"Phheewww...… what a mess of a life!!" Zack looked up at the darkening sky and sighed heavily. His breath escaped him like he'd been holding it for years.
"Hehe, it sure is a mess." Rugged Woman laughed beside him while watching his relaxed face.
Zack tilted his head sideways, his neck still stretched back and resting on the wooden bench's top edge. The position should have been uncomfortable, yet it felt as though he had let go of a heavy weight from his body, and now he could move freely without any restriction or whatsoever.
Looking at the rugged woman's happy face, Zack spoke,
"It would be good if those two were like you… I feel at peace whenever I'm with you."
Zack's words stunned Rugged Woman. She got shy, a rare expression on her usually confident face, but from inside she was very happy hearing his words. She looked at him and raised her hand, touching his hair with gentle fingers. The strands slipped through her touch like silk. "Boss, if those two become like me, then your life will get boring. Imagine if whatever you do, all three of us just accept it…...I have blind faith in you, and that itself would be harmful....And even though Subordinate woman act like she accepts everything about you but she still subconsciously judges you because she is a needy girl…in a good sense of course....She will judge you but in return judge herself more....And then there is Princess....Who loves you but took you for granted..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "We all are imperfect, life in itself is supposed to be imperfect, and that's the beauty of it."
"Now someone is lecturing me. Were you a scholar in your previous life?" Zack smiled at her, his expression softening with affection.
"Hmmm, maybe I was. What do you think? If I wore plain clothes and glasses with proper straight long hair, would I look like a scholar?" Rugged Woman giggled, the image clearly amusing her.
"Hahaha, I don't think it will suit you. Your muscles are way better." Zack looked at her biceps, which were close to his face. Her puffed-up sleeves only started at her elbows, leaving her upper arms bare. He could see the well-defined muscles of her body up close. Under the night sky, with soft, dim lighting brushing against her form, it looked almost dangerous, as the light catching along the curves of her muscles, darkening their sharp edges and turning her, from afar, into the silhouette of a fierce warrior.
But for him, combined with her beautiful, gentle face, it was a piece of art.
Under his gaze, her muscles subtly tightened, as if in quiet response, revealing the intricate definition beneath her brown skin. Each fiber became visible, her strength undeniable under those strong muscles.
"Boss, stop staring!" Rugged Woman tried to hide her biceps, but she had no way to do that. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
"But what if I want to stare?" Zack asked, looking at her eyes now instead of her arms.
"Boss…Ahm… of course you can. I'm your woman. You can do whatever you want." Rugged Woman spoke as she with a red face brought her biceps closer to his face. His lips were only inches away from her muscles. His breath hit her arm and made her tingle inside, warmth spreading through her body from that simple contact.
"What if you don't like it? What if you lose something important? What if our relationship gets damaged?" Zack brought his hand up and touched her biceps, tracing the fiber of every muscle with reverent fingers. His touch was feathering light, he moved his fingers very slowly trying to explore every inch of her muscle, as if he were discovering something precious.
Rugged Woman bit her lips to control a moan that threatened to escape. The sensation of his fingers mapping her muscles sent shivers down her spine. She used her other hand to lift Zack's sad face, making him look at her directly.
"BOSS, STOP THINKING TOO MUCH!.... YOU'RE TOO WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN!!.....YOU ARE ALWAYS THINKING, IF YOU DO THAT, THIS WILL HAPPEN!! IF I DON'T DO THIS THEN THIS WILL HAPPEN! I WANT TO DO THIS BUT WHAT WOULD OTHERS THINK!... BOSS YOUR WORRY FOR OTHERS ARE CAUSING YOU TO STOP LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANT!!! IT'S WAY TOO FRUSTRATING TO WATCH YOU LIKE THIS!!!" Her voice rose with passion, with the need to make him understand. "I can somehow understand your way of thinking, and truthfully.... it brought me a headache. YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO. JUST LET IT GO... DON'T THINK OF CONSEQUENCES IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING TRULY WITH YOUR HEART. IF YOU LOVE NAT THEN IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO CLAIM HER, IF YOU DON'T LIKE HER MINGLING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE THEN DESPITE HER POSITION AND HER LIFE GOALS IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO STOP HER BECAUSE YOU LOVE HER AND SHE LOVES YOU!!!.... LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIVED BOSS, NOT PLANNED!!! STOP THINKING 100 STEPS AHEAD!!.... JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD STRAIGHT AND LOOK AHEAD AND GIVE ALL YOUR FOCUS ON YOUR NEXT STEP!!"
Rugged Woman paused for a second, her chest heaving with emotion. She hugged him from the side, bringing his head onto her shoulder. She embraced him warmly, her strong arms wrapping around him like a shield. "BOSS, YOUR CAREFUL STEPS HAVE LED YOU TO BECOME HESITANT, AND THAT LED TO PRINCESS GOING ASTRAY. YOU CAN BLAME YOURSELF OR EVERYONE ELSE, BUT THAT WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING."
Her voice softened, becoming tender. "BOSS, IT'S OKAY. FORGIVE YOURSELF…... YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.... YOU ARE FREE TO SPEAK UP..... AND IF EVERYTHING GOES ASTRAY, I AM HERE. I BELIEVE IN YOU, BOSS. JUST LIKE YOU BELIEVED IN ME AND ACCEPTED ME THE WAY I AM, I ALSO ACCEPT EVERTHING ABOUT YOU."
Rugged Woman put her head on top of his, cradling him against her. She started patting him with gentle rhythmic motions. She realized her boss had started crying. She could feel his tears on her naked shoulder, making her skin warm, her eyes also filled up with tears threatening to spill over on Boss head, but she stayed strong because it's her boss time to be weak….. His tears slid down to her chest, making her heart ache with a sweet pain. Yet she was happy that he was finally letting it out, releasing the poison he'd been carrying.
"BOSS, IF YOU ARE ANGRY, THEN YOU CAN SHOUT! IF YOU ARE SAD, THEN YOU CAN CRY! IF YOU ARE HAPPY, YOU CAN SMILE! IF YOU DON'T WANT PRINCESS OR ANYONE ELSE TO DO SOMETHING, THEN YOU CAN SAY IT! YOU ARE ALLOWED TO EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS! DON'T HIDE IT INSIDE! LET IT OUT!"
"AGH! UGH! KKKRR! AAAG! SNIFF!"
Zack didn't cry hard but his hands were holding Rugged woman tightly, his heart was bawling out in silent tears. He didn't sob loudly or make dramatic sounds. He just shed tears, lots of them…. He was silent but his insides were screaming at top of their lungs and the residue of it was coming out with warm tears, they poured from him like rain from clouds that had been holding too much weight for too long. His mind was filled with echoes of past words, a cacophony of voices that had shaped his prison.
Zack, sorry, but you have to maintain the distance.
Zack, you're not good enough. That's why I chose him.
Zack, don't talk to them.
Zack will come afterwards to the party.
Zack, the loyal friend is here.
Zack, give up! You're useless in her life! She is born to be great!
"Zack, you're late! I have a show tomorrow, and I wanted this dress an hour ago! Why were you late?"
Zack, did you like my dance? And how is my dress?
Zack, go run and bring me my favorite food as punishment.
Zack didn't come. It looks like he ran away!
Hahahaha, stop it Little man!
Zack, it's all because of you! You never loved me, and now someone else is taking me! Are you happy, Zack?
Zack!
Zack!
ZACK!!!!
BOSS, IT'S OKAY! I LOVE YOU! YOU CAN SHOW YOUR EMOTIONS TO ME!
"AGHHH… KKKCC… SNIFFF… SOBB… SOBBB… AAAAGGGG… SNIFF… KKKKK…"
Zack silently cried for a while, the sounds barely escaping him. Rugged Woman kept hugging him through it all. She kept speaking to him, her words a constant stream of reassurance filled with her love. Her voice slowly made Zack calm down, his breathing also slowly stop going in rampage, his head which was hurting from all the past voices slowly went away to nothingness. He could breathe properly now.
For a while he could feel his pressure going down and down….. and finally, after crying his heart out, he was feeling free from all those chains which was made up from his life experiences.
.
After a few minutes, Zack opened his teary eyes. He was still in her embrace, still safe in her arms. He brought his blanket up and cleared his tears, wiping them away with soft motions. He lifted his head up and saw her naked shoulders, all wet from his tears. The moisture glistened in the dim light.
Zack stretched his blanket and wiped her shoulder clean, even reaching near her breast area, nearly touching the upper swell of her breast. His movements were very careful as if making sure her beautiful skin is not stained from his tears. Rugged Woman just smiled sweetly and gently patted his head with affection.
"Are you okay, boss?" Rugged Woman asked, her voice soft with concern.
Zack, hearing this, smiled. He nodded gently and left her embrace, he could feel something had shifted inside him, something fundamental. He stood up, leaving the hold of her warm hands. Then he placed the blanket on the bench behind him, as he walked some steps away. He stood straight, placing his hand on his hip….. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs completely. Then he looked toward the sky, at the stars beginning to shine above them, and said with conviction ringing in his voice:
"I THINK I FOUND A WAY TO GET OUT OF MY STUPID SLAVE MINDSET!"
"Huh? How, boss?" Rugged Woman looked at his dashing figure in a trance. He looked different now, taller somehow, more stronger and more handsome, she couldn't help but stare at his figure. She doesn't know why but her heart suddenly started beating up fast, the air between them seem to stopped, only her eyes were looking at a man who made her heart flutter like a little girl for the first time in her life. Then she heard something that filled her heart full of happy fluttering feeling.
Zack looked at her mesmerized face and smiled warmly as the words left his lips.
"BY LOVING YOU EQUALLY!"
Hearing the words made Rugged Woman stunned. Her breath caught in her throat. She looked at a man standing tall, saying he would love her EQUALLY. That means… THAT MEANSS!!!
"Boss, you…"
"Come here. Help me stretch. My body feels so sluggish." Zack didn't let her finish speaking. He extended his hand toward her, palm up, offering and asking at the same time.
Rugged Woman, still in disbelief, held his hand and stood up. As she stood in front of him, her long rectangular earrings shimmered in the moonlight, catching and reflecting the pale glow. Her brown skin seemed to absorb the white light and make it sparkle under the night sky. She looked ethereal, unreal to this world.
Zack looked at her and spoke while cupping her face with both hands. His fingers were gently held her cheeks, his eyes fixed on her disbelief eyes as he spoke. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME, RUGGED WOMAN?"
"Huh? My name?" Rugged Woman saw how her boss was so intimately close. His eyes looked directly inside her soul, seeing everything she was. She felt her heartbeat race, thundering in her chest. She answered automatically, the words coming from somewhere deep inside. "HAZEL MOYNIHAN. MY NAME IS HAZEL MOYNIHAN!"
"Hazel, what a beautiful name." Zack's voice dropped lower, becoming intimate. "Hazel, I realized while I was talking to you… you were the only one in my life who never doubted me or judged me even for a single second.... Whether I call you in the midst of fighting dangerous enemies or tell you my deepest secrets, you never ever held any second thought….. Even though we haven't spent enough time together, I feel I want to stay beside you. I feel at peace with you…. HAZEL... I WANT YOU IN MY LIFE!!! HAZEL I.."
He paused, gathering courage for what came next.
"I don't know what Nat will say, but I.... I LOVE YOU, HAZEL! I LOVE YOU! I WANT TO BE WITH YOU! HAZEL, ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE ME YOUR MAN FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?"
Zack's voice echoed inside her, hitting her heart in continuous motion. Each word landed like a hammer on a bell, making everything ring. Her eyes got bigger and bigger as they slowly filled with tears. The emotion overwhelmed her completely.
"BOSS! I… YESS! I WILL BECOME YOUR WOMAN!!!!!"
Zack, after hearing it, brought her face closer and kissed her lips softly. His lips met hers with gentleness, with reverence, with love finally spoken aloud.
UUMMMMM MMMFFF AAAMM MMMMMM SLLLLLPPPP MMMMM AAAAH MMMM
Under the shimmering beautiful night sky, a couple kissed each other in love. Zack's hands gently held her cheeks and cupped them more toward him, drawing her deeper into the kiss. His kiss got deeper and deeper, exploring her mouth with growing confidence. Hazel tears started flowing down her face, making hot trails on her skin. And with all these emotions overflowing her, only one thought filled her mind:
"THANK YOU, BOSS, FOR LOVING ME! I LOVE YOU, ZACK!"
She kissed him harder, pouring everything she had into it. Both their bodies shivered in excitement, trembling with the intensity of the moment.
.
After a while, both separated their lips.
HUFF HUFFF HUFF
Both breathed hard as they looked at each other, their chests rising and falling rapidly. Then they laughed, the sound bursting out of them with pure joy.
"Hehehe."
Zack touched her forehead with his forehead, pressing them together and making a promise. "Hazel, let's live a happy life."
Rugged Woman, fully red from her face to her neck, only spoke one word. "YES!"
They kissed again, unable to stay apart. Zack held her body close to his, feeling every curve pressed against him. His hand held her strong back tightly as he never stopped kissing her. Hazel breast tightly squashed against his chest as her tongue ravage inside his mouth trying to taste every corner of his…. Her tears were not stopping, her heart was not getting slower, her happiness was not able to contain inside anymore as she finally held a man in her arms who is willing to respect her. She never thought she could have a normal life…. but here she stands in embrace of a man who is promising her a happy fulfilling life. She couldn't ask for more, this is a bliss she never got, a family that she can call her own, with whom she could spend rest of her life without any worries.
BOSS I LOVE YOU!! Hazel parted her lips and spoke with a heavy breathing, her eyes never leaving his.
I LOVE YOU TOO HAZEL!! I LOVE YOU TOO! Zack smiled warmly as he cleaned her tears and kissed her again.
....
After a while as he held Hazel in his embrace trying to calm her down, he looked sideways and saw Oliver smirking at him from another bench in the distance. Suddenly, Oliver raised his hand and showed him the middle finger with exaggerated flair. Gracie beside him looked shocked and tried to stop him, but Oliver just smirked harder.
Zack, seeing this, showed his thumbs up in response. A silent acknowledgment passed between the two men.
.
"Boss, what about other girls???" Hazel wanted to ask about Nat, Subordinate woman and the other mysterious girl, but her eyes subconsciously looked at her surroundings and saw many friends and family members nodding at her with approval. Their smiles were genuine, their eyes warm as they saw her with affection.
She released Zack's embrace and bowed deeply toward them, showing her gratitude and respect. Zack let her be, watching with satisfaction. Then he spoke with a mischievous grin:
"Don't worry, everything is going to be okay!...And…heheh… And there is no woman except Nat and two of you. Hehehe."
"WHAT THE… YOU ARE ONE HELL OF A PRANKSTER BOSS!!!" Hazel's eyes went wide with realization. "BUT I DID THINK THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO HIDE A GIRL FOR SO LONG. HEHE, I'M HAPPY THAT THIS WAS A LIE! I LIKE IT! HEHE!"
Hazel laughed hard as she started thinking about how to tease Subordinate Woman. The possibilities were endless.
Zack gently touched her naked shoulder and said, "Now help me stretch. My body feels sluggish."
"Sure, Zack!" Hazel laughed, saying his name with new freedom. She helped him stretch, her strong hands guiding his movements, making sure his wound don't open up.
.
"Geez, those two are teasing me so much!!!! I will make sure that Rugged woman suffers my wrath afterwards! Humph!"
Subordinate Woman back to her cute little personality, came outside while mumbling toxic words but suddenly her thoughts stopped because she saw everyone looking at her with pity in their eyes. Their expressions were full of knowing, their gazes full of pity towards her.
"Huh? What happened?" She looked around and found nothing obviously wrong. In the distance, boss was stretching with the help of Rugged Woman.
PAT!
"It's fine, don't cry." Mother Ariana smirked as she patted her shoulder and went inside, her smile mysterious.
PAT!
"You snooze; you lose." Chieftess Anihoa laughed as she patted her shoulder, clearly enjoying her surprised expression.
PAT!
"It's okay, Miss Subordinate. Every animal's day comes!" Maid Nima also giggled, her hand gentle on Subordinate Woman's shoulder but not her words.
PAT! PAT!
"All the best!" Mother Julia and Mother Isafold also patted her shoulders as they passed, their eyes twinkling with amusement.
PAT!
PAT!
PAT!
PAT!
"GAHH! STOP IT! TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!"
Subordinate Woman roared, but the others just laughed harder. Their giggles followed them as they walked away, leaving her standing there in confusion.
Pouting angrily, she went toward boss and Hazel. She spoke loudly, her voice carrying her frustration.
"BOSS! THEY'RE BEING SO MEAN! WHY ARE THEY LAUGHING AT ME?"
Subordinate Woman hit her foot on the ground angrily, her whole-body radiating indignation.
"Hmm, don't worry. They're just playing around…. Forget about them and tell me what happened to the preparation?" Zack stopped stretching as he felt his body come alive again. The stiffness was gone, replaced by renewed energy.
Hazel gently soaked his sweat with her sleeve in tender motion like a sweet young wife, her body extremely close to Zack as he also didn't mind the intimacy. Zack held her waist intimately as she gently soaked away the sweat, his hand resting possessively on the curve present there on Hazel waist. The gesture was so casual among them that it made Subordinate woman feel….very…veryyy… JEALOUS!!!
TWITCH TWITCH
Subordinate Woman, feeling something weird happening, spoke with growing confusion. "It is ready. We are told to gather at the front of the Queen's palace."
"That's good. Let's go, Hazel." Zack patted her lower back with familiar ease. She nodded, understanding him perfectly.
She grabbed the blanket and covered his body again with it, arranging it carefully around his shoulders. "All done, Zack. Let's go."
Both of them turned around and walked side by side, their steps matching naturally. They left a stunned Subordinate Woman standing behind them, her mouth hanging open.
"OH, AND ZACK DOESN'T HAVE ANY OTHER WOMEN BESIDES THREE OF US! HE WAS JUST KIDDING AROUND! BLEEHHH!"
Hazel laughed hard as she shouted while glancing back over her shoulder. She stuck her tongue out playfully.
"WHAT? WHAT! WHAT IS HAPPENING!!!!! BOSS, YOU WERE PLAYING WITH MEEE!!!" Subordinate Woman's voice rose to a shriek. "RUGGED WOMAN!!!! WHAT IS GOING ON??? HUH!! HAZEL???? GRRR WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPEINING!!! WE PROMISED!!!!"
Subordinate Woman started running behind them, her feet pounding against the ground.
"Hahaha!"
Both Zack and Hazel held hands and ran ahead swiftly, their laughter mixing together in the night air. Their fingers intertwined perfectly, like they'd been holding hands for years.
"MOOOO! WHAT IS HAPPENINGGGGGGGG!"
Subordinate Woman ran behind them while shouting, her voice echoing across the courtyard. But even as she chased them, even as she yelled her confusion and frustration, there was a lump of happiness growing inside of her as she saw Hazel laughing so happily.
The three of them ran through the courtyard with smiling face, their voices carrying across the whole Queen Palace. Above them, the stars watched them silently, the beautiful night held them all gently in its embrace.
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END OF CHAPTER
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Author Blabbering
What do you do when life just keep pushing you down again and again..... You give up? You cry? You beg to god? You beat yourself up? You get up? or something else....What do you do????
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