CHAPTER 4: A spiteful Ex

ADELE'S STANDPOINT

"Adele! Adele! Hey! Wait up!" I refused to answer him as I continue stomping away in rage as tears were already beginning to cloud my vision. It wasn't long before he caught up with me at the balcony of the building's middle floor.

"Hey Adele, listen..."

"No! I can't and I won't work with her. I won't let her model my dress. Never!" I spat with excessive hate, turning swiftly to face him. He ran a hand into his hair and sighed wearily.

"But why? Why can't you let her model that design? I'm sure you won't deny that it suit her well too. So why can't you..."

"I don't care if that bitch is fit for the role Arsenio. What I know is that, I'll never let her model my dress! Get me someone else or I quit my entry in the RELISH FASHION SHOW!" I yelled just as a single tear rolled down my cheeks.

"You know what? Just come here." Arsenio said and within the blink of an eyelid, I was pulled into his arms while he gently pat my back. "It's fine Adele. I won't pry anymore. I'll let you choose the model of your choice this time." His action was enough to make the tears I was trying hard to stop, burst through me as I openly began to wail for the first time in six long years.

______

I had just walked into the hall-like studio of Excellency Modeling Agency with Arsenio beside me, as we talked about the upcoming fashion show RELISH INDUSTRIES were hosting.

However, the moment we walked in through the glass doors, I halted right on the spot for a considerably long while. I was trying to ascertain if I was hallucinating or something.

Standing in a perfect posing posture, was the only female I'd found myself hating for a long while in my entire life. Dressed in my latest couture design, she looked perfect; just right in it as though it was crafted just for her.

The dress was a creamy colored slip-dress, handmade from soft silk, having a long slit at the side with a big silver embroidery by the waist.

My eyes saw how beautiful she looked in the dress but my heart squeezed so tightly from the pain of having to watch the one who added salt to its injury, wearing the dress that I'd handmade with love, passion and my all.

"Stop," I half whispered, almost inaudibly before I suddenly screeched so loudly I startled everyone and they all turned to me. "STOP!!!"

The lady turned to look at me and recognition flashed in her eyes before immediately changing to that of spite and defiant. No remorse whatsoever.

"It's you!" She smirked. She didn't change after all the years. Still as unrepentant, arrogant and malicious as ever I see.

"Arsenio, why is that slut wearing my dress?"

"Adele, what's going on?" He turned to me with a baffled expression on.

"Take it off! Take it off immediately!!! I won't have such a wicked being model my dress!" I screamed, my whole body vibrating from my rage.

"Oh," she smirked again. "You're the designer who made this stupid dress? No wonder, I was wondering why it felt so itchy and so uncomfortable. It's no news now that I know. Why? It's because an insensible female made it!" She spat venomously, cocking her large hips to deliberately spit me.

It took every will power and self control in me to hold me back from lunging forward and clawing at her heavily made up face.

Mayven Bayani, you're wicked to the core!

I took in a sharp breath and turned around quickly towards the exit door. If I don't leave this space right now, I'm sure I'd choke from rage because of how badly I want to hurt her.

I left the country I was birthed, my home, friends and family because of people like her who would've long been the death of me if I were still there.

_______

SIX YEARS AGO

PHILIPPINES

Green Meadows, Quezon City.

ADELE'S STANDPOINT

My head hurt slightly as I blink my lashes severally, trying to adjust to the brightness of the unfamiliar room I was in. I rolled my eyes to my wrist which was giving off a mild pain. The syringe I found on my wrist told me I was in a hospital and just in that moment; it all came back to me.

I was the abandoned bride at the altar from last I remembered. My heart ached me terribly in places I never knew could hurt before. It's as though I'm being stabbed a million times over and over again. I felt as though I was burning from a strange fire within me.

"She's awake." I heard my friends say but I showed no interest as I kept still, laying like a lifeless log on the hospital bed, not willing to accept_this was my reality.

I didn't cry, I didn't whimper, my emotions were having an intense conflict within me and I just lay there; long lost, too absorbed in my misery to care about what they said.

______

I pushed my way into my room upstairs of my parents home after chasing away everyone else as I wanted to be alone. After three days of laying down_while refusing food or water at the hospital bed, I got discharged on my request and had sent my friends away for a while. I needed time to think, to process everything that's happened and to figure out what I'd done wrong or where it all started to fall apart.

I lay flat on my comfortable bed, looking so wasted as I forced myself to scroll through my phone and know what people were saying about my crashed wedding. I ended up getting my heart repeatedly shattered more than ever before as I read through social media pages, blogs and comments. Few sympathized with me but many blamed me and insulted me. They said I'd probably been forcing things with Carlo that he had to flee before we said the nuptial vows.

I received a Voice message and some photo/video contents from an unknown number on my W******p handle. A gleam of hope appeared in my eyes as I thought 'Carlo' and hurried to open the messages. However I soon wished I didn't as my hope got dashed to pieces just as it came, on hearing the voice messages and seeing the pictures.

"Hey bitch, this is the girl whom you snatched her boyfriend some time back, Mayven."

This silly girl, last I remembered she was Carlo's Ex.

"Yes it's me and guess what? I'm so glad to know that Carlo finally dumped you after all. He must have realized you weren't good enough like I was for him. He probably couldn't get over my sexy body compared to your skeleton. Oh, I didn't tell you right? Well, Carlo once confessed to me that there would never be any woman in his life who swayed him more than I did. Listen sweetie, I was just waiting for this to happen because I knew it would. Darling, how does it feel to be ditched? Not great huh?... Well, I prepared an amazing gift for the road just for you. I'm sure that would ease your pains a little. Don't worry much dear, I'll make sure to send you another set of this on our reunion soon. Bye bitch!"

All the emotions I was trying hard to seal within me unleashed with such great force as I watched the sex video of her and Carlo(obviously from a long time ago) as she was riding him hard and he was moaning her name so loudly. How she made such a video and kept it with her was part of the reasons why I busted into tears, crying so convulsively one would fear I might die. My heart clenched, squeezed and hurt so intensely but I didn't care. I just threw my phone away and cried.

But that same moment, my room door burst open and from my blurry vision I saw my friends ran inside. I didn't bother to ponder on how they were here even though I'd sent them away.

This last one hurt me most, so much I wished I'd die. It hurts the more when I realize my fellow female did this to me...

_______

"What are you thinking about?"

"Huh?" I snapped back to reality only to find Arsenio peering closely at me. "Nothing." I said with a small dismissive smile. He gave me a look that said he didn't buy my response but said nothing afterwards.

Well, I changed my mind and didn't tell him anything about Mayven Bayani when I realized I'd have to tell him about Carlo Rodriguez in the process of talking about her.

Telling him or talking about my Ex Fiance with anyone other than the girls, is a journey I'm not ready to venture into.

The beeping of my phone in my purse bag made me retrieved it. I tapped on the phone's screen only to find a text from Lu Cheng.

...Hey girl, when are you getting off work today? Hurry back soon pretty. Or don't you wanna know what's up?...