Chapter 12: On Top Hughie was quick to get back on his feet and landed a punch on Mew's face. Mew almost fell to the floor but the guy he was kissing caught him as he was about to hit the ground. The people gasped. I tried to stop Mew but he was faster than me and returned a punch to Hughie. Now his lips were bleeding. I gave Mew an angry look. "Stop it, Mew! What the hell is wrong with you?" I shouted. Why did he suddenly punch Hughie? Seconds ago he was enjoying kissing the other guy. Now what? When Hughie recovered, he again threw a punch at Mew which now made his lips bleed too. He spit the blood. He was about to punch Hughie again but I stepped between them. Mew angrily stared at me but I returned the intensity of his stares. "Step aside," he said in gritted teeth. I did not follow his order. Instead, I gave him a challenging look. "I said step fucking aside!" he repeated. He was so furious the same way he was when Aron and I exchanged punches back in Maldives. The memory of how he sided with Aron was still vivid in my mind. Now my chest is starting to hurt again. "Or what?" I asked coldly. It made him more furious. He moved closer to me and made sure that our eyes leveled. Two inches closer and our noses would touch. I did not dare look away from him. "Or I'll fucking kill that son of a bitch!" His words sent shivers down my spine. He was dead serious. There was no hint of sarcasm on his tone and facial expression. His eyes reflected how serious he was when he said that. But I have to protect Hughie the way he protected me all these years. That is why I gathered my confidence even if my heart was racing. "Then you'll have to go through me first," I challenged him. He clenched his fists and his lips shivered. "Don't test me Gulf." The anger did not leave his eyes as they almost burned in flames. But I did not move. "You don't scare me, Mew," I bravely said. "If you want to punch Hughie, then you'll have to punch me first." "Don't. Fucking. Test. Me. Gulf." He gave each word emphasis. I managed to maintain a straight and angry face, but my knees were already feeling weak, wobbling with every passing second. "Then fucking punch me! What a coward!" He started taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself. I challenged him again. "What? Punch me! Go ahead and punch me!" I pushed him. "Fucking punch me, Mew! What are you waiting for?" "FUCK!" his voice thundered inside the bar. He turned his back and walked towards the exit. I watched him walk away. I sighed when he was out of sight. Now it was my turn to take deep breaths. I did not realize that I'm now sweating bullets. That was so intense! I turned to face Hughie who was now angrily staring at me. "What?" I asked him. "Why are you defending me? I can defend myself!" I can't believe he's angry with me! What is their problem with me? "Shut up. I've got no energy left to argue with you," I said weakly. Mew drained my energy. Hughie and I were both silent when we arrived at our condo unit. I was the one who drove the car because he was too drunk to drive. He left his car at the bar. I immediately headed to the comfort room's medicine cabinet for the first aid kit. When I got to the living room, he was staring angrily at the television while sitting om the couch. His eyebrows were crossed. I took out some cotton and put alcohol to it. And because I'm mad for their exchange of punches, I pressed the ball of cotton on the side of his lips in a firm manner. Mew is unbelievable! Hughie did not do anything to him but he suddenly punched him. "Ouch," Hughie complained. My eyebrows furrowed as I pressed the cotton even harder. "Gently please," he requested. "You were so brave earlier but now you're afraid of the alcohol and cotton?" "He started it. I just retaliated to defend myself." "Just because he did it first, it does not mean you should get back at him." I again pressed the cotton in a harsh manner. "Ouch. Slowly, Gulf. Okay, okay. Lesson learned." "Tss. Be thankful that I'm here to do this." Now who would attend to Mew's bruises? And why are you thinking about him now, Gulf? Let him be. He deserves it. A picture of the guy treating Mew's bruises inside his hotel room where he's staying came inside my head. My chest felt heavy at that thought. Hughie is silent but he maintained an angry look. While trying to treat his wound at the corner of his lips, I noticed that his expression changed. If he was angry earlier, now there was a hint of sadness and fear on his face. Hughie is still handsome as ever. But the sadness felt like a communicable disease that made me sad too. I wonder what's going on inside his head. "Will you leave me, Gulf?" he asked out of the blue. I stopped what I was doing. Where is this coming from? "What are you talking about?" My forehead wrinkled as I put down the ball of cotton. "I just thought that maybe he's here to claim you? He's still your husband after all." His voice was filled with sadness but he turned his hands into a fist. I am not sure if he's angry at Mew or at himself. "And what makes you think that I would go with him?" Hughie is starting to make my blood boil. What does he take me for? He smiled weakly. "Maybe you still have feelings for him." "What the hell are you talking about?" I spat. I can't believe he actually said that! "Chill. I'm just asking. Why are you angry?" he asked worriedly. "What kind of question is that? Of course I don't love him anymore because I love you." I reached for his hands. I thought about Mew. When I was with him, I felt nothing but pain and sorrow. But with Hughie, my heart is peaceful. But why is there a part of me that's longing for Mew? I did not see him in three years. There is a part of me that misses him. "You won't leave me then?" Hughie's beautiful eyes were hopeful. I focused my attention back to him and tried to stop thinking about Mew. Why do I keep thinking about him anyway? I am being a bad boyfriend to Hughie. I am an idiot. Just focus on Hughie, Gulf. Remember his efforts. "Of course I won't leave you. Stop thinking about that," I assured him. "Promise?" "I promise." He moved his head towards me and kissed my forehead. "That's good to hear. Because I don't know if I can continue living if you leave me." How can I leave someone so sweet like you, Hughie? When all you've done was be good to me? I rested my head on his chest and listened to the sound of his heartbeat. His heart was beating fast. He truly loves me. --- I woke up at almost lunch the following day. Good thing that my project for the day wasn't until afternoon. Hughie was not beside me anymore. He drained my energy last night. I think we had three rounds before we both finally got tired. My body feels so weak and I'm not sure if I can work today. Still, I forced myself out of bed and get dressed. Maybe I'll just eat at the set. I proceeded to the bathroom. My project for today is a photoshoot for a famous bed furniture company here in Spain. I will be joined by another model in endorsing the company's newly designed beds. It was 12:30 when I left our unit and went to the set. Everyone was busy when I arrived. When I reached the floor where the photoshoot will be held, I scanned the room in search of someone. After Mew attended the fashion show yesterday, I can't help but think about the possibility that he might also be here. If it's true, then he really is following me. But maybe he's not here. If he is, I might consider filing a temporary restraining order so that he won't be able to come near me again. Why is he really here? If he wants annulment, he should just send the annulment papers and I'll be willing to sign them. But here is the part of me again that becomes sad and hurt whenever I think about it. Why am I like this? Why are you sad Gulf? For the nth time, I forced myself to stop thinking about Mew. He's a pain in the ass. He's giving me a hard time and is ruining my now peaceful life. Good thing he's not here. Kuya Dominic who's been waiting approached me. "Where the hell have you been? I've been waiting for you for thirty minutes already. The shoot starts in twenty minutes!" "I'm sorry. I overslept," I apologized and sat on the high chair where he will do my makeup. I faced the mirror. "Hmm. Someone got banged last night!" he teased me. "How's Hughie, anyway? Was that guy your ex-husband? Whom Hughie got into a fight with?" Tss. I'm trying to forget about Mew but here is Kuya Dominic trying to bring him up! So frustrating! "Hughie is fine. And to answer your question, yes. That was my husband." "You did not tell me that the guy who gave you flowers yesterday is your husband. But wait. Is he okay that you have a boyfriend?" He's such a gossiper! "I left him three years ago. He doesn't have a right over me anymore," I remarked with my bored voice. "Technically, he still has the right over you. You're not yet annulled right? So he's still your husband. I think he can even sue you for adultery!" he said as he continued doing my makeup and my hair. "He lost his rights over me a long time ago when he failed to be a good husband." "Then what is he doing here in Spain?" Why is he asking too many questions? "I don't know. I don't care," I said coldly. Finally, he shut up. Technically, technically, my ass. Fifteen minutes passed and my makeup was done. I can hear the lead photographer looking for my partner for the shoot because he is not yet here. Very unprofessional! "Where the hell is the other model?" the director's angry voice echoed in the set. "We're trying to contact him already, Señor," an assistant responded. "Por favor, contact him ASAP. If he's not here in ten minutes, we'll find a new model," the director declared. I almost stood up from the high chair when I saw Mew enter the set. What is he doing here? I clenched my fist as my heart started to beat faster. He approached a member of the production team and whispered something. After that, he led him to a chair. Mew is really doing this intentionally. Grrr. The director decided to take photos of me for the mean time. And because of Mew's presence, I could not focus on my work. Kuya Dominic had to retouch my makeup many times because bullets of sweat kept running down my forehead. Wearing a chaleco and pajamas, I tried to compose myself on the bed where I had to be taken photos. Mew's eyes were directed at me, watching my every move. I couldn't concentrate because he would not take his eyes off of me. I often glanced at him and I would see his serious expression. I forced myself to focus. But Mew's presence really was affecting me. My self-confidence is faltering and I am beginning to be conscious of how I look. My knees also feel weak. I'm lucky the director and photographer doesn't notice. After thirty minutes of doing different poses in different angles on the bed, the other model was still not here. The director and staffs have lost their patience. "Find a new model!" the director ordered everyone. "Sir, what about that guy over there?" the photographer pointed at Mew's direction. What the fuck? No fucking way! Now my heart is filled with anger and hate. The director called a staff and ordered him to ask Mew if he is willing to replace the model who did not show up. My instinct is telling me that Mew paid the model to not show up here! No! No way! I wouldn't let him be my partner! But Mew did not even think twice. He immediately agreed. And before I knew it, he was already having his makeup. He had to be topless while wearing a pajama. I am so unlucky! I couldn't do anything about the director's order. Included in my contract is to have no say about who I would work with so if I protest, it would be a breach of contract. I don't really mind whoever my partner is as long as it's not this guy! Fuck! I wanted so bad to protest! But I had no power! And the next thing I knew, Mew was already in bed with me and a huge smile was plastered on his face that it almost reached his ears! "Go on top of him, Gulf," commanded the director. It almost left me deaf. The fuck?