CHAPTER 19

I wake up as a sudden movement beside me rustles. Half-sleep, I try to open my eyes but I'm greeted by a sudden headache. As I try to sit up, I couldn't move, my body is sore. Very sore that every part of my body wants more rest. I try to remember what happened last night. I recall having a drink with Noah, eventually he got drunk, he started kissing me, and... and what? Why can't I remember? Was I drunk too? I just drank one glass!! Ughh..

Endless possibilities keeping popping out of my head but I can't seem to recall anything. I carefully open my eyes and saw a silhouette on the edge of the bed, standing beside the window. The movements I'm so familiar with. "...Noah..?" I said softly, slowly reaching for the hand of this silhouette. But eventually stopped by a headache again, making my reaching hands fall on the bed.

I hear blurred noises as my vision starts to swirl around endlessly. I fight back which makes my vision more blurred that it was before. I completely open my eyes, finding myself in Noah's room but no sign of Noah. Huh? I swear he was here a minute ago. I carefully move my sore body as I get out of bed. Assisting myself and careful not to fall, I hold my head with one hand and focus. I reach the door and careful open the door knob. As I got out, I saw him. The love of my life. Walking up the stairs. I smile as I was about to take a step towards him, I froze.

I saw him, holding another woman. A beautiful woman. Someone completely out of my league. She's fashionably dressed and I hate to admit that she has looks that could steal a man's heart right away. Her skin flawlessly shining against the light of the hallway. Her long hair waving down her shoulders, as she takes his hand, smiling with each other's gaze.

I remove my gaze to her and looked at Noah instead. He's smiling. The smile that. was supposed to be shown to me only. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I was practically resisting the urge to cry. No! This isn't true!

They started walking towards me. As I was about to say something to Noah, he passed through me, entering his room. Bewildered, My whole body started shaking as I could not contain myself and fell on the floor. My headache coming back, I held my head, practically fighting of the pain with tears in my eyes. Shouting and praying that this is not happening. I clench my aching heart fighting every doubt I have for him.

"No!! There is no way! He would never! This is just a dream! Let it be a dream! Please! Please! I beg you! WAKE ME FROM THIS NIGHTMARE!!!" I practically shout my heart out, with tears that wouldn't stop.

"NO!!" I shout as I woke up from the nightmare that hit me. I couldn't breathe properly. My head still lost in complete thoughts of the nightmare I just had. Panting heavily as I sat up on the bed I was lying on, I realized I'm in Noah's room. I got up and started looking for Noah. The bathroom, my room, the hallway. I ran down the kitchen in my pajamas and there I saw him. Cooking breakfast. I let out a sigh of relief as I reassured myself that he isn't that kind of person. But I couldn't take my mind off of the woman with him in my dream. I take small steps toward him and he notices me.

"Morning prin—" He said as he looked at me with sudden worry. He immediately put the eggs on the plate and he approached me. He holds my shoulders and makes eye contact with me. As if examining my eyes, he spoke. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong" I answered without hesitation. Telling him might just bother us both and make it completely awkward for us. So I just try to brush it off. I take his arms and put them down.

"Let's have breakfast" I said as I walked pass Noah towards the eggs but hands took my waist and hoisted me up the kitchen counter. As he placed his hands on either side me, my heart started beating, worrying this might just be a dream also. I stopped and looked into his eyes and softly carassed his cheek, realizing how much I love him and how afraid am I if he leaves me. I could feel tears forming in my eyes and fell. I cry silently covering my lips with the back of my hand. Sobbing in front of him I can't help but feel embarassed, until he wiped my tears with his thumb and I opened my eyes to look at him. I see him looking at me with a concerned look, as if seeing me like this is torture for him.

"Please?" He asked. And I just nodded without thinking. I started off when I dreamt of my head hurting, looking for him, and I saw him with the woman. His face was in complete shock when he heard the description of the woman I saw with him.

"It couldn't be..." He mumbled, even though I heard him. Am I missing something..? Does he really know the woman..? Why did I dream of her..? Is this a sign..? Countless questions. But only one was spoken.

"Who is she?" I asked him. He let out a sigh and continued. "A suitress" Wait, whose suitress? I was about to ask but he answered. "MY suitress"

I couldn't believe it. She.. appeared in my dream. I'm speechless. Awkward silence covered the room and he was the first of the break it. "I met her in the company branch in America.. Her name is Jennifer.. We worked together for quite sometime and apparently she developed feelings for me.. I didn't entertain her... She was forcing me to break up with you that time.. so she could be with me. But you already know that I belong to you right..?" He asked as he took my hand and squeezed it. He gave me a reassuring smile as well as a kiss at the back of my hand. In response, I just nodded with a slight smile on my lips.

"But why did she.. appear in my dream?" I asked him, puzzled and confused.

"I have no idea. But I know your tummy is growling like a bear." He said as he poked my stomach softly, making me laugh for just a small bit. He smiled at me as he held his hand out. But I couldn't possibly have breakfast yet.. not if I mark him as mine.

As I took his hand, I pulled him to me and gave him a passionate kiss. Our lips creating sounds that just gives more reason for him to be mine. He held my waist and I moved to his neck, licking, sucking, and kissing it non-stop. I could hear him groaning and moaning as I possess him with complete pleasure. "... A-Anette.." just hearing him groaning turns me on. I stop and straighten up as I look at him. He's practically out of breath and I could feel his heart beating faster than normal. "W-What was that for..?" He asked, touching his lips with his finger and blushes. He touched his neck gently and his eyes widened.

"I-I needed to mark you. That way if she comes back, I'll show her you're mine" I said, coming down the counter with an embarrassed look on my face. I went to get the eggs and fixed the table, he just stood there, his face reddening even more.

I couldn't believe I did that. As I feel purely embarrassed of what just happened, I start to feel uneasy. As I sat on the table across him, we just barely spoke a word. A tense atmosphere was covering the kitchen. Only the sounds of the utensils clashing gently on our plates. As I try to catch a glimpse of him, I could barely imagine him not looking at me. He looks uneasy, his shoulders are close to being stiff with the tense he's probably carrying. Without hesitation, I break the silence.

"Was it that awkward for you to be all silent here?" I asked him and he turned to gaze at me. I reached to his hands that is on the table and squeezed it gently. "You don't have to worry about the dream. I'm right here. She won't come back." After that, he smiled and we continued our breakfast but with bits of stories and laughter in it.

After breakfast, we went to do our daily routine. I actually imposed this routine because he's too lazy to even think about anything else but me. Not to actually brag but it's the truth. After our workout, I headed straight for the bath and calming myself with the soothingly warm water cleansing my body. Just then I realized we have the afternoon off again. And how about we go on for a walk. A date. Again. I mean. We just had a date once. Oh wait! I'll take him to my place. This is gonna be fun!

Just as I finished and dressed up for our home visit. I quickly knocked on his door. "Noah?" No answer. I guess he's taking a bath. Just as I was going to turn away, the knob turned and the door open. Revealing a half-naked Noah fresh from the bathroom. My eyes pierced as every drop of water falls from his hair onto his bare skin. As I was unconsciously staring the hell out of him, I was invited inside.

He offered me a seat on the bed and he went to his closet to take some clothes. "So, what's with the outfit?" He asked, snapping me back to reality.

"Oh, I'm taking you home today!" I suddenly blurted out with a smile on my face. His eyes wide opened than soon turned into a devilish smirk. Wait! That came out wrong! I aggressively shake my head and hands. Embarrassed, I look away, cupping the back of my neck.

"I MEANT— Let's visit my place! Y-you gonna know where I live don't you?" I softly said. Without noticing him coming closer, he takes my wrist and pulls me to him. Our faces inches from touching, I can practically feel his breath as I look at him. My heart skips several beats as he slowly leans closer, and I close my eyes. For a few seconds, nothing happens. Curious to what is happening, I gently open my eyes, and see Noah suppressing a laugh. In annoyance, I push him away but his grip just gets tighter, and he pulls me close to him and whispers in my ear. "Is this how you ask me out on a date?" I could imagine him smirking as he says this, making my face redder than usual.

He lets go and dresses up as I wait for him outside his door. A few moments, he goes out and holds my hand. He looks at me, expressionless. "Let's go"

As he was practically dragging me gently, I offered to show him the way. As we're already on the neighborhood I live in, we pass by several stores which I'm kind of known to be regulars on. The vendors and guys greet me with waves and some call out my name. As I greet them back, I sensed Noah's hand was squeezing mine tighter. I turn to look at him and he's just looking at the street we're passing through. As we made it to our house, I knock on the door, thinking someone might be home. I guess no one's home.

"Why are you knocking? Don't you live alone?" He asked.

"No, I don't. I have my friend staying with me." I answered as I took out my key. As I unlock the door, I turn to look at Noah. "If you see her sleeping, don't mention anything about it to her, she'll go crazy. She doesn't like people seeing her sleep"

Unlocked. The door swung open. And we see..

The living room a total mess. Shattered glass, broken wood, dislocated furniture. As if someone broke in. My eyes wide open, my mind went blank, the only thing in my mind is..

Cherry.

I rush over to the bedroom, shouting her name. Praying and hoping she's there, sleeping. But I also see, the bedroom a complete disaster. The curtains broken and the cabinets forced open. I see our picture frame on the ground, the broken glass scattered on the floor. And on it... blood. Blood dripping from the glass shards. My heart could barely hold the shock I have on what's happening at the moment. And at the corner of my eye, something gleaming under the bed. The little light shines under the dark bed, making me curious, as I reach to it, I feel a sharp end. A knife. But not just any knife. I took it and just as I was not ready to encounter this, the knife is covered with blood.

My tears are practically falling everytime I think about possibilities that might have occured. And I heard Noah call my name. I ran to the kitchen to find Noah holding a piece of paper. I took the paper and read what it says.

"Now I got her wrapped around my little finger"