"Omo! I'm late!"
Jade yelped when she felt the sun peering through the curtain. She immediately rose up and was about to run to the shower room when she remembered something. Wait. She halted and reached out her phone at the table.
Dang it! She cursed when she got a glimpse of the time. It's 9:30am and its Sunday! Since her eyes were a little sticky and heavy, she dragged her body back to bed once again.
Just one more hour…. She lazily thought and slumbered. She was too drowsy to care about her feet almost touching the floor.
Just as when he fell asleep, Marcus came out from the shower room and saw the woman in a funny position. Guess she woke up momentarily causing the noise he heard while he was taking a bath. He lightly smiled at the sight of the woman snoring lightly.
It was his day-off and he was planning to stay at home the whole day but a few minutes ago, someone called him asking for a few of his hours. Thinking about a scenario he witnessed last night, he definitely wanted to stay home but Rachelle was demanding to see him.
He heaved a heavy sigh while staring at the woman's pale cheek. Crying must be pretty exhausting. He mumbled before walking towards the woman's bed. He gently scooped the woman's body and laid her gently on her bed in a more comforting position.
After tucking her in bed, he walked towards his closet and choose a white long sleeve shirt and a loose pant for the day.
Rachelle was being hysterical for the past few days and to tame her, he needs to succumb to her tantrums for now.
He was about to leave the room but he stared at the sleeping woman one more time. Now the woman became a mystery to him. What happened to her last night?
**Last night, Marcus woke up due to Jade's sobbing. He rose up and searched for her and when he spotted the woman on the floor, he stood frozen. Her current state was someone who was scared over something. Though she was weeping softly, she seemed to be crying for help and comfort. However, when he decided to go near the woman, she already fell asleep.
She was exhausted, that's a fact.
"Hey, are you okay?" Rachelle tapped the man's arm. Though they've been together for hours now she could feel the man's attention isn't fully on her. "Is something bothering you? You can tell me."
"Er, sorry. What were you saying again?" He lifted his gaze towards the woman who just wiped her mouth with the paper napkin.
Rachelle sighed as she put down the spoon and fork on the sides of her plate. She couldn't tell if she's annoyed, disappointed or frustrated. Marcus had never been like this before. Whenever they go out together, no matter how long the time they spent, they never had a dull moment.
Marcus felt the change in Rachelle's mood therefore he tried to explained himself. "I'm really sorry. I'm pretty swamped the past few days. I couldn't get enough sleep either." He sighed when he remembered what happen last night.
"Do you want to stay in my house tonight?" She affectionately offered.
"I love to but not now."
"You used to sleep in my house over the past years. What's stopping you now?" She looked at the man suspiciously. "Are you having a good time with that woman now?"
"Please, don't start it, Rachelle. You know----"
"No! I don't know anymore! Cause your making me feel unwanted these past few weeks. Are you ignoring me now? Did you start to like that woman? Are you enjoying her in bed? Is she good? What?" She was about to cry.
"Rachelle I told you that's not the case!" He whined. "I never slept with her."
"Impossible!"
Marcus rolled his eyes irritatingly. There's no way he could ease her suspicion except to sleep at her place tonight.
"Fine. I'll go home with you tonight."
Hearing the man gave in, Rachelle's countenance immediately lit up.
"I love you!" She bended forward and pecked a kiss on the man's lips. "Where do you want to go after lunch?"
"You choose."
"Can we go to the clothing store? I need a new dress for my photoshoot tomorrow." She excitingly uttered.
"Fine with me."
Marcus kept glancing at his wristwatch from time to time while Rachelle took her time being measured by the dressmaker. At times, he stared at his phone as if waiting for a call. Who would be calling him on Sundays? He's not sure either but he was hoping to receive a call from someone. Probably from that woman.
While waiting at the couch, he unknowingly yawned and coincidentally met Rachelle's doubtful gaze. A second later, his phone buzzed. Saved by the call!
"Yes?" He answered the call without looking at the caller id. Hearing no response from the other line, Marcus glanced at his phone screen and furrowed his brow upon seeing an unregistered number. "Hello? Who is this?" He asked once again.
"Hey babe, who is it?" Rachelle came to him. Looked like she was done with her stuff.
"I don't know, it's an unregistered number." He uttered before the call got disconnected.
"Could it be your wife?"
"I don't think so. She doesn't have my number."
"And you don't have her number as well…" She stared at the man. It could be that woman since it was an unregistered number.
Marcus paused for a while then stared at his phone once again.
"Are you waiting for her call?" Her tone was indifferent
"No. Not at all." He stood up. "Are you done? Let's go." He walked pass her and headed to where his car was parked.
'Could it really be her?' He thought.
Impossible. That woman will never think of calling him. She didn't even call him when she was hospitalized the other day. She preferred calling Zion!
***********
He was with another woman!
Jade had been patiently waiting for Marcus to come home.
She was worried while watching the heavy downpour outside the window. Glancing at her old wristwatch, it was already past midnight however Marcus isn't home yet.
She's been pacing back and forth when a loud thunder suddenly echoed in the room.
"Ah! Mom!!!" She screamed with terror! Dread filled her whole body as she covered her ears.
Boommm!!! Crackkkk!!! Ckrkrkckrkrckkk!!!
The thunder was not loud, but it kept up a continuous muttering and rumbling. Yet it made her crawled at a corner, shaking in fear.
"Mama…. mom…" She kept mumbling with her eyes shut.
Once again, a glimpse of blood, dead people, rolling car, guns and many more pictures swept her mind and it's taking her sanity. 'Please, stop…' She cried helplessly.
'Please…. stop…help… somebody help.'
It's killing her!
The terror from the thunder, the unexplainable pain as the blurry pictures swamped her memory and all… Everything is a blurr but the mixed emotion she was feeling at the moment was torturing her.
If it can only stop. If only someone can make it stop.
But she has been suffering for a long time now and for many years she has been trying to seek for help.
She needed saving!
Death… Looked like it's her only option.