Chapter 25: Chapter 25

It was true that he never tried to hurt me, myself as Janielle Mckeen. But, how could he hurt other women like Jazzlin?

Had he hit his head that he could insult a woman's pride in such a loser way? I didn't expect him to be related to this embarrassing thing.

It wasn't just me, almost got tarnished, but also Elsa. Two men almost raped her if Ronald didn't show up on time.

And I would always be immersed in a long trauma. I couldn't stop thinking that Haytham could be this heartless. I knew he had his own reasons which were in the name of revenge, but what was the use of grudges that even Jazzlin didn't know what she had done and wrong in his eyes?

I got out of the hospital but I didn't know where my footsteps took me. Looking up, the clouds were getting darker like it was going to rain, I sighed before finally deciding to go back inside.

There was no point of crying, because it wouldn't change the slightest bit of the problem that befell me. Haytham ... I didn't know what else to do, what was clear that I needed to know this revenge. What was the background and why did this completely turn his soft heart to a hard rock.

My hands slowly hugged myself while getting in the public lift, but a figure stopped my steps. He was standing right in front of me- let me repeat, Haytham was standing in front of me.

His eyes widened looking down right into my dark-blue eyes. And my feet wobbled from my shaky feelings as his hand quickly caught my elbow.

You could imagine our position.

He grabbed my elbow swiftly so that our bodies were pressed against each other without the slightest distance. At first glance his gaze was the same as Haytham who used to stare at me, but within the finger flick his aura turned intimidating.

Realization dawned on his eyes, "It seems like we always meet at the wrong times." His mint breath while talking stimulates my sense of smell.

I retorted with a firm tone, "It's always gonna be wrong meeting you."

He laughed like a sinister, "Feisty, I like it."

"Your stupid blackmail can never bring me down, mind you!" I threatened him without looking down or breaking my gaze at him.

"What are you talking about little girl?" He asked in careless, bringing his face closer to mine. Before I realized it, his face drew closer to my right ear, "Seems like your boyfriend is jealous to see us this close."

I blinked before I got what he meant. I pushed him and looked back at the private lift. Barra was just arrived on the first floor. He was still inside the lift, silent like a statue.

"I like the shocked look on your face." He whispered.

"Get away from her." Barra's voice was loud and threatening in it.

"Nice to meet you, my old friend." What he meant by old friend?

I felt Haytham standing forward beside me, "But, I can't stay long, I have something to finish." He smirked at Barra's burning eyes, "Next time we'll talk again, okay?" He talked to me then sent me a wink, and walked away.

Now, my attention went back to him, "Barra." I ran towards him but he swiftly closed the lift door.

"Shit." I muttered before running into the public lift which for some reason was now getting crowded on it. Waiting in vain for this lift, I returned to the private lift which was now empty. He had gone.

Arriving on the floor above, I entered Jake's room, and I didn't find him anywhere.

"Barra isn't here?" I tried to take a breath because I was tired of running.

"He was looking for you and hasn't come back yet." Ronald explained with confused looks on the faces of the others.

Elsa stood up to me, "Did something bad happen?"

"Not just bad! But, really bad." Obviously I was still trying to get the air that caught in my lung.

"What happened?" Ronald took out his gun but I raised my hands in the air to hold him.

"Where's Barra?" Jake asked, trying to move, which he found in pain. Looks like he forgot that his stomach hadn't recovered yet.

I ran my fingers through my long hair. It was useless they also didn't know where he was, "Forget it." I ran again outside, leaving them kept calling my name.

I bit my nail restlessly. Waiting for the lift to open, I was again unaware that someone had been staring at me for a moment the lift's door opened.

I looked up and found Barra was already staring at me intently, it was clear he wanted to close the door again. But, this time I didn't let it happen.

"Wait, don't please... I promise I won't step closer." He was silent, waiting for what I want to say. His gaze stared at me in boredom, I'd never seen him stare at me like that.

"Just listen, what you saw earlier was wrong. I must be fell if he didn't hold me down." I explained, "Really- I didn't mean to–" All of sudden, his hand pulled me against his chest, making me gasp.

His arms slipped around my waist as I leaned into his hug, "I'm sorry." I whispered just when I clamped my arms around his neck.

"It wasn't your fault. I was just overreacting." He brushed his face into my hair, "I'm afraid he hurt you."

Was that the only reason he pissed off? Even though it was clear that his eyes were radiating a fire of jealousy, but he admitted that he was afraid that Haytham would hurt me? My smile faded at his explanation, thank goodness he couldn't see my face.

After what we had been through together, my emotions and feelings were tired if I kept being played with like this. Sometimes we acted like friends but sometimes we acted like lovers.

I didn't know the truth of our relationship, we were just acting more than friends in the name of friendship. Was that because of each other's egos or he was the one who didn't want to take me there? I couldn't help but that thoughts really hurting me.

I admited for being jealous when I heard the news about Niki, especially when he was talked to Moorah. It was just that I didn't know what my jealousy means.

And as for Barra, I clearly saw jealousy flashing in his hazel eyes.

"We've been like this since years." It was the simple way he said to remind me that we were still hugging like Teletubbies in the lift.

"Right." I let go of my arms just when he grabbed one of those back, "What?" I blinked as those lips crashed mine without clue. His lips felt so soft and wet over my lips just like I ever imagined. He kissed me passionately as I kissed him back, with my hands reaching for his hair to get closer.

He groaned in my wild reaction, then claiming my lips greedily like he had been starving for the taste of it.

I felt butterflies was flying all over my stomach.

He let go of my lips when we were craving for air, "I'm sorry, was I too rough?" He asked as his thumb caressing my lips. I guess it looked swollen.

I laughed softly before finally shaking my head, "I think we should go back." He said then grabbing my hand gently.

Looking at his bandaged hand, I asked, "Umm, what's happened with your hand?" I was acting like I didn't know.

"I accidentally hit it." Lie. It wasn't just an accident, but I nodded anyway.

It was my first kiss, but as Jazzlin. It was okay, at least my first kiss was as beautiful as the fairy tales I had read before.

My red cheeks felt so hot just thinking about what we did. Many times I pressed my lips, thinking whether it was all really happening or just an illusion of my mind? Or maybe I was hallucinating.

I could not explain the feeling of pleasure anymore. I kept staring into the grip of our hands ... and the more my throat felt so damn dry.

Back into Jake's room, all eyes interrogated us without asking. Barra and I only stared at each other for a moment we realized that our hands were still tied together.

"Love's in the air." Jake grinned as Moorah fed him again. Boy, I got a feeling that there would be something between them.

"Shut up, Jake." Ronald joined in the teasing party. Elsa just giggled at the reaction of both of us who were really embarrassed.

"Hey, wasn't the doctor said that only a few of us were allowed to enter?" Hearing my question they laughed instead, I huffed realized that they were rule breakers.

"Don't try to change the subject." Jake put on a fake pout.

"Hey, don't keep teasing this couple." Ronald pretended to whisper even though his voice was enough for Barra and I to heard it.

I rolled my eyes in response.

"So, spill the tea!" Elsa said, breaking my silence. The others laughed with their nod, I believed my cheeks had changed color again.

"We want to know." I glared at Moorah's comment. Since when did she seem to support my relationship with Barra?

Of course, since Jake came to her life like a halo.