Yesterday Once More

YVONNE tied her robe and headed to the door when she heard someone ring the doorbell to her hotel suite. Anthony then came in the moment she opened it.

“Anthony,” she called as he continued to walk in.

“What?” Taking off his coat, he turned to face her.

“Why are you here?”

“I came here to spend some time with you.” He loosened his tie and walked toward her. “You didn’t tell me you’re here. I’ve missed you.”

His hands went to her sides and gently caressed her there.

“I didn’t tell you since I didn’t come here for leisure. I came here for work,” she told him calmly.

Yvonne was one of the speakers at the National Literary Festival. It was a three-day event, and the event’s place was too far from home. She had to check in to a hotel so there wouldn’t be any hassle.

“Come on, sweetheart….” Anthony moved even closer. Now their bodies were almost touching. “It’s not like you’re going to talk twenty-four-seven. We still have some time for ourselves… just like now.”

He pushed her down the king-sized bed and pinned her body down with his. Yvonne gasped when she felt his hard erection poking her lower abdomen. Dang, he was doing it again! Anthony was trying to tease her into having sex with him, and he was always like that whenever they were given a chance to be alone in one room. However, Yvonne wasn’t a fan of sex. She’d like to stick to her principle not to engage in such an act until she was sure it was the right man she’d marry. And her relationship with Anthony was still far from marriage. They’d only been dating for a year, and within that time, she hadn’t felt him sincere about their relationship. But she kept her feet dancing to his tune, for her life was a bit boring, and she was looking for something that could thrill her.

She tried to push him away, but her strength was no match for him.

“Anthony, move away. I—”

“Don’t you want me?” he drawled and trailed kisses to her jaw down to her neck.

Yvonne didn’t feel aroused at all. What she felt was fear creeping through her system. And her brain immediately sent her body the message. She froze.

It seemed that he was able to notice her reaction. Anthony distanced himself from her a bit and stared into her eyes.

“You don’t have to be afraid….” His hand went to her cheek and caressed her. “I know this is your first… I promise you that I’ll be gentle.”

She knew she couldn’t let it happen. She needed to find an escape.

“C-can I use the toilet first?” Yvonne hoped he’d buy it. “I-I was about to use it when you arrived. My stomach has been upset since this morning.”

Anthony ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Fine.”

He finally let her go.

Yvonne let out a sigh of relief and rushed to the bathroom. But she instantly regretted heading there first without bringing her phone. Now, how could she ask someone for help? She sauntered toward the door to get her phone from the bedside table when she heard Anthony’s voice. He was talking with someone on the phone.

“Yes. I’ve managed to come inside her hotel suite. And guess what? She’s alone. Yes. Of course! I think I’m going to get this virgin to bed tonight. Mm-hmm!” His laughter roared inside the suite. “You know I’m only dating her because I want to have sex with her. I love virgins. They’re innocent, naïve… We’ll see if I’d still like her after this.”

It was horrifying to hear such words from him. Now, Anthony’s intentions were clear.

Yvonne was enraged when she opened the door. She picked up the vase when she walked past the side table.

“Anthony!” She threw the vase in his direction.

He managed to dodge, so the vase hit the wall instead.

“What the fuck was that?” He looked at her with eyes wide shut. “Are you planning to kill me?”

Her chest went up and down. There was no way she’d calm down now. All she could see in front of her was nothing but red. She snatched the remote control from the coffee table and threw it in Anthony’s direction. This time it hit his cheek.

“Sonofabitch!” he said and strode toward her. “What the hell is your fucking problem, huh?”

She resisted when he grasped her arms tightly and shook her hard.

“You’re my fucking problem! I heard you talking on the phone. All this time, all you ever wanted is to take me to bed!” she snarled at him.

“Yes, that’s right. All I want is to fuck you. So what?” He smiled devilishly. Anthony’s hand went to the back of her head and pulled her hair.

It hurt, but Yvonne didn’t even flinch. She didn’t want to show him she was weak. That’d only make him feel dominant over her.

“You’re not going to get what you want from me,” she said through gritted teeth as she stared at him with narrowed eyes. “I won’t let you—”

“Do you want to bet, Yvonne?” Anthony sneered.

For a second, she thought she saw the face of a devil in him. That look in his eyes told her he wouldn’t back off.

And then, he took her to bed.

Yvonne fought like a cat when he tried to undress her. She managed to kick him between his thighs, allowing her to get off the bed and race to the door. There was no way she’d let him win.

She was able to open the door and shout for help, but when she was about to run to the hallway, Anthony caught her and brought her back to the room.

“You bitch!” he said and pushed her to the wall.

Yvonne gasped when he held her neck tightly. He started untying her robe. And just when he was about to assault her sexually, someone busted in the door and snatched him away from her.

Help just came right in time. She was saved.

She hugged her trembling body as she watched the back of her savior giving instructions to the security guard who caught Anthony.

***

“COME with me,” said Rohan when he turned to face the woman. And now that he saw her face clearly, he was able to recognize her. “Yvonne?”

He knew her because the woman wasn’t a stranger. And he didn’t expect that their paths would cross again in such a way.

She flinched when he held her by the arm, and he understood why.

Rohan took off his coat and wrapped it around Yvonne’s shoulder. He then gestured in the direction of the door.

“We need to go to the office for your statement, and then we will forward this to the police—”

“Please, let’s not call the police,” Yvonne muttered in a trembling voice.

“What? Why?” He wondered why she had to come up with such a decision. “You almost got raped—”

“I have a reputation to protect. Please… Rohan.” She raised her head and looked at him with teary eyes. “Help me deal with this discreetly. I beg you.”

“I don’t understand.”

It wasn’t the Yvonne he knew years ago. She was a woman of strong character and would never bow down when she knew she was right. What happened to that woman now?

“I have a public image to protect. I can’t let this one become the latest trend on the internet.”

Rohan pocketed his hands and heaved a sigh. “All right. I’ll see what I can do about this matter.” He cocked his head in the direction of the door. “But still, we need to go to the office.”

Yvonne slowly nodded her head. “I’ll just put on a decent dress.”

“Right.”

He was about to turn around when she spoke again. “R-Rohan…”

“Yes?”

“Thank you… for saving me.”

“You’re welcome. Go on and get dressed. I’ll wait for you outside.”

He turned around and went out of the suite. But a few minutes had passed, and she still hadn’t followed him. Was it that long for a woman to get dressed?

Rohan went inside the suite again and found Yvonne sitting on the floor as she palmed her chest. Her facial expression looked like she was in pain.

“Are you okay?” He immediately rushed to her side and helped her stand up. “What’s happening?”

Yvonne groaned and breathed heavily.

“Shit,” he muttered and picked her up.

Rohan decided to bring her to the infirmary so the doctor could check her.

“W-where are we going?” Yvonne asked when they got inside the elevator.

“You need to see a doctor.”

“It’s just a panic attack, Rohan. I’ll be fine soon—”

“Stop talking, will you? We have a doctor here, and he’ll check on you.”

ROHAN paced back and forth in the infirmary. He had brought Yvonne there, but the doctor was out.

“Rohan… could you please stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”

He stopped and turned in the direction of the bed and saw Yvonne sitting up. He immediately rushed to her and helped her to sit.

“I’m just worried about you. You should be checked by the doctor immediately, but he’s nowhere to be found. Damn it…” He gritted his teeth.

“Sir Rohan, Doc Kyler’s back,” the nurse informed him.

“At last!” He left Yvonne and met the doctor halfway. “Where the hell have you been? We have a patient here who has a heart problem!” The tone of his voice raised.

“I had my first decent meal for the day. Come on… I just came from the hospital.” Kyler sauntered to the patient’s bed.

“I told you to just stay here at the infirmary—”

“Dad called me to substitute for him since he needs to attend a conference, so please stop nagging me, Uncle.” Kyler sneered and put on his stethoscope.

Rohan just stood beside him as he watched him check on Yvonne.

“How is she?” he asked afterward.

“Her heartbeat seems fine.” Kyler turned to him. “You said she has some sort of a heart problem? Well, I suggest that she must—”

“I already told him that it’s just a panic attack,” Yvonne chimed in. “There’s nothing serious to worry about here, doctor. I’m sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused you—”

“Yvonne…” Rohan cut her off. “You don’t have to be sorry.”

She saw something cross his eyes, something she didn’t dare give a name.

“Uncle’s right and it’s my duty as a doctor to check on you.” The doctor beamed at him.

“Well, thank you…” she said as she got off the bed.

Rohan immediately caught her by the arm when she suddenly lost her balance.

“Are you sure you’re okay now? You can stay here until you get better. We won’t mind.”

She turned to Rohan and beamed. “I’m fine. I can’t stay here for long when I have something important to attend to.”

Yvonne suddenly realized that she had no footwear to wear back to her suite because Rohan had carried her to the infirmary. That thought made her cheeks burn, and she was worried that he’d notice them blushing, so she immediately cupped her face hoping she could hide it that way. And as though she and Rohan had telepathy, he got her something to wear.

“These are Kyler’s,” Rohan said as he put the slippers on her feet. “Don’t worry… he won’t mind.”

“I’ll make sure to return these before I check out.”

Yvonne looked at them back and forth before heading out of the infirmary.

She let out a long sigh upon getting out, and that was when she realized she had been holding her breath while standing beside Rohan.

Oh, how she wished now that they were nothing but strangers. Perhaps it would make the situation a little less embarrassing. But heaven wouldn’t hear her plea. It couldn’t be because they’d known each other very well since long ago.

“Good Lord,” she muttered.

Yvonne was about to push the elevator button when a finger pushed it first. When she turned in the owner’s direction, she found Rohan standing beside her, so close that their arms almost touched. What was he doing there? She thought he wouldn’t follow her.

“I’ll walk you to your suite,” he said so casually without looking at her.

“I can manage—”

“Why did you do that, Yvonne?” He turned to her, finally.

“Do what?” Her brows furrowed.

“Why did you let it slide just like that?” She caught his jaw clenched. “Do you love him that much to protect him?”

She didn’t like the tone of his voice. Was he mad at her for her choice?

Rohan must’ve misinterpreted her action. But why did he have to react?

Yvonne was about to defend herself when the elevator doors opened. They stepped in, and the moment they got inside, she realized that she didn’t need to explain her side. Rohan might know her, and they might be friends back then, but she couldn’t see any reason she should explain. A deafening silence ensued between them, and no one dared to speak until the elevator doors opened again to her suite’s floor. Rohan just walked her to the door and left without a word of goodbye.

She just shrugged it off and got inside her suite to prepare. Yvonne must compose herself and face her readers as though nothing wrong happened that day.

***

SHE flinched upon seeing Rohan outside her suite when she came out. After their quiet interaction earlier, Yvonne didn’t expect to see him again. Well, she knew he owned the hotel, but she thought he’d be busy with some work.

“W-what are you doing here?” She swallowed hard. For some reason, her strength seemed to leave her at that moment.

Rohan pocketed his hands and looked at her intently. “I’m worried about you, Yvonne.” His worry was evident in his tone. “I’m worried that punk would be back and… come after you.”

“Why are you so worried when your hotel has security—”

“You can stay at my penthouse while you have errands around the city.”

Her eyes widened. “A-are you asking me to stay with you?”

Was he really that concerned about her now that he resorted to asking her that they stay together?

“I… uhm… I’m not staying there at the moment.”

“O-oh…” Yvonne wished the ground to open and swallow her. She shouldn’t have asked. “I see.”

“I thought it would be safer for you to stay there. That bastard Anthony didn’t know my place, so—”

“Thanks, Rohan. But I decline your offer,” she said straightforwardly.

His forehead creased. “What? But why?”

“I’m fine staying here. And besides… I’m going home tomorrow. I already told my editor and publisher that I’ll just attend the press conference and book signing today.” Yvonne tried to smile to show him that she was fine. “There’s no need to worry, and you shouldn’t concern yourself too much about me.”

When Rohan didn’t say anything, she just nodded and walked ahead of him. She almost ran just to get to the elevator as soon as possible. Having him around was somewhat bad… for her heart. He didn’t follow her, and she wasn’t sure if she should be glad about it.

And then… her phone rang. Yvonne fished it out from her purse and saw her mom’s name on the screen. Her mother always checked on her from time to time whenever she was away from home, even though she was already a grown-up. She didn’t mind that because she knew her mother was just worried about her.

“Mom,” she said upon answering the call.

“Yvonne, are you okay?” Her mother sounded worried.

“Yes, I’m fine.” She lied, of course. Yvonne still hadn’t recovered from what happened when Anthony almost raped her. It’s just that she had to look good because she still had something to do for her readers.

“Yvonne… You’re lying to me.” It was a statement that made her swallow hard.

She didn’t know how her mother knew that something had happened to her when she hadn’t mentioned a thing to anyone yet. The only ones who knew were her, Anthony, and Rohan. It would be impossible that Anthony would throw himself under the bus.

“M-mom, h-how did you know…?” Her voice trailed off.

“I got a call from someone. He said he’s your friend.”

“D-did he mention his name?”

“No. But he did tell me everything that happened to you back there. Please, dear… tell me you’re safe now and that you’ll be home soon.”

“I’m safe, Mom… and I’m coming home tomorrow, so you can rest your worries now.”

She heard her mother heaving a deep sigh.

“Good. I’m about to send your cousin there to pick you up.”

“Oh, no. Don’t bother. I still have something to finish here, Mom, and you know that.”

“Take care of yourself, dear.”

“Hm…”

The call ended.

Yvonne let out a long sigh. She didn’t know if she should hate Rohan or not at that rate. She kept the incident a secret from his parents because she didn’t want them to worry too much. They were old, and she wanted them to avoid getting stressed as much as possible.

Yes, she was certain it was Rohan who told them. But then… How did he reach her mom? Were they in touch all those times, and she didn’t know about it?