IN THE CAGE

115. PRIORITIES

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

It is not Vera's fault when she responds to Anggara with her forehead raised next to her. His eyes glared at the man implying shock while his lips released a stifled laugh.

"Oh?" Vera. Where maybe he's not shaken. After everything that happened between her and Anggara. Although their relationship is a physical relationship, Vera quite likes to spend time with Anggara. He thought, at least, if Anggara wanted a breakup, they would talk about it carefully and part with reasons that were consensual and reasonable.

However, instead of coming up with excuses and explanations, Anggara simply said 'We should part ways' like he was a superior figure in the relationship and Vera could only nod obediently and walk home in grief.

No. gabe. Vera was not a tissue that the man could wear and he threw it to the side of the road as he pleased.

"At least explain why?" Vera swallowed the vexation that clumped invisible in her throat, making it difficult for her to make a sound.

"Nothing serious. We're not serious. So..."

"If you want to split up, Angga. At least gather your courage and stop stalling the conversation here and there. Why are you suddenly going to separate?"

"I'm tired of you" Anggara replied and he shouldn't have said that because Vera's hand hit him straight in the face. Hit him until his head was pulled back.

"You bastard, Anggara. I hope you burn in hell."

Anggara swallowed the blood in his mouth, the pain coming from the fist was incredible. Vera was about to pass from there and Anggara instantly pulled the girl's arm. Interestingly it was strong enough until Vera took a few steps back.

"Why are you so angry?" Anggara raised his voice. Didn't realize that he himself-also-shows anger.

"Because you're a savage jerk who can't take responsibility for your own actions and you have no respect for me at all."

"Why should I respect you?" Anggara challenged Vera. "Who are you and who am I?"

"Wow.., I'm moved." Vera grunted trivially. "I didn't expect you to be inferior to before, but now you're acting so disgusting Anggara. Eat all those titles and treasures until you die suffocating your wealth, I don't care!"

Vera was about to pass again and this time Anggara blocked Vera's path with his own body.

"Do you want to die?" Vera's voice was full of emphasis.

"Haw..." Anggara sighed. Ease the anger that had gathered in his head. He looked at Vera once more, his pair of eyes implying tantrums and wrath-mellowing. A voice came out from his lips, and this time there was no condemnation in his intonation.

"Why can't you accept my request for what it is?" The voice of the anggara turned desperate.

"You argue if you think I am, I will obey your words."

"You obey my every command when we do that..."

"I only obey because I like what you do to me. Beyond that, you have no control over me, Anggara."

Aggara was silent, he was silent because he understood what Vera said was not a mistake. Their relationship is based on mutual consent. That, even though he was on the dominant side when they were in the room-he had no control over Vera beyond that. He has no right to just dump Vera and expect her to obey him.

Their relationship agreement is not like that. They should, at least, respect each other. However, he had already demeaned Vera. Injuring the girl with the intention to get Vera to agree to leave her. Aggara believes it was the right way, before. Until he realized Vera was really hurt by his words. Anggara can't.

"Vera, I'm sorry." Anggara lowered his voice, his gaze. He tries to grab Vera's wrist until the girl fends him off and pulls a step back from before him.

"I shouldn't have said that." Anggara rubbed his face in frustration. "I was wrong, okay. I..., I'm not thinking straight."

Vera still refuses to respond. Vera just stood there, staring at Anggara with a pair of tapered eyes full of judgment.

"I.., I'll explain the situation to you..." Anggara continued his words. "And if I'm being honest with you, would you like to comply with my request?"

"You have no control over my decisions, Anggara."

"Listen, Vera. I want us to part ways, okay? I don't want to hurt you..."

"Too slow for that confession. You hurt me three minutes ago."

Anggara took a breath. "I know, I'm sorry."

"So...," not intending to drag Anggara's guilt for a long time, Vera finally decided that this conversation needed to continue and not go around in circles on the same topic. "Are you ready to give me an explanation without demeaning me now?"

"I'll tell you."

When Anggara was about to spill his explanation, Vera who had since stood in a tense and intimidating posture, relaxed her muscles. His straight shoulders slumped. He approached the wall and leaned back there. A cigarette came out of his pocket, and he lit a cigarette for himself.

Anggara noticed Vera, and to this day, he still wonders how the cigarette that should be the source of the disease-makes a Vera-like man, look dazzling?

"Do you want to?" Vera thought Anggara was paying attention to her because of the cigarette, so she offered one.

Anggara.

"As you know, Vera. My relationship with Evan, and Ace. Me and Evan, we need to work together if we don't want to be Ace's victim. To survive, we have to get rid of it."

"That's a good joke, then?" Vera is honest-to-be sceptical of the results of Anggara and Evan's resistance. Ace isn't the one you want to make enemies with, Vera knows because she's seen firsthand how monster that guy is.

"I know you underestimate us. I won't blame you because you know me. I'm not a competent person in this field."

"I'm so moved you're praising me." Anggara smiled miris.

"I'm just talking facts." Vera took a deep sip of her cigarette, filling her lungs with smog before exhaling her misty breath out of her mouth.

"Then, what does this have to do with us?" ask Vera again. This time his head turned towards Anggara.

"Evan.., he knows our relationship."

"Well, that's surprising. But that's not a problem, is it? I mean.., you have the right to have a relationship with anyone, me or not. That's not something she needs to interfere with."

"Me and Evan.., we're a little different than you think."

Vera's confused. "What do you mean?"

"I.., I am no longer a figure who stands on par with Evan. I.., I'm just a mascot. I have no power behind my name. The only way my family, we can survive is by sticking to the Caspian family like leeches. Do you know what that means?"

Of course Vera knows. That means, if Evan shows Anggara displeasure, disapproval, then Anggara as the lesser party of him - is incapable of doing anything but obedience.

"So Evan doesn't want you with me, does he?"

"Then you're on Ace's side, he even asked me to kill you."

"Then why didn't you kill me?"

"I can't do it." Anggara took a breath. "I'm the one who dragged you in this relationship right from the start, if anyone's supposed to get hurt, then it's me."

"You're wise," Vera chuckled. "But I agreed and let you drag me, Anggara. You shouldn't have to endure it all alone."

"Now, you understand my decision, right?" Anggara tilted his body to face Vera. His eyes implied a sadness that blended with helplessness.

"I understand." murmured Vera. "But I'm sorry, I won't agree on your decision."

"Huh?"

"I love spending time with you, Angga. We are very compatible in terms of preferences, and I am comfortable around you, even if we do nothing, you are a meaningful person to me. I don't want to budge and let Evan take you away from me."

Suppose that Vera's words should upset her, but somehow, she laughed. "Do you realize what you just said?"

"Yes. One hundred percent."

"Vera, you can't. Evan is a dangerous man. He could hurt you."

"He can try."

"Veras."

"I don't want us to be apart." Vera approaches Anggara, eyes showing full determination. "You're my favorite partner. You don't have to worry about anything about my safety, I. You just need to be there for me. Okay?"

Anggara sighed. How could he reject Vera when the girl was so close to his chest? He manipulates it with a touch that makes him hold his breath. Anggara could not resist Vera, not when he wanted to lock the girl in his room. Touch it, tame the wild side. Makes Vera forget everything and just remember her name.

It is a selfishness that he cannot let go of.

Assume that this is a decision that he will regret, but later is later. He would close his eyes and pretend that he was not making a mistake right now.

He will hold Vera once more today, and blame her for tomorrow.

Vera, on the one hand, as Anggara clenched her, smiled faintly with relief and perhaps a little feeling...,

Drrrtt...., Drrrrrttt!!!

A mobile phone vibration interrupts the intimacy of both. With unwillingness, Vera released her pagutan from Anggara. Vera checks her phone and finds David's name on it, calls him.

"Hello" said Vera. He tried to maintain his composure, although now Anggara clenched his neck. Breathe in his neck.

"Vera, where are you?"

"I.., I'm in..."

"Can you come back soon" David said in a hurry.

"What's going on?"

"Miss Margot was attacked."

Vera pushed Anggara completely away.

"I'll be back."

...----------------...