Sacred Ties

Chapter Twelve

Zach's POV

"Who are you?" I ask the man standing in front of me. I look around my surroundings calculatingly with an eye still on the man before me. There are no trees or grass around me; it’s some sort of desert. The sun shining brightly but it’s not that bad. A movement from the man gets my attention and I strictly focus my eyes on him.

"I'm a friend, Zachary. Please relax." He replies gently.

"Don't call me that; I'm Zach."

"Okay, Zach."

"What do you want with me? Where am I?" I ask not bothering to insist in knowing who the hell he is.

"I want to help you remember. Where we are is not that important." He says as he sits down on the sand.

For some reason, I know the man before me means no harm. I relax and find myself sitting opposite him, facing each other.

"What should I remember? If I forgot whatever it is, don't you think it's better that way?" I inquire and he shakes his head.

"You were not meant to forget about this, Zach. That is why you need to remember. It is very important that you remember."

"Why?"

"You are not who you think you are, Zach. You have become someone different from the real you. I know somewhere inside you, you know that there is something missing and it is missing. You have to remember it to be who you really are." Surprisingly, the man is right. I do feel that something is really missing in me.

"Why now? I mean you could have come long ago." I whisper.

"It wasn't possible long ago because for you to remember, you needed a trigger. It has been triggered now and what remains is for you to remember."

A trigger?

What triggered it? I look at the man to ask him but I stop myself. This whole thing is very confusing and giving me a headache.

"What should I remember?"

"You will find out yourself. I'm just here to guide you in the right way and to answer your questions when you finally remember. Until then, I will leave you to it." He says standing up and then disappears.

Then I feel the surrounding changing and before I knew it, I blackout.

***

I gasped as I woke up and sat up on the bed. I was sweating and it took me some time to catch my breath. When I started breathing okay again, I got off the bed and walked into my bathroom. I stripped and got in the shower.

I sighed as the warm water cascaded down my body. My mind went back to the dream I had just woke up from. It felt real. I have a feeling that the man really came to me. He wants me to remember something but I don't know what to remember. He said I would figure it out and I only hoped he was right.

I left the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. I didn't feel like shaving and I knew I would be fine as long as I do that tomorrow. I checked the clock and saw it was the right time for me to be up. I put on some pants and went to Shane's bedroom.

"Hey buddy, wake up." I said while shaking him and he looked at me with his sleepy eyes. I smiled at him and carried him to the bathroom.

I bathed him and then dressed him in his uniform. He was still acting lazy so I took it upon me to do everything for him. I carried him back to my room and laid him on the bed. I quickly changed into my work outfit which was a grey suit for today.

"Good morning Maria, please correct our bags upstairs." I told Maria, a lady who looked after my house. I had just arrived in the dining room for breakfast. I carried Shane down here that's why I couldn't take the bags with me.

"Good morning sir." She responded and went up to do what I told her.

'I don't want to go to school.' Shane signed to me while pouting and I sighed. I can't really force him to go when he didn't want to.

"Okay, little man. Then we are going to the office." I told him and he smiled and ate his food.

Maria dropped the bags in the car I was riding today and I secured my boy in his seat and took the sit beside him. She left after I instructed her on a few things and the car pulled away from the house.

When we arrived at the office, Charles was waiting for us outside the building and Shane ran to him when we exited the car.

"Hey big guy," Charles cheered while throwing Shane in the air and catching him. I was about to scold him on the action when my phone rang and I gave him a look while pulling my phone out and answered the call.

"Good morning Lemo-"

"Why haven't you answered my texts since yesterday?" Cemil asked and I silently cursed myself.

I had slept early yesterday since I was tired after spending the day with Shane. I haven't seen my lemon since that day on Friday that we agreed to be lovers. I was busy with Shane during the weekend and we only called and texted each other.

"I'm sorry babe-"

"Don't babe me! Have a nice day, Zach.” He shouted then whispered the last part, ending our call. I groaned and was about to head back to the car but I stopped and sighed.

"What's wrong Zach?" Charles asked and I shook my head.

"It's really nothing serious. I messed up and wanted to go and clear things up but I realized I can't leave. I have things to do that needs to be done this morning." I said while walking inside the building with him.

"Okay. Just call me when you need something."

"I need to ask you something, Charles." He nodded and I continued. "Can you watch Shane for me? I want to be done with work fast and see someone at lunch."

"No problem, Zach, do your thing." He said and disappeared in his office with Shane.

I thanked the goodness for Charles and walked in my office. I removed my jacket and started right away on the work I had. I had to finish in good time and see an angry Cemil at lunch. I knew I didn't answer his text and that it was really bad but I didn't understand why he would be so mad like how he sounded on the phone. I didn't want to just call him and talk it out on phone. It would be better if I personally went there.

**

“I’m leaving.” I shouted to Charles who cringed in discomfort from the loud voice while I smirked.

“Don’t do what I wouldn’t do.” He teased and I flipped him off then closed his office door.

I took the car keys for my car that I used when I was driving myself. I dismissed my driver but two of my guards followed me at a safe distance as I drove away from the office building. I began calling Cemil but his phone was unavailable. I called a few more times but I wasn’t successful. I pulled over and pondered on where I had to go and look for him first. He was either at the school he worked or at his home.

I decided to stop by a bookstore before I headed for the school. The bookstore wasn’t crowded when I stopped by and so I started my journey to the school in no time. However, just as I arrived, my phone started ringing and after checking the caller ID, I answered it right away.

“Why was your phone off?”

“The battery died, I had forgotten to charge it last night since I was waiting for your replies and I fell asleep with it. I’ve just got it off charger now and saw the notifications that you had called.”

“Where are you?” I asked as I slowed my car down.

“I’m home, why?”

“I’ll be there in ten.” I said before ending the call and I passed by the school before finding a suitable place to turn around then I was on my way to his house.

It took me fifteen minutes to get there and I found Cemil waiting for me outside. I only parked on the curb and he came and entered the passenger side. I waited for him to slip on his seatbelt before I drove off. I pondered on whether we should go to a restaurant for lunch but I needed fresh air and some alone time with Cemil.

“What would you like for lunch?” I asked him but he shrugged without giving a verbal answer. The action annoyed me but I pushed that aside and looked for a chinese restaurant where I got some takeaways then I drove to the destination I had in mind.

“Where are we going?” Cemil asked while looking about our surroundings.

I was taking him to one of my favorite spots in the area. For some reason, I loved high grounds and this place in particular was one of the high grounds I discovered. It was my first discovery since it was the only place where I could drive to with my car while the rest required me to go hiking which was something I wasn’t in mood for at the moment. I stopped the car and got out when we reached our destination.

I left my jacket in the car so that I could be able to feel the air without any restriction. I stretched my arms and closed my eyes and imagined myself flying.

“What are you doing?” Cemil asked and I turned to him after lowering my arms.

“I just love feeling the wind on my face. You should try it.” I suggested playfully but Cemil approached me.

He outstretched his arm which I took and pulled him with me closer to the edge but with a safe distance before us. I stood him before me and moved myself closer to his body. I interlocked our fingers then outstretched our arms sideways. I leaned down and nestled my head on his neck as I kissed his neck before moving my mouth to his ear and whispered, “close your eyes.”

Cemil shuddered and I felt it like my own as he leaned on me heavily. I was like a stand that was keeping him upright and I had no complaint as I accepted his weight.

I closed my eyes too and focused on where our bodies touched. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and I knew Cemil could feel it too. It felt like forever but it was just a few minutes as I remembered that we were supposed to have lunch.

We walked back to the car and took out the food which we ate while I stood and Cemil sat on the hood of my car. We conversed easily without any tensions for about an hour before I drove us back to town. Cemil began talking about a book he had started reading recently when I remembered about the gift I had gotten for him. I listened attentively to his story and commented where I had to. Soon enough, we were pulling in on his driveway and after killing the engine, I turned in my seat and stared at the beautiful man I had the pleasure of calling mine.

“I’m sorry, Lemon.” I said, cutting him off midsentence.

“What? Why?” He frowned and I smiled because he looked cute.

I reached out and took his hand in mine, caressing it with my thumb.

“I’m sorry for not replying to your messages yesterday. I was tired and I slept out of nowhere plus this morning was also very busy for me. I promise to tell you whenever I won’t be available for texting.” I explained and Cemil smiled lovingly to me.

“Thanks, Zach.”

I remembered about the set of books I got so I took the bag and handed it to him. He exclaimed happily at the books and jumped me with a hug. I always listened when he talked about his books and one day he was talking about how he left these books at home and I decided to get him some as an apology gift.

“Thank you, thank you. Oh my goodness! I didn’t expect this at all, thanks Zach.” Cemil pecked my lips but as he moved away, I pulled him back for more than just a peck.

Kissing Cemil was heavenly and I never wanted to stop but my damn phone began ringing which made us pull apart. I checked my phone and it was urgent that I had to leave, so with one last kiss, Cemil exited the car and I drove back to the office.

--------------------------------------------