Totally Devoted

by Wanitta Praks

  I opened my mouth in horror. “Gio, how could you say that? I’m your fiancée. I should think I’m worth more than three million dollars.”

  I pulled away from him, my face scrunched up in annoyance.

  I turned to get off his lap when my world tilted and I ended up back on the floor, with Giovanni’s heavy body pressing on top of me.

  “Why do you look so sad? I was only joking. You did start out as my three million dollars.”

  “Well, it’s true though. If I’m not your fiancée, would I have to pay back that three million dollars?”

  “Jay, why are you even asking that question? Do you plan on having an affair behind my back?” And then he gazed at me rather suspiciously. “Do you have a guy hiding in your closet?”

  “Sheesh, stop with the affair and the man hiding in the closet thing already. The only thing I have in the closet are my clothes and yours. And plus, why should I have an affair when I’m already happily having an affair with you.”

  “Damn right you should only be having an affair with me.” He kissed me subtly and passionately as his apology. When we parted, I said, “You know, we really should learn how to communicate better.”

  “Damn right, we should.”

  “Totally.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Absolutely. Any more adverbs we can add to this?”

  “No. I can’t think of one.”

  “Well, I’m sorry about before.” I fiddled with his shirt collar again. “But regarding my sister, I don’t think it’s right for her to move so far away from us.”

  “Jay, you have got to remember how we rescued her from Lorenzo. She’s not safe here if she stays in America. Lorenzo has people working all over the states, and in no time, he’d trace where she’s been, and he will come hunting for her. Mark my word. The only safe place for her is good old New Zealand. It’s quiet, secluded, and far away from his people. I fucking doubt he’d look for her there, anyway. Lorenzo’s power doesn’t reach across the Pacific Ocean.”

  “Well, that’s good to know. But I suppose if she wanted to get as far away as possible from here, there’s also the possibility of Antarctica, but that wouldn’t be feasible given it’s like a blizzard every day, plus living with six months of daylight and six months in the darkness could drive anyone up the roof. And my sister is no exception. So good old New Zealand it has to be,” I muttered to myself. “But I’ll miss her.”

  “And I’ll miss you, if you leave.”

  “But you’ll be fine. It’ll only be like a year or two. Until she’s strong enough again.”

  “Jay, I think you’re underestimating your sister. She’s a strong woman. For a person to come out of that hellhole and still stand up like that, she’s fucking strong.”

  “And that’s why I wanted to help her. She survived that hellhole. Leaving her alone would be too much of a risk. She’s too vulnerable right now.”

  “Jay. How can I explain this to you? This is what she wanted. She said she wants to stand up on her own two feet again.”

  “But—”

  “This is what she wants.”

  “She said that?”

  “You can talk to her.”

  “If that’s what she wanted, then I respect her decision. But I can go visit her?”

  “Totally.”

  “Like every three months?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Then I’ll go—”

  Giovanni dragged me back into his lap. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “To go talk to Amelia now. She should be in her room.”

  “Don’t you talk enough to your sister already? You talk to her during the morning, afternoon, dinner, even at night. She’s not the only one needing attention.” And he suddenly lifted me up, carrying me like his bride to God knows where.

  “Wow, Gio. Where are you taking me?” I screeched, my hands winding around his neck for support.

  “To our bedroom. I need attention.”

  “No, Gio. It’s broad daylight. The guys are around the corner. This is so embarrassing.”

  “I never heard you complain when we’re fucking. Now you’re embarrassed?”

  “But, Gio.” In one ear and out the other. He ravished me like a starved beast, and by the time he was done, I was thoroughly devoured in places I dare not mention. Once we regained strength again, I said, “Hey, Gio. Thanks for helping my sister. I owe you big time.”

  “Don’t worry. That’s an additional payment.”

  “Really?” I asked seductively. “And how should I repay you?”

  “By staying by my side and loving me more and more each day. By creating memories with me and never forgetting me.”

  His words touched my heart, and my lips worried. “I may have forgotten you in the past, but I promise you that from this day forward, I’ll cherish all our memories. I’ll get a diary and start writing our memories down. I’ll film us, so we can store those memories on a hard drive. And if one day we grow old and I lose my memory, I’ll have this backup data. But most importantly, this here,” I placed his palm flat on my chest. “Can you feel my heart beating? This here is the databank of our memory. My heart here would never forget you. I am utterly, fully, completely… uh, what are other adverbs I can use…oh yeah, and totally, totally devoted to you.”

  “Jay, you are making me crazy with your silly proses. Every day you surprise me. Every day you make me love you more. And I am so totally and fucking utterly devoted to you, too.”

  “Really?” I asked. And he confirmed, with that signature side smirk of his, before we sealed our lips together.

  “Absolutely. Totally fucking devoted.”

  Epilogue 1

  My One and Only

  Two Months Later

  * * *

  I dotted the i’s and crossed all the t’s, just in time for the bell to ring, indicating that the exam had drawn to a close. Not a second ticked by before paper rustled and the sounds of feet shuffled out the exam hall. I jetted out of my seat, too, passing the exam paper to the front desk, and flew out the door, screeching to a halt when a crowd of first-year students blocked my way. But that didn’t deter me. I plowed through the condensing crowd like a bulldozer on a field of cornflower. Either they made way for me or I’d knock them off their feet.

  Nothing would stop me from my world of freedom. My exam was over, and for two whole months, I wouldn’t have to think about school again.

  Fresh air whipped my face the second I stepped outside. The summer was here, and I couldn’t wait to go on vacation. I glanced at my watch, the one Giovanni had given me for my birthday.

  Thinking my sister must be up and awake at this hour, I speed-dialed her number. Three heartbeats later, she picked up the call.

  “Morning, Jen.” The voice of my sister whiffed into my ear, and I smiled, my cell phone tucked under one ear, while my hands were busy shoving papers and pens into my backpack. “How did it go?”

  She remembered. She knew I’d call her after I finished my exam.

  “I think I aced it,” I replied cheerfully, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

  “You think?” my sister asked in that nagging tone of hers, and I found I missed this, her nagging at me because I knew she only wanted the best for me. “Please tell me you studied for your exam last night?”

  And her last sentence caught me off guard.

  Last night?

  Last night. Hahaha…

  Gosh! I was bad at lying. The memory of last night flashed before my eyes like a flash of lightning, making me also forget to breathe. Last night was epic. Last night was spectacular. If only I didn’t almost run late for class, then last night would have to be the best night of my life.

  Last night, I’d told Giovanni that I specifically have an exam the next day. And what was his response? He explicitly explained to me that I must relax, offering me the advice he always lived by.

  Stress before the exam would do me more harm than good.

 
And what did we do last night? He thoroughly made love to me twice, saying that this was the only remedy to relieve stress. I was so out of energy that today I’d almost woken up late.

  Of course, being the perfect fiancé that he was, he said he’d shoulder the responsibility and drive me to school. Of course, I’d told him not to, or else the whole school would be in an uproar. A red Maserati parked at the front gate of campus? What an eyesore. No way, Jose. I’d rather let Bobby take me. At least he wouldn’t cause a scene. Giovanni would shine too much. And I was reluctant to show him off to my peers. Whatever I did in my personal life was my business. No one needed to know.

  And so I’d bounced off the bed, washed myself up, and hurriedly ate breakfast and made it just on time before being disqualified for the test. Luckily, I did well, or else I would berate Giovanni for making me fail my test.

  “Jen, are you there?” My sister’s voice woke me up from my daydream, and I geared back to reality.

  “I’m here, sorry, what did you say?”

  “I said, have you studied for your test?”

  “Of course I did. Who do you think I am, Mel? You know how smart your sister is. I will pass. I know it. I feel good after the test so I’m fifty percent sure I’ll pass.”

  “Only fifty percent?”

  “Ha-ha, make that seventy percent. Don’t worry, I didn’t have trouble answering any of the questions, so I’ll ace for sure.”

  “Good,” she said, her voice a bit quieter than normal. She sounded a bit off. Maybe life in New Zealand wasn’t what she had expected. But she had to get away. It was safer for her there.

  “You okay, Mel?”

  “Yeah. Just miss you and I’m a bit tired. What time is it over there?”

  “Close to three p.m. now.”

  “It’s seven a.m. here.”

  “That early?” I blasted out and hoped I didn’t blast her eardrum, too. “Oops, sorry. Didn’t mean to shout so loud. Just surprised, that’s all. I’m so sorry for calling you at this hour. I was just too excited, and I missed you. You wanna go back to sleep? I’ll end the call now.”

  “That’s fine, Jen. I couldn’t sleep anyway. It was good that you called. I missed you too.”

  I…something was clearly wrong.

  “Mel, are you okay? Did you…” My words were left unspoken, but she clearly knew what I was talking about, and clearly this subject was a sensitive one for her. After what she had experienced with Nikolas Lorenzo, who wouldn’t end up with scars.

  When I thought back about our circumstances, each of us almost experienced the same fate. Both being sold to mafia bosses; both had lived with the mafia bosses for over four months. But our similarities ended there. Whereas she silently endured all the torment Nikolas bestowed upon her, I had Giovanni who cherished and adored me. Even though I was his maid in the beginning, I never did suffer any misdeed or misconduct by him. Listening to my sister’s story always made my heart bleed, and at this very moment I wanted to jump on a plane and fly over the Pacific Ocean just so I could be there next to her and comfort her, tell her that it’s okay because we’re family and I was here to help. I’d lay on her lap, with her gently stroking my hair while she’d tell me stories of what she’d been up to while we were apart. Gosh, I missed her.

  Giovanni was right. Amelia was far safer in New Zealand than here, where Nikolas and his men could easily track her down and hurt her again. She was in a better place now. But that still didn’t stop that gnawing feeling inside my heart, knowing that she must be so lonely over there without any friends around.

  Amelia wasn’t always like this. She was always surrounded my friends. Everyone loved her. Men, women, all of them were her friends. She was the star of her whole school. And her beauty wasn’t just the main factor that determined her popularity. It was because she was so damn kind and sweet. Soft gentle spoken words, like an English rose.

  How I wished I could go live with her, at least to help ease her loneliness, but she had firmly held her decision, demanding that I stay with Giovanni. This was her life, and she chose this path. She said my life was my own road to take.

  Sometimes, I wished our fate could be reversed. I was sure I wouldn’t take crap from a guy like Nikolas. But then again, I might not even survive that long anyway, what with my outlandish personality. Nikolas would surely kill me on the first day I opened my mouth. He looked like the type of guy who wouldn’t stand a person like me.

  My sister was strong. She was so unlike me. Such a resilient person, strong like a mountain, yet so soft, like Mother Earth, with a heart as warm as the sun. Nothing could break her, but I feared the experience she’d gone through with Nikolas Lorenzo had already changed her. I just hoped she’d find her own happiness soon. Maybe she’d meet a guy in New Zealand and fall in love. That would be nice. At least she could forget about that awful experience with Nikolas.

  “I miss you,” I told her. “I want to go see you.”

  “Don’t be silly, Jen,” she chided me. “You have more tests, right?”

  “Nope. I’m done. That was the last one. And I will be taking that flight to see you next week.”

  “Send me the details later. I’ll pick you up.”

  “Will do.”

  “So what else have you been up to since I moved here?”

  “Oh, nothing much. But I have some gossip about Crispin.” And I started rambling on about my friend and his new job at Café Love Sick.

  Amelia listened intently. After I finished my story, she quietly said in a voice I almost couldn’t hear, “I’m going to go now.”

  And my worry came back with a fierce punch. “Mel, are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m okay, Jen. I’m just tired, that’s all. We’ll talk tonight.”

  “Yes,” I said, wishing time could move faster so I could go see my sister sooner. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” And she hung up.

  I really hoped she was coping okay. In a week’s time I’d travel to New Zealand by myself. Well, to Cromwell to be precise. Gio wouldn’t be coming, so in a way, it would be quite exciting. Just me and my sister, together like old times. But still, I couldn’t help thinking there was something off with her.

  Maybe she really was tired since it was so early in the morning, and I had called her. Well, now she could rest.

  As I was about to shove my phone into my jeans pocket, it rang again. I was surprised to see it was from Giovanni. He didn’t usually call at this time of day. Around this time, he was usually in meetings with his underlings and businesspeople.

  A thought struck me. Maybe he wanted me to buy him dinner?

  Now that’s a funny thought. I never thought he’d ask me to buy him dinner again. Especially not with the seafood saga when I almost poisoned him to death six months ago. Remembering that thought cracked me up, and I almost laughed into the phone but managed to school myself before taking the call.

  “Hello, Gio,” I greeted him.

  “Jay. Where are you?” The voice of my man boomed right into my ear, making my heart race at an uneven rhythm. With Giovanni, there was never any pleasant greeting. It’s either a demand or an order. Not that I cared, because I found this particular trait of his to be so appealing.

  “At school,” I chirped back, my fingers going to touch the 500K ring around my neck. I got used to wearing it to school now, right under my shirt. Like I said, no one needed to know what was going on in my personal life.

  “Good. Come to the east entrance.”

  “Ahhhh? Why?” I was suspicious. Why to the east entrance, not that I wasn’t already heading that way, since that was the direction where Café Love Sick was located.

  I was planning to make a surprise visit to meet Crispin. He started working there as a waiter a few weeks back, just to help with tuition fees. Actually, I just wanted to catch up on the latest gossip between Dawson and him.

  Dawson was practically wooing Crispin, but Crispin being the hardheaded stubborn self that he was, re
fused outright, telling me in words I quote, “There’s no way I can like him. I’m as straight as a ruler.” To which I replied, “Some rulers are bendy.”

  Crispin only responded back by smacking his forehead in astonishment at the analogy I used. I was clearly only giving him advice like a true friend should.

  But maybe he was still in that denial stage. What could I say, he liked me for a long time, but being unable to return his feelings, he might have felt repressed. I wished I could love him more, but I couldn’t change my heart, just like he was so adamantly certain that Dawson wasn’t the one for him. But I had to respect his decision. If he didn’t like Dawson, then it’s too bad for Dawson. No matter what Crispin decided, I’d be standing by his side.

  “I’m waiting for you here.” Giovanni’s seductive voice lured me back to the present, and my legs reacted faster than my head. I sprinted straight to the east entrance, each step consuming the distance so fast, I saw him a minute later, his perfectly sculptured body in an Armani suit, long legs elegantly posed, body reclining back to rest against the red Maserati. He lifted up his hand, waving at me, his mouth smirking into a thin line I found almost snobbish at first, but now so endearing and adorable.

  Giovanni Dente. He’s my fiancé, my lover, my life, my everything. Although our story was like a paperback romance novel, so unreal in the beginning, when it came to the last page, everything all came together in a perfect bow.

  This summer I’d turned nineteen, and a chapter of my life had come to a close, but the future was yet uncertain. There may be obstacles in our lives, but we’d been through hell and back. We’d became friends, lost our ways through the road of life, but destiny had led us back into each other’s arms again.

  Giovanni Dente. He’s the man I love and the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Because I knew in this lifetime, no one could captivate me as much as he; no one could lure me as much as he. He intoxicated me and vowed to be devoted only to me and for this, he was my one and only.

  I ran to him, and he opened his arms wide, taking me in for a hug, so tight, I felt warm and cozy within his embrace.