Chapter Five

Chapter 5

Sylvie peered in silence, letting her eyes fed off the informations leeched around the cold man glaring at her.

This wasn’t the Mikel she worked for and knew, neither the Mr Addams that took her under his wing and cared for her back then. Instead, in front of her stood a man filled with spite.

He’s now different, she assumed the change’s starting point had to do with his wife. Her thoughts reverting back to her boyfriend, the night that changed everything for her, and her boss.

“Are you deaf or what?” His voice jolted again, his perfectly formed lips twitching a small space in grimace.

“I’m sorry,” Sylvie said softly, trotting back to motion with her figure zooming past him. There’s no way she could sparked a conversation with him regarding their past.

“A filthy scum with her filthy hands, get me a sanitizer!” Sylvie heard his words as she walked off.

Sylvie halted to take a glance, looking as he impatiently scrubbed off the spot her head mistakenly hit when she bumped into him with a napkin.

He wasn’t like this, he used to be a caring and a very nice man. Humble, and quite respectful. Now he’s become the total opposite.

Sylvie didn’t expect them to run into each other, much less expected an interaction. But the little interaction hinted at who she was looking to discuss with later about their night of mistake that bred three adorable kids.

However, he’s not looking like a man who would entertain such discussion.

Sylvie retrieved the luggage she forgot, returning back to her waiting ride.

While in the car riding to her destination, her mind just couldn’t stop thinking about her earlier interaction with Mikel.

Is that the same man she planned to inform about his babies? She still very much recognized him, but it seems he’s forgotten what she looks like.

The murmuring from the little kids had her attention, two of them were fighting over a chocolate bar found in their mommy’s purse.

“I saw and took it first, give it back!” Bryanna whined, dragging the substance with her brother.

“No! I was holding the purse, it’s mine!” Bryce argued, his brown hair falling over his face.

“Guys!”

Sylvie who sat at the seat opposite the driver called to them in a cautioning tone, casting them a stern look. “Behave, all of you can share the chocolate and stop fussing with it.” She chided, sighing as she returned her gaze back on the road.

They soon arrived at their destination, Sylvie alighted before helping her kids out of the car, she moved on to offloading her luggages.

“Mom is this dad’s apartment?” Bryanna’s voice jerked, her round eyes observing the portable bungalow in front of her.

“Yes, is he at home right now? Does he know we’re coming?” Bryce quizzed in relation to his sister’s words.

Brian looked up at his mother, anticipating her mother’s response to his sibling’s questions. He’s the quiet one of them, rarely talks and always calm.

He took after Mikel’s appearance, having his eyes, to his nose and everything else, he was his spitting image. Bryce took his from both sides, his soft eyes were from his mother, and his plump lips, the rest from his father. Bryanna lastly countered Brian, every of her features matching Sylvie’s; she’s like a mini her, the same way Brian is a mini Mikel.

Sylvie had cared and watched her babies grow from toddlers to the smart kids they’ve now become. During their growth, they’ve always pestered to know about their father.

It was never in her plan to relocate back to New York, because being back in this country already started reigniting memories.

Unable to bear the kids bugging, she decided it was time for her to return and for Mikel to know about his kids.

She wasn’t sure how he was going to take it, but was now certain he won’t thanks to their brief airport dialogue exchange. He’s more than a changed man.

Sylvie ignored her kids’ question, ushering them inside to get busy with setting the house up.

Her aunt had help her got this residence through some friends she’s connected with, the same friend had help her secure an interview with one of the richest company in town.

The job interview was scheduled early tomorrow morning, she just prays the boss would be merciful and grant her the job.

There was no hint about who her boss is or what he or she is going to be like, nor was there any hint to the post she’s aiming to land.

“Alright kids, I saw a store not too far from here. Are you guys fine alone while I go get some stuffs for dinner, or you all wanna tag along?” Sylvie turned to her kids asking, her purse clung tightly to her palms.

“I’m tired, I wanna sleep.” Bryanna yawned with her arms stretching wide.

“Yeah me too,” Bryce added, “But on your way back, get me some chocolates, I crave some,” he said to his mother.

“Well you guys room are ready, you can go sleep. I won’t take long okay?”

They nodded.

“What about you Brian?” Her eyes turned over to the quiet one fiddling with his fingers.

“Can I come along?” His calm voice requested, earning a smile from Sylvie.

“Sure, let’s go.” She stretched out her palm for him to take, grabbing a hold of his little hand before they both bade the house bye.

The said store was just few meters away from their apartment, a three minutes walk max.

Sylvie and her son were busy carting different items into a shopping wagon, conversing with each other until a familiar voice called out Sylvie’s name, ringing for her attention.

“Sylvie?!” The male voice called again, his voice laced in awe.

Sylvie looked to the direction of the voice, her gaze coming in contact with a familiar face. “Dorian,” her voice labeled coolly, even pasting a smile.

“You, you disappeared. Where’d you go? What are you doing here? I-“

“Babe!” A female voice chipped into Dorian’s statement, “I can’t find the whip cream, I thought you said they’d have it here?” She whined, further announcing her presence.

Sylvie scoffed, quite loudly as it drew the lady’s attention.

“Oh, I didn’t see you there. Who are you? Who is she?” She quested with her index raised at Sylvie. “Oh wait she looks like that bitch we fooled back then, the dumb one that helped us through college,”she spewed further, uncouth with a jeering glare.

Sylvie processed her words, her gaze locating Dorian instantly. “Huh?” Her brows furrowed.

“Oh mine she’s lost,” the lady chuckled. “Well, let me debrief. You see, your sweet boyfriend was never your boyfriend that you thought he was, he was mine right from the moment he saw me just like I was his. When I learnt of you guy’s relationship of course I got upset, that was when he came clean with me on how he was using you to get a stable life studying in college and satisfying me of my needs. Said you clean his bills and was a fool to his fake love-“ she paused, squinting her gaze as if to study the look on Sylvie’s face hearing all of this.

Sylvie couldn’t believe her ears, years has passed and her past stood tall to haunt her again, this time harder than before. Her sacrifice, her suffering, everything she managed to bury came surfacing.

Tears gathering beneath her orbs.

Brian who was with her mother witnessing the whole scene, his round eyes unable to bear her mother’s stiffened expression of pain. “Go away from my mom, you’re hurting her,” he muttered in her defense, casting Dorian’s girlfriend a childish glare.

“Awww,” she cooed, gazing down at the kid. “Well I don’t mean to, little guy, I’m just letting her in on the full story. Your mother was a dumb score and I’m just telling her that.” She spoke out softly, attaching a giggle.

“Kira we should go,” Dorian said, grabbing hold of her hand.

“No!” Sylvie denied, her voice drenched in tears as she looked up at Dorian bloodied. “You’re going to confirm her words, and you’re going to tell me exactly what I did to deserve this?” She demanded, eyes blazing with seriousness.

“Darling haven’t I told you? You were a gullible-“

“I wasn’t talking to you!” She sentenced coldly, cutting the Kira lady short of her words.

“Now answer me,” she urged, her eyes trailed back to Dorian.

“I don’t want to break your heart any further, so let the past stay in the past. I’ve moved on, and it appears you also have,” he paused to peak at the little boy beside Sylvie. “You have one adorable kid, he looks cute and must surely looks like his father. What’s his name?”

Sylvie smiled, raising her index to wipe the tears staining her cheeks. “You know I had forgotten about everything, I accepted my fate and dealt with your betrayal so hard I lost too many zeals. Took me years, but I got over it, I really did. And then just when I’m starting to get back with life, your existence had the nerve to show up and dug up the traumas I’ve buried.” She dropped Brian’s hand, moving out of her spot as she approached Dorian in a fiery state.

“Traumas you gave me as a gift for everything I’ve done for you, and you want the past to stay in the past?” She scoffed, her head tilting to the side.

“No,” Sylvie mouthed calmly, “I refuse. And I- I am letting you know right now that just like you repaid me for everything I did for you, look out for your own payment. Goodbye.” She spoke into his face.

Her head whirled to his side, to face Kira. “He loves you, and yet we broke up because I caught him in bed with someone that wasn’t you. Thanks for the insights.”

She stepped back, grabbed her son and wheeled their cart and themselves out of their sight.