Ashes of Love

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

—

I slowly opened my eyes. I blink gently as I slowly roamed the place. The place is so unfamiliar to me. The house is made up of wood and nipa.

I felt my backaches, and that's the time that I realize I'm lying in a hard bed —no foam or bed sheets at all.

Where am I? And why am I here by the way?

Although my body really aches I still managed to get myself up to the bed. I glance at my hand, I have some minor bruises. Then my hand landed on my head when I felt something strange.

I think I injured my head since I have some bandages. But what happened? Why am I here? And... Who am I by the way?

The small door opened, so my eyes move to that way. There I saw a man in his dirty white —literal dirty since I can see some mud in his white shirt —, and old jeans. I saw a glitch of gladness or happiness the moment he saw me awake —err, I am not sure if he's indeed happy or what since he's wrinkling his brows at me while staring me intently like I am some sort of criminal.

Am I not supposed to wake up?

"Who are you?" a question immediately escapes from my mouth the moment he starts taking steps near the bed. He didn't answer me. He just continued walking straight to my direction.

My heart suddenly banged so loud due to nervousness. Is he going to punch me so I could lose my consciousness again? Or... f**k he's near!

"Do—" I wasn't able to finish the word I am supposed to tell him I felt his warm embrace. Yes, he embraces me. I stilled. I do not know what to react to. Should I push him away? I do not know him, and he's hugging me! This is... This is not right!

I wanted to protest, but when I felt his embrace tightens, I remained steady —afraid of what he might do if I protest.

"I'm glad you're awake," he whispered gently. Then he freed me from his hug. He caresses my cheek using is large and warm palm. I winced. I tried to move my face away. I'm not comfortable…

"Who are you? And why am I here?" I asked him again.

His lips parted. He looked concerned, and problematic? I'm not sure. I'm not good at reading people.

"It's me Aaron Trev. Don't you remember me?"

I arched my brows at him —nodding my head. "I wouldn't ask if I know you."

"Maggy," he uttered.

I narrowed my eyes. "Maggy? Is that ... Is that my name?" I asked. And with just that statement I saw the horror in his face. Like he didn't expect that coming —but wait, did I just saw a quick strand of gladness passes through his eyes?

His lips parted. He shut his eyes for a while before licking his lips. With sincerity in his eyes, he held my hand and stared me intently.

"I know you're mad at me but please, stop acting like this, baby," he uttered. I smiled fakely.

"I… I'm not pulling some action here. And, why the hell are you calling me baby, are you my dad or something?" I mocked a laughed after that.

Who is he to think that I am just pulling some act? Can't he just see that from the way I looked like —from the wound and bruises I have — that I am injured and probably didn't know what happened, worst is, I didn't remember everything —which is actually my case here.

It's not easy for me to wake-up then remembered nothing, then met some guy who's calling me baby.

"Maggy…"

"I… I don't remember you or myself. Is my physical state not enough for you to conclude that I might have gone through an accident and lose my memories?"

Well, I'm just guessing that maybe I have gone through an accident. It's basically the case, I think.

He shut his eyes, again. Stared me like he's sorry. What's with this guy, he keeps shutting his eyes. Do his eyes sore? "This is my fault. I'm sorry, baby," he said.

I stared him blankly. My mind is so clouded with so many questions, but my body is too tired to open my mouth to ask him everything.

"I don't know how to explain this. It's a long story," he stated.

"Then make it short and concrete. You're calling me baby, are we some sort of lovers or something for you to call me with that endearment?" I asked him with all the curiosity in me.

He nodded curtly, before starting telling me some tales —which I do not know if it's real or just a made-up story. I just can't trust this man that easy. Despite having a battled mind, I chose to listen and believed his words even if I'm in doubt. Just this once…

 I can't also stop myself but to scanned his face as he keeps telling me the information I asked … We're so close to each other and I am bothered by how good looking he is. His eyebrows are thick, and so his curvy lashes. He has a pointed and proud nose. A square jaw which would scream when he's mad, probably. And lips —an edible lips. I'm really bothered, he's so good looking, and I wonder how I look like.

'Oh! Come on —Maggy? — scratch that thing, you're talking to him because you're curious about who the hell you are and why you're here, so stop praising him and get your shits together!' I scold myself mentally.

I just diverted my attention to what he's saying. My head throbbed so I asked him to stop talking. I think I can wait. There's still tomorrow. The most important thing here is my condition. I am clearly not in my good shape, and I need a perfect rest to recuperate.

But to summarize his tale. He told me that I am  Maria Georgina Echavez, Maggy for short. According to him, I am turning 22 this May —since it's already 24th or April now, I'm only counting a few weeks to turn 22. About my educational background, he told me that I graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in History in one of the prestigious Universities in Mindanao, the MSU-IIT. And as for my relationship with him, he told me he's my fiance… Well, I'm not sure if these are all true, but I accepted all this information and tried to dig my mind to confirm if these are all true, but it only made my head throbbed harder.

***

I fell asleep after our conversation, and when I wake-up, it's already dark. He told me earlier that we're on a farm. He brought me here, for this is the safest place he found.

I pulled myself out of the bed and tried my best to walk. With my aching body, I managed to walk up until to the wooden door. I sneak some glances outside, only to find him standing while talking to someone over the phone. He's far enough for me not to hear what they were talking about.

The moon shines brightly tonight, and the stars are dancing like they were happy in the sky. Indeed, the sky at night is one of God's greatest paintings. Just by looking at it, all your worries would vanish in the meantime.

"Maggy…"

I lowered my gaze and find Aaron staring at me. He smiled then he slowly walks towards my direction. When he reached me, I felt his hand playing with my fingertips, before holding it like he owned my hand.

"Let's get inside, it's cold here," he said.

I just let myself go with his flow without saying a word. I am still curious if he's really my fiance. But from the way he held my hand, I can feel that he cares for me. I can feel somehow that he's somewhat familiar to me, but still, I doubt his words.

"A doctor will be here tomorrow to check you out. Maybe it'll take long before you recall all your memories, but you do not have to worry. Everything will be fine."

I stared at him for a moment, before I plastered a small smile in my lips. "Can't we just go to a hospital?"

I have to ask that, because why not, right?

Aaron pursed his lips into a thin line, and then he shook his head —telling me that we can't really go to the place I suggested.

"It's dangerous, I told you," he said.

I exhale noisily.  He told me earlier that my life is at risk that's why he chose to seclude me from the others. That's why he brought me to this place where no one knows us.

"Are you sure that it's dangerous or you're just saying those words just to keep me here?" Finally, I voiced it out.

Aaron frowned at me. "You don't trust me, I see," he stated.

"You can't blame me. I don't remember everything, and I can't confirm if you're really telling me the truth. Who knows, maybe you abducted me—" I stopped right away without having the guts to finish my sentence. His dark stares scared the s**t out of me. He only darted me a dark and authoritative glance yet my system already trembles.

Who is this man really? Why can't I stand him being irritated or something? Like I do not want him to be in a bad mood. Hell, what was I thinking?

"You have to trust me, Maggy. I won't harm you."

I nodded at that. We didn't say a word after that. He stood up then grabbed some plates, and put it on the table. We are going to have our dinner obviously.

Inside this small wooden house is a small dirty kitchen —which would mean that we should use some branches or some woods to make our food. Most of the things inside here are organic, I mean, I couldn't see any appliances that are supported by electricity. Aside from the florescent, we have nothing, really.

Well, there's a small dining table just enough for the two of us. There is also a small room —the one that I occupied earlier. Just everything in this house is made of woods. Are we this poor? But this man named Aaron is shouting with elegance —he looks rich.

I snapped. Maggy, you've forgotten, he only brought you here to recuperate. Right, right. So, we're not poor, I guess. Well, that gives me at least a great relief.

I am not a gold digger or something, but since I am suffering from this condition it's better for us if we have enough money to sustain everything. Hmm…

My attention was caught up when Aaron suddenly spoke.

"Here," he said as he put the grilled eggplant on my plate. We don't have meat here, aside from the freshly cooked white rice and grilled eggplant, we have nothing.

"Thank you." Then I dipped my eggplant to vinegar. I don't know if this would taste good. I only mimic what he did, but when I started munching my food, a gentle smile arched in my lips...It's delicious.

After we ate, it was Aaron who washes our dishes. As for me, I decided to go back to the small room I am occupying earlier.

I roamed my eyes again, hoping that I could see something new in this room. We only have a bulb light here, and we do not have any appliances. I nodded to myself.

Well, we're just staying in a small nipa hut so I should not expect more since this place is I think a remote one. But I think it's good already, what's important is that we have a place to stay. Hmm… Maybe I should take some walk tomorrow to see what's outside. We're on a farm, the scenery will surely be fascinating.

The bamboo door opened, it's Aaron, of course. He walks straight to where his duffel bag placed and get a shirt before exiting the small room.

I pouted. I just hope my condition would soon be better. I do not want to stay long with him. He's very intimidating.

After a while, I decided to lie down in the bamboo bed. The bed made a sound when I finally lied myself down.

I closed my eyes and started counting sheep.

I wish I'm lying in a soft bed right now because sleeping in this bed would really give me more backaches.

A moment later, the bed made a sound. I opened my eyes only to find out that Aaron is now setting himself in the same bed I am occupying. He even grabbed my blanket —I mean he wants to share a blanket with me.

My heart banged so loud. My eyes protested. "W-what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm going to sleep."

I gulped. We're now facing each other with a small distance and he has the nerves to stare me like he's teasing me!

"You can sleep in the other room—"

"This is the only room, Maggy, and I do not want to sleep outside. It's cold, have mercy on me," he said, still staring at me. s**t. I forgot this is the only room indeed. Tsk.

Conscience eats me. Of course, I do not want him to stay outside, but it can't be also right to have him in this bed. I mean, he's a man, and I'm a woman. It's not appropriate, even if we say that he's my fiance. I don't remember him perhaps that gives me a valid reason to kick him out of here, right? Right?!

When he caresses my cheek, my eyes widened. Who knows if he's going to choke me after this or what?

"Let's sleep, Maggy.".

"Uhm… okay? G-good night then…"

He leered a bit. Then what he did next was further than my imagination. My heart really pounded so loud the moment his lips crashed to mine. I flicked an eyelid twice… He kissed me!

"Good night, baby." That's what he said before claiming my lips again like he was the master of it. 

TO BE CONTINUED..