CHAPTER 10

Scott

It was already 5:30 in the morning when we arrived in front of my house, and I chuckled to see Aron already outside the front door waiting for us. He has swollen face, and his arms have a bandage. I curse. It's the first time he got wounded. Yes, he had got some before, but those were just tiny cuts and scrapes that didn't need any bandage.

I quickly stepped out of the car, followed by James and Mark, both with worried faces.

"What happened?" I asked and held his face, but he winced and swatted my hand. I grabbed his wrist to check on his wounded arm, but he pulled it away from my grasp and turned away.

"Are you sulking? For god's sake, Aron, you're not a child." I snarled, annoyed. He glared at me and harshly peeled the bandage off his wound.

"Look, this is the result of what you asked me to do. I almost lost my life getting that girl, but in the end, you just let her go because you failed to investigate before taking action. What if she killed me, or I killed her? What will happen then?" He screamed in rage but quickly shut his mouth when I pointed my gun at his head. I am trembling in anger right now.

"Boss!" James said, holding my wrist. I pulled my hand from his hold and punched Aron in anger. No one of my men screamed at me, only him, and I wanted to kill him right now, but I knew I was at fault here.

He fell to the ground, and I kicked him in his side. He grunted in pain. I tried to kick him again, but Mark blocked his body between us.

"Boss." He whispered, bowing his head. I threw Aron a glare and stormed inside.

"That kid wanted to die?" I muttered fist balled beside me.

"Boss, he's just angry about the turn of events. That's why he acted like that. You know Aron, he has a temper, but after he lets it out, he'll be better later." James said, following me.

"But he shouldn't let it out on me. That idiot wanted to die." I seethed.

"But, Boss, he has a point there."

"You want to die as well." I hissed, glaring at him. He bowed his head and didn't utter a word anymore. I slumped on the couch, trying to calm myself. After a few minutes, Aron and Mark stepped inside. Aron was holding his bleeding arms. His head hung down.

"Bandage your arms, you idiot. If you want to die from blood loss, just tell me, and I will kill you myself." I said, glaring at him. He just lowered his head while Mark quickly went to the room where we kept the first aid kit, then returned after a minute. He bandaged his arms and applied an ointment to his swollen face and, after that, returned the first aid kit to the room.

"Do you plan to stand there the whole day?" I snarled, but he kept standing in the corner without uttering a word. "Now, you're afraid of me, but earlier, how you screamed at me looked like you could wipe out the whole mafia."

"I'm sorry, Boss. It won't happen again."

"Of course, it won't because the next time you do it, I will plant a bullet in your forehead. You got it?" I warned him.

"Yes, Boss." He answered, bowing his head.

"Where's that girl and Owen?"

"Owen is in one of the guest rooms, Boss and the girl. She's in the basement." I groaned.

"Why didn't you transfer her into one of the guest rooms?" I asked, glaring at him. That girl might hate us more for locking her down there.

"She's violent. No one can come near her without bruises after. That's why I left her there." I sighed, stood up, and went to the basement, with the three following behind me.

"I pressed the code, and the door quickly opened. We descended a set of stairs and stopped at the only room occupied. In the middle of the room is a girl with blonde hair tied to a chair. I couldn't see her face clearly because the room was dark.

I unlocked the door and turned on the light, and her head quickly whipped at us, throwing us a death glare, but it widened when she saw me. I guess she also knows who I am.

"I'm here to apologize for my mistake. I'm sure you know who I am." She nodded her head, eyes not leaving my face.

"I'm sorry for kidnapping you. My men were not at fault here. It's mine. They just followed my orders. I thought you were after Lara's life. That's why I asked my men to get you. But I learned from Owen that you were one of Lara's guards. I'm sorry."

"I understand. Boss." She said. I signaled James to remove the rope around her, but as soon it left her body, she rushed to Aron and punched his cheek.

"What the hell???? I screamed, stopping her from pounding on Aron again. I yanked her away from him, giving her a warning stare.

"What is wrong with you? I thought we had already cleared up the thing that happened. Why did you punch him?" I snarled.

"I just wanted to get even with him because he punched me yesterday." She snarled back, glaring at Aron. I looked at Aron, and I pitied him. His swollen face got worst, and his arms were bleeding.

"You did a lot of damage to him compared to what he did to you. You sliced his arms and looked at his face."

"Not my fault because just barge into my room without notice.." She said and marched to the stairs.

"See, I told you," Aron muttered under his breath. I took a deep breath. I never did this to any of my men before, but Aron needs this.

"I'm sorry, Aron." I let out a sigh of relief when he smiled.

"That's the only thing I wanted to hear." He said and followed Cherry. I looked at Mark and James, and both of them had a smile on their lips as well, then followed Aron. I also smiled. I think what I did was right. I thought and followed them.

We found Cherry in the living room, and I chuckled to see Aron sitting beside her, blushing while Cherry was cleaning his wounded arm, then bandaging it back.

"There, I forgive you." She said,

"What did I miss?" Owen asked and sat beside Cherry.

"Nothing, she just punched Aron," James answered. He chuckled and messed her hair, which earned a glare. I sat down on the couch in front of them, leaning my back on it and closing my eyes. I'm tired, and all I want to do is lie down in my bed and sleep.

I opened my eyes and looked at Cherry. " Cherry, please don't tell Lara I'm behind what happened to you. I told her that her grandpa asked for you."

"I already told her about it. Don't worry." Owen said.

"Thanks, I leave you all here. If you want to stay, you can stay, Owen. I just badly want to sleep." I said and made my way upstairs without waiting for their answer. As soon as I stepped inside my room, I removed my shoes and threw myself in the middle of the bed, and I was out after a few minutes.

***

Lara

I felt so relieved when I found out that Cherry was in safe hands. I'm happy that it was just Grandpa who took her and not the mafia. Owen called me earlier to say that Cherry would be back tomorrow because she'll stay the night at my grandpa's place.

I lay on my bed, tired. After a long day of worrying about Cherry and avoiding Scarlette drained me, and all I wanted to do was sleep.

It's already ten in the evening. I've been lying in bed since seven in the evening, but I cannot fall asleep. My body was tired, but my mind had something in it. Scott Miller, I groaned and buried my face in my pillow. Since the kiss that we shared, he never left my mind. It keeps replaying in my mind like a movie. I always touched my lips, looking at the white ceiling above me, smiling like a lunatic.

It was my first kiss, which felt so nice because Scott took it. The man that I fell in love with for the first time. I sighed sadly. I miss him. I miss him so much. When is he coming back? When is he going to call or text me? I groaned again and forced myself to sleep, and finally, after what felt like forever, I drifted into sleep, dreaming of Scott kissing me again.

The following day, I was startled from my deep slumber by the sound of my phone. I groaned in annoyance but reached the top of my bedside table.

"Hello! I lazily answered with my eyes still closed.

"Don't tell me you are still sleeping?" I heard Owen's annoyed voice on the other line.

"Yes! You're disturbing my sleep. What do you want?" I asked, drowsiness slowly taking over me. I almost drifted back to sleep when Owen screamed.

"What?? You are still sleeping. You know what time it is now?" With that, my eyes instantly opened, I pulled my phone away from my ears to check the time, and it said 7:30. I gasped and quickly scampered off my bed. School starts at eight, and I need to drive for twenty minutes. I cussed inside.

"Bye, Owen, see you at school."

"Wait!! He said, stopping me from hanging upon him. "There's a gift for you at the front door. See you at school. It's okay if you are late because even if you try, you will be late anyway. Just make sure you'll be here before the second period starts. Bye." He said and hung up.

Gift? My mind echoed. I just took it after my bath. I hurriedly went into the bathroom and took a bath, taking the fastest bath ever. After five minutes, I was ready for school. I didn't bother to blow dry my hair. I picked up my bag and hairbrush and rushed downstairs, brushing my wet hair along the way. It was still dripping a little. It was the first time I would be late in my entire school year if I couldn't make it, and I'm sure I couldn't.

I rushed to the front door and yanked it open but abruptly stopped, frozen on my spot. My right hand is still holding the hairbrush, brushing my hair, and my left hand is holding the doorknob. My eyes widened with my mouth slightly open.

"Good morning?" He greeted me with that knee-dropping smile. He looks so handsome and smells so good, as always. No hair is out of place. He was wearing a black V-neck shirt tucked into his fitted washed jeans, with a jeans jacket over it, paired with white running shoes.

While I am a mess, my hair looks like a bird's nest dripping a little, and I'm sure uniform, I don't wear it properly. I just wore it and planned to fix it while I was driving.

I shrieked after a few minutes of shock and tried to slam the door closed, but he was quick. He quickly put his right foot in the door's gap, stopping me from completely closing it.

He chuckled and quickly slipped inside without my invitation, then closed the door. I was startled when I promptly pulled into his arms, and his lips touched my forehead.

"I missed you." He whispered while I was still disoriented and shocked, with my arms hanging limply on my side.

"Hey! He pulled away from the hug, looking at my face. He chuckled and removed the hairbrush still sticking in my hair, which snapped me out of my daze, and my face turned beet-root because of embarrassment.

He chuckled, guided me into the living room, and sat me on the couch. He left me for a few seconds, and when he returned, he was carrying my towel. He sat beside me, dried my hair with a towel, and brushed it afterward. All this time, I watch him, blushing, while he keeps smiling and chuckling occasionally.

He returned the towel to my room after and settled beside me again. I gasped and quickly slapped his hand when he unbuttoned the first button of my blouse.

"What are you doing?" I asked, glaring at him, and hurried away from him.

"You did it wrongly, look." He calmly said. I looked down at my blouse, and he was right on the first button. I put it on the second hole. I quickly fixed it, blushing and feeling embarrassed.

I bit my lips when he pulled me to him, sitting me on his lap, pulling my body flat on him.

"I missed you." He murmured, not minding the intimate position that we had. I am straddling him with both arms in between us. I felt uncomfortable, but I ignored it. I felt his lips on the crown of my head, and I buried my face in his chest.

"I missed you too." I honestly answered, still blushing. His arms tightened, and I felt his lips on my cheek.

"I love you." I quickly pulled away from him and looked at him with wide eyes.

"What?" I asked, surprised.

"I said, '' I love you." I love you, Lara." He said, with his eyes holding my stare. His right hand cupped my face, and his thumb softly caressed it. " I loved you the first time I saw you." I looked at his face, searching for any playfulness, or he might be joking, but there was none. All I saw in his eyes was sincerity, and I smiled inside to see a hint of red on the tips of his ears, and he looked a bit nervous.

"Uhhh!! I stuttered and didn't know what to say about this situation. It was so sudden that I was left speechless.

"You don't need to answer me now. I just want to let it out. If you want to think about it, I can wait." He softly said, smiling. I let out a sigh of relief, but I wanted to tell him I loved him too, but I didn't know what he would think if I said it now. He might feel that I am easy to get. I bit my lips nervously and twiddled with my finger between us.

His hands covered mine, and he put them to his lips. "Say something. I moved from his lap and settled beside him.

"I um!! I stuttered, now fisting the hem of my blouse.

"Lara!" Scott said and held both my hands. "I'm not forcing you to answer me now."

I mentally jumped off my seat when my phone instantly sounded. I pulled my hand from Scott and felt relief and mentally thanked whoever was on the other side for calling me at this very awkward moment.

I quickly pulled it out of my pocket and pressed the answer button without checking who it was. I pressed it on my ears but quickly pulled it away, wincing.

"Lara!!! Where are you? It is almost the second period, but I still don't see your car." Owen screamed. I gasped and quickly stood up from the couch, picking up my bag and slinging it on my shoulder.

"I'm on the way," I hurriedly said and ended the call. I rushed to the door, but Scott held my wrist.

"I'm going to school," I said, happy that I didn't stutter this time. Maybe later, I can face him without stuttering.

"I will drive you there." He answered, entwining our fingers, and led me out the door. He locked the door and led me to his car. I followed him without uttering a word. I bite my lips nervously, I don't want to be with him right now, but I don't voice it out. I sucked my nervousness and tried to calm myself.

"I think I shocked you because you couldn't find your voice." He said, smiling, as he started the car. Remember that I'm not forcing you to answer me now. I want you to know that I love you." He said softly. I nodded my head, twisting my finger on my lap, but he held my left hand and took it into his lap.

Whenever I'm nervous, my hand won't stop grasping anything I can hold, and I will keep twisting it.

"You're so cute when you are nervous. You look like a little child twiddling your fingers." He said, chuckling, took my hand, and pressed his lips on it. I took a deep breath and fixed my eyes outside the window with a smile on my lips. He loves me. Scott loves me." I wanted to scream, but I held myself and just did it in my mind.

"We're here. I'll pick you up later. Okay?" He said. I was so giddy inside that I hadn't noticed we had arrived in front of the school. I nodded, not looking at him, and pulled my hand away from his hold, but he didn't let go. Instead, he held my chin and made me look at him. He smiled, then he cupped my right cheek. I'm sure my face is as red as a ripe tomato. I wanted to look away, but he held my face in place.

"My eyes widen when he pecks my lips. I tried to pull away from his hold, but his hand on my cheek moved to my nape. I heard a seatbelt click, and the next thing I knew, Scott's body moved close to me, and his lips were on mine. He kissed me briefly while I was stiff as a block of wood, then pulled away when I didn't respond.

He cussed before he looked back at me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lara." He whispered, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "I just... he cussed again, then kissed the crown of my head.

"I need to go," I whispered on his shoulder. He pulled away from the hug, and I saw regret and remorse in his eyes, and I felt pity for him.

"I'm sorry." He whispered again, not looking at me. I kissed his cheek, and his eyes quickly darted to my face.

"Let's talk later." I softly said with a smile on my lips. He smiled this time and pulled me in his arms again.

"Scott, I need to go," I whispered.

"Ah, yes." He said, smiling. He quickly exited the car and ran to my side, opening the door. I smile when he offers his hand. I took it and let him help me out of the car. As soon as I was out, his arms wrapped around me again. I smiled, letting out a sigh of contentment, leaning my face on his chest. His smell wafted around me, and I wanted to stay there, but I needed to get inside the school if I didn't want to be late for my third period. I pulled away from the hug, and he let me.

"Bye, see you later." He nodded, smiling in response. I quickly ran inside the school, with the guard glaring at me when I passed by him at the gate, but I ignored him. No one can ruin my happy mood right now.