Finally, it was like there was a sanctuary for both of them. Like the best elixir for the most fatal potion that used to kill them.
Gallantly, Jericho released her and touched her face, clearing away the tears and the hair strands that covered her face.
“I’ve been missing you, you know that?” Jericho cried and looked her in the eye. And then, there was an aching for a loving kiss. He didn’t care if there were too many people in the shop.
Sophia closed her eyes as Jericho leaned forward to kiss her. His mouth was hard. His body was hard too. Hard enough with the plea of possession. But it was all genuine. And timeless. Like the glittering antiques around them.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to visit you in prison,” Sophia cried too, just after they shared passionate kisses.
“I understand…” Jericho held her hands, still gazing through her ocean-blue eyes, as if he was plunging into the depths of their young love, once more. Everything from their past was on fire again. So fresh and gentle. Rewarding and beautiful.
Sophia, too, felt like drowning in euphoria at that moment. Every heartache was gone. She felt safe again—with Jericho—her forever-heaven-on-earth.
The times they were apart were only a matter of days but for them, it was like an eternity. And at this moment, it felt like they were gaining back the times they lost.
As she leaned into the strength of his arms, Jericho was yearning to ask her out. “I’d like to take you out for dinner,” he said, with great eagerness in his voice.
In an instant, Sophia was caught in a pause, thinking. She should be home by six. And she couldn’t decide right away.
“I…” She was faltering.
Jericho halted to read her mind and withdrew his offer, with dawning knowledge. “I almost forgot, you must be grounded.”
The sadness in his voice depressed Sophia. She wanted it, too. She ached so much for more moments with him, but it was like asking for the sun to settle in the east.
“I’ll take you home, now. My car is in the parking lot.” Jericho then offered, noticing that the surrounding was turning dark. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your parents won’t see me,” he reassured, and Sophia nodded in agreement.
To Sophia’s shock, Jericho’s new car was burning red, and it was the one she saw last night. It wasn’t a hallucination, after all.
“Were you watching me last night?” Sophia asked him. “I saw the same car outside the house.”
Jericho breathed in heavily and admitted, “Yes, Sophia. The moment I left jail, I decided to follow you again.” He breathed deeply again and continued, “For you, I’m going to the break all the rules. And if I’m going back to jail, I will face it with all bravery. Being with you is the only thing that matters to me now…” The way he delivered those words was full of majesty, chivalry, and desire. And it moved her deeper.
Sophia had no energy to object to him, and only a heart to thank him. Though she knew both of them were breaking the agreement, she was choosing to be with him, too. The two of them went foolish, for each other. They were foolish for love.
The next morning, Sophia felt like chains had just been removed from every part of her body. It was another season to blossom. She checked her cell phone, and it was already swarming with love-and-reassurance-messages—all from Jericho.
Then, she prepared for school and went downstairs to join her family for breakfast. The following day, she would turn seventeen.
“Oh, there she is, our birthday girl,” her grandparents, who extended their stay in the house, and announced in a lively voice, as everyone on the table gawked at her.
Sophia displayed a wide smile and sat down on her chair. She was glowing. Pleased and lively. For her, all the family misunderstandings had finally been washed off.
“Advance happy birthday, sweetie.” Her mother arose from her chair to kiss her on the cheeks, and everyone else followed.
Sophia accepted everyone’s kisses and absorbed herself with their loving, early greetings. She wished she could stay in that moment, endlessly. It felt like things were falling back into place now.
Then, she managed to consume a quick bowl of cereal and then hurried to school with Alex.
Arriving in school, now with Zarah, Anne went to them and excitedly announced the upcoming student body elections. It was a fast talk kind of thing that ended with convincing Alex to run for presidency, then they parted ways for their respective classes.
Sophia and Zarah had some small talk as they headed to their Economics class, when they met Enzo at the staircase. Its wooden steps, as everyone believed, was haunted since the place served as refuge during the Spanish-American War (and as a graveyard for the Philipdomian female slaves who were abused during the Japanese occupation in World War II). And this was what Zarah used to scorn, during their small talk, when Enzo approached.
“Right, I think I’m having some goose bumps.” Zarah excused herself to go to the lady’s room, and at this, Sophia had to apologize.
Faking a smile, Enzo sustained and attempted to greet Sophia a Happy Birthday in advance.
“Thank you.” Sophia tried to sound casual, but she was caught up with surprise. She didn’t expect that Enzo would come to her, especially when she was with Zarah. The two were each other’s greatest nemesis.
Her shock and Zarah’s walk-out scene gave Enzo the courage to continue speaking. “You are aware you’re turning seventeen, right?” The usual Enzo tried to act cool. He had to play nice with this before the return of the terrorist-best friend. Zarah.
“Yes, everyone has been telling me.” Sophia was looking gratified. “Thank you. But I’m not sure though if I’m throwing a party. It’s up to the people around me to decide.” Sophia shrugged and accompanied it with a modest laugh.
“Like they are the ones in control?” Enzo laughed, too, and dismissed it quickly upon Zarah’s return.
Sophia grabbed her cellphone from her leather sling bag to read some more of Jericho’s messages. It was the last class of the day. Aside from the warm messages she’d received from him earlier, there were also cautions of not telling it to her parents. Just for now, while everything else was fresh and he was still searching for solutions to the problem.
A drum roll played in Sophia’s heart when the last message from him read,
I’d like to see you later. After class.
Face afire, Sophia struggled to breathe. A part of her was aching for it but the whole of her was objecting it. Of course, she got excited—a lot—but was held up when she remembered her parents. They were sweet to her this morning, and this was tearing her apart.
I’m sorry, I can’t.
Her response was complemented with a sting of regrets… and hopes that he might be demanding in asking her. She was also thinking of the possibilities.
Why not?
It was now pushing Sophia to the edge. Good heavens, how could she ever say no to the man she loved the most? But this was not what she bargained for. Not this way.
In the middle of her pause to answer Jericho, Sophia didn’t realize that Zarah was watching silently, beside her, so she shoved her cell phone back to her bag and pretended to listen to the lecture.
“Is Alex taking you home? Or you’re going on a cab?” Zarah asked Sophia, after the class.
The questions made Sophia brood over. If she would take a cab, there was a bigger chance she would meet Jericho. So she picked the second one.
“I’ll probably go on a cab,” Sophia said. “You and Alex need more time together,” she added and kissed her best friend goodbye. Outside, as she exited the school grounds alone, a call put her to a stop. It was from Jericho, and she was too fast in answering it.
“Turn to your right,” he said, as if he was watching her.
In total wonder, Sophia followed his order and to her massive surprise, Jericho was standing at the parking lot, leaning against his shining red Camaro car. He was wearing a black
leather jacket and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, and he was undeniably… gorgeous. Way too gorgeous. Like a Divinity of Charm or something.
Sophia’s jaw almost dropped. She didn’t know how to react, then. But there was this urge to run fast to him and hug him oh so tightly and indulge herself.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, still on the phone, and was distracted when the rest of the high school girls were starting to scrutinize Jericho, as though he was a movie star.
“Tomorrow’s your birthday. I wanna make sure I can take you to a dinner before anyone else can,” he said, sounding very sweet and hypnotic.
That tad of flirtation had already turned Sophia completely red. And weak. There was no way out to be in denial now and she walked over to him slowly, like in those romantic movies.
To Jericho, it wasn’t night time yet but he was already witnessing the stars of the night. Sophia appeared majestic, glowing under the golden rays of the setting sun.
She rested herself to him, and Jericho was accepting enough to receive her. She found her asylum again. For a while, she immersed herself into him, and so did he.
Their bodies shared the same warmth, and exchanged energies. He became her strength, as she became his weakness.
Jericho bestowed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and wrapped her further. They could feel each other’s breath. And every heartbeat never failed to prove their love for each other.
“Please, do me some favor, Sophia.” Gallantly, he spoke to her and unleashed her, still looking in her eyes. “Please, go to dinner with me. I’ve found a perfect place for you.”
The look in his eyes was impossible to refuse. She nodded agreeably and entered his car gracefully.
Jericho took her to the last place they had a date: the open garden restaurant by the sea cliff, the ever perfect place to remind them of Bo Lake in Forest Green, where they were always secretly playing when they were younger. But this time, the place was surrounded with neon lights, enhanced by the romantic version of their childhood favorite song: Heaven by Bryan Adams.
“I know I’m not allowed in your birthday party tomorrow so I thought that we can celebrate it earlier,” Jericho whispered to Sophia, right after the waiters served them exclusively. They were seated beside each other.
Sophia turned motionless and even more when Jericho brought out a small jewelry box, wrapped with a perfectly laced red ribbon. “Happy birthday, My Love.” Jericho brought himself closer and asked her not to open it tonight but on the day of her birthday itself.
My Love. It was the first time he called her that, but Sophia was brimming with too much mixed emotions she couldn’t thank him enough. Or express back her loving too. Yes, she did feel excited to know what was in the small box, but she had to follow his instruction.
“You’ve always loved me, haven’t you?” Jericho, out of the blue, asked her as though his question was intended to challenge her. “Even though… you lost your memory.” The despair in the last part made his voice sound low and sensitive.
Sophia was staring at him for a while and then she said, “It’s because my love for you is not a memory, Jericho. It has been encoded deep into every fiber of my being.”
The loveliness of it all made him suddenly clasp her. “I love you, Sophia.” He gathered her into his arms as if she were some personal property, never to be stolen, and held her tight. “And I beg of you to always remember that.” He almost cried after finishing the statement.
“Jericho…” Sophia’s eyes could almost reveal the stinging tears, too. Her voice was so soft and small that Jericho could barely hear her.
“Seventeen, huh?” Jericho spoke again, so delicately, like it was a sign of relief and… more. “One more year and I can marry you.” He locked his eyes into hers and wished for her to have the same hope, hope as big as his.
Strength suddenly escaped Sophia’s body, and she had nothing to do but return a loving stare. Those words of his were beyond blissful. And he appeared as though a young lad before a princess, asking for a happily ever after in a kingdom faraway. But without the king’s approval.
Silence vanquished Sophia for a moment, except for the pounding of her heart. She did feel pleased he had always wanted no one but her. She knew Jericho could be so much more than a friend and lover, and she didn’t care of other things, just now. She turned fragile as a bubble.
“Let me kiss you,” he asked as his lips were almost on Sophia’s.
His kiss was tender, more magical than the heavens or the enchanting sea-breeze of the Pacific Ocean.
The burning passion lingered for a moment. He touched her in little ways, and she could almost cry with the loveliness of it all.
Bit by bit, Sophia opened her eyes. She hated to ruin a wonderful moment but he couldn’t help but see her check her wrist watch. It was too dark to come home now.
“Please, spend more time with me,” Jericho pleaded. He couldn’t get enough of her. “Only just for now…” He attempted to stop her worries by stealing another kiss. But this time, on the forehead.
Sophia shot a forced smile and nodded silently.
“Your parents are really controlling.” He managed to say.
“You. Have. No. Idea.” The way she delivered those four words sounded like the longest prose to Jericho. “And sometimes…” she sighed, “Sometimes, I feel like,” she heaved another sigh, “Sometimes, I feel like I’m a prisoner, and I get tired of it.” At last, she’d finished saying it.
“Like you’re Rapunzel or something?” Unexpectedly, Jericho threw a not-so-good gag at her. He didn’t want to see her gloomy. He wanted her to smile. But playing the comedian was just not his strong point.
It was quite fruitful, though. Sophia smiled. And she also prodded him in the chest—light-heartedly—and she was now on the move to kiss him. She wanted to feel the same passion again, and she clung to him powerfully.
In return, Jericho held her body even closer and kissed her in the most luscious way he could. They fed on one another. And he did a thorough job biting her lips. Fireworks might have been around but then…
“Unbelievable! This is so unbelievable! I knew it!” A familiar, cold voice suddenly distracted them. It was Elizabeth’s, and she was with Philippe!
Fireworks turned into a bomb! And exploded, just as Jericho and Sophia almost died of shock and fear!
“So, this is the reason why you did not come home early today, huh?” Elizabeth stepped forward to challenge them, looking lethal at Sophia. “Just in case you two, are wondering how we found you here… well, there’s a thing called GPS these days.” Elizabeth’s eyes were on fire as though Sophia could burn at any moment. “And your father made sure it was working on your cell phone, honey.”
The two were still motionless. If a while ago they were melting on each other, this time they had become solidified.
“I guess we should act educated here.” Elizabeth then slowed down, still sounding very daring. “Do you mind if we join you, Dr. Leivinhyde?” She was now sending Jericho some red light signals. If they were in a trial court, Jericho could be found guilty already. Sentenced to death. Effective immediately. Before a firing squad. And he would be gone! Forever! Problem solved for Sophia’s parents, especially for Elizabeth! And for Grandma Lucy, too.
But in spite of it, Jericho managed to regain his thoughts and gather himself together, even though he didn’t know how to start apologizing. He totally looked undignified; all blame was upon him.
Sophia couldn’t move a muscle, could not even dare to breathe. She was trembling and knew she was judged guilty too.
“Honey, why don’t we join them?” Elizabeth asked Philippe, quite sarcastic with her grin, and saw the small gift in her daughter’s hand. Her fright went up thinking it was something, so he could get Sophia to hook up, like a ring, so she acted even colder.
Philippe agreed, but he managed to be easy with the situation.
“So, Dr.
Leivinhyde… I thought you’re in Forest Green, behind bars!” Elizabeth was not careful with her mouth. She was too straightforward. “You have the nerve to come back here and play dirty with my…” she paused searching for the words, “with my disobedient and sexually-motivated daughter!” Elizabeth made sure she stressed it hard on her daughter, disappointed by how Sophia climbed Jericho, as if she was a stripper.
It shrunk Sophia to the smallest bit. She felt she was more undignified than Jericho.
“I think you two have forgotten the agreement.” Elizabeth leaned forward to remind them, her eyes rolling like hell. “That you, Sophia,” she pointed to Sophia, “will go back here, to Orlando, and you, Jericho,” she shifted to Jericho, passing the stare of a killer, “will stay in Forest Green and forget Sophia! As simple as that!”
Still, there were no words from the two. Even Philippe was silent. It seemed that the whole confrontation was only directed by Elizabeth.
“So, after this... where? Could it be in a hotel,” Elizabeth was playing the insulting role, “a resort…or perhaps, a motel?”
It was too much. And that was the time when Philippe butted in.
“We’re going home now,” he said. His head was bowed down, but not bowed as low, compared to the two.
Sophia felt too damaged to face her father and explain herself to him. She had completely failed him. Again. And it was crushing her.
CHAPTER 13
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sophia’s birthday
“Happy Birthday!” Sophia was hearing Jericho’s weary voice through the phone. It was still three o’clock in the morning, and she was still up, sank crying onto the edge of her bed, her life hanging in the balance. Later, she was about to make the biggest regret of her life.
“Thank you.” It was ages before she whispered back these words. Aside from the most painful punishments she’d received from her mom earlier, Grandma Lucy had also visited her for her seventeenth birthday. And the latter, knowing about her disobedience to the agreement, could put her and Jericho to peril.