It's been days since that night. I locked up my room, not going out, cutting all of my social connections (albeit very few). My phone's blasted from Jessica's messages. I read them but I never replied. I know she worries but I needed time for myself. She's actually getting angrier day by day. I should give mercy to her, but my head can't still wrap up the idea of what happened to me. The weird vision. If you can call it a vision. What the heck was that? I never dared to touch the necklace again. I tossed in the bottom of my bedside drawer.
Another beep from my phone. That must be Jessica. She's the only one who texts me. I rolled around my bed, still in my three-day clothes, to get my phone from the nightstand.
From: Jessygirl
Heeey. I know I've been very pesky and I know you need time for yourself. I'm just worried. But, you need to get up and go out. You promised me before we parted we'll be going to the burial. I'll see you there. Xoxo.
Burial?! Ohmygod. I forgot about that! It's today?! Damn. I scrambled out of my bed to go to my closet to get clothes. I usually wear black so it won't be much problem. Right, no problem... Sht. My hands froze from getting my tshirt when I realized my doom.
The family would definitely be there. That means I'll see him. Him. That guy.
I shoved back my clothes inside the closet. Nope. Nope. I won't go there. How can I face the family knowing that... that... he killed her! Fck this life.
"Reena." Came a voice from the other side of the door. Aunt Belinda, my nanny when I was a child. She's now the head maid. Aunt Belinda is sweet and loving. She never had a family of her own, so she lives here with us now. She took care of me like I was her child. I loved her as my Mother more than my real one.
"Reena, honey."
I stood up, composed myself (she doesn't like seeing me like a 'crazy wild lady') and opened my door slightly. Just enough for the both of us to see each other. She smiled when she saw me. I think it was relief that washed her face. It made her look younger. Upon seeing my Aunt for the first time after locking myself for days, I saw that her wrinkles increased. She has aged so much. I'm thankful she's still here instead of retiring and resting back at her home town. "It's breakfast. Come down now, join your parents."
I pouted and shook my head. I have no memory of any good thing that happens when I dine with my folks. Upon seeing my response, her pleasant mood shifted into a stern one. I gulped. As much as Aunt Belinda is sweet, she's very strict too. Especially when I refuse to be family oriented. "Reena." She admonished. I only smiled at her sheepishly. "Can I have breakfast in bed?"
She only sighed but I know she will relent. She knows by now that our family don't like each other. "Fine, but while waiting, clean yourself. Jess called me to remind you of your appointment today. You can't be late because..."
"Being punctual means having etiquette. I know, I know."
I winced when she reminded me again the 'appointment'. Jess is so thorough. I should have known she'll call Aunt. I smiled one last time at her then I closed the door.
Insert dramatic, overacting sigh. Good luck to me.
---
I went down the stairs, and for Aunt's request, I went to the dining room to greet them, then I can leave. But things have never been that simple in this household.
"Good morning." I greeted them. They were already eating, bunch of breakfast food on the table that are most likely not going to be eaten all. In all fairness, they acknowledged my presence which is very understandable because of few nights ago's incident. They usually worry about their reputation as the most prominent/powerful family next to the Mayor, and I just possibly ruined it. Again. Anyways, they could always turn this fiasco into their advantage. But hey, you have to pay hella lot of people, they probably don't want to lose anymore money.
Even as they want to have a small family chit-chat, I don't want to be a part of it. I may not want to face my doom at the burial, I think it's better to be outside facing a killer than to face the nth time disappointment cross their faces. Sometimes I think I may not be their real child.
"I have to go somewhere, I'll go ahead." Dad put down his fork and knife. He turned to look at me with a stern look on his face. My Mom stopped eating too. "I told you to sit down. We have to talk Reena." I wanted to stomp my feet but I didn't want to act like a petulant child. So, I sat down and kept quiet. I waited for another spectacular shouting match, but it didn't happen. Instead, I was handed brochures and flyers. I grabbed them. "What are these?" I asked him. I looked at it, and my anger boiled up. They are brochures for kleptomania therapy.
This is one of the reasons, probably the major one, why they just don't like me at all. Just think about it, my family's wealthy, they can give me anything I wanted, but I steal. It's very shameful yes, but it's not my freaking fault I am like this! I already went through therapies and sh*t, but it didn't work! They just got angrier and colder and downright disdainful to me when I just can't be cured! Is it my fault? No! I obediently did whatever those doctors tell me to do, still, here I am. A major f**ked up.
"Choose one of those programs and I will sign you up." My Dad told me. I snorted at him despite my boiling anger. Why can't they just leave me be? "No. This didn't work a lot of times before, why do you think it would now?" My mother sighed in front of me, calm as always, but knives would just keep on stabbing my heart whenever she speaks. "We want you to do those because we want you to be better. We can't have other people think that we do not care for our only daughter." See? Other people's opinions again. I am so done with this. I don't want them to add to my already piling up problems that are far more problematic. So I stood up, collected those papers to throw them out and left the house.
I was walking down the sidewalk towards the cemetery, I'm still not far from my house and still not throwing out the flyers. I mean, it could work this time? Maybe. I don't know. Actually, it's pretty stupid. I was angry earlier, I was blinded and now I'm reconsidering. I huffed in frustration, at my self, my parents, this whole situation really.
I began reading the brochures, skimming them all to see what would be a good option. It's usually just the same, but each doctors present different techniques. I was so absorbed in debating with myself while reading, I did not notice the motorcycle hurtling towards me. I just heard "Out of the way b*tch!" With such profanity shouted towards me, I looked up to cuss the hell out the guy back. But, his motorcycle is inches away from me, IN THE SIDEWALK! I was frozen in place, wide eyed with shock. Oh my gosh. I'm going to die. It's my time.
But then, I was pushed away by the guy wearing helmet riding the motorcycle that just crashed beside me on to a closed bakery's fence. The papers I was holding went flying and I toppled on the ground. "Oof!" Ouch! My butt hurts.
I heard a groan from the guy. Oh sh*t! Am I such a disaster magnet? Is he dying? The motorcycle's down, its wheels are slowly stopping from turning, there's also wisps of smoke and the guy riding it is underneath the mess. I stood fast even if my butt hurts from my landing (I hope it doesn't bruise). I quickly went to him and helped but I didn't know what to do. I tried lifting up the motorcycle but it was too heavy. I couldn't even budge it.
Good thing he was wearing a helmet so I guess, the impact from crashing his head is not that fatal. His body is bent in an uncomfortable way. He is on his back, panting hard. The guy opened his helmet and looked at me. "A little help would be great Miss. Y'know, don't just stare." he said. I didn't answer his cheeky and sarcastic but kind of has a point comment. But when I walked to his side, I saw that he wasn't even trapped under. He was just lying down there. But I took pity since this is an accident so I helped him up. "I'll call an ambulance." I told him as I pulled him up to stand. "Yeah. That would be great." He said, then proceeded to remove his helmet while sitting down beside his wrecked bike.
I dialed the local hospital's number and waited for them to answer. When they did, I relayed the incident and waited for them to get this guy. I would totally be late for the burial. Jess would kill me.
There was an awkward silence. After him telling that his right shoulder took the fall and it hurts like crap, we did not speak anymore. While he is fiddling with his gloves, I took the time to look at him. I guess I could say he is quite pleasant in the eyes. He has short spiked dark brown hair, and a white complexion too. He looks like the bad boy type of guy, leather jacket and all.
He caught me looking at him so I averted my gaze. From my peripheral, I could see him smirk. Tch.
Lucky me, the ambulance came.
Today's just a mess. D*mn.