POV: Lianne
It was six in the evening. I was sitting on the living room couch wearing Ruen’s white polo shirt when I received a call from Jen telling me that I should go back to the mansion. Apparently, Madame Brenda will be hosting a dinner farewell party for us and the other guests, since tonight would be our last night in the mansion.
Ruen was in the kitchen, taking some cold refreshments out of the fridge when he cast a curious eye on me. I took a quick glance back at him and then turned to walk outside the open balcony where the night sky showed a sea of stars and a bright full moon.
It was indeed beautiful to watch. Simply romantic.
“Yes, I see.”
“Okay then, so I will see you here in an hour?” Jen stated.
“Yup, I will prepare to leave now Jen. See you there.”
“Alright. Bye.”
“Bye, ” I answered back with a heavy heart, feeling the air of reality gaining ground on me. After spending the whole day with Ruen, I honestly forgot that I was going back home tomorrow. It was good that Jen had slapped me back to reality. But still, I couldn’t believe that this would be our last time together.
“You look concerned, ” Ruen’s voice emerged from my back, and then I felt his arms embracing me from behind. He rested his chin on my right shoulder and I instinctively leaned my head to the left to welcome him. “Don’t worry, it’s not our last time together, ” he added as if he had read my mind.
“Jen says that you should come with us in the dinner party too.”
“She did?”
“Yes.”
“Then, there’s not a problem with that.”
I whirled around and faced him, surprised. “Don’t you have somewhere to go to?” I don’t know what came over me for asking that question.
He grinned and then brushed a tress of hair that came loose as a heavy wind passed us.
“Lianne, I just spent the whole day with you. Knowing that you would be leaving tomorrow afternoon, do you think I would waste time not wanting to be with you tonight? My work is of little importance when it comes to you.”
I felt a rush of blood up to my cheeks.
“You did say you’re a personal bodyguard of Mr. Rafael. Don’t bodyguards require to be 24/7 with their bosses?”
I heard a grumble from his throat as he paused to stare at me keenly. He brushed his fingers on my lips and continued to say simply, “You are my boss, Lianne”, and then covered my mouth with his.
***
With his high-turbo engine car, I doubt it would take us more than twenty minutes to reach the mansion. Having a good amount of extra time on our part with Jen’s one-hour call time, we decided to head to the main city shops to find a cocktail dress for me to wear at the dinner party.
Ruen had already worn his dashing ensemble: a black long-sleeved, open-V blazer with a white shirt under it, in a crisp collar, and a grey overlay in the middle. His belt was also black, sexily secured around his black faded denim jeans. He was just too handsome to look at, looking sleek and charismatic that I needed a beautiful dress of my own to equal him. Plus, wearing the same clothes for two days would be embarrassing for me.
We made a stop in one of the main district shops – a ladies store specifically – and went inside it. Immediately, two adult women greeted us and guided me to the cocktail dress section. One woman with blonde hair boldly ogled at Ruen that I instantly felt jealous. I wasn’t concerned, however. I knew Ruen had only eyes for one woman and that was me. He chose to sit on the waiting chair inside my fitting room to wait for me.
It took me just ten minutes to pick the right dress. It was a Marchesa cocktail dress, knee-length, a Venus cut shoulder, with the right draping elegantly down my elbow.
Only one look at it and an approving smile, I knew that he agreed of my choice. After the attendant gave me a matching metallic beige sandal and paying the whole wardrobe in the cashier, we headed straight away to the mansion.
By the time, we entered the gate, I couldn’t help but collect a good amount of air in my lungs.
This is the place where everything happened.
Although most of the outside garden and courtyard were gone, I knew that this facade of the mansion was one and the same with the one I knew in the past.
I squeezed Ruen’s shoulder. My nerves began to tense up. If I had this kind of effect just being outside, how much more if I waltz inside the foyer and the rooms I had learned to care so deeply?
He slowed the car and glanced at me with a worried face.
“You good?” he said.
I nodded and awarded him a soft smile.
With Ruen beside me, I knew could manage every past memory thrown back at me if the visions were to flash again.
I disembarked the car while Ruen handed the keys to the valet. My mouth somehow turned dry while looking at the main entrance of the mansion. With half of my returned memories, now I see a whole side of the decorated entrance full of sadness and loneliness.
I was hoisted back to reality and back to happiness when Ruen held my hand.
“Are you ready to go inside?” he said cautiously.
I held onto the depth of his eyes and the safety in there for a moment before answering.
‘Everything will be fine, ‘ my mind expressed.
“Yes, as long as you’re with me, ” I blurted out with a smile on his way.
We entered the main foyer. It was uneventful at first until we approached the entrance door to the grand ballroom and it hit me.
A vision started to seep outside of my head. A vision of another man standing coolly near a table with a glass of champagne on hand. He was wearing a black regal tuxedo, his hair brushed up to the back and a blood rose at the right side of his pocket. He smiled appreciatively then when he saw me wearing what I believe as a fleshy-white colored gown.
I felt the color of my face drain. Ruen must have seen my unusual reaction because he squeezed my hand to capture my attention.
“Lianne? Are you all right?”
I snapped back to reality and gave him a questioning look. “Huh? Oh, yes… uhm… yes of course, I’m all right, ” I answered.
“Let me know when it’s too much to take, ” he said, knowing exactly what had happened to me.
“Thank you, ” I answered and without shame, I tiptoed and gave him a peck on the lips.
We went inside the grand ballroom and immediately saw my friends Jen, Alona, and Rachel already in a round table dressed up in their cocktail dresses and with partners on each of their sides.
‘Wow. Talk about group date.’
Jen waved a hand when she noticed me and we went to their table without delay.
“Hi, Li!” Rachel and Alona greeted. And then Jen stood up, giving me an acknowledging kiss.
“Oh, it’s good to see you, Li!” she said, and then moved to extend her hand to Ruen. “Nice to finally meet you properly. I wager Lianne is in good care?” She was in her protective older sister mode again.
The one addressed gave a slight nod. “I’m happy to meet Lianne’s friends too and yes, she is well taken care of.”
“Great!” She clapped her hands and then winked at me. “Well then, you two lovebirds have a seat.”
***
The dinner party went on gaily. After the main course was served, we had a few drinks of wine to fill up our taste buds. Everything was on the house from the food to the raffle prizes that were given. Rachel and Jen happen to win an iPad tablet, while I got a cute stuffed toy – a unicorn, and Alona received a complimentary spa and whole-body massage for two.
A bit tipsy because of the wine, I excused myself early and my friends were understanding with my state. Jen nodded back at me, not bothering to offer herself to accompany me to my room when she knew Ruen would do so. And besides, she was all too engrossed with her boyfriend’s rather dashing appearance, in a white and black semi-formal tuxedo.
“You drank too much, ” Ruen uttered, a grim look on his face visible. He was supporting me, holding me beside him with his left arm around my waist. We were almost on the second floor, walking up the long stairs carefully.
“I didn’t, ” I answered in weak protest.
I was just tipsy. I could still balance myself properly, but he insisted on holding me close. Oh yes, I definitely missed this cute side of him whenever he displays this overprotective aura.
Walking towards my room in the second-floor hallway felt uneasy for me. The walls almost whisper my past emotions. My loneliness. My immense hatred towards Garlow. My hopelessness. But Ruen being here with me, it drowned my fears and anxiety away. Of course, he gave me hope back then. He gave me light. He gave me freedom. And he cared for me. Just like the now.
He opened the door for me and we went inside together like a newly-wed couple on a honeymoon.
Sweet.
But as soon as the door closed, I felt a sudden rush of panic and then another vision quickly caught me in a trance.