Chapter 7

"Hey!" Michelle almost jumped in surprise when Lara gently hit her arm. She gave her a deadly stare but Lara just shrugged. "I've been talking to you since a while ago but you're not listening. It's like you're lost in your thoughts. Is there anything you wanna tell me?"

She just sighed. As much as she wanted to tell her, she can't. She can't tell Lara what's been going on in her mind without telling her the exact thing that is happening between her and Rafael.

Speaking of Rafael, she remembered what he had said.

I've waited for you for seven years, Michelle and I can't wait any longer. The moment I saw you, I already claimed you and I will not let anyone take you away from me.

Those words were the reason why she can't think straight and her brain seems to be in another dimension. She could not fully understand what he said. She also did not get to ask him because he did not give her a chance.

They did it all through the night until she was exhausted and she fell asleep with Rafael still rocking above her. Then the moment she woke up, he's already gone and he just told Delia to take care of her and send her home. And from this morning until now, he still hasn't shown up. It's already 5 pm yet there was no text nor call from him. It was only his driver who picked her up at the University, which she's thankful for because if Rafael himself picked her up, he might get angry again.

Stevens was with her the whole time. From the beginning of the class, until the class ended, he was attached to her. She tried to keep her distance away from Stevens but he just keeps on following her and it would be so mean if she told him to stay away from her when he's not doing anything horrible towards her. In fact, he has been so good to her.

"What? Are you just going to sigh there?" Lara asked and stared at her. "I know you are hiding something from me and it has something to do with that Rafael Standford." She bit her lower lip. She knew that Lara was not convinced when Rafael introduced himself to her as her boyfriend. "But I will not force you if you don't want to. I will wait until you are ready to tell me everything because even if you do not tell me, I know you are hiding something."

Guilt was written all over her face. Lara was more than just a best friend to her. She also considers her as her sister and Lara have always been so honest with her so she feels guilty every time she lies to her.

She will tell her everything but not yet. Not now. She is not yet ready to tell her that she used her own body in exchange for help from a man she did not know very well. She doesn't want her best friend to think so low of her.

Lara reached for her hand and squeezed it lightly. "Just remember that I am always here for you, Michael and I. We won't leave you."

She felt a tear escape from her eye which she immediately wiped then she smiled at Lara. A smile that is so genuine, so sweet and so thankful that she has her. Life gets better when you have a friend you can count on.

"Thank you." She is so lucky to have Lara as her best friend.

"It's nothing! You know that you can always count on me." Lara said then she hugged her so tight and she hugged her back.

When they withdrew from each other's hug, their faces were both bright and there was a smile on their lips but her smile disappeared when Lara reached for her hair and messed it up as if she was her little sister. She removed Lara's hand on her hair which made Lara laugh before she stood up.

"Well, I gotta go now. I still have to go to my job."

Lara is already in her 3rd year in college taking up HRM and to finance her studies and her needs, she worked at night as a waitress at a famous resto-bar.

Lara saw how her mood suddenly changed. "What? Are you still worried about me? Michelle, I have been working at Ronan's bar for a year and nothing bad has happened to me. I already told you, I'll be fine."

She can't help but worry about Lara especially that nowadays, many women have suddenly disappeared and can no longer be found, or otherwise when they are seen, they are no longer alive. And it is scaring her. She is afraid for Lara's safety.

"Don't worry too much about me. I'll call you right away when I get home." Lara assured her.

She sighed. "What else can I do? Even if I tell you to quit your job, you will still not listen."

"If I stop, how can I eat every day? How will I pay for my tuition fee? How can I live if I stop working? Is there someone out there who is willing to give me money?"

She pouted upon what Lara had said. She's got a point.

"Okay, I'm leaving now. Just tell Michael that I have already left, in case he looks for me." Lara said before kissing her cheek then stormed out of her condo unit.

"Michelle?" That voice of Michael calling her caught her attention.

She was still in the living room where Lara had left her. She did not even bother to eat. She just busied herself on watching some random movies while glancing at the clock.

It's past ten already, there are still no texts nor calls from Rafael and she is starting to be bothered. This is the first time he has not visited them. And she did not want to call or text him either because she doesn't know what she was going to say to him. She was also tempted to go into his mansion but she could not leave her brother. Her private nurse came home temporarily because there was an emergency in her family.

"Why are you still awake?" Michael asked who is rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Michael sat beside her and rested his head on her shoulder. "And you? Did I wake you up?" She asked back to her brother while playing with its soft strands of hair.

"No. I was just thirsty and I was on my way to the kitchen to drink water and then I saw you here. Are you waiting for Rafael?" Michael asked and showed her a teasing smile. "Do you miss him?" He said then poked her cheek which made her flinch.

"No." She answered but Michael's teasing smile just widened.

"Hmph! Don't be in-denial, Michelle. It's obvious! You miss him. You just didn't see him for a day and you are already missing him. You do like him, don't you?" Said Michael who still has a teasing smile on their face.

"Stop teasing me, Michael. What are you talking about? Why don't you drink some water and go back to sleep?" She said in a strict tone but the truth is she's embarrassed. She just wanted him to leave and stop saying those things.

But Michael did not listen to her. Instead, he suddenly lay down on the sofa she was sitting on and turned her thigh into a pillow. "But you know what? I like him for you." Suddenly her heart pounded, "He is kind to us. He helps us," Michael's lips stretched into a small smile as if he was remembering something, "he gave us a house, he helped you go back to school and he helps me get better from my sickness." Michael stared at her, their eyes met and she saw a glint of happiness in his eyes that she last saw when their parents were still alive and it scared her. He fears that when he finds out what her real relationship with Rafael is, the happiness in his eyes will be replaced by sadness. "Ever since I have always wanted to have an older brother but that doesn't mean I don't like you, okay? I just want to know how it feels having a brother. A brother who will play basketball with me, a brother who will watch NBA together with me, a brother who will watch action movies with me, and a brother who will teach me about women."

She jokingly hit Michael for what he said.

"Awh! What is that for?" Michael complained as he gently stroked his head but she just stared at her brother.

"You have to finish school first before you think about having a girlfriend."

"Then how about you? You still haven't finished school but you are already dating Rafael." Michael said while pouting.

"You!" She was about to jokingly hit Michael again when he blocked her hand and at the same time said, "Just kidding! Love you!".

She sighed and then shook her head with a small smile on her lips.

"But seriously, I like Rafael for you. Don't let him go, okay? He loves you so much, you know." She raised an eyebrow at what Michael said. She was about to ask him when he suddenly stood up and kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Michelle!" He said and left, leaving her with her mouth hanging.

She wondered what Rafael told her brother and that's what he thought.

But what if he's really in love with me? She asked herself but she quickly erased that thought from her mind. That is impossible.

I've waited for you for seven years, Michelle and I can't wait any longer.

She remembered those words again. What the hell does that even mean?

Does it mean that he has known her for a long time? But why can't she remember him? She can't forget him. A face like Rafael is not that easy to forget so what he said is impossible.

She ruffled her own hair. Now, she's curious. And until she falls asleep, she still has those thoughts lingering inside her head.

Rafael Standford. Who are you?

The next morning, Michelle decided to go to Rafael's mansion. Fortunately, Michael's private nurse had already arrived and his class was still in the afternoon.

Just like during her previous visits, it is Delia that still greeted her, only this time, the smile that used to be posted on her lips every time she sees her is gone. This time, there is something strange about her. She seemed restless as she kept on glancing inside the mansion. She did not even bother to let her in which made her confused.

What is happening?

But before she could answer her own question, she immediately caught sight of Rafael coming out of the mansion. She somehow felt relieved when she saw that he looked fine.

She thought something was happening because of Delia's reaction.

She was about to call his attention when a woman came out of the mansion as well. And she felt pain in her chest when the beautiful woman kissed Rafael on the lips before she wrapped her arm on Rafael's arm.

She did not know why she felt pain but she chose not to think about it anymore. She was busy staring at the woman and on Rafael who was talking happily. She felt pain in her chest again.

Rafael looked so happy while talking to the woman. And the happiness on Rafael's face is something that she has seen before even when they are together.

She stared at them for a couple of minutes until she finally decided to leave. Rafael looks okay. He's even flirting.

She looked back at Delia who was looking at her and there was concern on the old woman's face.

"I guess I'll have to leave for today. Rafael looks busy and I don't wanna bother him." She told Delia with a fake smile on her lips.

She looked again at the two who are still happily talking. She was about to take her eyes off them when Rafael suddenly turned in her direction causing their eyes to meet.

"Michelle." He said her name as he looked at her with his eyes widening as if he can't believe he is seeing her.