RANSOM GIFT: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Commanding Proposal, Hidden Proposal, Ransom Proposal) Page 6

  “I miss you every single day, even when I’m with you. So Paris is going to be hell.” He said to me.

  I felt the urge to cry. It was just so sad that in few months, I may not be able to hug him close to me like this for each and every day, but rather just for weekends, which was meant to be so short. OMG! I wanted to cry so hard… But the last thing I wanted to happen was him changing him mind in doing something that would make him closer to his dreams. And so I’ve decided to just savor this moment, make sure those weekends would be of deep quality and just wait for a whole year.

  “This is too deep, do you want some breakfast? I’ll go get some.” I asked him.

  He kissed my forehead. “I’ll come with you.” He said.

  “No, it’s okay. It’ll be just for few minutes. Go take a shower.” I suggested him.

  “I thought we won’t be separating before I leave?” He asked, trying to sound like a little brat.

  “Those few minutes will be my training. I don’t want to die the moment you leave.” I joked. “Besides, I know you need to make an abstract today for your collection, so you have to get ready.” I said

  He laughed about it. It was actually very cute that we can start laughing about it. It might be a good thing. I mean, a whole year of weekdays might be a good idea for missing each other, and a year after, togetherness was the best idea thing to think about, and it should help us get by the hardest and most challenging times. I stood up at my feet, dressed myself, and softly kissed his lips before heading out of the door.

  It’s so early in the morning, and some Spanish people seemed to be getting ready for the day ahead. I felt the Spanish ambiance, and it made me smile knowing Gary’s here with me. I stopped by my favorite restaurant, and got me and Gary a nice breakfast meal for two. It’s our first breakfast in our apartment, and I knew that I should’ve cooked, but I never learned how to cook. All those months that I have been trying to live independently in New York, I was actually just buying my food. The only time my kitchen was of purpose was during when Gary cooked for me.

  It didn’t take me too long, like I promised Gary. I was back with our breakfast, and found him in his after-shower look with a towel wrapped around his waist. He looked so amazingly hot. I tried not to squeak.

  “Here’s breakfast.” I told him.

  He then turned to look at my direction, and he smiled. OMG… Am I really willing to see this only during weekends?

  I was in the middle of my self-assessment when he’s decided to come over, and gave me a kiss. I savored his taste, tried to make the most out of that split second kiss. That’s all I could do for now.

  “Do you want me to come with you at your workshop?” I asked him.

  Gary and I have found him a workshop for the next whole month since he needs to finish his collection before leaving for Paris for a whole year.

  “No, baby, I’ll be fine. I know you still have to do things here before dad come over this afternoon.” He said. I nodded at him with a smile. Oh, so I will be left out here all alone…

  He continued preparing to go, and I was just watching him intently. God he’s amazing…

  “What’s that?” He said looking at the paper bag I placed on our little dining table.

  “These are our breakfast.” I answered him.

  He walked over to help me prepare them for the both of us. “I’m sorry I didn’t cook.” I said to him.

  He looked at me, and he flashed his sweetest smile. “Baby, it’s alright.” I felt so loved, accepted and understood. I thought that’s all that matters.

  After eating our breakfast, he walked over to me, and he touched my head, caressing my hair. I placed my arms around his waist, stared at him.

  I shifted my stare to his lips, and I unconsciously bit my lip. It has made him giggle. I enjoyed seeing him like that—as if he was very into the idea of how much he makes me long for him… every single day.

  “I have to go. Be a good girl, okay?” He joked.

  I smiled sweetly at him. “I will.” I answered him.

  He kissed my lips, and I accidentally had a stare towards the wall clock that came in with the apartment package, and I saw that he’s a bit an hour earlier for workshop.

  As far as I’ve learned, his workshop won’t open after an hour and thirty minutes. And travelling to that place would only take him few minutes of walk.

  Hmm… maybe he just wanted to make sure that he won’t be late. It’s weird, yes but I shouldn’t doubt him just for that.

  I wanted to ask him so bad, but I was scared that he might not find it very offensive. So I just kept my mouth shut because I never wanted to cause him that kind of thinking that I was having a bit of doubts about his loyalty.

  I mean, screw loyalty issues as that’s going to be really foul. Or so I thought.

  I watched him walk out of our apartment door.

  God that felt so good to call this thing ‘ours’. I felt this sudden sting of pain in my chest, for some reasons I couldn’t ever explain.

  He wasn’t even doing something wrong, why on Earth would I feel very humiliated and betrayed?

  I was indeed becoming this crazy bitch with some alter ego that he partner was just about to see and hate. I shook the idea out of my head. No, I can’t be that wrong version of myself. This was the version of me that he came to know and love, I should remain to be her at all costs.

  I tried to keep myself busy so I won’t be paranoid of the stuff going on. It’s been thirty minutes since Gary left, and I was half-way done cleaning our small apartment—packing things unnecessary, piling up our clothes and pretty much normal unpacking activities.

  I was in the middle of this thought when I heard the doorbell ringing. Who could it be? It’s still too early for dad to come over. Besides, we haven’t told this address to anyone yet.

  I gestured to open up the door when I heard a familiar voice calling out for me. “Kris, it’s me.” It’s Clemente. What’s he—? How did he—?

  I opened up the door for him, and he was soaked in rain. Wait, was it raining? OMG! Gary!

  “Clemente… What are you—?” I wasn’t able to finish my sentence because he suddenly leaned over to kiss me. It was very intruding and pushy.

  “Stop…!” I cried while fighting the weight of his arms. I pushed him, but I couldn’t push him too far to slap him so hard in his freaking face. “Clemente, please stop it!” I literally begged him.

  He was totally not playing fair, and there was no chance that he was going to stop anytime soon as he’s already wetting my cheeks and neck, it’s so gross!

  I was both crying and begging him to stop.

  I didn’t want it. It felt very wrong, and it was like as if I was being raped. Sure, maybe a year ago, this would’ve been an ideal thing to do, but I’ve got Gary now.

  He’s all that matters.

  All of a sudden, he was off me, and I was panting due to both fear and being grossed out. He was no way near my sight, so I tried to check out where he was so I would know if I was already safe.

  But to my surprise, he was in the hall, being dragged by Gary! OMG! Gary’s here. My hero… But what’s he doing in here?

  I saw Gary beating the shit out of Clemente, and my whole body was just filled with so much horror. OMG! I rushed to stop him, and the moment I touched his arms, he halted. I guess he didn’t want to accidentally hurt me.

  “Baby…” I begged him to stop.

  “Stop…” Clemente begged him to stop. “You are going to pay for this!” He promised when he got up to his feet and gained his balance.

  The nerve of this guy! “Just go, Clemente!” I ordered him to leave.

  The soonest he was out of our sight, Gary looked at me horrified if I was hurt or traumatized. “I’m alright, Gary…” I said to him.

  What’s going on? “I swear I’ll kill him if he’s hurt you.” He said with such fury that I have never ever seen before. He suddenly turned into this person I have no idea who was, for the sake of defen
ding me. Awww…

  “Come, let me put on first aid to those bruises.” I told him as I lead him back to our apartment.

  “I don’t care if I go to jail, I will kill that m*therf*cker!” He cursed.

  Whoa! Baby! Slow your row. Enough with the curses…

  “Baby, thank you so much, I appreciate what you’ve done, but you shouldn’t have did too much.” I rebuked him.

  He stared down at his fingers looking like a little kid guilty of beating the shit out of his playmate.

  I knew something bad was going to happen. I mean, it wasn’t like Clemente but I was pretty sure that he’s going to make such big deal out of it since he’s a different person now. So, I did some damage control… I called dad.

  “Dad, something happened. Clemente came over, I have no idea where he got our address, he did bad things to me, and Gary has caught him and beat him… hard.” I bombarded my dad with information.

  My dad was speechless for few seconds. “Let me come over.” He said.

  “Thanks, dad…” I said, and then I hung up the call.

  Chapter 4

  We heard a knock from the door, and it was my dad. We let him enter the house, hugged him and he comforted me and Gary. I knew that he was going to do everything he can for us, but I was worried that even my dad’s efforts may not be that enough. It was a physical assault. But I had to have faith for Gary.

  “Did you get him hard?” My dad asked Gary.

  Gary was definitely caught off guard by my dad’s question, but nonetheless, he answered dad with the truth. “Yes, dad… I’m so sorry. I lose control. I got blacked out when I saw him doing—”

  “Good. He deserved it.” My dad answered. “Are you okay, hija?”

  I felt my father’s support. Well, Gary and I were on the side of truth. Besides, none of these would ever happen if Clemente didn’t try to do me wrong. It was his fault.

  “I talked to Atty. Ramirez, and he said it would work, but only if Kristina would admit that she was attempted to be raped by Clemente.” Dad has obviously rejected the words that came out from his mouth.

  OMG! So to be able to save Gary, I should humiliate myself? I glanced at Gary, and he’s absolutely off with the idea. I knew him, and if I had the right knowledge about my man, he’s not going to do it.

  “And it will be a series of role plays with the crime scene, and the likes.” My dad warned. “But don’t worry. I will make sure to do whatever it takes so you could come clean. Trust me.” Dad promised.

  Gary gave him a weak smile. “Thanks, dad, and I’m really sorry.”

  “No, hijo… you did the right thing. Thank you for protecting my daughter. I will make sure we’ll turn this situation around.” My dad said.

  I felt a bit relaxed now. I knew then that my dad will take care of all these, so I don’t have to worry too much.

  After an hour of countless comforting and hatred for Clemente, my dad has left our apartment to tend to one of his schedules for the day. We already took up so much of his time, so we didn’t keep him for long.

  Once dad was out, I looked at Gary, and he still seemed so stressed about the Clemente issue. I walked up to him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Shhh… Baby, you did the right thing. Thank you so much.”

  He held my arms and he caressed them with the back of his hands. “I almost killed him if you didn’t come up to me.” He confessed.

  It startled me—the fact that he could do that for me gave me chills, the kind I wasn’t sure was good. “Hush… let’s just forget about it for a while, until we need to address the issue, okay? By the way, what were you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at your workshop?” I asked.

  Oh, thank goodness he was here to defend me. It could have been very worst between us. I shook the thought out of my system, and I had to cheer myself up so I could do the same for him. It’s really nice to feel that I can always count on him for things like this, but the last thing that I wanted to happen was for him to go to jail just for me. It’s not how I wanted him to show his love for me. That’s just wrong.

  All of a sudden, I knew what I had to do. But I had to wait for things to cool down or at least for Gary to be out of sight before I could even do it.

  “I was just planning to buy something for you, and drop it here.” He said.

  He wanted to buy something for me? Awww… He’s just so sweet.

  “But I thought we’re in a tight budget now?” I asked him, looking and actually feeling so confused.

  “We are. But I was saving for this for quite couple of months now.” He said.

  I was absolutely thrilled to know what it was. Well, regardless of the commotion going on, his efforts were more than enough to make things alright for me.

  “What is it?” I asked with a stupid grin on my face.

  He was amused with my ability to shift mood after what just happened to me. “Are you sure you weren’t traumatized or whatever?” He asked.

  I shook my head. “I’m alright. As long as I have you, I’ll always be alright.” I said to him.

  He was obviously moved by my words. It was also because he knew that I meant every word of it. Why else would I be alright after being attempted of rape if it wasn’t for him? I wasn’t that crazy.

  “Maybe next time… I want everything to be ideal for you.” He said.

  Did he say ideal for me? What’s that even mean? I tried to make a fake sad face, and I pouted to make my point. But he just laughed at it. I felt a bit childish with what I was doing, but I wasn’t scared to show him the lighter side of me… not at all.

  “Puh-lease….” I begged him.

  He shook his head while laughing softly. I secretly wished that we’ll always be like this. Well, we were going to be like this, if only Clemente didn’t do stupid stuff at me.

  “Are you going back to the workshop?” I asked him.

  He considered the thought. “No, of course not… I’m not going to leave you here on your own.”

  Awww…

  I didn’t want to argue. He has a point. Besides, I was also scared as hell. I didn’t want to go through that miserable and helpless situation again. Oh, hell no!

  “Okay, well, go rest in the bedroom. You must be exhausted. Oh, I forgot, let’s see your hands.” I said, trying to reach for his hands, and he gave them to me. Fortunately, he’s got no bruises. I was just so glad that he’s not as hurt as I thought he was.

  “Do they hurt?”

  He shook his head. “No…” He flashed me a weak smile.

  “Oh, thank God. Go rest for a while, baby.”

  He smiled at me once again, and he stood up at his feet to walk towards our bed. I felt the urge to do what I had to do, but I didn’t want to let Gary to find out because it might tear him apart—well, him and his ego.

  “Baby, I’m just going to get some eggs.” I asked for her permission.

  He abruptly stood up to come with me, but I gestured to stop him. “I’m alright. I’ll call you if there’s anything, and it will only take like five minutes… just downstairs.” I stopped him.

  “Are you going to be fine alone?”

  I nodded, trying to put on a fake smile.

  “Okay, but please don’t take too long.” He said.

  I blew him a kiss as I didn’t want to interrupt his rest anymore. I walked out of the apartment feeling guilty for what I was about to do.

  I reached for my phone, and I dialed Clemente’s number.

  “Kristina.” He answered after three rings.

  I suddenly felt that grieve hatred for him. “What were you thinking?” It was a good start.

  “I know. I’m so sorry.” He said.

  What? It wasn’t quite the reaction I was expecting from him.

  “Since it’s your fault, can you just forget what happened, and we’ll do the same?”

  It took him few seconds to react back, and my heart was beating really loudly on my chest.

  “No, I’m sorry but I’m going to sue him.
” He said.

  What the fuck? The nerve of this guy! Who is he???

  “Please, Clemente.” I begged him.

  “One condition…”

  For some reasons, I had this strong feeling that I wasn’t going to like that ‘one condition’.

  “What condition?” I asked him nervously.

  “Leave him.” He said.

  What? What the hell? “Clemente… I—I can’t…” I wasn’t able to finish my sentence.

  “It’s your choice. Prepare yourself to see Gary inside the prison for the rest of his cheap fucking life.” He said with obvious tone of raging anger. And then he hung up.

  Oh God. What was I supposed to do? My only choice was to go to the police station and report an almost rape. So, I didn’t bother to go to Gary or to dad, I just went on the nearest police station, and I reported everything that has happened. I introduced myself as my dad’s daughter, and everyone was sympathetic and very helpful to me.

  I had no idea how Gary would react to what I did, but I was just pretty sure that Clemente went straight ahead to a hospital before he would report this, and knowing him, he’d collect lawyers and shits before he’s make his ‘wise’ action. Not me, I never had the chance to think. I made my ‘wisest’ plan, but it didn’t work, so I didn’t really care what’s going to happen to him. It’s so sad to see our situation right now. I used to love Clemente with all my heart, for crying out loud. The thing was he left me. He agreed to be some Japanese girl’s fiancé, and I was left on the cold. Gary found me he rescued me and now, I just couldn’t live without him. The Clemente decided to want me. That’s just so stupid. I went home after an hour, and I glanced at my phone to see if Gary was looking for me. And, yes, I had forty missed calls and twenty five messages asking where I was—ten of those missed calls came from my father.

  I dialed Gary’s number, and he answered it right away. I head the overflowing fear and concern from his voice, and he told me that he rushed to dad’s to ask for help since I was nowhere to be found. Good thing that I called before they even make necessary actions. I felt so guilty.

  “I’m on my way home, I’m so sorry.” I apologized with all my heart, not only for being out of sight for more than an hour, but for the reason I was out of sight for more than an hour.