THE CARTER'S HOUSE
A deafening slap landed on Jenny's face, the harsh impact making her fall flat on the floor. She gasped, desperate for air.
Josh walked closer, a beast like look on his face as he glared hard at her. The amount of hatred burning in his eyes was something Jenny was yet to believe. She believed it to be a nightmare. She was in dire need of someone to wake her up.
Jenny looked nothing like the girl he'd gotten married to just a few months ago. That Jenny always had a smile on her face, cracked jokes with her friends, sat silently with nothing bothering her. She was free. But this Jenny....?
She had bruises all over her skin. Burns in different places, all inflicted by the man she called husband. The man who was supposed to be her companion suddenly went all punchy on her. She was serving as his punchbag than his wife.
Ever since the mistreatment started — a week after their marriage — she'd become besties with her makeup kit. Her newfound profession was trying hard to keep the reminders of the assault, hidden. Her only joy was the fact that he knew to leave her face out of his beastly acts. He didn't want to get caught of course.
"What the hell is it, Joshua!? What the hell did I do to you?! I thought you loved me?"Jenny cried, feeling pain in her heart.
Joshua was what she used to call her knight in shining armor. Jenny was a girl who'd lived in her shell almost all her life after the rape incident that happened to her when she was just 12. She used to hate the male gender, till Josh came along.
He made her believe he wasn't like the others. He made her love him so much. Only to turn around and show his actual colours shortly after marriage?
And to think she couldn't even tell it to anybody, cause he promised to take her life the moment she dared to.
Ask her how they got there, she'd say she didn't know. She'd say she was clueless. How Josh mysteriously changed from being a super caring and loving husband into a beast, was still a mystery to her.
Was it a beauty and the beast movie? If it was, she didn't want to be beauty. She wanted to be Snowwhite for once.
"Loved you? Can a broken glass be loved?"he asked in a yell, kicking her in the ribs. She let out a yelp in pure agony.
A broken glass? He called her damaged? Since when did he start uttering such words to her? It's probably since one of the nights during their honeymoon where he was caught ogling at someone's wife. Her mistake was probably confronting him about it. He changed completely after that. Funny how it was him who committed an offense and still got to act that way?
"P...please. If I did something to suddenly deserve your hatred....please tell it to me so we can figure a way out,"she begged in tears. "I love you, Josh."
"You love me? Then why the hell are you going out, whoring around with other men?!"he roared, yanking her hair, hard.
Saying hi to other men when you're married is called whoring around, says Josh. How funny could it get?
"Josh!!"she cried out. "I swear it, I wasn't even flirting. The guy was the one calling for my attention. I didn't even bother to reply his harmless hello,"she tried explaining.
Going to public spaces were suddenly a problem. He didn't let her socialize, he just kept her in like a pet. This wasn't the life she signed up for. This wasn't how she imagined their marriage would be.
"Shut that trash you call a mouth!"he made to hit her again when the doorbell rang.
"You're lucky,"he spat before walking towards the exit of their room. He halted midway.
"You know what to do, right, wifey?"he gave a devilish grin and she sobbed.
"Yes, I do,"she whimpered.
"Good girl,"he walked out shortly after.
Jenny forced herself off the floor and towards her vanity table. She couldn't even look at her own skin without feeling so embarrassed. Her once flawless skin had now become a home for ugly wounds. She couldn't believe her life.
She wished she could rewind time to the day she happily said 'I do'. She'd have said a solid no and walked out of the hall. She wished she could change things.
"Tell it to your friends, they'll help,"the thought had crossed her mind a billion times, but she'd come to realize that Josh was dangerous. She didn't want to risk putting the lives of her friends at risk.
Considering the fact that Makisha was expecting a child as well. Makisha would be bound to get all worked up, and if anything happened to the baby.... Jenny wouldn't forgive herself.
"What do I do?"she asked herself, staring at the mirror, fresh tears flowing down her eyes.
"Wifey?! Gigi and Makisha are here!!"she heard Josh's voice downstairs.
"I'll be right down, babe!"she yelled back in a feigned happy tone.
Her heart skipped a bit. It was hard for her. Lying to her soul sisters of her being happy in her marriage when it was the complete opposite. They were the first ones who'd notice if she changed her lipgloss colour. It was harder for her to keep all bruises concealed when around them.
She grabbed her foundation and concealer as she began working on her skin.
"They don't have to know. It's my cross, and I'll do well to carry it alone,"she told herself as she continued working her skin out.
Downstairs, Makisha had her head on Gigi's lap. It's only been a week since she realized she was pregnant. Five days since she quit work and had been lazing away.
"We haven't had the talk yet, Kisha. What are we going to do about the father?"Gigi asked in concern, looking at Makisha who looked ghosted.
She'd been like that since she heard of the pregnancy. She still couldn't believe it.
"Why do I have this much of a bad luck? You have flings everytime, you never get pregnant. So why me?"Makisha asked lowly, her eyes on the ceiling.
Gigi sighed. "The important thing is, you have a child now, there's no changing it. You have to accept it, Kisha. Or do you want to get rid of it?"
Makisha instinctively wrapped her hands around her stomach. The pregnancy was so unplanned for, but she didn't want to get rid of an innocent baby.
It was that man's fault that her career was on a huge pause, not the baby's. After all, the baby didn't just jump into her from the sky.
"That's high grade murder,"she mumbled depressingly and Gigi laughed at how funny she looked.
"No matter what you decide, I and Jenny will always be here to support you, okay?"Gigi kissed Makisha's forehead.
"Why hello, girls!!"Jenny grinned, walking down the stairs.
"Sweetheart!"Gigi returned the grin.
"Noisemakers,"Makisha grumbled, sitting up. "Hey, Jen."
"So grumpy,"Jenny and Gigi chorused teasingly.
Jenny had changed from her simple strapless gown into a long sleeved, turtlenecked gown that touched her ankle. She'd began to grow accustomed to long dresses cause they were the only things that could cover up her bruises.
"So how's mother and child doing today?"Jenny asked, sitting beside Gigi who held her arm. Jenny faked a smile to hide the painful expression as Gigi was holding one of the places she'd been bruised in.
"Miserable! I need to work or something. I'm already tired of staying home all day,"Makisha whined.
"That's not possible. You're not working and that's it. Didn't you hear what the doctor said?"Jenny scolded.
"Thank you! I've been telling her these same words since forever but she's so stubborn,"Gigi spoke, frowning at Makisha.
"But I'm tired of being idle. I need something doing,"Makisha protested.
"Why? Because of money?"Gigi asked.
"Exactly. I can't keep feeding off you and Jen. I'm beginning to feel like a leach,"Makisha replied honestly.
"But we're not complaining are we? It's our job to take care of you,"Gigi spoke sincerely.
"I know, I just can't help the guilty feeling,"Makisha mumbled.
"What if we find the father?"Jenny grinned mischievously.
"That'll be a great idea!!!"Makisha exclaimed with an elated expression. "But I know nothing about him,"her expression turned sour.
"That's why we're here, dummy. You remember how he looks, right?"Gigi asked.
"I don't. It's really blurry cause I was so lightheaded after waking up, it's all mushed up in my head,"Makisha shrugged.
Makisha was super forgetful about things of less importance. She could have a conversation with you, and by the time you approach her in two weeks, she wouldn't recognize who you were.
"But I'm sure I'd recognize him if I saw him,"she added, giving the girls a bit of hope.
"Okay, let's get Baby Daddy hunting!"Gigi grinned excitedly.
ANDRE'S MANOR
Andre walked into the house looking so fucking tired. The company was at it's super busy season and as CEO, his portion of work was incredibly massive.
He'd long left Elite's Hotel and returned back home. After all, Bianca was finished with her shooting there.
"My baby!!"Eloise, Andre's mother, called as she walked out of the kitchen with a tray of chocolate cookies.
"Hey, Mum. What're you doing here?"he asked, walking towards her to peck her cheek.
"It's been long since I've seen you. Why, am I banned from seeing my son?"she frowned, looking offended.
Andre sighed. He could feel a headache coming.
"No, it's just that you never visit unless you're asking for something,"Andre pointed out.
"Well, you're wrong this time,"the woman scoffed and Andre gave a knowing look. "I just have a question to ask,"the woman spoke shortly after.
"I knew it,"he chuckled. "What is it, mum?"
"When exactly are you going to get married?"
"But mum, I'm engaged to Bianca. You know that. And besides, the wedding is probably going to take place really soon,"he replied and his mom scoffed.
"When I asked when you're going to get married, I meant getting married to a human being, I wasn't referring to you marrying Jezebel's last daughter....."the woman was saying.
"But mum...."Andre tried saying.
"Don't mum me. She's rude, arrogant, thinks she's better than everyone. No atom of respect, she doesn't even know how to cook! How are you even okay with marrying her? You seriously want to live the rest of your life feeding of junk food?!"Eloise spoke in disapproval.
"Of course not. I have you, you'll cook for me,"Andre winked and his mum slapped his arm.
"I won't last up to twenty more years on earth, you'll last more. She's supposed to feed you even after I'm gone!"Eloise huffed.
"You didn't say anything when Dad and Uncle Bob decided to betroth us on our birth-days,"Andre shrugged.
"She looked so cute and beautiful as a kid. How did you expect me to know she'd turn out like this?"Eloise grumbled.
"Then stick with it. Cause I'm marrying her no matter what."
"It's not as if you love her anyways. Just go out there and find someone you can impregnate or something. I just want to carry my grandkids so badly,"Eloise pouted.
"I can't do that, mum. You'll just have to learn how to love Bianca,"he responded and began his flight up the stairs.
"But son, the Shaman I saw yesterday said there's a lady with bad energy around you, I'm sure it's her!!"Eloise yelled after him, but he ignored her, entering his room.
He dropped down on his bed, letting the soft mattress drill the stress he was feeling. Again, she crossed his mind.
He reached for his drawer, taking the note and reading it for the umpteenth time.
"Hey. I'm sorry if I put you in a tight spot last night. I really apologize. I'd really feel relieved if you don't turn all stalky on me and just take this as the nightstand it is. Thank you..... Makisha."
A small smile fell on his face as he caressed the piece of paper.
"Makisha,"he whispered. "I wonder how you're doing."