Mission failed

My raised hand was gripped by Dave, and he signaled Jeff to take me away.

He picked me up and pulled me away from there while I continued to kick and yell angrily.

Jeff got me to the car, and I tried to get off, but the car sped off immediately.

I was once again locked in my room.

This time, I tore the place apart, raging and screaming.

When I finally got tired, I sat down on the floor and cried my eyes out.

How could Dave do this to me?

For three years now, I had waited, believing that he was also waiting for me.

After crying for a long time, I drifted to sleep right on the floor, my head buried between my thighs.

I woke up to the sound of Dave, who was standing in front of me.

His eyes looked around the room and furrowed deeply. Then they turned back to me.

He saw the cut on my neck, probably from when I was throwing and breaking stuff, and his expression darkened.

“You are hurt.”

The second he said that, Jeff rushed in immediately and bowed his head.

Dave turned to him, and I could tell what would follow. So, I grabbed him quickly to stop him, but he yanked me off at the same time.

“Don’t pretend you care,” I lashed out.

He turned to me, his hands gripping my shoulders carefully.

“Why would you say that? You know I care so much about you.”

I pushed him off again.

“Is that why you’re trying to get rid of me?” I hollered again.

Dave’s frown deepened.

“I’m not.”

I pushed at his chest, not listening to him. Right now, I hated him. For lying to me.

“You promised to wait for me,” I cried, hitting him again.

He stared at me, perplexed. “What?”

My tears fell freely now.

I moved closer and grabbed his shirt.

“You said you wouldn’t marry anyone until I became an adult,” I reminded him of his promise.

Dave gripped the hands that were holding his shirt, pulling them back.

“And I’m not breaking my promise,” he maintained.

I stared at him, conflicted. He’s already engaged.

His fingers instinctively pulled my hair back.

“But you’re engaged,” I pointed out.

He took a deep breath.

“You are going to be eighteen in three weeks. I remember my promise to you, and I won’t get married before then,” he stated.

I paused, staring dumbstruck at him. I pulled away from him, recoiling back onto the floor.

He moved after me, his hands gripping me and pulling me back up.

“I’m sorry you had to find out like this,” he whispered to me, pulling me into his arms.

I cried silently against him.

Dave Monasterio, you idiot.

I didn’t mean it like that when I asked you to wait for me to grow up. What I wanted was to grow up so I could marry you.

The more I cried, the more he comforted me. But it was not enough.

I wanted him, all of him.

If Dave doesn't understand, maybe I should make him understand.

I waited in the shower, listening to the sound of him walking into the room before I switched on the shower and let it pour over me.

Tonight, I am determined to make him see me, not as a little girl but as a woman.

I waited five minutes before getting out of the shower and picked up a towel, ignoring the bathrobe.

The moment I stepped out of the bathroom, my eyes met Dave, who was standing in the middle of the room. His eyes widened when he saw me, and he swiftly turned around.

“Celine?” I felt his breath hitch.

“What are you doing here?”

I moved closer.

“I came to use your shower because my room is a mess,” I told him.

He let out a heave.

“There are plenty of rooms in the house. You could have used one of them,” he said.

I shrugged.

“I don’t feel safe in any of them. Except yours,” I said, deliberately teasing.

He didn’t turn back to look at me, but I wasn’t ready to back out either.

“You should leave now,” he said.

I frowned, biting my lips.

How can he not be tempted?

“I want to sleep with you,” I blurted out carelessly.

Not caring about whatever consequences that brought.

Dave’s eyes turned to me instantly. For the first time, I saw his face flush red.

“Are you crazy?!” his voice came out loud, terrifying.

I quickly answered.

“I meant, sleep in your room.”

I gulped slowly, hiding my anxious nerves.

“My room is still a mess,” I reminded him.

He turned his eyes away again. His hands went to his face, and I heard his heavy breathing.

“Fine. I will sleep somewhere else then,” he said and made to move out.

I rushed to stop him immediately. But my foot caught on the other, throwing me off balance.

A small yelp escaped me as I lurched forward.

Dave’s hand caught me around the waist, pulling me against his body. I gasped, my hands gripping onto him.

I looked up, meeting his eyes only an inch away.

There was a deafening silence in the room. Neither of us moved for a second until my heart began to race.

I gazed down at his lips, the ones I had dreamed so many times of kissing.

Right now, they were so close to me.

Before I could summon the courage to take the bold step, Dave pushed me away. His hard breaths filled the air.

He seemed to be struggling to breathe.

I stared at him, concerned. But he turned away quickly and bolted out of the room.

Mission failed!

I stomped my feet in anger.

I moved back to the bed and fell on it, my mind drifting slowly to that moment just now.

Dave’s face was so close to mine. His sharp jawline, his beautiful eyes, and most importantly, his gorgeous lips.

My cheeks turned red slowly as I let myself indulge in the thought of actually kissing him.

I fell asleep with that thought in my mind. And even dreamed of it.

But then, I drifted into my nightmares again. The one that had been playing in my head for six years now.

The night my parents were murdered. The memory I had tried to erase but just wouldn't disappear.

I whimpered in my dream as I tried to pull myself out of the nightmare.

Sweat had already formed heavily on my forehead, and my breathing grew heavier.

Just then, a voice called out to me.

“Celine!”

I jolted out of my dream. His face was the first thing I saw.

Immediately, I jumped on him, clutching him tightly as I embraced him, believing that all my fears would be gone. Just as long as he was there.

“You’re safe,” Dave whispered to me gently, holding me tighter.