The One I Dare Not Love

20 • Mary •

" What? Wait, those men right there are the good guys. You can't do that to them. They do not deserve to be punished and ... " I suddenly stop trying to explain and then I swiftly turn towards Malva. None of them have alighted but I am sure they could see me from where they sat.

" Where do you think you are going, Mary? " My brother suddenly stopped me the moment I was about to take a step. " Where are you going? "

" Back to where I belong now, Ivan. I can't let you call the cops on them. It's not right "

" Not right? " Sister Eleanor responded in surprise. " Those people have committed a grave sin by venturing into our holy Parish and kidnapping you. Yet you say... "

She was still speaking when the siren sound from the cops's car interrupted, covering the spaces in no time. I suddenly began to feel antsy. I knew I had to do something before it was too late. I have to go.

" Ivan I have to go back. I can't leave Italy with you, " I said, but he gripped me tighter, his face covered in horror as well as sister Eleanor's.

" Mary, what in the hell are you talking about? I can't let you go back there. Never! Those people are criminals. Do you think you'd ... "

" The ones who are criminals are our parents! " I snapped back at him angrily. " If Dad hasn't sold me do you think I will be here today? I obviously would have been in the Parish, as a nun while you going around on your tour without giving a care about me "

My response stunned Ivan so much but not as sister Eleanor, who had expected something else.

" I'm sorry I can't go now. Not like this. If I have to come back home, it won't be at the cost of his safety. Never. I won't do that "

" His? Who's that? Mary are you ... Are you in love? "

The question from Ivan suddenly made me flinch. Love? No. Absolutely Not. It can't happen so fast, right away. Can it?

I turned swiftly when the sound of Malva's car pulling out came to my hearing. I was filled with horror when I heard this. I knew so well once he drove away, he would never come back. We might never see one another again.

Frantically, I began to fight through my brother's clutch, and I survived at last. Malva had told me not to give up so easily. He had said I have to fight all through till my last strength. Now is the time to obey him.

I ran the moment I was freed back to him, but then his car came reversing, and then it made a swift turn and headed back towards the direction we had come from.

" Malva! " I called out to him, but it seems my desperate call fell on deaf ears. I am scared out of my wit but I decided not to give up.

I continued to run after the car, not minding the fact that I wouldn't be able to catch up. I am so hellbent on getting back to him that I didn't take any chances.

Tears of desperation streamed down my face as I called out to him, my voice choked with emotion. But he didn't slow down, didn't dare look back. The truth was cruel. He couldn't risk stopping, not with the police closing in. Every passing second counted, and if he hesitated, they'd catch up.

On my way to do the impossible, I lost my footing and fell flat on the floor so painfully. However, I swiftly made it up to my feet, and then I looked ahead, ready to continue running, when all of a sudden, the cop's car surrounded me per my brother's order.

" Let the criminals go but make sure she didn't leave. She is not in her right senses," I heard Ivan blurted out to the cops, who have alighted now to guide me back to my brother, but I can only smile at how foolishly they have underestimated my decision.

I have said it already. To both Ivan and Malva. I have nowhere to go back to in New York. This is my life now and I will embrace it.

Swiftly, I pushed away a cop from the steering wheel and then got behind it. Without thinking twice, I turned on the car engine and pulled out immediately, driving towards Malva's car like a maniac, the obsessed lady I seem to be now. I didn't care about the speed I was driving. All that matters is Malva at that moment and no one else.

At last, I caught up with him and drove forward to stop the car before his own. Then I hurriedly alighted to block his way, my hands spread out as though to tell him I wouldn't move an inch if he didn't take me with him.

" Drive Marco," I heard him say, so cold, so determined, and his man obeyed. Marco drives the car forward, aiming to crush the life out of me if I didn't make a move but I also have already made up my mind. If I can't go back with Malva then there is no point in living.

Marco's car was almost a few inches away from me when it halted in an instant. Dying seemed easy at the thought of it, but in reality, my heart nearly flew out of my mouth. Cold sweat broke out off my face when the car door opened, and Malva alighted, his blue sea eyes so murderous that I felt he'd strangle me himself, but then as he made his way to me, I saw his expression soften when he saw the bruise on my arm.

For some moments his face was laced with worried then he looked up to my face the moment he stood before me.

" You will regret this, Mary. I promise you, you will "

Instead of me to give a reply it was the realization that struck me hard. I found the answer at that moment and I felt dumb when Malva wrapped his fingers around my wrist and pulled me into the car.

Ivan is right. I am in love. I have dared fall in love with a man I shouldn't. Now what awaits me?