Chapter 7

• “Are you out of your mind?” Isabelle moved away from him. Luke had his eyes on her. He couldn’t stop her when she arose again, “If you are joking then I don’t think that was funny!” she added and his eyes narrowed.
• "What made you think that I am joking?" he grated.
• He had the sudden urge to curse. He was willing to do anything just to have her but it seemed that whatever he said or did, she always showed or say her disapproval. In her eyes, he couldn’t do anything right.
• "Back at the university you said regarded me as your future girlfriend and now your wife? You don’t even know what you are saying. Just take me home!”
• She started to walk away from him and that was when Luke had it. He kicked the cooler and cursed angrily. The poor thing flew a few meters away. He could no longer contain his anger. He was pissed big time. It was his first time to do cheesy things like these because of Isabelle but she didn’t seem to appreciate any of his efforts. He took off his cap and threw it onto the ground violently. He furiously brushed his hair with his fingers. When he turned to look at Isabelle and saw her face, he came back to his senses. She was pale and horror was evident in her lovely eyes. She was staring at the cooler which landed with a loud thud and was now broken. Food was scattered. The container with the salad which he asked the resort’s chef to prepare for them was also damaged.
• F*CK! He cursed under his breath.
• He should have had more control of his temper. He really scared the hell out of her. With a heavy sigh, he slowly walked to her. She looked shocked and she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the wasted food. He was even able to envelop her in his arms without her protesting.
• "Sorry if I scared you my Isabelle. I am very sorry," he whispered against the top of her head as he inhaled her hair.
• (in the car)
• Luke was taking her home. Isabelle hadn’t said a word. She couldn’t forget what happened in the nipa hut. She was taken aback when she heard a loud crash. When she turned around, she saw Luke was kicking the cooler like a madman. He looked so pissed and she felt very afraid of him.
• "Babe…” he called her but she didn't look at him.
• She didn’t stop him from calling her ‘babe’. She didn’t want to anger him again. She had to stay away from him but she shouldn’t be too obvious. He was so scary when he was furious. She knew that he was pissed because he couldn't get what he wanted with her. She had been rejecting him since they met and he didn’t like that. He didn’t expect that a woman like her would say no to him. He should know by now that she wasn’t crazy about his good looks and money.
• "I'm really sorry. It’s very difficult for me to do all these but I am trying. I am doing my best to show you how important you are to me so please my Isabelle, don’t reject me like this."
• This time, she looked at him. His eyes were on the road so she could only see his right profile.
• "I am not the right woman for you so please stop this,” she pleaded. He threw her a glance and he had a heavy frown, "And I have big dreams for me and my grandmother. I have to finish college and find a good job. I can’t be in a relationship right now,” she added and Luke pulled over.
• "Why are we stopping? It’s almost 5 p.m." she reminded him.
• "You can study in Manila. I will take care of everything. I will also get a house for your grandmother there. I will also hire a housekeeper for her. She doesn’t need to work. I will take care of everything,” he said sounding serious.
• She frowned, "We don’t need your help," she said coldly.
• "Babe, I am more willing to do that. I want to take care of you and your grandmother.” Luke didn’t really know what was happening to him. He felt protective and very possessive towards her. Isabelle sighed heavily. She evaded making a comment about what he said.
• "Just drive me home please. I don’t want my grandmother to get worried,” she murmured as she looked outside the window so she didn’t see when Luke clenched his fists which were on the steering wheel. His face looked grim. He gritted his teeth to stop himself from uttering a foul word and just started driving again.
• ***
• "I'm sorry Isabelle. I feel sad because just one more year and you will graduate already,” Mrs. Dominguez, the head of the university said.
• "B-but why is the organization cancelling my scholarship?” she asked.
• The older woman shrugged her shoulders, "They didn’t say why. I am sorry Miss dela Vega."
• She just nodded and said thank you in a small voice before leaving.
• ***
• She and Joyce were sitting on one of the benches in the university. She just told her friend about her scholarship.
• "What?! They didn’t even say why? Your efforts will just go to waste if you can’t enroll next year!”
• "It is what it is. I can get a part-time job and still continue college. I know my grandmother will protest but I know in time, she will understand.”
• Joyce sighed, “ We both know you can’t do that. We have so many activities this year and next year. A part-time job is out of the question.”
• Isabelle bit her bottom lip before saying, “I can manage. Don’t worry.”
• “Do you want to work for my mom?”
• She shook her head. She didn’t want her friend’s mom to fire someone just to give her a job. Joyce sighed then tapped her chin with her forefinger as she thought.
• "I have an idea! It's perfect! You can be my brother’s assistant! I am sure that he will pay you like a regular employee though you will only work part-time! Let me call him now!” Joyce said excitedly.
• "No don’t! I don’t want him to pay me without me doing a real job!”
• Joyce rolled her eyes, “Duh? My brother won’t mind! I am sure he would say yes instantly!”
• "I said no and I mean no! We better go now of we’ll be late for class!”
• (After an hour and a half)
• Joyce was about to leave the university when she saw Luke outside the gate. He seemed to be waiting for someone as he leaned on his car. He straightened when he saw her. He flashed his wonderful smile and called her.
• "Are you waiting for Isabelle?" she asked as she walked to him.
• He nodded, "I thought you were together. Where is she?”
• "She said I should go ahead. She is talking to Mrs. Dominguez about her scholarship. She was hoping she could help her talk to the head of the organization.”
• "What organization?” Luke asked.
• Joyce sighed, “The organization who gave her the scholarship. They suddenly withdrew their support. I am actually going to talk to my brother to help Isabelle. She can’t stop her studies now. Only a year more before our graduation. She can’t have a part-time job to be honest. We have our hands full with school work already but my brother will take care of everything so Isabelle can continue studying."
• Luke frowned heavier. His jaws clenched, "You don't have to do that. I will take care of this. I need your little help though," he said in a clipped tone.
• Joyce nodded as she listened to Luke while he continued speaking.
• ***
• Isabelle just got out of the office. She felt so sad and depressed though Mrs. Dominguez assured her that she would do her best to get her scholarship back. She didn’t know how to tell her grandmother. She couldn’t afford to stop college now. She sighed. She promised herself that she would find a way to continue studying. Her forehead creased upon seeing Luke. She wished that the university had a back gate so she could avoid this man however hot-looking he was. He was in a black shirt again but without the cap and sunglasses. He was talking to someone on the phone before he noticed her.
• Luke's eyes narrowed when he saw Isabelle heading for the gate. She had her hair in a ponytail. She looked very pretty in her uniform. She was wearing a white long-sleeves top and black pencil cut skirt.
• "She will be there tomorrow morning," he informed the person on the on the other line on as his eyes were on his Isabelle.
• He cursed when he saw her almost ran out of the gate and hailed a mini bus.
• You can't get away from me my Isabelle! He thought as he got in his car to run after her.