RONI
I woke up with a freezing cold temperature around me. The deep slumber that I had fallen to came to an end and was disrupted by the wind's howl. The same ringing in my ear made me grimace. I sat up and adjusted my vision in the dark. I'm in a secluded place and if it wasn't for the small lamp across the room, I might've woke up staring at the walls like a blind. I stretched my knees and arms but stopped when pain struck me below. My stomach aches the most and though I can't see if there's a wound on it, I felt the soft cloth to my fingertips that's bandaged around my waist. There's also one on my right leg just above my kneecap.
I checked my surroundings again, trying so hard to see in the dark. On the corner of my left eye, I saw a faint light coming from a flashlight which is exactly a meter away from me. I held my stomach while slowly crawling and extending my arm to get the flashlight. The pain intensified when I reached out but I bit my lip and continued to move. When I successfully grabbed the flashlight, I tapped it on the palm of my hand and pointed it in front of me. I noticed the white plastic curtains that surrounded me and with the empty bed on my right, I figured that I must've fell while sleeping. I held on the bed to support myself from standing up. I winced once more but continued to struggle on my feet.
"That wasn't so bad." I cheered myself up. I took a step forward and hopped on the other leg to avoid the pain on my wound. I'm like a cripple without crutches. I shoved the curtain to one side and move outside. The temperature dropped once more and a shiver ran down to my spine but I continued to walk and just before the turning point of the room I saw Matt and Prim curled up on one bed with arms on each other. I don't want to think about it but seeing the two comfortably hugging each other makes me sad and mad.
On the far corner I saw Jack with a candle lit up on his right. His eyes were close but I don't think he's sleeping. I decided to walk on his direction slowly to ask where is Art and where we are now. But I stopped on my track when I heard him sob and sniff quietly while his shoulder blades shake. I extended my arm and was about to reached out to him when he spoke.
"What did I do to deserve this?" He asked. The forlorn tone of his voice clenched my heart tightly. "I.. I may have made some bad decisions in the past but this is just too much." He whispered. He sniffed out as he continues to cry against his arms. "I don't think Roni will ever forgive me." Jack added. My hand shakes as I withdraw my arm back to myself. My forehead creased with so much confusion. What did he do to make him think I'll never forgive him?
"We lost the baby." As if he answered my unspoken question, Jack muttered a little quiet but I heard it all. My heart skipped a beat and a bile on my throat rises, making it hard to breathe. I cover my mouth with my hand and weep without making any noise. My other hand caressed my now empty stomach. There's only one thing that I can think of, the baby that I've never wanted in the first place crushed my weak heart. I am beyond guilty and regretful for what happened. The fetus wasn't even born yet it suffered due to my decisions.
I knelt down on the ground and cried. Jack was in deep thought about everything that he didn't noticed my presence or my painful cries.
"I lost Lauren too." He suddenly uttered in a more heartbreaking way. I stopped crying for a second, trying to comprehend what he just said.
I lost Lauren too. My eyes widened in disbelief as tears rain down on my face. My forehead creased again but this time a little part of me knows what this is. I struggled to stand but I pulled myself up to walk away from him. I can't stand listening to this anymore. I don't think I can.
I started to take a few steps backwards but I bumped into someone. I turned around and saw Matt with a dreadful look on his face. He's staring at Jack for a moment but then his gaze were averted to me.
"Matt.." My voice cracked when I tried to speak. He smiled at little at me before holding my hand. "I know." He whispered before pulling me away from Jack. He dragged me slowly and though I can't see him clearly inside this cave, I felt his frustration and sadness in his hand. He's holding me gently yet his fingers are shaking.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked but it came out as a whisper.
He didn't say anything nor answer my question but when I saw him pulled the curtain to one side, I knew we're in my makeshift room. When we are inside, he finally let my hand go and then faces me. That's when I notice his tears. He's been crying all along. He knew what Jack's talking about.
"I don't want to tell you this because of your condition but what you think about Jack's words just now is true."
My world stopped spinning and feels like I was floating in an ocean, unable to grasp for air. I shook my head as tears fell from my eyes again. I sobbed on my hands still unable to accept it.
"Lauren's pregnant." Matt said. I stare at him and felt how true that words are. "And Jack's the .. f-father?" I struggled for what to say but I want to confirm everything. I need to know. Matt nodded his head slowly. I closed my eyes in pain and cried so hard. Lauren was pregnant and Jack's the father? How could they do this to me? To Matt?!
"Is that the reason why you two tried to run away?" I asked. "When I was packing her things I saw a pregnant test kit and it says positive." Matt struggled too but he continued. He didn't look at me as he was trying so hard to tell me everything.
"I was so happy you know? Like finally we're going to start a family." He uttered with a fake laugh after. "I was away for a month and I figured that it isn't mine. I confronted her and she refused to tell me the truth. Not until I saw Jack and Lauren's pictures together. I was so mad that she ran away." I laughed bitterly. They have pictures together huh?
"When we reached the cave, she started telling me the truth. That everyone's so busy at that time and I can't be with her because I was away. The only person available was Jack."
I recalled how much Lauren wanted to have a drink with me or simply just hangout but I declined. I was so busy that I didn't get much sleep. Jack told me she'll accompany Lauren for the night which I was thankful for. But it turns out something happened between the two.
"Lauren was aloof when I arrived that we almost split." Matt muttered. He laughed without humor once more. "Remember when Jack said he's attending a business meeting with the associates for a couple of days?" He asked. I remember. He said they'll be at Spain discussing new projects that he's assigned to and that he'll be away for three to four days. It was in Barcelona is I'm not mistaken.
"Jack lied. Turns out he was in Paris with Lauren."
The revelation drained all my blood away and I was frozen for a second. They were in Paris. God knows what they did. Jack even lied to me for his shenanigans and here I thought Lauren was visiting their ocean park branch in Nigeria. I laughed hysterically and then it turned into cries. I screamed and shoved all the things that I see. I pushed the food tray from the table. I throw my things on the floor. Jack.. Why?!
"ARGH." I screamed more. Matt's crying but he didn't hold me back. I grabbed my laptop and throw it away. It hit the chair and broke. "He proposed to me when he arrived!" I quietly said to Matt. "And I was a fool for saying yes!"
"Roni? What's going on?" Art came in and he immediately surveyed the room. When he saw the broken cups and plates he gaze at me and to my hands that are bleeding. "What's happening?" He asked Matt but he didn't got any answers. Art sighed before pulling a cloth and wrapped it on my palm. I was just crying there and I know Art wants to ask a lot of questions but he didn't push me to. When he's done wrapping my wounds he stood up and looked at Matt, trying to figure out what exactly is happening.
"Hey, I heard a noise back----"
Jack came in after Primrose. My palms turned to balls of fist and the wounds immediately stung but I don't have time to think about it. Matt pulled me and dragged me to his back, shielding me from everyone's eyes. My lips tremble and limbs shaking. Everything's making me tired but if this is adrenaline, I want to stay awake. Art stares at us with a puzzled expression but I shook my head about to cry again. He took a deep breath and faced Jack who's staring at me intently with a confused look.
"Baby what's wrong?" Jack asked. He was about to take a step forward but Matt blocked him. "Move, Matt." He calmly said as he tried to get pass Matt but this time, Art blocked him too. I held on Matt's hand tightly while I stare at the ground.
"Okay. What's happening here?" Prim asked this time. "Why not asked Jackson here?" Matt muttered bitterly. "What's your problem?" Jack asked and this time his voice is stern and cold.
"What's my problem? You tell me Jack." I said. I squeezed Matt's hand and smiled a little at Art saying it's okay. They both gave me space and now Jack can see me clearly. His forehead creases when he saw my hands but I cleared my throat so he would stare at my eyes instead.
"Do you love me?" I asked. "What kind of question is that? Of course I do. I love you baby." He answered. "Then why did you cheated?!" I shouted. Jack was taken aback and he looks so surprise about my outburst.
"What are you talking about?" "Oh don't play dumb with me Jackson." I immediately said. I then crossed my arms and rose my right brow even though I badly wanted to cry the moment our eyes locked.
"What's your relationship with Lauren?" I finally asked. Primrose stare at me but I don't have time to explain this to her. I just want Jack to confirm this. Nothing more. "We're just friends!" Jack muttered with so much frustration but I know he's lying.
"She's pregnant!" Matt spoke. Jack's face turned to pale like he was so shocked about the news. He isn't shock because he just found out but he's surprised that I know. We know. Art clenched his jaw and shook his head, unable to accept everything. I grabbed Art's shirt on the back for support and I think he got the signal 'cause he immediately held my shaking hand.
"Roni, I... I." I shook my head as tears escaped and eventually fell on my cheeks. I bit my lower lip and took a deep breath. "Do you love her?" I asked with a cracked voice. Jack tried to touch me but Matt blocked him immediately. "No. I don't."
"I wish I could believe you." "It's true! It was just a mistake." Mistake? If you're trying to be funny Jack then I suggest you stop. A mistake that occurred a couple of times? Huh. Wish I could believe you.
"Screw you." Matt punched Jack on the face. Prim stopped them as Art pulled Matt away. Jack's on the floor with a cut on his lip and it bleed a little. My heart's too crushed that I can't show any mercy. Jack just stabbed me and it broke my heart into tiny pieces. I don't think it can ever be fixed.
"Roni, please." Jack begged. He even knelt down in front of me, hugging my legs but I can't. I just can't afford to listen to his lies or even forgive him. Art pulled him away from me and I saw how his tears fall. It breaks my heart but it'll break more if I accept him again. "I poured all my love on you. I never stop showing you how I deeply love you. But it wasn't enough because if it was, you never would have cheated." I took off the heirloom ring and glanced at the diamond once more before I bend down and put the ring on the floor. His eyes were following every move I make and when he saw the ring, he closed his eyes.
I wiped my tears and decided to go out of here. I can't breathe. Everything feels suffocating to me so I slowly walked away. When I was about to pull the curtain, Jack's arms snake on my waist and hugged me as tight as he can. I took a deep breath and removed his grip with much force.
"Let me go. Please." I turned to him and showed him my sincerest smile. This time, I'm the one who's begging him to let me go. I raised my right hand and wiped his tears away. "Let me mourn please? I want to be alone for our child." I whispered before letting him ago. I smiled at everyone and turn my heel. I pulled the curtain and walked away, leaving everything behind. As I am walking on the cave, I grabbed my phone and checked the tracking device. The signal beeped as the small dots of red started to move in different direction. I looked back expecting for someone but all I see is the dark. I moved forward to a normal pace, still looking at my phone. Then I stopped when I saw a huge wood piece that served us the lock of the door. I carefully pushed it to the other side. The door swung open, making a low creak sound.
"RONI!" Jack shouted. I turn around and saw Art, Matt, Prim and Jack with horrified looks. Jack shook his head as he slowly walk to me. The others follow but I focused on my smartphone. I took a step backwards and the night wind and moonlit immediately enveloped me.
APPROACHING 1 METER
They all stopped when my phone made a sound. I stare at the screen and the blue dot is making it's way to where I am. Prim gasped as she stare at me. Art shook his head and ran with Matt and Jack who's trying to get to where I am standing.
0.50 METERS
I stare at my right side where the direction it's coming from. I felt the ground shake a little as the plants sway. I averted my gaze at smiled at Jack widely. I raised my other hand and made a sign with my fingers.
I love you, Jackson. Always have, always will. Forever.
"RONI NO!" Jack shouted but even before they catch me, I was already been snatched away. Jack's fingertips slide to mine but he's a second late. "RONI!" Jack shouted once more. A tear escaped from my eye and Jack's crying face were the last memory I'll keep of him. I was floating and even before I lost conscious, Jack and my memories that we've spent together flashed on my mind. I smiled as the harsh wind blows on my face. I tried to open my eyes and even though I was struggling I did. My right eye sight is red, must be my blood. I stare up and saw how the blood moon shines so beautifully. But it was interrupted when the claws dug my left leg deeper. I grunt but I didn't move.
"Then tell Jack I'm finally resting in peace now." Lauren's voice echoed. I smiled bitterly. I don't think I can say the same thing. I'll be forever haunted by the truth. But even though I can't forgive him, my love for him will always remain. Jackson, if you heard this please survive. Make sure the four of you make it out of here alive.
Jackson, this is the only thing that I can think of. Giving myself, sacrificing myself so you'll survive.
Jackson, don't worry. I'll always watch you from up above. I love you.