4

Chapter 4

Rosebud Martinez

For a moment, the time seemed to collapse, my heart ceased beating, and when it started to beat again, it was fast and heavy. Like it was going to explode.

My lips parted as we locked eyes, memories of the past came clawing back into my mind. The unspoken words that I'd kept hidden in me for years. The feelings I thought I'd have gotten rid of, or maybe left behind me. They weren't entirely gone. They were still there.

“It’s been a while, Rose.” His soft voice stripped me off of every confidence in me, rendering my legs almost trembling beneath me. He was still as soft as he was back then. Those eyes still looked at me the same way. Still confusing, just as he always made me feel back then.

“Br…Bruce?” I called his name again, in a whisper. Barely making a sound, my fingers clenching tightly around my purse as if seeking for its support. I swallowed the sudden lump that built in my throat as I took a step back, my back crashing against the wall.

“Hmm, Rosebud?” The way he called my name as he closed the distance between us, lifting his hand to my face and cupping my cheek in his soft and warm palm. It was strange, yet felt oddly good.

“How have you been?” His eyes never left mine. Boring holes in my body.

“I…I…” I gave up and just swallowed nothing as I suddenly couldn’t form a sentence. My heart was about to explode. I could hear its rapid beat in my ears.

Bruce and I were college mates. He was my closest friend then.

Bruce was the hottest dude in school back then, and the dream man of almost every lady in our school. Myself inclusive.

While every other person was crushing on Bruce, what I felt for him was deeper than just a crush. I was in love with him. But, sadly, he never noticed it, and I never had the courage to confess my feelings to him.

The last time I saw him physically was during our prom, when he had told me he was relocating with his family, and we haven't spoken or seen each other since then.

I've only got to see him a few times on screen. Oh… Bruce was a successful businessman and a model. He has been an ambassador for Louis Vuitton for two straight years, so it was easy to always see him on screen.

He wasn't just a model, he also owns the biggest and most successful modeling company in the States, and I kid you not when I say that his company has produced many stars known all around the world.

“It's good to see you again, Rose.” He retracted his hand, tucking it inside his pocket as a smile crept up his face. That same soft smile that he would always have on his face back then, not minding how much it always affected me.

My gaze dropped to his hand, hanging in the air and waiting for a handshake from me, and I hesitated.

“Hmm. Good to see you too.” I felt something spark deep inside me, my heart fluttered as I shook hands with him, but I quickly retracted my hand.

“You look gorgeous… As always. He said after scanning me with his eyes. My cheeks flushed, and my abdomen sparked up with excitement.

“Thank you.”

The atmosphere became tense as he stared into my eyes. His expression was unreadable. I couldn’t tell what was going on in his mind, but damn! His eyes were so gorgeous that I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him.

“I’ve missed you so much, Rose.” He hushed, holding my cheek again, and this time, he leaned close to me.

I could feel my pulse quicken, my wall tightened, and my grip around my purse tightened as I stared into his eyes. I couldn’t even bring myself to stop him. I had waited for this day for years. Always fantasizing about this moment back then in school, but something snapped inside me, and I turned my face away. For some reason, I felt this wasn’t right. No! It wasn’t!

“Uhm… I need to leave now.” And with that, I turned on my heels and scurried away, almost losing my balance.

I paused when I walked back inside the hall and spotted Mathew and Megan sitting together. They were so engrossed in whatever shit they were talking about that they didn't even notice my presence.

My mind was already occupied by the thought of Bruce that I didn’t have the time to brood over the betrayal from those two bastards.

“Hey! Do you mind sitting with me?” I felt chills run down my spine, settling deep in my stomach as Bruce's deep voice came on behind me, and I almost collapsed on his chest when I turned sharply.

It was then Mathew noticed my presence, and he quickly came to me.

“Honey… you are here.” He slid his arm around my waist, gathering me in his arm like the caring husband he never was.

I looked up at Bruce, and I was welcomed by his shocked face.

“Mathew, I'm fine.” I stepped away from Mathew once I regained my balance.

“Thank you. I'll find somewhere to sit.”

“Mr. Hawkins… I can't believe I finally met you in person. I'm a big fan.” Megan showed up, gushing over Bruce as she covered her mouth.

I almost smirked when I saw the jealousy in Mathew's eyes, his jaws suddenly clenching. He must really love her so much.

“My name is Megan Martinez. CEO of Meg realty. I'm also a model. Do you still remember me? We went to the same college togeth—”

“Can you keep it slow, please, Ms?” Bruce cut her off politely, giving her a faint and dismissive smile.

“Huh?” Her face flashed with disappointment.

I watched as Bruce stared at her, squinting his eyebrows as if trying to remember her, and then, the realisation crept up his face, and just when I was expecting him to tell her that he already recalled her face, he said something that threw me off.

“Of course, I remember you. How can I forget the face of the woman who fought almost every female student in school, claiming that I was her boyfriend?”

I thought Bruce had changed, but he was still the sassy man I’ve known from years ago. Always straightforward. Something I loved about him.

Well, Megan wasn't exempted from the list of women that threw themselves at Bruce then, but she took her own far. She paraded herself all over the school as Bruce's girlfriend, beating up any woman who dared to admire him.

Megan's face dropped sadly, but she should be thankful that nobody else heard Bruce, if not, maybe her career would be done for. Right from there.

“Mr. Hawkins, your seat is over there. Please come with me.” His attention was called.

An awkward silence crept into the atmosphere as I sat with Bruce. His eyes were all over me, making me feel awkward. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears as I fondled my fingers. I was suddenly melting around him.

Goodness! This is not good.

“Who is he?” He suddenly asked out of the blue, and I snapped my head up to look at him.

“Huh?” I batted my eyelashes.

“I mean the Mathew guy. He called you ‘honey’, so I was wondering who he is.” He raised his eyebrows as he asked casually, but his face holding so much curiosity. I swallowed nothing.

How could I introduce that cheating ass bastard as my husband?

I looked over to Mathew as if to confirm something, and I huffed silently when I saw him looking at Megan like a man madly in love. He was literally all over her. They looked like they were the couples, and me… an intruder.

I looked back at Bruce and forced a faint smile. “He is…” I paused in between my speech and swallowed nothing.

“He is…”

“Honey…” My voice trailed off when Mathew showed up out of nowhere, and as I looked back, I saw him walking up to us with a smile on his face.

“Mr. Hawkins, sorry to interrupt your meeting. Can I borrow my wife for a moment, please?”