Chapter Twelve: My Wife

As agreed, Karlo and I went to the university where I can process my enrollment to pursue an MBA. Most of the time, he was the one who took care of it, while I took pictures around the campus, where some places are just astonishing to photograph so that I could upload them to my I*******m account.

“Who is that hottie? Is he new here?”

I lifted my head in curiosity when I heard a high-pitched, womanly voice nearby. There was a group of ladies languidly walking through the pavement, not far away from me. Their eyes were fixated on the registrar's office where Karlo was talking to a professor through the small window. He was nodding while leaning over the counter so he could hear the blushing professor and stifling a malicious smile. I frowned even more when the group stopped in their tracks so they could check out Karlo.

Yeah, right, I almost forgot the part that I am not the only one noticing that he is handsome and hot. Most women I know from my sight would get head over heels for him. I am just the only one who is not, because first of all, he is the reason why Ian and I could not have a relationship after marrying me. Also, he’s the one traumatizing me by knowing about my identity in the mafia organization my parents built.

Whatever.

I pouted and continued taking pictures of my surroundings. It’s not like I cared about him or his admirers, anyway.

“Let’s know him, shall we?” I heard from one of the girls. “Hi! I’m Sheer. What’s your name? Are you new here?”

But I really could not help and turned my head again to the direction of the ladies. They were still even holding books and bags and using them as props to act like innocent and cute, swaying their bodies like babies do in front of their parents to get something. Karlo, on the other hand, who is walking now towards where I was, stopped and regarded them listlessly.

These ladies must have mistaken him for a college student here because he was just wearing a typical white dress shirt, black slacks, and a pair of Nike shoes. His shades were hanging over the neckline of his shirt, and his hair was slicked back like a Hollywood celebrity. His left hand was in his pocket, while his other hand was manipulating his phone, which, my guess is that he is communicating with his secretary.

“Excuse me?” Karlo muttered with no interest at all.

“What’s your name? Did you just transfer here?” the girl with a pert voice answered.

“No, sorry,” Karlo said and cleared his throat. “I’m here with my wife, assisting her to enroll for her MBA.” He suddenly threw a simple glance at me, but made me really stunned me. “There she is. Excuse me. I have to attend her.”

I don’t know whether to be bothered by the embarrassed faces of the ladies as Karlo left them, or how Karlo walked coolly towards my direction. My eyes locked onto Karlo as he was shining in my sight. I had to pause spacing out by shaking my head because I am getting pulled by his cool and charm again! Damn it!

“You’re enrolled now. I paid for the f*e,” he said when he got in front of me. “Do you want something to eat?”

“U-Uhhh…” I squeaked.

His eyes drifted to my phone. “I thought I asked you to deactivate your social media accounts?”

I looked at my phone, and my I*******m feed was revealed. I turned it off instantly.

“Don’t worry. It’s just my dump account. I just like taking pictures, that’s all. My social media accounts are still deactivated. My friends don’t know that I am here in the US,” I said and glanced at the ladies who were leaving now. “They are pretty. Why didn’t you talk to them?”

Karlo merely furrowed his eyebrows. “You are pretty, and I am already talking to you. I don’t care about them, because I don’t know them,” he said. “Let’s go?”

His natural way of delivering the world always gets me. Ian is different. My boyfriend would say things depending on the situation. When we are on a date, he says sweet words. When we are at home, he pleases my perfectionist parents, and it’s always practiced because I instruct him on what to say and not. When we are in school and with friends, he would try to speak formally and would care about the company we have.

Karlo, on the other hand, just speaks what he has in mind. He would not care about his environment. He would not think what others think as long as he has already said what he wants, regardless of the situation. So effortless that sometimes I would be appalled and have no words to say afterwards.

“Your classes will start next week, so this week, we will focus on your training before we go home in the summer, and you will join the organization,” he said while he was driving the car.

I crossed my arms, sitting on the front seat, and glaring at the busy road of America. “I am not fond of fighting. I even hate the idea of guns,” I said bluntly. “Why do I have to suffer these dangerous responsibilities? I just want to dress fashionably, finish college, and manage the businesses my parents left me.”

“Seems like you are also left with no choice…” he said. “I am here to help and guide you. You are also my responsibility, too. But you can’t do all of your dreams and ambitions when you don’t know how to protect yourself.”

He was right. I need to protect myself. Self-awareness is my forte, so I know that I am the most selfish person I know in my life. I will not do this to be a hero and save others, just like Karlo is pointing out, but I will do this for me.

“Are you ready?” Karlo asked while watching me go to him.

I inhaled sharply, didn’t want to break eye contact before stopping on my tracks. Currently, I am wearing a sports bra, tight cycling shorts, and white sports shoes. I’m all black, representing my feisty boldness. Karlo could not help but eye me from head to foot. I’m all ponytail like I am going to the gym.

“Yes,” I answered and nodded. “What’s the first thing you will teach me?”

He smirked. “Krav Maga,” he answered and lifted his head with calm confidence. “Basic self-defense. Would be easy peasy.”

The next day, after my morning jog, he requested that I go to the backyard of the building where the two of us could start training. He even took a leave from work and just left his tasks to his secretary. I am all his the whole day.

“Your enemies will attack you in stealth; you would not know they are coming, just like what your former best friend did at the social party we attended last time,” he said, about Helen, as he started walking towards me. “So, at least you would be prepared and avoid being defenseless. I will teach you some skills.”

It was so fast that I didn’t see his punch coming at my face. I gasped in surprise and almost fainted when his fist was just an inch away from my eyes. My knees trembled, and he caught me before I could even fall. He shook his head.

“No, Minerva. You will not let your fear consume you,” he said.

“Y-You almost punched my face, you scumbag!” I pushed him when I snapped.

“And what if it’s in reality? Will you let your enemies hurt your beautiful face?!”

“Over my dead body…”

“Then you fucking fight, Minerva.”

I glared at him. He did the same. I nodded with no choice.

“Try to punch me,” he said.

I didn’t hesitate. I attempted to throw a punch. He dodged it sideways, imprisoned my wrist with his two hands, pulled me to my chest, before turning me around and locking my neck with his bicep.

“Don’t you dare do this when it’s a man,” he whispered in my ear. “Instead, do this…”

He made me turn around again to face him, my hand still in his hands, and softly kicked my stomach. It made me bend slightly and feel his elbow hitting my back before pushing me.

“Remember it,” he said. “Now do it to me.”

I breathed in and out. “Okay. Punch me…”

This time, his fist was slow coming, so I caught it with my hands, pulled him closer, kicked his stomach softly, which made him intentionally bend himself, and elbowed him on his broad back.

“Now push me,” he said. “Hard, Minerva!”

Just like what he instructed, I pushed him hard, but I knew my strength was not enough for him to be defeated. He stood straight and nodded with a ghost of a smile on his face.

“That’s a good start,” he complimented. “But you still have a long way to go…”