LIA POV
He groaned and fell off me while I stood up, opened the door and fled the condo. Would I regret my actions? Yes. Do I care? Yes. Would I go back there? No. For some reason, I felt Greg would protect me. I wanted to be free. I wanted to be like every other girl who could dream and be herself without fear.
“You good-for-nothing wench, I'll come for you,” I heard him yell while I raced into a cab and hurried the park. I could not afford to pay another bill at the luxurious hotel. I needed a new space because my former apartment scared the shit out of me. However, luck smiled on me when Greg's call came through. I could not wait to calculate what to say before picking his call because I was eager to see him. I needed some place to hide myself more than anything. I had just played with the tail of a lion and he was prepared to devour me, leaving no crumbs.
“Hey,” he said with his gentle voice that sent shivers down my spine. I giggled with excitement. However, I hid my delight so as to complain about his detachment from me when he took the trip. He neither called nor sent a message. I wondered what he was doing that kept him away from his phone.
I could not stop wondering if he was actually a criminal but I was head over heels in love to worry about his crimes. He has shown me mercy and given me joy when no one else would. He loved me wholeheartedly even more than I loved myself. It was quite obvious in the way he always treated me, running to my rescue whenever I needed help.
“Hi,” I replied, panting low-key at a corner beside the hotel. The gate was bustling with cars of different sizes moving in and out. I was so confused about what to do or how to react. I wanted to get mad at him, yell or even cut the call to prove my annoyance but it vanished gradually with each breath I heard him take over the phone.
“Can I come over to visit? I’ve missed you,” he said plainly. I scoffed then looked at my nails. One was cut in the middle while I was trying to escape from the terrorist who held me hostage.
“No! No! No! Can I come over instead, please?” I asked with a pleading voice which was weird at that point. Unexpectedly, he hesitated before giving a reply. Different thoughts started playing in my mind. What if he had found another girl or he already had another woman? Several what ifs started pouring into my head.
“I'll pick you up. Still at the academy?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I replied and cut the call instantly. I had to reach the academy that very minute. I can't even understand why I told the lie. My body trembled as I watched the toad to ail a cab. I had not recovered from what transpired between me and Fred. In a few minutes, I got a cab and arrived at the academy to meet Greg leaning on his car. He watched me as I alighted from the car while I avoided his eyes as I approached him. I kept thinking of what to say but words failed me.
“Seems you want to say something. Go on,” he said, standing upright. Then I raised my face to meet his blue eyes. His face held no expression as he watched me.
“Why did you lie to me?” he asked, watching me as I fidgeted. Why do I have to explain my life to everyone?
“It's not how it seems,” I said, defending myself.
“I'm not even mad at you for getting out of a cab. You're free to do whatever pleases you but why make me wait out here after claiming you were here?” he asked, still watching me. I looked at my feet then without a warning, wrapped my arms around him. I bet he must have been startled but he said nothing.
“I'm sorry for making you wait for no reason. I'll explain it all to you when it's just us,” I said.
“Well, it's just us now so spill it,” he replied, still with his expressionless face.
“I mean, when we're at someplace private,” I replied, caressing his neck.
“That’s no problem then. Get in! Let's head to your place,” he said, dangling his car keys as he moved to the other side of the car and sat in the driver's seat.
“Remember what we discussed? Let's head to yours,” I said, sitting beside him. Several minutes later, we arrived at his apartment. After we had walked into the house. I embraced him from behind. He grinned then turned to face me and wrapped his arm around me.
“I can't even pretend to be mad at you for a long time. I'm sorry for staying away. I was wrapped up in something so I could not call. I promise that it would never happen again,” he said, holding my finger for a pinky swear.
It was a sign that it was time we came clean about our personal lives but I wasn't ready to own up to mine. How could I? I'd rather keep it a secret for now but if I remain secretive, he'll also remaining secretive meaning he'll tell me nothing about the actual truth of what happened when he traveled.
“I hope you'd keep your promise,” I said, staring at our hands. He grinned then lifted me up from the ground. I could hear Lift Me From the Ground by San Holo ft Sofie Winterson playing in my head. I shut my eyes, wrapping my arms around his neck. He dropped me gently by the couch and knelt in front of me. For a split second, I thought he'd propose marriage to me. I heart beat faster and I gulped in saliva as if I was dried up of water. My mind was going wild?
How would I get married when I was still fighting to be free from being a sex slave? Do I tell him everything now or just pretend like everything's okay? I held my chest with another arm while he gazed at me lovingly.
“I —”, I stuttered as I could not place my words properly.