She felt uneasy and restless again. No matter how much she wanted to sleep but her mind won’t cooperate. She tried to log in to a certain reading platform and try to send a message to Zacky. It’s been five years already that they had no communication. But she just wanted to give it a try, hoping that she would reply her message. She knew that Zacky was still active in that reading platform because she continuously published stories.
“Hi, how are you? It’s been a long time”, her message.
After some time, Zacky replied.
“I’m fine dear, how are you?”
They continued chatting and it lasted for almost two hours until they bid goodbye.
*********
She woke up at almost 8:00 in the morning and she knew that her brother already left for work. She stood up and took a shower. She decided to go to the head office of Manila Bulletin to meet Liam personally. She wanted to ask him about Rowan Zack.
After she’s done eating, she got dressed in a fitted blue jeans and a light pink blouse. She was wearing a wedge sandal because she felt it would best fit her. After fixing herself in the mirror, she went downstairs and told her Nanny that she will be out for a while.
While she was driving on her way to Manila Bulletin, a lot of things were lingering on her mind. That’s why she needs to find the truth, even if it would hurt her.
After minutes of driving, she reached at the Intramuros where Manila Bulletin is located. She asked from the Information desk, if where she could find the Editor-in-Chief’s office.
She took the elevator going to the second floor and finally reached Liam’s office.
She was looking into the half-glass front door and saw Liam busy on his laptop. She knocked.
“Yes come in”
She flipped the doorknob and went inside. Liam was shocked upon seeing her. He grinned and offered her a seat.
“What can I do to this lovely lady in front of me?”, Liam asked. Then he called someone in the intercom to bring over something to drink. After a moment, someone stepped inside and brought a glass of pineapple juice and a slice of egg sandwich.
After some time, she cleared her throat and began to speak.
“I just want to ask about Rowan Zack, Liam. When did he start working here with you?” she asked formally.
“So, it’s all about my Associate Editor hmm. You seem so interested with him JA”, he asked while showing a mischievous smile.
“Why? do you find him attractive?”, he jested.
“Well, Rowan Zack is undeniably handsome so, no wonder if you will get attracted to him”, he added.
“No, it’s not like that Liam. Please tell me about him”, she said seriously, averting her gaze.
“Okay. Uhm, Zack started here one year ago. You know he has a very impressive school records, that’s why I recommended him to the CEO of Manila Bulletin. At first, he worked as an Astrologer here who print out daily horoscopes. But recently he was promoted as the Associate Editor-in-Chief”, Liam spoke.
She was stunned into silence. She internalized everything she heard from Liam, until tears started to fall down from her eyes
“Hey JA, are you okay?” Liam asked and looked at her.
“One last question Liam. Where does Zack come from? her voice quavered.
After Liam answered her, she could not help herself but cry. Liam tried to comfort her and caressed her back. That’s also the time when Zack came in, handling a folder. She looked at him and saw his dark piercing eyes staring at her. His brows furrowed, cheekbones were raised, and lips thinned and pushed out.
“Sorry sir, I did not know that your girlfriend is visiting you at this hour”, he snarled and put the folder on Liam’s table. He went out of the office and slammed the door.
Liam was confused on what was going on. He shook his head.
She started to get uneasy so, she bid goodbye to Liam and hurriedly went out.
She saw Zack coming out from his office that was adjacent to Liam’s office. And as soon as he saw her, he was getting more furious, so he hastily took the elevator. She ran hurriedly trying to follow him, but the door was already closing.
She took the stairs instead and ran hurriedly as much as she could in order to catch Zack. From a distance she saw him, getting inside the car.
“Please, wait for me!”, she shouted. But Zack did not listen and did not even look at her.
She rushed, heading to where she parked her car. She went inside and started the engine. She sped up the road, following Zack behind, passing through General Luna, entering Puerta Real Garden, Intramuros Manila.
After a while, Zack hit the brake and had gotten out of the car.
She did the same and went out hurriedly.
“What the hell are you doing? Why are you following me?”, he shouted angrily. She moved closer until she was few steps away from him.
“I just wanted to talk to you. Please!”, she said softly, trying to hold back her emotions.
“Talk to me? Why? Are you not contented talking with Liam?”, he yelled.
“Well, I came to his office to ask him about you”, she said softly.
“About me? You could have asked me if you want to know something! But why you need to come to his office, and cry in front of him? For him to hold your hand and comfort you?”, he continued shouting and his eyes were getting red.
She looked at him while tears keep flowing from her eyes. She made few steps closer.
“And why you’re angry? Because you’re jealous right?”, she groaned.
“Jealous? Who? Me? And why should I be jealous? Do I know you? Do we know each other?”, he lashed out.
She was silent, trying to calm herself. Her heart kept pounding and thudding until it hurts her deep inside.
“I knew you five years ago on Facebook. We knew each other. You are Zacky. You are the man in my dreams. I am certain of it”, she sobbed.
“You’re absolutely wrong Miss. I am not Zacky”, he said and averted his gaze. But she could see tears started to form in his eyes.
“I’m going to prove it to you”, she spoke as she made one step closer to him.
She was about to hold his hand, but Zack step back.
“What are you doing? Trying to hold my hand for you to read my mind?”, his voice cracked.
“So, you know that I read minds? And yet you’re insisting that you are not Zacky. What’s the point of coming here in my place, if you just continue hiding yourself from me? Now look straight into my eyes and tell me you don’t love me! And I’ll forever be gone in your life!”, she wailed.
“Tell me now! Tell me you…”she was not able to finish what she was trying to say because Zack pulled her against him, pressing his lips to hers, possessing, owning, leaving her breathless. Then he carried her in a bridal style, still kissing her more passionately until both of them were gasping their breath.
He put her down and let her sit on a bench. And then he sat beside her.
“Stop crying now dear. I want you to be happy.”
“So you are really Zacky. You are not an illusion baby. You’re real!”, she said and hugged him tightly. She saw tears from his eyes, so she wiped it out with her thumb.
“But you did not tell me you love me”, she pouted her lips.
“Well, you knew already I am not very vocal when it comes to my personal feelings”, he replied, wearing his gentle smile.
“Am I not dreaming baby?”
“This is not a dream, nor illusion. This is real, baby”, he said planting a gentle kiss on her nose.
“You’re calling me baby too?”, she was surprised.
“Is it not what you wanted? Well, you’re jealous before because I called my fans and supporters, dear. That’s why you quarreled me and hurt me. Have you remembered it?”
She nodded and smiled.
“So, for you not to be jealous anymore, I call you ‘baby’ too from now on.”, he said and pinched her cheek.
“Am I the only one who is jealous here? Were you not jealous with Ace and Jungwon before? That’s why you quarreled me and insisted that I lied to you many things? And even when I tried to accept my mistakes, you were still insisting that there’s more that I lied to you?”, she said pouting her lips.
“And while ago, you were angry because you were jealous with Liam”
“That’s enough okay? Shut up, or I’ll kiss you again. And this time it’s gonna be a long, deep kiss. You know, I am a man. And being with you like this, is actually driving me crazy. You have no idea how much I missed you baby”, he said and lifted her chin for her to look at him.
“Uhm, you were the one who sent me flowers on my birthday, weren’t you?”, she asked.
“Yep. What did Josh tell you?”, he queried.
“He did not say anything. He just said, the guard handed it to him”, she responded.
“Well, I talked to him. He even asked me who I am. I told him that I am the “Army” he had known for a long time. Then I told him not to tell you. That kid is indeed a genius, because he got what I mean”, he spoke while clasping both her hands.
“But why did you not approach me then?”, she queried.
“Uhm, I was hesitant, because I thought you don’t love me anymore. But when I heard you singing the ‘piece of your soul’ during the school founding anniversary, I felt really glad. I wanted to talk to you then, but that time I was not ready”, he said intently.
There was a total silence. And the only thing they could hear was the beating of their hearts. He gently cupped her face, and planted a kiss on her eyes, nose and on her lips. After a while, she fell again into his warm embrace.
“Uhm, do you still love Ryle?”, he asked curiously.
“Ryle, was a part of my life. He was my great love. But it was in the past. You are my present and my future baby.”
“Do you realize now, who was that man who appeared in your dreams many times?”, he asked while staring at her.
She nodded and smiled. It was always him but because she let herself believe that it was Ryle who was visiting her in her dreams, that’s why she was confused. Besides, a dead person had nothing to do with a living one.
“Now that I’m here with you baby, I promise to make you happy.”, he said gently. Then, he stood up and gently offered his hand.
“I love you so much Jannah Arianne”, he said gently and pressed his lips into hers again.
“Am I your first kiss baby?”, he asked curiously.
“Of course, you kissed me in my dreams for two times”, she replied certainly.
“How sure you are that it was me who kissed you?”, he asked again.
“Because my heart fluttered so much when you kissed me now. The same feeling I felt when you kissed me in my dreams.”, she said tenderly.
“I love you so much Rowan Zack”
“I love you baby, please be mine forever”, he said with his voice full of affection.
“I love you baby, I’m yours forever”, she uttered as she put her hands around his neck.
He lifted her again in a bridal style. And once again, they kissed each other but this time it’s gonna be different for the two people whose heart and soul were intertwined by fate. And it’s impossible that they can still hold back the emotions that are burning deep inside.
-The End-
Thank you guys for reading my story. Finally, it is already completed. Wishing you all a happy and enjoyable life with your beloved ones. Forget all the sadness and pain, instead open your heart and never afraid to fall in love over and over again.
Love is the sweetest thing you can give to a person, but bear in minds that when you love someone, you can’t also avoid getting hurt because it is a part of loving and loving is part of growing.