Behind The Mask

Chapter 25

Michael’s POV

I see her resolution weakening. I see tears in her eyes and it kills me to see her sad and despairing. I face her squarely, unblinking. I open up my soul to her and let her search in my heart of hearts for the truth.

“Nooki, I love you, I respect you and I don’t want to lose you. Meeting you has been the best thing to happen to me, on a personal level. I cannot promise you to be perfect, because I’m not. I will make mistakes, but I will never willfully hurt you. Please...please believe me and let’s get back to us. I know you don’t want to let go....I know and feel it. I am not a coward like your father was. I don’t lie to people, I don’t take the easy way out of problems...I have dignity and I have respect for you. Please....”

I feel almost naked, exposing my torment like this. But there is no other way. I can’t hide anything from her if I hope to get her back.

Her lips tremble and she visibly swallows a big lump in her throat. Her clear blue eyes search my face in silence. I stand motionless. It’s so quiet, that you could hear a pin drop.

“Okay....I believe you.”

I think that my sigh of relief was heard all the way to Pretoria.

“I believe you, but don’t let this happen again. Like you said, you have dignity. Then don’t let that bitch play you around.”

I nod solemnly. Anouk is right. I let Lisa play me like a twat. Like a fucking teenager! I nod again and catch her hands in mine.

“Never, Nooki. I won’t let myself be put in such a vulnerable position again. I won’t jeopardize us. I can’t be nice to everybody, apparently.”

“And why should you? Why should you always be the quiet guy taking one for the team?”

I smile and pull her closer.

“Kiss me and tell me that I’m forgiven.”

I see her first smile spreading on her lips since I got here. She puts her arms around my neck and stands on tiptoes, kissing me softly.

“You’re forgiven, but if I see that bitch around you ever again, I’m gonna bash her face in” she whispers close to my lips and before I can answer she kisses me again.

I forget what I wanted to say. Heck, who cares?! She’s mine again. We fixed the damage. I hold her even tighter as I kiss her back. We pull away slowly, looking into each other’s eyes.

“God, I was so scared I’d lose you!” I confess.

She smiles her small crooked smile.

“You’re too stubborn to let that happen, aren’t you?”

I giggle and nod.

“Ummm...Nooki....perhaps we should let Wayne and Paul in. They’re still wondering where we’ll be all sleeping tonight.”

“You came straight here from the airport? You didn’t book a room first?”

“Nope, I didn’t. If you don’t let us stay here...” I begin on a pleading tone.

“By all means, let’s let the poor guys inside!”

She leaves my arms sooner than I wanted and opens the door.

“It’s OK, guys, you can camp right in here” she smirks.

“Thank you, ma’am!” says Wayne with a big grin and gives me a discrete wink.

I put my hands behind me and look away bashfully. That wink was the closest thing to “good job, man”.

“You can have the same rooms you used to” yells Nooki behind them, as they walk upstairs with the luggage.