In His Arms

Chapter 24: Returning (Kendra's POV)

"I'm not going." I insisted. I pressed my palms on the counter top to support me as I leaned forward. "There's no way I'm meeting Baekhyun. Not today, not tonight, not ever." I emphasized. "But you have to give him a chance. Just.." I didn't even let Eli finish his sentence when I started to walk away again. "Just listen, ok? Just listen to what he has to say." I turned around to face him. "Listen to what he has to say? What else does he need to say?" I asked irritated. "Me and Baekhyun are done, you know that." I stormed off again. "Kendra listen." He caught my arm and pulled me. It kinda hurts but I didn't mind it already. "Eli, let me go. His conversation is not leading to anywhere." I said with my most serious tone at the moment. "No, not unless you agree on meeting him." He insisted.

Something not right. Is this really Eli persuading me to meet up with Baekhyun tonight? The last thing I remember, Eli hates Baekhyun so much. So why? Why all of a sudden Eli is so supportive of Baekhyun? "No." I grit my teeth as I answered. "For the past few days, all I ever saw was him. We kept on seeing each other and he didn't even use those opportunities to talk to me. If he has to say something, he could've told it already." I explained. "Please tell me you're not buying his bullshit because I'm not paying for it." I hissed. Just when I thought he'll let me go, his grip got tighter. "Kendra, meet up with him. Or else.." "Or else what?" I cut him off. "Or else it will be Bea who is going to meet him tonight." My heart stopped to what I heard. "Eli.." I stuttered. "Is that even really you?" I asked. His stare was something I have never seen before. His expression was unexplainable. But one thing is for sure, he's serious about it. "Do I have to repeat it for you?" He asked. This is the first time I saw this side of him.

I blinked my eyes trying to cool him off but it wasn't working. He was still glaring and I couldn't tolerate it anymore. I'm scared. "Why are you doing this to me?" I asked with my voice shaking in fright. "I just had enough of all this drama Kendra, I want to end it already." He finally became subtle. Looks like he figured that I was starting to be afraid of him. "Just tonight Kendra, just tonight." He paused. "Just listen to him. I know you won't regret if you do." He reassured me. "After tonight, what's it gonna be?" I asked feeling all weak in his grip. "Only then we'll see what will happen. Just trust me, ok? Meet up with him." He said. I knew he'll be more persistent if I refuse to do so. And also, I already felt shy and embarassed. He said he already had enough of this drama.. Did I become a burden to him all this time? "Ok. I will." I weakly said. "Can you please let go of me now?" I asked and he looked at his hand tightly wrapped around my wrist. "I'm sorry." He apologized without making eye contact as he let go of me.

I held my wrist and massaged it to remove the pain. "What time again?" I asked. "Uh. 6 pm tonight.. at your house." He said. I smirked. "So he told you about the house, too, huh?" I asked. "No. Not really, he just mentioned it." He said. "And by the way, he mentioned about last night, too." My eyes widened to what I heard. Baekhyun told him about last night? "Is this why..... you're doing this?" I asked. "What? No. I'm just doing him a favor, that's all." He answered. Things really became awkward. We can't stare at each other in the eyes and it feels like I can no longer stand a second with him by my side. "Then I'll get ready for it now." I said then walked away. "About Bea." I stopped when he mentioned my daughter's name. "I'll take good care of her tonight. Don't worry." He said. "I'll handle her while you're gone." He said. I just hummed as a response that I agree then continued on walking away from him.

When I got to my room, I exhaled like I'm finally able to breathe. Eli was really scary back there. Or maybe I just got him frustrated. I mean, meeting up with Baekhyun is not that hard to do. But I don't want any of his bullshits anymore. One more thing, Eli said he's only doing Baekhyun a favor. Does that mean Baekhyun did something for Eli as well? Because Eli isn't the type of person to do someone a favor without anything in return. Something is fishy. But nonetheless, I still got ready for tonight. I took a long and nice bath. If I'm going to meet him, I might as well look good. Or maybe not that much. I decided to do a laid back look. If I dress too much, Baekhyun might think he's so special. And I don't want that. He needs to know that he's not really that important so that his ego won't fly high. So yeah, I dressed simple today. Just a plain navy green button down long sleeve blouse and a pair of denim Levi shorts. I actually thought of wearing full length skinny jeans but I kinda liked the idea of somehow teasing him. I want to show Baekhyun what he lost. Besides, I'm not that old anyway. I can still flaunt it. So since it's laid back, I slipped on a pair of white sneakers. I tied my hair into a messy bun and did my make up, just natural. I deliberated if I should put nude lipstick but ended up using this pomelo color tinted lip balm. I grabbed a pair of white sunnies, my keys, and phone then got out of the room.

Before leaving the house, I checked on my daughter first. I took a little peek in her bedroom and saw Eli watching Bea sleep soundly. He seemed to notice for he looked at my direction. "Leaving already?" He asked. I pushed the door a little more, enough to show myself. His facial expression somehow changed. "Why? Is there somehing wrong?" I asked but he didn't respond. Instead, he just looked at me. I looked down at my outfit then returned my sight to him. "Is there something wrong with what I am wearing?" I asked. He suddenly shook his head. "No, not at all." He removed his stare at me. "So, are you leaving already?" He asked once more. "Uh. Yeah, I guess?" I doubted. "Will you be fine here? You and Bea?" I asked and he nodded. "Yeah, we'll be." He said. "If you're thinking that I'll do something bad to her like kidnap her, I won't." He said. "Eli, I didn't mean it like that. I trust you.. you know that, right?" I said. "Yeah, yeah. I just thought maybe you doubted me already after those words I have said earlier. I'm not insane Kendra. I was just.. frustrated." He said. "I know." I smiled at him. "You should go now. It might take you time to get there." He looked at his watch. "It's already fifteen minutes pass four. Will you be able to make it?" He asked. "Well yes.. probably." I answered. "Then go. We'll wait for your return." He said then I nodded.

During the ride, all I can think of was what Eli did a while ago. The things he said was stucked in my mind. Plus his voice, it's recorded in my brain. 'We'll wait for your return.' The way he said that, it feels like he's hinting me that I'll never make it home. He sounded like he knows I won't be able to come back home. This situation just got me more even curious. I just want to know what the hell is going on. My mind feels like it's about to blow just by trying to figure out what is happening. I was overthinking allot of things that I wasn't able to notice that I'm already in my destination. I made it here in our house. And when I say our house, it means me and Baekhyun's house. I stopped the car infront of the gate. It was closed so I had to open it for myself. When I managed to open in, I rode the car again and enetered the premises of our mansion. I parked the car in the garage. Before I got out of the car, I inhaled and exhaled for a while. "It's going to be fine, Kendra. Everything is going to be alright." I calmed myself. When I felt like I was ready to go, I stepped out of the car.

I entered the house via front door. It was still locked and it was a sign that Baekhyun was not yet around. Good thing I brought with me my keys. And just like that, I found myself inside the house where so many things have already happened. I walked as I observed the interiors of the house. It made upset for it made me remember all those hurtful memories. "You're early." I was startled to the voice I heard behind me. I already knew it was Baekhyun but I still turned around to confirm that it was him. And it is indeed him. Baekhyun, standing between the door posts, holding what it seems to be a paper bag. We both stared at each other. "You're two minutes late." I said earning a smirk from him. "Still that strict huh?" He asked. "No, not really. I just don't want to waste my time." I sounded bitter. His tongue swept across his lower lip and I kinda found it offensive. "What the hell do you want?" I asked. Once again he smirked then slowly walked towards me. He placed the paper bag on the couch. He stood still halfway to me. "You." He said then ran towards me. In no time, his hand grabbed hold of my waist and his lips crashed on mine.