Getting Into Another Problem

LUCILLE BRADLEY 

It must be a drama. It can't be real. I assured myself as I moved closer to Rosemary and Noah who had exchanged rings and were kissing each other. 

Why the hell am I still sleeping at this time? Noah's party must have started and I was still here, standing in this horrible dream, watching my boyfriend get engaged to my childhood best friend. 

I pinched myself. A sharp pain traveled around my body and that ascertained that it wasn't a dream. It was really happening. My best friend is getting engaged to my boyfriend. 

I moved closer to them and inquired, "Don't you think you guys owe me some explanation?"

I was fuming. I couldn't hold the shame and embarrassment. They both knew all along that I was just a game to them and yet they dragged me to the party. What for? To witness their union and pray for them or she was just trying to rub it on my face. 

Rosemary turned and flashed a sheepish smile at me. She pulled me into a hug and whispered, "The game is over now, Lucille. I am the winner. You can return home with your loss," 

I was numb. I wanted to push her away and redesign her face with my slaps but I couldn't lift a finger. My legs weakened and I slowly lost balance on the floor. 

  "Miss! Are you alright? Can you stand up?" Noah showed fake empathy, bending to my level. He told the guests to enjoy the party and carried me in a bridal style outside. 

I was perplexed. I couldn't say a word to them. Tons of emotions surged within me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to curse both of them for playing me like I was some card, but I couldn't. 

A word kept ringing in my head. "Why?" 

Why did they do all this? If they've been together for five years then why did he choose to date me knowing I was Rosemary's friend? Why didn't Rosemary mention anything when she found out my boyfriend was Noah, her longtime boyfriend? Did she know about this all along? Was this planned? 

Countless questions rose in my mind but there was no answer to them. 

They took me to the underground park. 

Noah dropped me like a rag as soon as we got there. In a hostile voice, he warned "Do not try to make a scene, Lucille. Everyone would think you've gone crazy," 

They turned to leave but I stopped them with my question. 

  "Why?"  I finally managed to regain my voice. It was unstable and frail. 

They halted, turned, and resumed their steps without responding to me. 

Hell was let loose in my head. I sprang up and stomped my feet furiously. 

  "Why the hell did you two do that? Why did you lead me on when you know your girlfriend is my best friend? Why didn't you say anything when you realized I was dating your boyfriend? You clearly knew he was going to get engaged to you yet you dragged me here to come and witness the most heartbreaking moment of my life. I hate you, Rosemary," I barked. 

  "I hate you too," Rosemary fired almost immediately. "I hate you too, Lucille. I have always wanted to take every good thing that belongs to you and Noah is one of them. You are a fool. We haven't dated for 5 years. We've only dated for 8 months. I only said that to make you look like a betrayal in case you decided to behave like the nut job you are in front of everyone. You were too foolish to notice Noah is always with me every evening. He comes to sleep with me every time he leaves your place. I have taken what rightfully belongs to me. Don't try to make a scene here and just go back home," 

Rosemary and Noah left. Tears blurred my gaze as I watched them disperse. I was a fool. I was so blind not to realize my best friend and my boyfriend were fucking. 

My legs weakened and my sight darkened. These made me blacked out. 

*. *. * 

I scrunch my face at the sound of some strange noise. I stretched lazily without opening my eyes. After yawning, I opened them unhurriedly. 

A shout for help nearly escaped from my mouth when I discovered I was in an unrecognized room. While wondering how I got in here, the memories of the previous night rushed in like a torrent. 

A heavy headache knocked my head at the recollection and a little groan left my mouth. 

Still, that didn't answer the question. Where am I? " I obviously wasn't expecting a response to a rhetorical question. 

I stepped out of the bed, still squishing my face, and walked out of the room. 

The noise I was hearing from my sleep became vivid when I got out and I couldn't help eavesdropping. 

  "You have to do everything. You have to bring a woman here today. I will fire you if I lose this contract, Francis," A stern voice declared in a commanding tone.

My heart skipped at the mention of a woman because I am one. What if they wanted to use a woman for something terrible? I hope I haven't gotten into the wrong hands. 

  "We've searched everywhere, sir. Nobody can do it the way you want, " Francis answered, unshaken by his dark countenance or commanding tone. 

  "Hogwash! You can't keep telling me the same thing over and over. I have to get a woman who can stand in as my wife and also help me to talk with the client. You know I hate losing to other companies and I am never going to let this one go,"

 " But... " Francis tried to talk but his boss shut him up. 

 "Shut the crab, Francis. There's no but. You have 20 minutes to get me someone fit for the job. I am ready to pay billions of dollars for the job, " The man who looked like he was in his early thirties sure had a temper problem. 

I could feel for the poor Francis, who had a psycho as a boss but couldn't do anything to him. I trust myself to have wholeheartedly given him some smacks. 

The man hissed and flung his phone onto a couch. He was frustrated. I wondered what could be making them so worked up.

I didn't know what came over me in the corner I was hiding and eavesdropping on them. I mumbled," Can I help you out?"

Oh damn, Lucille! You still have an unfinished problem and you are already putting yourself into another one. 

They finally caught sight of me. I left my hiding place and moved closer to the two unknown faces. 

They both looked at themselves. The man who was talking like the boss looked strike dumb and Francis was reserved and collected. 

I didn't understand what was going on any longer. I thought they were the ones who brought me into this house. 

  "What is this...., " The man scrutinized me, giving me a look of disdain from my head to toes, "THING? " He completed his statement. 

 What! Did he just classify me as a thing? I blew some air out of my mouth as if the fumes in my belly could be subsided that way. 

 He glanced at Francis who was as dumbfounded as I was. His husky voice echoed," Will you tell me what's going on, Francis? " 

 " You brought her in yourself, sir, " Francis responded loudly but not rudely. 

 "What! " The man's face was shock-stricken. His face squished as he tried to remember how it happened. 

Maybe he was drunk when he brought me in. I didn't know what transpired the previous night. However, it was impossible for me to enter his house myself. 

I burst into laughter when I saw his confused face.

  " A drunkard will behave silly. Do you know I can charge you for kidnapping for bringing me into your house without my consent? What the hell are you trying to do with me? " 

I got my chance at revenge. He would regret referring to me as a thing. 

  " Do not bite more than you can chew, girl. I am not your mate, " His voice was hoarse and terrifying but I refused to be petrified. 

This proud man had to be taught some lessons and I would be his teacher. 

  " Oh! You are not just a drunkard but also a proud peacock. And yeah, I am not a girl. I am old enough to be your mother, " I attacked with more force. 

How I got to despise him so much was what I didn't understand. If I wasn't mistaken, this would be our first time meeting. He was neither Noah nor Rosemary's family, I would have said I was trying to transfer my aggression on him. 

Well, he deserved whatever he was getting from me. Arrogant people were not supposed to be freed. 

  "Take your filthy body out of my house, "