Rhezi was busy preparing food for her kids when someone hugged her from behind. She quickly let go of the knife she was holding when she felt the pain it created in her index finger. She was shocked and at the same time she felt the pain because of what had happened.
“You’re very occupied. What’s wrong with you?” Jericho asked, curiously. He also quickly attended to her wound and put her index finger on the faucet and rinsed it with water.
” N-Nothing. I’m just tired. I work too much, lately. ” Rhezi shook her head. She couldn’t stare Jericho in the eye. She wasn’t a fan of lying, but she felt she had to. She still couldn’t quite imagine what happened a week ago.
It was already a week when that fateful night happened. One week since she gave herself up to Kraius, again. It’s been a week, too, that she’s scolding herself but she knew she couldn’t get everything back anymore. Most of all, it’s been a week since Rhezi filed a resignation.
She did not go to work after the incident. Even Jericho did not know what happened. She kept it a secret and would bury it forever. However, Rhezi still talked about her plan to return to Dubai.
Rhezi’s attention shifted when Jericho embraced her. He was already done by putting a band aid on the small wound she got. He kissed her temple and tapped her back. They look like a picture of a perfect union.
“Don’t be like that. ! You’re seducing me, hmmm? ” Rhezi gave him a taunting smirk.
“What if yes,” Jericho replied.
“Stop it, Jericho!” Rhezi hissed and rolled her eyes. The man laughed and shook his head.
“You know I hate playing, Rhezi. What is mine is mine, ” he said seriously.
Rhezi blinked. Her smile vanished. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Jericho, who was watching her seriously. Puzzled was evident in her eyes while staring at the man. She distanced herself a bit from him to shoot him an intent look. Then, he laughed. Jericho laughed that echoed in the whole kitchen where they were in.
“Crazy!” he said while slapping Rhezi’s arm.
“You’re scared right away. Hmmp!” He added.
Rhezi shook her head to shrug her thoughts off. She felt awkward and uneasy all of a sudden, which was very rare. She smiled at Jericho, who was staring at her intently, and continued preparing the food for her kids, after. Then, she sighed. She knew that if she wanted a peaceful life, she would have to stay away again.
When Rhezi’s phone rang, it startled her. She took it from the pocket of her apron quickly. And due to her hurrying action, it fell to the marbled floor of the kitchen. She cursed loudly and took it abruptly. She ignored the phone’s cracked screen and immediately answered the call.
“Mommy,” Rhezi immediately said on the other line. She also glanced at Jericho who raised an eyebrow as he stared at her. She motioned for the latter to be quiet, to which he replied with a nod.
“Why did you call?” she added. Rhezi heard her mother sigh on the other line. She walked towards the metal chair in front of the table and sat on it. She waited for her mother on the other line to speak but just a minute later she still did not speak. Rhezi massaged her temple lightly. Suddenly her head hurt for no reason.
“Mommy, what is it?” Rhezi asked, impatiently. Emphasizing her question. She wanted to provoke her to speak. The girl knew that her mother would not call for no reason.
“I’m sorry, Baby. I just don’t know how to start. Your Dad was expecting you. I told him everything you said, and he got mad. But, I convinced him. As you said. Please, he missed you so much, Baby. He wanted to throw a party for you, ” her mother’s lengthy statement on the other line.
Rhezi sighed. She looked at Jericho, who was in front of her. She just stared at him as he carefully turned around to get water from the refrigerator. He handed it to Rhezi afterwards and the latter accepted with a slight smile.
“I-I will think about it, Mommy. I do not know. I am not sure, ” Rhezi answered.
“Please,” her mother pleaded. A convincing technique she had been using on her.
“Rhezi, everything is inevitable. You can never hide from everyone.”
“I know Mommy,” Rhezi agreed.
It was a few minutes passed before her mother’s call finally ended. She slumped her face on the table while not knowing what to do. Sure, her Mom was right that everything was inevitable. But, if she could stop it, she would stop whatever she’s afraid to ever happen.
“Is everything alright?” Jericho asked. He sat in the empty chair next to her. Rhezi looked up and nodded. She even smiled too, but Jericho rolled his eyes at her.
“Don’t lie. What is it?”
Rhezi sighed. There was no other choice but to tell the man everything her mother said. Then she stared at Jericho seriously but for a moment he burst out laughing. He even pulled her close and hugged her again.
“You’re really crazy! You’re bothered by something that shouldn’t be! ” he said. “Tell them that they were mine. Simple as that,” he added.
Rhezi pouted. She knew that, but what if everyone saw her children? There is little resemblance between Jericho and her children, but the difference between them was undeniable. How could her children inherit the look of their real father that it became so hard for her to keep them secret.
“You will always be with me, right?” Rhezi asked Jericho.
“Of course! No one will take you and the kids away from me.”
“Thank you,” Rhezi whispered.
After talking, Rhezi went back to what she was doing earlier. She quickly ended it and immediately went to where her children were. Her worries instantly vanished while looking at her children’s serious aura. They’re writing on the study table there while facing the laptop. While Rhezi carefully laid the sandwich on the table for them. Then, she sat on the vacant couch and watched them.
“Momma, why do you look sad?” Dos asked, looking at Rhezi with confusion in his brown eyes.
Rhezi lifted her gaze, instantly. She didn’t realize that her child had already come close to her side. They’ve just finished their class and are now busy playing. Rhezi watched them but she was obviously preoccupied when Dos approached her.
“I am not sad. Momma was just thinking things, Love, ” Rhezi answered. She also held her child’s hand and led him closer. She embraced him tightly while she was still on the couch, sitting. She sniffed the top of his head too and kissed him lightly.
“Don’t grow too fast, Love. Momma isn’t ready yet, ” she added.
“I am just ten, Momma. I am not big yet, ” he wittily replied.
Rhezi chuckled and closed her eyes as she embraced Dos, tightly. Even Uno and Tres came and hugged her. They kissed her on the cheek and told her about their day. Her children told her almost everything that they do and that gave her a bit of assurance.
“We love you, Momma. Dos will be stronger and Tres will never be naughty. Uno will be the big brother and will take care of you, ” Roscoe said, proudly.
“Really?” she said, teasingly.
Rhezi pinched him on the cheek and kissed his forehead. Then, she laughed softly. Even Tres and Dos laughed as well. Uno was sitting on the carpeted floor while his two brothers were sitting beside her. The boy was playing like a big man while frowning at what Rhezi said. Her chuckle turned into laughter. She totally forgot about her worries and uncertainties as her son’s promise of love and protection towards her was evident. She knows that her son loves her and that no one can just take it and break it. Even if it was Kraius.
They were in that position when their uniformed house-help entered. She walked through to her while there was an awkward smile on her lips. Rhezi’s eyebrow furrowed looking at the box the woman was carrying. It has a gold ribbon while the wrapper used is silver.
“What is that?” she asked, calmly.
“It’s a delivery, Maam. The security just gave me, ” she replied.
Rhezi nodded. She also accepted the box when Dos handed it to her. She was puzzled seeing her name on top of it but she still opened the box. She gradually opened it while her chest slowly throbbed also. She gasped as she opened it totally and saw what was inside. She blinked a few times and swallowed hard just to calm her pounding chest. She even looked at her kids who were now busy playing with their Lego toys.
After a while, she picked up what was inside. It was her red silky panty and her pouch. But, what caught her attention the most was the note along with it. Rhezi picked it and her heart hammered once more while reading the words she knew would change her life into hell.
YOU CAN NEVER RUN AWAY FROM ME.