Rosaline was chatting with Tessa when she received Maddox’s call.“Hey, bro. What’s up? Did my sister-in-law’s phone run out of battery?” She teased immediately.Maddox was not in the mood to joke with her. He got straight to the point.“Lina, what have you been doing recently?”“Nothing important. Why, bro, is there anything I can do for you?”“I ran into Tris the other day. And someone called Evelyn. They said that you were seeing someone.”“Yeah. Kind of, I mean. I’m not sure where it’ll go yet.”“Damn it! I thought you were seeing Liam.”“Why would you think I was seeing Liam? Besides, I told Mom and Dad that I would not get engaged to him. You know we have never met before. I thought that was over already.”“Well, uncle and aunt did not inform anyone that you have refused. Liam is pursuing someone these days. Your sis-in-law and I thought you two were seeing each other. Ah! What a mess!”“Oh! Well!” “Can you text me Liam’s number? I'll clear things up with him directly.”“Alright
The next day, Rosaline woke up earlier and texted William “Alex” that she had some private matters to attend to and won’t be available today.He immediately replied that he was busy as well and that he would call her later. She then quickly made her way to her parent’s home for breakfast.When they were all seated at the breakfast table, her mother started her interrogation before she could even say one word. “Where have you been these days?” Rosaline’s mother, Elisa, asked. “At Tessa’s. I am helping her and her colleague with renovations on their place, so I have been busy.”“Did you have to stay there to work for them? Can’t you commute from home?”“It’s convenient that day. Besides, Tessa is moving to S city, so we’ll be in different cities in the future.”“You are also going to a different city from us, so spending time with your wayward friends is more important than staying put at home. That way, at least you could pick up some household chores and learn how to be a good wife
Rosaline locked herself in her room and surveyed it carefully.She slowly swept her eyes on each item in the room.Fragments of her childhood played in her mind like a movie on a reel._______‘Mom, Dad! I got the first prize on an interstate quiz for primary level.’‘For next time, try winning fair and square rather than begging Tina to drop out of it. It’s okay to fail, but you can’t succeed by stepping over your sister.’‘Mom, I did not ask her to drop out. She got disqualified from the selection.’‘Don’t slander your sister. She already told us the truth. The poor girl was crying but still tried to protect you. Yet you slander her like this.’_______‘Mom, I was selected for a piano competition.’‘Well, that’s good enough considering your standards. Tina would have won it if she had not injured her fingers while playing with you.’‘Mom, she has not injured her fingers. It was painted and not bruised.’‘You are getting more and more out of hand. Why do you always have to hurt your
Choking on her childhood filled with grievances and longing for her parent’s trust, Rosaline took deep breaths to calm herself.She was a grown-up, not a child longing to be loved and accepted.She had responsibilities and things and people to care for as an adult. She did not have time to wallow in self-pity.She then quickly texted Liam -“It went as bad as it could. Not only did my parents not listen, but they also told me not to slander you and not to mess around. Hope there’s some positive news from your end.”Unbeknownst to her, things were just as bad at William’s end.His mother had an emotional outburst, started crying, and said she would rather die than face her-in-laws in disgrace of having such an unfilial son. She said that a girl selected by his Uncle was a million times better and more cultured than the tramp he was screwing.William could only look at his mother, and remind himself that she gave birth to him, so he should respect her no matter what. But it was getting
Ria was having a blast teasing William.“Brother, how about you pick something you think your girlfriend might like? Since Lina and she are the same age and have common interests, it might suit Lina well.”“I don’t want to pick things for others. ““Brother, please help! I’m the bride.”“Fine.”“Hehehe. Brother, the ‘I’m the bride’ thing always works.”“Of course! You will be an old maid after marriage.”“Brother!” Ria stomped her feet in annoyance.“Alright! Alright! Let’s go.”“Fine. Since you are helping me.”“Does the gift have to be jewelry?”“Yeah. I mean, I have only seen people give jewelry only as in-laws’ gifts.”“Alright, how about this?”William pointed at a pair of platinum diamond studs with two diamonds knotted between platinum bands. The asymmetrical design looked quite simple but gorgeous. William did not know about Lina, but he could picture his ‘Lexi’ wearing something like that. Since it was small, she could wear it casually.“Looks good, brother. I’m sure Lina w
William checked Rosaline out head to toe. The more he looked at her, the more he felt her emotions were all over the place. Usually, she was shy, but when she had held his gaze earlier, it was like she was trying to search for something. Like she was trying to access him.When she had held his arms before breaking free, she seemed to seek comfort and, at the same time, deny it. He wondered what she had gone through so early in the morning. When he left her yesterday, she was doing fine. When he talked to her in the morning, she seemed fine.Then he remembered she had gone home that morning.She was staying at Tessa’s the whole month. She barely went home. Mostly she just went home to pick something up.‘What’s wrong with her family? How can they make her so sad in such a short time?’William got lost in thought.When Rosaline called him, she realized he seemed to be elsewhere. He was looking at her, but his mind had drifted far away.Suddenly she had an impulse to tease him.So, sh
William was lost and confused.He was afraid of being unable to control himself, so he pulled himself back.When he was still trying to push the various naughty images forming in his head, Rosaline pulled him towards herself, but he subconsciously resisted. Just as he realized what had happened, she bit him and ran away. He could only see hurt swimming in her eyes as she pushed him away. He quickly gathered his emotions and the shopping bags he had dropped and ran after her.Rosaline ran away and exited the Mall. She had walked briskly, almost running. When she reached the fountain outside, she calmed down a lot.She walked around in the flower garden outside the mall and sat in the fountain. She let out a sigh and tapped on her forehead. However, she did not think it was enough and tried to knock on her head several times.But before she could do that, William stopped her, “Don’t hurt yourself.”William had run after Rosaline only to see her inside the lift closing down. He kept h
Rosaline felt like she was melting in the kiss. She looked at William with half-closed eyes as he continued to savor it.She was lost and could not think straight. Her thoughts were all over the place as she felt like she was slowly going limp and breathless.However, she felt something beneath her that jolted her awake. She pulled back with eyes wide open. William looked at her with hooded eyes, aware of what shocked her, as he slowly took deep breaths, in no hurry to explain.After a minute or so, when realization dawned on her, Rosaline went from being shocked to being embarrassed.Then he finally broke the silence. “Now, you know how much you affect me.”“I am sorry. I didn't mean to.”“Don’t be. It’s good to know I affect you too.”William kissed her on the corner of her eyes and hugged her taking deep breaths to ease his tension.“I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.”Rosaline said as she realized he always thought of her no matter what. “Then don’t say anything. Just le