Best Defense

Taka or Jason?

...Mia Queen POV's....

I froze, standing like a statue looking at Jason from behind the glass wall of my brother's lake house. He's so handsome. Her steps were graceful, her face was shining, looking like an angel lost among towering trees.

My entire body began to tremble with its burning hot appeal. Seeing it again after some time made the blood rustle. Ah, Jason. I started imagining our nights before I returned to Jakarta three months four months ago, and I miss it.

But our relationship has deteriorated recently. I haven't called her since my brother called her. Jason was a kind and considerate man, and he unhesitatingly accepted my brother's proposal to marry me right away. But I'm not ready, or maybe I'll never be ready. So, I rejected the idea and ignored it.

For some people getting married may be a big dream in their lives, with the hope of a happy life will always be enveloped. Of course, many people are happy with their marriage, but not a few also among them who make the wrong decision. Instead of living happily until death separates, the opposite happens. And I don't want to be a part of it.

When I told my sister that I wasn't getting married, it was true. Other than because I felt the need to take care of her, although there was not much I could do about it because the presence of my own sister-in-law was enough to help her, she said, I'm also not sure the idea of marriage is a must do if you want to be happy.

Ah, speaking of happiness, I thought of Taka. You must be wondering how far my relationship with that guy is. We were caught in a difficult situation at the time. Taka had actually separated from his wife when we got in touch, completely separated, officially divorced, but because of his position as mayor and people adore him so much, Taka and his ex-wife agree to hide their divorce. At least until his term ends.

I was so happy with Taka. He's an amazingly gentle and patient man. There was a moment when I often felt as if my father's soul was coming back to life in the form of Taka. I can spook with him, complain freely about anything, and he never refused my request.

Taka has always been a good listener. She was able to hold her mouth back from speaking when I nagged for hours. Even once when we were arguing about our dark relationship (well, it's actually not dark at all), he just kept quiet and heard all the swearing that came out of my mouth for almost two hours. Countless times I cursed him, but Taka never returned my reply.

His way of thinking was very mature, making me feel like he was the one I deserved to make a husband if I decided to get married someday. But then everything was destroyed when our photo was spread in the media. I asked her to clear my name and explain to the public about her marital status, but Taka refused.

Taka let people run me down, he didn't care how I and my family felt, all he thought about was his good name and reputation as the coolest mayor. My coolest ***!

That's why I left him.

"Hey, love." I flinched, almost jumping when I didn't realize Jason was standing in front of me.

I hurriedly blinked, trying to shake off the nervous feeling while my legs started shaking. I turned my gaze toward Maggie and Matthew, then stepped past Jason without saying anything. I don't want him expecting anything more from me. I can feel Jason staring at me in confusion right now.

"Maog!" I half ran up to him and opened my hands. "Merry Christmas!"

Maggie returned my embrace. "Merry Christmas! How are you, girl?"

"Fairly grateful for being able to breathe." I hugged Taylor. "Merry Christmas, Taylor."

"Merry Christmas, Mia."

Maggie and Taylor looked at me curiously, then simultaneously like a couple whose souls were bound to each other, both of them looked towards Jason who was still standing where I left him.

Taylor's mouth opened as if to say something, and I was grateful for the presence of my sister and her husband from behind the door of the wine storage room, making Matthew undo his intention to ask. I don't know what they've been doing there all night and up until this afternoon.

"Mags, Matt!" he was excited, while stepping faster to join us. "Merry Christmas!"

I let them chat and I myself went to my room. I should avoid Jason as much as possible. I won't be able to stay close to her any longer, her gray eyes will drag me down before I can even wake up. And that's not what I was expecting.

Jason Parker's. Her name sounded like a curse that couldn't be lost from my head since the first time I met her. I don't love her. I haven't loved her.

To be honest I still hope to be with Taka, maybe we can improve our relationship one day and I don't have to bother to rearrange my feelings for others. I'm comfortable with Taka. I feel alive every time I sit next to him.

"Aah!" I ruffled my hair, dizzy with my own life.

"What do you really want in your life, Mia?" I asked myself.

I don't know how long I locked myself in my room until I got bored and decided to go out. Talk to the others and ignore Jason! Just avoid the look in his eyes. Assume he's not here.

But everything you said above was wishful thinking, because as soon as I opened the room door, the man was already standing there. He looked at me with a smile as if nothing had happened between us. He's calm and relaxed.

"Love." he muttered gently trying to grab my hand, but I shook my head before he could touch me.

"Mom and Dad, we have cake!" Taylor who apparently has come to announce, I immediately galloped there joined with others to watch the opening of the cake wrap. I'm sorry, Jason...

"Please tell me it's your mother's delicious Christmas cake" Maggie said clapping and cheering as the abundant pieces of fruit cake in layers of pale marzipan and white sugar unfolded.

Taylor smiled broadly. "Frightly, enjoy!"

I wandered onto the ivory-white sofa always checking the messages on my phone. I was looking through the email when Matthew sat next to me. "So..."

"So what?"

He patted my knee. "So tell me about the mayor."

Just looking at her once already confirmed my worst fears. I glanced at my brother who was having a heated argument with Sam and Taylor, and groaned inwardly. "When did he tell you?"

"A few days ago, when he called and said you'd be celebrating Christmas here."

"It's good." I said flat.

"Your brother's worried about you."

I grunt softly. "Yes, I hope he keeps his own worries."

"Hey, relax dong. As far as I know, he just told me. And Maggie, of course. But it's just the two of us."

"Oh, then it's okay. Only half of you know about that."

I stared at my phone. "Yep."

Matthew elbowed me gently. "I think that's a bad idea."

"Oh, huh? Why?"

"certain. At least that guy's gonna take your mind off Jason's marriage proposal."

"Did my brother tell you about that, too?"

Matthew nodded quickly. "No, it's Jason." Matthew's smile was warm and soothing, while in my heart I was getting panicked. "You deserve to be happy, Mia. And if that mayor can make you happy then I think you should keep him. Even if it makes you look like a desperate person. After all, Sire Jason so had the urge to show his seriousness."

It jolts me. "What do you mean?"

Matthew stretched out his hand and patted me on the shoulder. "Not to think about. Just follow your heart, Mia. And be careful, yeah."

Knowing that my brother had leaked about my relationship with Taka to Matthew and Maggie irritated me, but when I thought about it, I realized sooner or later they would all know. If I have to do it properly, I need to announce it proudly from the start.

As I was contemplating this, Jason looked up from the other side of the room and caught my gaze, making my heart leap. His smile was so lightning that even a slow-motion camera would have trouble catching it, but at least it was a smile.

As it was getting late in the afternoon, we decided to go to the city to buy some groceries that would be needed to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday tomorrow.

I walked first to the car and intended to wait for them there but Jason suddenly passed me, deliberately nudging my shoulder with his arm, until I almost toppled over. Struck with no voice, he made me feel as if I was being harassed. "Maybe you shouldn't have come here. I really didn't expect your arrival." I snapped rudely.

Jason's head jerked. "What?"

"I don't know what you're here for. If you want to ruin my day, you better stop now."

"I didn't realize I was doing it."

"That's right. Really, Jason, I don't know which is worse, your childish attitude or you don't fully hear what I'm saying."

Jason's face suddenly changed, he approached me with a burning rage within him. "The most yells at the mouth."

I frowned. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard it."

Jason turned around then stomped his feet violently back towards the car, leaving me boiling where I stood. How could he talk like that? As if I were the guilty one. It was his rude attitude that caused this tension, not me. And if he thinks I'm going to accept the accusation, then he's completely wrong.

I took a breath, intending to let the matter go for a while and decided to return home, just as Jason walked again towards me. "Well, the thing is, Mia. I'm sorry, but I really don't understand how you think."

If he's looking for a fight, he'll get it by now. Time out.. round two... "Oh, please give me some enlightenment."

His gray eyes smoldering as they pierced into my eyes. "I don't understand why you keep expecting that guy while the person you're supposed to need is right in front of you."

Suddenly the world around me stopped turning. My anger exploded, making me at once helpless. "What do you mean?"

"The man you think loves you will never come back to you. It's just me here." he pointed at his forehead. "You asked him to be someone he wasn't. She can't be the person you want to be because she doesn't know you very well, Mia. It's not him you need and you know it." his voice began to soften. "Far inside you, you know who you need. I think you've known since we first met."

What is he talking about now? She knew I had left Taka, and obviously I had told her my relationship with Taka myself. Then why does he think I'm still expecting Taka?

"Don't interfere once in a while with my past affairs," I replied, the pain and confusion mixed with anger as if it had turned into a flammable cocktail in my blood. "You have no right to..."

"I have a right!" Jason snapped back. "Why are you still expecting it, Mia? Why don't you confess your feelings to me?"

"All right, I'll reveal it! He can accept me for who I am, and yes, even if only for a little while, but at that time I felt comfortable. That's why I'm still expecting it."

"But he doesn't deserve you like..." Jason did not finish his words.

"Who do you like, Jason?"

"Like me."

I gasped at this unexpected blow, for a moment I dazed and then managed to control myself. "It's ridiculous! I told you I don't want to be with you. I don't want you, Jason."

"But I want you!"

And so, his final scream echoed among the trees that surrounded us as we faced each other. Now the glint of anger was gone from his eyes, changing the look of fragility that was fixed on me. But what am I supposed to say? Does she expect I'll fall into her arms now?

"I don't know what else to say to you, Jason. We've already discussed this."

Shoulders squeezing. "Please, Mia. I know you may be confused by my current attitude, but I really want you. Think about my request, okay?"

I was silent for a while, lowered my head and took a heavy breath, then nodded weakly. "okay."

***

I accidentally slipped a little story of Mia, Taka, and Jason. And there will probably be a few more POV Mia during their time in Queensland, which will tell a thin glimpse of Mia and Jason.