BETRAYAL

13

She was just taking her bags off the taxi she took from the bus station and there the most attractive boy she has ever met offered to help her with the bags. She just stared at him unable to speak. Then and there she knew she was smitten by him.

Winnie was a woman of words, she always speaks her mind but not when she met him. It was love at first sight. And then as if he was determined to give her a heart attack he smiled at her, that million dollar smile of his. He had the most handsome and sincere loving smile she had ever seen. Michael loved to smile, his smile made him even more attractive. And the fact that he had a dimple! That dimple that melted her inside whenever it showcased itself.

Michael was the kindest yet the coolest person one could ever come across. You don't happen to meet the two quality on one person very often but Michael had both. He used to get along with everyone, he was charming, good looking and very popular, the fact that he was good at almost every sport didn't help either. Sometimes she hated that he was that popular and sometimes she hated that he was kind to everyone, because of that there were many times she couldn't tell if he was also kind to her because he loved her or because it's in his nature.

On the very first month of knowing each other they got very close. They weren't studying the same course but they saw each other almost everyday and hung out. Michael was taking computer engineering course while she was taking designing.

She remembered back then on their second year they were so close that almost everyone thought they were dating but much to her disappointment they weren't.

She met Katherine, Haroon and Calvin few months after he met Michael, it was during holidays. Haroon and Calvin were studying business so they went to a separate business only university back to their city. There weren't any business courses in their university.

It was starting to get dark, only then did Winnie realize how long she stayed there. Atleast ten hours must have passed by. She tried to stand but her legs were so weak, she held the tree from before and used it as a support to stand and she finally was able to stand up. She still felt so dizzy and she didn't think she could make it down the hill but she had to try.

When she was trying to walk she felt a figure coming up, she got so scared, she took a step back but there was nowhere to go, few more steps and she would fall, she didn't know what to do instead of praying 'let it not be a serial killer!! I know God I said living has no meaning now but I'll be too pitiful if I die like this.'

The figure finally reached the top of the cliff

"Winnie!!" she heard  someone calling.

'How the hell does a stranger know my name??'

"Winnie!" as she hears her name for the second time the very familiar voice became clear. It was Michael's voice.

'Am I hearing things now?'

And that moment the figure reached closer to her and she could see the face, Michael's face, it looked exactly like Michael. His shiny short dark brown hairs, his hazel eyes, his defined jaws, his perfect symmetrical handsome face, his broad shoulders and his lean physique.

'Am I hallucinating?'

"I'm even seing things now," she cried loudly. And just then darkness filled her eyes and her legs gave away completely. The last thing she heard was that voice calling out her name again.

*******************************************

~5 years ago~

"Hey Winn" Michael spoke when the call got connected.

"Hey Mike, I've missed you! When are you coming back?"

"That's what I called to tell you! I'm coming back tomorrow," he said excitedly.

"Oh really!?? What happened? You were supposed to come back next week, weren't you?"

"Yes we were! But we decided to cut short our trip. I'll tell you why when we get there, it's a surprise!" He smiled.

"Oh come on tell me now, you know I can't stand curiosity," Winnie pouted.

Michael laughed.

"It's just one day, you can manage. I trust you!" Michael said in a serious tone.

"Well if you have that much faith in me then I guess I'll have to do it. I promise you won't regret trusting me," Winnie said in an equally serious tone.

They all fall in a fit of laughter.

"God I've missed the sound of your laughter," Michael said when their laughter died down.

"Not as much as I've missed the sound of your laughter."

"Can't wait to reach tomorrow!"

"Me too."

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing. I just finished helping mom to bake a cake."

"A cake? What for? As far as I remember there's no one in your family who has a birthday this month. And I've a good memory."

"Lol you sure do! It's not a birthday cake, Lucas won some stupid contest at school and mom offered to cook so that we can celebrate. I'm telling you she is just trying to find an excuse for us to eat her horrible excuse of food! When will she ever accept that the female in our family are a terrible cooks and leave the cooking to men in peace!"

Michael laughed. "I've never seen someone who is so proud of being a terrible cook!"

"Hey! I've just peacefully accepted my fate!" Winnie shrugged. "Plus, I'm no where as terrible as my mom. And I didn't want to say this before, I wanted to surprise you but I'm taking cooking lessons and I've a feeling I'll be the one to break this female curse in our family! Just prepare for the day you eat my first edible meal."

Michael laughed, "I might grow old waiting for that day! But don't be discouraged, you can always just find a husband who cooks."

"It's a good thing you're a good cook then, I'll just marry you and save myself from a trouble of finding one."

"Are you proposing to me now Winn? If you are then no. I want balloons and everything!"

Winnie laughed. "You wish!"

"So what are you doing?" She asked him.

"I'm about to go see the famous waterfall of Getha, I'm so exited Winn! I'm waiting for Haroon and Calvin. By the way I wonder what's taking them so long! You should've seen how they hurried me out of the room and now they're the ones who are taking their time!"

Winnie laughed, "Probably they're busy trying to perfect their winged eyeliner."

Michael laughed. "Oh...speaking of the devils. Here they are! Bye Winn. I'll call you when I get back."

"Bye. Say hi to them for me. And don't forget to take pictures when you get there and show me when you get back!"

"I won't. I've my camera ready right here. I know how you love pics. Just like mom."

She smiled, "I know. It's why we get along so well."

"Okay, bye now before Cal tries to snatch the phone away. He is making the face!"

Winnie laughed before muttering a small bye and disconnect.