There's only one thing I don't want in my life that until now I can't understand why I have this trait — it's the fact that I can understand everything even if it's very unfair to me.
I reluctantly walked out of that hospital. I can still hear this Apollo calling to me but I didn't pay attention to it at all. I also saw Elena leaning forward against the man's car and immediately approached me when she saw me.
“What happened? Did you see him?” She asked immediately. I just nodded and looked away.
“He's with Agatha. I'll go home first to get my things,” I lazily told her and then passed by her to take a taxi.
But before I could even take a step, I felt the warm hand grip my arm. When I looked back at who it was, I felt even heavier.
“Where are you going? I'm still talking to you,” he said emphatically and seemed mad at me. I even saw Elena just staring at me while Apollo was behind her looking at me seriously. I turned to Ares.
"I am going home."
“Why are you with him? Do you know who he is?” His tone of voice was still angry. I was hurt by the way he looked at me even the way he held my arm that was already being pressed. I don't know what makes him angry.
"I-It's hurt…" I almost whispered and tried to remove his hold on me but it was even tighter, so I frowned.
“Answer my question, Anastacia. Why are you with him?”
“He just came with me for a check-up because my own boyfriend didn't care about me! Is that what you want to hear?” I could no longer restrain myself because of the pain I was feeling.
He looked at me even harder, so I pushed him violently and bit my lip to hold back my tears.
"What?" He didn't seem to believe what I said, so I laughed even more.
“I don’t even know him. He's a stranger to me but he cares more about my condition. I was beaten up by Matthew after trying to take your money from them. I was also kicked out. Is that enough already? If so, go back to my sister because she needs you more. I guess I've missed the part about how you became close to each other so suddenly, huh,” I finally told him and turned my back on him.
I catch my breath as I walk straight away from them. I even heard Elena calling me but I ignored her. I was still hoping that Ares would chase me but I was disappointed again. When I saw a taxi, I immediately stopped and then boarded with my resentment toward him. I bit my lower lip again while trying to suppress my anger. But even that disappointed me as well. Tears kept welling up in my eyes so I quickly wiped them away. Fuck. This is the first time we have been like this and for this reason yet. I don't understand why but I know
by the time he explains it to me, I will still accept it.
When I got home, no one greeted me as usual. I just went straight to my room and started packing my things. When I finished, I went out immediately and there I saw my bag. I picked it up right away and searched for my cell phone. At the same time, my older brother suddenly came and was obviously surprised when he saw me. I felt nervous and scared when I saw his sharp look at me. I thought
it had something to say but it just passed me by, so I breathed a sigh of relief.
I turned my attention back to my cellphone and there I saw a few texts from Ares even to an unknown number that I already knew.
Love
Where are you? Why weren't you answering your phone?
Love
I already talked to your mom. It's fine, Ana. Don't worry too much.
Love
I'm going to visit your sister
That’s all I received from him on different days. Next, I read so many texts from this Unknown Number that even I had no reply.
Unknown Number
Where the hell are you? I was in your office
Unknown Number
You should be more careful now. You have a weak immune system, yet you're still stubborn.
Unknown Number
Take your damn medicine, Anastacia Solei
Unknown Number
I'm at the parking lot…
Unknown Number
Right. You don't have your phone right now. The slovenly.
I laughed when I read that word. I can't imagine him saying that because he is fluent in English. Such words do not belong to him. I was still reading when I stopped when I felt my older brother's staring at me.
"Where are you going with all your belongings?"
His voice gives me a shiver of my whole body. The fear in my heart returned immediately when I looked at him. The color of the bruises on his face and the blast of his mouth became even lighter. Who could have done this to him?
"Are you leaving?" He asked me again, so I quickly avoided looking at him.
“That's what you want, brother. I grew up always following your wishes,” I answered him directly and arranged my belongings.
I was ready to go out when I stopped again when he spoke.
"That man, did you order him to do this to me?"
I looked back at him and frowned at him. "Huh?"
He looked deeper and walked closer to me, so I backed away immediately.
“You ordered him to beat me for what I did to you? You are also hiding some courage there, huh,” he told me emphatically, so I was even more nervous.
I didn’t even understand who the man he was referring to was because of the fear I was feeling. Before he could get close to me, I quickly left the house.
"I-I don't know what you're saying," I said trembling. I heard him laugh.
"Tell your man to be ready because when I see him, I will fucking kill him," he threatened, so I was almost terrified there.
"That's right. Get out of here. You don't matter. You are the reason why our lives are so chaotic. I hope it was you who died and not papa,” he chased and disappeared from my sight.
I sighed. My grip on my cell phone tightened as my brain replayed what he said. My chest began to throb with pain again. I feel like someone is choking me because of my sore throat. I feel like suffocating. It was as if I was being killed little by little.
When I looked at my cell phone again, I saw that man's last message to me.
Unknown Number
Text me once you get home. Please. Be safe.
I bit my lower lip and just realized I was typing a reply for him while my hands were shaking.
To Unknown Number
thank you very much Apollo.
When I sent it, I left that house completely. I took another taxi back to Elena's condo. My heavy heart just added to my heavy luggage. At the same time, it was getting dark again due to the looming rain. I no longer knew what to think first; whether it was Ares or my family. I feel like I was alone at those times. Especially when I remember the way Ares looked at me before. It was full of anger that I didn’t know where it came from and what the reason was. This was the first time I felt like he doesn't want to look at me but he has to. That look in his eyes was full of hatred.
Later, I looked at my cell phone again when it rang because of a text.
Unknown Number
Just call me Hector. Clear your head and take a good rest. You're doing well, Solei.
I automatically smiled when I read that. I don't know but I feel relieved for a moment. These words… I've been waiting for someone to say this to me. Why did it come from him?
The next day, I went to the office early. I left before Elena when she said she would take a half day today. I wouldn't have come in first because I feel like I don't want to see Ares yet but I can't be absent either. What a waste of the day.
There weren’t many employees when I got to my table. I sat there and glanced at Ares' office for a moment. I still hope we get along even though I still don’t understand what’s going on.
I sighed tiredly and started working. While I was busy there, I almost scream in vain when someone suddenly appeared at my side and blew on my ear. I quickly looked up only to see Ares. Its aura is clear and nothing seems to have happened. It was like a different person especially when he smiled at me and his eyes started to bulge.
"I'm so sorry," he mouthed, so my heart almost melt. I could feel the sincerity in his voice especially when he knelt beside me and took
my hand and then gently kissed me.
“I’m sorry. I was just… so worried about your sister and your mom asked me to take care of her. I also talked to them, especially your older brother, about what he did to you. You will never go back there. You can stay at my house, Ana. Live with me as long as you want,” he said pleadingly to me and kissed my hands again.
I just kept staring at him. I don't know how to feel because my mind says something different from what my heart says. It seems like something is still wrong but I don’t know why I can still understand that, why I still understand that. Is it because this is Ares?
I bit my lower lip. I couldn't restrain myself anymore and hugged him immediately because I feel like I miss him so much. We stood up while my two arms were still clinging to his neck. I could also feel his gentle caress on my back.
“I’m sorry, Love… I missed you. It's all my fault. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from your brother,” he whispered to me before he separated me from him. His red eyes met mine.
His eyes… this is it again. This is again what I really want him to look at me. It is no longer the same as yesterday. How can he do that easily?
He touched both my cheeks and then kissed me softly. It was light but deep, so I just closed my eyes.
“Fix your things. Let's go somewhere else…” He said when we parted. I almost chased after his lips.
“Where…” I whispered as I felt the weakness of my knee.
“Mom and Dad want to see you. This is about our wedding the day after tomorrow."
When he said that, it was as if I was startled and poured cold water. I don’t know but I feel like I don’t agree with that anymore. Something that amazes me a lot because lately I's been excited to marry him.
Is it because of our quarrel or is it because of that man that I shouldn't be thinking about at these times?