Maybe This Time

CHAPTER SEVEN : GHOSTS FROM FIVE YEARS AGO

CHAPTER SEVEN   :        GHOSTS FROM FIVE YEARS AGO

I am impressed for his effort, he prepared (as if he was the one who prepared this himself) a complete lunch for two, at the center of the rectangular table is a platter of fruits that looks like resting above an arrangement of tiny wild flowers and greens, at each other end are big enough plates, and at the sides are well laid silverware, he pushed the chair away from the table, motioning me to sit and I do so.

He then sit at the other end, he waved his hand and out of nowhere came the waiter carrying our appetizer, I suppose, the waiter served us Pepperoni Bread. I look at him, was he starring at me the whole time... I am feeling scared now, seriously.

I have my hands at my lap, I feel tense now, I am figuring out to myself what will this lunch will cause me,

           

"Afraid?" he asked, the way his tongue enunciate the word send shiver all over me, Am I afraid?

I chuckle, "Not unless you are planning to poison me..." I said coolly, weew. Can he just take those eyes away from starring at me the whole time, because that's what I call scary and disarming?

He smiled, "Let's eat." he offered.

We start the lunch quietly, from time to time I caught him still staring at me, aren't those eyes of him tired? Because I am getting tired being starred at. I take all the courage I preserve inside and strike a conversation,

"Why did you come back?" shit Vanna, of all questions why that one?

He, for a moment, put his fork down; I am watching him, wrong question! Wrong approach! I scold myself while watching him intently, it’s now my turn to stare and study you more Archer or now Mr. Harold De Rege, he wave his right hand and then again the waiter appear handling another tray for our Main Dish followed by another waiter handling a bottle of wine in a bucket of ice. The waiters served the food and took the other used utensils on the table while the other is attending to filling our glasses with wine. I return my stare on him; he is sipping from his glass, and then puts it down,

"For my many unfinished business..." I am jolted back to reality with his answer but the way his troubled gray eyes stares at me I know he’s up to something way more personal,  he looked way better now  that he do five freaking years ago, I am now wondering what happened to him during that time span,

"I guess I haven't really moved on after all." He added, I can sense he wants to bring up something when I decided to indulge in the food served for us.

After we ate in total awkward silence,

"The food is great. Thank you." Then I stand up immediately,  he still is sipping from his glass, without further ado, I walk my way away from the place but I am startled when he grab my hand, I swallow, he is holding me by the wrist, his grip is tight, I can feel the tension rising, his grip gets tighter every time I try to haul my hands away from him, he then finished what remains to his wine, from my peripheral I can see him, he then stood up, he is facing me through my side, we are so close, so close that I smell the liquor from his breath..

"You left me before... and I don't want that to happen again..." he whispered in my ears, the stink of the wine is getting to me; it makes his statement worst that ever.

"A-Archer, you're hurting me." I plead but unfortunately he even draw near me.

"Does it hurt?" I find it irritating, of course it hurts! I abruptly stare at his eyes, which I thought are full of anger, my body reflex mildly, what's wrong Archer? I want to caress his cheeks; shit! He seemed lost... he is lost... I am staring to his translucent eyes, I feel the heavy feeling that is already clouding his serene eyes... his grip loosen, but this time I want to know why.. he releases my wrist and about to step back when I grab him by the elbow and made him face me, he gape at me, but I am determined to meddle with what is wrong with him..

"Now tell me! Tell me what this enigma is about!?" I demandingly shouted at him,

For  a moment, I think he is examining me, I tried my best to look bold enough so not to be affected by his obvious charm, damn it, he's a close male epitome of a goddess.

But his gaze focused on my lips, I froze, trying not to move my lips, still trying to stay bold, he avert his gaze away,

 

**          **          **          **

"I don't know what happened that day." I answered her, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Harold, you desire to be this close to her don’t you, then why are you backing down now?

"What day?" she asked, I turn to face her,

"The day I asked you to be at Casa Greta," I am starting to wonder why she doesn’t know about that special day.

            “Why did you run away?” she countered and we stare at each other, determination full of hurt is evident on her arched eyebrow and narrowed eyes, lips set to a tight straight line.

            “Why did I run away? Because I had been manned, I don’t want to jeopardize your safety because of my selfishness! I am no free man, Vanna. Not until I decided to change my name and that has been my ticket outside his shadow.” I answered her truthfully but she just let out an estrange growl and the innocent face I always love is way even full of hurt and disbelief.

            “How ironic, isn’t? Man bastilles from the world?! You think I’ll buy your story? No! Because all I ever gain from you is hatred and heartache!” she’s hissing the words out, it pains me, big time. I know that I haven’t been fair to her throughout those times.

            “That’s why I came back. I am here to right my mistakes. And you, Vanna, you are my biggest priority upon settling back in here.” I told her, she just rolled her eyes and turn her back on me but I immediately grab her wrist and hug her in a swift move, she pushes me away and it really is starting to be so painful for me.

             “How dare you be someone you’re not!? I am no more the stupid girl you used to save Mr. De Rege, I made myself to be who I am now just not to be fooled by advantageous people like you! I don’t need you!” with that she stomps away.

            My heart literally is broken in to pieces. I closed my eyes and calm my nerves, maybe, she’s right. How can I act like someone responsible and loving when it was my fault at the first place, why she became agitated and shattered?

            I down another half glass of wine and left the deck.

            I need to calm myself, I can’t afford to lose her especially now that she’s just a touch away, if to see me suffer and pay my mistakes will make her be convince that I am a changed man, I’ll do anything just to gain her trust again.