JUNE “Slut?” I took a step towards her, with my brows raised. Though my legs felt like jelly, and my heart was beating miles a minute, I wasn't about to let someone insult me. “Who gave you the audacity to call me that?!” I narrowed my eyes at the girl, who looked smug. “I did,” she stepped forward, closing the distance between us. “Who gave you the right to act self-righteous when you are nothing but a needy bitch!” A slap accompanied her words. Before I could stop myself, my right hand had already done the job. She gasped, cradling her left cheek, with her eyes narrowed darkly at me. “How dare you?!” She raised her hand to slap me, and I got ready for it, but it was all interrupted by a call from Mark. “What's going on there?!” He ran towards us and got to me in less than ten seconds. “Are you okay?” He asked before he turned to face the lady, whose expression had dramatically changed. It wasn't that difficult to know that she had a crush on Mark. Well, I don't blame her. No
JUNE“Did you see the posts?" “Yes, I did,” he swallowed. “You weren't supposed to see it, doll. I'm sorry. I let you down.” His shoulders dropped. “I should have listened to you when you told me about your fears.”“It's alright,” I consoled him as I took his right hand in mine and laced our fingers. “Funny how I'm the one comforting you when you should be the one.” I tried to joke, to lighten the atmosphere, but it didn't give the desired effect. “I know,” he muttered. “I apologize for that, June. I was just… I thought…" “It's okay,” I forced a smile, knowing that we both can't be sad at the same time. “See you tomorrow, Mark,” I waved at my best friend before I led Kristen towards the house.“Call me if you need me!” Mark hollered, and I waved to tell him that I heard his words. I led Kristen into the house and towards the nearest couch in the parlour. I helped him sit before I went over to the kitchen and got a glass of juice for him. “I should be the one doing this, June," he
KRISTENIt's been so long since I experienced such stillness in my company.There was this invisible thread of surprise hanging above the roof of the building. Everybody did their thing quietly and nobody knocked on my office for most of the day. More than half of my shareholders had decided to withdraw their shares, some kind enough to explain that they didn't want the controversy over my head to affect them. The more courageous ones said my company was sure to fold up anytime soon and they didn't want to make losses.It's on track to say that I've lost more than half of my business partners.And yes, I've been trending on the news. You'd think that a scandal like the one I'm involved in would fade after some time.But it didn't. I'd wake up every day to see fresh headlines from journalists and bloggers who had no other news to cover and wanted to make up for their inefficiency. Funny enough, it always worked. The story of me and June always gathered traffic.I guess that's one of t
JUNEIt stings. Everything hurts. It felt like I had a run-in with a truck, and lived to tell the tales. My entire body ached so badly, it seemed like a heavy load was placed on it, especially my abdomen.The beeping sounds and murmured conversations caused me to open my eyes. I had to blink, to get my eyes accustomed to the brightness coming from the light bulb attached to the ceiling.“You were supposed to keep her safe!” I heard Kristen shout. It wasn't a whisper now, but a full-blown scolding.“I'm sorry,” Mark whispered. “It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let her leave my sight,” he sniffed.Even without seeing him, I can tell he's crying. And that alone tugged on my heartstrings.I opened my mouth, to call out to them, but I couldn't even utter a word. My throat felt parched. It felt like I hadn't taken any liquid for weeks—not like I had experienced that before.“No, it's not your fault,” Kristen whispered. “It's mine. I should have kept her safe. Hell, I shouldn't have acted
KRISTENIt would be somewhere far away.I don't know where not just here. I would take June out of this pain because her suffering is directly mine.Everything broke me: June's situation, her tears, Mark's sobs, my life... "It will be okay," I said in a whisper to myself. "Everything is going to be fine." I didn't believe it, but giving myself that reassurance made me feel better.June was still unconscious. I felt relieved a bit because seeing her cry the other time almost made me break.Mark had not left her side. He didn't stop sobbing. "Mark," I called softly from the door. "It's okay, this wasn't your fault." I know I yelled at him that he was supposed to keep her safe, but come to think of it, nobody is paying him to do that.He looked up, his eyes red and swollen. "It's okay." I walked to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. Seeing him so distraught, you can tell how much he loves her. "This wasn't your fault," I said lowly. "She will be fine.""I wanted to go with her," h
JUNEStaring at the walls did nothing to calm me down. Most times, my thoughts will always drift back to my baby, who would have still been in my stomach had that incident not happened.I have refused to see anyone, opting to stay cooped in my room all day, only coming out when it was time to eat. Kristen, Mark, and Edith have been trying to help me out of my dark times, but I never wanted to crawl out of the abyss.I wish to be enveloped in the darkness, let it spread through my fingers and make me numb to the affairs of the world. But I know that won't be possible. Staying inside means my baby gets to die in vain.I rose from the bed and stepped into the bathroom. I don't understand why we suddenly have to change houses. From Broadmoor to Southeast Seattle. It was a change that came unannounced, but I feel like Kristen knows exactly what he's doing since he promised to take me out of the country, soon.I shaved, brushed my teeth and had my bath before I exited the bathroom to get dr
JUNEI had to wait until Kristen was engaged in a conversation with Mark before I approached Edith, who was hell-bent on helping us prepare dinner. Funny how I'm the one trying to approach her when she did the same before I got together with Kristen. “Are you going to stand by the door for eternity?” She turned to face me, smiling warmly. Against my better judgment, I found myself moving towards her. There is one thing about her smile that made me feel at home. “What's wrong? I doubt you will be here if you don't have anything you wish to ask me?” She stirred the pot on fire before she turned the gas off, and turned to face me, smiling like one who didn't have a care in the entire world. I cleared my throat, trying to think of how to start. “Can we sit for this?” I motioned towards the kitchen stools. She pursed her lips and nodded her head before a smile broke out once more. It was as if she didn't know how to make any other expression. She sat next to me, with her entire focu
KRISTENMoths are beautiful insects.I smiled as I watched them play around the street lamp, each one fighting to perch on the surface.I had left June with Edith in the kitchen. A great surprise how they weren't tearing at each other's throats. Well, I can confirm that June has grown a lot more these past weeks.That is what pain does...It delivers you into the cold hands of trauma, letting her print her trademarked symbol all over; then the pain comes back at you with a force that leaves you breathless, struggling to survive, struggling to breathe and carry out your daily tasks...After coming out—if you ever do—it would feel like you had scaled depressing years of understanding over Forty-three courses on the study of life.And just when you think you are finally gaining experience, you realize that you are yet to finish all the courses...It's a good thing Edith is downstairs to keep June company. I was already feeling choked, hence the need for me to rush upstairs to take fresh
EPILOGUEJUNEPeering down at my baby, I tried not to shed a tear. Martha Mary Storm was the name Kristen gave to her, in honour of the two women who played significant roles in our life.I tenderly caressed her red hair, which was so much like her father's. The only thing she picked after me was her honey-brown eyes.She produced noises in her throat, and I did the same, inducing her to giggle like a darling. It has been 6 months since I gave birth to my baby. Favour and Henry literally live with us. They do nothing else in their leisure aside from spending time with their granddaughter, who I have no doubt will be spoiled rotten.It doesn't help matters that Mark adores her. He's always getting presents for her, declaring to be the best uncle she can ever have.He hasn't found a girlfriend yet, though he insisted he wasn't in a haste to find one. I have sought countlessly to help him out, to ease my guilt, but he doesn't seem to want that. Kristen asked me to let it.“Darling, Mark i
KRISTENI stood on the balcony overlooking the sea, my light-cotton robe dancing behind me to the tune of the wind. I couldn't contain my happiness. Within twenty-four hours, my life had suddenly become complete.June made me complete. It took everything in me not to burst into tears when I saw her coming up the aisle with her dad.My doll... My June... My life had spontaneously gotten back on track, and I couldn't be any happier that June was there with me to celebrate, to give me congratulatory kisses, and to pleasure me as we rejoiced.Immediately after the wedding had ended, we flew out to Maldives for our honeymoon. In June's words, "Seattle has too many bad memories. I need a breather."And I couldn't help but agree. Here, in a bungalow close to the sea, we had all the time in the world, making out when we wanted and engaging in all sorts of fun activities. In less than twelve hours, we had played in the shallow part of the water, fucked on shore, fucked on the kitchen island,
JUNEI confronted Mark about his feelings, and he came clean. I felt guilty hearing him speak of how much he had loved me for the past 10 years. I was such a fool for not realizing that the boy who had always been by my side was in love with me. It was painful to think that I played with his emotions all along, constantly speaking of Kristen in front of him. I can't express how much pain he passed through when I got together with Kristen. Yet, he was there for me through thick and thin. I can't ever ask for a better friend. That was why I vowed to help him. I will always be there when he needs me. The moment the makeup artist left, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked different. I can't explain how she did it, transforming my face until I looked so much like a doll. “You are beautiful," Mark whispered, coming to stand beside me. He locked his gaze with mine through the mirror, grinning. “Thank you.”Dressed in a dark blue suit with a golden tie, he looked so mature an
KRISTENI knew she had a sly plan when I heard her ask, “Have you ever fantasized about watching me pleasure myself?”What I didn't expect was to get restricted from using my hands.Her boobs were larger than I remembered, the soft plums a beautiful feast to my eyes. I could see the smooth flesh of her inner thighs and the desire swarming her brown irises."Go there," she ordered, pointing to a couch in the corner of the room. "And take off those obstructions."In a haze of desire, and lust—I couldn't tell one from the other—I rose to my feet and shrugged off my trousers. The shirt and briefs followed seconds later, leaving my hard cock throbbing expectantly, jutting out in front of me like the heralds of a very important news.I could already see a clear pool of precum on the tip of my cock, but I knew she would only tell me to stop if I did as little as touch myself. I sat on the couch, and she hastily turned the bed to her auditorium. "You love my boobs so much." It wasn't a ques
JUNEI leaned towards him and kissed him. I only intended to peck him on the mouth the same way he did to me, but he didn't have the same thoughts. He wrapped his right hand around my waist and brought me closer, pulling me to sit on his thighs.It was a slow, sensual kiss. One that left me panting for breath as he tangled his tongue with mine, sucking it into his mouth. I wrapped my hands around his neck, clinging to him as he deepened the kiss.His right hand started going down my back, but I stopped him, shaking my head as I looked down at him.“What's wrong? Don't you want to do it? Did the doctor ask you not to —”I placed my index finger on his lip and slowly shook my head. “The doctor said nothing like that. We may have sex as long as we don't take it to the extreme,” I explained to him like one will do a little kid — not that he's a kid.“So….”“I've always wanted to do something.” I pecked him on his lips and got down from the bed, smiling at the confused man sitting on the b
JUNEWith the phone in hand, I strode towards a still shell-shocked Edith. I smirked, loving the way her ugly face writhed in anger. “You know, it was fun playing with you, Edith.” I raised the phone, waving it in her face. “You are just a bitter woman who deserves to be shackled for life.”“You played me all along? I assumed you were naïve!”“Naive?” I scoffed, raising the phone. “Well, I just learned something today. Before Mark told me of his encounter with you, I assumed you were only involved in sending the thugs to me. Who would have predicted that you are a bloody killer!”Before the detective could stop me, I slapped her. The resounding slap reverberated in the silent room, startling everyone around me. “June!” Kristen rushed towards me, but I raised my hand to stop him, smiling apologetically at the detectives. “I just wish to speak to her about something. I hope I'm allowed to do that?” I charmingly smiled at them, making adorable faces. “As long as you don't get physical
KRISTENEverything happened suddenly.I saw Edith jerk back in shock, gasping as she saw us storm in. The room seemed oddly neat. It was unlike what I had in mind. I was happy for one thing: the men were not kidding. They took their jobs seriously. I could almost see the tension hanging over their heads like a cloud.I ran straight to June, with Mark heavy on my heels."Baby!" I knelt in front of her while the officers advanced close to Edith, cornering her to a wall. "June!"She was trying to struggle out of her restraint, and she looked very fatigued.Mark moved behind her and unlocked the chains, then lifted her to her feet. I planned to pull her into a reassuring hug to calm her down, but... but the next surprising thing happened. June jutted her palm forward, stopping me from initiating the hug any further. She focused on Mark, throwing eye daggers at the young man beside me."What took you so long?!" She demanded from her, her eyes narrowed in... anger? But she didn't look angr
KRISTEN"June has been kidnapped."I stood still, frozen to the spot, scared and confused at the same time. My heartbeat doubled. For a split second, I could almost picture Mark opening his mouth again to speak and telling me that June—God forbid, because I'd hang myself in the living room—was found dead somewhere."Don't worry, she is okay," he added. Seemed he noticed the dead look in my eyes. I exhaled in relief, my breath coming out in gasps. Surprisingly, Mark was no longer frantic and running around in alarm. I didn't pay much attention to it. "What the hell do you mean by that? Her safety isn't something to joke about! Where is June?" I asked, rushing to my table and grabbing my keys. Mark was still not moving."Kristen, listen to me. Listen carefully." He blocked the door. "I made all that drama to clear the way so I could see you on time."Keys in hand, an erratically beating heart, and my mind flying in all directions, I stopped at the door and accessed Mark with squinted
JUNEMy left cheek stung from the slap I just got. I wanted so badly to rub on it, but it was impossible. Secured to the armchair, I couldn't even move my hands. “You don't seem to have learned your lessons, June. Well… that's wonderful. I will gladly do everything over again until I get what I want!”“Which is?”“How did it feel losing your baby?” She smirked, mouth curling up at the sides like a clown. “Do you perhaps wish to go through it once more?” “What? My baby?” I choked. “You were… You did… But…”“I was the one that found you, right?” She laughed, walking back to the chair. She sat on it and faced me once more. “It was fun playing with you and Kristen. Acting like a good Samaritan was worth it. If you assume you will have my man and live contentedly, you've got something coming for you!”“My baby….” I mumbled as tears freely ran down my cheeks. “You… You were the one who sent her?” I raised my face to look at the woman in front of me. “And not only that. I was the one who