76T H E A“You’ve been looking sad the entire time since we got here.”I pulled my head up to hear Sebastian’s voice. He smiles calmly but I wasn’t in the mood to join the others. We’re all here now and everybody seems to be merry.“It’s Christmas.” He says as he sits next to me.I half-smiled.“And everyone’s downstairs. Why you’re here alone in the library?” he asks.“it’s warmer here. And… I wanted to see how many books they have.” I reasoned.Sebastian smiles. “Come on, everyone’s looking for you.”If everyone includes Benedict then I would be downstairs joining but he’s skipping this get-together because he needed to be there for his dad and mom. Bethany isn’t here too which makes things awfully quieter. I sigh inwardly and I have never talked to them since that day. It’s been almost three days since Benedict and I talked. I could still remember how beautiful that day was yet how we left things undone.I stand from my seat and Sebastian’s face lit up. “Now you want to party.” He
77BENEDICTDecember 30“Someone seems excited.” I hear Bethany saying next to me.I smile at her. “Well, since dad’s recovering. I cant wait to go back to England.”“Yeah, I think I know why.”I grin.“And you didn’t really have to hire private nurses and doctors for dad.” She adds.“He needs them. And it’s the only way to keep my eyes on him even if I’m away.”“But you know he doesn’t like it. He might feel like a baby and he’s as stubborn as you.”“He’ll get used to it. And it’s also a great way to help mom around.”Bethany nods. “But hey, I really feel bad.”“About what?” my brows creasing as I stir the wheel to the right.“Missing the party. I mean, we were the only ones who didn’t go.”“Well, they’ll understand. Dad was in critical condition and they knew we needed to be there.”“Yeah. I know. But I still feel sad we weren’t able to go. I wonder how’s Thea. You still have lots of things left to discuss right?” she asks.I nodded. “Yeah. That’s why I really need to see her.”As s
78BENEDICTShe look tensed.But why? What happened while I was away?It's as if something is troubling her mind and she doesn’t want us to know what it is. My brows creasing as she keeps fidgeting her fingers on top of her lap and how she’s avoiding to look me in the eyes. She’s nervous. And she’s scared.Of what?“You can tell us, Thea.” Khaleel reassures her.“Yeah. You don’t have to be scared of Sebastian.”I watch Thea as she bows her head down and shakes her head sideways. “You… you don’t understand.”“Then you gotta let us understand.” I tell her.She shakes her head again. She is hiding something but what could it be? Is it related to Sebastian? Or is it related about something else?“What happened that night? During the party. Right when I left you with him.” Khaleel asks eagerly.He stares at her impatiently. “C’mon Thea, you gotta say it!”But Thea just kept crying and covered her ears with both of her hands.“Thea…” I console her.She shakes her head and breathes heavily.
79THEASometimes, in our lives there are instances when you just want to disappear because of awkward situations or embarrassing moments. And right now, that’s what I want to happen. I want to teleport to another place far from here.It feels like everything inside my system malfunctioned and brain feels dead. I have never felt more disgusted of myself and my past than how Sebastian is embarrassing me right now in front of Ben. No one has ever made me feel so little of myself, only Sebastian.This bastard. This one of a hell man. I wish he dies.My tears were just flowing from my closed eyes and I feel this growing pain against my chest. I try to breathe in but the pain grows as I exhale so I remained quiet. I don’t want to face anyone or see how they look at me with disgust and filth. I just want to disappear like one pop of a bubble or run out of this house and never look back.But I cant, I know I have to face them now. I have to face Khaleel. I have to face Benedict even if it’s
80BENEDICTI stare at Thea, and she has been looking out of the window for minutes now. I know she still has a lot of things in mind with what has happened lately and I’m sure she’s tired of thinking about it too. She has talked to Khaleel and I have had talked to him too. Despite her past, we wanted to keep it to ourselves than letting the others know about it. They wouldn’t understand what she went through to survive and it isn’t our story to tell.I have asked myself a couple of times why she had to choose such job but then I didn’t have the courage to ask her. I don’t want her to feel bad about herself and the more I ask about her past, the more she would think it bothers me.Honestly, it has been in the past and we all have had done crazy shit a thing or two. All of us deserves a second chance and women like Thea who strives hard to change herself to become a better woman deserves more than that. I am proud of her and she knows it.A smile creeps on her face as soon as I rubbed
81B E N E D I C T“The CEO of Saintclare Enterprises , finally off the market!!”I read mentally the newspaper’s headlines as soon as I got into my office. I scan through the magazines which were also over my desk, and the headlines were also all about me.I sigh. “I knew this was gonna come out first thing in the morning.”The phone on top of my desk rings, I quickly picked it up, “Yes.”“Mr. Saintclare everyone is calling in for an interview with you. They’re all asking if you have any available time.” I can hear telephones ringing from my secretary’s background.“Cancel all interviews. Tell them I have a busy schedule up until next week.” I hung up.Suddenly the phone in my pocket rings. I stare at the screen and it was Mrs. Brown, my PR.I sigh as I answer, “I know what you’re going to say.”“It’s everywhere. My phone has been ringing since six o’clock this morning. I don’t know what to answer them.”“Did you say anything about Thea?”“No. Not unless you tell me to. I’m only wait
82B E N E D I C TShe stands by the balcony sliding door, staring at an empty space wearing my shirt and some pajamas. Standing here afar from Thea, looking at her, I can see and I can feel that her mind is full. It’s full of endless thoughts and worries. I wish I could take some from her restless bothered thoughts and I wish I could help her with what she is going through.Thea is strong but I don’t want her to have another breakdown. I hope I can share the pain and confusions she is going through right now. I wish, at least I could make her happy despite of what has happened lately.But I don’t know what to do as well.I am bothered too, restless, anxious, troubled and angry. I still have this growing hate in me and unwillingness to befriend Sebastian.I hate him.I walk towards Thea and wrapped my arms around her. She didn’t budge but still sets her eyes out the window. “There are no stars tonight.” I say.She sighs heavily.“Aren’t you hungry sweetheart?” I ask.She didn’t answer
83T H E AI stare at my own reflection in front of the mirror, I gained weight but I look different compared to the old me a few weeks ago. My eyes travelled down to my baby bump and as I turn to my side, I feel more anxiety building in the back of my head. I am not confident enough that I will be a good mother to this baby once it’s out when I know this baby came from a man who I trusted so much but just raped me. My bump is starting to show now and I know I have a lifelong responsibility waiting ahead of me. I just hope I will be responsible enough.I rub my hand over my small tummy then smiled at myself.“You will be fine.” I told my baby.Ben is here for me and for us. He always has. He made everything feel better. He made me better and happier without asking too much in return. He is a very selfless man and I owe him my life. My everything and all that I have left.I breathe out heavily and tucked my hair behind my ears as I stare at myself wearing this white dress and white ba