7 Chapter 6: Trust
Step 3, earn his trust.
What does it mean to trust someone? What does it take to earn someone's trust?
It is ironic how a hard-earned trust can crumble over a single lie.
--
"I need to get my car."
He stood up, but I immediately held the seam of his shirt and dragged him back to the couch.
He called a bulky and scary-looking guy to pick us up earlier.
"It's dangerous. Can't you stay here?"
He couldn't respond. I knew he was confused, but I won't let him get back there.
"But the bank is--"
"You already called the police, didn't you? So stay here. I'm scared."
I forced myself onto his chest and embraced him tightly. I never knew I had this natural talent for acting. Wow.
He was stoked at my desperate need for skinship, but he returned the embrace and cuddled me. I had no idea if our mission succeeded or bombed.
In a soft and low voice, he asked, "Do you want me to drive you home?"
I shook my head and embraced him tighter.
"I'm so scared, Neuron. What if something happens while we're outside? What if someone tries to shoot you again? What if--" I raised my head to look at him.
The light from the fireplace made him look more gorgeous. Was that even possible?
I had the urge to run my finger on his nose bridge. My lips pulsated at the sight of his attractive lips. The same lips that devoured mine in that alley.
My face burned at the memory so I looked away.
"Can I sleep here, Neuron?"
He replied with a question. "Can you answer this one question for me, Rathna?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you kiss me because you were shocked by what happened? Did you kiss me because you wanted to avoid my question? Or did you kiss me because you wanted to?"
Liar. That was three questions in total.
I loosened my grip on him. He suspected me. I could sense it.
"Is it normal to meet just three times and then kiss?" I countered.
He looked puzzled at first. However, the puzzle faded into a smirk.
"I will say it's normal if that'll make you feel better."
I rolled my eyes. Like that would make me feel better!
"Many people make out with people they just met for fun," casually, he said.
"And are we two of those people?"
He stared straight into my eyes and said, "We could be. Or we could be something more."
What he said made me nervous. I suddenly had this vision of us being romantically involved. Creeps!
"Then I will answer your question, Sir."
He raised his eyebrows at me like he was waiting for my answer.
"I did because I wanted to."
That was a half-lie and a half-truth. I did kiss him because I wanted to, but the real reason was to avoid his question.
He gave me a naughty grin and said, "Wrong answer, Ma'am."
He suddenly leaned close to me. I let my body fall on the couch because if I didn't, our lips would've touched. He crept and made his way on top of me.
Using his one hand as support, he used his other hand to brush off some strands of hair on my face.
"Thank you," he whispered.
I felt a tiny tug on my chest. There was a lump in my throat that made it hard to swallow.
A curious chill crawled on my skin. There was a pool of heat in my stomach.
'What is this feeling?'
Thank you was the least I could expect.
"I know I would've been shot if it weren't for you."
He took my hands and pinned them on top of my head. I didn't know how to deal with the suggestive position we had on the couch.
Him, being this close to me, was so intoxicating that I couldn't even think of anything else.
"I'm not going to ask what you were doing there," he said. "I'm not going to ask everything that's bothering me right now."
"Neuron, I--"
I couldn't think properly. I couldn't even finish one freaking sentence.
"Your heroism... did that make me trust you?" he asked rhetorically. "No, not completely, at least."
I bit my lower lip. I was nervous and I didn't know why!
"But you…" he dragged his eyes seductively to my lips, "kissing me in that alley, was enough to make me crazy. So you're paying."
Before I could even ask what he meant by paying, he crashed his lips on mine. I wanted to keep my eyes open, but damn it! It was fucking impossible to resist him.
He played with my tongue with his, and it made me delirious.
The way his mouth moved...
The feel of his hands pinning my hands over my head and his warmth.
It was a sensual combination I wished for but also didn't wish to have again. Because if I did, I would forget the very reason why I was seeing this man.
--
It was past 2 am. After that hot kiss we shared on the couch, I borrowed his shower room. He told me he would ask someone to bring some clothes for me, so I took my lovely time staying in the shower.
The bathroom was majestic!
The bathtub was beside the glass window. You could stay there, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the outside view.
Above the window, two wind chimes were dangling. Every time the wind blew, it created such a beautiful sound.
In the corner of the room, the shower was glass-walled. If I stayed in the tub while Neuron took a shower, I would literally see everything. As in everything.
'Wait! What am I thinking?!'
I reprimanded myself by slapping my face lightly.
After I showered, I overheard him from his room. He was talking to someone on the phone.
"My suspicions are never wrong, Michael. Alright. Deal with this quietly," he said to Michael, who I supposed was the one he was conversing with.
I never heard him talk again, so I assumed the call was over. I went out of the shower wearing his bathrobe.
Only to find out he was still there.
He winked at me and gave me a perverted look from head to toe. This jerk!
"What a sight for sore eyes, Ma'am."
"Shut up!"
He laughed out of amusement.
He handed me a paper bag. "Wear this for now. You can sleep here, I'll be outside."
Before I could whine, he had already left the room.
'So we're not sleeping together? Wow. What a gentleman after what he did to me on the couch.'
He shut the door when he left. As for me, I had a call to make.
I ran towards the door and locked it. To my surprise, he was still outside.
"Lady, did you just lock me out of my own room?"
I jumped up in surprise when he spoke.
"Don't worry, I won't take a sneaky peek," he teased.
I turned my eyes upward at his mischievousness.
I leaned in my ears on the door. When I thought he was already gone, I took my phone and called Isagani.
"You almost killed the prince!" I screamed in a hushed voice as soon as he took my call.
I glanced at the door instantly. I had to be careful so that Neuron wouldn't hear me.
"That was the prince?" Isagani responded out of shock.
"You know we can't kill him. Not yet, at least."
"We were worried about you. We can't reach you and--"
"I'm fine," I cut him off. "How about the team? And the bank? What happened?"
"We secured the funds for the camp."
I sighed in relief. "What was that shattering sound we heard? And why can't we connect to them?"
"The bank had a more sophisticated security system than we expected. When the system noticed intrusion, it killed off any signal from any device in its vicinity, and they had to break the glass door to get out because all doors were completely shut."
"That was reckless! It was clear on the mission to never make a sound. Look what happened! The prince happened to be there! He happened to hear that sound! And if I didn't distract him, we could've all been in custody for robbery!"
"Are you sure he just happened to be there?"
What Isagani said instantly made me stop.
"The probability of that being true is very low. Paul, there's no way he could've been there without reason. The bank is not even on the main road, so why would he happen to pass by there?"
'What is he implying? That the prince knew about the heist? That's absurd!'
"He said he came from a friend's house," I defended.
"And you believed him?"
I couldn't answer. His question hung on my mind for a moment.
"I can't talk for long. I'll be back in the camp if I can, first thing in the morning."
I ended the call without waiting for his response.
Neuron said he came from a friend's house.
'Was I too quick to believe that?'
I stared at the paper bag he gave me. I had this peculiar feeling that I was plunging myself into trouble.
--
I only had a two-hour sleep. I intentionally woke up earlier to leave without his knowledge.
When I opened the window curtain in his room, the city was already alive but still dark.
I went outside of his bedroom only to find him sleeping so uncomfortably on the couch. He was taller than the couch. He bent his body so he could fit on the couch.
Anyone could look carefree and vulnerable when sleeping. Including him.
I covered him with a blanket.
"Thanks for the bed. I still have your slippers, so I'll use that as an excuse to see you again."
I was about to leave when he suddenly grabbed my hand. When I looked at him, his eyes were still closed.
I tried to get his hands off me, but then he spoke.
"Have breakfast with me."
He opened his eyes and gazed at me.
"I need to get home." I refused.
"You will. After breakfast," firmly he said.
I gritted my teeth. Stubborn man!
