When she awoke the next morning, he was gone as usual. The annoying incessant ringing she woke up to attracted her attention. She sighed. He set an alarm for her. She checked the time. 7:30 am.She got to her feet and a note fell to the ground. She picked it up.'Meet me for breakfast at the school's cafe in an hour'She rolled her eyes. Did he think they were in a relationship simply because they slept in the same bed every night? She frowned. They slept in the same bed every night."My goodness," she sighed. Her life was abnormal.She rushed out of the bar, rolling her eyes at Nicky's wink. If only they knew. She wondered what would happen if boss found out she wasn't doing the job. It wasn't her fault anyway. The client preferred to watch her sleep than to sleep with her. Men and their weird fantasies.She made it to the cafe earlier than an hour since she had to be in class on time."I didn't realize we also had a breakfast deal," she said, getting his attention as she sat opposit
The restaurant he took her to wasn't one she was used to. After all, there was only so much she could afford with the meagre money she ended up with after paying a plethora of bills. She who usually always walked with her head raised a little too high, felt a bit out of place. "Did you really have to go so fancy?" She asked as they were ushered to a table by a stiff male waiter. Perhaps it was his first day on the job. "You said you wanted expensive," he shot her a look, pulling out her chair. She sat, swallowing back further complaints. She did request for expensive. The waiter handed them a menu each. Ezekiel looked through. "Pasta?" He looked at the waiter, "the pasta dish." "And you ma'am?" She looked through the menu. "Same," she replied, finding nothing else of interest. The table was quiet as they waited for their meal. He stared at her while she looked around, finding it difficult to hold his intense gaze. "Why do you enjoy looking at me?" She asked abruptly when her ga
"Thanks," she mumbled when he stopped at her home."Do you want me to pick you up later?" He asked as she got down."No," she refused immediately, "I will prefer it if boss knows nothing.""Okay," He agreed at once. He was too agreeable, she thought with displeasure, he was the kind that girls used and dumped... like she was currently doing."When I first saw you, I thought you worked as a stripper," he spoke.She raised a brow, "and?""Nothing. Get your questions ready and whatever else you want. Tonight is another reading session."She shook her head, rolled her eyes, and walked into her home. There were a lot of things she benefited from, she'd just hold on to him for a little while then cut him off when she no longer needed him.Preparing dinner and cleaning up after her dad went easier than normal. It was like she was in a bubble, a bubble of her thoughts, a bubble that couldn't easily pop. The events of the day played over and over again in her head and she found herself smiling
Ezekiel's eyes darted to the door. The knock sounded again. He swiftly pulled off his shirt."Stay hidden," he whispered to Isabel then went to answer the door."Yes?" He called out."Room 32, your condoms are available," a female voice announced cheerily from behind."This is room 26, we don't need condoms," he replied, his tension easing."Oh," there was a pause, "oh my goodness, that's true. So sorry, please carry on and don't mind my disturbance. Such a foolish mistake."He waited until the sound of footsteps had disappeared before he turned back to Isabel who was by the bathroom door where she couldn't be viewed from the doorway."Sorry," he apologized, "it was a mistake. Someone ordered condoms."She nodded and returned to her place on the floor with her stationeries this time."We can begin," she spoke.She was suddenly withdrawn and as he taught, she got distracted time and time again.He sighed when she failed a simple question for the fourth time."You know you can tell me w
"She..."Isabel took quick steps to him and kissed him hard."See," she breathed out with an evil smirk when she came up for air, "I kissed you. You are now a cheat. Do you still think you can save yourself?"Ezekiel's eyes were wide. She reminded him of Irene, of the fire she caused in him, the fire that made him lose control of himself. He swore he'd never do such again."And I bet you'll kiss me back this time," Isabel whispered and slammed her lips to his. He did kiss her back. She smirked, her excitement increasing. Catch him when he is unaware, one of the tips said, when he was high and didn't know what he was doing. She ripped his shirt off and began to unbuckle his belt."Stop," he broke off, stumbling back. He panted, his wide eyes looking from his bare chest to his loose belt, "stop, please. We can't do this.""Yes, we have to," she said firmly and came at him again. He held her back."Stop."She softened, seeing his confused wild state. "Please," she begged, growing limp i
It was past 9 am. Ezekiel waited at the cafe, his coffee untouched. Where was she? Was she mad at him for not helping her out? Did she read his note? Was she still asleep? Did she...He groaned, running a hand through his already roughened hair. He tapped his fingers continuously against the table.Past 10 am, he got up and drove to her home. He hesitated as he made to ring the bell. Wasn't he overreacting? Perhaps, she was angry and didn't feel like seeing him. He turned around, gritted his teeth, whirled back around, and rang the bell. Since he was already here, he might as well see her. He rang it three more times before someone answered. A man, that looked too much like her."Morning, son. How can I help you?" The friendly-looking man asked."Isabel. Isabel Romero. I'm here to see her," he answered quickly.The man smiled, "that's my daughter. She isn't home yet. She works the night shift at some place and normally, she would be back by now but she isn't.""Oh." Was she still at t
Ezekiel waited in the hospital's waiting room tensely. He couldn't even grasp what exactly he was feeling. He knew, of course, he knew that it was going to happen soon. Perhaps he didn't envision rape but... didn't she willingly visit the client, how did rape come about? He ran a hand over his face. Perhaps he should have given in the previous night. If he had, perhaps... He shook his head, it wouldn't have changed anything.Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Anna."We ran a few tests to check for STDs and infections and thankfully, we found none. It is too early to detect if she is pregnant. She is awake, you can go see her.""Thank you," he nodded at the doctor then rushed off to Isabel's room.She was up on the bed in a sitting position. Her eyes were fixed on the door so their eyes met once he entered."Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked carefully, moving closer to her. She turned away from him."Isabel...""I want to be alone." Her voice was rough and unfriendly.His shoulders
Max was waiting when they stepped into the house."Are you good?" He asked at once, worry etched on his face.She blinked, "yeah, I am. How have you been?""I managed. Your friend here helped me out," he answered, "you look tired. Go into your room and sleep more."She nodded, not used to the long conversation."I'll get going now," Ezekiel spoke, looking between the both of them then he said to her, "give me a call when you wake, okay?""Okay." She nodded, melting at the concern in his eyes.She watched him leave."Are you both in a relationship?"She turned back to her father, "no.""I want to know what happened," Max demanded, his face and tone now serious, "and I want to know who dared to rape you.""Can we talk about it after I wake?"He stared at her, "okay. After you wake," he replied sternly.She nodded and ventured into her room. She sank into her bed with a sigh. She didn't like it, she didn't like any of it at all. She rubbed the back of her neck. His laughter, his smile, h
The next two days, they spent letting the fire burn. No one was satiated yet, no one could stop them, no worries could bother them. On the third day, they finally stepped out to get some cool evening air and some groceries. "Everything feels different, better," she spoke as they walked into a store together, their rented car parked outside. They were in Tanzania. They rented a lone beach house which required a twenty minutes drive to get into town. It was perfect, just what they wanted. "And why is that?" He teased as they perused through shelves, hands locked. "Because we are finally finally together and my expectations of you in bed was superseded..." "Isabella!" He whisper shouted, wide eyes fixed on her. She laughed, pressing a quick kiss to his agape mouth. "What?" She asked with a smile, "do I not get to compliment my husband's bedroom skills?" He shook his head, looking around to make sure no one heard. He looked back at her, "Isabel, seriously?" "We should expect a baby
"I think you have done really well for your first week. You should be able to do things without supervision now... I guess that's the person that's been picking you up since you first arrived. Your boyfriend?"Isabel's lips twitched. "My fiancee," she answered with a smile. "Oh, wow, that's great. When's the wedding?" Isabel opened her mouth to reply just as Ezekiel rounded the car with a big smile in her direction. "What?" She heard Irene gasp but her mind was clouded with too much love for it to register. Her legs carried her across the road to him. "I love you," she mumbled as he enclosed her in a hug. "I think our engagement is making both of us jelly," he laughed, kissing her cheek, "I didn't even realize I was smiling so wide." She kissed him lightly and stepped back a little. Oh heavens, she laughed internally, remembering she abandoned her supervisor. "Irene?" She heard Ezekiel mumble. She turned around, seeing the dazed look on Irene's face. "Don't tell me..." she mu
Ezekiel whirled laughing Isabel around. She was clad in a purple graduation gown, her cap hanging loosely in her right hand."I'm dizzy," she forced out between laughs, holding unto him tightly. He set her down on her feet and kissed her loudly."How does it feel?" He asked, beaming."I don't know," she laughed, "you are rubbing your excitement all over me and I don't even know how I feel.""Exactly," Lily intervened, "you are acting like you have never experienced a convocation before. Get off her."His entire family came to celebrate her, his cousin and his beauty wife included, with their baby."She's not your girlfriend, Lily, mind your business," Ezekiel eyed her playfully.They moved off to a little spot they set out for a picnic and they spent the rest of the day being happy for her. The group stayed an extra day before leaving. It was just two of them left now.When their relationship was a year old, they sat down for a serious conversation. They rented a beach house for the w
Sebastian was just bringing the car around when Isabel and Aurora walked out of the airport."You must be Isabel," the man she recognized as Ezekiel's cousin spoke when he got to them."Yes," she replied with a warm smile, watching how he casually put an arm around Aurora's waist and kissed her hair, "it's nice to meet you."They shook hands. They definitely had good genes in their family. Ezekiel was her boyfriend, the man she loved but she couldn't confidently say he was more handsome than his cousin."Ezekiel is bringing the luggage, we can wait in the car. You don't mind, Isabel?""Of course not, he left me with the luggage in the first place," she answered with a roll of her eyes. Their little group chuckled and they moved to the car. Sebastian hovered over his fiancee as they chatted heartily about school, life, and anything else. Ezekiel arrived soon and Sebastian assisted him in getting the luggage into the trunk.Aurora and Sebastian's wedding was a week away so the atmospher
Ezekiel knew that there was a Supreme Being helping him to restrain himself because it was a miracle he didn't lose control after what she just said. Was she so oblivious that men were easily triggered sexually or was she doing it on purpose? She worked at a bar, she had to know."Your body belongs to you," he said slowly, blowing out a breath, "and to the God who made you. If we are married, you can say that but your body will belong to me and mine will belong to you only because we chose to let it be so. Do you understand?"She clicked her tongue, laying her head on his chest. "Let's get married then, you won't have any excuse to deny me what I want.""Oh heavens," he laughed in disbelief but somewhere deep within him, he began to consider it.*Weeks flew by and Isabel didn't think she had ever lived life so happily before. She woke up happy and blushing, she was much more interested in her boring classes because he always praised her when she performed well in the tutoring session
When she awoke bright early the next morning, he was still asleep and she was late for class. She stood at the entrance to his hospital room at a loss for what to do. She could rush to class and return after school to take care of him or she could stay and be with him throughout the day. She wanted to do the latter as she was the cause of his accident but on further reflection, she decided to choose the former, he'd prefer that.Ezekiel trudged into his apartment, burdened with a load of emotions. Drugs, really?"Stan found me, he sent me threat notes and has been stalking us."Was that true? He sighed, lowering himself unto a fur-covered couch. He didn't even know what to believe. What was her deal? Was it just the aftermath of the rape incident? It scared him that she would go as far as drugging him, how much damage did the incident cause her?If Stan was secretly stalking them then she wasn't safe. The police needed to be alerted and they needed to move away from town for some time
"Are you mad at me?"Isabel said nothing instead she focused on stabbing the potatoes on her plate."Have I ever refused you anything?"She blinked, thinking of an answer to his question though she didn't plan to reply, she discovered he always did what she asked and did more except for a few nos here and there but... He was always there."No," she answered curtly, guilt nagging at her. "Then you must know I have a very good reason for refusing you this one thing. Trust me, Isabel, please."She stared at her meal, fighting with her emotions. She thought of the drugged wine."Ezekiel," she began, looking up. Her eyes widened in horror seeing him bring down his glass from his lips."What?" He questioned, cleaning his mouth with a serviette.She opened her mouth and shut it. "I drugged your wine," she croaked out."What?" His eyes bulged out and he looked into his glass, "what are you talking about?"She kept silent, staring at him with wide eyes. He stared at her, his eye size matching
She was awfully alert the next day, constantly looking back and sideways, being suspicious of every male she came across, staying in open places where there were a lot of people. She didn't realize she was so on edge and tensed up until Ezekiel came to her at the cafe and she almost stabbed him with a fork.He dodged, his eyes wide. "Watsup!? Do you want to kill me!?"She sighed, her tense shoulders falling. The fork landed with a clattering sound on the table."I am sorry. I was... I thought it was someone else," she said apologetically.He raised a brow, sitting next to her, "is someone stalking you?""Don't worry about it," she sighed again and relaxed back in her seat. His presence was immensely comforting. She didn't know whether to be pleased or irritated, he was her boyfriend now."You could really have stabbed me if I didn't have quick reflexes. You wanted to harm the person. Why? What's going on?" He inquired.She kept silent. Why was she keeping it a secret?"Isabel..."She
"You're my girlfriend now," he murmured into her hair, "so you can't cheat on me ever again, you hear? You can't go kissing another man or letting another man touch you because you feel like getting down with someone. You are mine now and I'll tell you, I am very possessive and I get easily jealous."She blinked. What did she just do?"You forgot the second part," she mumbled, not sure of what she was feeling."No, it isn't enough to make me sleep with you."She groaned, surprisingly not feeling annoyed. "Why?" She whined."It only makes me want to protect you more, keep you clean and pure. I'll be your god and I'll keep you away from any filth," he replied.She fought the smile that crawled its way up her cheek. He pulled away a little and looked at her with so much tenderness, she felt she could melt from it."Do you still feel like getting down with me?" He asked, smiling.She shook her head."Good," he grinned, "I'll call your father now and tell him you're safe with me. I'll call