Chapter IX
CHAPTER IX
FIVE DAYS AGO – OCTOBER 3
3:21 PM
“Lola Ems! We’re here!” Octavia announced as she pushed through the front doors of a two-story house in the province of Pampanga. The house wasn’t extravagant and big, but it has a homey feeling to it. There was a small garden out front, the terrace was spacious with just a small table and two chairs, a rocking chair was place on the other end facing the garden.
Straight from the airport, the group drove for over an hour to the house of Octavia and Bellamy’s grandparents. Of course, Lexa had verbally expressed her frustration with it. The agent had pointed out how unsafe it is for Clarke to just be travelling so casually. Lexa was in the middle of explaining, with her hands moving here and there, talking animatedly, when Clarke cut her off and pulled everyone in the van and shushed the agent every time she tried to say something. Clarke’s friends and Lexa’s team gave each other snickering glances when they saw the small pout Lexa had on her face and the deadly look the blonde was giving the agent.
An old woman, who appeared to be in her late 70’s, her salt and pepper hair was tied and pulled up in a loose bun, entered the living room. She was wearing a floral apron and was holding a wooden spoon in her hand. At the sight of her granddaughter, the old woman’s face lit up and wide smile appeared on her face. “Octavia? Ay ang apo ko! (Octavia? Oh my god.) Rodelio! Andito apo mo! (Rodelio! Your granddaughter is here.)” The smile on the woman’s face was mirrored on Octavia’s face as well as the young woman reached out her hand and took her grandmother’s hand, she then bowed her head and touched her forehead to her grandmother’s hand.
“Mano po, lola.” Octavia’s American accent was thick and it made the older woman chuckle as she warmly hugged her granddaughter.
“Ikaw lang? Asaan ang kuya mo? (Did you come alone? Where’s your brother?)” Lola Emilia asked as she pulled back from the hug.
“Pwede ba naming wala ang paborito niyong apo, lola? (I’m right here, grandma. Can your favorite grandchild miss this? Of course not.) ” Bellamy said; his tagalog is a little better than his sister but his accent is still present. He grinned widely as he hugged Lola Emilia and lifted her up.
“Jusme! Ibaba mo ko! (Put me down!)” Lola Emilia cried but was laughing along with Octavia and Bellamy.
“Lola, mga kaibigan po namin.(This is our friends.) Remember, Clarke and Raven? The one we were telling you about?” Octavia asked as she gestured to them.
“Ooookay.” Raven said as she was also hugged by Lola Emilia. She smiled at the old woman when she pulled back and Lola Emilia patted her cheeks like a grandma would and smiled back.
Clarke grinned and opened her arms to the old woman, “Lola Emilia”
“Eh, hindi ba ito yung anak ng presidente ng America? Buti naman at naka-sama ka, iha.” Lola Emilia smiled and hugged the blonde.
Clarke gave a questioning look at Bellamy, silently asking for a translation.
“She’s glad that you’re here.” Bellamy translated.
Lola Emilia then turned to the group of people standing by the door. Agents Hosh and Lawrence were standing by the door while agents Miller and Green were given orders to scout the perimeter. Lexa was slowly walking around, clearly checking the place; how many entrances and exits are there, the fastest way in and out. She glanced at the windows and saw that it was open but has metal bars blocking it. The agent silently nodded at that. Something about the agent intrigued Emilia. Something about the way she moves, the way she carries herself. Lexa kept an ear on their conversations as she was rumoring around. She was just about to step out of the living room and in to the hallway leading to a staircase
“Lola, this is Lexa.”
At the sound of her name, Lexa turned and saw Lola Emilia looking at her; she knows the old woman was observing her. She could feel her eyes on her when she was looking around the house. The house itself isn’t big; it’s not that small either. It has a homey and warm feeling to it. Pictures were lined up against one wall, bits and pieces of antiques were displayed around the house. The wallpaper and the flooring were giving an earthy tone to the place, making you feel relaxed.
Lola Emilia smiled at Lexa.
“Magandang hapon, iha.” Lola Emilia greeted. “Kaibigan ka din nila?”
Octavia was about to translate for Lexa when the agent spoke, in fluent Tagalog, the words slipping out of her mouth without much of an effort, surprising all of them.
“Magandang hapon din po, lola.” Lexa greeted and offered a smile to Lola Emilia. She then reached out her hand, “Mano po.”
“Ay kay gala na bata (Such a respectful and well-mannered, child.).” Lola Emilia smiled as she extended her hand and Lexa took the hand and bows, then presses Lola Emilia’s hand to her forehead.
Too shocked to move, Octavia and Bellamy just stood there, looking at Lexa as she did a gesture and sign of respect to their grandmother.
“You speak Tagalog?" Clarke asked.
Lexa shrugged as she stepped back. “Spent a few years here during my service.” The brunette’s expression remained passive but Clarke noticed the subtly changes in the agent. There was a far-away look in those green eyes that had captured her attention the moment they met; it was as if a dark shade had taken over and her eyes were cloudy, not like the clear ones that took her breath away every time they were direct at her.
“Damn, Commander.” Raven said as she flopped down the couch, instantly making herself at home. “You never fail to surprise us.”
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
“The last time these kids were here, a coffee table was broken in half, a window got smashed, and one of my cows went missing.” A deep voice gathered all their attention; making their heads turns in the direction of that leads to what Lexa believes is the back door.
“Lo!” Octavia pushed past his brother and made a bee line for her grandfather, jumping on him like a little girl and hugged her grandfather. The old man laughed genuinely as he caught Octavia in his arms and hugged her just as tight. Lolo Rodelio placed Octavia down and then turned to Bellamy, his arms open wide. Bellamy then grinned and hugged his grandpa.
“When was the last time the Blakes saw their grandparents?” Lexa whispered to Clarke as she stood beside her.
The blonde shrugged; her attention still on the little family reunion. “2 years, I think.” Unconsciously, Clarke leaned in closer to Lexa. And Lexa let her.
OCTOBER 4
2:13 AM
Tiptoeing down the stairs as quietly as she can, she flashed her phone illuminating the path in front of her. The others had been asleep since midnight but she wanted to make sure no one would see her. She wanted to make sure she doesn’t get caught. Finally landing on the last step, she went straight for the back door and exited the house, but was stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Agent Lawrence sitting by the steps of the back porch, lighting a cigarette. The agent must’ve heard her because the next thing she knew the agent had stood up and was facing her.
“Hey. You need anything?” Agent Lawrence asked as she took a long drag of her cigarette.
Calm down. Distract her. Then get this over with.
She smiled and shook her head as she stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Ontari offered her a cigarette and she took it and joined the agent. She took a long dragged and inhaled deeply, feeling the nicotine enter her lungs, and then released it with a sigh. The only sound around them were the groups of crickets singing their songs, and the gently hum of the late evening breeze around them.
“Couldn’t sleep?” The agent asked.
“Something like that.” Was her only answer.
Not long after they finished their cigarettes, Agent Lawrence excused herself to go to the bathroom. She just nodded in acknowledgement.
When she was sure the agent was inside and was far enough, she fished out the burner phone she had with her and cursed when she saw the three messages.
New York (2:15): Anything?
New York (2:20): You’re five minutes late. Where are you?
New York (2:15): I swear to God, if you bailed on me, I will tell them EVERYTHING. And then I’ll kill you.
She quickly read through them before typing out a response, her thumbs flying across the keypads.
Rhode Island (2:17): Calm your tits, man. Just ran into a bit of a hiccup but everything is fine. We just got here this afternoon. Still don’t have the whole plan and schedule for the trip but the goons are starting to loosen up. I’ll send you the information once the group has discussed it tomorrow.
New York (2:18): Just keep an eye on them. Keep doing whatever you’re doing. Contact Ferdinand when you get the plans. And then we’ll let you know when we’re going fishing.
Rhode Island (2:18): After this, I owe you nothing anymore. When this is all over, we never knew each other. Understand?
New York (2:19): Just do your part. And we won’t have a problem. I’ll contact you soon.
She tucked the phone away and stared up at the night sky. She never wanted this to happen, never imagined that it will go this far. But she’s too involved now. She bit more than she can chew and she had to deal it.
She just hoped this will all go according to plan.
8:19 AM
Clarke sleepily shuffled down the stairs, her nose guiding her to the direction where a rich aroma of coffee was coming from. She could hear a small commotion and when she entered the kitchen, she was greeted with the sight of ten people squeezed in around the dining table and that they were currently face deep in whatever food was prepared for them. Octavia and Bellamy were fighting over the last piece of longganisa when Raven reached in and grabbed it, stuffing it in her mouth before the siblings could say anything.
“Hey, that was mine!” Octavia exclaimed as she tried to reach Raven and hit her.
Lola Emilia laughed and just shook her and announced she’ll cook more for them. A series of cheers erupted around them and Bellamy volunteered to help but his grandmother declined the help, saying she still doesn’t trust Bellamy in the kitchen. Octavia snickered and teased her brother, telling the story of how Bellamy almost set the kitchen on fire while cooking rice.
Clarke roamed her eyes, jumping from person to person until they stopped on the brunette who was sipping her coffee. She then frowned when she saw who was sitting beside her; Luna.
Of course.
Luna was saying something to Lexa but the Agent’s attention was focused on the blonde standing in the entry way of the kitchen.
“Clarke.”
The blonde snapped her eyes in Lexa’s direction and saw her raising an eyebrow at her. “Hmm?”
“I said, come and eat.” Lexa smiled softly as she gestured to the empty chair on her other side. Clarke couldn’t help the grin that broke on her face and made her way to sit next to Lexa.
“Hey.” Clarke said softly.
“Hey.” Lexa said back, smiling as she stared at the blonde.
BLUE. GREEN. BLUE. GREEN.
A bowl of food being pushed in front of Clarke broke their connection and the blonde looked up to see Raven and glared at her. Raven just laughed as she resumed eating, talking with her mouth full of food. . “This is a place where we eat. No eye-fucking in places where we eat.”
Everyone hummed in agreement, still stuffing their mouths with food.
“Eye-fucking?” Lolo Rodelio asked. “Ano yun, apo? (What’s that?)”
Bellamy chocked on a piece of sausage, Octavia snorted in the middle of drinking her coffee, Raven nearly fell off the chair, Luna was wiping the tears from her eyes from laughing so hard, and the four agents just blinked at the old man; clearly lost as to what the old man said.
Clarke groaned and hid her face with her hands with embarrassment. Lexa’s face turned a shade of red and cleared her throat, trying to tamper down the desire to run and bury herself somewhere far away.
12:49 PM
“Clarke? Are you ready?” Lexa was typing something on her phone when she barged in the blonde’s room without bothering to knock. “The others are already waiting for us outsi—” Lexa looked up just in time to see Clarke standing by the bed, completely topless with just her jeans on, her bare back was facing her so the agent took the opportunity to let her damn hormones take over and her eyes went straight to the curve of the blonde’s hips and couldn’t help but lick her lips.
Yes, she had seen the blonde stark naked on her first day of work, and had seen a glimpse of those breasts but now that they’re trying to figure out their feelings and Lexa hadn’t had a single drop of alcohol in her system since she started this job, her mind and body seemed to be on over-drive every time Clarke Griffin is near her.
Continuing her ogling, she hadn’t notice that Clarke had turned around until those perfect breasts and perky pink nipples were right in front of her.
“Um, sorry.” Lexa mumbled as she realized she had been caught staring like a pervert and turned around; forcing herself to not look back and stare at those perfect breasts she suddenly had the urge to touch.
“Lexa.” Clarke’s tone was surprised, but it was deep. Deep in a way that Lexa never heard before and it made her shiver.
Lexa forced herself to take a step towards the door, “I’m sorry for barging in. I should’ve knocked. They’re all waiting for us outside. We better go.” Lexa went to open the door and walk out when she felt Clarke’s body heat envelop her and then she felt hands on her arms, slowly turning her to face the blonde.
“Lex, look at me.”
Lexa let out a shaky breath, her nerves going off like fireworks during the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. She closed her eyes and turned to face Clarke; trying to control her breathing and heart beat. “I’m sorry for barging in.”
Clarke laughed softly at how adorable Lexa is acting, “Open your eyes.” She held Lexa’s hand and squeezed it.
Lexa shook her head.
“You already saw me butt naked while I was in my kitchen on your first day of work.”
Lexa’s eyes flew wide open; she opened her mouth to say something but no words seem to come to mind. “That wasn’t … I …”
Clarke laughed as she stepped closer to Lexa; her body pressed against Lexa’s. Lexa’s eyes closed on its own at the contact. “It’s fine.” She leaned down to kiss Lexa’s cheek and felt a hitch in the agent’s breathing. She smirked and whispered in her ear, “And I want you to look now. I want you to touch me, Lexa.”
Lexa’s leg almost gave out at the statement. She slowly opened her eyes; too afraid her eyeballs would pop right out of their sockets if she opened them too quickly and come face to face with Clarke’s bare chest. With her eyes now opened, she pouted when she saw Clarke was now wearing a simply black lace bra, but she still had a view of Clarke’s toned stomach and creamy white skin that was begging to be touched and kissed. The sight of it alone made the agent bite her lip.
“Touch me, Lexa.”
The blonde’s slender fingers wrapped around the agent’s hands and guided them to her hips. Both women sighed at the contact; both had been tampering down their pent up desires for weeks now and they know something’s going to give sooner or later.
“Clarke …” Lexa’s voice wavered as she tried to keep her emotions in check. Not to mention she was slowly losing her grip on her self-control
“Ssshhh, just …” Clarke continued to guide Lexa’s hand until they were under the swell of her breasts. She let go of Lexa’s hands and looked up. What she saw in those blue eyes mirrored her own; lust, love, fear. “It’s okay.” Clarke whispered softly as she bent down, eliminating the small distance between and brushed her lips against Lexa’s. The contact made Lexa lean forward and their lips met. Lexa kissed her so deeply, that Clarke felt her heart stop. Clarke let out a delicate moan, and it was enough to set Lexa off and let go. She grabbed Clarke by her hips, pulling her flush against her body. Their kissing picked up pace and soon both women were fighting for control. But when Lexa began to move and guide Clarke to the bed, Clarke’s effort to take control was thrown out the window. The blonde knew where this was going and good heavens did she want it; more so when Lexa’s hand reached behind her and unclasped her bra with one quick flick of her fingers and threw her bra somewhere behind her.
Their lips met again and the kiss grew in intensity to the point where Clarke could feel her body practically vibrating and the pressure that started between her legs went straight to her heart; making it beat faster with each second. The smell of Lexa, the feel of her lips, the sounds the brunette was making; all of it was intoxicating and Clarke couldn’t help but slide her hands under the hem of Lexa’s shirt. Fingers brushed the warm soft skin and she moaned at the contact. She had dreamed about this for far too long on what it would feel like to finally touch the agent, and it made Clarke moan harder when it felt better than what she had imagined.
Clarke wanted her, all of her. And Clarke will be damned if she waited any longer.
Her hands moved further, exploring the skin underneath her fingertips. She reached behind to grab and pull the offending piece of clothing when her fingers brushed against something rough and bumpy. Clarke furrowed her eyebrow as her hazy mind struggled to figure out what her fingers just grazed. She moved her fingers up to run it over the patch of skin that felt like a scar when Lexa sudden pulled away from, stepping back from Clarke’s personal pace. She was red face and was panting as heavily as Clarke was and when Clarke looked up, she saw the agent’s eyes cloud over.
Lexa licked her lips and smiled bashfully, pulling her shirt down as she took another step backwards, “Oh … wow.” She let out a heavy breath, reaching forward to grab Clarke’s arm and intertwine their fingers together. “I’m sorry for losing my control. I know where taking it slow.”
Clarke stepped forward, cupping Lexa’s face to make her look at her when she bowed her head down, “Hey,” She smiled when Lexa made eye contact with her. “It’s okay. I got carried away as well.” Leaning her forehead against Lexa, she moved closer. “We can take all the time you need.” She was incredibly turned on; she wanted Lexa right there and then. But she saw the fear and the uncertainty in the brunette eye’s when she looked at her. There was a story behind that scar. There are still things from Lexa’s past that Clarke knew still affected the agent to this day. Yes, she was curious; curious about what Lexa was hiding under her shirt. She knew for certain it was a scar tissue, and Clarke accidentally touching it was the reason why Lexa had stopped kissing her.
“I can and I will wait until you’re ready.” Clarke smiled softly as she leaned in and kissed Lexa.
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?”
Both women jumped apart at the sudden interruption and turned towards the door to see a very amused but very pissed Octavia standing there, a hand on her hips.
“What? What happened here? Did something—Whoa there.” Raven rushed upstairs when she heard Octavia scream but did a double take and covered her eyes when she saw Clarke’s naked chest.
Clarke hastily covered her breasts while Lexa’s face turned red.
“Were you two seriously making out in my grandparent’s house?”
“In my defense, it was Clarke who started it.” Lexa said.
Clarke gasped as she threw a dirty look towards Lexa who was grinning at her, “You were the one who walked in while I was half-naked!”
“If you had only locked the door then no one would come barging in while you’re dressing up.” Lexa countered, grinning even more when Clarke rolled her eyes at her.
The blonde was about to come up with a retort when Octavia spoke up. “Oookaay! Enough.” She pointed a finger to Lexa, “You. Go downstairs and help with loading the van. Now. And you … “ She then turned to Clarke, “Get dressed. You have five minutes or else we’re leaving you here.”
Octavia reached out and grabbed Lexa by the arm, pulling her out of the room and dragging her downstairs with her.
“Five minutes, Griffin!” Octavia yelled as they were walking down the stairs.
Lexa couldn’t help but laugh at the woman. She had never meet anyone like Octavia Blake. Beside her, Raven appeared and nudged her playfully.
“You’ve got game, Commander Hotpants.” Raven winked at her.
Lexa hated that nickname, she wasn’t quite sure how the club owner came up with it. “How did you even came up with that? Commander Hotpants? Really?”
Raven bobbed her head, “Uh hmmm. It’s really not that hard and it’s pretty much self-explanatory. Commander; check. Hot; check. You look hot in pants, any pants actually: check. Thus, Commander Hotpants.”
The Commanding Agent couldn’t help but chuckled at that. She will never understand Clarke’s friends but aside from that, they’re starting to grow close to her and she wasn’t about to complain about that.
PRESENT DAY – OCTOBER 8
9:38 PM
The room was engulfed in silence as she willed for the time to go faster, but the eerie silence in the air grew on her and she decided to turn the television on just to cut the silence. She was sitting on the couch in front of the television, legs tucked underneath her and a blanket covering her lap, nursing her third glass of wine. Her eyes were registering the images flashing on the 52” LED screen in front of her but her mind was somewhere else.
Lexa.
Clarke rested her head on the edge of the couch and let out a long sigh; she could feel a small buzz beginning. When Commanding Agent Alexandria Woods came in her life, her whole world had been turned upside down. The stunning, captivating, and mysterious agent waltzed in her life and knocked down every single wall Clarke had built around herself.
Lexa was right when she had said a trip might help with everything that has happened. Clarke had been more at ease; more relaxed. But what Clarke was really looking forward to; was the chance for her and Lexa to “explore” their relationship even further.
There was no doubt in the blonde’s mind that she was falling in love with the agent. No. Scratch that. There was no doubt that Clarke had fallen in love with the agent. There was no exact moment on when and how. The realization just hit her like a freight train on full speed; it was like something had been locked into place and something extremely rare happened.
A soft knock on the room pulled her attention and she slipped off the couch, the blanket fell into a messy pile on the carpeted floor as she stood up and headed towards the door. She was expecting to see Lexa on the other side but as she twisted the door knob and pulled the door open, her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
Everything happened in a blink of an eye that Clarke barely had the time to move an inch before the person in front of her pushed the door wide open; causing her to lose her balance and stumble backwards. The next thing she knew, a handkerchief appeared out of nowhere and covered her mouth and nose. Panic, fear, and adrenaline kicked in immediately and she tried to pry the hands holding her captive and pull the handkerchief away from her. She could feel her heartbeat and breathing increase as her senses pick up the smell of chloroform. Black spots started to appears at the edges of her sight and her grip on the assailant loosened as the substance began to take effect on her; her knees gave out and she fell on the floor.
The last thing Clarke saw before losing consciousness was a pair of familiar brown eyes looking at her. She tried to put a face to it, tried to remember who those eyes belonged to but the last bit of consciousness she had slipped from her fingertips and Clarke spiraled down to nothingness.