Chapter 51

A gust of wind went past me, hitting my face in the process. A small smile appeared on my lips as I turned a little to look behind me to find my girls taking pictures on the roadside. Marianna decided to take a little break, since Tess had been driving continuously for hours. We saw a meadow, and that was when we thought about parking the car on the roadside and enjoying the scenery for a little while. After taking the pictures, I decided to cross the road to the other side, where I stood under a tree looking at the vast ocean of sunflowers. As far as my eyes could see, the only thing I saw was the bobbing of sunflowers.

“Guys look there!” I could hear Eve shouting from across the road in my direction.

“Oh wow!”

“C’mon let’s go there!”

Without a warning, four of them ran past me into the field, not even caring about any snakes or insects. They went directly into the middle of the field and began to take pictures.

“Hey Juliette,” I heard Kiara call me and I looked up in her direction, where she stood next to Eve and Marianna waving at me to join them.

I smiled and shook my head, politely declining the offer. My declination caused her to slump her shoulders in defeat, and she turned back to Tess clicking pictures of her with the sunflowers.

As I stood there silently laughing and chuckling at my friends, my mind couldn’t help but recall the moment when Zachary wrapped me in his arms and caught me off guard by taking a selfie with me as he called it ‘making memories.’

I still remember the day, he made my heart pound rapidly. I knew that I was in love because a mere touch on the arm made me feel those things, which I never really felt when I was with Emmett. But again, it was the same day where everything ended. I understood that whatever I was feeling towards him was one-sided. It was hard to know that the man I loved would never reciprocate how I feel towards him.

A sigh escaped my mouth as sadness marred my cheerful mood and I rubbed my face using my palms.

It is not really necessary to get love from the one you love the most. I guess I have a rotten luck after all. When it comes to love, I always fail.

“Juliette!” I was broken out of my state when I saw Tess in front of me with a frown on her face.

“What?” I asked slowly and raised my eyebrows in confusion when she pointed behind me.

“What?” I whispered confused and then turned to look at what she was pointing. My eyes widened in shock, but as quickly as I could, I turned back around, hiding my expression from the one who was standing across the road with a cigarette in between his fingers, leaning against our car. There stood the man I have been reminiscing about, wearing a black polo shirt and black jeans with brown shoes.

“What is he—” I couldn’t help but feel my cheeks burn and I could clearly hear the pumping of my heartbeat.

“He has been standing there, and has been looking at you all this while. Who is he? I think I have seen him somewhere! Where?” she questioned, putting her hand under her chin while I stood there fidgeting with my finger thinking of what to do.

Why does he always show up out of nowhere?

“How long has he been there?” I asked, more like whispered to Tess.

“Um maybe for two minutes. Who is he anywa—”

My nostrils flared, inhaling the familiar cologne of the man, and immediately I realized that he was directly behind me, standing few inches away from me. He was close, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body engulfing me.

“Sorry to interrupt. Can I borrow her for a few minutes?” his masculine husky tone filled my ears as he stood behind me and asked Tess, completely ignoring my presence.

“Eh?” Tess gave him a puzzled look and turned to look at me.

“Why not!” I heard an annoying chirpy voice: Kiara.

“But Ki—” Tess was cut off by Kiara.

“It’s okay, they know each other,” she said, and even though I wanted to glare and yell at Kiara, I couldn’t. He was too close.

“Thank you,” I heard his voice, and by the tone, I assumed that he smiled at them, because soon enough I found Eve and Tess swooning over him.

Like a gust of wind, I felt the absence of his presence and guessed that he might have left, not even bothering to ask me if I wanted to come. I looked at Kiara and she gave me a toothy grin. A faint smile appeared on my lips as I decided to join him, making up my mind that I would only listen to whatever he has to say.

“I’ll be back,” I said and turned slowly to find him walking towards his car.

Ironically, the sedan looked familiar, and an image of the same colored sedan following our car a few minutes ago struck my mind.

“This man!” I muttered to myself as I realized that he followed me.

Exhaling, I took a step forward, but stopped when Kiara opened her mouth to talk.

“Amend things instead of breaking them,” she whispered so I could hear.

Glancing at her sideways, I gave her a small smile and followed Zachary to his sedan. He was already seated in the driver's seat while I took my time to reach the vehicle and took my place next to him. I could feel the blood rushing in my skin, and I tried to hide it, turning in my seat to put my seatbelt on.

“Where are we going?” I asked fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.

He ignored me, and I turned to look at him to find his jaw clenched and a determined look on his face. He ignited the engine and the car sped up onto the road.

Where is he taking me?

“Zac—”

“Let me drive.” His answer immediately made me shut my mouth.

Is it because he doesn’t want to get disturbed when he is driving, or am I simply annoying to him?

Whatever it was, I chose to keep my mouth shut and waited until we reached the place he was taking me.

Amidst all this, I couldn’t help but keep on playing with my fingers. It was possibly because of the suspense he was creating by not talking to me, or telling me where he was taking me.

Was I afraid?

Yes, I was.

Why?

Will, he hurt me?

No, he won’t.

Then?

I was afraid because I feared I would let my emotions out, and end up throwing my heart at him, only to be crushed down again. I was afraid because there was this nagging in my mind that he won't understand how I feel for him. What if he does?

I shook my head and put my fist into my mouth as I looked out of the window. It’s been fifteen minutes since we left and finally, the car stopped with a screech.

“Wha—?”

“Get out!” was the only thing he said before he got out of the car. I looked at him, astonished by his demeanor.

“Zachary wait!” I called after him, as I unfastened my seatbelt and got out of the car, and I recognized the place as the Merri Creek Trail. It was where I came with my girls.

“Zachary wait!” I followed him as he walked towards the Merri Creek bridge.

The place was mostly known for its cyclist and pedestrian path. I remember coming here because Tess’s family lives nearby.

In the middle of the bridge, he stopped and I watched as he raked through his hair looking anything but calm. Meanwhile, I huffed out air as I put my hands on my knees, feeling exhausted from running after him.

“How do you feel?” he asked suddenly.

I looked up and stood up straight, looking at his back, confused, wondering what he meant.

“Answer me!” he said, raising his voice as he turned around and faced me.

“Zachary I—”

“Ssshhh!” I was cut off all of a sudden when he took a long step towards me and put a finger on my lips.

“It’s frustrating, right? When you call someone, and they don’t turn up when you need them most?” All of a sudden he withdraws his hand, and taking a step backwards, he rubs his face.

“Zachary I don’t unders—”

“You understand everything!” he yelled at me, making me gasp.

“Do you hear me? You,” he lunged at me and pulled me by my arms, shaking me in place, “understand everything!”

“Don’t play with me, Juliette! I know...” Suddenly his palms are cupping my cheeks as he pulls me to him, gazing straight into my eyes. “You understand everything.”

“What were you doing?” he asked as he backed away.

“I don't understa—”

“Ah! Zac—” He pulled me roughly to him and held my face by my hair with my body pressed against him.

“Hurts?” He hissed in my face, grabbing my chin using his other free hand.

“I bet this isn’t even a little percent of what I have been feeling since the day I have met you!” he spat, and though he pulled my hair tightly, his words were more painful for me to take in. Tears fell down my cheeks.

“Do you regret ever meeting me?” I whispered loud enough for him to hear.

As soon as his eyes fell on my tears his grip loosened and he hugged me, putting my head on his chest.

“That is the thing! It is the regret that I don’t feel. I thought I should've felt regret for ever meeting you, but that is the thing, I don’t feel any; which is why I’m confused and now I am broken,” he whispered the last part. I looked up at him, placing my palm on his chest.

“I thought I would eventually forget you and I would eventually move on in my life, but it seems my heart doesn’t wish the same. No matter what, it keeps yearning for you,” he pressed his forehead against mine as he spoke. “I have recognized the feeling, and that is what is hurting me right now.”

“You don’t feel the same, and it makes me feel lonely to know that I am the only one who fell in love!” he said, but as he said that the world began to spin.

“Juliette?” I heard his worried voice as I held my head and felt my knees give out, but it was only because of his arms still around my waist that I didn’t end up on the ground.

“Juliette?” I felt his palm on my cheek and I opened my eyes looking straight into his eyes.

“Is it that shocking to you, that you almost fainted?” he chuckled darkly as his eyes scanned my face.

“N-No, I—”

“Why did you run?” he asked, his face contouring with anger as he looked at me sharply, his accusing eyes penetrating my soul.

“I came to you last night! So tell me, why did you run? Are you this desperate to stay away from me that you ran in the morning, hoping that you would not have to face me?”

“Guess what?” he chuckled and trailed a finger on my neck. His touch sent shivers down my spine. He had no idea what effect he had on me!

“I found you!” he leaned closer to my ear, his hot breath fanning my cheek. “And this time, you can’t escape!” he whispered as he brushed his lips against my earlobes.

I didn’t really understand what made my heartbeat rise all of a sudden, his words or his cold hand touching the bare skin on my waist. Voluntarily, I looked down to find both of his hands inside my shirt, holding me by the waist while his thumbs caressed my skin, making me feel hot.

“It’s your fault after all!” he chuckled, probably noticing the blush creeping on my face. The next thing I felt was his head on my shoulder, and his hot breath fanning the nudge of my neck.

“You were the reason I fell into all these emotions. I thought I would forget you and move on, but again it was your fault. You lit a fire within me by ignoring me last night. You thought you could escape?” he placed his hand on the other side of my shoulder, and I clutched my thigh tightly, as I felt him placing a wet kiss on my neck, making me gasp.

“You can run as much as you want now, because I finally have my goal. You lit up that burning desire of having you all to myself. Your body has become my life and your soul is my love. You can’t stop me now sweetheart,” he bit down on my earlobe, “for I have returned...”

He stood in his place and held me by the back of my neck, pulling me to him. “Returned to take what rightfully belongs to me,” he stopped just inches away from my lips.

“You made a mistake! You provoked me to run after you. You shouldn’t have ignored me last night!” he smiled darkly as he left my face and took steps backward.

“You wanted to run? Then run!” he said, clearly enunciating each word.

“Run as fast as you can. Run as long as you can. But make sure that you don’t stop!” All of a sudden, he leaped forward, pulling my hair from my ponytail, but not painfully, making me glance straight up into his eyes.

“Because if you do,” he chuckled as I watched his eyes turned darker and darker, out of lust.

“I’ll be right behind you to take you,” he leaned closer and pressed his cheek to mine.

Take me?

“Then you can’t ever escape. You will end up having regrets for ever stopping. After all, it was all your fault,” he laughed and took few steps back eyeing me hungrily. “You started the desire in me to chase.”

~

“Hello?”

“Ola?”

“Yo! Yo!” I broke out of my state when I saw Kiara moving her hands before my eyes.

“Will you tell me what happened?” she asked as I sat properly on my seat and looked out of the running car. The sun had already set, and we were heading back to our home. After that conversation with Zachary, I was too shocked to even move. He dragged me back to his car and drove us back where he had picked me up. Our moods were reversed by the time we reached back. He looked lighter, happier and generous while I, on the other hand, was shocked, confused, and flustered.

This is how it feels when a man truly loves a woman?

And is this really how it feels to know that you are the woman who he loves?

“I will take you.”

“Because believe me, I never had this desire to love someone before. And now, I think it will be difficult for you to escape.”

“So give in to me.”

His words kept rotating before my eyes and I felt my cheeks burning. His words also set me on fire. Lifting up my legs on the seat, I put my head on my knees, wanting to hide my face from Kiara, but all the while a silly smile remained plastered on my face.

He fell in love with me. With me.

His confession has given me a reason to smile once again. He had freed me from the pain I have been feeling all these months. If I had known it earlier, then I would not have ignored him last night. It wasn’t my intention. But I was in pain and I was broken. I needed him, and all of a sudden he appeared before me, which made me flee.

Had I only kno—

“Wait!” I said out loud as I rose my head up when the reality dawned on me.

“What about Loana?” I thought as I balled my fists and looked out of the window. Anger was suddenly burning inside me as I remembered her and what she did.

“I'm telling you, I have seen him somewhere before,” Tess punched the steering wheel as she drove us back home.

“Oh just shut up!” Marianna replied in annoyance.