AMA-Con: The Compilation

The Sum of Love: Taken

12:34am

July 10, 2018

Novaliches, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

It was full moon. The light was casting shadows down the road he was currently walking on. He finally stopped when he spotted the grey bungalow and took shelter under the nearby Narra tree. The wind was blowing too hard and his leather jacket was not thick enough. He leaned on the tree trunk before looking at his watch. He frowned when he saw it was already past midnight. She should've been home already.

During the days that he could come, she will either arrive by foot or taxi if it gets too late. He hoped that a yellow car would soon arrive with her inside. He has to report back soon but he would like to see her first. She should not be out as late at this time anyway because of what she has been doing lately. It was exactly five minutes later when he heard a car's engine coming towards his direction. He squinted his eyes and frowned when he saw a white Mercedes Benz approach.

"Thanks for the ride, Will."

She opened the door before the driver could come to her side of the car. She quickly got out and walked towards her house. Will followed her and stopped walking once she turned around to face him. She smiled at Will and thanked him again for giving her a ride. The celebration dinner of the broadcasting team took longer than she expected. She could not avoid but ask for a ride because there weren't many taxis left.

"No problem, Maine. Ikaw pa?"

He sneered in disgust. The tall, lanky man was flirting with her without shame. He was tempted to pull his gun out of his back pocket and shoot the man on his ass. He turned his attention back to Maine and watched her. He wanted to know whether she reciprocates the flirt's feelings but he found nothing in her face but exhaustion. He could tell even from afar that she wanted to go to bed already. She did and she voiced out the same exact thoughts to the man in front of her, and turned to leave. Will was quicker and pulled Maine towards him. He kissed her on the lips.

"Will?"

It took every ounce of his control to not rush towards them and beat the other man into a pulp. He was fuming with his hands tightly clenched by his sides. He wanted to rip the man's head apart. No one can touch her but him. Meanwhile, Maine was shocked. First, she noticed how Will has become aggressive lately. He was so insistent that she finally succumbed and agreed on a date. Next, she doesn't know how to feel about the kiss. It has been three years since a man has kissed her and when her mind began to flit back to the memories of him, she gets mad. She shook her head. Maine refused to think about him anymore.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow. Don't forget about our date on Friday!"

Maine just nodded still reeling from what happened. Will scratched his head and went to his car once she turned away from him. Before he drove away, he stared at her house forlornly. She might have agreed to a date but Will realized that he still has a long way in convincing her to become his. However, he refused to believe that she wouldn't eventually fall for him. The man she was waiting for has long been gone, and Will doubt that he'll ever come back. She needs to move on, and he will make sure that it would be with him.

"Bastard."

His hands clenched tightly into fists upon seeing the kiss. If he was holding onto something, it would've been broken into two already. He turned around and kicked the tree trunk in anger repeatedly. When he heard the car pass, he turned his attention back to Maine. He watched as she entered her house. He saw the lights turn on inside her bedroom when he felt his phone vibrate in his left pocket. He quickly took it out and answered as soon as he saw the name on the caller ID. It was Zedrick.