MARRY ME NOW

“What am I going to do now?” I cried when Gwyneth told me all my things were burnt in the fire. “Where am I going to go from here? What’d I tell the landlord? he’d probably make me pay for his properties.” I winced.

It seems like life itself hates me, I’ve been through hell since the day I was born. Never a day have I been in peace, well, I was for a period of time.

I curled myself on the bed. My body ached, and my head ached. I’ve been crying for the past hour, and no matter how I tried to keep myself from crying, I couldn’t stop myself.

The situation was overwhelming. “Tessa, will you just stop crying? You’ve been like that for the past one hour and about the house. A solution will surely come up later, come, you’ve to take a bath.” She said grabbing my hand and trying to pull me out of the bed.

She successfully pulled me out of the bed to the bathroom, she instructed me what to do and told me there’d be a cloth waiting on the bed for me. I managed to whisper a thank you.

She walked out. I peeled out the clothes on me and stepped into the flowing water. I moaned at how warm it felt. Who would have thought this was what I needed to ease my mind?

I stayed in there for only God knows how long before I used the soap. My body smelt of smoke, especially my hair. I washed it all away wishing I could also wash away the memory. It was haunting.

I finished what I was doing, I took the towel and wrapped it around my body. I walked out of the bathroom and back to the room. Something seemed different.

Oh, she changed the bedspread to a more colourful one and there was a pink gown on top of the bed. I walked closer to the bed, the gown was very beautiful.

She wanted me to wear this? She did say she’d put something for me to wear on the bed. I noticed a hairdryer on a chair. My hair was really wet so it could be of good use.

I went to it and plugged it into the socket next to it. I turned it on and dried my hair with it. I went back to the bed and threw on the gown.. And underwear.

I noticed next to the bed was a glass of water and a sachet of painkillers. Ah, just what I needed. I quickly drank it with a full gulp. I breathe in relief sitting on the bed.

I have to see Anne. But I don’t know the way into this house, by the size of the room, I’m guessing the house is not huge nor is it tiny either.

I walked to the door and opened it, there was a passage, it wasn’t huge nor was it small. Which way should I go? Left or right? I think it’s the left way, I could hear voices coming from there.

I closed the door and walked in the left direction. After a few seconds of walking, I got to what seemed to be the sitting room, but there was nobody in it. I could have sworn I heard voices.

I heard it again, I traced it until I could hear the voices clearly. “Mommy, cook these a lot for me.” I heard a tiny familiar voice. Anne.

“She does? I bet it’s really nice.” I heard another familiar voice. Gwyneth. “Hmm hmm, it is. Who are you cooking for?”

“For everyone, me, you and your mommy.”

“Oh.”

“It’s okay, Anne. Mommy is alright, I bet she wants to see you right now, I know you want to see her too but let’s cook and surprise her, alright?”

“Yes!” Anne squealed. She sounds so happy. It made my heart flutter. I could go back to the room and act like I didn’t know what is going on, right? I didn’t want to ruin their surprise..

I already did but they don’t have to know…

I quickly turned back and tiptoed to the room. For a moment, my troubles were forgotten. I wish it’d remain like that, but I’d have to face the harsh reality.

I sighed. I got to the room and sat down on the bed. Only then did I realise there was a mirror beside the bed. The gown I had on suits me perfectly. My long hair sprawled everywhere on my shoulders. It needs to be arranged.

I don’t want Anne to see me like this. I looked at the mirror again. It has a little wardrobe, I stepped closer to it and opened it. And I saw makeup and a comb. I quickly grabbed to comb and combed my hair.

I sat on the bed and waited for them. Minutes later, I heard footsteps coming toward the room. Then the room door opened.

Anne rushed in with Gwyneth trailing behind her. She jumped on me. “Mommy.” I hugged her. Tears flowed out of my eyes without my permission. I’m not just the type who can handle emotions.

~

After a full display of emotion back there in the room, we walked to the dining table and yes, I was surprised, there were lots of food. Oh my.

“I thought you might be really hungry,” Gwyneth said. I was hungry, but I wasn’t sure if I had enough appetite to eat this much. I’d just eat, I can’t let her effort go to waste. We ate in silence.

I was able to finish my food, it was really tasty. I ended up wishing there were more of it. Though my stomach was already filled up.

“So… What do you plan on doing now?” Gwyneth asked. I could tell she was expecting something me to do something about this. She obviously doesn’t want Loren to get away with it.

Well, neither do I.

“I don’t know..”

“You don’t know? You know, you really have to do something about this, if you let her get away she might do something much worst sooner or later, remember, you’ve got a child.”

She was absolutely right. A huge part of me wanted to get her back, wanted revenge. But what can I do? She’s rich, powerful, obviously, there’s nothing I could do.

“I know, but what can I do?” I asked. She sighed. Her phone dinged. “Jake is here.” She said. She stood up and went away. She came back a minute later with Jake trailing behind her.

I looked down. Unable to look at him, I was ashamed. “No case was charged. The landlord demands for his property money.” Jake said. Normally, he’d first ask how I was. For some reason, I don’t like this Jake. Yeah, he seems like a different man.

Not in terms of looks, but character. Something tells me he’s mad. “Oh, how much did he demand?” Gwyneth asked.

“54, 000 dollars.” He said. My eyes widened. 54, 000 dollars? Where am I going to get a such a huge amount of money? I barely have anything. But still, I wouldn’t take help from anybody. I caused this, I’d just work myself out.

Even after that, I’d never be able to make a such a huge amount of money…

“54, 000?” I asked, and it came out as a whisper.

He just nodded his head. “I could help you save-” Gwyneth offered.

“No, no… I don’t need anyone’s help in this, it was all my fault so I’d have to..” I sniffed. I have to think of a way to get back on my feet.

“How is Anne?” Jake asked. Confirmed, he was ignoring me. I don’t blame him though, he’s probably thinking not offering help would only make me stronger, well if that’s what he’s thinking then he’s absolutely right.

I need to stand, on my own. “She’s perfectly fine, she’s in the living room,” Gwyneth answered.

~

I sat on a chair in the living room, we were all watching a movie, to ease ourselves, Jake left a while ago. But my mind wasn’t here, it was on something else. Thinking.

I’ve obviously been too nice. I’m anything but smart. I have to change that. What Loren did woke something in me, she shouldn’t get away with what she did and she wasn’t. I’m done with the people trying to tear me down.

How about it becomes the other way round? I could get her back with something that doesn’t have to be a crime, it might be a sin, but not a crime.

But what?

My mom was a very fierce woman, she was strong and ambitious. I know she’s still alive, she ran away to some rich man when I was ten years old and that man was already married with 3 children.

That didn’t hold her back. I’d always thought my mom was heartless, not to care about the man’s wife and children, I know she did that to have protection, to pay her debts. She left me isolated.

She was heartless. I vowed never to be like m, y mom. But, sometimes, you have to be heartless…

“Hey!” Someone snapped his/her finger in front of me, Gwyneth.

“You zoomed out, I’ve been calling your name.” She said shaking her head.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, what -” she cut herself off when there was a loud bang on the door. She looked at me confusedly.

“I know you’re in there, Tessa! Just let me see my daughter!” I heard a familiar annoying male voice. Carson. How’d he even know this place? Why won’t he just go away and pretend we never knew each other?

Well if that’s so hard for him because of Anne, he should go fuck himself because there was no way I’m gonna let him see Anne.

Oh my, what was I thinking?

“Ignore him,” I said.

“Who is he?”

“My ex.”

“How’d he know this place?”

“Great, that was the question going through my head.”

“Tessa?”

“Yes.”

“You sound… Different.” She said. I gave her the ‘what do you mean look?’ How did I sound different? Oh probably cause I’m bitter. Hearing Carson’s voice brings lots of good and bad memories.

Bad memories like when he cheated on me with that bitch Sara, whom I called my friend. What type of people was I friends with?

Bitch Sara? Oh my, I really sound different. What’s happening to me?

“You’re becoming mean.” She said slowly. Still don’t know what she meant, I was going to ask her when we heard another bang.

Ah jeez.

“I think, I’d go check… Who’s there.” She said standing up and walking away, I trailed behind her, and we got to a door. She opened it and behold, there was a worried-looking Carson.. And a angry-looking Sara.

“Who are you?” Gwyneth asked. Carson ignored her as his eyes were already on me.

“Oh thank goodness, thank God you’re okay, I just heard about the fire incident and I got scared. I was worried something happened to you or my daughter.” He said. I gritted my teeth. He was so annoying. I found him really annoying, seriously.

I get he’s worried about Anne but he has no right to be worried about me, there’s absolutely nothing between us, it’s funny cause his girlfriend is right behind him.

If looks could kill, I’d have been ten feet under right now. “Well, I get you’re worried for Anne but I never asked for you to be worried about me, if you’re here to see Anne, why not come back some other time?” I asked. He looked taken aback by my tone.

Probably because he’s never heard me speak this way before. “Tessa..”

“Are you going to go or not?”

“See baby? This is why I asked you to take custody of the little girl..” Sara whispered, but it wasn’t low enough.

She’s been telling him that? Did she even think he could take custody of Anne? What fantasy do they live in?

Anne wasn’t asleep but I felt some possessiveness towards her. I don’t want her to grow attached to someone like him.

“Guess what, Tessa, my husband and I have decided to take custody of your daughter, Isn’t that great news?” Sara said. I reached closer to her, how dare she say that to my face?

I slapped her. She screamed jumping back like someone had poured boiling water on her body. Speaking of water…

“How dare you?!”

“Tessa! Why’d you do that? I know you’re-” I turned around back into the house. I know something to get them away. Water.

I walked towards my room direction. I was going to get water from the bathroom in my room. I stopped when I noticed a

two buckets full of dirty water.

Well, that’s it.

Grabbing a bucket, I rushed back outside and without thinking twice I poured the water on them. “Tessa..” I heard Gwyneth.

“Ahhhh.” They screamed.

“What are you? How dare you come all the way here to cause stupid drama? What happened to you staying out of my life? Just fucking stay out of my life, pretend we never knew each other. And forget I had your child. The next time I see you anywhere near me with your stupid custody issue, I’m gonna do something much worst to you, you’d regret ever meeting me, you’d regret knowing my child.” I threatened menacingly at Carson.

“Get lost.” I sneered.

“What happened to you?! Why’d you do this?!” Carson screamed.

“People just.. Change,” I said

“Now, you’re gonna go?” I sneered especially at Sara who was shaking with terror. They just stood there shaking with their clearly surprised faces.

“No? Okay, hold on.” I said going back into the house, I was going to chase them out of this building. Not every time they mess with someone would they get away with it. I grabbed the second bucket of dirty water and went back outside.

“Tessa, n-no d-d-” Carson tried saying, but I poured it on them anyways.

“Ahhhh!” They screamed again.

“You gonna go now, or..” I said and they ran away. And that’s how you get rid of menace like them. “See what I mean?” Gwyneth said bringing me out of my wild sense.

What did I just do? Oh my, I was becoming like my mother. No, I wasn’t. Sometimes you have to be mean. Especially to people who try to bring you down.

I sighed and went back into the house. Normally, I would have felt guilty for what I did, but I didn’t. In fact, I was wishing I did something much harsher to them.

I got to the sitting room and threw myself on the bed. I sighed again. In relief. That would hopefully make them stay out of my life forever.

Gwyneth raised an eyebrow at me immediately after she got to the sitting room. “Okay, okay, I get it,” I said.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. I just..”

~

It was 5 in the evening when I heard the doorbell dinged. Oh, there’s a doorbell that the jerk heads, Sara and Carson failed to use.

“I’d go it,” Gwyneth said. She went and came back a minute later. She gave me the ‘not so sure look.’

“Tessa.. Someone is here to see you…” She said. It is obvious, whoever this person was, she fears him. It was all in her tone.

“Who?”

“Boss- I mean Austin.” She said. My eyes widened. Austin was here, why? My heart rate increased in seconds.

“You have to go see him, I told h-”

“It’s okay, I’d go,” I said. She seems scared and nervous, probably because he’s her boss. I was nervous too.

I couldn’t deny the huge part of the that eagerly wanted to see him though. I walked to the front door. And there he stood magnificently, in his suit.

Ah, he always manages to steal my breath away. Shut up.

His eyes swept over me as if looking for something. Then, his eyes settled on my own. My mind went to Loren, does she know he’s here?

She seems to be always angry whenever he’s next to me. Angry and jealous… I wonder why. Does she think Austin likes me? Does he?

Suddenly, he stepped closer. His scent filled my nose, it was really nice and alluring. He hugged me. My eyes widened.

Oh my God, he was hugging me. I didn’t even have the heart to tell him off. He just makes me weak. Why was he doing this?

“I was scared. I thought I’d lost you.” He whispered. I shivered. Does he like me? Does he feel the spark? Oh my, I was in love with him.

And his doing this makes me think he had mutual feelings. My mind went back to Loren. This explains why she hates me so much…

Haha, what a loser she was.

Something sparked in my mind, I could use him. To get revenge. It’d be sweet revenge.

Nothing makes me happy right now than the thought of getting Loren back and Austin here was the key.

I hugged him back.

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