Get You Back [Completed]

Chapter 15

"Mama!" Paulo screamed in excitement as he ran from the grand staircase to Katerina who was now standing at the entrance to the dining hall.

She met her son with a warm embrace and cried secretly behind his back. She just missed him, his smell and his small frame. His little boy was wearing a cute, little tux. She created some distance between them to quickly check on him. He was fine, clearly. 

"He couldn't sleep while you were missing so I had to sleep with him on those nights," Pavel, who was now suddenly behind them, whispered to her. 

"Where have you been?" tanong bigla ng anak nila.

"Mama just needed to take care of some... business," she lied and glanced at Pavel. The little boy in her arms was their son and she was only fighting for a chance of a normal life for him, which Pavel wanted to give now. "I'm just glad you're well and okay, my love. We won't be apart from now on, okay? Mommy's gonna be here."

"Your mom's gonna be with you everyday from now on," Pavel promised his son.

The little boy escaped from her embrace and went to hug his father this time. And since he was just short of three feet, he only reached below Pavel's hips. And Pavel was kind enough to swoop him down and carry him up for a hug.

"You promise?" Paulo asked him.

"I promise, little boy. Now, let's all have our little family dinner. I am famished!" Pavel glanced at her and reached out his right hand.

Katerina looked at it, still debating whether to take it or not. But what the hell. The man has already offered her and her son freedom. Why is she so afraid now? Perhaps she still couldn't marry the fact that he tried to kill her years back and now, he was offering her a pretty damn good life.

She took his hand and she let him lead her inside the huge dining hall.

*****

Their son was fast asleep so Katerina decided to go back to their bedroom where Pavel waited. He was reading some documents when she arrived. He was still in his work suit but with a few buttons undone on his long-sleeved shirt.

He looked up from the couch he was sitting on as soon as she arrived and closed the bedroom door.

"Well, it was an eventful night," he broke the silence. He glanced at the clock and it was well beyond two in the morning.

"It is," she agreed. She never thought sneaking into the house would eventually lead her back here... into his bedroom, sharing a bed with him again.

"I can leave you for a good night's sleep if you still want to think... about my offer," he said. 

Nanatili lang siyang tahimik. Deep inside, hindi rin niya alam kung ano ba talagang gusto niya. She feels so confused. All along she wanted to escape and save his son from this life. But now, she just... couldn't bring herself to pack up and leave.

Because of him.

But she quickly brushed off the thought. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be this confused. She will have to leave this place pretty soon.

"Stay," she answered. "I don't mind. The room is big. I just... will need to wash up. I assume my clothes are still-"

"They're still in the closet," he answered. "You can rest and we will talk tomorrow." And he went back to the documents he was reading.

She quickly washed up and changed into comfortable pajamas. She didn't know wearing pajamas would make her feel this... light. Gone was the burden she was carrying for the last few days since she escaped. And she even forgot what she escaped for.

She went out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom where Pavel has now dimmed the lights with only the lampshade beside the couch illuminating him and his paperworks.

"Rest," he ordered. 

She looked at him and she saw him looking back at her. She slipped under the comfortable sheets and laid down on the comfortable mattress, letting go of the stress of the whole week. It was like bliss being back here... and being taken cared of by him. 

But she suddenly sat up.

"Yes?" he asked, now aware that she was not ready for sleep.

"I know this isn't the best time to ask... but that dungeon..."

"What about the dungeon?"

"It's where you kept me..." 

He stayed quiet. "Katerina, this isn't the time-"

"Just answer me. That was where you kept me when you tried... tried to..." Katerina couldn't even bear to say the words.

"I have done things in the past that I am ashamed of. Things that I do not want to relive. Now, for the sake of both of our peace, go to sleep."

She kept her mouth shut and tried to lay down once again. The pillow was feathery soft and comfortable. But it still just wouldn't lull her to sleep. 

"I couldn't sleep," she said out loud, while her eyes were still closed. "These past few days had just been too much. I couldn't forget about the past and I get triggered every time I remember things because of me staying here. I cannot just forget-"

Her words were cut short when she felt the other side of the bed dip. 

"What are you doing?" she asked, alarmed, when she saw him climb under the sheets beside her and hug her from behind, carefully trapping her like a little spoon.

"I'll make you fall asleep," he answered while wrapping his arm around her.

The heat of his body was very much apparent under the sheets. But she remained frozen. "Y-You don't have to."

"Apparently, I need to. Or you won't shut up the whole night," he said with finality. "So now, close your eyes, sweetheart. I've also had a rough week and having you beside me just sent me so much relief. You don't know how relieved I am to have you back safe and sound."

She became silent... not because she wanted to shut up but because she couldn't form the right words to say. She was just relieved to also be back. But she couldn't understand herself now. She tried her hardest to escape this man who now has her trapped in between his arms, but all she felt was... relief now.

Odd, her mind whispered.

So she did not fight him anymore. She decided to close her eyes once again for both their sake and bring herself to sleep.

*****

A/N: Nag-vacation leave na ba kayo bukas (Apr 8)? Happy long weekend. Sana ay nakapagpahinga ng maayos ang lahat. Hehehehe!! <3 

Sinong may kayakap sa gabi kagaya ni Katerina? #SanaAll #Chz