Kill for Love

Chapter 16 - The Warning

Gaus was just staring at Cytherea with amusement while the latter closed her eyes. She was holding the quarter he gave her to make a wish and throw it to the fountain.

Even with no makeup, her beauty is beyond compare. He also learned that Cytherea is doing charity work for kids. She is indeed a beauty inside and out. No wonder Ares is crazy over her. 

'I would be crazy too if I'm your lover,' he thought. He shook his head. 

Cytherea opened her eyes and found Gaus looking at her. She smiled sweetly and threw the coin into the fountain. Gaus was stunned. His heart started beating rapidly. He felt like a schoolboy who was caught by his crush.

He scratched his head and reached for his pocket to get another quarter. He held the coin closer to his mouth as if he was kissing it before throwing it into the fountain too.

"What did you wish for?" Cytherea asked. She tucked some strands of her hair behind her right ear.

Gaus thought that it was the most beautiful scene he'd ever seen. He couldn't help himself but stare at Cytherea. Every single time he saw her, it was like he was always mesmerized. He knew staring is rude, but he just couldn't help it. 

Gaus thought he was in a deep spell. Then suddenly, he heard a snapping of the fingers. He saw Cytherea's fingers in front of his face like she was trying to get his attention.

"Earth to Gaus," she teasingly said. 

Gaus chuckled. "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention. What were you asking again?"

Cytherea giggled and Gaus' expression softened. Cytherea is indeed an adorable person, no matter what she does. 

"I was asking you. What did you wish for?"

Gaus chuckled. "Nope, not gonna tell you. It will jeopardize my wish."

"Oh, bummer!" Cytherea complained.

Gaus couldn't help himself. He reached for her head and ruffled her hair. Cytherea got stunned by Gaus' action. It was the first time that someone ruffled her hair aside from her father.

Gaus noticed Cytherea's reaction and got concerned that she might be offended by his action. 

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you by doing that," Gaus immediately apologized and removed his hand from her hair.

"Oh no! Don't be. I was just surprised because my father always does that to me. It was another way of showing his affection to me."

"Believe me, I'm way younger than your father," he joked.

"You don't say," she responded. 

They both laughed at their silliness. 

Cytherea looked at the time. She's been out for a few hours already. She needed to go back to the hotel. 

"By the way, Gaus, I have to go now. It’s getting dark already.”

“C’mon, I’ll walk you to the hotel,” he offered. “I’m going back there anyway.”

He saw that Cytherea suddenly hesitated. 

“I mean, I just want to make sure that you’re safe on your way to the hotel.”

“Thanks, Gaus. I appreciate the offer, but I will have to decline.” She forced a smile. 

"Is it because of your fiance?”

Cytherea partly smiled. “I have to apologize on behalf of Ares-”

“You don’t have to,” Gaus cut her off, “It was just a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? He was being rude to you and I don't know why. He was not like that at all." Cytherea smiled. She was extremely disappointed with Ares. 

"Maybe he just loves you that much. People can do crazy things for love, you know?"

"Hmmm, you talked so deep. So, I'm guessing you already have a girlfriend or perhaps a wife?"

Gaus laughed loudly. "I wish I had one, but I don't."

"Really?" Cytherea was surprised to know that Gaus was still single. He's an attractive man and she noticed that almost all the women in Jackson Square were looking at Gaus. 

“You looked surprised.”

“But of course, I mean you are a successful man, and you don’t look bad yourself. Women will definitely chase for someone like you instead.”

Gaus laughed again. He felt warmth in his heart when Cytherea indirectly praised him. She looked puzzled at his reaction.

“I’m sorry I don’t mean to laugh at what you said. It’s just I didn’t expect that you would find me that way. To tell you honestly, I’m not interested in any of the opposite s*x. I was busy making a name for myself. Well, that changes already….”

“Hmmm, I have a feeling you found the one.” Cytherea looked again at her watch. “I really have to go now. It was nice talking to you, Gaus. I’m sorry I can’t let you walk with me. I don’t want to put you more in trouble.”

“I’m not comfortable letting you go by yourself. How about this? You go first, and I will just follow you.”

Cytherea shook her head and slightly smiled. “You are a very persistent man, Gaus. You just won’t take no for an answer, huh?” she jokingly said.

Gaus shrugged and smiled at her.

Cytherea waved at him and started to walk. True to his word, Gaus was just following her. She safely made it to the entrance of the hotel. She looked back and saw Gaus putting his phone on his ear like he was calling someone. He waved at her when he saw that she was looking at him too. She nodded and gave him a smile before going to the elevator.

Cytherea sighed. She knows she will see Ares in the room if he didn’t leave. This was the first time that she walked out from Ares after their argument. She had already calmed down, and she's hoping that Ares too. She knew that if she didn't walk out, their argument would result in something bigger. 

The elevator opened in which she immediately got in. Before the door closes, she sees Gaus still talking to someone on the phone. Cytherea pushed the fifth-floor button, and after a few seconds, the door closed. She was in deep thought that if it wasn't for the elevator's ding, she wouldn't even notice that she was already on the fifth floor. She walked to their room. She opened her bag and took out the keycard to open the door.

She suddenly felt exhausted when she got into the room. She closed the door and decided to sit on the couch. The room was quiet. She thought no one was in the room except for her when suddenly, she heard a loud noise like something was broken from Ares' room. 

Her room's door also opened, showing Athena, who looked confused too. She immediately stood up and went to Ares's room. She tried opening it, but it was locked.

"Babe? Babe?" she called worriedly while knocking on the door urgently. She was also twisting the doorknob, hoping that the door will open. She was silently praying that there were no awful things that happened inside Ares' room. 

Not too long, the door opened. Cytherea saw a distressed Ares. He looked like he was beaten up, minus the bruises. 

She cupped his face, and with a worried look, she asked, "Are you okay? What happened? I heard a loud noise from your room."

Ares held her hands and kissed her knuckles. He pulled her in so she could enter his room. He closed the door the moment she got in and hugged her tightly.

Cytherea thought that Ares regretted what he had done earlier. That's why he was embracing her. She returned his embrace and caressed his back. She looked to the floor and noticed the shattered pieces of the phone.

"Babe?" Cytherea called Ares, but he remained silent. Instead, he just hugged her more tightly like he had been missing her for years. "Babe, are you okay?" she asked again.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered in her ear.

"It's okay. What happened? Why is your phone on the floor?" she asked worriedly.

"I'm scared, Babe."

Cytherea pushed Ares's chest gently so that she could see his face. But Ares lowered his head down. She held his hand and went towards the bed. She sat down and tapped the space beside her. Ares obliged.

"C'mon, sit. Now, tell me what happened. Why are you scared?"

"I'm scared of losing you, Babe. You know I love you so much, right?" Ares held both of her hands again like he's getting some courage from her hands. 

"Of course, I love you too, and I hope you know that."

"I do, and I'm sorry for the nasty things I said earlier. I was too blinded by my jealousy. I hope you can forgive me, Babe." Ares lowered his head again. He was embarrassed by the way he acted, most especially for the nasty things that he said.

"Don't think about it anymore. Besides, I already said yes to you. Wouldn't it be enough for you to know how much I love you?"

"I know. I was just being stupid." He sighed.

"So, tell me, what happened to your phone?" she looked at the shattered phone on the floor, and Ares did the same thing.

"I received a call from someone I don't know. The caller said things that aggravated me, and without thinking, I threw my phone." Ares turned to her and looked her in the eye. "Babe, can we go back to the Philippines?"

"We will next month, right?" she asked. She was confused about Ares' request. They already made a plan as well as when they're going back to the Philippines.

"I know, but can we go home sooner?"

"Why?" 

"Babe, I have a bad feeling about that person who always gave you flowers. I think the one who called me and that admirer of yours is the same. Babe, he told me I have to break up with you, or he will do something nasty if I don't. I'm not afraid for myself but you. He can threaten me however he wanted but not you. I'm feeling uncomfortable that someone out there might try to do something awful to you."

Cytherea chuckled. "Maybe it was just a prank phone call?" 

"I don't think so. Babe, we have to go back." He is trying his hardest to convince Cytherea. It's the only way that he can think of to save his relationship with her. He knew that the caller was not blabbing when he threatened him.

"I have many things to do here, Babe. I have many commitments. How about this? I'll reschedule everything so it can be done in one week only, and then we will go home. That sounds good to you?"

"How about in four days?" 

"I will check, Babe."

Ares sighed. He only has five days, and after that, he's screwed.

'If I can't make Cytherea leave the country, then I will have to find you," he promised to himself.