I GASPED UNDER my breath. But before I could see their fingers pull the triggers, Callan moved in front of me and blocked my view. The next sight that came to me was his back turned towards me. “What are you doing, Callan? I’ll try to talk to them.” “What are you gonna tell them, Esmé? You dumb words?” Despite the tension that grew among everybody Callan’s words made my eyes formed into slits—offended by what he muttered in front of everyone. I thought that the situation was serious but not to this point. I was wrong because when I tiptoed and peeked in front of us, I saw the men still raising their guns at me even if Callan blocked my presence with his body. Why is he doing this? Even if I couldn’t understand why, somehow, I was moved by his efforts. Is this how serious the situation really is? Would a diplomatic conversation not be enough to settle this one? “We know that the rules… rules,” Capo Luca spoke again. This man stands out from the crowd of men as his hairs are almo

THE NIGHT was young by the time we left. Only the two of us. Callan was driving in the back seat while I sat beside him in the passenger seat.It was too impossible to be in this situation. I lost count of how many times I had glanced beside me to just get a glimpse of Callan and tried to decipher his mood.Where are we going?And I thought he couldn’t leave the mansion all by himself. Turns out he has the freedom to do what he wants. He was not a prisoner to the rules of their organizations.As I gazed at Callan, he was grasping the steering wheel, eyes focused on the road. For the past fifteen minutes, he refused to talk to me even if I already tried my best to snatch his attention and make him look at me for longer than 3 seconds.If he’s not gonna talk to me and would keep acting like he hated me and the rest of the world, then why am I here?I cleared my throat and mumbled. “Why did you let me go with you, Callan? Where are we heading?”Beside us, the streets were filled with tre

CALLAN’S VOICE SOOTHED the fear that lingered in me. This time, I pulled my wrist from the guy and hid behind Callan who stood in front of me and faced the man with his arrogance.“You got a problem with that?”“Apologies, man. Thought the lady was alone.”“Nope. She’s not,” Callan said then swiftly motioned me to follow him as we both walked out from the dancefloor.“He touched me on my waist…” I mumbled, it was already too late when I hesitated whether Callan wanted to know about that detail or he didn’t care.“Anyway,” I waved my hand in front of Callan, like telling him it was nothing. That small movement turned out an exaggerated sway on my arms and I found myself laughing.“What happened to you?” I witnessed Callan’s frown when he looked at me. The lights inside the bar kept moving starting with white, blue, to red, and yellow. That was too much for my eyes to handle so, I squinted them.As Callan walked away from the crowd of people, I was following him. My feet stumbled agains

IT FELT LIKE a bomb exploded inside my head and that made everything stop. My breathing, my thoughts, my ability to mutter a single word. With one last kiss on my forehead, Callan covered me with his coat then he settled himself back in the driver’s seat. Did I hear that right? Did he really say we’ll get married tomorrow? Callan made a call through his phone. The next thing I new was I was still speechless as we got out of the car to settle on the back seat and Callan’s car and someone sat on the driver’s seat. Callan assisted me in every movement I made. Until I heard the engine of his car turn up. Suddenly, I slowly dozed off to sleep and it started taking over me that my eyelids started falling. Then I felt Callan’s finger traced up my chin and allowed me to lead on his shoulder as I fell asleep and he did the same. The car was moving and I scooted further onto Callan’s warmth and he wrapped his arm around me. That was enough for my mind to be soothed into silence. I didn’t ev

THERE MUST BE something wrong. I couldn’t help but feel uneasy in my seat. Something in my gut tells me everything is happening so fast.As Callan’s parents were talking with the wedding organizer that they had contacted and Aunt Yna joined them in planning what preparations would be made for the civil wedding, I couldn’t even munch my food in peace.I excused myself from everybody and acted like I was heading to the restroom. But Callan who was sitting beside me noticed me fidgeting. He stood up and also excused himself at the same time.We both walked away from the long table. I walked faster so I could get away from Callan but my long dress and heels were getting away from my attempt to do that.He managed to catch up to me and grasp my wrist so I could face him. “Why are you behaving like this, Esmé?”Instead of answering, I glared at Callan. I was just trying so hard not to burst out crying in front of those people who looked so genuine in planning something that I couldn’t even