Bukan Mantan

Alyssa Watson 

   "Can't you add $100 to it to make it $500? The necklace is an original gold and I bet you can't find anyone as raw as this," I said to the gold seller.

My boyfriend, Leon Morrison, wanted to travel to South Korea to complete his master's degree and I had been running helter-skelter to get his ticket fee. Now, I was left with no option but to sell our ancient necklace. The necklace was passed from generation to generation and my mother passed it to me.

The gold seller swirled the necklace in his hands for the umpteenth time. There was a look of greediness on his face. He knew the necklace was more than the price I wanted to sell it for, but he was taking advantage of my desperation and urgent need for the money.

   "No... It is either $400 or you take it back," He threatened, stretching the necklace back to me. I sighed and asked him to pay the initial agreement.

He asked for my bank details and immediately, I saw the credit alert for $400.

   "Let me know when you have a good deal like this," He happily informed me and strolled away. I sneered as he hopped away excitedly. May I not have a reason to sell my properties again.

   "Finally! It is complete!"

I heaved with my eyes fixed on the balance on my phone. After working for 28 days and nights, I eventually got the $10,000 Leon needed to travel out of England.

I stopped a cab and headed straight to his house, which was located in one of the urban areas in England. I have to see him and share the good news with him first because he wasn't himself when I was with him the previous night.

I hopped out of the cab after a few minutes of driving and dashed into his building. "He is surely going to jump on me and carry me up when I tell him. Or no... He might propose to me before leaving for Korea or, .... Ah!" 

Different imaginations surged in my mind. I wasn't the one traveling, yet, I was the one feeling fulfilled. I got to his door and it opened at once as if it wasn't locked. My eyes twitched because it was strange, Leon wasn't the type who would leave his door open. Not even unintentionally.

Stepping into the room, the only thing my eyes caught was the female bag and shoes scattered on the marble tiles. My eyes blinked in fear. I hope it wasn't what I was thinking.

Without consideration, I walked straight into his bedroom and right there, I saw my boyfriend working energetically on a woman. He was sweating profusely as he penetrated her. Moans filled the room and they were so engrossed in the sex session that they didn't realize I was in the room.

   "Fuck me harder, baby," The familiar voice spoke up, spanking her breasts. 

Tears teemed down my face uncontrollably, Leon also betrayed me. 

   "How could you, Leon?" My tiny voice rang in the room, notifying them they'd been caught in the act.

Instantly, they stopped and the woman covered her face with the duvet before I could take a glimpse. Actually, I find no fault with her, the only person I am having a problem with was Leon Morrison. How could he? After giving him my love, body, and money.

He shrieked, terrified, and quickly put on his shorts. "I can explain, Alyssa. Please, wait," He tried to hold me but I shifted back. I glanced at him wearily.  

He was the least I foresaw stabbing me in the back.

Chloe Ashton, my best friend, warned me about him but I never listened. I was dazed by his unreal love.

I veered around and made to leave the room, just as I was about to take a step, I stumbled and slumped onto the hard floor. My head smacked the tiles. Shiny stars flashed across my eyes and pains overwhelmed my body. I wanted to get up but the intensity of the pain increased. I couldn't even lift a finger.

My eyes yearned earnestly for Leon's help, however, he wasn't flinching. He stared at me with eyes filled with regret and trepidation. He was confused and unsure of what to do.

   "I... I... I.. Am so sorry, Alyssa," He mumbled in a croaky voice. I guessed he regretted what he had done. My heart melted when I saw a drop of a tear falling from his eyes. 

On that spot, I concluded I would forgive him and make sure he promised never to repeat such an act.

Unfortunately, I was proven wrong by Leon. He wasn't begging me because he regretted what he had done. He was pleading because he wanted to do what he will regret.

   "I can't let you disturb me and my fiance anymore," 

He bent to my level and before I could realize what was going on, he was already strangling me. I choked and glared at him, my eyes almost removed from the socket.

   "W...wh...what a...are y...you ... D..  Doing?" Tears rolled out of my eyes as I glanced at my hostile boyfriend. I was mistaken, I thought it was a look of regret I saw in his eyes earlier, but it was a look of desperation. 

Not only was I backstabbed but I was also killed by him. My lips flashed a sad smile.

   "Le...le... Leon!" I weakly called, trying to stay awake no matter what. "Please, save me,"

   "I can't let you live. Chloe will only agree to get married to me after you are gone," 

The woman in the bedroom strolled out immediately after Leon mentioned Chloe.

And Lo and Behold, the Chloe he was talking about was my best friend, Chloe Ashton. 

While huffing, I let out in a low tone, "Why did you, Chloe?" 

My eyes were already turning red with the strangulation. I was also surprised at how I was able to stay alive till that moment. 

   "It's simple! I love Leon,"

She answered simply. She placed her elbow on Leon's back and put a finger into her mouth. Slyness and maliciousness glimmered in her eyeball.

I coughed slightly, struggling to push Leon's hands away even though I knew it would be futile because I don't have the same strength as Leon.

With the remaining strength I have, I mumbled, "You could have just asked me to leave him for you,"

With a clicking tongue, she bent before me, shaking her head. "Nah! It won't be fun to see you give up willingly," 

I coughed and took a last glance at both of them one after the other as if I was trying not to forget their faces in case the father of nature decided to give me a second chance.

Afterward, I gasped for breaths and gave up the ghost.

*. *. * 

  "Hey! Where am I? Am I dead already? Why does this place reek of blood? Is there an abattoir in heaven?" 

I mentally asked rhetorical questions. I opened my eyes slowly. The bright ray shone into my eyes, forcing me to shut them immediately. But where am I? How come I am not dead? 

Subsequently, I slowly opened my eyes. I scrutinized my environment and realized it was an unfamiliar setting. Where am I? Certainly, Leon and Chloe have successfully slain me, so why was I still breathing? I unhurriedly got up from the cold floor I was sleeping on, my body ached inadequately. A light groan left my lips.

Where is this place? This place doesn't look like a hospital? Where am I? 

I dragged myself to the small bed in the room, it was old and dilapidated. It took me a lot of strength to get to bed, and it felt like my energy was leaving me. I wondered if I had been unconscious for many days because it doesn't feel like I have been eating.

There was a mirror placed before the bed, so as soon as I sat on the bed, I saw my full view in the mirror. 

My heart skipped as soon as I saw myself. "What! Who is this? Who am I?" 

My head was bandaged and my blood was splashed all over my face. Did I say my face? No... This isn't my face.

   "Ah!" I shouted, looking at the strange person in the mirror.

   "What happened to me? What? Why do I look different? What is wrong with this mirror?" 

I dashed into the bathroom. I became terrified when I saw the bathtub filled with blood. What the hell is this scary place? 

  "Ah!" I screamed and ran out.

I stood beside the entrance and bent, touching my knees and breathing heavily. "What is happening to me?

I thumped on the door continuously, shouting for help. After a few knocks, the door finally opened and a young lady, dressed as a maid walked in.

Her eyes were radiating hatred and spite. She folded her arms and raised her head indifferently.

  "Ehen?? Why are you shouting?"

She asked.

   "Where am I? Please where is this place?

I asked, ignoring her deadly glares. 

Her hateful look changed into a confusing look before she burst into laughter. "What? Don't tell me you've gone mad after your husband chose you over his concubine. Are you mad?"

My husband? When did I get married?

She continued before I could interject, "Don't waste your time, Alyssa Arnold. Until you accept to give Clara some of your blood, Mr. Tristan ordered never to let you leave this room," 

After saying this, she left the room, closing the door behind her. 

It was hard to assimilate everything she said. My husband? Give Clara my blood? Mr. Tristan? Alyssa Arnold?

What is happening? Who are these people? And, my name is Alyssa Watson, not Alyssa Arnold. She was talking about someone else. 

I dragged my weary self to the bed and sprawled onto it. 

Everything and everywhere has been strange since I woke up from my deep slumber. And, it was very hard to comprehend. 

Wait! Did I die from Chloe and Leon's hands to wake up in another woman's body?