Chapter 4

Isabelle was so shocked and angry. No one had dared to kiss her but Luke. She wanted to scream out of anger because she wasn’t able to stop him. She didn’t want to see his face ever again.

“Issa here, drink this. You look pale as a sheet,” Mary handed her a glass of water.

She said thank you in a small voice. She didn’t even remember how she got here. What she knew was she ran as fast as she could to get away from that pervert. Mary took one of her hands in hers.

“You are shaking. Please tell me what happened.”

Mary was nice to her and she wasn’t a gossip but she didn’t want to tell her what Luke did to her. She felt that it was so embarrassing. Other people would think that she was making a mountain out of a molehill but she wasn’t. She was saving herself, even her first kiss for the right man, but sadly, Luke stole her first kiss.

“N-nothing’s wrong. It’s probably the heat and I walked quickly to get here,” she said as an excuse.

“Arthur can take you home by his motorbike so you don’t need to walk. I agree that it’s already a bit scorching though it’s not even noon yet.”

“No, I will just walk back. Thank you for the offer. I don’t want to bother your husband. I saw him fixing your son’s bicycle. I have to go now. Thanks for the water too.”

***

Reed didn’t know whether to ask Luke what happened or not. His cousin hadn’t said a word since he came back. He seemed to be annoyed or worried or both. He was aware that he already ran for an hour under the harsh sun and now he was doing push-ups. He knew when something was bothering his cousin. Luke either went out with one of his beautiful women or did some strenuous exercises when he was stressed, bored or tired. But he had a strong feeling that right now, this was all about Isabelle.

“How did things go this morning? Were you able to talk to Isabelle?” he asked casually.

Reed got no reaction from Luke so he just shook his head and his eyes went back to the laptop. He couldn’t blame his cousin if he was besotted with the woman. She was naturally beautiful unlike other women who only looked lovely because of cosmetics. She was very simple but her loveliness couldn’t be denied. She would look more gorgeous once she had been made up and put on trendy clothes. Luke’s past women would look plain next to her.

“Make more adjustments on my schedule. Be sure everything will be okay. I am not sure how many weeks I will be staying here,” Luke said.

He frowned. Was he hearing things? Did his cousin just say that he would stay here longer? He said before that this was a dull place and now he didn’t want to leave yet?

“Have you spoken with Mr. Tan about the resort? Are you buying it?” he asked Luke who straightened and wiped his face and neck with a towel.

“I am still thinking about it. Anyway there’s no rush. Go back to the city the day after tomorrow. Bring Luis with you. I can take it from here.”

“Are you sure? Aunt Amanda wouldn’t like that,” he commented.

“Do as I say. I can handle my mother,” he said coldly.

***

“Issa!” called Carl.

He was one of the men who wanted to pursue Isabelle. He was also good-looking and nice but of course, she wasn’t interested.

“Carl, I am in a hurry. I need to buy something for my grandmother.”

“Let me drive you,” he offered.

“No,” she said walking quickly.

Carl stopped her by her arm. “Wait up Issa!”

She turned and glared at his hand on her arm.

***

Luke was in his car. He was parked near the university and he was witnessing everything.

“Damn it!” he cursed and hit the steering wheel with his fist. He didn’t like it that the asshole Isabelle was talking with, touched her arm.

“You will get it from me you scumbag!” He angrily murmured.

Isabelle was his. He won’t leave Sta. Teresita until she becomes totally his. He would make sure that after what he saw just now, this man would be the last trash who could get near her. He was not Luke Contrero for nothing. He was capable of doing anything and everything. His eyes narrowed when the man didn’t release Isabelle’s arm. He was ready to get out of the car when he saw Joyce walk to the two.

“I said no and I mean no! Let go of my arm now, Carl!” Isabelle demanded irritably before pulling her arm back.

“Come on Issa, just for a few minutes. We can grab some snacks,” he insisted.

“Hey! What is happening here?” came Joyce’s voice.

She felt relieved upon hearing her friend’s voice. Carl knew Joyce would never let her go with him.

He scratched his head. “I was just asking Issa to have a burger or coffee with me.”

“Coffee? Who would want a cup of coffee on this sizzling afternoon? And for your information, Issa doesn’t eat fast food so you better go now!”

She hid a smile when Carl had no choice but to leave. He walked back to his car. Joyce wasn’t only her best friend. She was like her bodyguard too. Men were afraid of her because she was really straightforward. Just like her brother Brett, she was always ready to rescue her from anything.

“Come on! You better go with me before that Carl comes out of nowhere again!” Joyce said with a fake scowl. She thanked her and she smiled back. “I suggest that you say yes to becoming my brother’s girlfriend so he will drop you and pick you up every day then you don’t have to deal with the likes of Carl,” her friend joked.

“You know my answer to that,” she replied with a wider smile

Her smile faded when she thought she saw Luke’s sports car pass by. But she shrugged off the thought because he had no reason to be near the university’s vicinity. She just sighed then slid in Joyce’s car. Joyce asked her to hang out at their house since it was still early for her to go home anyway. Her mother was busy with their business while her father was in another country for work so most of the time, her friend came home to an empty house. They were having some snacks when Brett came. He beamed when he saw her. Joyce on the other hand tapped her by the shoulder before standing up to get water.

“Hi Issa,” he greeted her and she smiled at him.

“Brett since you will be taking Issa home for sure, can you get me some vegetables for my salad?”

“Okay,” was all he said while his eyes were on her. Though he was staring intensely at her, she could still look at his eyes. It’s probably because she got used to him doing that. And for her, Brett was more like an older brother. He was only five years older than her and Joyce.

“You don’t have to drive me home. I have to buy something so I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

“That’s okay. I will drive you wherever you want. I can be your bodyguard too,” he joked.

“Oh come on, brother dear! Bodyguard, my ass! We all know that you want to be more than that to Issa!” Joyce said while rolling her eyes.

She stifled a smile when Brett frowned and grabbed his sister’s cell phone. He then pretended to be throwing it against the wall.

“NO! Not my phone!” Joyce shrieked.

She ran after her brother while she just giggled and shook her head. The siblings were acting like children which she found amusing. She wished she had a sibling too. She felt sad when she remembered her father whom she hadn’t met. She forced a smile upon seeing Brett and Joyce running back to where she was.

***

[In Brett’s car]

They were only one block away from her house.

“Issa, can you give me an answer now to the question I have been asking you about us?”

“Brett, I have been telling you that I am not yet ready. I thought I made that clear to you.”

“I’m sorry. You know how I feel about you, that’s why I am persistent. I will try not to ask again. I will just wait.”

“Thank you,” she murmured and her eyes went back to the road ahead of them. Her forehead creased. A red car was parked in front of her Grandma Salome’s house.

Brett had a creased forehead too as they approached the small house. “Are you expecting any visitors, Issa?” he asked before turning off the engine.

Her heart skipped a beat when she confirmed that it was Luke’s sports car. Why is he here? She asked herself.

As if in trance, she just let Brett help her get off. She was jittery because Luke was probably in his car waiting for her. But when they came closer to the vehicle, she noticed that there was no one inside. She swallowed and her heart thumped. This was worse than she thought. Luke Contrero was inside the house talking with her grandmother.

***

[In the small house]

“That must be Isabelle. I heard a vehicle stopped. I think Brett drove her home,” Grandma Salome said.

Luke’s back stiffened and his jaw clenched. He didn’t like what he heard. He felt heat coming up his face. A man took Isabelle home.