Chapter 3 AFTER FIVE YEARS

SERENA'S POV

Life is a paradox of contradicting similarities!!!

I was driving home with Gerald riding shotgun when I abruptly stopped my car. A white coloured American Eskimo puppy was crossing the road, silver looking leash on its neck and I had almost hit it.

I looked to the side of the street and a man I presumed was the owner was having a fierce conversation with someone over the phone.

Unable to look away from the puppy that was carelessly running off, I bolted out of my car in pursuit of it.

I almost hit it and it might not be so lucky next time.

"Serena..." Gerald called after me but I paid him no heed as I ran down the street.

Few metres away, I could see the puppy running wild and happy without an ounce of care in the world and just like I had predicted, a vehicle was coming towards it.

I sprinted in the fullest speed I could muster and just before the incoming vehicle could hit the both of us, I skillfully rolled on the asphalt floor, picked the puppy and rolled onto the sidewalk just in time.

Gerald was behind me and he had a hand to his chest as he panted.

"Do not do that again. You scared every bit of sandwich I had for lunch off my belly" He joked and I giggled as I patted the head of the whining puppy.

It was whining because it had been scared but it had not been scared while it was running towards danger itself.

The owner had found us and he looked remorseful.

"I...I am so sorry. I thought I had it tied to the bench but.."

"Save your apologies. It could have been worse. Just make sure you look after it properly.

What's her name?" I asked after some more strokes to her head

"Petals!" He said. "Petals" I seconded before I released it to its owner.

It was when I was about to stand up that a sharp pain assaulted my right ankle and shot a jolt of pain to my brain that I realized I had sprained my ankle.

"Shit!" I said as I tried to leap but Gerald caught me just before I could fall back to the ground.

"Your fathers are going to have my head for this you know right?" He asked as he lifted me princess style.

"Stop joking. You know they adore you" I said, interlocking my fingers around his neck.

His facial expression ridiculed my words.

"Adore me enough to have my head on a spike. No thank you.

You could have just stayed in the car and I would have fetched it" He said as we headed back to my car.

He was coming home with me because he needed some books which I possessed for some research about a particular type of fish.

"I didn't have time to think. You cannot blame me"

"I do not blame you Serena. I'm just worried about you" He said and I smiled.

"You are such a gentleman. You will make a fine husband and father someday. I just know it " I said.

"Of course you do," He said and we laughed.

************************

Gerald drove all the way home and immediately he parked the car, he ran over to open the door for me and carry me.

"Ouch!" I yelped as his hand grazed my ankle.

He looked at my ankle and noticed a swelling.

"This isn't looking good!" He said as he hurried inside.

I knew that immediately we entered, my parents were going to lather us with questions we would not be able to answer at once and so I rested my head on Gerald's chest, in anticipation for the blast.

Today had actually been so exhausting because I had been doing everything at a relatively slower pace than I used to because thoughts of last night's dream kept finding its way into my head.

His hands...his lips...his grunts in my ear as I grounded on his fingers...

"Can I get an ice pack?" Gerald asked as the door opened. I was aware we were already in the living room and I tightened my eyes further.

'Here comes the array of questions...'

"Oh my GOD!" My mom exclaimed.

"What happened??!" Dad Massimo thundered.

"I'll go get the ice pack" My dad said - always the calm in the storm.

"Serena are you alright?" Mum Amelia asked.

I had expected these questions and the voices that asked them but what I had not expected was to hear a particular voice...so close to me, I could feel it, tell I have not thought so much about him that I am now delusional.

"Hand her over!" He ordered.

I quickly threw my eyes open to confirm my fear and suspicion and no, I wasn't going crazy.

Before me was Arsenio Vladmiro.

Looking grumpier than his normally grumpy face allows. Baby blue eyes, a Romania patterned kind of nose...those lips.

He was real...he is real.

"A lie..." I said, not knowing when the words left my lips but when his scowling lips turned to a smirk, I knew he had heard me.

"Hi Bellisomo " He said, using the nickname only he calls me and his bristly voice coating the air above me.

'Why is he here? Why is he back?!

I thought they said he would come sometime during the weekend?!

Oh no no no!

I'm not even prepared to see him... to play the sister part. My body is still...'

"Hi Arsenio," I responded.

"I'll take it from here dude. Thanks for bringing her home" Arsenio said to Gerald.

'I can't allow him to carry me. No, I can't have his hands...'

Gerald surrendered me to him after he had looked at Gerald like he could read his soul and has known every evil thing Gerald has thought of and every evil thing Gerald has done.

His familiar patchouli scent clouded my senses and I almost snuck closer to him just to revel in his peculiar scent that I have missed so badly.

His hand that was under my knee caused a zing sensation to travel from my knees to my core where he had...

'It was in a freaking dream Serena!' I chided my dirty thoughts and the irrational me.

Arsenio placed me on the couch and my dad came around with the ice pack.

He handed it to Arsenio who squatted before me and gently pulled away the sandal I had on.

"Still as clumsy as ever huh?!" He asked and I wanted to shove my foot into his mouth.

I ignored his question as I fed my eyes with the image of his dark hair being longer. He would soon need to pack it behind his head like Don Massimo.

'More sexy...more ravenous!

GOD help me!'