Chapter 6
April
My reflection was lying to me.
How can i feel so complete yet incomplete?
So far I'd been lucky. Got a good job that pays me very well, will soon complete my mortgage payments, have amazing friends, got a car, i am happy.
Though sometimes i suffer from all the symptoms of a mid-life crisis, comparing myself to my friends, wondering if I'll ever find more fulfillment in life, i am still happy and contented.
Megan was right. I do need the D.
I took another glance at myself in the bathroom mirror, carefully looking for where i might start wrinkling out.
Are you truly happy? I ask myself.
"Of course i am," i answered.
We both know that's a facade.
"I'm not talking to you anymore"
Gosh, my subconscious self is so daring and nosy.
It's Sunday and what i mostly do on Sundays is give Kinglee my attention starting with a walk down to the park and then back. Poor puppy only gets to spend the weekend with me. I've messaged my mum to let me drop him off on every Monday morning before i head to work and pick him up on Friday evening and I'm beyond thankful she obliged.
I can't bear to see his sad and lonely eyes on nights i arrive from work.
I felt myself smiling when he jumped at me.
"Ok, it's time to go"
As we walk down the road, i couldn't help but see two people kissing in a car parked by the opposite side of the road.
It made me remember Luke.
He was my rock, my soul and everything.
Attentive, caring, very thoughtful and compassionate. He remembered even the little thing and seemed to be everything i wanted in a man. And when he proposed, that night at Pacific Bay's, it was a fairy tale. It was perfect, he was perfect until our wedding day. He stood me up on the altar and sent me a text indicating his love for someone else and that was it.
Love is a vulnerable feeling and i don't ever want to feel that way again.
A buzz from my phone jolted me back to present and when i looked ahead, i couldn't find Kinglee. I panicked and it worsened when i got to the end of the road and still couldn't find him.
"Kinglee" i called out.
A couple of people volunteered to help me look for King and by evening, a thirty man search party was on the lookout for my puppy.
What if something bad happened to him?
We all proceeded into the woods with torchlights and headlamps as the search continued.
I cursed under my breath for getting so carried away in thought.
The search went on and no one gave up. It felt good to be surrounded by such caring neighbors. His picture had already been pasted at significant places across town with my number to call if found. I checked my phone every ten seconds for any possible missed call but none surfaced.
Its twelve midnight and there's still no word about King. I fear the worst must have happened.
He could be hungry, cold, scared and in danger.
I am losing my mind in this oblivious state.
Everyone had gone back to their houses with the promise of continuing the search in the morning but i fear it might be too late.
Poor King.
My phone finally rang around two in the morning and it was news regarding King. Someone took him in in the afternoon when she figured he must have been a strayed animal.
I took off in my car, silently thanking God for making me find him.
When i arrive at the place of the woman who took my cute puppy in, i was shocked to find Kinglee happy and eating. I spent the entire day worried and looking for him while he was having the best of the moment.
"Here" the old Lady handed me a cup of tea.
I hadn't had breakfast, lunch nor dinner and only remembered until now.
"Thank you so much, Mrs..."
"Lauren"
"Mrs. Lauren. Thank you so much"
"He behaved quite well, I'll be happy to have him over again"
I just might take her up on that offer if my mum doesn't take care of him starting from tomorrow.
Oh shit.
I've only got four hours to sleep before work.
"I've got to hurry Mrs. Lauren, I'll be sure to bring him over some other time"
The hour back home was silent. It felt like he knew he did something wrong. But i couldn't blame him. I'm human and supposed to be the smarter one.
I didn't reprimand nor shout at him.
Instead, I gave him a warm bath and then covered him with a blanket in his bed right across mine. I sighed in relief.
Its been a long stressful day and like every other night, i set the blue tooth to play on repeat the tranquil sound of ocean waves lashing against the rock by the bank.
I closed the blinds, turned off the lights, took off all my clothes and buried myself naked between the duvet and the bed. I didn't have the energy to shower.
"Good night Kinglee"
He meowed in return.
And that was how i found my solace in the song and finally gave myself into the word 'sleep'.
Chapter 7AprilMy phone buzzed as i finished the last paperwork on my desk.It's a group text from the girls indicating i have four more hours to get to the tarmac. I'm done With Magazine related work and I've got no show to anchor today so I'll make it to the private jet in no time."This is the issue for this week's publication" Corrine hands me a copy of the Magazine.Of course, Cavanaugh didn't rule out Zendaya's article. I sigh into my palm in disgust but i won't let this ruin the beginning of my funfilled trip with the girls. Besides, i took two weeks leave so i have fourteen days to not think about work. Fourteen days to have fun and be there for Vanessa's wedding.Corrine, of course, would have to mail things that needed my attention but she is capable of tending to thetrivial things."Its fine Corrine, book me an Uber in thirty min
Chapter 8April"Hey Mom, we are about to leave, please don't forget to take my car to the mechanic and have him fix the scratch at the back ... Love you too"I air-kissed her then hung up.Megan had gone with Vanessa to explore the master suite while the guys are having a drink. I safely secure King Lee to sleep in one of the seats close to me and then bury my head in a magazine to avoid making eye contact with you know who."Can't avoid me for long" I heard JC said as he majestically walked towards my direction."You are so full of yourself you know, just because I didn't acknowledge your message gave you the presumption whereasI have been busy, too busy to text back a douchebag" I laid emphasis by dragging the last sentence."So you saw my message" He stuffed his hands in his pockets.I felt his eyes on me and it made me hot inside but it all turned cold when I saw Megan comi
Chapter 9AprilMoney is numbers and numbers don't end. If your happiness is measured by money, do all it takes to increase the numbers to a point you don't need to work to earn it anymore.That was what I could only think of as I entered my room in the Mandarin Oriental luxurious hotel.I'd only seen photos of the 18th Century property online with the girls but I didn't expect it to look so grand in physical.Traditionally filled with cascaded history.My room had a floor to ceiling glass view opposite the large bed, heated marble-floored bathroom with tub, and a balcony that revealed the beauty outside especially the famous Milan Cathedral that took nearly six centuries to complete and the Teatro Alla Scala.I hurriedly dropped my box by the bedside to go check out the other girl's room especially Vanessa's.Jason booked a
Chapter 10AprilHe was coming at me and i was too flushed to retreat. The kind of shock that hits you when you're caught stealing meat from the kitchen pot by your mum except this time i wasn't the one stealing.He's the thief.In case you're wondering what he stole, it's my sexuality. His being is just too hot to ignore and speaking of ignoring, i quickly remembered my self made pact to stay away from him like he was a disease.I picked up the towel and made a retreat back to my room."Too hot to handle?" His deep voice filled the silent room with induced echo.He's a proud ass, thinks too highly of himself and rude individual.I halt on my tracks to give him the reply of the century."Hate to swim with a child"Or so i thought.I heard his footsteps directing
Chapter 11April"Why can't you just give him a chance April?"Vanessa said as we made our way to join the guys at the courtyard for dinner.I'd gone to my room after the whole phase with Sean and when we left for our Cathedral tour, the girls were smart enough not to raise questions concerning what happened until now.A quick glance at Jordan's dimpled smile from afar caught my eyes for a split second."We should talk about this before we join them," Vanessa said and we abruptly stopped walking."I honestly don't want to talk about it, if it's any better, i don't like Sean like that""How would you know? The only thing you see in him is dick service." Megan said as she linked her arms together."It doesn't matter and i don't want us to stress this topic any further, let's just go and enjoy this vacation, we've got five more days
Chapter 12April*You are in a lot of fucking trouble you little tease.*It played over and over in my head like a song on repeat. I quickly shake my head to knock out the thought. This was my tease to win and not the other way round.What happened to avoid him? Get your shit together April Denver.Meanwhile about 101 Corp, I'll mind my business until my attention is called. Besides, i called Cavanaugh's attention to the article and he didn't do anything so in other words, i did my part to avoid the current situation.I dismissed the bad vibe with a wave and then headed back to join the gang."Any problem?" Megan asked as i sat."None you should worry about" I replied."What did i miss?" I turn to face Megan who is seated beside me as the guys got busy in their heated conversation about who's settling
Chapter 13AprilIt's one thing to have your virginity taken and it's another ball game to be the one to take someone's.If JC was speaking the truth, what explains the different girls he's been tagged with?A girl claimed to be fucking pregnant for him.Didn't they have sex? Was he lying?Was she lying?But there was no hint of deception in his eyes. I watched him rub his hands all over my lap as he knelt on the floor.How can such a man be a virgin? My eyes trailed his body with so much uncertainty.If I was his first, what's going to happen next? I've never been anybody's first."Your brain might explode," he said huskily as my attention fell back on his face.I hummed in response."You're thinking too much" he stopped what he was doing to look at me. "It's no biggie"
Chapter 14 AprilThe harsh wind from the air conditioner hit my delicate body making me shiver. The room felt oddly cold. I mentally reached for the remote control and turned it off.I snuck deeper into the blanket, heaved a sigh before falling back to sleep again."You little slut" I heard someone say.My grip on the blanket tightened when i figured who it was.Megan.Oh shit, JC!I opened my eyes to hurriedly check the other side of the bed and was glad to find it JC-less.My eyes moved back to Megan and Kinglee. There was no music playing so i figured Jordan must have turned it off before leaving."He's long gone," she said still staring at me and rubbing king lee's hair."Who?" Did she see JC? I slept off so quick i couldn't tell him to go before sunrise."Sean. Don't look so flushed. You know i always know, besides the entire room reek of sex. I called and called you but you didn't pick up. I also knocked