Jackie's POV
One moment I was trying to tell Darrell that he could go home and not follow me upstairs, and the next thing, he was kissing. It was surprising and shocking when his lips touched mine. I was stunned in my stance, not able to move as I tried to reason why he was kissing me. And when his arms went around me, I stiffened against his body then blinked hard.
After what felt like hours, I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him hard, making him tear his lips away and stagger backward. I glared at him while he gaped with flushed cheeks. I gritted my teeth and wiped my lips with the back of my hand.
"What the fuck was that, Darrell?!" I asked in heated anger and he sighed.
"I am so sorry. It's just that I have been meaning to kiss you and... I don't know what came over me. You are so pretty, and I have been holding myself back from doing anything... I'm sorry."
I was avoiding this and expecting such behavior from him. I knew he had feelings for me, and I dreaded it. I didn't like him the way he liked me. For now, he was only someone I knew and never have I thought about him like whatever way he does about me.
"Say something," he said, looking like he wanted to panic.
"Listen, Darrell. I don't see you like the way you and I never will." I took in deep breaths and closed my eyes for some seconds. "You are just a friend, and I am only tolerating your presence because of our... former partners. I am still not on the right state of mind to entertain any other love interest and I wish you can understand. Even if I was ready, I just don't see you like that. First of all, you are six years older, and I don't feel comfortable with the age gap... Second of all, don't ever do that again."
I didn't wait for a response from him and turned around then made my way to the double doors. I pushed one side open and walked in then started making my way toward the elevator, all the while, feeling uncomfortable with what had just happened. Even when he had taken me to the hospital for my usual checkups and antenatal care, he had been too touchy with me.
With a shake of my head, I pushed the button for the elevator and waited for it to open. As I waited for it, I remembered something. Before he had kissed me, I felt a heavy presence of someone watching me. It felt weird but almost as if there were people around watching us. And when he kissed me, it added to the discomfort I was feeling. I shook my head, and the doors slide open, then I walked in.
Just as I touched my floor button, someone walked in, a girl, wearing a large, hooded jacket with the hood covering her face and all. I glanced at her for a second and was tempted to ask her which floor she was going to, but her demeanor screamed don't talk to me. I shrugged and the doors closed. I kept my eyes on the numbers counting up and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the girl turn her head in my direction. Even though I could not see her face, I could tell she was looking my way. When she turned her head more, I looked sideways and saw just her chin and rosy thin lips. I looked forward and sighed, praying for the elevator to reach my floor.
As if on cue, it stopped, and the doors opened then I walked out. I looked over my shoulder to look at her. My eyes widened when she motioned two fingers at her shielded eyes then at me, before tapping her index finger on her left wrist, as if pointing to an invisible wristwatch.
I faced forward and hurriedly made my way through the hallway. I looked over my shoulder and the doors were closed. I stopped walking to lean against the wall. My heart was beating fast, and my breath was ragged. Who had been that person? First the man who had stood in front of Lucas' house then this woman. These people were beginning to give me an irrational fear for hooded figures.
"Jackie?"
I flinched at the sound of Andrea's voice and turned my body around. She was standing by the front door of her apartment in her scrubs and bags of food. She slowly approached me then looked me up and down in concern.
"What's wrong?" She asked. "Are you feeling pains?"
I shook my head and smiled. "It's nothing... It's just that I saw some creepy person. She was in the elevator with me and then she gave me the universal sign for I'm watching you then did tap her wrist as if there was some watch there."
Andrea's eyes widened and she looked at the elevator.
"What did she look like?" She asked.
"She was wearing a hoodie... Andrea, I am scared and worried. I don't understand who these people are. I don't want anyone to harm me and my baby."
She opened her mouth as if she wanted to talk but shut it. I could see the worry in her eyes before she forced it away and smiled.
"Go in the house. Here," she said and handed me the bags. "I will head to the security and tell them what happened. I will also pick Paul up from Evangeline's place. I will be back, okay?"
I nodded and she walked off. I sighed and stared at a spot on the floor. I had so much to focus on right now and having someone threaten me made me anxious.
| | |
Later that day, I took an evening stroll with Paul laying and playing with his toy in his baby stroller. My calves and hips have been feeling stiff lately and I needed a little stroll around the neighborhood to ease the tensions in my body. As the evening breeze blew against my skin and went through my hair that were in two braided pigtails, I smiled. As my eyes scanned the other side of the road, my smile dropped. The sight of him sent a wave of anger and annoyance through me.
I gripped the handle of the stroller hard and continued walking. My eyes hard on the road up ahead and not on the man across the road. I didn't even want to think about him at all. Me saying his name in my head felt like the start of a curse.
As I reached a zebra crossing, I stopped and waited for the cars to pass by before I crossed. Just as there was no car close by, I took a step forward but a hard grip on my arm forced me back. I turned around and looked up at a smiling Matt. My eyes hardened to convey the emotions in me as I stared at his face.
"What do you want?" I asked. "Didn't you warn me to stay out of your way?"
He chuckled. "Come on... Can I not say hi to my bestie?"
"Leave me alone, Matt."
He grinned. "I missed this attitude, you know. You were all so loyal to your boyfriend when I first met you."
He laughed and it hurt me. I hated him so much. He changed so much that I was still confused about what went wrong.
"What do you want?" I asked and he smirked then looked me up and down. He was not looking at me as if he was curious. He was looking at me with a condescending glaze in his eyes.
Speaking if that, I noticed how he was dressed. The shirt he was wearing was of a high brand, his pants were too, with iron lines on them. His hair was slick back, around his neck was a thin gold chain and around his wrist was an expensive watch. He was looking like the type of rich people who went golfing in their high-class sportswear.
"I was in town yesterday, so I wanted to come see you." He waved his hand up and down my body. "There are rumors that poor Lucas broke up with you."
I gripped the handle of the stroller harder. I had no idea why I was standing where I was, entertaining his presence.
"Mind your business," I said, and he shrugged.
"How can I?" He chuckled. "You are like a sister-in-law to me.... Are you still even my potential sister-in-law?"
I saw his eyes dart to my left hand, where the promise ring used to stay. He looked back at my face and smirked again. It was weird how a man I knew ended up having a total personality change.
"I see the breakup is serious," he said and took a step forward. He eyed Paul and shook his head. "My irresponsible brother has left you heartbroken, pregnant and with someone else's kid. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
I frowned. "How the fuck did y---"
"I have eyes and ears everywhere, darling." He raised his hand to my face, and I tilted my head away with a flinch.
He stared at me with a passing look of concern in his eyes before darkness covered them.
"Just like how our father abandoned me and my mother, Lucas is taking after him pretty well by leaving you all alone," he said in a soft voice and grazed the back of his hand against my cheek.
I grabbed his hand and forced it back to his side. I glared up at him while he smiled as if something was funny.
"I always had an attraction to you. I still do... I knew who you were when I saw you in our faculty. It was just a coincidence that when I decided to forget about everything that happened to my mother, you and your bastard boyfriend enters my radar. At first, I wanted to steal you away from him, but you were such a loyal little girl but look at you now. Alone, heartbroken and a whore for him to---"
I slapped him hard, making my palm sting. I ignored the look of shock from the passersby and people standing a few feet around. He poked his tongue against the cheek and looked at me with amusement in his eyes.
"I deserved that," he said. "Forgive me for saying the truth. I respect women a lot is just that my hate for Lucas is passionate."
He rubbed his cheek and sighed. "You know, I can take care of you. I can love you better than he did. I will never make you cry or hurt. I really like you and can't see you like this."
I laughed. "You must think me to be a fool. Listen carefully, Matt... I do not ever want to see you again. I swear to hurt you if I do. I have dealt with lunatics before, and you are just a drop in the ocean compared to them. Stay away from me and take your family drama out of my fucking life."
I pushed the stroller and brushed past him, making sure to knock his arm with mine. All I wanted was peace. I hated living like this. I wished the dreams I had for myself was still in action. I wish I had never come across Lucas that very day in college. I would still be going around looking for a job to keep myself in school. I rather that than all of this.
| | |
I got back to the apartment building, my need for an evening stroll ruined. As I walked through the lobby, passing the front desk, the lady behind it waved at me. I stopped and looked at her, raising an eyebrow. I sighed and went over to her then smiled when she did.
"Jackie, right?" She asked and I nodded. "Great. Someone dropped this off for you."
I furrowed my eyebrows when she bent lower to take something out from her desk. I heard the crumple of paper then when she raised her whole hand, my lips parted. She was holding a bouquet of daisies. I had just posted in the morning that I needed them, just a wishful thinking and now someone gave them to me.
I gently took the bouquet. They were plastic and smelt just like daises. My fingers grazed the soft flower petals before looking at the lady.
"Who brought this here?" I asked and she shrugged.
"Actually, a flower shop delivery man did. But there is a note attached."
I thanked her and pushed the stroller with me toward the elevator. I stopped in front of it and looked for the note. I found a white card hidden between the plastic stems and the paper wrapped. I picked it out and flipped it over when I saw it was upside down.
I raised my eyebrow at the note.
I am so sorry. Will you ever forgive me?
I smiled. I had a feeling it was Darrell. I knew he was the one.
a/n: I am so sorry everyone for the slow updates. On 7th of this month, I lost my sister after all the painful suffering she went through on the hospital bed. I have not been feeling well and have been in a bad state since then. Worse of all, she was a big fan of all my stories. She always asked me what new books I was writing but she is no longer here to read them. She particularly loved reading When Worlds Collide and sadly, she begged me to finish it and I am sad that she did not get to read the end of it as I have said I will try my best to complete it and dedicate it to her. I hope heaven allows her to read it and more of my books. RIP, Divine.