JUNEKristen never agreed to my plans, but it had already been decided. I'm not leaving the country. I'm staying here with him, fighting with him, fighting for him.He was so angry that he didn't speak to me last night. Even when he left this morning, he didn't even give me a peck on the cheek. But he made breakfast for me.A smile tugged at the side of my lips. Kristen might be angry with my decision, but he loves me so much to let me go hungry.I hurried had my bathe, and got dressed in a simple blue gown. I didn't bother with make-up and accessories. You can say I was just too tired to wear earrings.After I had my breakfast, I called Mark, who gave me the address of the first place he found for me. It's a Library not too far from Lakeridge Park. It was difficult for him to get a job for me at Rainier Beach Branch, but he did so with the help of his father.The pay isn't much, but it's something. At least I can start from there before I find another one, which Mark promised won't b
JUNEA beeping sound prompted me to open my eyes. I slowly peered at the ceiling, surprised to notice that I was indoors, not in the park. Hell, I was even expecting to find myself in hell because I know that's where I'm going.No deity will permit me to step into their Paradise. I was ready for it. Prepared to spend my years in hell.However, this place doesn't look like hell at all. There is no way in this green Earth that hell will turn out to have white ceilings and the unpleasant smell of disinfectant.What happened?How did I get to be here?I tried to sit up on the bed, but the pain that went through me caused me to lie back.Fucking hell. Not again. Is this how it's going to be?Each time I lose consciousness, I end up in the hospital with my body feeling like shit.“Oh, my! She's awake!” I heard a woman yell before the sounds of footsteps reached my ears.A young black woman came into focus, smiling kindly at me. Her golden brown skin and beautiful brown eyes made her look l
KRISTEN"No, I didn't tell her that!" I whispered fiercely like my voice was filtering through an amplifier. "I would never tell her to work!""I'm not saying you did." Edith was so calm about it. I don't think I have ever seen her worked up over something. She is so reserved and calculated, that sometimes it's almost scary. "What I am trying to say is... maybe you bleakly suggested or stated that your finance—""Edith, nooo," I suppressed the need to sigh. "I would never make June feel that I can't support us financially. I wouldn't think of doing that, even if I have just a dime left.""I'm just trying to cover all grounds." She seemed to be very deep in thought. "I don't know what to say right now."I didn't know what to say either. One minute it feels like everything would be okay, the other minute, my thoughts and feelings are mercilessly scattered.Only one thing makes me appreciate the condition I am in.I can clearly see who had been pretending to love or care for me. All the
JUNEI blinked at them, confused and desperately trying to grasp what they were talking about. Like, I just told them my mother's name and boom, they were speaking of another. “What are you talking about? Who the hell is Mary?” “Oh, give me a minute,” the man said before he started searching his pocket once more only to bring his wallet out. Hah, this must be a joke or something like that. Why….“Phew, I thought I'd lost it,” he mumbled as he brought a picture out of his wallet and gazed at it. “You still have her picture in your wallet?!” Favour shrieked. “Gosh, I can't believe you, Henry.” “Jealous of a dead woman, are you?” He leaned down to peck her on her left cheek. “She was my past, Favour. And you are my present, and future. You don't have to think that way." “Then, why is she still in your wallet? My picture is supposed to be there!” Favour folded her arms, scowling darkly. “I was guilty, okay? Seems it's time to let go of the past,” he confessed and pecked her once mor
JUNEDespite everything I was told, I wasn't ready to believe them until Favour suggested we have a DNA test, which Henry and I readily agreed to. According to the doctor, getting a result would take about twenty-four hours. So, I exchanged my number with them. They offered to drive me home, but I refused. Instead, I took a cab home, with my mind still on what I just learned. Should what Henry said turn out to be the truth, it could only mean that.....Kristen and I aren't related! What great news this will be. Now, we won't have to worry about the public and what they have to say about our relationship. I paid the cab driver with the only money I had left, grateful those damned thugs didn't touch it. Kristen wasn't in the house when I returned, so I hurriedly plugged my phone into the wall socket to power it up. I forgot to charge it last night, so it went off around mid-afternoon when I was still at the hospital. The moment I switched the phone on, I was bombarded with notifica
KRISTENWhat the fuck?!!"Why didn't you say something?!" I scoffed, my eyes wide in... surprise? shock? I don't know."I'm fine," she said quietly. There was a certain tiredness swirling around her like a mist. It's been so long since she looked this fed-up. "I guess it's just..." She suddenly stopped and looked up, frowning. "Kristen...""Yes, doll?" I shifted closer to her, now feeling slightly uncomfortable from what she was going to ask."The men who beat me at the park... " She knitted her brows and I moved closer until I could see the mole on her left cheek. "... they asked if I was ready to leave the country."She looked at me, locking my eyes in place. Our eyes widened at the same time."That sounds suspicious," June continued. As sudden as she said it, she waved it off, "Never mind.""No, doll. Talk to me." She made to get up but I pulled her back to the chair. "If there is anything you need to tell me, please say it.""I... I was thinking of something, but I just realized t
JUNEKristen left early because of a meeting he had with some of his employees. I remained in bed for close to an hour before I lazily rolled out, realizing I had to get ready for work. I can't afford to have my salary ducked on the first day. I had a hurried bath and got dressed in blue leggings, pairing it off with a tank top. I didn't bother with my hair, just combed through it to get rid of the tangles, and I was good to go. I applied a chapstick on my lip and used an eyeliner for my brows.Breakfast was the next thing. I gobbled down the macaroni and meatballs Kristen made, ignoring the crepes he left for me. The moment I put the plates on the sink, my phone started buzzing. “That must be Mark.” Yawning, I traipsed over to the dinner table, took my phone, and answered the call without checking the caller's ID. “Good morning,” I grumbled and started for the stairs. “June?” Mark's perplexed voice filtered in from the other end. “Hmm?”“Are you the one?” he asked once more, soun
JUNEAnd that was how I found myself having dinner with them. I had to send a text to Kristen to tell him I was okay and would be back later than expected. Though he tried to know my reasons, I found a lie through it, opting to keep my father a secret until I saw him. Something like this should be told to the face, not through the phone. It was a pleasant dinner that had me smiling and laughing more than I have ever done since the time our photos were leaked to the public. Favour was eager to meet my uncle, but I refused. I need to tell Kristen about it and know his stance before I arrange for a meeting between them. They drove me home and watched me walk up to the front door before they drove off. I can tell Favour doesn't wish to part with me because I got a message the moment I stepped foot into the house. 'I had a nice day with you, darling. Expectation for more!' A grin tugged on the sides of my lips as I read the message. Favour is such a free spirit, she makes it difficult
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