20 - Offended

A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means it has not yet been proofread or edited.

***

"Easy, woman," he pulled the form from her grip and used it to eat the pasta.

"Let's get to know each other better, partner."

Kalonice grimaced, "You don't know me. I won't let you know me."

"Whatever you say. You're stuck with me for two years. I'm very observant. I will know you sooner than later," he insisted and slurped the pasta, leaving sauce around his mouth.

He never knew there will be a time where he will understand why his father is head over heels to his mother. A slave and dog of her love. Their relationship is odd; a love and hate relationship. A language only they can understand. His mother is not one to openly show affection. She's cold outside but very warm inside. While his father...

He's Larry.

And he could see his mother on Kalonice. Strong and wise. Though they came from different statuses, they emit the same powerful energy.

He need someone like Kalonice in his life. She also have what it takes to survive in their world.

He have lots of time to get to know her. For now, he will play along fate's current, let it take him where it want to take him, as he sort himself out and find out the feelings, intentions, and motives he harbors for Kalonice.

But Kalonice is determined to hear his reasons.

"Is it because you want to have sex with me?"

It choked him harder that he turned violet. Kalonice stayed in the same position, watching him struggle. It was as if...she wants him to die from choking?

Even though the hot chocolate is still somehow hot, he drank it to the bottom and yelled out, "What the fuck!?"

Kalonice was unfazed. She's still serious and unbothered.

Many have told her and praised her about her natural beauty. She's 'gifted', they say. She has been a subject of sexual harassment all her life because of her appearance. Men will often make advances to her that even while she's working, she will get notes and calls from men who wants to sleep with her. 'With pay', they assured.

"Do you think I'm a creep!?"

"But you have a dick," Kalonice pointed out, "All men are the same."

That...left Midas speechless while still coughing.

"I'm so fucking offended," he huffed.

His jaw locking, his fingers curling into tight fists at his sides. The air between them crackled, charged with something dark and dangerous.

Kalonice knew she had hit a nerve, but she didn't back down. Arms crossed, her gaze piercing, she repeated herself with the same sharp edge.

Midas's breath left him in a sharp, bitter exhale.

His voice, when he spoke, was low, restrained---but shaking with fury.

"You think that little of me?"

"I think that little of men."

His eyes bore into hers, his presence towering, suffocating.

But this wasn't about intimidation.

It was personal.

"I have done a lot of selfish, ruthless things in my life, Kalonice." His voice was measured, but his breathing was tight, controlled---like he was barely holding himself together.

"But don't you ever---ever, reduce this to that."

She saw the way his hands trembled---not with weakness, but with the force of his own restraint.

"This hurts not only mine but my mother's pride, too. She didn't raise me to be like that. I am no dog in heat, Montecristo. I am cruel, but I am not a fucking beast."

"You think this is about sex?" His voice turned sharp, cutting, "You think I'd go this far, insert myself into your life, into Candice's life, just for that?"

His lips curled, the offense raw in his tone, "If that's the kind of man you think I am, then you don't know me at all."

Kalonice's breath hitched, but she refused to let him see how his words affected her.

Midas shook his head, scoffing bitterly. He leaned back, running a frustrated hand through his hair, his control slipping for the first time.

He get it. He truly get it---why her guards are up, why she's going against him way too strong, he get it. But to make his image look like that? He's so hurt and accused.

"I don't need to do all of this if I just wanted you in my bed. Because if that was the case, Kalonice, you would've been there already."

Kalonice's eyes widened at him but he meant every word he just said.

"So, it really is about sex---"

"It's not, okay!? I may not look like it, but I'm a gentleman! I won't take a woman only for us to fuck! I want a wife, not a slut!"

Kalonice gasped.

"Y-You want to marry me?"

"What---"

Midas pushed himself down the couch and groaned on the pillow.

Kalonice sighed.

"Please, if you want me to beg, then I'm begging you---don't enter my life. You don't know what you're getting yourself into. I'm a mess. You will hate it here."

Her voice is low with a hint of gloom, "You will be very disappointed of me, I'm telling you."

She doesn't want to commit herself into this, into what Midas wants to have with her. It's scary. She's afraid.

"Then if ever that I do," Midas got back up. They looked at each other's eyes; one is determined and the other is already despairing.

Then he smirked wickedly, something Kalonice did not expect.

"Why would I do that? You're Kalonice Montecristo and I brought myself into this. I should be the one getting disappointed on myself. But on you? I wouldn't dare, Miss Architect."

Kalonice feel her whole face burning up. She was flustered.

"D-Don't call me that! I'm not---I'm not an architect yet!"

Midas was satisfied to see his little effect on her. Other than being beautiful, she can be cute, too.

~

"It's okay, you don't have to go to school if you don't want to," Kalonice said to Candice with a smile, "I will leave you to Reverend Marcus, so be nice to Father, okay?"

"But---But I want to go with you, Mommy!"

Candice hugged her Barby.

"No, I have a defense today. Don't be stubborn or else, I won't bring you with me to America."

"America!"

Kalonice removed her bracelet, "I will keep this for a while. Only bring your toys there."

Ali and Francis left first. Kalonice was busy packing their things in a medium luggage that she didn't had the time to send them off. When all is done, she took a bath and started preparing for her defense.

She wore a below the knee black skirt and paired it with a tucked-in long sleeve top. She tied her hair into a neat, single ponytail. For the finishing touches, she wore her two-inches heels.

"Candice, let's go!"

"Okay, Mommy!"

Candice wore her backpack and ran to her. Reverend Marcus was very happy to see her and promised to look after Candice closely. She left with a relieved heart knowing that Candice is with a trustworthy man, a man of God.

It's still early when she arrived, so she spent the rest of the hours in the cafeteria to review her thesis and presentation. Her chest is drumming but she's keeping it cool. She had done it before and she will do it again. She can do it.

Meanwhile, Midas is swinging on his chair left and right. He's been in the same room since morning, listening to students yap about their thesis. He's bored and he's not enjoying it at all. Though he's listening and questioning them, he does it lazily. He's not in his usual beast mode attitude. The students fear him most and when wind of his 'calmness' reached others, they got fired up. They went through recitals with their group mates, polishing everything so they won't get scolded by the Midas Yzaguirre.

"Before we head to the next group, let's take a break first," said the Chairman, an unfamiliar person to Midas.

"When is Montecristo's turn?" he asked while distracting himself using his phone. His IG notification is bombarded with comments and likes.

The Chairman checked the last students to defend their thesis.

Midas tapped the online game in his phone to play. Then he remembered,

He have her number!

So, what's he gonna do? Message her, of course!