martial arts

CHAPTER 7

IT IS the most comfortable place to be with. I can't get enough of this warmth that's enveloping my body. This broad and hard chest, muscular arms that is protectively wrapped around my waist, and the apple mint breath that falls on my forehead. Wait? What am I even saying? Am I still dreaming?

I felt myself again. Chest? Arms? Breath? Fuck!

Suddenly I opened my eyes and I was almost quick to see Luke so close to me. I slowly sighed. He's naked! Wait. What the heck happened? Why is he here in my room !?

I slowly freed myself from his grasp. How in the hell did we even end up in that position? It's not really good to wake up like that. It almost gave me a heart attack!

I chineck myself. I'm still wearing my pajamas. Good grief! When he happened to do something strange to my body while I was asleep, even though he was still the protagonist in the story, he would actually exchange faces with the dog.

I stared at his sleeping face. In fairness, he looked like an angel, if only he wasn't naked and why does he look like that? Is this really how he sleeps? Obscene?

I slapped his face a couple of times to wake him up. "Hey, jerk!" I said more. I've raised my voice as well as my tapping and yet, he's still not waking up. What is this? Is he dead already? Do I have to wrestle him in bed just to wake him up?

Other than wrestling, mmm? So I went downstairs and brought a freezing cold bucket of water. I'll just see if he hasn't woken up here yet. It's payback time for kissing me without my permission.

"What the Fuck! It's freaking cold!" He suddenly got up from the bed and I stopped laughing. I became serious as soon as he turned to me.

"You're awake now." Seriously I pretend to say. He looked at me and then held my arm again. That was strong so I was a little close. Why is he so angry? It's good that that's all I did.

"What the heck is your problem, woman? Are you testing out my patience?" Annoyed really he says. Wow, this is new. Is he really temperamental when he wakes up?

I removed the emotion from my face then stared at him.

"I'm just worried because you're not responding no matter how I tried to wake you up. I thought you were dead so I fetch a little bit of cold water to make sure. Glad you're alive." I said sarcastically. I saw him gritted his teeth. He looks so intimidating but I never let that affect me.

I close my eyes as his grip on my arm gets worse. Is he planning to actually break my arm?

"Ouch! Let go! It really hurts!" I cried. Then I noticed some random emotion glinted in his eyes for a second and he let go of my arm. Damn it! Another minute and I could really lose my arm! Why is he like that?

"Try to do something like that again and you will say goodbye to your arm." He said coldly. I just fell asleep while nuzzling my arm. I glared at him one more time before I stormed out of the room.

Shit! I forgot to ask why he slept in my room. Whatever, I'll just ask the maids.

Argh! That Lucas! His attitude is really unpredictable. And I'm going to spend two whole months with that freak? What the heck will happen to me in the future? He might suddenly turn into a killing machine and target me. Screw life!

I quietly drank coffee while gazing at the beautiful garden that the maids here take care of. Tita Monique loves watching the flowers.

I sighed. Somehow, I feel guilty. I didn't know that Lucas would be so angry. I also found out from the maids that Lucas just didn't want to wake him up because he was having a hard time. Whatever, at least I got my revenge on him.

I blushed as I remembered what Manang Lois told me, she has been the manager of this house for a long time and she told me that the room I entered last night was Lucas' room. What the hell? I mean, why did I put my things there when a dad was occupying that room?

When I found out, I quickly moved all my belongings to the adjacent guest room. Fuck! I've never felt so stupid until that time.

Lucas ... Ugh. I don't know where he is. He went outside and I just can't care where he went, who he went with or even if he's still alive or lying dead on the ground. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. The garden is so beautiful. I don't want to admit it but it's more beautiful and more comfortable here than in our garden that we often visit.

"Ma'am Loraine. Do you want snacks?" Sister Betty asked me. I think he was a little younger than Mommy. I smiled.

"Not anymore, I'm still full and just Loraine, Sister Betty. Ma'am is too old." I said jokingly. He laughed.

"Ah all right, Loraine." He said and promptly left.

"Uh,sister Betty, Sherley? I don't think I've seen her in the mansion since." I will ask. I noticed his hesitation to say and his forcing a smile.

"Oh, he's off today." He says. I noticed that she wants to say something but she's hiding it in her fake smile. I just sighed and smiled at her.

I don't care where Sherley is because we're not that close. I was just really surprised because I hadn’t seen him since before. Especially when he disappeared, Lucas also left. What a funny coincidence.

"Where is Lucas going, Sister Betty?" Smiling I pretended to ask. Her swallowing did not escape my eyes. He also looked away.

"I-I don't know where Ser is going at this time but I'm sure he's just around. He's coming back for lunch so don't worry." The nervousness was obvious to him even though he was smiling. Mmm ... I smell something fishy. Whatever, I'm not really that interested in that man's walks. Uhh, whatever.

I just smiled big and then hung my hand on Ate Betty's arm.

"Let it go, Sister Betty. I'm not worried about that man. He's grown up and doesn't need attention. By the way, are you married, Sister Betty?" I asked as we headed to the kitchen. I talked to Sister Betty first before making a decision. I left the kitchen and waved at the other maids to stop what they were doing.

"Oh, Ma'am what the heck It's embarrassing for you." Said Sister Teresa. I just laughed at him and sat him down in the living room.

"Don't worry, Sister Teresa. I'll just help you cook later. Man, Sister Betty, just tell me if you need help later. Now, just join me first. We'll be together for two months, won't we? It's hard I don't agree with that. " I said.Sister Betty and Manang sighed at what I said.

"I can't believe you know how to cook, Loraine. Not all rich people have an interest in housework either especially since they have money." Sister Teresa said excitedly. I smiled. I help Matilda and the rest of our maids at home when I have nothing important to do. I'm not just letting Mommy go because I'm sure I'll be scolded.

Its natural that I know how to do lots of house chores because of my past as Helena. If I excel on something other than academics, it's cleaning, cooking and the likes.

"If only Ser Lucas would stay here to accompany you." Manang Lois said shaking her head. Ate Betty and Sister Teresa followed suit.

"That's why, I'm sorry, Loraine. We shouldn't be the old people you're bonding with now but the one you should marry." Said Sister Teresa. I was suddenly nervous and confused by what he said.

"Oh,Sister, Manang. It's really nice to talk to you. Besides, I don't want to bother Lucas anymore." Contrary to what I said. Actually, it’s more appropriate to say I don’t want to see Luke now. I just faked a smile. "Looks like he's doing something important so ..." I just didn't continue. Important, my ass! In short, for sure someone is wondering who that man is so he is not at home.

Sherley, maybe?

I almost flinched on disgust. I mean, I read the story and I recognized some fragment of it about Lucas' adventure 'supposedly' with women. Particularly, that Sherley.

Yes, she seems very timid and shy type but she just 'uses' Lucas. He is desperate to be noticed and given attention by Lucas even if it just uses him. I think it started happening around this time. Grrr.

Just thinking about it makes my stomach turn. Sherley's desperate. But she's not much of an obstacle especially since there is no other attachment between her and Lucas other than sex. And besides, Lucas will discard her when he starts dating my sister.

I noticed that Manang avoided looking at what I said. I knew it. It is impossible for the maids here not to know the phenomenon between their boss and a maid.

Screw Lucas and his ass. If he wasn't really the male lead of this story and if I didn't know how that man's behavior would change because of my brother, I probably would have salvaged that flirty because of his being a plague on society. Gawd.

I can't!

I noticed that Manang avoided looking at what I said. I knew it. It is impossible for the maids here not to know the phenomenon between their boss and a maid.

Screw Lucas and his ass. If he wasn't really the male lead of this story and if I didn't know how that man's behavior would change because of my brother, I probably would have salvaged that because of his being a plague on society. Gawd.

I can't!

"Uh, let's not talk about Lucas sisters. Umm, how about family? Ate Betty, are you married yet?" I will ask. When I managed to change the topic, Ate Betty started talking about her husband and children. I listened to them with a smile.

"Oh, maybe they're big now!" Ate Betty's story is a bit teary-eyed.. Her children were only four years old when she left them.

"But triplets huh, you're lucky, that's rare." Said Manang Lois. Ate Betty posted a hasty smile.

"Well, man! My husband is a sharp shooter!" Said Sister Betty. I still blushed a little. Ghad! Older girls really know how not to filter their words.

"Why don't you visit them, Ate Betty?" I will ask.

"If I visit them today, I will be fired. Davao is too far away and the fare is too far. I'm going home for Christmas so just be patient."said. I smiled as I talked. I also told my siblings about them and our family.

"Oh, what a sensible child you are, Loraine. Alas, not all children who grow up in rich families and environments are as good as you!" Ate Teresa added. I was frustrated.

"I'm not nice, Ate Teresa. If you only knew ..." I said while still shaking.

Kali and I suddenly slipped into the bar just to chat. I even disguised myself just to not get caught. I was a minor then. But since I'm tall and my make-up is thick. No one knew me.

I was sixteen when I first tasted wine. I also try to smoke out of curiosity. I tried to do all the things I hadn’t experienced when I was still alive as Helena. Of course except for illegal activities other than entering the area under the right age.

That was repeated a few more times but not often. Most of my reasons for doing that is to dance with my crush and to appreciate handsome faces. It's so good to be a teenager! Khalil is always with me every time I go, so someone takes me home while everyone is still asleep at home. I still can’t believe I reached legal age without Mommy catching up.

I also get into fights a lot, especially outside of school. But I make sure I never get hit in the face because I don’t want anyone to notice at home. Is it my fault that I'm so jealous of my beauty because of my closeness with Khalil?

So because of that, we trained Khalil's martial arts together. Time management is easy because we are both smart and don't need much education.

"Ate Betty, I just wanted to say goodbye. It looks good soaking in the sea." I said while carrying a small bag containing a towel and an extra t-shirt.

"Oh, take this Teresa with you! It's hard to swim alone! There are aggressive men who go for a walk on the beach sometimes." He says. I thought about what he said. Just wait ..

"Ate Betty, I was still wondering yesterday. Why are there so few tourists here? Almost all of them are foreigners." I comment.

"Op kors never that sea is full! Only a few can afford it, Loraine." Said Sister Teresa. "This island is private and there's only one hotel nearby. Luxury hotel yet! The owner of that hotel is Adam Craig Weston. If you see a hottie who is red haired and always surfing, that's him!" He seemed thrilled to add more. Wait, red haired man who loves to surf?

"Because today's youth are so handsome, tsk. If only we were born in this generation." Sister Betty added.

"That's why, Ate. I'm jealous of young women with young skin! Loraine, do you know that I dreamed of such a beautiful face and body when I was young? Why are you so tall! You can model at that height. " Praise be to Sister Teresa. This distracted me and he just smiled back.

Actually, I also tried to dive into modeling at school. The case I wasn’t used to the camera so I didn’t pursue it. Khalil even teased me because of that. I'm the only one of our age who doesn't like to pose in front of the camera and take selfies. That’s why I only have a few photos saga my social media accounts.

Ate Teresa accompanied me to the beach. He brought my belongings and applied sun block to me. I think he is more concerned about my skin than I am. When I was on the beach I reluctantly took off my sandals and went down into the water wearing my one piece.

"Ay jusko, that boy is really handsome." I heard Sister Teresa say. I turned in the direction he was pointing. My eyes widened at what I saw.

The red haired hottie with a surf board! And he's walking straight in this direction. He's approaching me with a handsome smile on his lips!

What could he possibly want from me?

TO BE CONTINUED.....