June 2014
Days after graduation
"Good morning," a deep male voice greeted her as she opened her eyes. She looked straight to a pair of brown eyes staring at her. "How are you?"
"Marcus..." she uttered as she sat up suddenly and the whole room span before her. She closed her eyes again as she felt Marcus placed a pillow behind her head on the headboard.
"Easy," Marcus said as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. He took the glass of water from the bedside table and gave it to her.
"What happened last night?" she asked after gulping enough water. Her head throbbed as she tried hard to remember everything, but she failed.
Marcus swallowed as his eyes averted to her small red lips. He bit his lips as he tried to look away. His mind lingered for a moment to what happened last night....
Last night, he got a call from Dominic telling him that he needed to come immediately. He just came back home after a family affair in Long Island, and he was not expecting to get that disturbing call, especially about Nikka.
"Where is she?" he asked Dominic as soon as he came by the door of the house.
"Marcus, I'm really sorry to bother you but I don't know who to call. I-"
"Tell me where she is, Dominic," he said sternly.
A crowd of teenagers, huddled together in one corner of the living room, stopped talking and turned their heads toward him. A group of girls continued to whisper to each other from the couch as he took a deep breath, trying hard to keep his composure. All eyes were on him as Dominic led him to where Nikka was. She was dancing crazily in the middle of the dining room among a group of boys.
"Nikka.." he called as soon as he reached her. All the boys stopped as he held her arm. She turned towards him, eyes narrowed and head tilted to one side. She was smiling wanely at him and her body was lumpy. He did not know what they gave to her but she was not in her usual self. She looked like she was drugged.
"Marcus... let's dance," Nikka slurred, her eyes half-opened as she wrapped her hands around his neck. Marcus' eyebrows furrowed as he stared at her in disbelief. He had never seen Nikka at this state ever since he'd known her and he was furious.
"Nikka.... I'm taking you home," he told her. He was angry and he couldn't believe how reckless these teenagers had been. He could smell weed from her mouth and he hated that smell as much he hated the person who did this to her.
He understood that this is supposed to be a post-graduation party but drugging an innocent girl like Nikka, was unforgivable. He wanted to know once and for all who did this to her, and God forgive him but he could wipe that culprit's face off the earth.
"Who did this to you, Nikka?" he asked as he held her waist, pulling her aside.
Though he knew she might be too drugged to answer, he still wanted to know the bastard who did this to her. He was glad that he was the first one that Dominic called otherwise her parents will be furious when they found out.
He started to walk when a tall muscular guy stopped him. This guy looked like a football player with its large arms and square shoulders. His chest blocked him from moving as his eyes mockingly stared at Marcus.
"Where are you taking her, Big Shot? You're killing all the fun," the teen taunted Marcus as he towered over him. Marcus gave him a warning look. If this guy thought he could be intimidated that easily, he was wrong.
The guy clenched his fists as he stood before him. Marcus never backed down a fight even when he was a kid and this would not be the first time he would ever beat up anyone. But he was too old for this kind of game and beating up a bunch of teenagers was the last thing he wanted to do to stain his stepfather's name.
"Move away, punk, if you don't want your balls to be in jail tonight," he warned. He was not one who give threats to anyone but in this case, he needed to do it to put this arrogant teenager in his place.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do, huh?!" and he continued to move towards him but Marcus didn't budge. He held his head high, pulling Nikka behind him. He had been a teenager once and he knew how their puny minds worked. They only acted without thinking and he was smarter than that. As much as possible, he didn't want to get into a brawl but if this guy gave him a swing, he would surely defend himself and Nilkka.
"Ricky! What the hell is going on here?" someone called from the stairs. "Is that Nikka?"
They all turned towards the voice and there stood Fred Andrews with Vera. As soon as Vera saw Nikka's state, she ran down the steps immediatllely towards them.
"Ohmigod, Nikka!" she said, holding her cheek. Then he turned towards Ricky. She pushed him so hard as he laughed at her face. "You stupid jerk! What did you do to her, huh?!"
"Easy, Vera!" Ricky snickered. "I haven't done anything to her yet!"
"You, son of a b**ch! And you, Fred, do you know about this?"
"Well..." Fred replied and looked away.
"You full of sh*t!" and she turned her heel, as Dominic followed. Marcus was about to take a step when Ricky suddenly spoke.
"I hope you enjoy banging her tonight, Big Shot! She was so out she'll probably be numb when you entered her," he roared in laughter, mocking him along with the other boys. Marcus' blood boil and his eyes flared up. He turned towards Ricky and with one swift move, he threw a punch to the air and landed on Ricky's nose.
Ricky dropped hard on the floor, clutching his nose as it bled.
"Sh*t!" Ricky cursed as he looked at his hand full of blood. "You'll pay for this."
"We'll see about that, punk! I've warned you. Nobody gets to talk to Nikka like that," and he lifted Nikka in his arms and carried her out of the house.
"I'm sorry, Marcus. I didn't know they would do that to her," Vera apologized as soon as they all got in the car. Her voice almost cracked as she felt like she had betrayed her best friend. Dominic held her hand and squeezed it.
"It's okay, Vera. It's not your fault. But please, next time, be careful," he warned them. He couldn't hide his disappointment in his voice. He had tried his best to protect Nikka and yet, just because of some bad decisions, she almost got raped. Tomorrow, he would ask her about it. But for now, he needed to take her to his apartment and call her parents. They're probably wondering what happened to their precious daughter.
"My love... are you taking me to paradise?" Nikka muttered almost intelligibly. Her eyes were closed and she giggled as if someone was tickling her.
Dominic and Vera laughed at the back seat. Tomorrow morning, she would surely regret everything she ever said or do the moment they told her what happened.
Marcus dropped them off at Vera's house. They thanked him as he sped off. Tomorrow,he needs to call his lawyer in case that Ricky guy would file a case against him.
After parking the car in the garage of the building, he lifted Nikka all the way to his apartment. She clung to him for dear life as he settled her down to the bed in his guest bedroom. This was not the first time Nikka slept over at his apartment.
Oftentimes, he would ask her to come over to do some movie marathon with him and she always sleep in the other room. There were times he was tempted to sleep with her in the same room, just to watch her sleep peacefully. Now, here she was, with her eyes closed, looking like an angel. How could someone hurt a precious girl like her! So innocent... and very naive.
Although a part of him was troubled because of Ricky, he felt proud of himself that somehow he was able to protect Nikka from these cruel young men. He knew that Nikka had never had a good year in this school and almost wanted to quit if only not for Dominic and Vera who were very nice to her. He was just thankful that all of these was over and that now she could move on by going to the university of her choice.
He vowed in himself that he would do everything in his power to take care of her no matter what, and he would protect her at all cost.
He took her heels off and placed a blanket on top of her. He was about to get up when suddenly he felt her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her. His lips were an inch away from hers. Any minute now their lips would touch. He tried to pull himself away from her but her hands creeped into his hair, paralyzing him.
"N-Nikka..." he stammered. All his senses just got entangled, confusing him. He stared at her red lips. Those red lips that he almost kissed a few months ago. It was enticing and perhaps flavorful.
'Oh god!' he thought, clenching his fists trying to gain control. He couldn't deny the attraction he still has for her and every time they were close he could feel every part of his body weakening. But he knew it wouldn't be right.
It was wrong to desire her especially now that she was not in her normal self. But ever since that day, he had always wondered what it would be like to kiss her. His lips ached and thirst for her and he hated himself for even having those thoughts in his head.
"Marcus..." she whispered. "Aren't you going to kiss me?"
He couldn't utter a word. He was stunned. He knew in himself he really wanted to but then his mind told him no. Kissing her now would not only break her parents trust... and he was afraid he might not be able to control himself that much. For as much his mind said no, his body had told him a different thing.... especially when she looked alluring now.
Will they forgive him if he indulge himself with a kiss just this once?
Their lips touched slightly and all his reasoning suddenly went blank as he gave in to his desires.