Torn between emotions – whether to be sad or angry or laugh out wild,and with the phone held tightly in her trembling hand Star read through the headline news again:
"Louis Whitmore,the heir apparent to the throne and young billionaire with chains of business is back in country and rumoured to be engaged to Lisa Stones of the Stones Group of Companies"
What a catch!
The tears she had been fighting eventually rolled down her cheeks,was this the reason he had called to break up with her a month ago without proper explanation,tears rolled down her cheeks. Could it be he has to do this to protect her? Or was he forced? ,her chest tightened and her breath hitched.
Countless questions swirled through her mind,each one more tormenting than the last one.
She could still reminisce how inseparable they were in high school before he left for abroad,they were young and so in love then, people thought it was a puppy love,he was twenty years of age and she was eighteen years of age,they were the power couple in school,the foundation of true love which every one wished for.
Louis was her one true love,they were soulmates.
Star closed her eyes letting the memories of the last night before he left washed over her.
She remembered how he had promised to spend forever with her a day before he left,they had gone on a date to the beach side under the star-lighted night serving as the witness to their farewell,he looked into her eyes longingly,he whispered,Star I promise to forever love you,to forever cherish you,he picked up the ring he had prepared earlier on before the date and placed it on her finger,"keep it with you" he said.
She could still feel the weight of the silver ring he had slipped onto her finger.
Till I come back and we could make it more official,he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead,I love you,we are created for each other, Star blushed and replied"I love you too", I was created for you only.
Were those promises just mere words?
Are you okay? Maria's voice sliced through her thoughts pulling Star back into the bustling café.
Startled,"Yes, I'm okay....." Star lied, forcing a stiff smile.
Maria wasn't convinced,No,you are not okay.Not with this stiff smile on your face and with the way you stare down at your phone just now,lost in thought,and with the way you stare at your phone as if you just received a death sentence.
She set her phone face down over the table,she battled her eyes to fight the tears from rolling over again. Oh Star! exclaimed Maria, what's the matter,did someone bully you?
"He is back in town" "Louis is back in town and...he is getting engaged " Star's throats felt dry as she forced the words out.
"Oh my!" Maria gasped, holding her chest and with her eyes widened in surprise,"It's a lie",she said. "Are you serious,Star" asking again with her eyes narrowed hoping for a sign of jokes on her face.
Star gave a weak nod as her gaze was fixed on the coffee table as if it held the answers she desperately sought.
You cannot just sit there, you have to go meet him and get closure from him,he cannot just come back to the country after so many years and get engaged to another woman,said the enraged Maria.
Star speaks yet like whispers,he is getting engaged to Lisa Stone of the Stones Group of Companies.
"Lisa Stone!" Her eyes bulged and her voice slightly rose, the heiress of the Stones,the perfect match for an heir to a billion empire,the flawless socialite,oh no! She is far more than us and has her family in support of her,but do you think this engagement is being forced on Louis? Or was it arranged between both families in order to boost Louis' career as Lisa is a perfect match for him?
In contrast to the air-filled coffee aroma in the café,the busy bustling street outside the café which is oblivious to her world crumbling down, Maria's chattering away, Star's world felt frozen.
Lost in thought,she had drifted back to the breakup call.
"Star,it is better this way",his voice was distant over the phone.
"Better for who,Louis?"She had whispered then,with her voice trembling as if she heard him wrongly.
But She hasn't gotten her answers yet.
"Star! Star!"
Maria's voice snapped her back.
Hey girl,snap out of it,have you been listening to me? Maria questioned.
Star managed a faint smile,"Yes Maria,I have been with you,I heard everything you said".
Maria exhaled sharply, her face softening,reached out to Star's hand across the table and held onto her hand, I will be here for you – to lean on,to cry on,always be here for you all the way.
The words of Maria weighed heavily in her heart,they were warm and sincere,even though she offered to be of help and always there to lean on,she couldn't fill up the hollow and pain in her heart.What if she called him? What if she demanded answers? Would he tell her the truth? Would he still give the same hollow excuses he gave a month ago?
Her eyes drifted back to her phone,still lying face-down on the table.Slowly,hesitantly,she picked up her phone all over and stared at the phone as if it would answer her questions.
Her hand hovered Louis contact name "Heart Rob"
She had his contacts saved as "heart rob"ever since high school days.
Her thumb trembled as she finally pressed the dial button.
The line rang.
Once. Twice.
Her breath hitched as the call connected and she heard a faint sound on the other end.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Hello?"