As I watched the screen, my eyes widened while reading what Samuel said. "You know you haven't seen the bad side of me, right?" he said, and instantly that message ran chills down my body. I started feeling a bit creepy, and questions raged in my mind: what was Samuel talking about, and why was he threatening me? Each one was more ominous than the others, and the words seemed to echo in my mind.My eyes remained on the screen, my heart pounding against my chest, as the next message was: "You have to tell Adrian about it, unless you want to lose your mom. Be ready for the bad news about her." It felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and had the wind knocked out of them.What was Samuel trying to say? What kind of bad news could he have about my mom? It was unbearable even to think of losing Mommy, and Samuel seemed to savor every word with an evil intention.My fingers flew across the keyboard. "What do you mean?" I typed, my worst-case scenarios dancing in my mind. I was get
Seated in this still, quiet space and surrounded by the calm sounds of nature, I felt a wave of comfort wash over me. Helen, with her soft, gentle, and caring countenance, regarded me with her empathetic eyes, her voice a soft whisper, as if to calm the very fibers of my soul."So sorry, mam, do you want to tell about the problem?" she asked gently, in the voice that brought one shade cooler on a scorching summer day.In the first instance, I wasn't quite ready to unburden my heart to a complete stranger, but there was something in Helen's voice which at the same time soothing and judgment-proof.It was as if she had created a safe space, a sanctuary where I could let my guard down and be vulnerable. And so, with a sense of trepidation, I began to open up to her."I did not want to share the problem with anyone," I said in a barely audible voice, "but." I stopped, breathed in deeply, and the words burst out of me like water from a burst dam."Someone is threatening me," I said, and th
As I sat on the couch, my hands just scrolling through my phone, fingers subconsciously leading me to the bank app, I swiftly logged in. The familiar sight of the app was a welcome comfort as I initiated the transfer of $80 to Helen's account as we had agreed upon. The transaction went through in the matter of a second, the confirmation message jarringly reminding me of what I had lost.As I placed my phone away, a heavy depression washed over me as the defeat's weight became very heavy to bear on my shoulders.I couldn't stand the idea of playing another game, with my hands feeling leaden and unmoving, as if they also were in mourning. I was only hoping that Adrian would show up soon; his presence would be comforting, it seemed, even now.Just then, Helen's voice cut into my reverie, her tone a gentle intrusion in my mind. "Please, can I get a plate of rice?" I asked, hardly above a whisper, trying to shake off the feeling of despondency that enveloped me.Immediately, Helen got to h
I put a smile on my face, and with a stiffer movement of the lips, I put on an artificial gesture, hoping this would reassure Adrian that I was alright."I'm good, baby," I said, strained between efforts as my teeth were wide open in a toothy grin. But then again, Adrian's eyes did those almost piercing, see-through kind of eyes that saw right into the mask. He was having none of this and looked at me skeptically."You're not happy, baby," he pronounced with finality, soft, and reached for me. "You're pretending to be me."With these words, my face heated from surprise and embarrassment. How did he know? I thought, trying to look on the floor for the answer it must hold. Slumped shoulders caved in and signaled my defeated stature.These were a bundle of emotions that took me to sea-like depths, but his words would serve as some sort of lifeguard that threatened to expose me at an ungainly posture.But Adrian wasn't buying it; he knew me all too well-knew all of my tricks of the trad
Adrian's calm voice washed over me, and I felt reassured, but the fear and anxiety still lingered, causing my voice to quiver."Why is it threatening you?" Adrian asked in a slow, measured tone, as if trying to cajole the truth out of me. I took a deep breath, feeling like a hostage, trying to find the courage to speak."Talk to me, baby," Adrian repeated, with concern laced in his voice as he stroked my hair with the most delicate care. I felt the worry of my safety from him, his fear; it comforted me, actually. I knew I could trust him; he would do all that was needed to keep me safe."Yesterday, Samuel chatted me up," I started, my voice barely above a whisper. Adrian's eyes narrowed as his intense eyes looked straight into my eyes."He's never chatted with me since I got married to you," I tried to explain the significance of what Samuel did.His expression was calm, but his mind was racing to piece together whatever puzzle he had at hand."All right, continue," he said in that lo
I stepped back and questioned what was going on, my mind continually drawn to my boyfriend's past. His eyes shimmered with mirth as he revealed to me that he had studied Criminology in university."He knew all the tactics of criminals," he continued, dripping with laughter.But I remained unamused. My intense gaze stared into him, as if attempting to find an answer."No, baby, this isn't a laughing matter," I told him as firmly but softly as I could."For him to go to university to study Criminology, it means he had already made up his mind to become a criminal, even as a teenager."To which Adrian nodded, and his face turned sober."Yes, my love, you are right," he said in hushed tones."His dad was some kind of thief too, so he probably taught him everything he knew." Then he took a step closer to me and added, "Adrian decided to modernize his methods by going to university."While he spoke, his face broke out into a wide smile, although it was tempered with a note of sadness. His h
As I looked into Adrian's eyes, I found myself not able to keep the questions to myself."What plan, my love?" I asked in a whisper barely audible. Adrian's gaze grew thought-provoking as he measured his next words."I think you should call him again," he said at last, his voice measured and calm. I felt annoyed by the suggestion, screwing up my face in distaste."What do you mean, call him?" I asked, an edge in my voice. The mere thought of calling Sam already made my skin crawl, and I knew Adrian could see the annoyance etched on my face.Adrian softened his expression to one of compassion and filled his eyes with concern."No, babe, calm down," he said in a soft voice."Breathe in," he instructed, his hands demonstrating the motion of an inhalation. I grinned but did just that, filling my lungs with breath as I moved deeply."Uhhhhh," I breathed, my voice hardly above a whisper. Adrian's eyes didn't waver from mine, steady and reassuring."And breathe out," he said, his hands sweep
And so, I had just stood there, still clutching my phone, the voice of Samuel still clinging to my mind, the words floating around me as some sort of challenge. "Jenny, have you persuaded him?" He demanded, all firm and strong, a general issuing out an order to his men. The moment the phone started speaking, his tone went down the back of my neck, some feeling of fear in them.Reluctant, my smile overran my lips as I glared at Adrian, who seemed to be capturing it on his phone, the glint in his eyes amusingly telling. "No, dad, I can't," I said back, my voice no louder than a whisper, lest I was afraid of being overheard. A sense of trepidation struck me as I knew it was not going to go well with Samuel.But Samuel responded, and his words cut through the air like a hot knife. "Expect bad news, then," he said, his voice cold and dripping with malice. "You have just 7 days to persuade Adrian, or else I will remove your mom from the life savings support she is receiving." And with that,
His lips, a soft summer breeze that whispered secrets, touched mine as he whispered, "I love you, baby." And with that, my spine tingled like the summer breeze rustling through the leaves of a tree.The surrounding crowd erupted into cheers and applause, a stormy sea against the shores."Awwww!" they screamed, the chorus of delight sighs, while a symphony orchestra started playing joyful melodies. The notes were dancing in the air like a thousand small butterflies flying around while Adrian and I shared a kiss, like two lovers lost in the magic of their own private world.This song floated through the air, like a few clouds lazily drifting across a summer sky, and Adrian and I succumbed to its romantic allure, swaying our bodies to its rhythm like two trees dancing in the breeze.Sweet was the serenade of this melody, the symphony of love and longing, its notes whispering sweet nothings in our ears like the gentle caress of a lover. Moving in perfect harmony across the floor, we felt
Adrian's voice, "Please don't go, baby, I'm sorry," lingered in the air, like a fragile flower swaying in the wind. A sadness washed over me, like a spring rain on a morning, softly finding its way to my heart.His hands gripped my legs, a lifeline, clinging to me with a desperation that was nearly palpable, as though he thought that if he let me go, I would be gone from him forever, like sand between his fingers."It's late, Adrian," I told him, my voice gentle but firm, a summer breeze through leaves, attempting to soothe his ragged nerves."Please, I'm only returning, I don't need a headache," I continued, my voice a gentle plea, pleading for understanding as I struggled to shift my legs, to squirm free of his grasp. But Adrian clung tight, his gaze locked on mine, his voice quivering with feeling, like a fragile vase ready to topple."I'm sorry, my love," he whispered, his voice a sincere apology, a desperate bid for reconciliation, as he lifted his eyes to mine, brimming with tea
Adrian turned to him, his eyes narrowing slightly, like a curtain pulled against the light."Who are you and what are you talking about?" Adrian asked, his voice calm and peaceful, like some stream meandering its way across a tranquil countryside. The words seemed to fall like a question mark, while waiting for an answer.His mask of confidence fluttered; his face slipping open onto a glimpse of uncertainty underneath. "D-dude, I'm so sorry," he stammered, the words skipping from his tongue like a scratched record, hesitant and unsure. "I must have mistaken you for someone else," he finished saying, the sentence trailing off almost at a sigh over the acknowledgment of his mistake.Adrian's eyes, like a drill trying to pierce through steel, pierced into the soul of the man in search of answers. With a dismissive sigh, like a wave that washes over the shore, Adrian turned and walked out of the shop, leaving the man standing alone, like a statue, frozen in time.As Adrian drove back home
We then got into his car, with the sleek and black vehicle glowing in the bright sunlight, softly upholstered, inviting leather, like a cozy cocoon.As we started driving to the cafeteria, it was a pleasant feeling with wind whistling through my hair, a song of joy, a sense of abandon, something like a caged bird free at last to soar into an open sky with wings of pure exhilaration.We took snapshots inside the car; our laughs, our smiles froze in those momentary flickers of time, like amber-preserving memories."Let's go and eat, please, I'm famished," Mr. German said. There was such a lot of warmth in his voice as he held my hands, sparking electrical currents into my body-like those jolts of adrenaline received on a roller coaster.We gained entrance to the cafeteria, where the savory smell of freshly cooked food filled the air, teasing my taste buds like a savory mist and making me hungry.We sat at a table, and I called out to the waiter; my voice sounded across the room, ringing
Soon thereafter, I whined up the tires on approach to this company's parking lot in protest and brought it to a stop: the screeching just seemed to hang in the air for a moment or two there-a scream of tortured rubber with its shudder, lurch to a stop, and coughing, protesting motor dying out.I breathed deeply, and the tension began to seep from my body like air from a balloon that has been punctured; my shoulders sagged in relief as my heart, though still racing, drummed a slower, more measured beat in my chest.The instant I got out of the car, bright sunlight wrapped itself around me, its warm rays fondling my frayed nerves. A cool breeze ruffled my hair with scents of flowers in bloom and newly cut grass, some sweet fragrance which seemed to soothe the senses, the racing heart."Good morning," the voice of the receptionist greeted happily, a vivid contrast to turmoil that was churning within me, the warm and inviting smile spreading like a sunrise."Good morning, dear," I replied
I couldn't hold myself any longer and burst out laughing. My laughter filled the room, bounced off the walls, and resounded everywhere. Deep, rich, full-bodied, a sound that seemed to emanate right from the core of me.My body was racked with mirth: my shoulders shook, my chest heaved with it, while I stood, my eyes shining with tears, my face alight with the joy of being finally happy-happy as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders and a burden from my heart.Smiles danced across my face as I felt unhindered, high, enjoying my victory and revenge. It sounded like the laughter had washed all my cares off me, washed off all the fears, leaving me light and free, high.Just then I turned toward leaving the room; Adrian was stopping me off with words to hang upon for a moment-challenge and more. He told me where I could possibly go, without shame, or remorse, stared enticingly through dilated nostrils.And in that glance, I shivered, I thrilled, feeling a rush down my spine, me
Sweet and tangy, it did a tango on my tongue, the flavor bursting inside my mouth as for one moment it made me forget the tension that was building.I closed my eyes, savoring the taste, and the coolness of the juice as it ran down my throat like balm.Having drunk the juice, I went to the room where Adrian lay asleep-my intentions pure, my heart set on just sleeping well for tomorrow, a day to report to a new job. I lay down on the bed and feigned sleep, my eyes closed, breathing slowly.It was as if the darkness just wrapped itself around me, in a soft, comforting blanket. It wrapped around me, shielding me from the world. I felt my eyelids growing heavy, body relaxing, letting all the weariness of the day wash over me.But it wasn't to last. I felt the touch of Adrian's hand on my lap, the tips of his fingers touching my skin as an electric jolt bolted through my body. My eyes snapped open, and I sat up in a fluster, my voice ringing out loud."Stop it, please!" I screamed at him,
Slowly, I started getting ready, undressing and cleaning off the makeup from my face. Tender strokes of the wipe were soothing onto my frazzled nerves as I did everything really slowly.I relished this transformation-taking place, akin to a caterpillar finally making its way out into the world from its cocoon, rebirthed, renewed. I changed into something sexy and hot-a tight gown, fitted at my curves to a T, cuddling me at just about all the right places like into a second skin.And then, looking into the mirror well, I couldn't help but feel this surge of pride in me, a surge of confidence-half a queen surveying her kingdom.My full, round breasts stood to attention, their tender peaks upward like delicate water droplets glistening with a subtle sheen, like the first light of dawn breaking over the horizon. The dress was tight, showcasing every bend and contour of my body, like a work of art on display. I felt like a different person altogether, one ready for the world to bring it on
"It's okay, it's fine," I exclaimed heatedly, though with defeat; the words burst in a gush from my lips in one tumble, with every syllable coated with desperation and despair. I was tired of groveling, tired of reaching out to him, tired of the damn rejection that had worn down my heart through relentless barrage.I sprang up at once, swift, sure movements in every limb; my anger bore me on like a billow against which the shore breaks.I clutched onto the wicker food basket tight, the crackling of wicker in protest as I hoisted it from the table-the only sound heard through the quiet like a shout of defiance. The heavy feel of the basket in my hands was real and reminded me of the work that I had done for our love, so coldly thrown in the trash.I went out from behind the door of his office, my footsteps stumbling on the cold, hard floor; the sound itself appeared to resound inside the silence, an ultimatum, a declaration.The door stood looming over me, a barrier between me and the