I was watching MTV when Jennifer comes with a smile on her face, a sign of good news. She'll probably share her news to me later on.
I stand to kiss her, and once again my day becomes complete. I chuckled but still feeling unease about the wedding. I sit back as she goes upstairs
to change her dress. Luckily, she didn't notice my fever or she'll go dumb again thinking about me. I can hear Mr. Jones' slicing the carrots. I don't know when he'll going
to say it to her. Maybe today and I guess never
There was a knock on the door; I open it with a smile believing that there might be a visitor. It was Ms. Alice, together with Carlo and a cop. A cop. What's with a cop? I frown and another feeling of fear hits my body. Mr. Jones stops doing his job in the kitchen and he frown in puzzlement together with me. I gulp.
“Good evening...?” My greetings became doubtful.
Carlo grunted like he got some things to be boast.
“What's with the cop?” Jennifer suddenly said behind me. Ms. Alice bites her lips in fear, as Carlo gives his annoying smile.
We look at each other in quizzical look.
“I had informed this morning,” the cop started, “that someone took Alice's jewelry this morning at around eight o'clock.”
Mr. Jones stands beside me and said, “You’re accusing someone in this house mister?”
“Is there a man named Achilles her...e? The informant called us that this man took the complainant's jewelry.”
“What?” Jennifer said in surprise.
“You must be wrong, who called you about this mister?”
“Me,” Carlo snapped, “I saw him putting mom's jewelry into his coat. You steal mom's jewelry!”
Coat? Jewelry? Me? Stealing?
“Jen, go to your room now,” Mr. Jones exclaimed with strong authority in his voice.
“No, I must know what's going on,” Jennifer said locking her fingers into mine.
“I am Achilles,” I said beneath the commotions.
“Then you must come with us sir,” the cop said in his sincere hoarse voice.
“NO.”
“No, no, no,” Jennifer starts mumbling.
“Wait,” MR. Jones interrupted, “I owned that coat. Achilles just brought it for me. He has nothing to do with this accusation. I'll answer it on the station.”
“NO!” Jennifer exclaimed, as she look at his dad and then to me.
I take a deep breathe, I look at Jennifer.
“Then I must get the coat,” she snapped, unhand me and runs towards the coat. I look at her every move she made, the fear starts to drown me. Afraid that it might be real, afraid that there's a jewelry at my coat's pocket, and afraid that the accusation will go stronger when they saw the jewelry. She inserts her hand into my coat's pocket and she take something inside it, a gold bracelet and a necklace. Then, Carlo hurriedly take it from her hand, hiding his evil grin. My face wince looking at the thing I didn't get. Jennifer shot a look at me, Mr. Jones did the same. Carlo smiles and Ms. Alice gasped in surprise.
“I-I did not---”
“Take me mister,” Mr. Jones cuts me; “I owned that coat. Everyone saw it. Carlo is right.”
“Dad!”
“Mr. Jones!”
The cop takes out his handcuff, and Mr. Jones offers his wrists to be shackled. I can't move, my body instantly froze at the scene I didn't expect to happen. I can't even speak a word nor fight for Mr. Jones' right. The cop starts to move out dragging Mr. Jones gently.
Jennifer's tears crawls down into her cheeks. Ms. Alice holds his arm and utters something that I don't need to hear or find out what it is. I try to comfort Jennifer, but she insisted and pushes me away.
“Kelly,” she whispers, “why?”
I shook my head, and I can feel the water forming in my eyes. I want to say sorry but my mouth can't move. It was trembling in fear, as my mind tries to think what will I do next.
“Why? You knew the coat was yours. You knew dad has nothing to do with their accusation. You knew he did not steal Alice's jewelry! And you did nothing, you didn't defend him.”
“I-I I don't know,” I stuttered.
“Tell me, did you take the jewelries?”
“I did not. I can't do that. I-I don't know...you know I can't do that thing, Jen”
“But it's your fucking coat! It is your belonging. So are you trying to say that Carlo made this thing? He accused falsely? That boy cannot make stories like that.”
My body trembles in fear. Jennifer slap my face, I wince. I just stare at her as my cheek feels the burning pain. It is her right to receive her slap.
“I hate you!”
“I did not steal the jewelries, Jen. Believe me, just listen to me. I know your father did not do what Carlo accused, nor me. Carlo did this to stop their wedding. Jen, Joshua knew about this. Ask him, or ask your father. I’m sorry if I did not defend him. I’m---.”
“Liar! You are such a liar, Kelly. Do you think I’ll believe you? And now you’re adding Joshua’s name in this problem? I saw the jewelries, I even touched them and they’re real. It’s you, you stole it for God’s sake Achilles. Maybe you want money or something, maybe you---“
“Jen, stop. Please…stop. You have on reason to say this. Please stay calm.”
She took a deep breathe and say, “I always have reasons. And maybe this is the time to break up with you. This is not a plan or a set-up. I want to end this and get rid of you. We are done. I lost my friends. My summer plan was not followed and dad is going to the jail…and that’s because of you.”
“Please…listen for awhile,” I said hoping I can make things right.
“Please,” I said again, more sincere than the first attempt.
She covers her face with her hands.
“Get out. Get your things and your guitar. I don’t want to hear your explanations. I’m sick of it.”
I close my eyes, trying to think this is just a dream like what I always dream every night. I stand like a post, as if I didn’t hear her words. Is this the end of our relationship? Is this the time to end everything we started? I take a step and another step until I could grab my coat that brought the damages in our life, and I take my guitar. I keep on looking at her, maybe she’ll change her mind, and maybe she can think clearly and understands the situation. Then she turns back and go upstairs.
“Just know I’m here whenever you need me, Jen. I’ll wait for you.”
“Go now.”
I nodded wearily.
What ca I do?
So I go out, and the happenings linger in my mind. Their voice keeps on haunting me circling again and again. My guitar become heavy knowing that I have no energy to move on. I glance trying to see Jennifer’s room from the outside but I saw nothing, even a peep from her. Life’s still miserable.
Is this what lovers’ experience? They fight and the only way to solve things is to have break ups and tell the regrets they felt? Or they were just drowned in anger saying the inappropriate words?
I want to go to Mr. Jones and approach the cop, telling the truth but I know no one will believe me like what Jennifer did. Yes, I destroyed her life, her summer and taking her away from her friends and adding another problem to Jennifer’s life.
There were no stars in the sky, only a moon seeing where I am now. I am in the midst of trials. Everything turns to difficult from now on, I think.
Does God really exist? Or he’s just sleeping? Faith can be shattered, as fragile as human’s emotion. Then I ask myself: Where I am going now?
-----♪-----
Mr. Jones dragged me to the bed while my father stared at us, smiling and seemed enjoying what he had seen. He told me to lie down and do nothing, but I forced myself to stand. Mr. Jonathan was too strong for me, and so I started to shout for help. I keep on calling dad’s name but he just kept on staring like a fool. Mr. Jonathan did something I can’t imagine, I can’t really say what really it was. All I remember that I shouted and kicked him, trying to fight back. I did hit his face twice and left him bleeding. But it wasn’t enough to stop what he’s doing.
I cried for help, as he did something on mine. Why dad didn’t do anything to save me from this ungrateful happening? Is this the gift Mr. Jonathan wanted to give me? Why I’m lying in this bed and someone took off my clothes?
There were many questions in my mind as the happening drove me away from reality. I keep on calling dad’s name still he just stares at us.
After several minutes of shouting, cops broke the door and found me tired and naked, so as Mr. Jonathan. They took dad, Mr. Jonathan and someone took me. My mother who came late like a movie from Hollywood.
She kept on saying it’s oaky or it’s alright. Bit it wasn’t alright. I was molested by someone I knew while dad was entertained of what he seen. I kept on crying at that time, confused of what really happened. All I know is that it was rude or more than that.
And there I was poisoned, a poison that I will bring until death.