Chapters 19 - Ayumi Clarck - Part 2

***Crazy dreams and finding him.

Three weeks later…*

It has been three weeks since Mayke came to take my statement. He said I could rely on him. We started getting closer and talking more. Now I am here in this huge apartment all alone because Kaléo had to go to work. There was an unexpected situation that he had to handle. I decide to watch a movie, but then my phone rings. I pick it up from the table and see that it's Mayke. I smile as his photo appears on the screen.

“Hey, super captain, how are you?” I hear him smiling.

“Hi, Yumi, I'm doing fine. And you?”

“I'm good. Any news? Did they find him?”

“Not yet, Ayumi. We got the footage from the pub, but we couldn't see his face properly because of the cap he was wearing. However, a composite sketch has been made, and now we just have to wait.”

“Yeah, true,” I take a deep breath to keep myself from panicking because this lunatic is still out there.

“Ayumi, what are you going to do now? I mean, at this exact moment?”

“Well, I was going to watch a movie. Why?”

“Have you had lunch yet?”

“No, not yet, but I'll see what Aurora left in the fridge later. Why?”

“Oh! It's her day off, right? I forgot. So, do you want to have lunch with me?”

“Sure! I'm alone here anyway, and I have no desire to go out, let alone have lunch alone.”

“That's great. I'm coming up now,” I start smiling.

“So, were you already in the building? What would you have done if I said no?”

“Well, I would have had to resort to drama,” he smiles even more, and as he's about to respond, the elevator doors open, he enters the hall, dressed all in black, and he looks really sexy like that, especially with his long hair.

He doesn't wear a uniform or anything like that; he just chooses black clothes to work, giving him a sensual and mischievous look, which he isn't.

“You're evading work,” I point to his outfit, and he smiles, approaches me, gives me a kiss on the cheek, and then steps back.

“Desperately!” he raises the bags. “Food!”

“Italian?”

“Absolutely, today is Mama's pasta restaurant day,” I smile and head towards the kitchen with him right behind me carrying the bags.

“I watched a movie the other day and thought of you.”

“Which one?” I asked as soon as we entered the kitchen. He puts the bag with the food on the table, and I go to the cupboard. Mayke doesn't answer.

I grab the plates, utensils, and glasses and go to the table, looking at him, waiting for the answer.

“Dramatic pause, just the way I like it!” I start laughing as he imitates Gru from the “Despicable Me” movie. He smiles and starts unpacking the food. I go to the fridge and get the orange juice.

“Ghost – From the Other Side.”

“Seriously?” I return to the table, and he nods approvingly. “Yes, sir!” We sit down and start serving ourselves.

“Do you remember that day?” I sound like a silly girl, I start smiling just at the thought.

“You made me watch the movie four times! I even memorized the lines.”

“You cried, MK, like a baby, and spent a whole week saying that the scene where they meet was beautiful.”

I start laughing, and he throws a napkin at me. Then I had an idea and I went back.

“What are you going to do after lunch?”

“I was going home, but why?”

“I was going to watch a movie when you called me, so I was going to invite you to watch it with me.”

“I'll only watch if you promise, swear, and pinky promise that it won't be Ghost. Pretty please, Yumi!” he says, making a puppy face and even clasping his hands together.

“Okay, crybaby!” He gets up, kneels in the middle of the kitchen.

“Thank you, my Lord, thank you for touching the heart of this beautiful lady so that she wouldn't mistreat me today. Amen,” he gets up, sitting back down, and I'm almost crying from laughing so hard at him. I calm down, take a sip of juice, and we continue to have lunch with lively conversation.

•••••••• 🌺🦋🌺 ••••••••

I love my encounters with Mayke; he always makes me smile. We finished lunch, and I washed the dishes we dirtied while he dried and put them away. Then, we headed to the TV room. We lay down on the huge couch. I grabbed the remote and put on the movie 'Forever by Your Side.' He turned his head towards me, just like the girl from 'The Exorcist,' and I made a blank expression.

“Look, the movie is about to start,” he turned his attention back to the film, and we began to watch.”

**1 hour and 35 minutes later…**

“So, Mayke, did you like it?” He turns to me with tears in his eyes, opens his mouth to say something, then stops, looks at the turned-off television, and then looks at me again. I start laughing at him, and a tear escapes. He quickly wipes away the tears and starts to breathe in and out.

“You're mean, really mean to me, Smile. Look at me.” I sit up straight on the couch, pat my legs, and he rests his head on them. I begin to stroke his hair, and Mayke closes his eyes. “The movie is so beautiful, Ayumi, especially since it's based on true events.”

“It really is beautiful! Mayke, I need help with something… He opens one eye and smiles.

“Go ahead and tell me because your hands are magical, and I might end up falling asleep here!”

“Can you recommend a self-defense instructor? They'll have to come here, and I would rather not talk to Kaléo's personal trainer.” He gets up.

“I know you're scared, Ayumi, and I also know that if you tell Kaléo, he'll freak out.”

“If he could, he would lock me up here and throw away the key. He's so overprotective, and every so often it suffocates me.”

“Ayumi, he suffered a lot when you disappeared. He wasn't living anymore. So, I understand his side to some extent. You know the guilt he carries for not protecting you, but he can't repress you like this, and I will help you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I'll give you self-defense classes.” I throw myself into his arms.

“Thank you, Mayke!” I give him a kiss on the cheek and jump up excitedly. “When do we start?” He stands up, smiling.

“We'll start on Monday, okay? Now, I'm going home to sleep because if I stay here with you caressing me, I'll sleep for a straight month.” He says with a serious face, and I sit on the couch, grab a pillow, and throw it at him.

“Exaggerator!”

“I'm leaving, Ayumi. Thank you for the wonderful company.” He approaches and gives me a lingering kiss on the cheek, then steps back.

“Thank you, Mayke. You know I love your company. You brighten up my day.” I say, and he looks at me with an awkward smile.

“Goodnight, Yumi, and see you on Monday.” He turns and leaves the TV room. I decide to take a shower and call the girls afterwards.

**Months later…**

It's been almost two and a half months since I started taking self-defense classes with Mayke. We've grown so close since the day we had lunch together. It feels like I'm rediscovering life and along with it, an incredible man – caring, supportive, always putting my needs first. Kaléo, as always, is completely absorbed in his work. He comes home late, takes a shower, and falls asleep. The next day, I barely saw him. I know he's busy and has problems to solve, but he only calls me to let me know he'll be late, and I say it's okay. I miss my best friend. I know it's wrong to say that when I'm with Mayke, it's like Kaléo doesn't matter. It's like it's just the two of us. During one of our outings, Mayke stole a kiss from me. At the time, I was surprised, but I liked it. I hope I'm not being hasty, even though I've known him since we were six years old.

Now I'm at Kaléo's gym with him. We just finished training, and we're sitting on the floor. I open my water bottle and take a sip. Mayke seems off today; he didn't even make me smile. Then he turns to me, and I turn to face him.

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?” As soon as I heard that, I ended up spitting the water from my mouth onto his face. I stare at him as he grabs the towel from his shoulder and wipes his face.

“Okay, got it! That was a 'no'.” He lowers his head and stands up, but I hold his arm, asking him to stay seated.

“Sorry, Mayke. You caught me by surprised. I never imagined… I…” I'm silenced by a kiss, and at that moment, all my thoughts blend together in my mind. The only thing clear to me is a big neon pink “yes” flashing in my head.

We stop kissing, and I still keep my eyes closed. Inside me, there's a battle between trying again and the fear of getting hurt. I open my eyes and sigh, looking into those attentive brown eyes that are watching me.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” I nod in agreement. “Yes.” He smiles, caressing my face, and kisses me again.

“I'll protect you, take care of you with my life! You're precious, Ayumi, and deserve to be treated that way.” He finishes speaking, and I smile. He kisses me again… a kiss that makes me feel loved, even without him saying it. That's how I feel.