10: THOUGHTS

ADRIANNA

I took one last glance at the room, the walls, the furniture and most especially, the memories. I held my suitcase and handbag as tightly as i could, desperately trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to come out. I had decided to take the money and leave. There was no other choice or anything i could do.

I sighed in defeat.

I came out of the room, and closed the door behind me, hearing the clicking sound from the door. I walked down the stairs, my motion slow and my steps labored.

I got to the living room, and found Raymond and Jasmine, standing by the door way. Raymond stood there, his expression quite unexplainable, while Jasmine had a wide smile on her face and her left hand on Raymond's chest.

I stood before them, tears streaming down my ears. I looked over at my sister, and i felt pure hatred. I wanted so much as to let her feel the same pain i was feeling right now. I wanted her to experience the hurt she made me go through. My eyes turned to Raymond, i could smell the betrayal. I looked at him, my eyes holding hatred, my eyes holding the pain my heart could not show.

"You would regret this Raymond, i will make sure you pay for the pain and hurt you've caused me" i said to him, the pain lingering in my tone.

I looked over at Jasmine, and i just kept quiet. My silence held words that i never wanted to say. I didn't want to say anything to her, so i just stared at her.

I clenched my fist, trying to suppress the anger i felt. I immediately turned towards the door, and began walking outside.

"Toodles" was the word I heard that made me stop in my tracks. I turned around, and Jasmine held a wide, sarcastic smile as she waved goodbye.

"I hope you don't come back to disturb the love of my life" she added as she hugged Raymond tightly.

My eyes widened in shock. This was my very own blood sister. The one i took care of, and gave everything she ever wanted.

I instantly turned around, not wanting them to see me cry any longer. I walked out of the house, dragging my suitcase along with me.

My mind was blank, consumed by an overwhelming feeling of despair. I trudged down an alley of sorrows, unable to make sense of it all. No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't find a way to explain the betrayal. Raymond and Jasmine? It was the last thing I expected. I couldn't understand why Jasmine would do this to me. I had never wronged her; I had always been kind and good to her. So, how could she inflict such pain on me?

I stood frozen on the sidewalk, unable to move amidst the bustling city. People and vehicles swirled around me, but my mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't take a step forward. It felt like each step would pierce my heart with multiple knives, inflicting excruciating pain that made every movement unbearable.

My thoughts went back to the scenes on my wedding night, the compromising position i found them in. Jasmine on top of Raymond, riding him like her life depended on it. Her eyes that held contentment still hunted me.

"If i had not gone upstairs that night, would i have been able to find out? If i had gone upstairs 10 minutes late, would all these have happened?" I questioned myself, desperately wanting an answer.

The tears that kept streaming down my eyes began to dry up. It was gradually replaced by the feeling of hatred and the quest to avenge the evil that i have had to endure. My aim was direct, i wanted revenge. I wanted Raymond and Jasmine to feel the same pain i was feeling. To pay for the shame i was going through, the hurt i was feeling. I wanted them to feel it all and in ten thousand folds, i wanted them to suffer. I did not want anything else, just revenue. All that i had in mind while i stood there frozen on the sidewalk was the opportunity to repay the evil i was served.

I didn't know how that was possible, but i knew i was going to get my revenge, no matter how long it took.

"Move out of the way" i heard someone say, jolting me out of my thoughts.

Out of reflex, i quickly moved out of the way, allowing people to pass.

I sighed as i looked around, observing the movement of people.

I have been standing outside for longer than expected and i needed to move.

I held my handbag and dragged my suitcase, going to the hotel i stayed the last time.

For now, I had nowhere else to go. Still reeling from the scam, I was traumatized and scared. I needed a safe space to calm down, find a better place to stay, and verify its authenticity.

I got to the hotel in less than ten minutes. I walked to the reception and it was still the lady that attended to me the last time, that was still here.

I greeted her with a wide smile, as i asked her for a single room.

She immediately gave me the keys after receiving the payment, and i made my way to the designated room.

I opened the door to the room and immediately went inside, dropping my suitcase and bag by the door. I was so tired and exhausted, that i didn't even care to pull off the cloth i had been wearing the whole day.

I just jumped on my bed, collapsing into the soft foam.

I collapsed onto my bed, sinking into the soft foam.

As I lay there, my eyelids grew heavy, my breathing slowed, and my thoughts quieted, my body relaxed, and my mind let go, I felt myself drifting off to sleep, gently surrendering to the soft darkness, my worries fading like whispers in the night.