I Want You Back

Sofia Andrew

Angel was silent the whole ride. He'll just sigh and glance at me from the corner of his eyes every now and then.

He thought I didn't notice it, but his hand on the wheel tightened as if he was having a conversation with himself. When we arrived at the clubhouse, we were greeted by a friendly man.

"Good evening."

"Good evening." Angel and I greet back.

"Names, please."

"Mga Leffman," sabi ni Angel.

"Leffman," Angel replied.

The man skimmed through the list. "I'm sorry, but there is no Leffman here."

"Check again," Angel ordered impatiently, and even I was confused as to why his name wasn't there.

"Angel, calm down," I whispered to him. "If Leffman isn't there, check Andrew and Leffman."

The man looked nervous at first, and he checked it again. When he saw our name, he let us through, and I let Angel hold my waist. "Your aunt did not include my name," he stated between his teeth.

"Angel, don't be angry. She knew we were in the process of divorce, so when they invited me, I told them you wouldn't come."

At what I said, he looked upset. "I see that I mean nothing to them."

"Angel," I said, stopping him before we could enter. "This is Aunt Mary's event, so please, if you are upset, don't bother going inside. I did not even ask you to be here. We're over, so you are no longer obligated to be here." I told him in a voice that only he could hear. "We're still together," he corrected me. "You're my wife. I don't feel obligated, and I am not upset."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I don't think so. I just don't want you to ruin this for her, please."

I saw how his jaws were visibly clenched. "Tell me, Sofia, when have I made you lose face in front of everyone?"

"You are no longer obligated to act."

"Sofia, let's just go inside, and I told you, I am not in a bad mood or upset," he insisted with a groan.

"Then put on a different face."

"I'm born with this face, so I can't do that," he replied sarcastically, and I rolled my eyes.

"You know what I mean, Angel."

He took a deep breath before offering his arm, and I accepted it. When we walked in, we saw many familiar faces, and most of them glanced our way.

"Why are they looking at us like we are aliens?" I asked Angel in a whisper.

"Maybe because your dress is revealing."

I almost smacked his face. "Do you have a problem with my dress?"

"Nothing. It's just that, for a skilled designer, you could have worn something better that would highlight your traits."

Does that mean I look bad? This jerk!

"Thanks for basically telling me that I look bad," I replied with a flat tone.

"I don't-" He stopped when we saw Vanessa and Mary approaching.

"Oh, I didn't think I'd see you here, Angel," Mary said, kissing my cheek.

"I am a bit busy with work, but here I am," Angel replied in all seriousness.

"I am glad you came. By the way, Sofia, you look gorgeous," Vanessa told us, and I beamed a little.

"I agree, dear, the dress looks perfect on you." Mary agreed with her daughter, and I saw how Angel's face turned sour. "Sofia, I need to entertain the visitors. I take it you know your table?" "Yes, Mary, don't worry. I'm just a little upset you didn't mention the event to me."

"Oh, dear, you're so busy lately, and I don't really see your beautiful face. It almost didn't happen, but thank God it did. I hope you two will give a good donation to the children," Mary told us with a wink.

"You can count on that, Mary. We support the project," Angel replied, and we went to our table.

We greeted some people along the way, and thank goodness none of them asked any awkward questions yet. The event started an hour later, and people were busy talking about business, spreading rumors, sharing drinks, eating, and, of course, giving donations. "You told me you wouldn't be coming with Angel," my dad whispered to me.

"Dad, it was the last minute."

"Alright. You look beautiful, princess. A bit revealing for me, but you carried it with elegance. But I don't think Angel likes it very much."

"Why do you say that? And who cares? I love it."

"Because he hasn't taken his eyes off you like every other man," he teased me, and I laughed. "Like a man marking his territory, but you're separated now, aren't you?"

"Yes, Dad, but the divorce is still in the process."

"I've been hearing rumors, and I just don't want you to get hurt."

And I understand, but what can I do? Even I am having a hard time understanding what's going on with him or with us.

"You said yourself, Dad, they are just rumors. Sofia and I are still married. She's still my wife, and I am not with anyone." We suddenly heard Angel say as he joined our table.

"I hope so, Angel. My princess deserves to be treated like the queen that she is something that you failed to do for five years."

I restrained myself from facepalming. Oh God, here we go.

"I think this isn't the place to talk about that topic, especially when we know the reason for that marriage."

"Angel, please," I begged Angel and turned to Dad. "Dad, leave that topic. Angel and I are okay."

"If you say so, darling, I trust you, but you and I will talk later, Angel. Now excuse me, because some investors are waiting for me."

Angel has that look on his face whenever he talks to Dad as he sips his whiskey and sits on the chair beside me.

"Angel, behave, please."

"What? I am behaving. Why am I always the bad one here, Sofia?"

"I am not saying that you're the bad one, but you are obviously angry about something, or at least at me."

"Sofia, I think you're obsessed with my attitude."

I took a deep breath. "Why are you in a bad mood anyway?"

"Because I lost count of how many people voiced out their confusion about us being together. I can't stand them," Angel said in irritation and downed his whiskey.

"If that's the case, then I understand you. I also had to give certain answers, and it bothers me."

"I think by now they get the picture that we are not divorced. By the way, I gave a handsome amount to Mary's foundation."

"Thank you. That's kind of you and the children will appreciate it."

"Oh, and I just saw Amelia with your little boyfriend. Is that appropriate?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "He's not my boyfriend, and I think they have something."

He looked doubtful, and he had an angry frown on his face. "But yesterday you told me you were seeing each other. You lied to me again, Sofia."

"Uhm, no. I never told you we're dating; you just claimed that idea. All I said was, I can go out with anyone I like, and you have no say in that."

"You're clever, aren't you? You know what you told me, and you just let me think you're dating him."

"You are free to understand what you want, Angel."

A few minutes later, we saw some couples taking to the floor and dancing to the beat of the music. Angel and I talked to some people who came over to greet us.

"Let's dance," I heard Angel say, and I blinked at his outstretched hand, surprised at his offer.

It's not because he has never been a gentleman to me; he never asked me for a dance.

When I did not make a move to accept because I was stunned, he took my hand and gently guided me to the dance floor before pulling me close.

We started a slow dance, and there was no space between our bodies. I can feel his hand on my back with his thumb caressing my back. He never once took his eyes off me, and it was like I was hypnotized by them. Does he have any idea what his caress does to me? The feeling it gives me with every caress?

"Angel..."

"You look beautiful. I like your hair," he complimented me and pulled me even closer, if that's possible, making me gasp. "The dress looks great on you."

"Why are you telling me those things? There are no people who can hear them," I asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"That's because I am not pretending, and I'm telling the truth."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and we continued dancing to the slow rhythm. He kept on caressing my back, and our eyes remained locked on each other. I'm getting lost in his eyes. How can I fight or hate him when he looks at me this way? "Sofia, what was the rumor that Kevin spread?" he asked out of nowhere.

"Why are you asking me about the university? Why do you want to know?"

"It's important to me. My sanity. So please just answer."

"Angel, everyone heard about that rumor, so you shouldn't be an exemption, even though you were crazy about Eisa."

"Answer me, Sofia."

"Okay, but let me go a little; I can't breathe."

He released me a little, but not totally.

"Kevin created a rumor that I slept with him. When I found out about it, I broke a bottle on his head in anger and embarrassed him in front of everyone by saying that everything he said was a lie, and then I got suspended for three days." "You're not lying to me? You really didn't sleep with him?" He asked with a serious look on his face and pulled me closer again, saying that I almost couldn't breathe.

"I am not lying to you. Why are you even asking that? Angel, you're crushing me." I whined and gripped his shoulders.

"Sofia, I saw you enter a room with him, and after that, he told everyone that you slept with him."

"And you believed him instead of asking me? Ah, but then again, why am I even surprised that you believe everyone but me?"

I tried to get away from him, but he wouldn't let me.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"I want and need to start believing in you, Sofia."

"Why? Why now? And what does Kevin have to do with it?"

"Nothing. Sofia, did I really break your heart when you saw me with Elisa?"

I looked away from him so he wouldn't see the truth in my eyes. "Of course not. According to you, I don't have a heart."

"You said the same. That I'm arrogant and cold." Angel grabbed me and lifted me little.

"Angel, let me go," I hissed at him.

"No. You're fine like this."

"Angel, a little more, and people will see what they cannot see," I whispered to him, and he instantly let me go so I could fix myself.

"Now you see why you shouldn't wear short dresses," he said with a scowl.

"It's not even that short," I argued and looked down.

"Men won't stop looking at you, and did you know that one of them even tried touching your back?"

He gently held my burning cheek and kissed me gently without any warning. I was about to get carried away when Mary started her speech.

Angel let me go, and we went back to the table, where I gulped down a glass of liquor and poured another one.

"Sofia, you can't drink this way. You might end up in the hospital again." Angel stopped me.

"Angel, I won't be hospitalized because of one glass."

Mary thanked everyone who came and for our donations. She talked about things I couldn't understand because all I could think of was Angel's touch, his kiss, and the way he acted.

After a few moments, people left one by one.

"My dear friend," I heard Amelia calling me. "I see that the hottie finally lets you go."

"Let me go. I could say the same to you. I didn't see you the whole night."

"You know, between dancing and talking here and there, I didn't want to bother you. Because every time I see you, you're with everyone and mostly your hot husband."

"And you're stuck with Isaac. Don't think that I didn't see you."

"He called me to see me, and I told him I had an event to attend. It just kind of happened, you know?"

I smiled at her. A happy and supportive smile. "But I like seeing you two together. You make a beautiful couple. I hope you don't break his heart and vice versa. I work with you two, and I'd hate to look for someone to replace any of you." Amelia smiled back, and we held hands. "We're taking things slow, so let's see what will happen. By the way, don't you want to tell me what happened on the dance floor?"

"About what? My dress just hiked up a little high. I told you the dress is too short."

"What? The dress looks perfect on you, girl. Men can't stop looking at you, and that includes Angel." She teased me.

"He wanted me to change or put some jacket on earlier, and he has been in a bad mood since earlier."

"It's obvious, my friend because the dress highlighted your assets and you looked hot. And I'm telling you that Angel wants to take that off you and not because it doesn't look good on you."

"Stop saying nonsense, Amelia." I restrained her, my cheeks heating up.

We stopped because Angel came and greeted Amelia, who bid her goodbye and even smirked at me, making me widen my eyes at her.

"Sofia, say goodbye to your dad and aunt because we're leaving."

After saying goodbye, Angel brought me back to my apartment. After I opened it, he remained staring at me, and I opened my mouth to break the silence between us.

Why is he looking at me like that? Does he want to kill me?

"Sofia," he muttered my name in a sensual way, and the next thing I knew, his lips were already on mine.