006

“That jerk. I will give him a good piece of my mind," Sander fumed and marched down to the car. She knocked on the window.

   The car's door was jerked from the other side. Jerome stepped outside. A black sunglasses on his face hid the angry flare in his eyes.

“Why did you hang up on me?" Jerome fumed and grabbed her arm.

    Sander eyes narrowed, she winced softly when he dug his fingers on her arm.

“Hang up? You are a dreamer…”

"I… .”

"I did,” Kensington cut in. Jerome turned his gaze to her. He swiped his glasses off his face.

  "Keeping away from me?” He asked with a smirk dancing across his face, his feet plodded softly approaching her.

   Kensington held her breath, buried her hands in the pocket of the hoodie she wore.

    Jerome got to her and stretched his hands to her shoulders. The mere brush of her fingers over her shoulders made her body quaver in fear. Her gaze dropped low to the ground calculating the large mass of sand beneath their feet.

“I hate it when people try to defy me," Jerome began in a deep, low authoritative voice. A tone Kensington never knew he had. All the while they dated, Jerome was charming and gentle even to his words. He never spoke authoritatively to her.

    His fingers wrapped around her chin. It felt cold and icy. He jerked her head up to meet his gaze. His eyes had an unmistakable glint of mischief and evil.

“I will spare you because I loved you," He smiled, a half baked one that didn't cross his eyes, “Don't keep me waiting tonight. Be there by eight PM." 

   Kensington remained mute, pinching her lips tightly to avoid making a sound that could irritate him.

 He lowered his lips to her forehead, released a soft kiss that made her stomach flutter. He flashed her a wink and wore her glasses. 

 He turned around and returned to his car. Sander ran back to Kensington who stared mystifically at his departing convoy.

  “Hey," Sander hugged the cold girl with a shattered heart, “What did he say to you?" 

   Kensington blinked and turned her ashen face towards Sander. She waved her head as a small smile crooked up her face, “Nothing to get your ass worked up." 

   “Kenzie, get serious. What did he say to you?" 

“I am serious," Kensington guffawed, a sound that tasted sour as it let out of her throat, “You don't have to be bothered about him." She began to walk away with the small smile playing on her face. 

  Together, they took the staircase back into their room. Sander wondered if she was still the same girl she knew. She admired her strength and courage to smile even though she knew her image had been dragged to the mud.

   “I will prepare dinner tonight," Kensington's voice broke into her thought, her hands greased against hers as she took the shopping bag from her. She turned into the kitchen.

 And soon the sound of pot and cutlery rang in the whole house.

   They ate together and retired for a short nap before nightfall.

>>>>

  Jerome exhaled in relief. He felt a great weight being pulled off his chest after meeting Kensington. She was important to him and losing her now could make him go crazy.

  He pulled his sunglasses off and exhaled loudly. A grin spread wide across his face as he envisaged his life in the next three months. He thought of the amount of money he would get from Kensington's shoots in the next three months.

  His phone rang next to him, jerking him from thoughts. It was his babe, well his new catch.

“Babe, Where are you?" Her worried voice filled the other end as soon as he placed the phone over his ears.

“On my way home…”

"Did you find the girl at home?” 

"Yes, I did. We are back in business, babe,” He said, beaming proudly to himself.

 The lady squealed at the other end. He blew kisses and promised to meet her at home. He ended the call with his nose wrinkling in disgust and creases lined his face. He tossed his phone on the seat next to him and dug his head into the bead board.

>>>>

  The stars glowed ceaselessly in the sky illuminating the entire world with its brightness. Kensington rose from the bed with a determination settled deep in her.

  She looked around the room with mist slowly building up in her eyes. Sander still laid on the bed with her hands folded neatly beneath her head and curled to her side.

  Gently, she picked up a bag and began to pull her clothes into the bag. She didn't pick much but picked the few she would be needing. She wore a coat to protect herself from the harsh wind brewing outside the confines of the house.

 Slowly, she walked out of the house and locked the door behind her. She took soft steps out of the building. Each step she took felt heavy and tried to pull her down. She stood outside the building, stared at the building that once housed her for ten years after the death of her only family.

 She trudged on. Alone, cold and empty, safe for the few clothes stacked in the bag behind her and a determined heart.

 She was leaving all behind. Her past, her gory days, her mistakes — all of it she was leaving them behind to face a new life. 

   Love was supposed to be beautiful. She was supposed to love love but now she hated it. She gave herself to him, submitted her will but got broken at the end.

    Her heart twisted in all terrible ways possible.

 She thought of Sander and how she was leaving without letting her know. She felt a pang prick her chest gently. She has betrayed her only friend, sister and family. The hand that held her in the midst of the storm.

   She had walked a distance away from the house before tears broke free from her eyes, running down her cheek. She had some money on her and with that she boarded a train to another city.