Chapter 12
1078 Words
ZHERA POV
HINAKLIT ni Marshall ang braso niya at saka hinila papasok sa kwarto nila. Matalim ang mga mata. Umiigting ang mga panga nito.
"Ano ba, nasasaktan ako?!" singhal niya sabay tabig sa kamay nito na mahigpit nakahawak sa braso niya.
"Saan ka galing huh?!" bulyaw nito at kaagad naman binitawan ang braso niya.
"Hindi naman ako–"
"Liar ! May GPS ang lahat ng sasakyan ko, Zhera kaya alam kong umalis ka! Sinong kinatagpo mo? 'Yon ex mo ba?!" umiigting ang panga na singhal ni Marshall sa kanya.
Ito na yata ang unang beses na nakita niya ang binata na ganon. Para itong papatày sa talim ng mga titig sa kanya.
Bumuntong hininga siya. f**k that GPS ! Hindi pumasok sa isip niya ang bagay na 'yon. Umayos siya ng tayo at lumaban ng tingin kay Marshall. Kailangan malusutan niya ito.
Pahamak talaga ang Tanner na 'yon !
"Since your cars all have GPS, you should also know what time I left and when I came back, right?" lakas loob na sabi niya. Walang mababakas na kaba.
Madilim ang mukha ni Marshall. Kuyom ang palad halatang nagtitimpi lang.
"I was gone for twenty-five minutes. Ten minutes there, ten minutes back. So, do the math—I was only at that 'place' for a grand total of five minutes. Now, since you’re clearly dying to know who or what I went for... Fine. You’re right. I went to see my ex. I told HIM to stop bothering me because I’m married to you. Are you satisfied now, or do you need a printed GPS report for your collection?"
Nakataas ang isang kilay niya sabay pinagkrus ang mga braso sa dibdib.
"Is he bothering you? Give me his name; I'll give him the closure he’s looking for myself."
Marshall stepped toward her and pulled her tightly by the waist. She gasped, her eyes locked onto his.
"You're mine, Zhera. Mine alone. I'm selfish and jealous when it comes to you, so don't you dare meet up with your ex again—unless you want to visit him at the cemetery. Well, as if I’d even let you visit him then."
In an instant, Zhera’s defiant aura shifted. She was shifting gears, ready to put on the performance of a lifetime.
"Nag uumpisa pa lang tayo, Marshall, but already you have no TRUST in me. Am I supposed to report every single move I make to you? FYI, I gave myself to you completely... and you know you were my FIRST. Is that still not enough for you?!"
She cried out, her voice a perfectly timed, tearful outburst aimed right at his heart.
Narinig niya ang malalim na paghinga ni Marshall at sa isang iglap lumambot ang ekspresiyon sa mukha nito.
Marshall cupped her face in his hands, his grip trembling slightly as he pressed his forehead against hers, as if he were afraid she might vanish if he let go.
"I’m so sorry, wifey... please. I just... I can't breathe when I think about you leaving me for him. You said it yourself, we're just starting out, and I'm terrified that what we have is too fragile to hold you. How can I even compare to him? He’s had years of your life, and I only have now. I’m just desperate to keep you, Zhera. Please, don't let him take you away from me."
Napatulala siya. Hindi niya magawang magsalita, idagdag pa na sobrang bilis ang pagtibók ng puso niya. Parang sasabog ang dibdib niya na hindi mawari.
Zhera forced a smile and gently stroked Marshall’s cheek.She let her eyes linger on his handsome face.
How could she possibly carry out her job to end his life when Marshall seemed to be slowly stealing her heart?
"I’m yours... only yours. I will never, ever leave your side. I’m sorry too, for not telling you I was going out. I promise, from now on, I’ll tell you everything—"
"I trust you, Zhera. It’s myself I don’t trust... because the second someone tries to take you from me, I might just be the one to tear open the gates of hell."
Mariin siyang napalunok ng laway. Seryoso ang mukha ni Marshall, na para bang gagawin nito para sa kanya. Niyakap niya si Marshall, siya na ang kusang humalik sa mga labi nito.
Marshall wasted no time returning her kiss—a punishing, possessive claim. It was deep, dark, and heavy with warning.
But she didn't shrink away; she fought back against his lips, their movements growing frantic until, piece by piece, their clothes were surrendered to the floor.
The sudden chill of the air hit her skin just as she felt the give of the soft mattress beneath her.Marshall loomed over her, his body a heavy heat against her own.
No words were spoken. They communicated only through their locked gazes and the jagged, heavy rhythm of their breath.
"Are you going to punish me, my husband?" Zhera purred, her voice a seductive challenge as her hand crawled down his muscular chest, tracing the tension down to his hardening core.
"Yeah, wifey—a punishment you’ll crave," Marshall growled.
"I’m going to make you scream my name until you lose your voice, and by the time I'm done, you'll be crying for more."
She smirked.
She had no choice but to accept Marshall's delicious punishment. Their moans and the gasping of each other's names filled the entire room.
Kinaumagahan, nagising siya na wala na si Marshall. Nag-iwan lang ito ng isang note, sa ibabaw ng unan nito.
"Morning, wifey. I need to head to Dubai for three days. Don't go anywhere. Wait for me, okay? I'll miss you. - M"
Without a hint of emotion, she crumpled Marshall's note in her hand. She stood up quickly and changed her clothes.
Just then, her hidden cellphone rang. A message.
"This is your chance, finish the 'job.' You have one week left, Z."
Humugot siya nang malalim na paghinga bago tuluyan tumalon sa likod bakod ng malaking bahay. Sakto naman na naroon na ang itim na sasakyan ni Tanner.
As she settled into the passenger seat, Tanner was already there, wearing a broad, smug grin.
"Ex, huh? Too bad we never got any closure—"
She scoffed.
"Shut the f**k up and drive."
She had to get the job done while she still could... while she was still in her right mind... while her heart could still take it.
- Writer
