Chapter 3

AT the restaurant, Einille arrived thirty minutes earlier. She was feeling uneasy while waiting for Hero. And from time to time, she would look at her reflection on a small round mirror that she always brought inside her bag. She had to look perfect when her boyfriend arrived.

She glanced at her gold wristwatch. It was nearly the time of their tryst. She played her phone in hand in a circular motion while thinking that Hero might encounter a minor accident on the way, the reason he took so long. She dismissed the thought of calling him because he might be driving.

Einille was interrupted when a waiter came to her table, giving the menu card. Maybe he noticed she had been waiting for quite some time.

“I’m waiting for someone, thank you.” She beamed at the young man, and he politely smiled back at her.

She looked at her watch again. It had been an hour. But Hero told her he was on the way before. She started to worry more. What if something worse happened on his way here?

He’ll arrive soon. This thought comforted her. As much as possible, she didn’t want to think negatively. Even her mind was in complete disorder.

She breathed out in relief when her cellphone rang, and Hero’s name appeared on the screen.

“Where are you?” he asked the other line full of concern.

“Babe, I can’t make it tonight. I’m sorry, I was on my way going there, but my stomach suddenly went upset. Look, I know, this is unreasonable. Tomorrow I’ll visit you at home.”.

She remained quiet, but the way she grasped her phone, it might break anytime. She was trying to hold her emotions in place.

“’ Kay.” She simply said and immediately tapped the end button. She didn’t want to hear any of his reasons. It was clear that he couldn’t make it again.

She gritted her teeth in silence to ease her dismay. What to do if he was sick? Or was he really ill?

Right, I’m dumb.

She inhaled deeply and let it out slowly to calm her nerves. She would just confront Hero head-on once she met him tomorrow. But if she would be honest, her intuition told her that Hero was lying having an upset stomach.

“Are you waiting for someone?” said a baritone voice beside her.

Her head turned, and she witnessed Vale, his hands on his pockets with a concerned face. He wore a plain gray shirt defining his sculpted body.

“No,” she averted her gaze. She was not in the mood for his annoying antics. Maybe it was better if she’d go back home and have dinner there.

“Oh, good. Let’s eat dinner together.” Vale was immediately seated on the vacant chair in front of her.

She didn’t protest. Her stomach started to rumble anyway.

Vale called the waiter, and the young man came.

“Ma’am has been waiting so long. I’m glad you’re finally here.” The waiter innocently said.

Vale raised his head and stared at the young waiter, “Is there a problem?”

“I’m sorry, Sir. I know that’s none of my concern.” The waiter looked down, embarrassed. He silently got their orders and went away.

“If you don’t mind, you’re waiting for whom?” Vale asked when the waiter was gone.

“None, why are you here?” she asked in a relaxed way to hide her disappointment.

Vale lightly shrugged, “I thought of eating my dinner here tonight. Then I saw you. You looked bothered that you didn’t even notice I walked and waved in front of you.”

“I have a lot in mind.” She deeply sighed.

Vale did not ask again, and they waited for their food. She would avoid his gaze every time their eyes met. She didn’t like how this man threw his intrusive stare at her.

“You look sad. I’m not used to seeing you like that. What happened? Are you all right?” Vale broke the silence.

The fork in her hand with a slice of steak halted from going to her mouth. She put it back on her plate.

“I’m all right. Am I not clear?” Her eyes narrowed, and she glared at him. She didn’t want to talk about what happened tonight. She would only feel more troubled. Besides, they were not that close to share the personal matters of her life.

“I’m worried,” Vale whispered, but it reached her ears.

Einille hurriedly finished her meal and grabbed cash from her wallet. But Vale stopped her.

“Tonight, it’s my treat.” The man curved his lips and smile.

“Okay,” she shook her shoulders and didn’t argue. She stood up and fixed her handbag, “I’ll go home, thanks for dinner.”

“You’re welcome.” He jokingly saluted.

She lightly nodded and smiled a little before going. She momentarily paused before going out the glass door and gave a furtive glance at Vale. She witnessed him talking on his phone. He appeared genuinely concerned about her.

She simply shrugged it off and went to the parking lot.

“YOU know what to do. Be sure she’ll be home safe.” Vale commanded before he cut the call. He wiped his mouth with the table napkin, and he sipped water afterward.

He was worried about Einille, looking at her alone and staring blankly. He already disposed his men to checked her. This was his routine for the past month. If he couldn’t see her himself, he would order his men to follow her, unnoticed.

There was another task from a higher command that he should also secure Einille’s safety no matter what. Because recently, he found out the threats lurking around her. However, he learned that Einille was utterly unaware of it. That conclusion arrived after a month of his investigation.

Until now, he was still thinking about how to be near her but on a different approach. His usual antics of courting were not working. He was not blind to see that Einille was too in love with her boyfriend. She was too devoted than he imagined.

He is one hell of a lucky guy.

Vale pitied her. And now, he was becoming more involved. Even though he didn’t want to pry in her personal life, he had no other choice. Time would come she would learn the truth regarding Hero.

That bastard! He clenched his jaw, remembering Einille’s broken expressions.

Vale left a tip to the waiter before he left the restaurant. He decided to drop by at Rab’s house since it was still early. He was aware that Rab was off-duty at this time.

“Hey, what brought you here?” Rab let him in when he arrived at his house.

Vale looked around inside and teased his friend, “You sure you don’t keep a hot chick here?”

“I never bring a woman inside my house unless I intend to marry her.”

Vale’s eyes broadened as if shock, “Really? I don’t believe it. With your caliber, I highly doubt it.”

Rab laughed and went serious afterward, “Anything new?”

“Yeah, actually, I just came from a dinner date with Einille.” He proudly announced.

“What the fuck? For real? Did you pray earnestly to your deity that granted you this miracle?” Rab appeared unconvinced.

“I have my ways.” He comfortably sat down on the black leather couch.

“Seriously? But how?” Rab strolled going to how twin-door refrigerator in the kitchen and got two cans of beer. He threw one at him, which he quickly caught.

Vale told him the story of how he ended up spending dinner with Einille.

“I guess they supposedly have a date, but Hero did not arrive.” Vale shook his head and drank from his beer.

Shock crossed in Rab’s face, “That fool! I’ll make sure that Einille would know his dirty little secret soon.”

“Are you really sure that Einille doesn’t know about it?” he sounds doubtful. The cold beer felt relaxing as it goes through his throat.

“I don’t think so. Einille would not tolerate such disgrace.”

“Poor Einille, too innocent to the predators around her.”

“This is why you need to hurry up. We’re running out of time, both of us are not prepared to face the General’s wrath.”

Vale raised the can of beer in his hand, “I know that, cheers!”