Ruby
“Who on earth does that woman think she is?”
Okay. Maybe it was no argument, but there was no mistaking how furious my Dad was at that moment and it would be for a reason I could easily guess.
“Dominic, she didn’t do anything to her," Mom cajoled, her voice a bit tired.
“But she went to meet her at her school. Why?”
I could picture my Dad tossing his suit somewhere he won’t remember.
Then, I could see my mom folding her arms after running her hand through her hair.
“Because she is her mother, Dom. Let’s just wait for-”
“Diane doesn’t deserve to be her mother and you know that. Don’t tell me you have forgotten what happened with the whole Samantha thing.”
Samantha.
I frowned. I do remember Mom having a friend named Samantha who took me in at a certain time. Well that was until…
“Dominic, don’t.”
My frown deepened at the tone of my mother's voice. And then my head started to calculate things. Unlike her other friend, David who checks on us once in a while with his wife and kids, I have not seen this Samantha person in years. And judging by the way Mom’s voice suddenly weighed down, I had to wonder if she was dead.
“Sorry,” he gruffly apologized. “We need to ensure Diane doesn’t come around Ruby. She could do worse things than she did back then.”
“My thoughts exactly,” came her response.
And I knew I had to go in at that moment before my Dad chooses to organise a crazy plan. Within a second, I was facing the living room where the two were now sharing a kiss.
I had no words.
My eyes just blinked and my mind wondered; how did they go from discussing my issue to kissing?
“Uh… Hey guys.”
“Ruby… hmm.” Mom shoved Dad aside and came towards me, her lips clamped. When she got to where I was, she held me by my shoulders and asked, “How are you, baby?”
“I am fine, Mom.” My mind was still trying to debate whether to comment on the scene I just saw or if I should just take it as the universe taunting a very single me. “Dad, you are around.”
I chose the latter.
“Ruby…” He bored his serious gaze into me. “What did Diane want from you?”
“Dom! Why should that be the first question you’d ask her?” Mom reprimanded him and I almost smiled because I knew he wouldn’t listen, he’ll just ask the question again.
“It’s fine, Mom. Hey Dad,” I decided to initiate the greeting as I walked toward him. Surprisingly, he had one of his occasional kisses for me and he pulled me closer to plant a warm, fatherly kiss on my forehead.
“Hey, Ruby. How have you been?”
“Fine.” I shrugged and he questioned me with his searching eyes. “And, about Diane, she said she had been looking all over for me but she didn’t say why.”
“You must have been startled.”
A replay of how knotted I felt at that moment flew by and I sighed.
“I am fine, Dad.”
“We should make sure she doesn’t come around you.”
“How?”
“I was thinking of getting a form of security for you.”
My eyes narrowed instantly. There is no way on earth I would let that happen.
“No, Dad,” I said strongly. As though it was my first time standing my ground with him, my father frowned, his eyes wearing a mix of concern and authority.
“Ruby…” he started. “You need protection now that people know you are my daughter. And I am not just talking about securing you from Diane, I have rivals who would play dirty and want to hurt you.” His hands reached for my shoulders. “It is for your good to have a guard around.”
“No!” He looked even more surprised. “It is hard enough to have people stare at me and now you want to complicate it and have people follow me around like I am about to be attacked by terrorists?”
“Ruby…” Mom concernedly butted in. “Are you having a hard time in school?”
“No. It’s just that the looks I have been getting are making me uncomfortable and all. I just want things to be back to normal soon, so getting a bodyguard won’t work for me.”
“But isn’t your safety more important than how people stare at you? Diane never looked after you for the nineteen years you have been alive, so trust me when I say that she is going to do something that will endanger you.”
“Dad…” I whined. I knew he wouldn’t agree at once.
“Dominic, it is fine. I am sure we can come up with an idea that would guarantee everyone’s safety and happiness,” Mom said and I couldn’t help but love her more. “So let’s forget about getting a guard for her.”
“But-” Mom looked his way and he sighed. “If things get worse, we will do things my way.”
“Okay, Dad.” I grinned. “Don’t worry, I will be fine. I will survive this change.”
“I know you will,” said the wonderful woman beside me as her hand ran soothingly along my back. “Would you like some milk and cookies?” Gladdened by her question, I made a babyish face, and nodded frantically.
“I don’t get milk and cookies?” Dad asked.
“No. You get something else.” She winked and I sensed the flirting spirit that passed. And since I was not ready to get taunted again, I quickly found my way to my room.
~
After four and a half hours of sleep, I was at my desk, my numerous assignments sprawled before me. And since I had no idea where to start, I grabbed my phone and decided to message Abby.
After ten minutes of doing nothing but alternating between staring at my phone and blankly checking the Chemistry textbook in front of me, I called Abby’s number.
She didn’t pick up, so I called Jake.
‘Hey you,’ he sounded different, like he had been using his energy to do something.
“Hi. I am bored.”
‘Do you want to watch me work out?’ he suggested swiftly. ‘You can cheer me on as I do my push-ups.’
I chuckled. “Why would you need me to cheer you?”
‘I just want to help you feel less bored. Anyway, are you good?’
“Depends.”
‘Everything has changed so fast, hasn’t it?’ I replied in affirmative, my head nodded too. ‘I hope that doesn’t mean you’ll be exposed to danger though. We’ll all go nuts if something happens to you.’
His words made me smile.
“I hope nothing crazy happens. I pray my real mother showing up is the limit. My dad mentioned something about some of his business rivals playing dirty games. He is worried they’ll target me.”
‘Let’s hope they don’t. And if they do, I will make them regret laying their hands on my girl.’ A giggle could not be helped. ‘I know how strong you are Ruby, you’ll survive whatever crazy thing it is that’s coming your way.’
“Thanks, Jake.”
‘Are you certain you don’t want to watch me work out? I am quite a sight.’ He quickly changed the topic.
“Ugh… puh-lease. You can ask Abby though.”
‘She’ll chase me off,’ Jake simply said and I could already see the brunette screaming at a half-naked Jake to get off her phone.
Man, that girl definitely likes him. She either doesn’t realize it or she’s just good at pretending. But I should study Jake too and see if he likes her.
Or… I could just stylishly ask him.
“Jake?” A loud noise followed- it sounded like it came from a motorbike. And since the noise hindered our conversation, Jake had to hang up and I was left with myself and my assignments.
Well, I could as well start them.
‘Oh Dominic.’
Like a deer about to be hunted, I became alert and my eyes narrowed dramatically at what my ears just picked up.
'Hmm, yes Dom.’
My eyes widened. My parents are… doing it.
Don’t they realize they have two kids in the house? And why-?
‘Grace…’
I suddenly felt like shrinking. Or maybe ripping my ears off. It was just felt so wrong that I could hear them. And I can not even complain or shout at them to shut up.
My hands on my ears as I tried to block out the noise, I scanned the room for my headset. Then, the door opened and Zion walked in quietly.“Hey Zee.” Did he hear them too? Of course he would have, it’s a small house.
“Ruby?” He sat on the edge of my bed as gently as possible and stared right at me. “Why is Mummy shouting Daddy’s name?”
AdonisI resisted the urge to smile as I studied her face the moment she closed her eyes. My arms crossed and I let out a shuddering breath. I was slowly being pulled into some kind of trance, I needed to remind myself that I was not dreaming.I needed to remind myself that I should be alert, and waiting to hear her response, but I couldn’t help myself.Apart from a few times when I managed to send one of the men to check up on her, I had no particular idea of what she looked like in person. Definitely, the pictures sent did no justice to how beautifully grown she was.My head tilted as I observed her entire face. Her lips kept twitching as she delved into her thoughts. Her forehead wore some kind of frown and I realized once again how selfish it was of me to suddenly show up and ask her to choose from painful options. Options that make my heart ache as well.But I have no choice. I had to do it that way. Hopefully, she chooses to…“I have an answer,” I heard her blurt out, her soft v
RubyStepping out of the airport, my bag rolling with me as I walked towards the taxi I had flagged down, it hit me more that I was back in Manhattan on my way to see my parents and… him. And my mind became more confused.Thankfully, it was the mid-semester period and we have a one-week break which I will extend to a three-week holiday because I seriously need the break.Soon, the taxi moved and began the long journey that would lead me home.And towards Adonis Klaus.Two weeks after our unexpected reunion, I finally contacted Adonis, telling him I had an answer for him.I sounded so determined that I already had an answer but as the moving car sped and allowed some cool breeze to come my way, as I rested in the seat some more, I realised that my heart was still confused.Of course, I want to be with Adonis, I wish for nothing more. But thinking about the present only is such a short-sighted and risky thing. There is a strong need to think about how any decision I take would affect m
RubyThree years.I have been waiting for three years.Time flew past so fast while I was waiting for Adonis to show up in front of me again. While I managed to go on with my life, I always paused for some seconds to see if he was anywhere around me.He never was neither were there traces of him in his two homes.I graduated high school, took a year break before heading to the university to find out what appeals to me the most in life and now, that I am finally in the university, I am still waiting for him.At first, all I wanted was just to see if he was alive. I placed my hopes on the numerous searches embarked on by the police but, after a while, everything was futile. I watched the cops pack their bags and give up on searching for the man whose existence had become a mystery. Occasionally, I felt anger towards Adonis Klaus, but I always managed to cloud that anger with my need to see him alive.But, as three years passed, I felt anger and many more emotions. Some days I hate him,
Ruby“Did you hear that Bryan was arrested? Even Mr. Grassi! I wonder what the deal is with this school.” My ears caught the loud whispering from one of the girls who were in front of me as I dragged my feet sadly out of the last class for the day.Well, it wasn’t exactly the last period in school, but for me, who was already tired of the talks about Mr. Klaus resigning and how they miss him, I was already done with school for the day, I just wanted to go stay in a lonely place.All I want to do now is stare into the air and pray fervently for Adonis’s return.I might seem hopeless for banking on the idea that Adonis is still alive. Given the fact that it has been almost two weeks since the incident and no traces of him being has been found, my prayers seem useless.But, at the same time, traces of him being dead were yet to be found. Unlike others, evidence in form of pieces of burnt body parts belonging to Adonis has not been found.Yes, they are yet to fully get rid of the rubble,
Ruby This time, I slept for a longer period. I could tell that much as I grudgingly sat up. I was rubbing some sleep remnants off my eyes, when I felt a hand on my head, its fingers pushing back the strands of my hair in a very loving way. I know that touch! With happiness instantly overriding the sadness that had followed me into my long sleep, I fully opened my eyes and smiled widely at the man whose eyes watched me with affection. My throat felt heavy and tears threatened to come again. My eyes squinted and my forehead creased while I tried not to break into another bout of tears. But I was just so happy to see him. I was so glad that he came back to me. I was glad that my bad thoughts didn't come to pass after all. Filled with more and more emotions as seconds went by, I held onto his hand which sent soothing waves down my spine “Adonis…” I called him, my voice cracked as I couldn’t disguise the tears anymore. “Hey, Peanut.” His other hand leaned against my cheek and I rest
RubyWhile some men tended to Mark Lumber’s injury which didn’t have a good look, old man Matt circled the three hostages that were in the room. I was back on the chair, tied down as well. Adonis and Jake had been forced to kneel and some men were placed behind them. Those men watched the duo keenly as did their guns which were pointed at their heads.I sighed hard as my health situation got even worse. At intervals, my body shook, due to fear and the terrible state of my headache. At that point, my system had gotten used to the loud banging but that didn’t mean I wasn’t in pain.I was trying so hard to hide it but my entire body felt like it had been hit with a huge rock.“Where on earth are the fools that went to get the ropes?” Matt hollered as his annoying footsteps came to a halt and his eyes fell furiously on the entrance which was now destroyed thanks to the earlier exchange of bullets. “I need to make sure that these bastards don’t escape. Especially Adonis."”I’m sure they ar