Chapter Eleven: Arriving in the US

Ian was escorted by the bodyguards from the outside. He didn’t even give me a last glance, while I just crossed my arms watching him go away from me, like I was just some trash he discarded when the consequences of loving me are waving at him right now. I felt a presence behind me, so I looked over my shoulder, but not enough to see Karlo completely.

“I’m sorry, but I had to tell him the truth before he gets in the way,” I heard him say.

“Before he gets in the way?” I echoed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“If you continue your relationship, you will be in danger. And not just you! Also him and his family! Do you want to get him killed in the process, now that our enemies know your identity now?”

I couldn’t answer, because deep inside, I know that he was right. I can’t let Ian get involved in whatever this is. Maybe he loves me, but he can’t risk being with me at this time. I’ll just get him when I am ready for everything.

“Fine,” I said in dismay and in bitterness before walking out in front of Karlo.

“Minerva, please don’t be upset-“ He tried to get a hold of me.

“Please let me go. I don’t want to talk to you right now,” I dismissed him and subtly pushed his hand away from mine.

Just like I requested, he let me go and didn’t try to speak again. I went to my room and just scrolled through social media with my thoughts bubbling up my mind until I fell asleep.

The next week, with careful and discreet disguises, we went to the airport to fly to the USA for my MBA. Karlo and I barely spoke to each other. He would just say something that I should follow, and I would just nod. He didn’t try to open up a conversation while we were in the plane, which I am glad that he didn’t, because I am still upset.

While I was in the middle of my sleeping session, I felt a warm hand on my nape, slightly lifting it. When I was back at my original position, there was already a neck pillow behind my head, making me more comfortable in my resting. After that, I heard a deep sigh before fixing my blanket to cover all of my body. I know it was Diego.

“Can we eat first? I am starving,” I suggested when we got our luggages back.

“Yes, sure. What do you want to eat?” he asked carefully.

“Something that has soup. I want my tummy to be heated,” I answered.

“Soup, then.”

Karlo led the way where the exit of the airport was located. We already arrived in the US, and I eventually felt cold because of the winter season. Thankfully, I have my pink coat wrapped around me. He also wore the same, but his is black. He took me to a nearby soup house where I ordered my favorite corn soup. Although this soup tastes better in the Philippines, it is better than nothing. He ordered the same also.

“What do you want to do after?” he inquired when he paused and regarded me eating.

“To rest,” I said. “I’m too tired to do anything.”

He nodded. I looked up.

“I don’t know the schedule of my class, and I also want to know more about the university where I am going to take the MBA. I want to go to the institution tomorrow.”

“I’ll be with you.”

I arched my eyebrow. “Do you have to?”

“It’s for your own safety. This is a foreign country, Minerva. At least let me be with you.”

My eyes rolled back at the back of my head for him to see that I don’t like any word he is saying. He just sighed and shook his head in dismay, just like what he has been doing ever since we left the airport.

“Whatever. It’s as if I have any choice…” I rumbled and played with my fork.

“You will rest in the apartment. After that, we will talk about your training.”

Training, his ass!

Just like what Karlo said, we went to the apartment he bought from the city. It was spacious, huge, and expensive. Even though I have no idea how much he spent for all of the things he purchased to make it feel like home, I know the prices were no joke.

“This is your room…” Karlo led the way to a room where he opened the door. “I made my assistant arrange it just the way your room’s arrangement in the mansion. But if you want to make some changes, then it is still no issue. After all, it is still your room.”

I went inside the room and my eyes immediately ventured around, could not help but be amazed by how he took every little detail from my old room to copy it for this room. Clearing my throat, I faced him with my head held high.

“Thank you very much,” I said and tightened the grip on my luggage’s hold. “You didn’t have to stress yourself out…”

“It was just nothing,” he retorted and shrugged. “I’ll give you privacy now.”

I watched him close the door as he didn’t look back to check me again. I heaved a deep sigh and decided to take a shower to take a proper rest. When I was done with my routine, I scrolled through social media using my dump account to see what was going on. Just like what Karlo suggested, I deactivated all of my social media accounts that had my friends follow for my own safety, avoiding the crucial danger just like the last encounter of mine with Helen. My fingers typed the social media account of Ian, and I saw him posing for a family gathering together with his parents. He looked dashing, charming, and happy, and somehow, deep inside, I wish I was with him by his side.

I clicked his profile and went to the messaging button. I typed tentatively words to express how much I miss him and how much I want him to come back to me. But whenever I think about how he pushed me when I was begging him to stay, it discouraged me to even contact him secretly. Karlo will just eventually find out, and he will do anything to stay Ian out of my situation.

I didn’t even notice that I drifted myself asleep and woke up at four pm that day. It was tempting to continue sleeping because of jetlag, but when my stomach growled in hunger, I knew I had to eat something. I wonder if Karlo did some groceries. While yawning, I went outside of the room with my pajamas and home slippers on. My eyes were still sleepy when they went to the direction where I could see Karlo on a treadmill. There was a transparent gym room with a few exercising equipment and weights. He was wearing a black sando that fitted on his bulky and lean body, his sweat dripping from his forehead, neck, and biceps, and he was also slightly parting his lips for gasping of air while running.

Before I knew it, my lips were apart in amusement and my cheeks felt flushing out of fluster. When he turned to me, he witnessed my position and everything he did seemed in slow motion. He took a face towel hanging on the treadmill before he stopped it and went down. He opened the door of the gym and headed towards me while wiping his sweat over his face.

“Hey,” he called, “are you hungry already? I cooked food for you…”

Oh, my, some sweats trickled from the sides of his temples. It was so slow and dramatic that I had to bite my lip because it was so hot to watch. I only snapped back to reality when he slightly bent down his head and caught my gaze.

“Minerva, I am talking to you,” he pointed out.

“H-Huh?”

“I cooked a steak and mashed potato. If you want, I’ll serve you. It’s in the microwave. Sorry if I can’t join you. I want to work out,” he said.

Oh, yes, Minerva! Try to embarrass yourself in front of him by revealing that you were just checking him out? I thought you were hungry? Why are you drooling over him? Come on, you don’t even like him! You hate him!

“Y-Yeah , sure,” I stammered and cleared my throat. “I’ll take care of the steak. Thanks.”

Before he could even see me blushing, I shifted my weight and walked fast towards the kitchen. When he was finished watching me prepare my dinner, he headed back to the gym room and continued doing his running on the treadmill. I watched him languidly while forking every piece of the meat, and couldn't help but admire his similar Adonis’ features.

Argh, I really hate the fact that he is very hot and attractive! Why is he handsome and sexy? Can’t he just be ugly and fat so I wouldn’t feel this way?

I don’t like him!