Chapter 4

Isabelle  was so shocked and angry. No one  had dared to kiss her but Luke. She wanted to scream out of anger because she wasn’t able to stop him. She  didn’t want to see his face  ever again.

"Issa here, drink this.  You look pale as a sheet,” Mary handed her a glass of water.

She said thank you in a small voice. She didn’t even remember how she got here.  What she knew was she ran as fast a she could  to  get away from that pervert.  Mary took one of her hands in hers.

"You are shaking. Please tell me what happened.”

Mary was nice to her and she wasn’t a gossip  but she didn’t want to  tell  her  what  Luke did to her. She felt that it was so embarrassing. Other people would think that she was making a mountain out of a molehill but she wasn’t. She was saving herself, even her first kiss  for the right man  but sadly, Luke stole her first kiss.

"N-nothing’s wrong. It’s probably the heat and  I walked quickly to get here,” she said as an excuse.

“Arthur can take you home by his motorbike so you don’t need to walk.  I agree that it’s already a bit scorching though it’s not even noon yet."

“No I will just walk back. Thank you for the offer. I don’t want to bother your husband. I saw him fixing your son’s bicycle. I have to go now. Thanks for the water too.”

***

Reed didn’t know whether to ask Luke what happened or not. His cousin hadn’t said a word since he came back. He seemed to be  to be annoyed or worried or both. He was aware  that he already ran for an hour under the  harsh sun and now he was doing push-ups. He knew when something was bothering his cousin. Luke either went   out with one of his beautiful women  or did  some strenuous exercises  when he was stressed, bored or tired.  But he had a strong feeling that  right now, this was all about Isabelle.

"How did things go this morning? Were you able to talk to Isabelle?” he asked casually.

Reed got no reaction from Luke so he just shook his head and his eyes went back to the laptop. He couldn’t blame his cousin if he was besotted with the woman. She   was naturally beautiful unlike other female who only looked lovely because of cosmetics. She was very simple but her loveliness couldn’t be denied. She would look more gorgeous once she had been made up and put on trendy clothes. Luke’s past women would look plain next to  her.

"Make more adjustments on my schedule. Be sure everything will be okay. I am not sure how many weeks I will be staying here,” Luke said.

He frowned. Was he hearing things? Did his cousin just say that he would stay here longer? He said before that this was a dull place and now he didn’t want to leave yet?

“Have you spoken with  Mr. Tan about the resort? Are you buying it?”  he asked Luke  who straightened and wiped his face and  neck with a towel.

"I am still thinking about it. Anyway there’s no rush. Go back to the city the day after tomorrow. Bring Luis with you. I can take it from here."

"Are you sure?Aunt Amanda wouldn’t like that,”  he commented.

"Do as I say. I can handle my mother,” he said coldly.

***

"Issa!"  called Carl.

He was one of the men who wanted to pursue Isabelle. He was also good-looking and nice but of course, she wasn’t interested.

"Carl I am in a hurry. I need to buy something for my grandmother.”

"Let me drive yo," he offered.

"No,” she said walking quickly.

Carl stopped her by her arm, “Wait up Issa!”

She  turned and glared at his hand on  her arm.

***

Luke was in his car. He was parked near the university, "Damn it!” he cursed and hit the  steering wheel with his fist. He witnessed  how the man Isabelle was  talking with,  touched  her arm.

You will get it from me you scumbag!  He angrily murmured.

Isabelle was  his.  He won’t leave Sta. Teresita until she became totally his. He would make sure that  after what he saw just now, this man would be the last trash who could get near her. He was not Luke Contrero for nothing. He was capable of doing anything and everything. His eyes narrowed when the man didn’t release Isabelle’s arm. He was ready to get out of the car when he saw Joyce walked to the two.

"I said no and I mean no!  Let go of my arm now Carl!” Isabelle  said irritably  before pulling her arm back.

"Come on Issa, just for a few minutes. We can grab some snacks,” he insisted.

“Hey! What is happening here?” came Joyce’s voice.

She felt relieved upon hearing her friend’s name. Carl knew Joyce would never let her go with him.

He scratched his  head, "I was just asking Issa to have a burger  or coffee with me.”

"Coffee? Who would want a cup of joe on this sizzling afternoon?  And for your information!  Issa doesn’t eat fast food so you better go now!”

She hid a smile when Carl had no choice but to leave. He walked back to his car. Joyce wasn’t only her best friend. She was like her body guard too. Men were afraid of her because she was really straightforward.  Just like her brother Brett, she was always ready to rescue her from anything.

  "Come on! You better go with me before that Carl comes out of nowhere again!” Joyce said with a fake scowl. She thanked her and she smiled back, “I suggest that you say yes to becoming my brother’s girlfriend so he will drop you and pick you up every day then  you don’t have to deal with the likes of Carl,”  her friend joked.

"You know my answer to that,” she replied with a wider smile

Her smile faded when she thought she saw Luke’s sports car passed by. But she shrugged off the thought because he had no reason to  be  near the university’s vicinity. She just sighed then slid in Joyce’s car. Joyce asked her to hang out at their house since it was still early for her to go home anyway. Her mother was busy with their business while her father was in another country for work  so most of the time, her friend came home to an empty house.  They were having some snacks when Brett came. He beamed when he saw her. Joyce on the other hand tapped her by the shoulder before  standing up to get water.

"Hi Issa,” he greeted her and she smiled at him.

"Brett since you will be taking Issa home for sure, can you get  me some vegetables for my salad?" 

"Okay,” was all he said while his eyes were at her. Though he was staring intensely at her, she could still look at his eyes. It’s probably because she got used to him doing that. And for her, Brett  was  more like an older brother.He was only five years older than her and Joyce.

"You don’t have to drive me home. I have to buy something so I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

"That's okay. I will  drive you wherever you want. I can be your bodyguard too,” he joked.

"Oh come on brother dear! Bodyguard my *ss!  We all know that you want to be more than that to  Issa!” Joyce said while rolling her eyes.

She stifled a smile when Brett frowned and grabbed his sister’s cell phone. He then pretended to be throwing it against the wall.

"NO!! Not my phone!” Joyce shrieked.

She  ran after her brother while she just giggled  and shook her head. The siblings were acting like children which she found amusing. She wished she had a sibling too. She felt sad when she remembered her father whom she hadn’t met. She forced a smile upon seeing Brett and Joyce running  back to where she was.

(in Brett’s car)

They were only one block away from her house.

"Issa, can you give me an answer now to the question I have been asking you about us?”

"Brett, I have been telling you that I am not yet ready. I thought I made that clear to you."

"I’m sorry. You know how I feel about you that’s why I am persistent. I will try not to ask again. I will just wait.”

"Thank you,” she murmured and her eyes went back to the road ahead of them. Her forehead creased. A red car was parked in front of her  Grandma Salome’s house.

Brett has a creased forehead too  as they approach the small house,  "Are you expecting any visitor Issa?” he asked before turning off the engine.

 Her heart skipped a beat when she confirmed that it was Luke’s sports car.  Why is he here? She asked herself.

As if in trance, she just let Brett help her get off.  She was jittery because Luke was probably in his car waiting for her. But  when  they came closer to the vehicle, she noticed that there was no one inside.  She swallowed and her heart thumped. This was  worse than she thought. Luke Contrero  was at the house talking with her grandmother.

(in the small  house)

"That must be Isabelle. I heard a vehicle stopped. I think Brett drove her home,” Grandma Salome said.

Luke's back stiffened and his jaw clenched. He didn’t like what he heard. He felt heat came up his face. A man took Isabelle home.