Chapter Five
Sila walked downstairs to find Woot waiting for him at the end of it, looking at his brother questionably before walking past him to the breakfast table only to paused when he saw his mom sitting there waiting with breakfast spreading out. Sila eyed his mom silently but didn’t say anything, walking over to her he noticed a plate was set next to her left. And if he’s not mistaken that would be for his dad. Sila gave Mai a kissed on the head and took his seat with Woot glancing at his brother knowingly before pulling a chair out and sat across from him.
“I made a lot of breakfast.” Mai smiled but a smile both Sila and Woot couldn’t really identify.
Sila lifted his head to Woot but neither questioned Mai, they looked at the breakfast and it was clear most if not all were their dad’s favorite. Woot with unseen sadden eyes looked at his mom but quickly cast his eyes down at the food once she turned his way.
“They all look good,” Woot forked a piece of ham and puts it on his plate. He piled on different things until his plate was full. “I’ll just fill myself up with breakfast and skip lunch.”
Mai smiled and her eyes beamed with love for her two sons, they didn’t have to say anything, but it was clear they knew why she made all the food. There’s going to be a time when she has to let go, but today was not that time, her husband’s memories are still fresh in her mind and breakfast have been an important routine for them, gently taking a bite into a piece of grape she turned to Sila.
“When are you going to get marry?”
Woot let’s out a cough and Sila stopped in the middle of eating, laying his fork down he reached for a glass of water. “Who said I was going to?”
Woot hid his smile with each bite on what is his third piece of ham, he searched his brother’s eyes and found them to be lost in something that only Sila himself would know. Even as brothers, Sila has a sense of mystery about him and no one will get to know him completely if he doesn’t extend an invitation for them to be part of his world, it is that simple.
“Marriage isn’t for me Woot will have to fulfill that dream for you.”
Mai was never one to be discourage by Sila, her son might be a tad bit complicated in some things, but his heart remained simple to her because he is her son after all. She observed him from the top of her glass and felt a tinged of disappointment that his relationship fell apart with Lana. Not that he mentioned the downfall of it but being his mom, she knew just by his body language and of course the fact, he stopped bringing her up.
“Well, I have an appointment with some friends,” Getting up Mai walked over to Sila, planting a kiss on his head, “Love is a funny thing Sila, it happens when you least expect it. One relationship falls another blossom. You’ll see.” Before he was able to respond she walked over to Woot, “And I don’t want you to get marry until Sila does it first.” Mai and Woot both smiled at each other.
“Point taken,” Woot happily agreed.
Sila watched his mom walked out the door before turning his attention to Woot, “How’s Getz? Are things still calm?”
“Things are moving, nothing I can’t handle. The last scuffle we have was the time you showed up,” Woot shrugged. “Those people haven’t been back. Besides, the new hire has been good. He seemed to intimidate a lot of people.”
“Good, I am busy with dad’s stuff and my own. I don’t have time to look over anything on your side for a while.”
Woot almost smiled because this is the first time Sila gave him full control. Not that he can’t handle it it’s just sometimes he gets lazy knowing that Sila will be there to take over or correct his mistakes. He remembered the time when his dad asked him what he wanted to do with his life and Woot for all the things available he wanted to open a bar. Both his dad and Sila didn’t see the appeal of it though they eventually agreed and Woot has never regretted that decision. He isn’t a perfect businessman like Sila but he thinks he’s doing a decent job. It has been known all along that his brother was going to be the chosen one to take over the family’s business but Woot has never felt slighted by it.
“Don’t worry, I got it.” Woot took another bite and look at his phone. “Hey, I got to run.”
Sila cuts a piece of egg and lifted it to his mouth but before he had a chance to eat a voice interrupted him laying his fork down breakfast is officially over.
“Sila…”
Woot inched himself away from the table but his decision to leave was postponed as he watched Lana walked over, swaying her hips as if she’s walking down a runway. From time to time he had wondered how Lana and Sila managed to stay together for almost a year. She was just…different. But love is love, he guessed and continued to watch them in silent.
“What are you doing here, Lana?”
Lana didn’t detect the irritation in Sila’s voice, but since she has been trying to get a hold of him with no success, she doesn’t care what his voice sounds like she was going to make him talk to her. “I’ve called you numerous times and you didn’t answer any of my calls or visit me.”
Sila got up slowly but even with his careful movement it was enough to drag the chair along the tiled floor making a noise that vibrated in the quiet house and for some reason it made Lana uneasy. Why should it? Not like she has done anything wrong. But even when she tried to persuade herself just that, she felt a sense of guilt. Damn it, this is not easy.
He didn’t go anywhere near her instead he walked to a pot of plant, where the leaves are urgently growing and a few flowers just blossomed, with his back to her he touched a green leaf and caressed it, letting it smoothly slide between his fingers.
“Why are you acting like you don’t care about me?”
Sila heard the question that meant nothing to him. Pressing his fingers harshly on the gentle leaf he left a bruise. He made no attempt to answer.
“You can’t do this to me, I still love you.” She added the last part quickly.
A hollow declaration of love, just as the person saying it. Sila yanked on a leaf and let it fall naturally to his feet. He was never one to forgive those that took his trust for granted. And once someone broke such a valued thing to him, they will never get it back. He touched a vibrant yellow flower but glossed over it and started to pull a few more leaves, one by one it piled next to his feet, “Do you like pretending?”
“Pretending what?” She genuinely sounded confused.
Woot intently observed Sila. He doesn’t have to see the entire thing play out he knew where his brother was heading with that one sentence. And it wasn’t looking good for Lana.
“You don’t think I know what you did while you are away.”
And those words made Lana took a couple of steps involuntary, he knew all along.
“You think playing games with me will get you far?” His voice was deadly calmed. And it made Lana scared. She has seen him once gotten into a fight and that was when she realized he is at his most dangerous when he is utterly calm just as he’s now. She swallowed so loud the sound rang in her ears.
For once Lana appreciate his back turned to her because the way her eyes changed from sweet to guilt to regret all within a few seconds would have been a calamity for him to see. She watched as the leaves kept on falling, and it made her fidget in a way she has never experienced before.
By the time Sila turned to her the plant bare no more leaves holding a yellow flower in his hand, he has yet to look at Lana. “We are over the moment you decided to strip naked for another man.”
Woot shook his head. So, that was the reason.
“I…I…Well, it was…” Lana stumbled with her words. What was she going to say? There was nothing to be said to make Sila see it any differently. She knew she was wrong. But being wrong is not going to deter her from trying to win him back. Lana moved to get closer to Sila but he cautioned her with an icy stare that made her immediately stopped.
“You are going to throw away what we have because…”
“Because you slept with another man, you damn right I will,” He finished for her. Lana saw his unforgiving eyes and remained in one spot. “You made your choice, now I am making mine.” With that he threw the flower on the floor and walked off.
“Sila…” He didn’t stop for Woot but lifted a hand indicating he knew what his brother wanted to say.
“I will deal with mom later.”
Lana eyes dropped to the floor, looking at her feet she has no idea where to begin to win Sila’s heart back or if that’s at all possible.
“Well, you aren’t as smart as I thought. How did my brother ever fall for you?” Woot walked over to Lana.
When she lifted her head, tears surrounded her eyes. It was for both pain and regret. “It was a mistake.” She blinked once and her tears freely fall. “I will win him back, that’s a promise.”
“It’s never going to happen. Once my brother is dispassionate about something it doesn’t matter what you do, it will never work.”
She didn’t want to take that as an answer even if her heart gave out a sinking feeling perhaps Woot is correct. “I’ll try anyway.”
“It’s a waste of time but I have a feeling my words are just that,” Woot turns to leave. “If I were you, I would leave him alone for a while.”
Woot walked out leaving Lana standing there thinking of her next plan. There has got to be one….but the silent around the house unnerve her, she looked from left to right until she spots a picture of Sila’s dad and left quickly.
*********************
Minta stood looking at her car with one finger on her chin thinking of the best way to deal with it. It’s late in the afternoon and she just send Milan on her way to run some errands and pick up Nat. She would have to call a tow truck but then what? Whatever needed to be done, she better set out to do it because reliving what happened last night at this location, wasn’t something she’s eager to repeat.
She looked around and during the daytime it’s almost as bad. The crowd of a few cars passing here and there doesn’t make it any safer, the only difference is, there’s light to reveal the ugly truth if something happens to her. Minta stepped closer to her car and gently kicked the front tire that looked like it is getting flat. She’s was so engrossed with her car she didn’t noticed Sila pulling in across the street.
Sila tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, he has approximately three hours before his next meeting, if he deals with Minta now something tells him, his meeting might not happen. He rolled his window down and watched her from afar, memories of last night were as vivid as it could be, came to his mind. What would happened to her if he didn’t decide to get involved? He has no desire to be part of the show and was going to let fate take its course and let those drunken bastards do what they please with her, but the moment he saw one of them ripped her sleeve there’s a rage that he wasn’t aware overcame him. And that was when a realization hits him that if anyone is allowed to hurt her it’s him and him only, anyone else would have to get through him to get to her. His thoughts circled around the event of last night when his phone rang and brought him back to reality, quickly scanning his phone he ignored the caller, his eyes went back to Minta but once their eyes collided and seeing her reaction he decided to get out the car and make his way toward her.
Minta wasn’t sure if her eyes were playing tricks on her but once she saw Sila walked leisurely to her, she panicked and looked around for a place to hide. Where would she go, it’s not like he didn’t see her. She turned around and quickened her steps only to bump right into him. The impact made her took a couple of steps back, looking at him as the sun beautifully revealed the outline of his face, he was much more handsome up close.
The way his eyes delved into hers as if he could read her mind. She blinked and turned away, there’s no way need for him to see more of what’s not being offered.
She noticed his eyes tensed and averted them from her to something above her head. She curiously tried to follow them, but he grabbed a hold of her head and held it still. Sila didn’t say anything but kept on acting strange, dividing his attention between Minta and a car that he had noticed been following him, taking his phone out and looking at a number his brows came together but whatever he wanted to do he thought against it.
“Come on, I will take you home.”
Minta backed away so fast, putting her hands up she protested the idea, “No, I am not going anywhere with you.” She wondered if she makes a run for it how far can she get? Probably no more than a few feet, since he has crowded her space.
Sila reached for her but missed when she quickly moved the right side of her body.
“I didn’t think I was asking.”
Of course, he wouldn’t. Why would Sila the Almighty do something as decent as asking people. It seemed commanding others to do what he wants is his specialty. She turned around intending on leaving when he took one big step and was in front of her again.
“Any other day, I would leave you here standing rotten under the sun, but today isn’t that day.”
She almost shook her head, with such beautiful words coming out of his mouth, who needs insults? “I have never heard more touching words.” She said sarcastically. “But I will not go anywhere with you.” Minta was so sure, her answer would be enough clue for him to go wherever he pleased and leave her alone.
But it seemed that was not enough.
“You are testing my patience.”
She saw his jaw worked in a way where if it gets anymore stiffer, it’s likely to break. Good, if he thinks he can interrupt her anytime and anywhere he deserves some annoyance.
Minta sobered and there’s a small sadness written on her face as she asked him, “What exactly do you want? If I give you all that I have will you leave me alone for good?”
He paused acting like he was pondering the question, when in fact he already knew the answer. It has never changed from the moment her dad had committed the murder and no matter how long it’ll be, his answer remained as it once was. A life.
“I want your life.” It was a direct, blunt answer that drained the color from her face.
She wanted to ask him if he wanted her dead or alive? But it would be the same, she imagined. If she’s dead then everything ends with them and if he gets control of her life, then basically she’s as good as dead.
“Look, don’t flatter yourself, I don’t want to take you home anymore than you want to see me. “Sila paused as he watched the car and noticed one of the men talking on the phone. His head has been racing with names of the people that he has had problems with but still he couldn’t come up with who might want him followed, but he’ll find out soon enough. “You have two options, willing or unwilling?”
Such idiotic options because it was no options at all. Both would result in her going with him.
She didn’t reply instead she watched as he kept on taking small steps to her. “I mean it, if you come any…”
Her words got cut off when he grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her along. But if one thing Sila didn’t know about her yet is her will to get away from him. Somehow, she twisted herself away from his grip and rushed to her car, grabbing her keys she unlocked the door, but as soon as her head made its way inside, she felt her shirt being grabbed from behind.
Sila yanked her out the car, pulling her by the shirt until she was completely next to him. “Stop struggling, I swear if you continue, I am going to throw you in the middle of the street.”
His words were met with deaf ears.
Kicking her door closed, he let’s go of her shirt but replaced it with her arm. “You are coming with me whether you like it or not.” Without another word he pulled her with him until they reached his car.
She knew he was not a gentle man, if there’s even remotely anything close to that in him for her but when he opened his car door and pushed her in, she almost flew to the other side of the seat, turning she reached out attempting to touch the door handle on his side when Sila grabbed her leg and pulled her away from it. Minta not one to give up, tried to kick him with her other free leg but somehow, he was prepared easily knocking it away.
She lifted herself slightly off the seat but found there’s no room to escape, he stood there filling out the space blocking her in. “I don’t have all day standing here trying to restrain you, if you don’t want your legs to break keep them inside.” He loudly closed the door on her.
Sila walked over to his side but his attention even struggling with Minta never quite left the car sitting watching them. He knew something wasn’t right when he thought about her car and decided to see if it’s still sitting in the same spot as last night. When he pulled over so did the car.
Taking his suit jacket off he threw it to the backseat but that might have been his biggest mistake yet because the moment it was off, Minta grabbed a hold of his tie and yanked it tightly to his throat.
“You let me off or I am going to choke you.” Her death grip on the tie gotten deadlier and his face turned a shade of red.
“You better let go.”
She smiled brightly and pulled him to her. “Let me out this car, or…” That was as far as she got when Sila moved so quickly she didn’t think it was possible.
He thought of the one thing he's sure she would not refuse in exchange for his tie, grabbing a hold of her front shirt he held it securely in his hands and watched as her smiled slowly died. “If you… don’t let go… of my tie,” His words were coming out slow, not that he wasn’t in a hurry even if their position had changed but her small hands were holding onto his tie for dear life and it’s restricting his breathing. “I will rip your shirt open.”
She blinked in disbelieve, there’s no way he would do such a thing, but as her mind was beginning to dissuade her heart, he yanked on her shirt and a button came loose.
“Now let go or another button is coming off,” Sila finally smiled knowing she had no other choice. “I am going to give you last warning, let go Minta.”
She gritted her teeth and looked at him with seriousness of a girl knowing she was hitting a dead end but refusing to give up. He didn’t say anymore when he pulled on her shirt with enough force not one button came off but two, she looked into his eyes and it was a battle between strength and will and she knew this one was not hers to win, letting go of his tie she pulled on her shirt to close it tightly against her.
“Never go into something knowing you would never win.”
Sila touched his throat taking a few breaths, how can a girl with small hands almost choke him to death? He turned to her, seeing the way she's sinking into the seat but make no mistake she is ready to kill him if given a chance.
“Put your seat belt on.”
Minta responded with a head turned to the window.
But sometimes stubbornness can be a weakness because Sila stepped on the gas so hard the tires screeched and the next thing she knew, she hits her head on the dashboard and found herself between the seat and the floor.
“We are being followed.”
That was the last thing Minta heard before she felt like he was driving them to their death.
