*Lucia*
My hands gripped The steering wheel tightly as I drove home. It still felt like a dream. Never had I once stopped to think that I’d have to face Jason someday. I wasn’t mentally prepared, but I was glad I was able to pull through without breaking down and crying. I felt a little tug in my heart when he called my name earlier. Not the one you feel when you are in love but the one you feel when you are sad and overwhelmed with emotions you find so hard to describe.
The sun was still up in the sky.
Its light bathed me inside the car through the window as I had wound down the glass. I stared outside while waiting for the red light to turn green. I looked around, taking note of my surroundings. I wanted to distract myself. I didn’t want to think about Jason. He wasn’t worth it. Although he tried to say that he wasn’t the one who had ordered or told Sarah to do all those things, she did. I didn’t believe it.
I wasn’t stupid.
If he truly wasn’t the one, then where was he all this while? Why didn’t he try to reach for me after he found out I had gone missing? Anger suddenly filled my heart-the nerve of him to stand in front of me. I suddenly began regretting not punching him in his face. It was obvi he came to end me. That was the only reason I could think of as to why he showed up weeks after my encounter with Sarah. She must have told him she met me, and he had come hunting me down.
The light turned green, and I drove off
Maybe I shouldn’t blame him too much. Everything ended up good. Now, I had a stronger man behind me. A man who loved me more than Jason had ever loved me. I was only able to meet this man because of what he did. I decided to be permissive. I would for us, on the benefits I had received as a result of Jason’s decision to sell me off.
I stopped my car in front of the club.
One of the four men standing outside, hands tightly wrapped around their gun, chest puffed out, was to take the car inside. I didn’t go out immediately. I had to organize my thoughts. The last thing I wanted was to walk into the club lost in thought and allow Bruno to get a whiff of how I felt.
Aside from not wanting to worry about it, I was a bit scared for Jason. Bruno won’t think twice before severing his head from his body if he finds out he met with me. I can sense the anger and hate he has for Jason the few times we have spoken about him. I closed my eyes, calming my raging emotions. I felt like I was missing something. But what could it be?
Darm!!!
I had forgotten to go to the supermarket. That was where I said I was going. Well, it shouldn’t be a big deal. I could simply tell him I forgot or I felt uneasy and had to come back earlier than planned.
I finally got out of the car.
I closed the door behind me and walked with my head high. My black boot clicked loudly on the floor as I walked past the men, who had their heads down in acknowledgement. I didn’t bother nodding or anything-not today. My mind was occupied enough.
The first time they had bowed to me in respect, I was so startled that I almost bowed to them, not used to so much respect and acknowledgement from men stronger than me. But Bruno had stopped me and quickly explained the situation to me. Everyone was now aware of our relationship, so I would be given the respect I should, he had stated firmly.
Bruno wasn’t in his office when I walked in.
I walked to the sofas and sat on one, crossing one leg over the other. Everything was fine; why were you fretting? It’s not as if you cheated on him or something.
Soon, the door opened, and Bruno stepped in. “You came back earlier than expected,” Bruno said. I smiled at him, trying to look as natural as possible. “I felt a little uneasy,” I told him, watching as he took a large stride to where I sat on the sofa. My eyes were pinned on him as he walked towards me.
“Are you alright?” He asked me.
I stiffened. What? Did he see my nervousness already?
I shook my head. I am fine. What have you been up to?” I asked him, wanting to catch up on what he had been doing while I was away.
The windows in the office were closed and the air-conditioning was turned on. My eyes moved to the paintings on the wall. He had moved out all the nude paintings at my request. It just didn’t sit well with me that my man stared at photos of other girls who weren’t me.
“A lot.” He picked my hands. He was now sitting on the sofa. His eyes stared deep into my soul. “Is there anything you want to do?” He asked.
“Why are you suddenly asking me that?” I raised my brow. Of course, Bruno was romantic, but he would not ask such questions out of the blue.
“I felt like I hadn’t done enough for the past few days. I have been so busy, and it was as if I had forsaken you. Of course, I haven’t,” he quickly added. My heart was filled with warmth.
We had been together all the time, but at the same time, we had not spent time together, so I understood clearly what he was on about. “Let’s see,” I pretended to think even though I didn’t need to. I have always had somewhere in mind where I wanted to go with him.
“How about making sure we last forever? I don’t want this to end, and I know you feel the same,” I said.
“What are you suggesting?” He asked in a flirty tone, brushing a few strands of hair off my face. I knew exactly what he was thinking-this naughty man.
“No… not that. Soul bond,” he paused as if trying to figure out what I was saying.
“I’ve always wanted to tie whatever we have, tie on the place we saw the other day,” I said, uncrossing my leg. Bruno placed his lips on the back of my hands, kissing them briefly.
“Fine. Let’s do whatever you want,” he said. He gave off the smile that meant that he was going to do anything I asked, and I was sure he meant it. I was sure he could do all I wanted even before I asked. He was a man who surpassed all my expectations of men.
He led me out of the office.
A few minutes later, we pulled the car in front of a famous boutique. I had suggested that we change our clothes to look more casual. I wanted to look like a regular couple. I imagined Bruno walking behind me in the streets in a black suit. There was no way we weren’t going to earn all the stares in the city.
We didn’t spend a lot of time there.
A cold breeze hit my face as we stepped out. The sun had set, and darkness was slowly seeping in. We walked past many people, but my eyes were mostly glued to couples, seeing how they placed lovely things in public. I looked at Bruno, who was beside me, wondering if he was the type to display affection publicly.
I didn’t need to think too much as Bruno entwined our hands at that moment.
We walked to the car, and he opened the doors for me before walking around. We spoke a lot as he drove. I couldn’t help stealing glances at him when he wasn’t looking at me. We soon got to the place. Bruno had to find a suitable spot to pull over at.
Everywhere was crowded.
The place was filled with couples. I looked around, from the couple who wore the same clothes, to the one who was kissing at the side, to the one who was taking photographs of themselves. There were also a few people. Another group.
In a place filled with so many couples, they were alone. I could see the pain in their eyes. Maybe they had come here months before to tie a little rope but had broken up.
Not everyone was meant for each other.
I smiled, sadly remembering myself and Jason. I didn’t want to dwell on the thought. I didn’t want to keep thinking about the time I had spent with him before. It was useless thinking about stuff like that. I was going to focus on this evening. On the reason I was here and the man next to me. The man I wish to spend the remaining time of my life with.
Bruno held my hand, moving me away from a drunk guy who almost bumped into me. He glared at the man who had turned and was about to pick a fight. The man quickly turned around, taking into account the fact that he was no match for Bruno.
“What are you thinking about?” Bruno asked me.
“I was overwhelmed. It has been so long since I have been in a crowded place that wasn’t a club,” I said, which was a bit true. I didn’t go out of the club; aside from going to the lake, shopping, or visiting the children at the orphanage, I haven’t been anywhere else.
“I’ll take you out more often now,” he said.
“Promise?” I brought out my pinky finger.
He clicked his tongue, “how childish,” he said, hooking his little finger against mine. I stuck out my tongue at him.
I was excited. Not because he was going to be taking me out, but because taking me out meant spending more time together.
There was a rope on the side. It came into view better with each step I took as I walked in front of Bruno. The line had ropes tied on it. There were a lot of young couples there, tiring more colored ropes on it. “Where do we get a rope?” I asked Bruno, nothing close to whispering into his ear.
He reminded me that I was the first girl he was bringing here, which meant it was his first time, and he had the same little knowledge as me.
My eyes followed a girl who should be the same age as me as she walked to the side to take a rope from a lady who stood at the side, handing out rope for money. ‘Don’t tell me they sell that,’ I whispered, or so I thought, but he heard me.
“You didn’t expect it to be free now, or did you,” I could feel Bruno smirking behind me.
“It should be,” I said. I didn’t just expect it. When I climbed those stairs, the last thing I imagined was paying for the ropes.
After getting the ropes, we walked to the line where the other ropes were tied. “I hope we last forever,” I said, placing my hands together with the rope sticking out from beneath.
“Aren’t you supposed to make a wish within?” Bruno laughed out loud.
I turned sharply and sent a small glare to him. Even now, he was still teasing me. “Did you make a wish?” I asked him. And he nodded. “What did you wish for?” I wanted to know, although I could already guess what it was.
“What do you think I wished for?” He pushed my question back to me.
“How would I know if you don’t tell me?” I asked.
“This is what I said,” he moved close to me, and before I could wrap my head around what was happening, his lips met mine.