Chapter 14: Chapter 14

After two weeks, Adam was too busy managing his businesses or so whatever he's been doing. After that day when he cooked, we exchanged numbers and he told me that he'll be busy for a week, and now it's been two weeks of us just texting one another after he said that he'd like to create new memories with me. It's been one hell of a busy day for me as well, group of distributors came in, trying to make us release some of the books being reviewed and it was stressful.

"Eva, do you want coffee?" Natalie barges in with her beautiful innocent smile but is followed by Zach who carries some treasure in the plastic bag.

"I think she'll be having soda, Nat." He smiles at her and hands her over one carton of chocolate milk. "This is for you." Natalie's eyes shine like a kid and it made me laugh. She waves us goodbye before marching out of my office. My I laughed, I still can't believe it's my office now.

"Here you go, babe." Zach pops the soda open and the sound made my heart ignite. "And here's your burger." He puts down one burger in my desk and my mouth drools over it. I grabbed it immediately and peel off the paper covering it, revealing the melted cheese, lettuce, and beef that is between the buns. I take a bite and chew on it, wiggling my body on my seat.

"Take it slow." Zach sits down beside me and takes his piece. "Is it good?" I nodded eagerly and drink my coke.

"Are you finished with your training from the HQ?" I uttered while chewing on my food.

"Yea, today I'll just be doing the work here. Are there any more projects to edit?"

"Uhm, the others already got it, but you can share it with them."

"I don't care about the others, how about yours?"

"Well, I've got piles since I also review what out editors edited." I chuckle and he grabs some files on his hand. Zach's reactions seemed like a déjà vu for something in a moment so I shook my head and focus on my burger until I'd had the last chomp. "Why are junk foods so good to eat?" I exasperate as I rub my tummy. Time for work again.

"Take a look at these." He stared at the paper he is holding so I glanced at it. "These full marks right here are all wrong. The draft and the edited are the same, the misspellings are still present."

"Who edited those?" I pulled the papers from him and see that it has been signed by Kate.

"I think she needs a break." Zach grabbed another folder and scans thoroughly at it. I wonder what her problem is, she's been off for weeks. "Do you think we should go out one time with Kate and Cathlyn?"

"I don't know. It depends if you have an energy for it, all I ever care about is you anyway.

"They are our friends Zacharias." He doesn't seem too friendly today. "Is everything okay?"

He switches his position to face me and he smiles at me with his cute beam. "I just don't think you should trust them too much anymore."

What?

"What are you saying?"

"Mr. Creepy dude who has been watching you is Kate's hidden boyfriend."

Simon?

"Wait, wait. You mean the pale dude?" I moved closer to him to whisper, even though we are inside the office. It was stupid. I laughed inside of me.

"Yep. And I've been watching that fucker and he is stalking you." I backed away a little and think of all the times I bumped into him, it was something odd. "What's that have to do about Kate? Or Cathlyn?"

"Kate and Simon have been dating for years, and Cathlyn is Kate's best friend."

"So?"

"The police never said it was a stray bullet."

The fear that I hid inside me starts to crawl out my heart as I remember what happened to me. "But why would you think our friends would do that?"

"Simon is already a reason for motive."

"B-but I barely even talk to him. I don't even want to get close to the guy." I placed my hand in my heart to calm my racing heart and Zach's hand held my cheek as his eyes set on me.

"I'm going to kill everyone who is involved in this." How can he even say that like he is serious and all...

I opened my arms and embraced Zach all of a sudden and I can feel him hugging me back too. "I can take care of myself." Plus, Adam is there... I smiled at myself and pulled myself away from Zach.\

"Can I take you home?" He pinches my cheek and my eyes fell down to his lips who were parted and... and beautiful. You remember how Adam always repeated the line, "Once you are sure about what you feel." I back my head away a little making Zach tilt his head when I recoiled. Do I feel something for Zach? I glanced at him and my head started to ache once more, there are voices talking inside my head, and the scene was back in my bedroom. I crumpled in pain as I hear two clear voices of men talking inside my head. I shut my eyes closed remembering a vivid feeling that seemed to real to happen.

"You've only been with her in this timeline! You were never there in her pasts! We are the ones in love! She is my wife!"

"In this time, she's not. Ever since you asked me to take care of her for you, it changed. She will choose who she wants!"

"You're fucking in love with her."

"I am. And I loved her all this time."

I opened my eyes when I hear the voices right, the moment I opened my eyes in the memory. My eyes tear up as I see Zach staring at me. The man I saw that night, talking to Adam was Zach... He is Adam's brother... I can't stop my eyes from streaming the tears and Zach's voice became clear, asking what was going on.

"You are Adam's brother." I croaked as I clenched my fist, stopping myself from sobbing. His eyes widen for a second but he was so calm right after.

"I love you, Eva..."

He brought his lips to mine and I melted as he held me tighter. As he does, my eyes started to feel heavy and my headache diminishes as my eyes turn blurry.

*****

I wake up, feeling like I've slept for a long time, and my body was laid on the sofa in my office. What happened? I slowly opened my eyes, seeing Zach sitting on a chair beside me.

"Hey babe, sit down slowly." He supported my body as I sat down straight, trying to remember why I was sleeping instead of working.

"What happened?"

"You collapsed all of a sudden."

"Oh." I stopped to stare at Zach and all I can remember is that I ate a burger and drank some coke. "I think I need to stop too much junk food.

He snorted and opened up and water bottle for me. "I guess so too."

"Hmm." I chugged the water until the last drop and I realize how thirsty I was.

"What time is it?" I gasped after seeing the time, sundown is coming, so I stood up and flee to my desk but all of it was already signed and fixed. "Really?" My eyes gaped at Zach, everything is already finished. Damn, he works so fast. He chuckled and stood up, and get my bag from my chair, before looping his arms on my shoulder.

"Let's get going. You are still going to treat me some roasts." He bit his lower lip and I giggled at how adorable he was. I checked on my phone to see if there's a message from Adam but there's nothing. Does he know I collapsed? I pouted when I realized that I missed him when Zach flicked a finger on my forehead.

"Ouch!"

"Looks like Eva is missing someone." His voice was serious as we walked our way out the building with him carrying my bag. I punch him lightly on his waist and he groaned playfully as if he was hurt.

"How's the demon?"

I looked at him as he asked, demon? Oh, Adam. "He's got a name, dumbass." I laughed as he pulled me a sad face.

"Now, I'm the dumbass, that kinda hurts."

I snorted and shake my head while I roll my eyes. "Well, he's fine. He likes me." I don't even think I should say that or should I? My mind remembered the uncertainty of my feelings that Adam has been talking about as we walked towards the Grill-It-Express, never realizing that I have been staring at Zach until he called my name loud.

"Am I that charming?" He let out a wide grin and I rolled my eyes on him before he pulls me inside the fast food. The waitress kept glancing at Zach as she prepares the equipment for grilling and it was unnerving for some reason. She's a new waitress. Zach on the other hand, focused on cutting the meat while I make the sweet and spicy sauce which he likes.

"Thank you," I mutter at the woman but my tone turned out to be threatening and it made her cough her throat out before leaving. That's why I wonder why he haven't found a girl of his own, women throw themselves at Zach, it makes me think if he already has an experience in sexual activities. I buried the thought immediately and drunk the iced tea that was lying in front of me.

"Looks like you scared the poor lady off." He smiled as he put the tip of the glass to his lips.

"She was looking at you like some kind of dessert." I cringe, do I do that with Adam? I cringe at myself when I thought how addicted I was to him.

"I hate to break it to you but they all do, but one doesn't seem to be affected at all." That's news.

"Wow, looks like someone is going to make the legendary Zach go crazy."

He squinted his eyes at me and snorted as before putting a roast on his mouth, "Wish." Who might it be?

"I hope I can meet her someday." He laughed at me, what? I'm kind of bothered by who it is.

"You're smart, Eva, but most of the time, you're just stupid."

I threw a playful fist at his shoulder and he chuckled more, making me think of what he said. My eyes twitched as I realize who he was talking about. It was me. Damn, I don't want to react, he might notice it.

"I'm not stupid, I'm just worried about you."

"You don't have to worry about me, I'm not interested in anyone else." He takes a bite again and he left me stunned by what he said, so I cleared my throat and decided to change the topic. Why is the air so heavy at the moment?

"So, have you always been this kind of a good boy?" I raised my brows at him, he doesn't seem to be so interested at women. His dimple shows at the side of his cheek as he beams at me, why is this dork so cute?

"You don't need to know, baby." His face turned flirty and so I compressed any other reaction and just tried to laugh at him causing a roast to be stuck in my throat. I coughed it all out and in a flash he was standing behind me, tapping my back as he chortles.

"What is happening to you, Eva? You seem to perplexed, take it easy."

That's my question too. What is happening to me? This is because of Adam pushing thoughts into my head.

I slapped his hand away and he laughed even more. We finished our food after a while and he walked me home. The uneasiness toned down a bit as I enjoyed his company.

"So, you're going in now."

He smiles at me and I nodded. He put my bag on my shoulder and he laid a kiss on my forehead. He always does that and it felt calm, it was a normal thing for us.

"Take a cab or anything, it's already night." He pats my head gently and bobbed into the house direction, his way of telling me to go in. I obeyed and walk towards the porch of the house. Before I open my doorknob, I glance at Zach one more time, but he was already gone. This happened before, does he always run? I took him off my mind as I enter my cozy sanctuary.

"My house!" I launched in a dramatic entrance, after missing my bed after a busy day. I hum my way inside but my feet stopped when I hear the shower pouring in the bathroom.

Adam? Well, he is the only one who can enter here.

I bit my lip and my heart went into summersault as I think of him hereafter two weeks of not even seeing that bittersweet man. "Adam?" I utter loud, enough for him to hear and leaned my head to lay my ear on the door of the bathroom. Is he done yet? My heart was hammering in my rib and I felt like my sternum cracked when he spoke on the other side, in the hallway. "You're going to kill me." I leaned on the bathroom door, calming my nervous heart down. As I did, my eyes kept looking at the contour of Adam's neck and his wet hair, making my heart more dysfunctional. Down girl. I closed my eyes and wave my hand at him and made a step to go in my room.

"Did Zach walk you home?" I turn to him as he spoke and nodded. He sighs and walk towards me, to get my bag and I was in awe of his actions.

"I can—"

He raised his palm at me and shooed me away with his fingers. What's with him again? I sucked my lips in, knowing that I need to get away from him as possible before he takes my heart with him. I hurried through my room without looking at him and closed the door behind me.

"Oh my god." Why do I feel like a teenager undergoing puberty when I'm with him? I bit my lower lip and pat my cheeks to knock some sense on myself. I've lived with him, and the familiarity that lingers in my heart when I'm with him is here, but I still feel so shy, and it's like I'm fangirling over him. I gulp as I remember the trace of shower from him and let out a shaky breath. I really like him that much, huh. I was so excited to see him. A smile crosses into my lips but it disappeared when I remembered Zach. He is my best friend...

But something really feels off...

A knock on my door made me jump, my poor heart.

"Change your clothes them come out." Adam's voice was more of a command and so I hurry, then make my way out through the kitchen where he waits, wearing a plain black shirt which looks very good on him.

"Uhm, hi?" I mutter. There are potatoes, beef, carrots, and more. Adam was preparing the ingredients for I don't know so I asked.

"Are you cooking dinner?"

"What do you think?" He didn't even look at me and I want to smash him with the frying pan. Why is he so grumpy? Is he jealous? I snort at the idea and he looked at me with his apathetic reaction.

"Cut the carrots." I smiled and nod before I get my spare knife and chopping board from the cabinet and move beside him.

"What are we making?"

"Beef stew." I giggled and a ghost of a smile hanged on his lips. He actually cooks better than me and that kinda sucks. I peeled and cut the carrots like how he cut the potatoes, and we talked about petty things as we move into the kitchen. He told me how the HQ's work piled up and more of work-related topics. He was very formal and professional when he talks about work, and damn, his proud smile makes my heart pound every single time.

As we wait for the stew the boil, he pops a wine open and he gives me a fill.

"No coffee today?" I jested.

"It won't compliment the taste of our dinner." He bits his lower lip before putting the mouth of the wine glass on his lips. As he does, I remember how Zach does the same kind of habit before he grins, that lower lip biting. Maybe they are not that different.

I drank my fill and leaned on the sink beside him as we wait for the stew to cook.

"Adam."

"Yes?"

"When is the first time we met?"

"In the rain."

The thought of me and him under the shower the past week entered my mind and I felt amazed, my cheeks were hot too. It's just like under the rain, the kiss and all.

"That's awesome." He gazed at me with his cheeky grin and I licked my lips, kind of self-conscious of how I look right now. As we stare at one another, the tension that was already there ignited and in the flash of a second. His lips and mine are already onto one another, fervently clashing as his arms circle on my waist. His tongue and mine wrestle with one another and my arms was draped above his shoulder. My fingers brushed onto his soft grey hair and I gently tugged on it and a deep groan came out from his throat, it was so hot to hear. His hand moves behind my head and he tilts it as he slides his hot tongue from my mouth into my neck. I moaned and he pulled me even closer to his body, and I can feel a hard bulge from his pants, touching my navel. Fuck.

He planted soft wet kisses to my neck and my head leaned back on its own as his lips touch my collarbone.

"Eve." Adam placed both his palm on my cheek and places his forehead on mine while controlling our ragged breaths down. I held his hand on my cheek and closed my eyes, feeling the warmth that calms down the heat in my body. Moments like these feel precious to me, especially with Adam, but it's kind of hard to restrain yourself when your libido already heightened too much. "Why can't we just continue this? Why do you always have to stop?" I opened my eyes without letting go of his hand and he let out a faint smile before kissing my forehead.

"It takes a lot of power to control me, Eve. Just appreciate that." He let out a deep chuckle and I saw his Adam's apple bob up. Well, I'm damn controlling myself too, right now. He lands a peck on my lips and I rolled my eyes at him as I grin like a stupid kid. "I don't want you to regret me. I want to take you on wholly when your heart already made its decision, the decision of picking me, and me only." I sigh defeated and gave him the okay finger and he rolled his eyes at me as well. His mood swings are even worse than mine.

We began eating after and for every bite of the stew, my tongue sings of glory. "You cook better than me." I rub my tummy and yawn after having my delicious fill of dinner. He clicks his tongue and gets the dishes back to the sink and I follow him. "Let me do that." I bump my hips on him and he chuckled, and just stayed with me as I wash in the sink.

"Let's go out tomorrow night." I looked at him and he beaming at me with his arms crossed, and I put my lip in between my teeth, excited of what I just heard. "Okay," I answered like a little girl who got her first bouquet of roses and it was a very lovely invite from a very charming man. My Cheshire grin never left my lips even after I wash the dishes, and my cheeks already feel numb because of my foolish grin. I can feel Adam's gaze on me, and it made my heart flutter more. Gosh, haven't you been asked to date before, Eva? Stop being so easy. I whispered to myself but my squealing persona kept doing its own thing on keeping me flustered.

As I turn to look at him, he was grinning at me, and it was so damn hot and roguish. I blow some air inside my cheeks and he squishes it with his palm until all the air goes out. "So cute." He laid a kiss on my lips and I was turning into a noodle. I swat him away and squish my own cheek.

"You're making me feel like a teenage girl."

I shyly uttered, showing that I am embarrassed but I was fucking not, if I could, the mirrors would already have broken down out of my squealing.

"I noticed." His smug tone was there once again and I made a face at him, making his eyes squint. I want to spend more time with him. I think of various ways to keep both of us awake, but an erotic thought kept popping on my mind and it made my heart stop for every small move he does. Movie! Brushing and blowing away all the sexual stuff, I asked him to watch a movie with me and he just nodded.

****

It's already 12:25 AM and we are still watching 'The notebook' movie and I've been crying and sniffling. Adam was just eating popcorn, without any reaction at all, and he handed me a box of tissues earlier. Why is this so heartbreaking even when I don't have any relationship experience to tell? Adam was watching intently but doesn't seem to be affected at all.

"Aren't you a little bit affected by— "

"Shhh..." He places his forefinger in my lips to silence me as he grabs a handful of popcorn. I found it very funny as he does so, and I just kept myself in my place while I hug the pillow. As we finish the movie, he glances at me and grabbed my pillow away.

"No! That's mine."

His lips curl into a lop-sided smile, and the pillow disappeared from his hand. The memory of my childhood flashed in my mind when the mysterious man, Mr. Magician, also makes things vanish from his hand. I just smiled at the thought but it disappeared quickly when I remember how much that pillow is. "That was one of the first pillows I bought! It's expensive!" I gasped but he just shrugged and laid his head on my chest. "I'm the most expensive pillow right now." He is so adorable. I hugged onto my most expensive pillow while I laugh and it hits like home. I lied down and he does the same, he was laying on the side, with his head on my chest.

I woke up with Adam sleeping soundly on me and I brushed his hair as I watch him. His nose is pointed and his eyelashes were long. His brows are also grey with a tinge of dark ash; some freckles patch adoringly below his eye. I placed the tip of my finger on his nose but I retract immediately when he opened his eyes.

"Good morning."

He propped his elbow and out me in between as he slid upward so that his face can go closer to mine. I haven't brushed my teeth yet. I sucked my lips in with a smile and he smirks, before he kisses me, slipping his tongue in. The kiss was slow and it was enough to brighten up my morning.

"Good morning, Eve." His minty breath never changes and it was so soothing to my nose.

Today is Sunday, so I only need to go to the office in the morning to check out the office, and Adam left as well after the shower. I checked the computer in the office and sent some requests for the HQ to process the files that I emailed. There are only few people in the Publishing today, but Kate and Cathlyn are here, so I decided to join them for lunch before going to the mall to find an outfit for tonight. I have a date. I was biting my lip too hard to hide my excitement. I was about to go out when my phone vibrated. It was Zach so I picked up immediately.

"Zach, hi. Is there a problem?"

"Hey, babe. Nothing, I'm just going to ask how you are doing?" His voice was sweet even when he is over the phone.

"I'm okay, dummy. Uhm—Adam and I are going out tonight..." I whisper by the phone and I heard a huff.

"Yea, okay."

I sigh of relief, I thought we're still going to have an argument about it, but he and Adam seemed quite cool with one another, I wonder how.

"You should go out on a date too." I laughed and he let out a hmm sound before speaking again.

"Where are you right now?"

"In the office, Kate and Cathlyn are going to have lunch with me, then I'm gonna go buy some dress..." I hid my giggle but failed.

"You seem excited." Zach's voice was deeper and I sway my feet side to side as I tell him how nervous I am.

"I don't know really. I don't understand it well myself, like how tangled my feelings are with Adam."

He laughed from the phone by I heard his voice outside my office door, before it opens. "I don't know if I should be happy about that or what?"

I put my palm on my face as Zach showed up by my office with a beam on his face. He was wearing a long brown jacket with a white turtle neck beneath it. "You look decent today." I raised my eyebrows at him and hang up the phone.

"When have I not?" His perfect grin was so infectious that it made me smile as well. He pats my head twice before he sits down on the couch. I watch him carefully and his hair was scruffy, some of the strands of his brown hair are on his forehead before he brushes it to the side again.

"Your hair is still wet though." I went near him and brush some of his damp strands and he just stares at me, making me somehow flustered for sorts. Is that an earring? His right ear has a small shiny circular earring with a unique design and I leaned down to look at it.

"I didn't know you have this type of earring." An image flashes in my mind like I have seen this earring before. I've seen that before. I raised to touch it but Zach grabbed my wrist and I realize that our face was so close.

"Don't lean too close to me, Eva." His green emerald eyes were serious and I stand up immediately, sucking my lips in. Zach looks handsome, and this kind of style suits him too. Adam comes to your mind and you remember your kiss earlier, making you slap yourself. His eyes widen and you smiled awkwardly at him.

"When did you get here, Zach?"

"I had a meeting with a friend, but as soon as I heard you said lunch on the phone, I changed my course to here, for free food." He rests his back on the couch and I smirk at him.

"Darn that, you wear this good kind of clothes and you still want me to treat you some expensive food."

He chortled before standing up to get my bag from me. He's always a gentleman. Your heart constricted in the thought of you being unfair to Zach but it vanishes when he embraces you all of a sudden.

"Don't frown." I closed my gaping eyes when he tightened his embrace, making me feel safest.