Chapter 2: Proposal

Proposal

Ismaiah Zyler Cojuanco. I stared at his written name on a piece of paper. Earlier, when a guard came her inside my room to give me food, I asked him to write that Cojuanco guy name on this paper.

Good thing he's kind enough to do what I asked him. It's been three days since he brought me here. After that dinner, he never showed up in front of me again, not even a shadow of him was seen by me.

I am not allowed to go out of the room too. He only left two guards outside and a woman helper to give me food and clothes here.

I don't know what's taking my father long to find me. I am not sure on where I am but I am sure he have enough connection to track where I am.

If my father is really connected in this, he's men are probably moving ever since I turned missing. There's no way my dad would shrugged me away!

"He's still not home?" I asked the helper in a low voice.

The helped then shook her head and gave me a small smile.

"I overheard from the guards that Mr. Cojuanco is on his way already."

My face twisted at that. After leaving me alone here for three days and now he's coming back? What a bastard!

I can't even go to the bathroom properly without those guys tailing me! So annoying!

I waited till dawn. I heard his car engine outside in the afternoon but he haven't visited my room since he came home. I hate it! It makes me feel like he forgot that he abducted someone here!

I want to go home. I want to see my friends. I want to see my father. I want to get out of here.

I shut my eyes tightly when I heard the door knob clicking. He's here. That's probably him! No one would try to enter this room without a reason.

I pretended to be asleep. I want to catch him off guard and escape. I just hope that the guards are fast asleep already.

I felt his presence on my side immediately. His stare is making me uncomfortable. Even though my eyes are close, I can still feel it.

"Open your eyes, I know your not asleep," his deep and cold voice uttered that almost made my heart jump out of my chest.

I didn't expect him to talk. He barely do. His personality, if you'll see it based on how he act is quiet mysterious. He seems gentle yet dangerous.

"Elysian, if you don't want me to kiss you right now open your eyes," he warned, making me open my eyes in a snap.

I saw him on a formal dress already, when I first met him here. Right now, he's only wearing a white long sleeve shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his arm. His tie is loosen. Looks like he just got home from work?

I saw his suit on the floor. I glared at him because of that.

"Pick that up!" I hissed in annoyance.

"You pick it up."

I scoffed at his response. I stood up from the bed and took his suit from the floor. He looks tired but still looking so attractive so hell. I hate him still though.

"I heard you keep asking where I am?" he queried before lying his body on my bed. Is he planning to sleep here?! No way!

"I want to go home," I frankly said.

"After we got married, you can go home."

"I am not marrying you!"

"Says who, Elysian?" he firmly uttered.

I rolled my eyes. I can't even imagine myself marrying him!

"Sit here, I can't see you properly," he said, tapping the side of the bed near him. Since he's laying down and I am standing on the place where his eyes can't catch, he needed to slightly lift his head up to see me.

"Why are you here?" I throw a question, not obliging on what he wanted me to do.

"To rest."

"Rest on your room," I sneered.

"Nah, there's no Elysian there."

What the fuck?! Is he doing this because he likes me? This is creepy! It's making me uncomfortable!

"I won't touch you, unless you don't behave properly," he added, trying to assure me but it didn't help.

I just got more nervous to even sit on the bed.

"Ah! Take the thing out on my suit's pocket. There's something there."

"Stop asking me to do things!" I hissed.

I stared at him boldly. He can't see me that's why I have the braveness to do so. He really looks tired, even his voice sounds tired. I can always sense the coldness and limit on his voice but it can't hide the tiredness on it.

What did he do for the past days? I want to know but I won't ask him. He might get the wrong idea.

I sighed and check the pocket of his suit. I felt a hard object there and took that out from the pocket.

My mouth hung agape when I saw the small box on my hand. I am not dumb. I know what's inside this. I just don't want to acknowledge it.

"Leave this room, Ismaiah."

He immediately got up from my bed to meet my eyes. I gasped when he suddenly reach for my hand and pulled me towards him. I can't help but sit on his lap in detest.

"Let me fucking go!" I keep wiggling myself to make him let me go but he just encircled his arm around my waist and let his chin rest on my shoulder.

"Stop moving above me, you're turning me on," he frankly said that made my eyes doubled.

"Pervert!"

"Stop moving your hips, Elysian."

I stayed still on my place. I can feel his bulge on the side of my legs. I now know that he's telling the truth! I'm having goosebumps for real!

"Marry me," he whispered.

"No."

"Wear the ring, Elysian."

"I said stop telling me what to do!"

"Marry me or I'll kill your father," he warned.

I pressed my lips tightly together. He can? Seeing his men outside and how he didn't even had a hard time bringing me here, I know that he can do everything that he say.

That guy, even though I sometimes tell him that I hate him, I still love him. My father is the only family I have. My mom died 5 years ago due to a severe disease. I am an only child. My relatives are all far away from us. So seeing my father dead will be my last option.

"Still no. I'll die first before that happens." I firmly declined.

"The marriage is schedule a week from now. Get ready, Elysian," Ismaiah said before letting me go and standing up to leave.

"I said no!" I screamed. His bulky steps begun to pound towards me.

I held my breathe as he drape his arm over my waist, nearly carrying me with only his free arm. His other hand is on my face, cupping it harshly. It's like I just cut his remaining patience.

"I told you to behave!" he uttered gritting his teeth in anger.

Tears started pooling in my eyes. His hold is hurting me! I thought he doesn't want me hurt!

"Don't you dare cry, Elysian. A tear falling on your eyes equates a life of your closest friends," he warned.

My eyes immediately turned blank. He's a monster. He's heartless. He's scary...

I tried so hard not to let my tears fell. There's no way I will risk my friends life for my fucking tears!

The next day, the helper woke me up early to help me dress up. I just quietly obliged. I didn't talk the whole preparation. Even when she asked me things about my life outside, I didn't bother answering her.

"Mr. Conjuanco might act and talk like that but he's a good man, Ma'am Ely," she then said before I left the room.

A good man huh. I won't question that. The people inside this house won't stay if he isn't. But still, I am taken here without my knowledge. My right to decide for myself is being neglected. I am being threatened and force to marry him. He is not a good man in my eyes. He's someone I'll surely hate for the rest of my life.

A group of people welcomed me the moment I arrived at the living room. Ismaiah is leniently leaning on his seat, comfortably giving all his weight on the couch.

I swiftly avoided his gaze and look at the woman in front of me. I bitterly rolled my eyes at the back of my head. Their smiles are making me feel shit! I hate it!

"Elysian, come here," Ismaiah loudly commaded.

I act like I didn't heard him and sat on the couch, opposite to where he is.

The room suddenly got engulfed with silence. It's like everyone is trying to weigh the room.

I am pissed and so Ismaiah. I don't like how he is demanding me to do things. I hate it so much that it's making my chest hurt.

"What is it? Why am I dress up like this?" I cynically queried.

"We're attending a party," Ismaiah shortly answered.

I stared at him confusedly. He'll let me go out of this place?

"Don't look at me like that," Ismaiah said before taking steps closer to where I am. "Help her fix herself. I'm coming back here after an hour."

He crouched down to level my eyes and leaned in closer to me. I pursed my lips tightly and tilted my head on the side where his lips won't reach mine.

The side of his lips rose up because of my move. I stiffened on my seat when I felt him planting a soft kiss at the top of my head making me almost forget to breathe.

I watched him walk away from the room.

Why is he acting all sweet now? He's so confusing! This day he'll act all nice, the next day he'll start threatening me again! Why is he being like this?!

It took them an hour to finish my hair and make up. The curl at the end of my hair highlighted my whole look. The dreamy theme of my make up suits my dace really well.

I am wearing a flowy long red slit dress that the helper made me wear earlier. I look gorgeous tonight!

I didn't want to wear heels because I am planning to escape but I have no choice but to wear one. I just really can't decide on my own here huh?

"You done now?" I heard Ismaiah asked from

behind.

I stared at his reflection on the mirror. He looks dashing! Even when he's just wearing a formal suit with his hair up in a clean style, his face is doing all the work!

"You're pretty," he whispered as he pulled me closer to him for a hug.

My hands remained on my side, not reciprocating his hug.

"I know that already," I sneered.

"So pretty that I want to own you right now."

"Obsessed."

I told myself last night that I won't talk to him but here I am, exchanging short words with him just because I don't want to lose.

My ego won't let me shut up.

"Are you not scared that I'll runaway?" I asked mischievously.

"Do you think I will let you?"

My jaw hardened. I glared at him and looked away.

"You can try, Elysian. Try me. You'll never escape my grasp."

"Shut up. I don't want to hear your voice."

He then held my hand and gently pulled me towards his car. I sighed and just let him do what he wants.

I confusedly look at him when he halted his steps and heave a deep sigh. He turned to face me with a stoic expression.

"What?" I asked.

"Marry me, Elysian."

My jaw drop as I met his eyes. He's really serious about this.

"No." My answer remained the same.

I don't want to marry him. I won't marry him.

"Will you be my wife?"

"You just change a command into a question, Ismaiah." I sarcastically remarked.

"I thought you want me to ask you."

I shook my head in disappointment, "If you ask me genuinely, I might reconsider my answer."

"You want me to love you?"

The side of my lips curled up, "Hmm, maybe?" I said before entering his car with a huge smile on my face.

Being love by him is not a bad thing. I might like it if he did.