HEART RATE

HEART RATE

[NATHAN's POV]

I was just coming out from the rest room where I went to check on the cameras around the restaurant if there was any suspicious person and if the armed men positioned to scout the area were indeed doing their work – when my eyes landed on Martha. She was within my reach but I could not get to her and I felt like my whole body was on fire. Draped in a red gown with a matching lipstick and those lovely heels that adorned her lovely legs, my brain was in a mush. Just before I threw all rationality to the wind and allow my raw instincts to take over, Elena touched my hand, bringing me back to reality. I glanced back to Martha but quickly sat down facing Elena.

''Do you know her?'' Elena voiced at me.

"Not really. She just looks like someone I used to know'' I answered quickly. I looked to Martha and saw her hugging that same guy that was kissing her in that picture. It could have been better if he had stopped at the hug but he used those despicable lips of his on her cheeks. I pressed hard on my glass of champagne and downed the contents in one gulp. He drew a seat from under their table for her and I watched her say something to him with a face full of smiles.

She really looks happy - without me.

He sat down across her but I was still able to see her. She was still facing opposite me even though we were seats away. The guy stood up from the table and I watched Martha use her slender fingers to raise her glass to her red rosy lips and the lip stick made an imprint of her lips on the glass. She must have noticed my eyes on her because our eyes met again. I could never get enough of seeing her. My heart rate increased and the contraction and relaxation of my heart muscles seemed to triple. She brought out her phone and began to type away on it.

The guy soon came back and sat down and my head began to calculate on the ways on which I could talk to her without raising attention. She did not look at my direction again and was only looking at the guy across her and they seemed to laugh a lot. He touched her hands severally and sometimes held them longer than usual. I felt hot at the sight and I was using the last strand of will power I was able to muster and master, not to go over to their table, beat the crap out of that guy and whisk Martha away.

A romantic song began to play and I watched the both of them join about four other couple on the wide dance floor and they both danced – slowly. I watched his right hand rest on her waist and her right hand on his shoulder. His left hand clasped hers and they began to sway slowly to the song. His hand that was resting on her waist began to hitch higher to her back and the music seemed to change to a more romantic and tensed one. He twirled her round and let her go and when she swirled back to his arms, she laid back on his right hand and he was close – too close to her. It was like their eyes were searching each other and he was about to bring his lips close to her when she moved her face and the kiss landed on the corner of her lips.

''Do you want to dance?'' I asked Elena and before she could respond, I gently pulled her out of her seat and we joined them on the dance floor. We began to dance close to where they were dancing and I made sure I guided Elena and I to wherever they both were on the dance floor.

Martha's eyes caught mine and she brought herself closer to Marcus. At that, my eyes stung and I was grateful when the song changed to one where the partners are to be switched. Partners were replaced on the dance floor and a blonde was currently in my arms as I watched a man with dark brown hair dance with Martha. She was darting her eyes from left to right probably looking for me and that was when partners were to be switched, landing her right in my arms – where she belongs. She must have known I was the one because she did not raise her face to mine and kept her eyes on my shoulder.

"How have you been Milky Way?" I asked only for her to hear.

''Sorry, but I don't think I know you'' she answered, raising her face to mine. I bent my head and placed my face close to hers as we swayed and I whispered silently in her ears, "You more than know me Martha''.

I raised my head as I felt her step on my right leg. Partners were being switched again but I did not give her up to any other man.

''What do you think you are doing?'' she asked defiantly with blazing eyes.

"I know you are vexed at me Martha and I have hurt you I and I wish I could explain it all to you but there really is no time. Once everything is over, I would come back to get you. I swear on me'' I told her as I looked directly to her eyes hoping that my eyes conveyed everything my heart was feeling.

''You have no idea how funny you are Nathan Martin but I don't think you owe me any form of explanation since there was nothing really between us. We were just passer-by friends'' she said as the green orbs in her eyes dilated.

"Your eyes tell a different story Milky way'' I said with a smile.

''Oh stop calling me that!'' she exclaimed in a voice that was meant to caution me and put me in order but all it did was excite me.

She turned her face from me and I spilled the words I had regretted not saying all these while, ''I love you Martha Jordan''. She turned to face me quickly and sharply and I saw a tear slip from her left eye.

''Let me go'' she said and I turned us both around and saw that friend of hers coming to where we both were dancing.

"Not a chance. Do you love him?" I asked with a constriction in my chest but with an unwavering voice.

''No I do not and just let me go, I do not want to create a scene'' she said trying to wriggle her wrists from my hand.

"hat's good Martha, let it remain so. I'll be back in the next three months and there would be nothing between us by then. Hold on to us and don't think for one second that I am ever going to give up on you. You are mine Martha" I said to her as I watched the guy get closer to us. '

'You are sooo crazy'' she said.

"Crazy for you Martha" I breathed out watching her eyes slightly widen and dim.

''Take care of yourself Nathan, till we see again'' she said and I let her go and I painfully watched as she ran past me to the rest room.

Why can't I ever make her happy? I was tempted to go after her but I wondered who would see me and also who had noticed my little display. Marcus stood before me and gave me a serious and suspicious once over and I was tempted to connect my balled fists with his jaw. I was certain I did see some red on his lips. As he passed by me, I gave him my signature scary lop sided smile. He eyed me one last time before he ran after Martha.

I saw Elena seated and I went to join her on our table. I was met with an angry stare down and a question, ''Is that Martha?'' she asked with her arms folded on her breasts.

"I think it's time for us to leave" I answered her as I checked the table for anything I could have possibly dropped.

''That's how it's going to freaking be right?'' she asked.

''Can we just discuss this in my car? This kind of attitude would lead us nowhere'' I told her as I directed my hands towards the door, hoping she would drop the obstinate act and let us leave. ''Fine'' she said and she took the hint of my hands and started walking towards the door. I dropped some cash on our table and I knew it would be more than enough for the drink we had and would also give whichever waiter or waitress that attends to our table a huge tip. I caught up with her in time to open the door for her. She walked and I did same but as I closed the door behind us, she suddenly held my head and kissed me very hard. She slightly grazed the flesh of my lower lip and I felt some drops of blood on my tongue. Astonished was the least expression I felt because I least expected that but I slightly pushed her back. With some distance between us, I finally understood why she did that.

She had seen Martha outside and just to spike jealousy or mark a territory that was never hers, she decided to do so. Martha must have taken the exit of the restaurant because I did not see her pass the entrance. Martha had that very distant look in her eyes and I noticed her tear stricken face and I felt bad because not only was I the cause of her tears, I could not be there to comfort her. Marcus held a tissue to her and she collected it from him and he pulled her to himself. He pulled off his jacket and placed it on her shoulders. How did things just go from worse to worst?

I had no control of the message my brain sent my legs next because I went over to them and pulled Martha from Marcus' arms. ''You are coming with me Martha and you..' I said pointing at Marcus, "tay Away From My Girl" I barked to Marcus with my nostrils flaring.

''I do not know your relationship with Martha but I do know that since she saw you, she has not been herself. I definitely do not think she is your girl, now if you may?'' he asked rhetorically taking Martha's other hand. She pulled out her hand from Marcus and a short joy lightened my heart before she turned around and connected her palm to my face.

''I am not some property you can claim Sir. I might have known someone that looks like you, but the person standing before me is a completely different man. I Do Not Want To See You Ever Again'' she said and tried to pull her wrist from my hand but I pulled her flush on my chest and kissed her. I felt tears roll from her eyes to my cheek and I deepened the kiss. She pushed me about five seconds later but as she pushed me, a bullet passed between us – originally aiming for her. I glanced at where the bullet came from and dragged Martha down with me. We bent and ran to the back of a black Audi e-tron car and used it as a shield.

''What in God's name is happening?'' Martha asked as she properly wore Marcus' jacket and rolled the sleeve till it was her arm's length.

"The thing I have been shielding everyone from'' I answered running a hand through my hair.

''And what is that?'' she asked pulling off her shoes.

''Nothing you need to know about Milky way'' I said to her.

''You did not just mean that! I almost just got hit right now Sir and you are still telling me I need not know?'' she asked in a slightly elevated hushed tone.

"I'll explain it all to you but do you see that car over there?' I asked pointing towards my car and she nodded. 'I am going to cover you and I want you to run as hard as you can. Do you hear me?' I asked looking at her directly.

''You might not know this but I am a level four combatant now but my dad put a pause to my trainings because of my studies so the least I can do is run'' she said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"I know everything about you L4 combatant. On my count of three, you run'' I said as I pulled out an Akdal Ghost TR01 pistol from the back of my pants.

''One Two…'' I started but she cut me off, ''don't get hit Milky Way'' she said and I chortled lightly, surprised that she was still worrying about me even though I put her in harm's way only a couple of seconds ago and at the nickname she just reciprocated in calling me.

"I'll try. Three!' I said and she started running while I side ran with her shooting at the direction the bullet came from the other time. Because I was running, the bullets fired back did not touch me at first but before I got to my car, I was shot in my arm. I opened the door of the car to get in and was expecting Martha to do same but that was when I turned back and saw it. Martha did not make it to the car, she was sprawled on the floor, in her red dress, with her blood flowing from her side.

This projected in my mind as all of me screamed to comfort Martha but I did not move or take a step towards her. We were outside and very unprotected and dancing with her earlier was already enough exposure. I looked back to Elena and displayed a pained smirk on my face before I harshly grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards my car. ''Let me go Nathan'' she screeched in my ears. I opened my car door and pushed her into the shotgun seat of my car. I was getting to the door of my car when I saw Marcus opening the door of a car for Martha.

'I never meant to hurt you. Please, hang in there for me' I said to myself as I craned my neck to see Martha as Marcus seemed to use all his body to obstruct my view. The imbecile!