CHAPTER 17.5
SAZHARINA’S POV
IT’S BEEN a few weeks since Tray moved into our house. He has been here since nine in the morning. Mommy doesn’t have a problem with that, she even prefers Tray to live here with us. But I also wonder why his parents seem to be okay with coming here with us. I don’t even know if his parents know me and that’s how they allowed Tray to stay here with us.
Since then we have always been together. We became comfortable with each other and became friends. He is very protective of me and doesn’t want me to get hurt. Even mosquitoes don’t want to land on my skin. It was as if I had an older brother, or known as Kuya. He also cares for me and is really attentive. Mommy trusts him so much that she leaves me with Tray when she goes somewhere.
In that case, Tray will act in the house. He doesn’t move the helpers and he just lets them rest. The housemates are happy with him and sometimes laugh at Tray. Sometimes they even ask me when he will visit here.
In just a short period of time, Antricus became remarkable among them. They’re already looking for him, bonding with him, and growing close to him.
Tray became a part of our family.
But sometimes because he is so protective of me, there are times when I just get annoyed with him. He forbids me so much, he even beat Mommy.
Just like the scene here at home today…
“Mom! Tray, oh! He doesn’t want to let me roam outside!” I reported to Mommy while going down the stairs. I wanted to go out because Blue, my old fling, texted me saying he wanted to hang out with me. I agreed because I knew we were just friends. We had a happy closure. He said that somehow, he got to experience his sweet side.
“Hey, slow down, sweetie,” Mommy warned me, still holding the ladle while wearing an apron.
“Mom! Tray doesn’t want to let me out!” I stomped my foot like a child.
“Auntie, he’s going to meet the Blue he’s talking about,” Tray interjected, looking calm but teasing evident on his face.
I sharply rolled my eyes at him. “It’s none of your business!”
He just grinned at me. “Your daughter, Aunt, oh.”
“Stop it!” Mommy shouted at both of us. She then turned to me. “You can’t go out, Sazharina. We will have lunch soon.”
I was stunned. “But Mom! It’s just quick! I’ll be home right away,” I reasoned.
She shook her head. “No, Sazha. A no is a no. You’ll be staying here,” she declared.
I couldn’t do anything but frown. Mommy went to the kitchen to continue cooking so I didn’t talk to her again. I looked at Antricus who was next to me and folded his arms.
“Are you happy now?” I asked sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
He just stared at me coldly. “Happier.”
I was just stunned when he passed me and went straight outside as if he owned this house.
“Hey! This isn’t your house!” I shouted at him even though I knew he wouldn’t hear me. “So annoying!”
“WHAT ARE you doing here?” Antricus asked as he saw me walking towards his direction.
“Hello, this is my house. Don’t you remember?” I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
“Oh yeah, I remember now. Pardon me.” He smirked.
This man is starting to get on my nerves.
I just rolled my eyes. “I don’t care.”
“Tss… you should care. I’m your future husband, you know?”
I looked at him, grimacing. “What the fuck? You’re kidding, aren’t you?”
“Nah-uh, I’m not. I’m serious as hell,” he really seriously replied. He wasn’t looking at me and was looking straight ahead but I could see his cold eyes.
“Psh, keep dreaming on.”
He then finally looked at me. “I shouldn’t dream anymore. I’m your future husband. Try asking your mom…” He trailed off. “Or should I say… our mom?”
I gritted my teeth in annoyance. “You arrogant jerk! Never! Just dream!”
He slowly approached me, I backed away. I just went backwards until I hit the big wall. I have nothing to lose from him.
He blocked one of his arms around my side, caging me.
“M-move away…” I tried to push him away but my hands only softened when he brought his face closer to mine.
“Push me, then,” he huskily whispered.
I tried to push him again but to no avail, my hands just weakened again when he brought his face closer to me. We were so close to each other that I almost squinted. I could almost smell his fresh mint breath.
“Why not push me if you want me to move away, my sweet?”
I gulped. “H-how can I push you i-if y-you come closer to me…?” I asked, stammering. My heart started pounding. My heart was beating so fast and his gaze was dizzying. I feel weak.
Damn, what is this feeling? Why am I feeling this?Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
“Hmmm?” He moved an inch closer to me again.
“S-stop… m-move… a-away…”
He shrugged, a smirk was plastered on his face. “If you say so…”
But then, he was about to move away from me when a ball suddenly hit him and pushed me closer, causing our lips to touch.
My eyes widened in shock, same with him. I was stunned. I couldn’t move and my whole body felt like it was frozen. All I know now is that our lips are touching.
When I got hooked, I immediately let go and pushed him away. Maybe because of weakness, he got away from me and fell down. I don’t know if my eyes were just playing tricks on me but I saw the pain on his face.
I unconsciously wiped my lips, causing him to look more pained.
“I-I t-told you t-to s-stay away f-from me!” I shouted, stammering. I’m still surprised.
“I-I’m sorry…” He stood up from the floor and approached me in a panic. He tried to touch me but I quickly moved my hand away from him. I’m sure now, my eyes are no longer playing with me, I can clearly see the pain that passed through his eyes.
“S-sazha… I-I’m s-sorry… i-it was the ball…” He tried explaining but I just shook my head.
“No! It wasn’t the ball! If you had just stayed away from me, it wouldn’t have happened!”
He bit his lower lip. His eyes were red. I could see that he was preventing his tears from falling.
“I-I’m sorry… p-please… please don’t be mad at me…” His tears then fell. It drips one after the other.
I was surprised and stunned by him. I didn’t think he would cry about this. He looked pitiful and his face was really wet from tears. I felt guilty.
Why did I blame him? The ball is really the reason why that happened! Why did I suddenly shout at him? Damn it!
I slowly approached him and touched his face. He closed his eyes.
“S-stop… I-I’m sorry… I won’t do it again…” I said calmly while wiping his face.
He sniffed. “A-are you mad?” he asked, still sobbing.
Damn… he is like a baby. That’s so fucking cute.
I smiled a little. “No… I was just carried away by my emotions. I’m not mad, okay? I’m sorry.”
“I-I’m sorry, too. I-I won’t do that again…”
I was surprised when he suddenly hugged me, but I just smiled and hugged him too.
“Tray! Sazharina! Lunch is ready!”
We broke away from the hug when we heard Mommy’s scream. He smiled at me and we went inside together. We caught up with Mommy in the kitchen preparing the plates.
“Let me help you, Aunt,” Tray said and hurriedly approached Mom.
My mother smiled at him and thanked him. I was the one who got us to drink and put down the food as well. After that we sat down.
“Where did you two come from? I’ve been looking for you for a while,” said Mommy and took a spoonful of rice.
“We were in the garden, Mom. We just talked about something,” I answered, smiling a little. I turned to Tray and saw him looking at me. He then averted his gaze.
“Hmm…” Mom nodded.
We continued to eat in a quiet manner. No one spoke to us and only the clinking of spoons and forks could be heard.
“Uhm, Aunt?” Tray called.
Mommy turned to him. “Hmm?”
“Can I go home after this? M-my mom c-called me a while ago…” Tray looked at me but he immediately averted his eyes from me.
I bent down and bit my lip. I feel guilty. I know it has something to do with me why he should go home with them. Maybe he feels uncomfortable about what happened…
“Of course, you can! Go ahead, just come back whenever you want, hmm? You’re welcome to us,” Mommy answered happily.
Tray smiled a little. “Thanks, Aunt. I’ll be back.”
Mommy just smiled back at him before continuing to eat. As for me, I have lost my appetite.
“M-mom? Can I go to my room now? I’m already full, and I’m feeling dizzy…” I said.
Mom concernedly looked at me. “Why, sweetie? Do you feel any pain?”
I smiled weakly. “Nothing, Mom. I just feel dizzy. I’m tired.”
Mom sighed. “Alright, sweetie. We’ll take care of this. Get some rest, hmm?”
I nodded. “Yes, Mom. Thanks.”
I got up and just washed my hands. After that I left the kitchen, not minding the intense stare Antricus was giving me.
I quickly went up to my room and lay down on my bed. I sighed violently.
“Damn it.”
I just sank down on my pillow while thinking about what happened earlier. I can’t get that out of my mind… and his lips…
“Argh!”
Why can’t I get that out of my mind?! Why do I have to think about that?! What’s done is done!
I let out a few more sighs before I heard footsteps coming to my room. I felt it first and the door of my room opened. It was Antricus.
I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I didn’t expect what he would do that shocked my system.
“I’m sorry if I have to leave, my queen. My family needs me…” he uttered softly. He softly caressed my hair.
“About the kiss… I know I apologized to you for what happened… but If you may ask me, that was sweet.” He then softly kissed my forehead.
“Get well soon, my love…”
And then he said the words that shook my entire system and my heart.
“I love you.”