"Need another shot?" Luke, my eldest brother asked as I swerved my head in his direction. The various flashing lights made me feel dizzy; in just two hours, I was getting high already. "No thanks, I need my sanity for Devon's sake", I replied.
Lucy, my immediate younger sister, and the last one of us all, placed her hand on my shoulder and caressed it slowly. "Aren't you tired of that guy?" she asked with a somewhat concerned tone. "Please Lucy, I'm happy with him", I snapped in defense as I placed my head on the table.
Just then, my second older brother, John, came towards us while wiping his hands with a napkin. "The restroom here is tacky", he snorted. "Did you check on Brenda?" I asked. Brenda was John's wife. They got married a year before, and she was currently pregnant, with their first child.
"Yeah, she's doing great", said John, curtly.
"Back to the question..." Lucy coughed. I knew what she was about to say. "How long will you let that fool kick you around?" she snorted.
I remained silent. I couldn't say anything to upset my siblings. Plus, they were speaking nothing but the truth. I just had to face it.
"Who? Devon? I thought you left that punk years ago", John scoffed. "Apparently she still loves him", said Luke, while texting on his phone.
John scoffed, "That's bullshit!"
"Just forget it guys", Lucy protested when she noticed how my facial expression and demeanor changed right away when she brought up the 'Devon' topic. "My birthday is around the corner", she squealed in excitement as she threw her hands up in the air. "Let's have a little reunion to celebrate it", Luke suggested. "Will you be able to make it?" John asked me with a disappointed look on his face. I frowned to show my sadness, "I may not, but I will try".
"If you're not there, I'll skin him alive, you can't miss it, I'll be turning twenty", Lucy warned in a pleading tone. She even made an illustration with her finger to her throat, showing that she could kill for me. "Not her, but 'WE' will skin him alive", Luke added, making emphasis to the word 'WE'. I smiled. I loved the fact that they cared about me. They were totally irreplaceable.
Just then, Luke glanced at his phone once again, and turned back to us, "I'm sorry guys", he apologized, "I forgot to pick up Nancy from the Spa, and my girls are home alone with their nanny", he further explained before getting up from his seat, "Talk to you all later".
As a usual habit, he pecked both Lucy and I on the forehead before proceeding to the exit.
"I guess since one of us is gone, it's best if we all go home" I suggested.
"You're right. I've even got a presentation project tomorrow", Lucy said immediately I finished my statement. John let out a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. "So, It's settled. We'll meet again at the Birthday reunion", I said while getting up from my seat and adjusting my shirt. Sitting for too long made it to have some creases. "Yeah, I guess so", added John.
"See you guys later, bye. I love you", Lucy concluded with a hug for both of us.
"Stay safe", I said as I waved at them before walking to the door and sliding it open.
My car was where I had parked it, so I just got in and drove off.
.
.
****
[…Time Skip...]
An unfamiliar pair of red shoes came into sight as I slowly swung the front door open. A medium-sized coat which I had never seen before was sprawled over on the couch. A pile of about two to three books were neatly arranged on the side drawer beside the coat.
Laughter engulfed my ears as my eyes glided towards the staircase. It was physically evident that he was home. But I wasn't so sure, so I went up the stairs to confirm my hunch was right.
As I got to the last step, the laughter grew. But this time, it was the voice of a female. The door to one of the rooms was slightly open, and as curious as I was, I decided to take a peek through the half-way open door.
I was right! Devon was at home. But--
He was with someone.
They both had their backs facing me; and they were seated. The female's blouse was sleeveless, exposing her glowing shoulders, and her hair was swerved to one side of her shoulder.
I watched in silence as Devon slowly placed a necklace on her neck and caressed her shoulders. "It's beautiful", she squealed as she got up to hug him. At that moment, I instantly recognized who she was.
'Annabelle'
I loathed that name more than anything.
She was his closest, but not his best friend. Though she naturally seems easy-going, cool, and harmless. I knew more than anyone that she was a ticking bomb, waiting to explode. Once, she tried to ask Devon out, but he flatly rejected her; that was the day she found out Devon and I were engaged.
"I'd better leave", she said. They both got up.
I hastily, but silently made my way down the staircase and into the kitchen. I hid perfectly so they wouldn't see me. Her annoying laughter and his deep husky voice were almost making me go crazy. I mean, I was on the edge already. "I'll call you later", he told her and kissed her forehead.
I gasped in shock. Did he really regret rejecting her? Was she charming him? He had never done that to me. Was he cheating?
I heard her footsteps heading towards the front door, but then, she stopped and said, "Don't tell Hana I came by". I was like, "Bitch what?! why shouldn't he tell me?"
Then I heard him say, "Sure", before the door closed shut.
I heaved a sigh as I leaned on the table and slowly closed and opened my eyes while he headed up the stairs.
I get that he doesn't like me, but does that give him a right to cheat?
I kept this thought in mind as I closed and opened my eyes repeatedly, before drifting off to sleep.