Chapter 8

"H-hi!" Michelle greeted the two as they approached her. Her gaze shifted to the arm of the woman that is still wrapped around Rafael's arm.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at University." Rafael said as he stared at her.

"Ahm, I just passed by." She wanted to beat herself up for what she said. What a lame excuse! "And all of my classes will be this afternoon." Rafael's eyebrow arched but he did not say anything. When Rafael looked at her, he raised an eyebrow and looked at her from head to toe. She suddenly felt conscious of the way he's looking at her.

She was wearing only a simple gray t-shirt and black skinny jeans that she also paired with black sneakers which is her usual get-up. Her clothes were far, far away from the woman's elegant clothes. The woman wore a red dress that looked like an expensive dress with her killer high heels. She looked so sexy in her dress and even the make-up that was applied to her face was so sophisticated. Unlike her who only applied powder on her lips and lip gloss to her lips.

When their gazes met, the woman smirked at her which was undeniably an insult. She just bowed her head. She's so ashamed of what she looked like. What did she even think and she even went to his mansion?

"Who is she, baby? Is she your new maid?" The woman asked Rafael. Her voice was sarcastic and she felt the insult in her voice so she remained to bow her head.

Her mind is telling her to just go but she can't move her feet. She could not even meet Rafael's gaze which she felt wearing up to her soul.

"Hey!" The woman called to her attention and even tapped her shoulder so she was forced to look up at her and she saw one of its eyebrows tilt. "Get out of there! We'll pass by." She even made a gesture telling her to back off.

The pain in her heart just worsens when Rafael did not even do anything. He just stared at her as if waiting for her to follow what the woman said. When she looked at Delia again, she saw pity and concern on her face but she tried to smile at the old woman before she started to turn around and walk away.

It may sound crazy but she was expecting that Rafael would stop her and diss that woman for her but she's already out of the mansion's gate and he did not even stop her.

Why is she even expecting him to do that? What is she to Rafael anyway?

She smiled bitterly.

Of course. For Rafael, she is nothing but just a woman he can fuck. She is only his bed warmer, he may call her his lover but the truth is, she is just someone he can use whenever he's stressed out. He is not his girlfriend just like what he told Michael and Lara.

And her heart, why is her heart in pain? Why did she feel pain when she saw Rafael with another woman? A woman who is totally different from her, a woman who deserves to be with Rafael.

Ego? Maybe that's it. Maybe she is hurting because he crushed her ego. Is she that bad in bed that he still looks for someone else that would warm his body? But is it really just lust? What if that woman is his girlfriend or worst, his fiancee? A lot of crazy thoughts are running through her mind when someone pulls her arm and before she knows it, that someone who pulled her has already kissed her fully on the lips.

Her eyes remained open as she couldn't believe looking at the person kissing her.

It is Rafael.

He chased her! Rafael chased after her! And she doesn't know why but it made her happy. She closed her eyes as Rafael drew her closer to him. His arm was on her waist as he kissed her deeply leaving her breathless.

"I'm sorry," Rafael said as he pulled her for a hug after their breathtaking kiss.

She did not respond to him. Instead, she just hugged her back feeling his warmth. When they withdrew from each other, Rafael held her cheeks and gave her a peck on her lips then he held her hand, gently pulling her.

"Where are we going?" She asked but Rafael did not answer her. He just kept on walking as he was still pulling her. "W-wait!" She withdrew her hand from Rafael causing him to stop on his track.

"What?" He snapped as he looked back at her. He has this annoyed look on his face.

"T-that woman? Where is she? S-shouldn't you be together---"

"Forget her!" He roared and took her hand again.

She sighed. She did nothing but just let him do what he wanted.

They went back to his mansion. She scanned the whole place and looked for that woman but she's already gone. Rafael guided her to his car. He pulled the door of the passenger's seat for her and waited for her to board before turning around in the driver's seat. When he was already settled down, he immediately started the car. He is driving so fast that it made her nervous so she gently touched his hand that is on the steering wheel.

"Just slow down."

She doesn't want to experience again what she had experienced the other day or else, she may faint this time.

Rafael stared at her face for a second before looking down at her palm resting on his hand. She quickly removed her hand then looked outside. She felt her cheeks heating.

But she was surprised when Rafael suddenly took her hand and brought it to his lips and he kissed her palm.

"I'm sorry if I scared you that day. I was just mad and jealo---" She frowned as he did not continue what he was saying. She waited for him to continue but instead, he kissed her palms again. "I won't let anything bad happen to you. I will die first before that happens." He said then he let go of her hand and he focused his eyes on the road again.

And there goes the fast beating of her heart. She is confused by its actions. A while ago, he was so cold as he spoke to her and now here he is, being so sweet and saying sweet things to her.

Throughout their trip, both of them turned silent as if they were waiting for who would open a conversation first. She did not even bother to ask him where they were going. Until they stopped at a not so familiar place to her.

Rafael went out of the car first before opening the door of the car for her. She thanked him before looking around. It is still morning but no one is passing by. Even on their way to the place, she did not see any passing vehicle heading to the place. And somehow, she got nervous. The place where they are is no different from what she sees in horror movies where the protagonists get lost then suddenly some cannibals come and slaughter people to cook them for their dinner.

Rafael grabbed her hand and pulled her tenderly again. They went into the woods.

"The car." She said.

"It's fine," Rafael said, his voice is very certain. She thought that maybe he already went there a couple of times.

The two of them walked for only a few minutes until she heard something that seemed to be gushing water and just a few steps later he finally saw a very beautiful waterfall. Rafael pulled her a little so they could be together.

"Welcome to my haven. My paradise." Rafael whispered in her ear.

She is in awe as she scanned the whole place. It is a paradise indeed.

"Beautiful." She could not help but comment.

The water was so clean and it seemed to invite her to take a bath. Even the flowers surrounding the waterfall are very beautiful. Then her eyes went into the left side of the fall and there she noticed a small hut.

Rafael followed where she was looking.

"Let's go in there," Rafael said, leading the way and she followed him without saying anything.

Rafael opened the hut and she was amazed again when she entered the hut. It looks like it was really meant to be a place to stay when someone visits the place. Inside, there is a bed that can only fit two people. There is also a small table and two chairs. There were even flashlights and other items that would be needed in case there was a plan to stay in the area.

Rafael opened the small window overlooking the magnificent waterfall before he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Who owns it?" She asked as she sat on one of the chairs.

"Me," Rafael replied as if it was just nothing.

"This hut is yours?" She asked again, just to make sure.

Rafael smirked at her. "This whole place is mine."

She stared at Rafael as if she couldn't believe what she just heard. Is he serious?

"What?" Rafael asked with his eyebrow arched.

"Seriously? This is yours? This whole place is yours? Even that waterfall?" She asked one after another just like a child who still can't believe what she heard.

"My mom bought this place as a gift for my 21st birthday."

She noticed the change in its aura when he mentioned his mother.

"Really? Wow! Your mother must love you very much that she could give you splendid things and splendid places. Where are your parents by the way? I haven't seen them in your mansion. Are they living in a separate mansion?" She asked again. Only now did she realize that she knew very little about Rafael. Aside from his name, his age, and that he owns one of the biggest companies in the country, she doesn't know anything about him while Rafael seems to know a lot about her.

And she can't believe herself that she dared to ask him personal questions. So she has to ask him now or she won't be able to do it again. She might have the courage again and she'll stutter again which usually happens every time the two of them are together.

She was already expecting him not to answer her question since it is very personal.

Rafael tapped the space beside him and she knew what he wanted. She moved and was about to sit down beside him when Rafael pushed her lightly on the bed which surprised her. Then he lay down beside her. His arms on her hips and his face was on her neck. She felt its hot breath on her neck causing her body hairs to rise and her heartbeat to speed up again.

"My mom...She died five years ago." The word shock is an understatement of Michelle's reaction. She tried to move to look at him but Rafael's arms tightened on her waist. He also further buried his face on her neck. "She committed suicide after she found out that my dad is cheating on her and that he has a child on another woman." She sighed at its revelation. "My mom loved and adored my father so much. Ever since they got married, she poured all her attention on me and Dad." He could feel the resentment in Rafael's voice and she couldn't help but be hurt for him too. "She has been so loyal to dad. She did everything. She took care of me and Dad so he wouldn't have to look for anyone else but then, Mom still wasn't enough for him. He had an affair with our maid and he got the maid pregnant. When Mom found out, she got so depressed. She could not accept that dad cheated on her and left to go with his lover. Until she ended her life and left me." Rafael's voice cracked upon saying those last words then she felt it. His tears. She wasn't expecting him to open up to her but he did. And now, he is showing his weakness to her and that means so much to her. "When my mom died, it was only then that I found out that our company was slowly sinking. Dad neglected it because he was so obsessed with his mistress and his new family. That's why I did everything to save the company."

From lying down, Michelle leaned over so that she and Rafael could face each other then she hugged him so tight.

She felt his pain, bitterness, and sadness and she wanted him to know that he is not alone. She wanted him to know that she is with him.

She let him cry as she hugged him and his face was pressed against her chest. She just let him cry on her chest as she hugged him tighter and closer to her. Then at that moment, she knew. She knew something was going to change between them.