Chapter 7

Owen insisted he will take me home, and I thought he already knows the church is the
term “home” when we passed by the establishment. I tighten my grip around Owen’s
waist and shouted, “Just in the church, Owen!”
“No!” he yelled back.
My heart beats erratically. Shit. This is not good. I only sneaked out in our mansion, but
well… if he’ll just drop me off near the road, then it will be alright. I really hope so.
Cold air kissed my skin. Owen gave me his black leather jacket. It smells good, just like
him. It was my second time hopping on his motorbike, and my blood boils in excitement.
My heart finally eases when he parked the motorbike near our mansion.
He has common sense, that’s a relief.
I sighed while giving him back his pink helmet. Then, I smiled and said, “Thanks.”
He didn’t respond. I saw him looking at our mansion, so I followed his gaze, too. My
heart skips a beat when I saw it.
Damn it.
I’m doomed.
Maids were scattered around the house. I could see their silhouettes on the second
floor. Guards were roaming outside with their flashlights on. I was lucky Owen parked
his motorbike under the shade of the big narra tree. They won’t see us, I guess.
However, a loud beep of a familiar raptor made me jump on my place. Owen and I
shared a look before staring at the horrified and bloodshot eyes of my boyfriend,
Zachary.
I froze.
My lungs started sucking out the air out of me when Zach marched from his raptor and
his fist landed on Owen’s cheek.
“Zach!” I shrieked. My heart was beating so fast when the two started punching each
other’s faces. Owen stumbled on his feet, and Zach was now on top of him, throwing
punches on his face and guts.
“Zachary!” I screamed at the top of my lungs and tried to hug his waist to calm him
down.
“You motherfucker - “ Zach punched Owen again, and this time, it was so hard I could
see Owen spitting blood from his mouth. “Oh my God! No!” I yelled and face my
boyfriend, putting both of my hands on his cheeks. “Calm down. I can explain…” my
voice was shaking in the end.
There are noises around, but Zachary and I lock our gaze as someone tried to lift him
up from Owen. I saw tears on his face as he look at me, and down to Owen.
“You are better than this, Angelic…” he whispered. Guilt. Hurt. Pain. I felt all of those
mixed emotions when I saw him crying even though he tried to hide it. His jaw clenched
and he sniff. “You stink. You’re disgusting. I never knew you’re a hussie.”
His words were like knives that stabbed on my chest, especially the word ‘hussie.’ My
lips parted in awe and shock, but I didn’t cry. I don’t want him to know he hurt me even
though my expression already said so.
“I’m a… I’m a – what?” I asked, whispering at him.
“You’re a whore, Angelic. A filthy whore.”
That’s it. That’s all it takes to slap him on both cheeks. His jaw clenched even more, and
I saw him spitting blood. I gave him a glare and cold stare. He laughs and his eyes
flickered with anger.
“What is happening!” my mother’s voice bolted in the area. She was wearing her usual
sleeping attire, and daddy was beside her. “Angelic!” she yelled and hugged me tight.
“Where have you been? We were looking for you! I thought you were kidnapped!”
There was frustration and relief in my mother’s voice. When she pull out from me, I saw
her eyes darting at Owen who, I didn’t notice, is now standing and trying to hop on his
motorbike.
Pain flooded on my chest when I saw him. I look at him, trying to catch his eyes at me,
but he won’t. He just hop on his motorbike, but before he could leave, Zachary’s voice
thundered. “Lacoste,” he said his name, pronouncing every bit of it with satisfaction.
Owen turn his head at him and glare. My mother gasped when she saw blood from
Owen’s mouth. “Oh no! What happened to you, boy?”
“It’s nothing, ma’am,” he whispered and look away from my mother. Shit. What the hell
is Zach’s plan? I look at Zach in pleading eyes. Please, please, just leave him alone. He
didn’t do anything! I was the one at fault in this!
“Zachary, did you punch this boy?” My mother asked, and now she looks suspicious
when she saw me. “Yeah,” Zach answered and snatch my wrist.
“Why?” my dad already indulge in the conversation. “Because I told him to drop her off
before eight thirty. The fucker doesn’t understand basic numbers.”
“Wait, you knew Angelic sneak out – “ My mother stop talking when Zachary already
drag me out of the scene. His hands on my wrist is too tight I know it would mark the
next day.
I let him drag me out from there. He throws his car keys to the security guard and we
went inside our mansion.
“Prepare the lady’s bath.” His voice thundered to the bowing maids in line, and all of
them nodded at him. He uses his authority in our mansion because he knows his place.
We went inside my room, and the three maids in uniform started preparing the bath tub.
Zachary throws me on the bed. “Strip.”
I look away and crosses my arms on my chest. “No.”
“Don’t make me,” his voice is calm now, “and you’re going to follow my orders from now
on.”
“Why didn’t you tell my parents about Owen?”
“Because I know you will loathe me.”
“I already am, with what you were doing right now.”
“You don’t like Owen. I am the only boy in your heart and mind. He is just a phase to
you, Angelic.”
“How did you know about phase, Zachary?”
His jaw clenched and when he step forward, eyes glittering with anger, I know I should
shut the fuck up right now. My breathing hitched when his fingers traced my chin gently,
but turns sharp as he tilted it upwards to face him. “I know very well of that, Angelic.
Now strip and let me bath you. I don’t want to touch you while your hands probably
around Lacoste’s arms wherever the fuck you’ve been.”
I took a deep breath. Every words he omitted made my body shakes in alarm. He knows
how to handle me well when he’s angry. And I don’t have a say with the situation
because I was the one at fault.
He stands firmly when I started stripping my clothes. I started with my leather jacket,
crap top, my underpants, and my skirt. He nodded the leather jacket to the maid. “Burn
it.”
I gasped.
He knows it was from Owen.
His eyes flickered with disgust as he saw the maid putting the jacket on a small basket.
Someone gave Zachary a bathrobe, and he summoned me to stand so he could wrap
the bath robe around my naked body.
Ever since we’re a child, Zach and I already took a bath together. He already seen me
naked, and it wasn’t uncomfortable… not until tonight. I feel disgusted with the way his
body scanned me. I dipped onto the bath the maids prepared for me and sink on it,
letting the foam wash clean my body.
Zachary strip himself and push his body at my back.
We fell silence.
He grab the soap and started cleaning my back, harshly.
“Did he touch you?” he asked. I remember Owen kissing my neck down to my throat,
and I still feel the tingles in my system.
“No,” I answered.
“Did you let him touch you?”
“No.”
“How many times you go out with him?”
“Thrice.”
“You know it won’t happen again, right?” he whispered in my ears with utter dominance.
“You know what will happen to Owen, right?” he said, and it was like he was spitting
venom. Damn. “Please don’t hurt him…” I begged, shutting my eyes, and waiting for a
harsh reaction from him, but he didn’t hurt me.
“I can’t say,” Zach whispered nonchalantly. “The guy has a lot of men in his hands.”
I don’t know but what he said relieves me.
“But you know what? Since you’re pleading me,” he whispered and I let a painful gasp
when he bit my ears that I felt the blood dripping down on it, “I will kill him,” he said, and
my world stop rotating.
“Please… Zach, it doesn’t matter. You’re only wasting your time.” I tried to keep on
explaining him but he’s hard-headed and he decides what he wants, not what I want.
“You were wasting your time too, asking information at him. You think I didn’t know?”
I fell silent. I don’t know what I will do after this. The night passed by, leaving me with
heavy eyebags and puffy eyes. I cried. Not because of Zachary, but because of Owen.
Owen. Owen. My boyfriend sounds serious when he said he is going to kill him.
Zach will tell his father about it, and it will be out of hand if he will do it personally. I have
to do something.
“Angelic?” Natasha tried to hold her laughter when she saw me flipping off my
sunglasses in school. “What happened to you face?” she asked, but her voice is serious
and concerned now. I didn’t answer her.
I look around to see if people are looking at me weirdly. What happened last night will
surely a hot issue – if anyone leaked it, of course. But watching my schoolmates in
normal state. The same jealousy face while looking at us, same rolling of eyes, same
admiration of us. I sighed. No one dared to spread a rumor.
That’s a relief, because it would surely be a head ache.
“A cockroach bite my eyes,” was all I said to Natasha’s curious face. I started walking
and she was laughing beside me. Her eyes still searching on my face with serious
answer. I stop and look at Natasha. “Please, Nat… I’m not in the mood.”
“Okay! Fine!” She sighed and snatch my wrist, “but your relationship with Zach is okay,
right? I’ve always heard Matthew speaking ill about him, telling me he’s been too drunk
these days.”
Smiling at Natasha, I nodded. “Good,” was all she answered at me.
The following days, I tried to return my normal relationship with Zach. He seems distant
and is always busy. When I ask his whereabouts, he won’t tell me. Natasha noticed, but
didn’t dare to ask stupid questions. Matthew looks pissed every day because of Zach.
Zachary ditch our dates, leaving me alone in a restaurant, golf club, and every place we
hang out since we’re a child.
My stomach twist into knots. I decided to stay in our mansion for the whole day. It’s
been months, and I really tried to apologize and give all my strength to revive my
relationship with Zach.
There was one time he came in my room drunk and tried to rape me, told him I won’t do
it unless we’re in legal age, but he insisted. I cried the whole night after that, but I didn’t
tell my parents neither his parents.
He didn’t even apologize at me and act he didn’t care. My feelings to Zach becomes
shallow as time passes by. I know he has a problem. I heard from Natasha, who also
heard from Matthew that my boyfriend lost a lot of money in Vaulter.
The illegal street racing. I don’t want to be curious about that because that was the
reason why we broke a huge fight and it resulted now.
My mother knock on the door making my thoughts disappear in an instant. “Come in,” I
whispered, my voice weak these past few days.
She sighed when she found my eyes and sat on the edge of my bed. “Honey,” she grab
my hands gently, “what’s wrong with you and Zach?”
I don’t want to speak, because if I do, I will end up crying. My mother is the only person I
would crumble, break out, and show my pain and vulnerable state. She wants to open
up with me.
I smiled at her. “Nothing, mom. He’s just been very busy with, uhm, school.”
“We all know Zach hates school, honey.”
Shit.
“Well, now you know. It’s good that he change.” I tried to laugh, but it end up awkward.
“Can I do your hair?” she asked, nodding at me hair. Nodding, “Sure.”
She let me sit on the hair dresser in front of a round mirror. I saw my reflection. My
mother and I shared a look, and I saw something. She was furious. How could a woman
remain prim and proper while agitated?
She spoke, “Let me ask you something.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Would you rather be rich and marry a poor man? Or would you choose to marry a man
who is rich?”
I smiled, “It depends, mother.”
“Answer me,” she hissed, and I gasp when her hands on my hair wraps the elastic bond
tightly. My heart started beating rapidly. “I would… I would choose to marry a poor man,
of course.”
“Why?” her voice sounds bitter.
“Because I’m already rich.”
“Poor choice,” she immediately spoke. “If that happens, Angelic, you’ll become poor,
too. The man will drag you down to mud until both of you couldn’t get up.”
“Please get straight to the point, mom.” I sighed.
My mother leaned in my ears, whispering at me, “You’re a smart kid, Angelic. Don’t
make a bad choice.”
“How do you know my choice is bad?”
She grip my chin to look at her in the face. I was shock to see the desperation in my
mother’s eyes. “Believe me, I know… because I’ve been there.”
Lips parting, I just nodded because I don’t want to hear any of it. She was telling me not
to choose Owen. Of course, my parents already know. Zach told them, but they keep it
private. Everybody knows in this town that I am bound to the Herren. I am Zachary’s
property and nobody defies them.
Except one.
My heart aches as I keep on staring at Owen’s number. The familiar feeling whenever
we exchange messages before melted my chest, and when I turn to look at the mirror, a
smile formed in my lips.
Should I call him?
He didn’t call nor text me after that night. He knows what will happen, so I’m off limits.
But… it’s been months. If I will call him right now, will he still recognize me?
Unknowingly, I found myself knocking at the Lacoste’s apartment.
Someone opened the door. It was a middle-aged woman, and she was holding baby
Emily on her arms. “Hi!” I greeted, waving my hand.
Her eyes squinted at my feet up to my face. “Who are you?”
“I’m Owen’s… friend.”
“You’re not.”
“Huh?”
“If you are his friend, I would know you. But I don’t know you – “
“Mom, who is it?” Owen’s voice thundered behind her, leaving a bomb in my heart.
Sweats pooled at the back of my neck. I haven’t heard his voice for a while!
“Who…” he stop himself from talking when our eyes lock. I tried to smile, but he didn’t.
Damn. Okay, I guess I’m still unwelcome in his humble abode.
“Let her in, mom,” he cleared his throat.
I smiled at his mother and bow my head. His mother closes the door behind and went to
the living room, ignoring me. Maybe she knows who I am and is dying to ask her son
why is the daughter of the Patterson inside her house.
I removed my shoes and put it neatly on the shoe rack. Owen cleared his throat when
he saw me grabbing a new slippers in my tote bag. “Your slipper is still there,” he
pointed the familiar pink and feathery slipper I bought.
My heart skip a beat, and I said thanks at him, putting on the slippers.
“Why are you here?” his mother asked like she was been dying to ask this earlier.
I halted and look at Owen. Crap! I don’t know what to say! Think of an alibi, Angelic!
Owen saved me. “She owe me something, mom.”
“What is that something, Owen? Why is the Patterson girl in our house? Does she want
something from us? As far as I know, we don’t owe money to the Patterson – “
“Mom, chill.” Owen chuckled and massaged his mother’s shoulders, then, he leaned
forward and whispered only he and his mother knows. My eyebrow raised, and Owen
chuckled again.
“I haven’t introduce myself formally. My name is Angelic Patterson. You can call me
Angelic,” I said and extend my arm. She looks hesitant at first but gave up, “Lucy
Lacoste, Owen’s mother.”
With that said, she disappeared in front of me and closes the door heavily. I guess she
wanted to be alone with her daughter.
“Sorry about my mother,” Owen said, making me jump. “What’s wrong?” his brows
furrowed when he saw my reaction.
“Nothing.”
“Why are you here, by the way?” he asked. He sounds playful. There’s a smirk on his
face when he crosses his arms on his chest. My cheeks heated, and I’m pretty sure he
saw it, so I looked away.
“Why? I’m still not welcome in your house?”
“Apartment,” he corrected.
“That’s the same!”
“You won’t waste your energy and time to hang out with me, aren’t you, Angelic?”
Crap! “Of c-course.” Looking away, I grab Tupperware of cookies I made and give it to
him. His brows furrowed again, “What is this?”
“That’s cookies, idiot.”
“Idiot?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah,” I shrugged.
“For what, Angelic?”
“I’m sorry for apologizing for too long. About what… Zachary did to you, and for helping
me out that night.”
“Don’t say sorry about that night. You were having fun.”
“I did?”
“Yeah…” he whispered, and we fell silent again. “You forgot?” he asked, his voice is
hopeful.
I tried to coat the awkwardness and tension with a laugh. “My apology is long overdue.
And for that night, I forgot what happened so – anyways, it doesn’t mat – “
He stop me from talking when he grab me from the sofa I was sitting and position his
hand on the small back of my waist. I was shocked, but I didn’t shove him. I could feel
and taste his breathe because his face is close to mine.
We lock our eyes, and for a moment, I think I was lost. His eyes were emerald green, so
deep, like I was inside the forest. I might get lost inside of it, but it doesn’t scare me. It
makes me feel it was my safe haven.
His adam’s apple bobbed in and out as he spoke, “Did you really forgot what happened
that night?” he asked, his voice becomes husky.
I nodded. I couldn’t utter a single word. His presence and the warmth of his body made
me tremble in pleasure. “Then let me remind you.”
Owen inched his face and lean his head on the side of my neck. I could feel his hard
breathing on the flesh of my skin, making all of my hair stand to its point and my heart
combust in every painful way.
Owen and I dance slowly, our bodies swaying in synch.
No, Owen. I want him to know that I clearly remember every scene of that night inside of
my head. It was one memorable night. I always dream of it. In the daylight, at night. It’s
pretty dangerous, actually. I once caught myself mumbling his name during a class
discussion. I was lucky no one noticed, not even the observant Natasha.
Owen intertwined our fingers as we dance. He opens the fridge and I felt the cold
sensation coming from it. The only light serving us is the orange-ish color of the fridge.
If I would describe the feeling right at this moment, it was…
Bliss.
I felt home, at peace, and I heard a thundering sound of beating when I rest my head on
Owen’s chest. I may be short, but I was tall enough to hear his rapid heart beat.
“Did you hear it?” Owen asked, whispering. I didn’t answer. I look up at him, and he was
already staring at me. “What?” I asked, whispering.
“Nothing.” He smiled.
But I know what he meant.
He meant to ask f I also heard the fast beating of his heart.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
It was the same as mine.