CH 13

The sun has set but the party was still ongoing, most people have now been sitting around the living room as they watched a few films of Zel's childhood. Photo albums from when he was a baby were being handed out and the people laughed and smiled as Mel and Tommy were sharing embarrassing stories of Zel that would have caused him to feel more than a little humiliated. But he wasn't there anymore.

Zel was now accompanied by Emilia as he went towards a direction. She had no idea where it lead to. Wild thoughts appeared on Emilia's head in response to the words Zel spoke to her beforehand.

"I have something in my room I want to show you, follow me." Zel took her hand while she just followed him. Feeling no resistance, Zel sped up a little too much causing Emilia's breathing to became labored. Zel headed upstairs with Emilia behind him. Her fair skin turning crimson from the tense atmosphere between them.

'I mean, It's his parents' house right? He wouldn't do it here right?' Emilia had no experience with the other sex, at least in terms of intimate relationships. All she knew about dating were from the movies and tv shows she watches from time to time.

'He's probably going to push me down when we get to his room! I have to resist him but can I? Do I want to?'

Zel was thinking about how to tell her how he feels, how he sees himself and who he wants to be for her. A real confession that they would be able to go back to, so that even when things get hard, she would know and I would keep my promise.

He opened the room and saw that it was as he remembered. The bed he had used ever since he could remember owning this room. The desk he had cried on day after day trying to hide the fact that he was tired of it all. The mirror behind his door that he used to hate because he hated how he looked.

But that's all behind him now, that was him. But he's different now. He's taken care of it all, even the things that seemed impossible. He found a way.

Zel took a deep breath while arranging the thoughts so he could express feelings clearly. Then he saw that she was moving far away from, like a trapped animal. And he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hey! Why are you laughing?" Emilia held onto her dress tightly in embarrassment as being laughed at was never something she liked experiencing.

"You're too cute, that's why." Zel just waved his hand in dismissal as he really meant it. The Emilia he knew was already the able to stand tall by herself, an independent woman. Seeing her in this state made him feel he was seeing a whole new side of her. And he loved it.

"Bully! At least I'm not a beast!"

"Beast? What are you..."

Zel was wondering why laughing when seeing her act so cute made him a beast. It's not like he did something wrong by taking her into his room or something. Alone together with him. With the doors locked.

"So what were you planning- hey!" Emilia saw Zel's face was filled with confusion until eventually landing into one of glee as he laughed even louder than before.

"Hahaha, I'm sorry ok? Were you expecting something from me?" Zel stood closer to Emilia who was now by the side of the bed, though he thinks she didn't mean to do it intentionally. He was giving her his famous smile, the smile of a gentleman that wouldn't hurt a fly.

But to Emilia, this was a dangerous smile, too captivating. He was leaning closer to her and Emilia could do nothing but close her eyes. But her expectations were disappointed.

"Well? What do you want me to do?"

Emilia opened her closed eyes only to see that he was now directly in front of her. His nose was touching hers while their lips were only a few centimeters apart. Her indignation from having her expectations betrayed were making her stop thinking rationally. She kissed him first.

"!!!" Zel was taken by surprise because he had no idea what this version of Emilia would be like in situations like this. Originally, they were only going to meet when both were at their graduation ceremony. He heard her name being called out while she heard his. That would have been it if it weren't for the fact that Zel was invited by his friends to take dinner together, and she was part of the group.

This was a new experience, something original to the him now and the her in this life. He wondered if he was too hasty with his actions since he was considering her as his before they even met. He was too selfish, too possessive. But the thoughts vanished like smoke when he felt these soft lips. The taste of her made him feel home and his hands went somewhere he was used to doing.

"Ughh..." But familiar though he was, Emilia was having the time of her life. His body gave out a heat she never thought could ever come from someone's touch, much less a man she didn't even recognize if he didn't come to her first. He was so forward, so open. She loved that about him.

Zel didn't think about the system, the man who killed him, or even the possibility that the world as he knows it might end less than a year. He only thought about her, the heat he felt in his hands, of how soft her body is. But he was human, and humans needed to breathe.

" Pant. Pant. " Two bodies were now on top of each other. One was sitting at the edge of a bed while the other sat on the other while her legs wrapped around his waist. Both were panting while looking at each other's eyes and said nothing. They didn't need words anymore, they felt it. Something good.

" Bang. Bang. " It was only a few minutes later that they stopped their new favorite experience, because someone knocked on the door.

"Big brother! People are leaving and they want to say goodbye!" Mae's voice sounded out from outside the room. She would have opened the door if he had left it open. Good thing he didn't.

"I'll be downstairs in a second!"

Emilia was about to stand up when she felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist. She knew what it meant and she hugged him back. She didn't know why it was but she felt his care, his attention, his love. She knows that she can't explain how or even why, but that's something she didn't need to prove to anyone. She believes it, that's all that matters.

There's that too but she didn't want it to be the reason why.

"I never pegged you for the initiative type." Zel gave her a hug while he placed his head just above her shoulder.

"It's your fault for teasing me, it's not like you didn't plan this in the first place." Emilia leaned back to look him in the eyes as if she was daring him. Telling him to take her seriously with her eyes.

Zel let go of the hug first, prompting Emilia to loosen her embrace as well, though it was done reluctantly. She didn't get to voice her complaint when she felt his lips over hers again, just for a second.

"I didn't, but I'm glad we did." Zel saw that look though and this was his answer.

"Yeah, me too." Emilia was about to try and hold his hand when she felt his hold hers first.

"Let's go! people would start to get jealous."

"Jealous? You mean suspicious?" Emilia pointed at her wrinkled shirt and his ruffled hair and laughed.

"Oh, they already know. My sister didn't have to tell us about them leaving when I've already said that we will get some drinks later."

"So, she knew!?" Emilia let go of his hand while straightening her blouse. She looked at his hair for a moment before deciding to fix that too.

"Not only does she know, she probably told everyone already"

"Kyaaa! But!" Emilia was now hiding her face behind her hands but someone placed their hand over her head.

"Don't worry about that, it's not like we did something illegal."

"Um, yeah, nothing bad." Now that she thought about it, they were adults doing adult stuff. She's an adult, isn't she?

"I only got to touch your butt a li-"

" Pack ." Emilia hit Zel's arm before he had the chance to finish his sentence. This only made Zel's grin wider though which caused Emilia more ire.

"Don't speak about that anywhere you please!"

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry. Anyway, you only put your legs aro-"

" Smack ." Zel rubbed the arm that was hit by a punch from Emilia. She snorted at him before heading down before him. Zel couldn't help but chuckle while the enjoyment from the hot scene was still lingering on in his mind.

'It's too early.'

Zel had taken her as if she was the same woman who had given to him her heart. But she wasn't, and she will never be her. This was someone else, and yet she was the same. The only thing he needs to do is to give her his heart and hope that things go well. He might get hurt, but the moments like before were more than enough for him to risk having a broken heart.

When he reached the first floor, he saw that some of his friends were already wearing their jackets and was only waiting for him. He did tell them to prepare for a celebration at his house, planning to empty some of his hidden treasures like the expensive rum, whiskey and tequila he had kept on his top shelf.

They were just about to leave when police sirens were heard from across the street where a pair of officers were holding down a man wearing a black hoodie. One officer was on the ground while holding on to another officer who had his shoulder cut open.

"Let go you bastards, I didn't do anything!" The man being arrested weakly fought back the restraints but his efforts gave him no reward.

"You just stabbed an officer! You have the right to remain silen…"

Zel was not surprised with how things were playing out in front of him, but the others were surprised. It was especially so when an officer who had just taken Ray into the back seat of one car came over to greet Zel.

"Your report was true, that man was a dangerous fellow. He even had some contraband weapons on his person, resulting in one of our officers getting hurt. Still, if you hadn't warned us of his capabilities then things might have gotten much worse."

Officer Martinez was pointing at his brother, Officer Martinez who was giving them a thumbs up with his uninjured arm while another officer tried to stop his bleeding shoulder.

"I'm just glad we've taken care of that bastard, pass on my gratitude to Director Willems. I know that his trust was the reason you guys came over."

"Of course, with your track record, we couldn't just disregard it when you tell us a man who might just hurt someone was stalking you." Officer Martinez gave Zel a pat on the shoulder as he headed back to his squad car.

"Take care officer, thanks for the hard work. You guys, you guys are the real heroes." Zel gave the man his salutations as he watched Ray get inside the car without ever realizing who done him in. It was him of course.

"You take care too, Zel. Oh, and a happy birthday to you." Officer Martinez just waved his hand without looking back.

"Thank you!" Zel went to his parked car and saw that three pairs of eyes were on him. Karl, Tina and Emilia who were close enough were able to hear the entirety of the conversation and felt their spines tingle from what they just heard.

"That guy was stalking you dude? Why didn't you tell me?" Karl was waving his arms around as if he was trying to move the air.

"Oh my god! That scary guy was stalking you?" Tina was holding her head in confusion as she wondered how much danger Zel was in.

"Are you ok Zel?" Emilia only cared about how he was feeling as she held his hand as if it was the most natural thing to do. Zel held it tightly of course.

One was angry he didn't ask for help, another was curious while the last one was just concerned. Three people were flabbergasted with his reply. Not because of his words but because of the confidence that can be heard from his voice. Instead of just being something to calm them down, it was more like he was just telling a statement.

"Don't worry about that guy, he won't be able to hurt me."

'Not anymore.'