SET UP
1161 Words
CHAPTER 21: SET UP
“So, how was it for the first timer?” Jane teases her, when they finally went back to their seat.
“Never been good!” Italia exclaimed, grinning. “I have never enjoyed life as much as I did earlier!” She honestly say.
It is the truth. She never had. During her early years, all her attention has been focus to Gustav. It is him that matters to her the most, although his eyes are already owned by somebody else. Italia just couldn’t help herself no matter how many times he pushed her. No matter how much he gets mad. She’ll find herself finding a way to get closer at him more.
But things are different now.
It’s far more different for that old Italia Mercedes. She isn’t naive anymore. She isn’t that lovesick girl, whom she used to be.
“Hey, are you alright?” Jane may have notice she sudden changes of her expression.
“No, I’m perfectly fine.” She shook her head and smiled. “The drink maybe working on me.” She chuckled.
“Oh really?” Jane averted her eyes to two empty glass of Margarita and settled her mind. She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe! Like mostly it does—”
But her words has been cut off, when a couple of guys showed up in front of them.
“Hey ladies.” One smiled at them.
They look nice...and spoiled. Italia thought, but it wasn’t new to her. She can differentiate whose wealthy by name and by their father’s money.
“Hey, Jake!” Jane grins.
The one she called Jake was a tall man. He was masculine, and he has a flawless skin, but even so, Gustav was more handsome than him.
Italia stopped.
Why is she even thinking of that man? Tch. After the confrontation earlier and the fact
“It seems like you ladies are alone—”
“Not exactly.” It was Zamiel, and he doesn’t looks happy.
“Opps, my bad.” Jake chuckled and apologise.
Jane rolled her eyes.
“Quit being a kill joy, Zam.” She warned him.
Zamiel did not speak.
Jake scratched his nape, “Are we bothering you?”
“Nope, it’s alright. Don’t mind him.” Jane reassured him. “So what’s up? Care for a dance?”
“If you wanted to, and—” Jake’s eyes averted from her to Italia. “—your friend. May I ask your name?”
Jake was smiling, but Italia felt uncertain. Jane may have known the man, but because she did not, she is not as comfortable as she is around them.
“It’s Italia.” It was Jane who answered for her. “And she’s free—”
“No.” Italia immediately shook her head.
“Why not?” The latter asked, even Jane was eyeing her with curiosity.
“Err...” Italia didn’t know what to say.
How can she tell them her reason, when the world doesn’t even know about it?
“She’s off limits.” It was Zamiel who stood up for her. His eyes are dead serious. This is the first time that Italia saw him in a straight face as if he didn’t know how to smile. “So back off—”
“Zamiel Erik Salvador!” Jane couldn’t help her annoyance.
She is no fool. She is not blind, certainly. How can she not notice that Zamiel has been siding to Italia ever since? It is the first time she meet the woman. It isn’t actually a coincidence just like what she’s thinking, but she had been following Zamiel. Stalking him, and the places he go. That doesn’t mean they had been arrange together, then she was totally against it.
Jane has been admiring him. Long before she kno she was. It just started with jealousy until this moment.
Zamiel was getting on her nerves and Italia was adding fuel to the fire.
“I don’t know what’s your problem, but you are not her father. She can decided what she wanted-“ She crossed her arms, scowling. Mad by the fact that he is choosing Italia over her. “We are just enjoying ourselves, can’t you see it?”
“I can see it.” Zamiel’s jaw clenched. Irritation was also seen on his face.. “But I was entrusted by her and I’ll go against everything that I felt like might not do any good to her.”
“Don’t give me that crap!”
“You don’t want this crap?” Zamiel isn’t holding back his patience. “Then we’re leaving.”
“What?”
“Your heard me, were leaving.” Zamiel stood up and grab Italia by the wrist. “Let’s go, Italia.”
“I’m sorry.” Italia didn’t have a choice the moment he pulled her.
Left with Jake, Jane could only state at their silhouette disappearing from sight and their entertained hands or so she thought, because she was envious.
Damn that b***h! Blinded, she spat out.
“Ow, seems like your friend said no, so what about you—”
“Just get the hell out of my face, jerks!” She yelled, screaming with fury.
“Chill.” Jake chuckled, he raised both of his arms in defence before urging his company to tailed him, amused by the sudden turn of events.
How entertaining. He thought. My, I never knew that Italia was rather amusing than I expected her to be.
“I’m sorry about that.” Jake soon apologise once inside the car. “I’m just worried and those guys and Jane, it seems like you were uncomfortable at them.”
“It’s aright.” She smiled at him. “It isn’t your fault.”
“Yeah, so I guess I can send you home.” Zamiel chuckled. “Gustav would have certainly killed me now, because it was late already.”
“I’ll explain it to him.” Italia reassured him.
“Thanks, but before we go, can I ask for a favor?” Zamiel faced her from the driver seat.
“What is it?”
“Can I give you a hug?”
“Ha?”
But he didn’t waited. Slowly, Zamiel wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her closer. She could feel his warmth and the soft rhythm of his chest that was thumping a little quicker. Erratically beating, but she pay no heed
“I’m...” Zamiel closed his eyes as Italia did. “I’m really glad that you are okay.”
“Thank you, Zam.”
But unbeknownst to the pair, they are not alone at that moment.
A camera flash was soon heard from the distant, taking a couple of photographs that were surprised the mass in no time.
The person chuckled, satisfied, “Oh my, when I think of how I can ruin you come finally.”
- Writer
