Chapter 7 – Knight

• “Can’t you just make time? You're my only grandchild and you still haven’t visited me here.” That was the pleading tone of her grandmother, Gloria.
• She was in their province in San Marcelino. Her grandmother had a flower farm there where she got her supply of flowers, so she still had some income. She got a big discount from her grandmother.
• Mhia was raised by her grandmother alone. Her parents died when she was still young. Both of them were sick, with barely two years between their deaths. Her mother had a heart condition, while her father had a liver problem. Her mother passed away first. Maybe her father couldn’t handle it, so he followed soon after.
• Her grandmother had three daughters, but only her mother got married. Her two aunts chose to remain single. She didn’t know the reason, but she saw that they were happy with the lives they chose.
• That’s why she couldn’t deny her conservative side. She grew up under the care of her grandmother and aunts— who weren’t strict, but always reminded her of what a woman should and shouldn’t do, which she still carries with her to this day. However, there was one time she forgot it.
• She quickly shook her head when the image of that man appeared in her mind. She was heartbroken just recently, but whenever she remembered what they did and what he was doing inside the elevator, she got annoyed.
• “Mhia... are you still there?” her grandmother’s voice came from the other line.
• “Yes. Maybe I’ll be home in a week, Nana. I still have a lot of work to finish here,” she said before leaning back on her chair.
• She was in her office. She was alone there, waiting for the flower deliveries to arrive.
• “In that case, I won’t accept your orders so you won’t have any work,” her grandmother said.
• “Nana...” she protested with a laugh. Her grandmother really was persistent. She wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted.
• “If you’re thinking about work, I can give you plenty to do here. Why did you even think of putting up a flower shop in Manila? You could just do it here with us. We could also put up a flower shop here if you want. I could be your investor,” her grandmother encouraged her.
• “Oh, Nana. That’s why I miss you. Your jokes always make me laugh.” She just shook her head.
• “That’s it. If you miss me, why don’t you visit me here tomorrow? Your aunts were pestering me here. They don’t want me to do work on the flower farm. They’re making me useless, even though I can still work,” her grandmother complained to her.
• “Well, sometimes you’re also stubborn. You know it’s forbidden for you to tire yourself out because your blood pressure rises, yet you still push through it. Auntie Pillar must be really upset that’s why she’s scolding you.” She was referring to her eldest aunt.
• “And if I don’t work, my blood pressure will rise even more! Come on, just go home,” she begged her like a child.
• Mhia just scratched her head. “I promised, I’ll go home next week. Not today, please?” She was the one who begged now. And when that happened, she always won.
• She heard her grandmother sigh. “What can I do? Anyway, I’ll be expecting you here next week. I have someone to introduce to you.”
• Her eyebrows raised. “And who’s that?”
• “Just . . . someone I knew! Not like that crazy boyfriend of yours,” she said.
• Her grandmother knew what had happened to her. She didn’t have anyone else to talk to about it. And when she heard everything, she wanted to rush over there immediately. Good thing she restrained herself, because Cendrick might not just get slapped on his face. He might lose all his happiness.
• Her grandmother was good at taekwondo. In fact, she was a black belter back in the day.
• “Okay, Nana. The delivery is here. I’ll call you again tomorrow,” she said when she heard a car stop outside.
• “Okay, dear. Take care there. But remember, even if that Cendrick hurts you, don’t forget to believe in love. The right person who will love you completely will come to you eventually.”
• She just smiled. Even though she was hurting, when she heard how pessimistic her grandmother was, hope still remained in her heart. That someday, someone would love her truly. No pretentions at all. And not someone who would hurt her.
• “Yes, Nana. Take care too with aunties.” After hanging up the phone, she immediately looked outside. She was surprised to see someone standing by the doorsteps of her office. If she didn’t cover her mouth immediately, she might have screamed earlier.
• “What are you doing here?” she asked with gritted teeth.
• “I was hoping if we could talk,” Cendrick said. He looked like he lost someone. His hair was messy, and his clothes were disheveled.
• “No. So, please, just leave,” she stated.
• She was about to go out when he grabbed her arm and cornered her against the door. He put his hands on both sides, allowing her not to move an inch.
• “W-what are you doing?” Anxiety started rising in her chest. The sadness in his eyes disappeared. It was replaced by desire.
• He looked at her chest like she was covered with nothing. “I know that you are not a virgin anymore. You f*ck a guy to get even with me.” Anger was evident in his voice.
• She gasped. Her lips pressed tightly together. Even without him saying it, she knew it was Tiffany who told him about it.
• She pushed him, but he was stronger than her. He pressed his lower body against hers to immobilize her.
• “You deprived me for so long, and yet someone else will benefit from you? You just give yourself to someone else like that! Why, Mhia, huh? Is he better at kissing? Is he better at pleasing you than I am?”
• She managed to free her one hand and slapped him hard.
• “You have no right to accuse me about anything! Because you were the one who cheated on me first! You’re the one who repeatedly hurt me. So, why would I bother explaining myself when you are the one who ruined our relationship long before, huh!” She pushed him hard again. He lost his balance and stumbled against the door jamb.
• His eyes glared at her, before he grabbed her arm. She looked outside, it was dark and there were no people around her shop to ask for help.
• “What? Looking for someone who could help you?” His question was sarcastic. “No one will help you.” And he pulled her back into her office. He roughly pushed her onto her desk. The edge dug into her back, making her wince.
• She wasn’t prepared for what he did next. He attacked her with punishment kisses. He seemed to change suddenly. It was like he was possessed and eagerly bit her lip when she fought.
• She punched him in the chest as she tried to break free, but Cendrick was strong. Her muffled scream couldn’t escape her throat. He suppressed her scream using his mouth. But when he slightly pulled away to catch his breath, she bit his lip.
• “F*ck!” he exclaimed so loud after tasting the fresh blood on his lip. He raised a hand and was about to slap her, but it didn’t happen.
• They both looked at the owner of the hand that stopped Cendrick. When she recognized who was there, her tears slowly fell. She felt relieved, at the same time, scared. The strong façade she had just a while ago vanished like a bubble.
• The man behind Cendrick didn’t say a word. He just hit him hard. Cendrick fell to the floor.
• “D*mmit!” Cendrick quickly stood up. “Who are you?” His eyes were glaring at the man who just arrived. His fists were also clenched.
• “I’d rather not do that if I were you,” the man warned without flinching— that even she got goosebumps all over her body. His voice was worse than ice cold. It was just his voice, but whoever heard it, will feel like being stabbed over and over again.
• “F*ck you! Don’t meddle with us! This is a lover’s quarrel!” He wiped the blood that flowed from the nose. “F*ck!”
• “Really? I didn’t see it that way. You are harassing her.” The man approached her and looked at her closely. Anger filled his eyes when he saw her bleeding lips. “Do you want me to call a police?” he asked her sweetly. He even wiped the tears that wet his cheeks.
• She shook her head. “N-no...” she said in a weak voice.
• “You better get out of here right now, before I forget who you are,” the man said, glaring at Cendrick.
• The two locked eyes. Cendrick backed down first. But before he left, he left a word. “I’ll come back some other time. And I’ll make sure that you are going back with me, Mhia.” And he continued to leave.
• She watched him go. When he was gone, she suddenly felt weak. Her knees lost their strength and her stance became wobbly.
• “Careful,” the man beside her said, quickly catching her before she almost fell.
• Driven by fear, she wordlessly hugged him and cried on his chest.