttered before he steps back and went straight to the kitchen. I followed him a look before I found myself going to his bedroom. I immediately did my thing before I went to the bed.
I sighed as I remember what my mother said. ‘Make her proud.’ It should be enough, right? It should be fine with me. At least, she’s not mad or what. We had a normal conversation. Once in her life, she didn’t look at me with anger in her eyes. And that should be enough for me. I just expected too much that I got disappointed with it.
A knock interrupted me from my waves of thoughts. Denver showed up behind the door while holding a glass of milk in his left hand and used the other hand to open the door. I smiled sadly as I saw him enter and closed the door behind him. He walked towards the bed and put the glass on the bedside table. He sighed as he glanced at me.
“What did your mother tell you?” he asked. I saw how his eyes lingered on my sleeve shirt before I met his gray orbs.
“You don’t need to know,” I mumbled. I can’t tell him that.
“Okay.” He sighed. “I booked a flight, and it will be on tomorrow.”
“What about my school?”
“You will continue in C.H.U.”
I nodded. I need to adjust to my new school. It will be difficult, but I hope not as hard as I imagined it to be.
“Thank you, Den-I mean, Mr. Velasquez.”
He pursed his lips. “Drink your milk... Good night.”
I smiled before I follow what he said. I finished it immediately and Denver stood up. He took the glass from me.
“Good night.”
He nodded once and sighed again before he took his way to the door and left the room. I sighed. Why are you treating me like this, Denver? I thought you hate me? If you continue doing this, I might fall harder and can't help myself anymore.
I WAS ALREADY PREPARED when I took my way downstairs. I saw Denver on his black long sleeve shirt and white pants. He looks so dashing with his gray hair, he looks like a Korean artist who came out from military training.
“Let’s go.” He carried our luggage as we took the elevator. When we were already in the lobby, I saw a white van in front of the Condominium Tower. We both entered after Denver put our thing at the back. I smiled at the driver who just nodded at me. He looks handsome to be our driver though. And I think he’s a snob too.
Denver sat beside me as we were on the road. He looks sleepy as his eyes have black under them. He yawned and the driver also noticed it. I furrowed when the driver chuckled.
“Shut up, Elijah,” Denver muttered as he leaned his back.
“I didn’t say anything, dude.” I can hear him chuckling that I didn’t know how to react to that.
“You’re friends?” I carefully asked. Denver nodded once before he closed his eyes. While the driver just furrowed his brows and focus on driving. Why did his friend with us?
It was an hour and a half drive towards the airport. I was just looking at the places we’re passing by as if memorizing them piece by piece. It was a silent drive until Denver leaned his head on my shoulder and his hair felt ticklish on my right cheek. My heart hammered rapidly that it almost bothered me. I felt like my breath hitched with that. Just a simple touch from him made me nervous throughout the trip.
I massage my nape when we got to the airport. The driver who drove us talked to Denver for a while before he glanced at me. I saw him shook his head at Denver and the latter took a glimpse at me. I just look away until I felt my hand already holding Denver’s arm.
“Don’t get away from my sight. You’ll get lost.” I was still holding his arm when he removes my hand. He wrapped it on my waist instead. I hitched my breath with that gesture. I can feel his body heat against mine.
“Dude, you’re scaring her.” Said the driver who’s in front of us. He has a smirk plastered on his lips while looking at us.
“Tsk.”
When we boarded on the plane, I was amazed at how calm Denver was while I was still next to him. It’s my first time riding a plane and I’m nervous right now. Denver saw my face looks pale and his eyes stared longer at me. The driver also glanced at me who is beside the window. He looks confused too.
“First time?” Denver asked and I nodded. I leaned my back on my chair and calmed myself down. I bit my lips as I felt my heart beating fast again. “Hold my hand, Sharmienne.”
“H-huh?” I asked, a bit unsure. “N-no… I’m okay.”
“You look pale already.” The driver muttered that Denver hissed at him.
I just closed my eyes when the plane started to lift off. It made a weird sound before it went up. I kept reminding myself to calm down until I fell asleep. But before I dazed off, Denver holds my hand and didn’t let go of it. I just woke up with Denver’s hand caressing my cheek. I felt my head on his shoulder. I look up only to see people already going out. I stood up and Denver also did the same.
“Elijah’s already outside.”
I nodded before we both go out off the plane. I saw the flight attendant giving Denver a second look. I was a bit sleepy, but I manage to glance at Denver who was behind me. He didn’t seem to notice the flight attendant giving him a look.
“At last. You’re here!”
Someone exclaimed that it literally almost jumped my heart out. A man beside the driver waved his hand at us. I glanced at Denver if he knows that guy. He hissed at them, but a smirk was evident on his lips. We took our way to them when that man’s eyes lingered on me. He has a curious look on his lips.
“You are?”
“S-sharmienne Golieza.”
“Oh! You are his-“
“Daniel.” Denver stopped him with a warning tone. Daniel just shook his head before he held out his hand for a handshake. I took it and timidly smiled at him.
“I’m Daniel Luis Saavedra.”
“Nice to meet you, Daniel.”
“Likewise.” He grinned. “You must know Elijah already?” He said and glance at the driver. I shook my head. “Oh.”
“Elijah Dela Fuente.” He said and I just nod. He looks intimidating with his green eyes. I can’t keep my eyes longer on him.
“William needs you, bro,” Daniel said to Denver and the latter nodded. “He wants an update.”
“I can’t even find 'him',” Denver said as he pulled me away from them. His friends followed him. I curiously look for our luggage, but Daniel had already taken it.
“That Hart is really a pain in the ass,” Elijah muttered with an annoyed look. They keep on talking while I can’t even understand a thing. They are mentioning names that are unfamiliar to me. Until one name got my attention.
“Verlieno, Arevalo, Fontilla, Santiago, Forthaliez…” Elijah continued but Denver already stopped when we got out of the airport. He looked back at his friend. “The others are not yet traced. They will be the target, Roque.”
Roque? Is that a name?
“I’ll see what I can do about it,” Denver said. Elijah nodded before he handed the keys to Denver. “Thanks. I’ll go to HQ later. I need to fix something.”
“Her?” Elijah glanced at me before he flashed a smirk. Daniel who’s already beside him chuckled.
“Good luck, dude. Better explain it to her.”
Denver shook his head before we left them and entered a black car. Denver will drive and I am in the passenger seat. I waved my hand at his friends which they waved back. Denver maneuvered the car and silence eventually enveloped us.
I want to ask if he knows the Forthaliez family because his friend mentioned it earlier. It is Kian’s surname. I don’t know if they had already met, and I didn’t even tell Kian about him. All I said to him is that my soon-to-be husband was a Velasquez. Maybe they already met. Kian is from a well-known family who owned numerous businesses in Manila City. He just chose to stay in Cebu City because my sister recommended the C.H.U to him. That’s why we also know each other.
“What’s bugging your mind, young lady?”
I immediately glanced at him with a shocked look. “H-huh?”
“Are my friends okay with you?” he asked. I nodded.
“They look nice,” I mumbled. “Elijah’s a bit intimidating with the way he looks, and Daniel is friendly.”
He chuckles. “Elijah’s heartbroken right now. His fling just left him.”
“Oh. He’s a playboy?” I asked. I saw him a nod but still with a smirk curved on his lips. “How about you?”
“About me what?”
“Are you a playboy?” I suddenly asked. His smirk faded and seriously look at me. I timidly smiled at him. He didn’t dare to answer me and focused his eyes on the road, leaving me with too many thoughts and my question unanswered.