Melissa
Hurt.
If there is something that could describe how I felt in the moment, the humiliation and embarrassment I went through the hurt would be the only word. I have been hurting for a while but kept convincing myself that it didn't not matter.
He is nothing to me, and neither is the other way around.
I texted him, no reply. I called him, but it went straight to voicemails. Maybe, he is busy. That was what I kept telling myself?
Until.
Until I used Bibi's phone and he replied. But why?
Did I say something I was not supposed to? But we talked well, and I could tell he enjoyed every minute of our chatting. Then why? Why did he refuse to reply to my messages or even call? Why did he answer Bibi's text while I, the one supposed to be his girlfriend, got rejected?
Am I that bad?
Or ugly?
Or did I act clingy?
Maybe, he was with his girlfriend?
And the saddest thing was the realization that I never asked if he had a girlfriend. But he said he doesn't do dating. Then why?
It did not matter anymore.
He found me a nuisance, and he is only doing this not because he cares like a friend but because he wanted the land I promised.
I was not going to call him anymore. I was not going to think of him anymore.
He did not matter. I already made up my mind in staying clear of him until Bibi completely lost her mind, and basically threw me out of the house.
I am her granddaughter, but she cared more about my love life than me. I know she was being pushy as always, but it hurt my feelings. I felt despondent walking in the shadows of the darkness, not knowing what lies in it.
I felt abandoned like the child I am from the beginning. Loneliness started to creep in when I walked in the streets. It was with people, but less compared during the day.
I was drowning and wallowing in my self-pity.
Until
I received a call from him. Unknowingly, he saved me from drowning in my negative emotions.
My heart jumped with an explained feeling, happiness, giddiness, and anticipation. But soon, anger filled me at how Max spoke to me. What gave him the right to order me around? I wanted to tell him to go to hell for all I cared, but I had no choice.
I possibly could not spend my night outside. Not that I did not have any friends or people I could go to, but because I knew how shrew Bibi could be if she wanted.
It was like a de Ja Vu looking at the bustling club with a long line of people waiting for their turn to enter. Once upon a time, it was us, but now,
I sighed, shaking the thoughts away, dialling Max's number, and guess what?
That piece of sh***t actually yelled at me and hung up the phone. Lucky for me, I knew the bouncer who let me inside, but not after a lot of convincing and promising him to behave.
And then, there he was.
His eyes were on me. Finally, the eyes that I have missed these couple of days.
It was at that moment the Dj decided to play my one-turn favourite song, My queen. The lyrics were somehow related to what I was feeling at the moment.
Every day is a brand new day,
Every time that I see your face,
There was that static again, that crackling in the air that always happened whenever I saw him. My anger faded away as I took him in from the stairs.
You are my everything and anything,
That I will ever need in this world,
I am so glad that you came my way...
He was wearing his black T-shirt, with black jeans highlighting his features and perfect skin.
He is dangerously handsome even though he was the world's most irritating man I know, but that was not enough to stop the hairs on the back of my neck from standing up.
The moment did not last long, though, as it got ruined when he just signalled me with his hand to follow him up. He did not even look me in the eye when I reached him or even say hi.
This infuriating man did not even offer me a seat.
I did not get to show my anger as a very handsome man greeted me. It was more like hitting on me.
Ken, his name was. A very charming man who got both looks and a playful character.
He had smooth brown flawless skin, like a sheet of well-done cloth. His eyes under his long well-maintained dreads, glinted under the neon light. When Max had a look of a prince charming, Ken was more of a playful, captivating knight. A recipient of a humour bypass.
He was funny, and I liked him instantly. While my so-called boyfriend was being snobbish, grumpy, and behaving like an old ass, Ken was friendly and welcoming.
I watched in awe as he mixed a couple of drinks, doing his magic until the result was heaven. I was enjoying every minute with him and felt deep down that we were going to be great friends.
Then my eyes darted back upstairs to the VIP section only to see a girl - a lady - sitting on Max's lap. Something in me did not feel comfortable. I tried to shake off the feeling, convincing myself that he had all the right to be with anyone.
It's his territory, and I am no one.
Not even his fake girlfriend.
¨Oh, that is Nicky, you will love her.¨ Ken had said with enthusiasm, but how wrong was he?
The girl - Nicky - did not even spare me a glance before humiliating me. What hurt the most was the fact that Max stayed silent. He watched me get degraded by his friend and said nothing.
What irked me the most was the fact that he decided to speak when I fought back. The truth was as clear as day.
I did not matter.
Even Ken, the person I just met tried to help while he did nothing. Then he dared to make some lame excuses?
And here I am. In the ladies' room, gaping at my tearful stricken face.
I never cry. I am someone who never believed crying would do any good. I have trained myself to be strong emotionally and mentally. But everything seemed to be useless ever since our paths crossed.
I know I told him that I would not leave, but what was I going to do here? His friends -apart from Ken - do not welcome me. I remember clearly how the other guy rebuked Ken for standing up for me.
I took a deep sigh, fixed my face and emotions, deciding to leave.
It is for the best.
But it looked like fate said otherwise, as I discovered that I did not bring my phone with me.
Oh, there is no way in hell I am going back there.
And there is also no way I would be able to leave without it.
Just great!
Resigning to my fate, I walked out of the washroom, making my way toward the club. I made sure not to look up and only made my way through the crowd of people. It was so crowded that walking became difficult.
People were mingling, dancing, drinking, and shouting.
Thank goodness they were not striping. The Dj was mixing his deck like he was on top of the clouds. The fun with clubs is that there were no dance moves to follow. One just had a good time.
I finally was able to find myself at the bar attender, and I could not be more club.
¨What do you have?" I asked the bar attendant, who was busy flipping the bottles in a beautifully fascinating way.
¨We have a variety. Just tell me your poison, baby girl.¨ I quirked an eyebrow at the grinning bar attendant and chuckled lightly.
I seemed to be getting more and more pet names lately.
¨Suprise me then. I want something out of the world.¨ I smiled back at him, resting my elbows on the counter.
¨Something just like you.¨ He then winked before starting to flip the bottles again before settling them on the table.
¨Wow! How do you do that?¨ I asked, amazed by his talent.
¨Easy, let me show you some magic.¨ he gave me the widest grin and took out some bottles.
I wondered what he wanted to do with all of them when he started by gripping the bottle with one hand by the neck and holding the glass with the other.
He gently flipped his wrist forward to swing the bottle upward, not too high, and then caught it once it had its complete revolution with the neck pointing downwards. He moved the glass underneath the neck of the bottle before the liquid could be spilt.
He did it a couple of times with different bottles, each moving a different style, leaving me in awe of his flexibility.
Once done, he gently slid a tiny glass filled with a colourful drink. It had layers on top of each other, pouring out all the colours of the rainbow in perfect order.
¨Wow! What is this?¨ I asked, amazed.
¨This baby girl, Is what we call the rainbow shot.¨ The guy grinned, leaning on the counter.
¨The rainbow shot?¨ I asked curiously. I know nothing of alcohol and drinks. If there is someone who knows everything, then it would be Jess.
¨Yes, a rainbow shot. It's a vodka drink -- and not a very strong one, at that -- made by layering...¨ He drawled, looking at me with a calculative look, ¨How about you drink and tell me what you can taste?¨
I raised my eyebrow at him, but interested to know how it tasted. I was reluctant to take a drink from a stranger, even if he was the bartender. I have heard stories of girls being drugged and then molested. Nevertheless took a chance.
I knew Rick, the bouncer was on the lookout for me, and so was that annoying guy.
Thinking of him and how he treated me made my insides boil in anger, making me reach for the glass and drink in one swift move. I was assaulted by the cold drink, which had a different density.
I coughed a little bit, getting used to the strange drink. I could taste the raspberry, coconut, and pineapple. It was weird at first, but I got accustomed to it at the third shot. I was about to have a fourth one when a masculine arm stopped me by snatching away the glass.
¨Hey!¨ I protested, turning to the rude man, but bit my tongue upon meeting the owner of the blazing eyes.
¨You promised not to drink.¨ He said, sliding the glass away.
¨I am not. Bruce said the drink it's okay. It cannot get me drunk.¨ I answered, pointing at the tender, who revealed his name as Bruce.
¨Right, only if you have one shot. At the pace you are going, you will get drunk.¨ He was right because the moment he finished talking, I started feeling slight changes in my body.
¨My bad then, Rick. What are you doing anyway?¨ I asked, settling myself comfortably on the stool.
¨Should I not be asking you the same question? You are supposed to be with your friend.¨ I swallowed, looking anywhere but him. I was itching to look upstairs, maybe get a glance at what he was doing but stopped myself. I could not let the little dignity I left go for someone not worth it.
¨Yes, my friend is on the dance floor. I don't feel like dancing.¨ I lied straight through my teeth, as it was becoming a habit.
A very bad habit.
¨Tell me, have you heard any news from T?¨ I asked, changing the subject. ¨We have not talked for a very long time, but I saw his post like a week ago,¨ he paused for a while. ¨He was riding a motorcycle. A black BMW Motorrad.¨
¨What!¨ I exclaimed, shocked by what Rick said.
A black BMW?
¨How is that possible? He has to be loaded to be able to afford that.¨ It did not make any sense. T was not rich or had any money to buy a motorcycle, much less such an expensive Motorrad.
¨Seems like working abroad is doing well for him, or maybe it belongs to a friend?¨ Rick shrugged nonchalantly.
¨Yeah, maybe a friend's.¨ I smiled tightly. I hoped so. We have been worried about that rebel so much, to the point that Bibi almost got sick. He was gone for a while now but communicated little to us.
¨If it's not the princess herself! How are you doing, my lady? Looking good as always.¨ I heard Ricky talking to someone - a female - judging by the long line of praises that got me to roll my eyes. He was also a player.
I did not bother to look at who he was talking to, as I was still deep in thought about what he told me about T. T was my...
¨And, you looking good as always, Rick, my night and shiny amour.¨ That voice.
There is no way I would forget the voice. My head snapped towards their side, and I was right. Nicky, her name was, was smiling at Rick. Now that I was looking at her closely, she was indeed a beauty.
She was the kind of girl that women loved to hate. She had that movie star look, not overly tall and willowy, but more like an action star. Her muscle definition was perfect, and she carried the confidence of someone a decade older. She wasn't just flawless in her bone structure, her skin was like silk over the glass, and she radiated an intelligent beauty.
Don't get me started with her body. Slender waist hidden under a red ribbed top and curvy hips that fit so perfectly in her dark-washed blue jeans.
She was beyond perfect. Was she one of Max's girls? It made sense, I mean, she has everything, and maybe it was the reason why Max suddenly lost interest in me.
I thought that silence was painful, but the rejection was worse. That pain has an unpleasant warmth to it, eating at my stomach. I've often prized myself in ignoring pain and just rocking on regardless, but that wasn't possible at the moment. Why did it hurt even though It was only a pretence?
Then she looked at me, but I averted, turning my whole body in another direction. The last thing I wanted was another confrontation.
¨You don't mind if I speak to Melissa?¨ I froze, and my eyes widened when I heard her say those words.
Talk to me? Why?
¨Oh, you know Melissa?¨ I was forced to turn towards them again at Rick's question.
¨Don't tell me she is the friend you came to meet?¨ I did not know what to reply or how to react. It was awkward. This lady just proved to me how bland she could be when she wanted to and now facing Rick, who he also knew, put me in an embarrassing situation.
¨Yes, I am the one. I didn't know you two, know each other.¨ I was again astounded by the turning of events. What was she up to?
Isn't she supposed to like to hate me or something?
¨Really? How did you guys meet?¨
¨Oh, we met through a friend who is courting her.¨ She swiftly answered like it was something natural.
Again, What?
I watched wide-eyed at Rick, who looked at me with confusion, obviously waiting for my explanation. I have known Rick ever since I was a child. He was a friend of T, and he treated me like a younger sister.
¨I...I, you, this...¨I was saved from making a fool of myself when he got called over.
¨We are not done with this conversation.¨ He said before walking away, which caused me to roll my eyes.
¨I am eighteen, Rick.¨ I shouted over the loud music that got him to stop glancing at me with narrowed eyes.
¨No, you are not.¨ Then, he walked away, leaving embarrassed. How could I forget that he knew me better?
¨Wait, you are not eighteen yet?¨ Nicky, the woman who insulted me a while ago, asked, bring my attention to her. She was staring at me with wide eyes, shock clearly on her face.
¨Are you here to insult me more?¨ I asked, ignoring her question while turning toward the other side.
I have no time to entertain her.
¨Um, about that,¨ I heard her say rather hesitatingly, and I could not help but feel her guilt in the way she spoke. I scoffed inwardly at my thoughts.
¨I am here to apologize.¨
Again.
What, in the name, is happening?