Shay drove like her body was on fire. Her heart beat erratically in her chest, the adrenaline too much for her to process. Juan's call made her panic.
Freya! Why didn't her friend give her a call before making a stop there? Why didn't she inform her about her arrival? What happened to her?
She had so many questions she needed answers to. She parked the car and ran through the reception hall straight for the elevator.
The security personnel could hardly get through a word of greeting before she disappeared behind the closed doors.
Her feet tapped impatiently, the usually fast elevator now moving painfully slow. Freya meant a lot to her. If there was someone she considered a soulmate, it would be the girl who was always with her through it all. Her best friend whom she considered dearer than her biological Kins.
The sudden ding from the elevator broke her train of thought. She wobbled towards the door, her sweaty hand punching in the passcode. The panic and anxiety was evident on her features as her trembling feet made their way towards the sleeping figure. She ignored her brother, her gaze scanning for any injury on the girl.
Once she was certain that Freya was externally unharmed, she heaved a sigh of relief, finally peeling her gaze off of her. She turned around, gulping nervously, unsure of what her brother would say to her.
As she opened her mouth ready to question the man, his sharp glare cut her short. The finger resting on his lips was a clear enough instruction to shut her up.
Feeling the last bit of his patience slipping away, Juan stood up and approached his squatting sister. He forcefully grabbed her elbow and dragged her out of the room heading for the bedroom. Once the door was shut, he let go of her, his gaze accusatory.
"Explain!" It was enough to wake her from the daze she had fallen into. The underlying irritation she felt when he dragged her threatened to surface but slowly simmered when she recalled the girl sleeping in the next room.
Juan disliked other people in his space. Especially when the said person was a stranger. One that endangers his heart and wakes emotions in him that he never wished to touch on.
She swallowed, trying to calm her racing heart. "Brother, I don't know. All I can assume is that Freya came to the first familiar place she felt was secure enough for her.
Her migraines normally last for hours at least or could go as long as a week. Since we used to hang out here a lot before, this was where she chose to be. She is the friend I told you about before. I am sorry."
That was all she could tell her brother. She couldn't blame her friend for coming here. This apartment was basically like a second home to the girl. She would stay here every time her parents were at home.
Once again, Shay was taken back to the past when they were teenagers in their rebellious phase.
While she reminisced about the past. Juan was lost in his own thoughts too. Freya, he called the name in his head, repeating it like a mantra. It sounded noble and classy.
Sweet and suitable for the angel lying on his couch outside. He wondered how the name would sound rolling off of his lips.
She was the first one to come back to reality following the deafening silence between them. Her gaze strayed towards her brother, taking note of the dark circles under his eyes, his messily brushed hair and the fire burning in his orbs.
She finally felt that something was amiss with his situation. The protectiveness she rarely harbored took root. Before she controls it, her mouth spat out the thoughts she had.
"Brother, did you take advantage of her? Did you hurt her? "
He snapped back to reality and scrawled at her. Did he do something to her? He should be offended that his sister asked him such a question. However, he took a few seconds to think about it.
He had wanted to do a lot to her if she was willing and well. It was even hard for him to look away and pay attention to anything else when she was present in the room. Was that what she meant?
"Of course! I took care of her. Now that you've confirmed her ailment, I am glad I administered some drugs. When she wakes, ask her to seek medical attention if she hasn't yet. And if she has, then she should consult her physician. I reckon that you are familiar with this since you didn't seem too surprised."
He watched her breath out in relief and rolled his eyes at her. His sister never doubted him before despite her distaste for his womanizing ways.
Although she always voiced her opinion, she neither disrespected him nor stopped loving him. If he could say so himself, he was her friend to an extent. The two siblings were closer than most siblings out there. Or so he thought.
Juan could understand her worry as well. Freya was a very sexually appealing woman whose charm oozed from every pore. She was seduced by simply breathing.
He could say this because he was a victim too. He didn't even know the woman but he already wished to bed her.
Deep down, he was certain that bedding her wasn't the only thing he wished to do to her. Therefore, he made up his mind to bury any sort of feeling that she evoked in him by creating a distance between them. Feeling the bitterness raised in his heart, he decided to make a move first since the girl; needed to rest.
"Listen, she wakes after a few hours. Take care of her and while you are at it, get her out of my space. I don't want to see either of you here again. Let this be the first and last time that this happens. " His tone came off rude and aggressive, making Shay pout in disapproval.
He turned around uncaring for her as his feelings overwhelmed him. Shay stood rooted to the ground watching him leave. Juan walked away, afraid that sticking around would further hold him prisoner. He shut off the tiny voice in his head that urged him to look back one more time.
As he stood near the door ready to walk out, his feet felt heavy as though glued to the ground. His gaze involuntarily turned towards the sleeping figure. The softness in them was not known to him as he let his lips stretch into a sad smile.
"Goodbye, angel. I hope I don't meet you again." He opened the door and walked out.
A few hours later, Freya woke up with a groan. Her eyelids were no longer as heavy as they had been. The throbbing in her head was replaced by a dull aftereffect. Her neck ached from lying in the same position for hours. She sat up gingerly, feeling irked at her body.
Although the migraine was gone, the grogginess remained. She looked around, noticing the small details she had previously missed. Her luggage was no longer haphazardly thrown around. It sat orderly in a conspicuous corner.
Her mind recalled the sultry sound she heard previously. She couldn't tell whether she was dreaming or if it was real. The reassuring manly voice that soothed her and made her feel safe was stuck in her head. His scent had filled her space, making it easier to let go. Now that she was fully conscious, she couldn't help but frown at the oddity in her behavior.
Never in her entire life had she let go completely before a stranger until now. She felt a sense of crisis settle in her heart before her gaze searched around looking for her savior.
A manly scent hangs around in the air, mixed in with the familiar fragrance that belonged to... she snapped out of her daze, face turning sharply as her gaze met familiar once.
She winced at the sourness of her neck and the stiffness in her body. Her gaze collided with warm pools of brown. The worry, love and longing in them elicited a whimper out of her lips. She stood up albeit her shaking legs, almost tripping over her feet making a run towards the quickly approaching figure.
Two warm bodies embraced with a familiarity akin to that of loved ones meeting for the first time in a long time. Their arms were woven protectively around each other, feeling the air with a rare kind of affection and love. Two distinct whimpers echoed in the room. This was home. They were home in each other's presence.
Neither spoke, afraid of breaking the magical tranquility that befell them. Sadly, they couldn't embrace much longer either. Freya's body was still weak and her head felt dizzy from the sudden movement. She sighed, gently helping her friend back to her original spot.
The momentary forgotten heaviness almost made her black out but she was able to stay awake a while longer.
She watched her for a while, a hand resting on the other's forehead. "Does your head hurt? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Let me get you a warm glass of water and something to eat. I can see the exhaustion on your face. We can talk later. Let me take care of you now."
Freya nodded gratefully. The uncomfortable feeling in her throat was more apparent now. She was afraid to speak out before soothing it. Shay focused on caring for her friend first before feeding her curiosity. Once Freya was full after consuming the warm porridge, she quietly thanked Shay before closing her eyes.
This time around, she could truly let down her guard completely. She was safe. She fell asleep, holding Shay's hand letting the drowsiness take over.
The question she had in her mind remind there. It was the last thing she thought about before she was completely immersed in a deep peaceful slumber. 'Who was he?'