The Forbidden Desires 05

I stared at Silas who couldn’t wipe the smile off his face while talking to the woman. I had my hand under my chin and pouted. I was thinking he probably was forced to take me because of Grandpa’s plea. That whatever I do here, he would never like me.

I took my eyes off them to look at the people I’m with on the table. I discreetly took a deep breath and couldn’t help but look at the two again. I put my hand down when I saw them heading to the outback of the house.

“That’s their niece. Athena.”

Once again, I broke my gaze away from Silas when I heard Grandma say that to the father of the woman with Silas.

“Their niece?”

I smiled when the man looked at me.

“Yes. Athena’s mother is Gineth, Laura, and Silas’s cousin. Athena’s grandfather, who took care of her, is the cousin of Silas’s father,” Grandma explained.

I also nodded now that I learned how we all became relatives. He is my Uncle because my mother is his cousin.

“Agatha got married at such a young age.” Grandma glanced at me. “Your mother settled in life earlier, which is why you’re just the same age as Gineth, which is nearly the same as Silas and Laura.”

I smiled as I remembered my mother’s picture. I used to stay in her room, staring at my father’s picture frame. I got most of my features from my father. Jet black hair, unlike my mother who was more like a brunette. Mom has a slightly brown skin so I don’t think I got my fair skin from her. Her eyes were hazel brown while my father’s were black like mine.

“You’re using Alvarez as your name. Right, dear?”

“Yes, Grandma. . .”

She smiled. “Your grandfather must’ve wanted to name you after him.”

The topic of their conversation then changed. I don’t intend to listen but I cannot stand to leave either. Besides, I didn’t know the way around the house, yet. I had nowhere else to go even if I were to leave here.

“You want to come, Athena? I’ll watch Kuya!”

Gineth appeared beside me. She touched my arm. She didn’t give me a chance to say no because she was already dragging me before I could say a word. My eyes shifted back to the elderly and when I saw them smiling and watching us, I just let Neth take me.

“Where are we going?”

She didn’t mind my question and continued dragging me to where Silas went earlier. I didn’t know if the entire house was made sound-proof but when Neth opened the door, leading outside, that’s when I heard the gunshot. I closed my eyes and covered my ear with my one free hand.

I held onto the door frame. My head throbbed at the continuous gunshot, especially when I saw Silas still with the woman. They were both serious as they shot their targets in a human-like form. I firmly closed my eyes. I managed to get my hand back from Neth and used both to cover my head.

It was such an agonizing pain that I couldn’t fathom. It was as though my head would explode. I was out of breath and I felt cold sweat on my back. I leaned at the door frame and endured the pain. All I could do was just closed my eyes tight.

The pain in my head got worse when the gunshots didn’t stop. People carrying guns suddenly appeared in my mind. They were vague and blurry but I’m sure I am inside the car. I had my arms around a man, crying, and trembling in fear, as I watched men outside the car.

It was a decent road. We were surrounded by a cornfield. Several cars in front and at the back were blocking our way. There was a great number of armed men with huge built standing outside.

“Kuya . . .” I whispered. I had no idea if I said that word or if it was the person in my head. One thing I was sure of: it was my own voice.

I gasped and jumped in fear when one of the men outside rudely knocked on the car window. The knocks are getting louder as if not opening the car door makes him angrier. I looked up at the man I was hugging for my dear life but I couldn’t clearly see his face. He might be blurry because of my tears or maybe because he’s not real?

“I won’t let them touch you . . .” the man whispered, then tightened his arms around me.

“Athena!”

Somebody shook my shoulders aggressively. Silas was in front of me when I opened my eyes. My eyes wandered around and I remembered where I was. Gineth looked worried at me while the woman holding a gun looked confused.

“What’s wrong?” Silas in front of me looked worried. “What happened?!” He was mad as he questioned his sister.

“I had no idea, Kuya. She suddenly looked pale and she grabbed her head. . .”

I was still lost at what I witnessed.

‘What was that? Why did I see those people? I don’t even know them! They appeared like remnants of my forgotten memory!’

“Did you hurt your head? Where?” He inspected my body. His hand was on my arm to guide me in case I got dizzy. He lifted one hand and flattened the back of it against my forehead to check my body temperature. I shook my head and took a deep breath. His brows furrowed but he instantly let go after making sure I was alright.

“My head hurts. Perhaps. . . because of the long trip?” Feeling embarrassed, I glanced at the woman. I must have disturbed them and I couldn't help but be sorry.

“Why did you bring her here?!” he furiously turned to Neth.

His sister lowered her head and pouted after being scolded. I felt guilty. Neth did nothing wrong. I also didn’t know what caused the sudden pain in my head and the appearance of those people.

“We thought of watching you. . .” I said to get his attention.

He took those bloodshot eyes from Neth to me. “It’s already late. Both of you get some rest.”

He wasn’t pleased when he looked away. The worried I saw from him vanished completely. Gineth nodded and pulled me back inside the house. I glanced at Silas once more and caught his furrowed brows while watching us.

I was locked up inside the room in silence later that night but the image I saw remained in my head. Those men with guns outside the car and the man I’m with inside the car. They were blurry but I know that hasn’t happened to me in these past ten years. I'm certain because I’m sure that never happened to me within the only ten years that I can remember. I couldn’t tell why they appeared all of a sudden. The gunshots triggered my memory and showed those unfamiliar people to me. It got me even more confused. If I didn’t know him and none of those happened, why did I see them in my memory?

I failed to find some answer so I simply shrugged it off. There was no explanation for it. It’s simply because I’m yet to be comfortable in this huge house and I panicked because it was the first time I heard gunshots. Those people must just be part of my imagination.

I slept early and woke up much earlier than yesterday to help in the kitchen. I didn’t want to rest but they insisted. So I went outside to look around the place instead. My feet brought me to where Gineth led me last night.

The shooting targets have holes in every perfect spot to kill somebody. I saw them aiming at it last night before my head hurt and I could say that they were indeed good at using guns even in that dark hour of the night. I found bullets on the ground. The targets remained there as it is and no one changed them.

It’s another sunny day and it was starting to get humid so I walked back inside the house.

“Are you still looking for them?”

I planned to turn for the kitchen when I saw Silas with the same woman from yesterday. It seemed like a serious topic and my feet planted me on the ground.

“I will find them soon . . .”

“And after you find them? What are you going to do? Kill them?”

“Yes. I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done. Especially their mastermind. . .”

The woman crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. I stood there watching. I wasn’t hiding nor was I making a noise. I didn’t want to eavesdrop but I couldn’t help but be interested in what they were talking about. It was as though something wanted me to stay and listen.

“I smell something fishy.” The woman’s nose scrunched. “Your work has nothing to do with this right?”

“This is, in fact, connected to my work. It's the only reason I have this job now. I have my personal reason.” Silas smirked and slouched his body to sit on the backrest of the couch.

“I had no idea who, or what group, you’re looking for but you're determined to find them, I can tell. It seems to me that you choose this job to find them and not because you want this job for yourself.”

I gulped when Silas’s eyes darkened as if he remembered something that triggered his anger. Even from where I stood, I could see how he clenched his jaw.

“I choose this job so I could easily find them—”

“I wonder now who they are and what they did to you . . .” The woman smirked; her eyes remained on Silas, as if she found him intriguing and mysterious. “I wonder why a lowkey five-star rank general would prefer to be a special agent. You are also unknown to the media.”

My eyes widened. He’s a five-star rank in the military? He looked young! How did he manage to earn such a higher rank?

That explains how expert he is at handling guns and the gunshot wounds on his body. Did he also get the scar on his back from his job? If I were to ponder it, it was as though he got it through the cruellest way possible. Like someone tortured him.

“You want to find them immediately but you’re refusing our help. You are doing it alone and in private . . .”

Silas nodded. His lips parted. There was something he wanted to say but his brows furrowed instead of voicing it out, as if he finally noticed some presence stalking closer to them.

I planned to leave but I was stunned when he suddenly glanced at my direction. Our eyes met. It stayed on me as his jaw clenched.

I gasped and guiltily looked away. How did he spot where exactly I stood without actually seeing me first? He instinctively knew where I was with just a mere intuition.

I was at a safe distance from them so I could hardly hear their voices. There was also a huge in-house plant in front of me which covered my body. His eyes never went to me or this direction, not even once, until our eyes actually met, so how did he manage to feel my presence?!

He must have been well-trained to be that aware of his surroundings and know when someone is listening and watching them secretly. His sharp sense was as sharp as his eyes directed at me now.

“You still haven’t changed, huh? A curious cat who loves eavesdropping?”

His eyes were serious and it was making my stomach churn. He was such a frightening sight with that severe and brooding look. It was as if he would know what’s on my mind with one glance. If he ever asked a question he would easily know if my answer was a lie.

My heart hammered when he stood upright and with that same look, he stalked towards me. His hawk-like eyes remained at me and I can do nothing but stare back at him with my wide eyes while he was getting closer to where I was standing.