4

RUSSELL

Two days ago...

I was driving home from Eugene's, my best friend when I saw a scuffle between a man and a woman. Looking at them, it was obvious that it was a couple's fight. Ignoring them, I drove right past the house without stopping. Instinctively, I looked in the rear mirror, looking at the argument from another angle. He was choking her.

I slammed the brakes, stopping my car right in the middle of the road. My body moved before my brain could process what was going on. I ran towards them yanking the man away. The woman was losing her consciousness as her eyes blinked back tears that had welled up in her eyes. Immediately she was released, she coughed violently and with each cough, my heart panged, I didn't know why, but I felt sorry for her. She probably loved him.

"Who do you think you are?" The man yelled, livid with anger. I tore my eyes away from the woman. Did he plan to kill her? Or choke her until she passed out, and then panic saying it was a mistake? I had seen many situations like this. Actions before regret.

"Whatever she might have done to you, you have no right to choke her," I replied calmly to him, even though I was clenching and unclenching my fists to keep my anger at bay. 

Before he could reply to me, he jerked forward followed by a loud bang

"Get away from my porch! Both of you!" Her tiny attempt at yelling came from behind the closed door.

Okay, what did I do?

He moved away from me and walked to the door trying to twist the handle open. I raised a brow at his stupidity. She was running from him, wouldn't she be stupid if she left the door open? But he had to be more stupid to think the door would be open.

"Vee, open this door. Please, Gabriella has left me. She broke up with me too. You're my last hope, help me." 

I tilted my head. She was his last hope?

"Like hell will I. You just choked me and you want me to take you back? Why wouldn't she? She's a smart woman, you're the foolish one. She has her parents to run back to but you? You jeopardized your entire life for what? One round of fun? I am never going back to you. Over my dead body!" Her response came quickly and sharply.

"Vee! You know you still love me! Come out here, let's talk, baby." He tugged at the handle of the door. She didn't say anything in response. I looked down at my shoes suddenly asking myself why I was standing here and interfering in their business.

"I'll stay here till you open up." He said suddenly. I looked up from my shoe in disbelief. Could a man get even more shameless?

"I'll call the police on you if you're not gone by the time I go upstairs and return with my phone." Her reply came. That's my girl.

"Vee..." He whined.

"I'm going upstairs now."

"Shit. Fuck you, Vee! And I'm not done with you!" He yelled.

Yes, you are. 

And I changed my mind, she might be putting up a brave front but I could see past her façade. They were both stupid. She, for letting an abusive penniless man into her life, dated him, and still got cheated on when she was the breadwinner in the relationship. And him, for being extremely dumb in every way humanly possible.

She didn't say anything in response and I imagined she had gone upstairs to take her phone.  He muttered some words under his breath before he turned around to walk away. I looked at the closed door before I turned around and walked behind the man in question. 

"I didn't catch the name," I said in a loud tone. He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me, eyes blazing in anger and defeat.

"And who the fuck are you?" He spat.

"Me? Oh, just a concerned passerby." I replied slipping my hand into my pants pocket and shrugging.

"Okay? So keep passing by. What do you want from me?" 

"Just a warning is all. Stay away from her. 1,000 metres away." 

"And who are you to give me orders? Why should I stay away from my girlfriend?" He asked, taking one step closer to me as if to intimidate me. I smirked and took two steps in.

"Girlfriend? You lost the right to call her that the moment you fucked the other woman. You lost the right to call her yours the moment you put your filthy hands on her. And in my opinion and what she said, I think it's over between you and her."

Why was I fighting for this woman?!

"You don't know anything about us. Stop meddling in our business." 

"Just heed my warning, or there'll be consequences. That's all I wanted to say. Have a good day." 

Turning away, I walked back to the house, contemplating ringing the doorbell to ask how she was feeling, but I decided against it. She had just been harassed, she wouldn't easily trust me or even open the door at all.

I walked to my car and drove off making a mental note to check tomorrow. However, the day passed by in a blur because I was extremely busy. We were planning a new game and it was launching soon, so the company was in a huge turn. With no other choice, I went home that day.

Came the third day, I made the stop at her place first, but it was as empty as a graveyard. Quiet too. I rang the doorbell a few times, and when no one answered, I gave up. I had no idea why I wanted to even console the woman in question but I just wanted to.

The day was stressful and busy too, so I was extremely stressed getting back home. The apartment adjacent to mine was being moved into, I noticed as I got off the elevator. 

Pulling out my phone, I typed away to pretend like I was busy and avoid any small talk in case the occupant was talkative. However, she just sat on her stool and watched me pass by. I felt her eyes on my every move and when I got to my order, I looked at her from the side of my eyes. She looked decent, but nosy.

Pulling the door open, I walked into my apartment and had dinner. I was reviewing a document in my Study when I heard my doorbell ring. With a heavy sigh, I dragged my feet to the door, looking at the monitor. I pressed a button on the monitor and spoke.

"Who is it?"

"Delivery package!" Came a young boy's voice.

I thought back to the past weeks, and I don't remember placing an order for anything. With another sigh, I pulled the door open.

"I didn't order anything.", was the first thing I said without giving him a chance to say anything.

"Huh? It's uh, a hair straightener for apartment 13B."

Oh, I see now. I didn't say anything but raised a brow at him. I pulled the door back to look at the tag glued to the door. It read 13C. The boy, whose eyes followed mine, also saw the tag and then he realised his mistake, or so I thought.

"There's nobody in apartment 13B, so it has to be yours." He said in an affirmative tone. He seemed so sure.

I wanted to explain to him that the apartment was now occupied and the occupant just moved in today, but that was too much stress. With yet another sigh, remembering the documents I had to review tonight before sleeping, I stretched my hand forward. Foolishly, the boy took my hand, staring into my eyes and I raised a brow at him.

"The pen," I said simply.

"Oh! The pen." He said in embarrassment. He handed me the pen and I signed off the hair straightener. 

"Thank you! Have a good night!" He yelled, running towards the open elevator that a few people had just climbed out of. A sigh escaped me, and I shook my head at the number of sighs I was giving out these past days.

I wore a shirt, leaving a few buttons unopened, and walked to apartment 13B. I rang the doorbell.

"Who is it?"

"Hi. Your package was delivered to me."

I waited for her to open the door. She did, using a scarf on her face. 

I raised a brow at this but for some reason, she didn't look up at my face. She didn't even know me, so how would she be intimidated by me? Then I noticed her eyes her fixated on me. Or rather, my chest. Clearing my throat at her shamelessness, she squeaked, then apologised pushing her face up when the scarf fell off her face. Instantly, my demeanor changed upon recognising her, and I was about to say Hi when her face turned cold.