~ 5

0005

✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧  Marichuy ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧

I watched from outside the window as his vehicle pulled over in front of my apartment building.

All the excitement I used to feel at the sight of Derek was now replaced with rage and a burning desire to hold his throat and slowly squeeze life out of him.

He got down from the vehicle and headed for my apartment door.

Even from the window, I could see the sharp lines on his finely pressed shirt and a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

“Take a deep breath, Mari. You’re okay.” I pacified myself before he got to the door.

I took a deep breath and responded to the three knocks he landed on the door. “I’m coming,”

All the glow and every other thing that looked like it drained from Derek’s eyes the second he saw me.

“You’re not dressed,” he noted.

I took a look at myself and then raised my head back at him.

“Of course, I am dressed.” I responded.

He released a half-laugh, but there was nothing funny about what I said, or at least I hadn’t intended it to be so.

“What is wrong with what I’m wearing?” I inquired.

“You’re in a jogger and hoodie, Mari,” he replied, doing a terrible job at hiding just how pissed he was. “We’re going for dinner.”

At this point, I was rage-baiting.

I vividly remembered the dinner to discuss wedding preparations. I had gotten all dressed in a white gown, because I had come to believe part of my responsibilities as Derek’s future Luna was to look cute beside him at every point in time, in case we ever ran into “people that mattered.”

Derek had me groomed that way.

This was the same dinner we “accidentally” ran into Lily and she convinced me, sharing how she would want her mate to fully control her family resources, so she did not have to worry about that kind of thing.

I was not about to be the fool a second time.

“If you don’t like what I’m wearing, I can just stay back,” I proposed, “the weather is cold and my guess is it’s going to get colder as the night thickens, hence what I’m wearing… but if it’s not okay…”

“No. No.” Derek jumped in with an opposition. “It’s fine.” He placed a soft peck on my forehead.

‘What in the goddess’ name is wrong with this woman?’

I heard his thoughts screaming frustration, even though he was kissing all over my face.

“You know I’ll find you beautiful, no matter what you choose to wear and right now, you’re perfect,” he said softly, handing me the bouquet he brought.

I smiled faintly and took the bouquet from him.  “Thank you,” I whispered. “I’ll just put these in water.”

“I’ll be waiting in the car.” He turned around.

I dumped the bouquet in the trash as soon as he was far enough.

These kinds of small gestures were exactly how Derek wove himself into my heart. Derek was the kind of man to remember tiny details. Bring flowers for every and any occasion, or for even no occasion at all. He was the kind of man to show up with a small bag, customized with your name, just because you mentioned liking it after seeing it off someone.

In my previous life, I treasured those little things. I took care of the flowers like they had the ability to live forever. I tried to hold on to those little things for as long as I could, but seeing how stupid I was, I wasn’t going to spend one more second of my time nurturing my doom or anything connected to him.

“I’m coming!” I yelled and hurried out of the apartment when Derek began to horn really loudly.

In the first few minutes, the drive to the restaurant was rather quiet. It was nothing like Derek and I used to have.

We turned every ride into a karaoke session. I turned on the radio in the car as soon as I entered and we would vibe to all kinds of songs until we got to our destination, but I was sitting in the passenger’s seat with my legs crossed and my eyes staring out the window.

My head swiftly turned to Derek when I heard my favorite song playing over the radio. His fingers were still on the radio, adjusting the volume when I turned around.

He winked at me the second his gaze caught mine. He did not speak, but his actions pierced my heart in a way that made me feel weak.

‘The little things he did,’ A river of memories, accompanied by emotions flooded my mind. ‘Focus!’

Aria slapped me out of it almost immediately.

‘He’s a lying, cheating, Bastard!’ She screamed until my ears had a long, loud ring.

“Got it!”

“What?” 

I did not realize that had slipped out, until Derek asked.

“Nothing.” I replied quickly, “I’m just vibing to the music.”

As soon as I said that, Derek had a grin. Soft, but obvious enough to show victory. He was achieving his aim, or at least he thought so.

Derek soon pulled over at Rosewood Café.

I remembered coming here a lot.

Derek always called it my favorite spot and I never argued with him, because I thought it was his favorite spot and did not want to break his heart. I liked a few drinks on their menu, but it never got to favorite for me.

As we alighted from the vehicle and saw her about to walk into the café, I realized whose favorite spot it was — Lily’s.

It all made sense now.

She spoke very highly of the café and if she was asked to mention just one place in the territory, she would mention it here, off the top of her head.

We weren’t here to plan any wedding; we were here because they had a date. It was some coverup story.

“Mari… my goodness…” Lily had a smile I once envied, but now was just irritated. She rushed towards us with open arms, after pretending to just be seeing us. “What a coincidence,” she said, barely acknowledging Derek’s presence.

When I was naïve, I thought it was nice that they were trying to respect the relationship we had. I would even sometimes beg them to interact, since they were my two favorite people in the world. I was unsuspecting that Lily’s relationship with Derek ran even deeper than mine did with him.

“Are you preparing for a wedding too?” I asked with a straight face.

My words and demeanor caused Lily to choke.

“Of course not.” She waved her hand across her face, “I was just here to grab… uh…” she stammered.

I held a confident smile, waiting for her to be done cooking up her lies.

“Why don’t we all grab dinner?” Derek swiped in.

‘Saved by the deceiver,’ or whatever the saving was. I rolled my eyes.

“I hope it’s okay that Lily joins us, Mari,” Derek rubbed my arm gently.

“I don’t see why not.” I confirmed and we all walked into the café. I could not deny how pleased I was to be looking at all these events now with a knowing lens.