Fem is Angry (5)

The tracker called back to inform Mark that the number was somewhere in the north province at a valley near NPU. Mark immediately guessed his woman must be either at her former boarding house or at Stanley's home.

His conversation with Stanley just a while ago somehow put him a little at ease. He knew Stanley will not hurt or do anything to his cousin especially that she is drunk. Yet he is still a man who has needs.

If he drives there tonight, he would get there by 1:00 o'clock in the morning and they would be sound asleep by then. He couldn't just barge in in someone's house unless he was arresting a criminal or serving an arrest warrant. He can scale a wall like spider man and open locked doors or windows using his tiny equipment tucked in his belt but he thought it wasn't appropriate to show himself to his woman like a gangster.

Well, f he uses the chopper, it will be much more quick but too risky since North Province is s mountainous area. Although the chopper has spotlight, it is not enough to locate exactly where to land from a high altitude due to the darkness of the night.

He decided to let the hours pass. His grandparents saw his anxiousness. Before they went up to their bedroom, Dave told his grandson that the will be coming with him to the north. Mark stopped from his pacing and eyed at both of his grandparents.

"We can leave here at 4:00 o'clock AM. We rather use the chopper. The road is long and might be still quite bumpy. " Dave said worrying his wife's condition. Although she is still as adventurous as a 50 year old healthy grandma, she has not travelled a long bumpy road for quite sometime.

...

At half past five in the morning, A hovering sound of a helicopter was heard in the track oval of the North Province University. The school guards on duty were alarmed since nobody informed them of someone's landing.

There emerged from the army chopper three people. Two oldies who seem to be a couple and a young well built tall man with a military posture. They approached the guard house and showed them their IDs. The guards were terrified and offered to take care of their chopper while they do their business around the community. It's all they could do anyway.

Mark looked around the campus and saw a school canteen that was open although it was vacation. He let his parents stay in the school canteen for some light breakfast then headed to exit the school gate. He ran up the road as fast as he could to the convenience store he once stood by some years ago. Aunty Ely hasn't yet opened her store so he proceeded to go the second floor. The main door wasn't locked. He slowly peered and entered silently looking which door has no padlock on it. He found the one at the left most corner and tried to push it gently. It was locked. Should he knock or will he use his opening trick? What if he will see his most dreaded scene?

Mark decided to knock lightly . When nobody opened, he called Fem's number only to find out that it was out of coverage area. Did she switch off her phone? Or maybe she ran out of battery?

Mark called out Fem while persistentlly knocking lightly on the door.

From the inside, Stanley was awakened by what seemed to be a tapping noise outside the door. He slowly opened his eyes. His left arm felt tensed. When he tried to lift it to stretch in the air, he couldn't move but felt a heavy warm body over it. Oh, yeah, he recalled now! His lips curled up as he looked at the woman in his arm. His heart grew wide and he hugged her tightly as he planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Good morning beautiful!" he whispered while his eyes were closed and his lips stayed on her head. His nose inhaled her faint scent mixed with the smell of beer in his own breathe.

The gentle knocking came again this time with a deep voice calling Fem. Stanley knitted his eyebrows! Who's here so early? Is it his father? He looked towards the door. He realized he wasn't at his own room. Oh no! ha ha! He is lying on Fem's bed!

Stanleycame to his senses now Maybe it's the house owner? But why does it sound like is it a deep male voice?

He pulled his hand underneath the neck of the woman beside him then ruffled his hair as he strode towards the door and pulled it open.

Stanley was so shocked upon the sight of a man as tall or just slightly taller than him. He had a military posture and he could tell by his attire that he is not an ordinary man.

"Stanley, where is she?" Mark frowned as he pushed Stanley aside swiftly entering the room.

Stanley turned his body to look at the soundly asleep woman on the bed as Mark approached her. He stayed beside the door watching what he will do with her.

"She's asleep. Atleast give her couple of hours more." Stanley said softly and thoughtfully.

Mark turned to Stanley with a suspicious and glaring look.

"You slept together!" Mark's face was so grim and ashen.

"So what? We just slept together and we booth liked it. What's the point of resisting?" Stanley smirked. Deep inside, he recalled their phone call last night and quickly decided to make another round of annoying this arrogant insensitive man.

Mark slowly uncovered the deeply sleeping woman to check if she was wearing anything. To his delight, she is fully clothed and probably still has her bra intact. He scanned the sleeping beauty then covered her again with the blanket. He turned to Stanley not sure if he would thank him or berate him.

"So?" Stanley arched his brows in annoyance. He wanted to give this arrogant man an uppercut for causing so muchpain to his sweetheart cousin.

Mark sat down on the chair beside the bed. He was lost for words.

"If you cannot take care of her, let me just do it. After all, I know her more than you do. I'm so worried you'll just make her life miserable by your manipulations." Stanley said overbearingly as he put his hands on his pockets while standing by the door.

"Don't think you're the only one who is capable! I must thank you for taking care of her but I can take over from this time on." Mark said slowly and softly as he didn't want his woman to wake up yet.

The rivals decided to talk at the living room where there was an empty reserved bed used by the boarders as a sofa or bed. They sat side by side talking about their intentions exchanging challenges and annoyances. Stanley conceded. He bore in mind that they already talked about this yesterday with his parents and his uncle Greg. Although he didn't want to leave until Fem wakes up. He didn't want her to think that he has abandoned her for Mark while she was in her slumber. That would be ad good as betraying her emotions specially now that she needs a shoulder to cry on.

Fem woke up at quarter to seven. Her head was heavy and her throat was dry. She also needed to pee urgently. She quickly rolled out from her bed with eyes half closed then ran downstairs not minding the two silhouettes of people sitting on the bed in the living room. She bumped against the railings of the balcony as she slipped her shoes on.

"Ouch! Be careful sweetheart!" Mark panicked but his woman has already flewn the flight of steps.

When Fem reemerged from the main door, she was holding a bottle of mineral water gargling with and then swallowed it afterwards. The sight of her made the two men bow their heads and smile shaking their heads. In their sight, she was cute and adorable when she acts carelessly like a spoiled brat. Who knows that when she is angry, she can be as bold and fierce as a lioness and doesn't care whoever she is facing!

Fem's eye's widened at the sight of the two men in front of her. It did not register in her mind that the two figures she passed by a while ago. Is she hallucinating? What is this manipulating man doing in here?!

Of course, she can recall what happened last night, their conversation and how she slept in the arms of her dear cousin.

"Fem, are you okay now?" Stanley rose up and approached her touching her bent arm by her elbow.

Fem filled her mouth with another mouthful of water and eyed at Stanley intently as if asking him what happened.

"We talked while you were asleep. I just didn't want to leave you sleeping. He is here now, you should talk. You have a lot of things to iron out together. I should be going." Stanley said softly bowing his head as he pocketed his left hand.

Fem eyed at Mark with anger in her eyes as if she didn't want to face him yet.

Stanley turned to look at the man behind him. Mark's eyes were on them. Stanley's mind played one last thing....

"Fem, im just a call away if this man ever treats you again the same way as he made you cry. I swear, I will snatch you away from him if I hear you're being treated the way they just did." Stanley said a little loudly enunciating each word for his rival to hear.

Mark heard everything and he shook his head. Stanley's words a while ago cut deep in his heart. He is a law enforcer. He is to protect the rights of law abiding citizens and not to supress them or take advantage of their weaknesses. Much more so with his loved ones, and much much more with his woman whom he wishes to build home and live the rest of his life with.

Fem nodded and looked at Stanley seriously.

Stanley became teary eyed and cant help but hug her like a brother to his little sister. Then he hugged her again kissing her on the head.

" Fem, you know I love you so much and your happiness will be my happiness. I will not hinder what makes you happy. I will always be here behind you if you need me for anything. " Stanley murmured under his breath while pressing his cheek on her head.

Fem nodded. "Thank you, Stan." She said as she hugged him back for a long time.

Mark felt awkward seeing them hugging each other like they didn't want to part.

He was seething in jealousy again but all he could do is to let them be for now. It was more like their parting time and he himself has to witness it so that he will be at peace in the near future. Atleast, they are being honest in front of him.

The two parted from their hugging, heads lowered. Stanley came to hs senses first. He patted Fem's cheek and smiled faintly. He raised her face by the chin and looked at her eyes now brimming with tears.

"Be a good girl and fix yourself now. I must go." He said and winked at her. "Stop that tear now, I want to see you cry in tears of happiness on your wedding." Stanley's faint smile was now a wide teasing smile.

"Okay, as you wish." Fem wiped her eyes with the back of her hand as she snorted.

"Good! Then I must leave now." Stanley did not turn but proceeded directly to the balcony. His clothes were still hanging there. " Thanks for this. I'll send them to Niel soon. Bye!" He said as he wore his shoes and leisurely went down the stairs.