“You want to eat here, or we will just take out?” he asked as soon as he stopped the car.
I roamed my eyes around the food house in front of us. I thought it was a fancy restaurant when seen from afar. Uniquely served for students like me. I even saw some of my schoolmates with their groups entering here.
“Take out.”
He nodded. “Wait for me, I’ll buy your favorite.”
He went out of his car after and immediately entered the restaurant. I was following him a look when my mind flashback to what I saw in the parking lot earlier. The scene intrigued me to ask my sister about it, but Denver remind me to let her.
It’s not that surprising if I see her in this place. She only has two reasons to do that. It’s either she has modeling works to do here, or she’s visiting someone. Perhaps me. She’s liberated too, which means she’s fine with skinship.
I sighed. I don’t know why I am overthinking this kind of thing. I am worried over nothing. But I just can’t let that thought live in my mind. I should ask her or else, I’ll get sick with this trail of thoughts.
I was about to fish out my phone when a ringtone caught my attention. Denver’s phone was on the dashboard, and it rang for a few seconds before it ended. I saw the caller’s name: Sean.
I check it and the phone rings again. My hand was a bit shaking but I manage to answer the caller. An eerie silence followed by a gunshot made me shriek too much.
“Denver?” the caller mumbled before a gunshot was fired again. I heard him winced in pain but he still manages to continue talking. “Dude, I got their information. Jur—”
“Who’s that?”
A voice thundered in front of me that I threw back the phone at the driver's seat. Denver was leaning on the car’s door near mine. I held out my breath when he got his phone before talking with the caller. His eyes were piercing which is enough for me to shiver in my place.
He closed the car’s door beside me before he walked to the driver’s seat. As he enters, our eyes locked with each other, and I can’t read what’s on his mind. He looks mysterious, especially with the glint on his gray orbs.
“Okay. Thanks, dude. Take care.”
He ended the call before he threw his phone back at the dashboard. He sighed heavily and leaned his back and head on the seat before he closed his eyes. He blew a few deep breaths as if he was calming himself.
“I-I heard gunshots.”
His eyes immediately darted at me. His brow furrowed and his jaws clenched. “You do?”
I nodded. “Who’s the caller? Is that Elijah?”
“You okay?” he asked instead. He roamed his eyes on my face before he sighed and looked away. “I have an emergency.”
“I understand.” I kept a smile on my face even though my body trembled with the sudden sounds I heard. I looked down and saw the paper bag with the food he bought. I got it from him and didn’t look back. “Let’s eat this at home.”
“Okay,” he mumbled before he started the engine and drove back to his condo unit.
We immediately got to Madrigal Towers in just a few minutes. I can sense that he can’t be with me tonight that’s why I will eat alone. After he drove me to his condo unit, he left immediately.
I prepared the food myself in the dining room. I ate the few meals he bought and saved some for him. He maybe comes back at midnight or tomorrow. I took a bath after and decided to answer my lacked subjects to past time. It was already ten in the evening when I received a message from Kian.
Kian:
Can I call?
Me:
Okay.
Seconds after, I answered his call. He was silent at first before I heard a sound of confetti from his line. It was followed by his chuckle.
“I heard that you’re married now.” I can feel the excitement in his voice. I furrowed when I realized what he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked. I didn’t tell anyone about this, not even my sister. I kept it a secret from them as per Denver’s request.
“I’ve searched your name in my father’s database and your surname was already registered as Velasquez.” He managed to say that as if it was not a big deal. “It just feels suspicious, Sha.”
“It is?”
“Yup, whoever made this knows a lot… of stuff.”
My forehead creased as I did not understand what he meant by that.
“You sure your husband’s a good guy, Sha?” he asked. “I don’t feel that vibes on him.”
“Did you meet him already, Kian?” I curiously asked.
“Not a single encounter with him.”
“Don’t judge him too easily.”
He went silent for a moment before he sighed. “I’m sorry. Just kinda worried about you. Maybe I missed you too?”
I chuckled. “It has just been days.”
“I know…” He mumbled something I didn’t understand. “Just be safe, hmm?”
“I’ll be fine.” A smile crept on my lips. He asked me about how my first day have been and I told him everything except for Denver leaving. I don’t want my friend to worry knowing that he’s far from me. He’s like an older brother who’s much protective of his younger sister.
“That Harold seems nice, I guess?”
“I think so. He’s softspoken and easy to be with.”
“Glad to know you’re comfortable with him,” he mumbled. “And about your sister. Don’t ask her about what you saw, I think?”
“Why?”
“She must be dating, and it happened that you saw them.”
“She likes someone else, Kian,” I uttered with a low voice. It reminded me of how my sister always talked to that guy to me. How she likes him despite not reciprocating her feelings.
“I know, but that ‘someone’ doesn’t even want her. Do you think your sister will still wait for him?”
“Still…”
“Just don’t open it up on her, hmm?” His husky voice occupied my ear. I closed my eyes as I tried to convince myself not to indulge in my sister’s life.
“Okay,” I mumbled. I sighed and I heard Kian's low chuckle in the other line. He knew that he won the argument. “But Kian?”
“What?”
“Don’t tell anyone about my marriage yet… Please?”
I heard him move based on the idle sound. He didn’t speak for a few seconds as if he was thinking about what he should answer. I waited for it but instead, I got a question.
“He told you to keep it a secret?” I don’t know why but his tone became serious. I nodded even though I can’t see him. “You let him, Sharmienne?”
“He has plans for this, Kian.” I kept my hold on the phone as I waited for his response, but I got nothing that’s why I continued. “He doesn’t want this that’s why he’s asking me to cooperate with this.”
He breathed heavily. “I knew this would happen.”
“Kian…”
“You can save your father’s company without them, Sha. Trust me.”
He sounds so sure, but it didn’t give me the assurance that I wanted. Besides, I’m already tied with Denver and there is no other way but to get their help. I can’t back out now.
“And I also trust my husband, Kian.”
“If you need help, just call me.” He said that with a stern voice. He faked a cough before he managed to continue what he said. “And don’t bother your family first, especially your sister. Just enjoy your stay with your husband.”
“Thank you, Kian.”
He ended the call after I said that. My eyes darted at the door and noticed Denver leaning his back on the doorframe and with arms folded. He looks so serious while looking at me. He walked in my direction. I hitched my breath when he stopped a few inches away from my face.
“Denver…”
“It’s very frustrating to hear you call another guy’s name,” he whispered in my ear yet it felt like I was electrified by his tone. “Kian, huh?”
I stared at him and instantly noticed the bruised near his eyebrows down to his eyes. I was about to touch his face when he caught my wrist and pinned it down on the mattress, causing my whole body to lay down against it. His body was on mine and its warmth send an unknown feeling to me. His face was too close that our noses touched. And before I could utter a word and push him, I already felt his lips crash into mine.