Zein's Point of View
I was startled when my phone vibrated on the side table. I glanced at my sister, who was still sound asleep, before grabbing it. Seeing Ace's name on the screen instantly chased away any lingering drowsiness. My hand shook as I pressed the answer button and moved toward the window, away from the sleeping Allison.
"Hello?" I whispered.
I heard a heavy sigh on the other end. I checked the wall clock: 5:00 AM.
"Darling..." he whispered, his voice low and raspy.
"Hey, why are you calling so early?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat. Why call now after all the silence?
"I think I'm going crazy, Zein. Damn it. I couldn't wait another few hours to see you."
I frowned, confused. He wasn't supposed to pick me up until noon. "Are you okay?"
"Sshh... look outside."
I pulled back the curtain and peeked down. There he was, leaning against his car, looking up at my window. Even in the pre-dawn light, I could see the familiar twinkle in his eyes and the ghost of a smile on his lips.
"What are you doing out there?"
I didn't wait for an answer. I threw on my shoes and crept out of the room, my heart hammering against my ribs. I practically flew down the stairs and out the door.
"Waiting for you," he said simply as I approached.
The cold morning wind hit me, but I barely felt it. I stood a few meters away, phone still to my ear, staring at him. He looked tired, his eyes drooping slightly, but he was here.
"What are you doing?!" I breathed. "Aren't you going to hug me?"
I wanted to run to him, but my knees felt like jelly. I was paralyzed by the sheer weight of how much I had missed him.
"Ace... I can't move."
I heard his soft, melodic laugh. He tilted his head, examining me with an innocent, playful look—the kind that made it impossible to believe he could ever do anything wrong.
"You want a kiss?" he asked.
"Hell, yes! Please."
I didn't care about being cool. I missed his touch, his scent, everything. I wanted his lips on mine more than I wanted my next breath.
"Let's make a deal," he said, still keeping that small distance between us. "If you can take three steps toward me... I'll kiss you. Just three steps, Zein. No more, no less."
I blinked. I measured the distance. It was at least six or seven normal steps. Even if I leaped, I couldn't cover that gap in just three steps. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"You just don't want to kiss me, do you?" I teased.
He shrugged. "Fine. Deal," I said, determined.
I took one large step. Then I stopped. I couldn't take my eyes off his lips. I bit my lip and tried to jump forward for the second step.
Ace laughed. "Darling, you don't look like a kangaroo. You look like a newborn frog."
I scowled, genuinely annoyed now. He was teasing me, and it was working perfectly. "Then kiss me, and maybe I'll turn into a princess."
He shook his head and pocketed his phone, folding his arms over his chest. "Come on. You have one step left."
I mirrored his stance, folding my arms. "You think I want to kiss you that badly?" I said with a fake laugh.
I wanted it desperately, but his composure was infuriating. How can you be so calm, Ace? Am I not charming enough? I started to doubt myself, feeling the sting of the distance.
"Really?" he asked. He slowly licked his upper lip.
My breath hitched. He was seducing me. Ace Craige knew exactly what he was doing to me.
"Zein..." he whispered, his voice dropping into a sexy, low register. He bit his lower lip.
That was it. I broke. I gave up on the "three steps" and walked the rest of the way to him. His eyes widened, but he didn't retreat.
"You didn't do it," he said, laughing as I came to a halt right in front of him.
"I can't do three damn steps with that distance," I muttered, looking up into his eyes. "But let me tell you a three-word story instead: I love you."
I leaned in, and our lips crashed together. He instantly wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him. My knees gave out, but he held me firm. His kiss was intoxicating—an answer to every doubt and every lonely hour of the past few days.
We finally pulled apart just enough to breathe, our foreheads resting against each other.
"Nice," he murmured. "I love your kisses, but I don't know how to be satisfied with just one."
He claimed my lips again, more passionately this time. I felt him lift me slightly, sitting me back against the hood of his car. His mouth moved to my jaw, sending jolts of electricity through me.
"Ace... damn," I cursed softly as his kisses trailed down to my neck.
I felt a sharp, sudden sensation on my skin. He pulled back, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What was that for?!" I gasped, touching the spot on my neck.
"So they know someone already owns you, Zein. And that person is me. You're all mine, and I don't know how to share."
I reached for him again, my mind spinning. He had marked me. There was definitely going to be a hickey there, but in that moment, I didn't care. I was his.
Allison's Point of View
I watched them from the window. They were so lost in each other, so clearly in love. It made the knot of fear in my chest tighten.
The secrets we were keeping... if they came out, would this beautiful moment shatter? I knew Zein was understanding, but everyone has a breaking point.
"I don't want this," a voice whispered behind me.
I turned to see Aunt Mira. She was watching them too, a sad smile on her face.
"Tita..."
"How long are we going to keep this hidden?" she asked, her voice heavy with guilt. "I feel like a criminal."
My chest constricted. "It's not just you, Auntie. I don't know how to face him anymore. The more time passes, the bigger the lie becomes."
I felt my lips tremble. I was being unfair to Zein. He deserved to know the truth, but the words were stuck in my throat, paralyzed by the fear of losing him.
"You should be scared, Allison," Aunt Mira said softly.
I looked back at the driveway, watching Zein laugh as Ace whispered something in her ear.
"I know," I replied, a bitter tear escaping. "But I'm just so scared. I don't know if he'll ever forgive me. Truths like this... they destroy everything."
I promised to protect her, yet I was the one holding the weapon that could hurt her the most. And it wasn't just Zein. There was someone else—someone who would hate me for what I'd done. Someone whose smile would disappear the moment the truth came out.
I wanted to run away. I wanted to hide from the inevitable explosion, but I knew that was the coward's way out. I had to stay. I had to face the consequences of my mistakes.
"Lux... Baby... Baby, I'm sorry," I whispered to the empty air.