From the afternoon, until now it's late at night. My phone kept vibrating and displaying several message notifications that I kept ignoring. I have no intention of picking up the call or reading the message. I left my phone on the nightstand, not even glancing at it. I could already guess that the culprit was none other than Axe. Who else would have my new number besides him and Edward. That's right. Axe did give me a cell phone, but with a note that I had to use the sim card he gave me. So the few old contacts I had couldn't be saved. Let alone other people, I didn't even have my mom and dad's numbers. That's why I didn't contact them, even though my only wish when I first came under Axe's custody was to contact them.
Axe shouldn't have needed to contact me anyway because he obviously knew where I was given the tracking device on my body. Remember what Edward once told me?My breathing ended in relief when there was no more vibrating coming from my phone. It wasn't that som"Bridgette!"My eyes blinked faintly at the knock on the bedroom door. What time is it already? The question managed to make my own body move quickly, until now I was sitting with my chest rising and falling irregularly.Last night I fell asleep so easily against my will. I mean, last night I intended to confirm Axe's whereabouts after 10 minutes of turning off all the lights so that he would think I really didn't care about him. I had intended for him to go back to the hotel and rest at his place. Unfortunately, I fell asleep before the first two minutes after lying down on the bed. Now at the risk, my heart would have to pound to question his whereabouts.My feet quickly stepped towards the window. I pulled the curtains until the morning glare made me dodge a little. Looks like I overslept.I searched for Axe and found him still standing there. Is what I saw true? I pinched my arm for a moment and what was in front of me didn't change. Axe was indeed standing there
Six days I've been at Rose's apartment. Those six days I also let Axe stand in the garden waiting for me to apologize. I don't know, time seems to have flown by, even though it feels like it was only yesterday that we had the fight.'I'll wait for you in this place until you forgive me.'I can still hear that confident sentence. But I salute Axe, he put his words into action. Six days and five nights living out there just for me, it was an unbelievable struggle. I knew Axe was tired underneath it all. It was noted that on the first to second day he was still able to stand and on the third day until today, his position had changed. Axe was no longer towering, but sitting with his head slightly bowed, and once in a while I found him lying down tired. Sometimes I also saw him massaging the bridge of his nose and squeezing his head roughly. My chest was aching, I couldn't bear to see him continue like that.I quickly moved to the door connecting the balcony. I push the
"Are you sure he's your brother?"Rose's question managed to cause a strange throbbing in my chest. If that was the truth, I hoped the answer was yes, Axe wasn't my brother. However, reality isn't that good. Who is Axe if not my brother? Someone else, is that it? Did Rose take the wrong medication to think that? There are things. "Don't be silly, Rose. We haven't lived apart since I was a kid, not even when I was one year old. Axe had to live with uncle Danial because of an agreement. Didn't I tell you that?""I did, but it feels strange." Rose scratched her head, which I'm sure wasn't itchy. Oh. She must be thinking about how my relationship with Axe could be this complicated. I don't understand either. It's still a mystery, if I'm being honest no one knows the reason behind the black and white agreement other than mom, dad, and Uncle Danial. They really kept it a secret from us. Surprisingly, Axe didn't question or even engage me in a discussion about our complicated
It's been an hour since Axe's eyes opened briefly, until now he's still faithful to his subconscious world. As always, Axe likes to keep me waiting. It's been three times since we've experienced something like this. Our relationship was never easy, always complicated.I let out a tired breath. I shift my gaze to the nightstand for a moment. My black flat object now caught my attention. Instantly a name popped into my head. Edward! Yes, Edward. I'll call him and ask him to bring Axe a change of clothes. Poor Axe, until now he's still wearing the same clothes we last spoke in the courtyard downstairs. It's also his fault for being so stubborn, I asked him to go back to the hotel and he kept waiting for me to end up sick like this. But the truth is that we were both at fault, if I could have forgiven him sooner. Maybe Axe would still be okay.Never mind. Everything has happened. The most important thing now is for me to take care of him so he can get better soon.I let
Axe quickly pulled his hand back and gave me an unaccepting look. "You want revenge on me for almost cutting off your fingers that time?" he asked pretending to be angry.I quickly shook my head and pulled my lips together to curl into a smile. "I know what you want, Axe. You're sick, don't mess with me. I won't let you touch me."I started to lower my body from his lap. Axe was sick, he couldn't hold the weight of my body on his thighs for too long. My job wasn't done yet either, I hadn't cleaned his body even though I had wet wipes ready."What do you want?Axe gasped at the movement of my hand that pulled his hand quickly. I didn't answer him because what I did next was to trace along his arm with the wet tissue.Just imagine, six days he'd been downstairs waiting for me, six days he hadn't touched water to wash his hands."How can you stand not showering," I muttered half-mockingly. I continued to wash Axe's body until it ended at the crook of his neck. I
"What are you doing, Axe?" I ask as I watch him unpack the dirty jeans he woke up in this afternoon. "A ring," Axe replies as he digs deep into his pants pocket.Axe chuckles when he doesn't find what he's looking for. He laid the pants roughly on the mattress, then bent at the waist like he was thinking about something."What ring are you looking for?""The ring you gave me back."Axe spoke without looking me in the eye. He even bent down to look for the ring under the bed. Seriously, if the little thing was kept in his pants pocket. The ring wouldn't be lost considering Axe wore jeans while waiting for me for six days and five nights.Besides, why would he suddenly think of a ring. I just left him downstairs for a while to clean up his vomit.Speaking of rings. I can't help but think of that horrible night, the night Axe held a knife to cut off my fingers. All the problems stemmed from there, about my status in his eyes. And what is this? Axe was talki
"Axe!" I called excitedly. I smiled from the elevator. Of course, I have good news for him. Axe must be happy to see his ring with me. However, my smile was forced to disappear when I opened the door and found him lying on his stomach under the bed. He doesn't seem to be in the mood to do anything."Axe," I called cautiously. I crouched down beside him as I gently stroked his back from top to bottom, and so on."I have something for you. Want to see?" I asked but didn't get a response from him.I sighed heavily. Axe looked more like someone who was heartbroken after being left by a girlfriend than sad about losing a favorite object. I couldn't imagine if he knew that at his age, he already had a child and was still acting childish. I'm sure he'd feel ashamed of herself."This is your ring." I placed it in front of him. Axe immediately got up and changed his position to sitting. His hand quickly grabbed the ring, then looked at the inside carefully. It seemed lik
"Wake up," the soft whisper that sounded so close made me blink a few times. I felt something rough touch my back and a repeated peck on my lips.Who was trying to disturb my peaceful sleep? I moved to tighten my embrace on the warm body, trying to get rid of the endless disturbance that continued until now. "Wake up, Bridgette!" The call never provoked me to open my eyes. Instead, the distinctive scent of cologne became a calming therapy in the morning. My breath felt fresh even though my eyes were still closed so perfectly."Don't tease me, baby girl. I can stab you back if I want to."That sentence successfully made my eyes open wide. Oh my God!Axe!How could I forget I was with him. "Let go." I pushed away his hand that was busy stroking the skin of my back. I quickly got up to change my position to sitting. Unfortunately, I also forgot the state of my body. I was still wearing nothing after making love to him last night. And now he's loo
Several months later... I was staring at Axe with an infected hand, next to him was Oracle, walking towards me. He had a baby in his arms. His head kept lowering to watch our daughter's face endlessly. A perfect smile completed Axe's happiness. His efforts to serve me when I was craving for something had paid off, as he was finally reunited with his child in person. I remember forcing Axe to make me roti canai, an Asian specialty, with his own hands. Axe could cook, but had no idea about that kind of food, but at the crack of dawn, I kept pushing him to get up to be an impromptu chef for his daugther's wish. It was a struggle to wake Axe up when he was exhausted after touching me relentlessly. It's his own fault for never being satisfied. Little did I know that his son would suddenly want something. Even though he had to, Axe did his duty. That time, with his eyes half open. He reached for the cell phone on the nightstand, digging into
I gazed at the ring that was placed back on my hand with a smile of emotion and happiness. The sacred promise in Axe's name had been made. There was one more to go, but Axe never did. He just looked at me with his eyes sparkling with happiness, like an idiot who suddenly became a millionaire. What was he waiting for? Until I started first? Seriously! "You're making everyone wait too long for you," I said softly and almost in a whisper. "Sure?" asked Axe in confirmation. He raised one eyebrow at me suspiciously. "Are they or are you actually getting impatient?" he continued with a teasing smile. "Suit yourself, Axe." I turned to look at the faces there. The important people in my life were gathered in one frame. There was Oracle, mom, dad, my father and mother-in-law, and Rose who was so beautiful in a black dress. Next to her was Theo who always stalked Rose wherever she went. I think Axe's question at that time was very appropriate. What is the relationship between them,
"You didn't mean your threat, did you, baby girl?"I didn't respond to Axe's question the whole way. Even from the time Oracle kept babbling until he was now sound asleep, I didn't respond to him. Earlier, after Rose and Oracle's hug was over. I immediately said goodbye to Rose and left Axe alone. Stepping quickly into the car with Oracle. He followed later with a face that seemed to be in deep thought, perhaps he was thinking about how to persuade me. Let it go. Let him know what kind of position I was in when I apologized to him. Being ignored doesn't feel good. Now let Axe get a taste."Bridgette," he called again.There's no answer for a moment, so I choose to close my eyes to join the Oracle on my lap. I'd rather sleep."Let me ask you, what's your friend got to do with that silly bastard? I saw him hiding in Rose's room and watching all of us."My eyes flew wide open. What did Axe mean and who could get inside Rose's apartment besides us?"Who
Do you know what's wrong with roses falling? Because when it first blooms, it's too beautiful. -Theodore Witson -------------------------------- "Rose, thank you again. I don't know what my life would be like without your help." I hugged tightly the body of the beautiful woman, who was currently returning my warmth."You're welcome," Rose whispered as she gently rubbed up and down my shoulders. "In what way should I repay your kindness?"I couldn't help but make sure my voice sounded bitter. I couldn't bear to take the Oracle away from Rose. But what should I do? If I let Oracle be with Rose, that child would lose a complete family figure. Axe definitely wouldn't let that happen. He's been separated from Oracle since Oracle himself was still in the womb, how could that man ever want to give Oracle up. And if I'm being honest, I want Oracle too. Although the guilt for Rose would be much greater. "You paid me enough with your happiness. Don't be sad anymore, do you understand?" Ros
"She's in the back like a chick," Axe replied. He suddenly moved away, no longer providing protection. "Hi, Rose." I smiled stiffly as Rose stifled a giggle at my ridiculous behavior. Just watch out for her! "Hi, Oracle." This time I turned to Oracle, he was looking at me deeply. There was a tension on his face that I didn't understand. Why, did my presence scare him? I shook my head faintly with an unfocused look, looking at the three people in front of me in turn. The Oracle could not accept my presence yet, that much I knew. I'd better get going. Yes, my legs slowly lifted backwards. Feeling that it was not enough, I turned my body quickly. Run! That's what my brain told me to do. But my movement was halted by a greeting from behind. "Hello, Mommy Bri." Mommy Bri... My head echoed at the Oracle's call. He called me mommy
"Ready?" I turned my head to the side at Axe's question. From the Canadian airport, we drove straight to Rose's apartment. Axe and I were still in the car parked in the basement. He asked me if I was ready...my answer was no. I couldn't take Oracle's rejection when he saw me in front of him. As Axe had said back then, he would take me to pick Oracle up after everything was done. Yes, it was over as Axe's revenge was three weeks old. Uncle Danial was finally found guilty and sentenced to 35 years in prison. The prime minister's protection of him did not apply, because the evidence was in sight. Moreover, Uncle Danial was further aggravated by the presence of the prisoners that Axe released as witnesses in court. At that time, the trial lasted for about two weeks. No denials and no appeals made it all over quickly. I still remember the first and second trials. It was strange to sit in the opposite camp between dad and mom. Although
"Damn kid! Where have you been all night, why do you have this bruise on your face?" We just arrived at Mr. O'Connor's residence, suddenly Axe was immediately questioned by his father. The explosion in the forest yesterday, no one had dared to tell my father-in-law about Axe's condition via voice call before the man was found. Mr. O'Connor is temperamental. He would have gone berserk knowing Axe was in danger. That's why Hema asked Alessandro and I to wait for the right time to tell him, which turned out to be the case even after I was gone, they still didn't tell Mr. O'Connor about Axe's condition. "Just a bruise." Axe chuckled in displeasure, continuing to avoid having Mr. O'Connor's hand on his face. "Really?" Mr. O'Connor gave Axe an incredulous look, then turned to glare at me. "What did Xelle do last night, Bridgette?" he asked, obviously knowing I wouldn't lie. I didn't do much. I just sighed and occasionally glanced at Axe, w
"Watch out, Axe!" Bang! I hugged Axe as tightly as I could, making my body a shield for him. He once let a bullet bite into his body because of my mistake. Now I wanted to do the same, sacrificing myself for the one I loved. The sound of gunfire gave me pause to breathe. I should have felt the heat spread by the bullet. But until now everything still felt safe. I don't understand, my body is fine for no reason. "Don't do this next time. Don't protect me. I can take care of myself. What will happen to you if I don't hurry?" My body was forcibly released and I realized Axe's weapon was emitting smoke as he lowered his hand. What have I missed? I quickly turned around. It was a little unbelievable to find Arthur lying on the floor with his eyes open and a bullet stuck right in his forehead. "I don't want to kill. But letting yourself get shot is the most fatal mistake." Axe stroked my face briefly, then tucked the gun in his hand behind his body. "Don't do that again. Do you un
"I told you not to try to escape from me!" A cold voice and the clomping of someone's feet made me turn around. Arthur was seen grinning cruelly with his gaze drawn deep. He was completely different from anyone I had ever known. "I've given you a choice. Obey if you want me to be nice!" Arthur gripped my jaw so tightly that I looked up to stare into his dark beads. He changed after the unwanted wedding into a big battle. I knew he was a victim of Axe's game. But, did it have to be this way? "Why did you kidnap me all the way here?" I forced myself to stare at the man in camouflage. There was no meaningful answer from him. He just smiled crookedly bringing my face closer. "Let go, Arthur. I have a husband," I said, pushing quite hard on his face. "I should be your husband." Arthur smiled bitterly. There was so much hatred in his eyes. He was right. He should have... He should have been my husband. But fat