Scars of Time

Chapter 9: "Forever an orphan"

Jo's POV

I was held captive in that chair, forced to witness him devour his meal without any regard for my presence. The silence between us was deafening, and I was looking for an escape from this uncomfortable situation. He was already forcing everything else on me, so why not go ahead and force me to eat as well?

Alright, I confess, my stomach is growling with hunger. But I'm only going to eat, so I can survive. I need to be strong to fight him off.

His meal remained the center of his attention, yet I couldn't miss the hint of sarcasm in his smile. I despise giving him the satisfaction of thinking he's winning, but I'm not stupid. Furthermore, I better start eating now, and have the strength to run, rather than letting my pride win and starve myself to death.

Because he wouldn't care anyway.

He is a psycho.

As I savored my food, my attention was drawn to the open door.

Was it intentionally left that way?

However, regardless of his intentions, this unexpected situation presents me with a golden chance to escape, and I am definitely going to seize it.

"You don't need to." he remarked, as if he was responding to the thoughts in my head. "I'm going to drive you home tonight."

What on earth is he trying to do?! Because I don't believe that lie in the slightest.

"So, let's eat first and then watch a movie or something before we can leave."

I rolled my eyes and continued with my meal.

"Someday you'll realize that everything I'm doing is for your own good."

I let out a sarcastic laugh, clearly getting under his skin.

"Forcefully kissing me was for my own good??"

"Fine. I messed up on that one. It was impossible for me to resist you, and for that, I apologize. However I do deserve praise for being able to stop, at least."

"Oh, my goodness! How could I possibly forget? You are a man. You deserve a standing ovation for not r****g a girl after kidnapping her. What a true gentleman you are!"

"Like I said earlier, I made a mistake, and I take full responsibility for it. But apart from that, I was trying to help you get out of a bad relationship where your boyfriend is cheating on you."

Unbelievable! He just won't give up, will he? The sheer audacity of this man to speak about my Alex like that!

"I said this before, and I'll say it again. Alex is not the kind of person you're suggesting, and my confidence in him far outweighs any trust I have in you."

"What if I showed you evidence?"

I chose to remain silent because I didn't think I'd believe anything before asking Alex about it myself.

But then, in an instant, my world shattered into fragments as I laid my eyes on those photos. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine coming face to face with such a sight. It was undeniable proof, a clear-cut evidence of his infidelity. He was in bed with another woman.

"Do you believe me now?" Time questioned, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"No" I declared, causing him to gaze at me with a bewildered expression.

"No?!!"

"I still don't believe you. Alex is simply not the type of person who would ever do something like that."

"Right. You're still willing to place your trust in him." Time's voice carried a hint of pain.

His face wore a look of sadness, but honestly, right now I couldn't bring myself to worry about his feelings. My mind was preoccupied with trying to figure out mine.

He was trying to mess with my head but there's no way I'm going to believe him. I have to see it with my own eyes.

As Time headed towards the kitchen to put the dishes away, I decided this was the right time to run.

With a burst of energy, I propelled myself forward, my feet pounding against the ground. The door beckoned me with its wide opening, and amidst the adrenaline rush, I caught a faint echo of my name as he chased after me. Yet, I remained steadfast, unwavering in my decision to keep going.

I absolutely must make my way to Alex and find out for myself if everything Time has been telling me is real.

As I dashed towards the woods, a solitary tear streamed down my face, my focus solely on the path ahead, afraid to glimpse back and see if he was closing in on me.

However, the sound of his voice traveled from a distance, but his words were garbled and indiscernible. That means he is too far behind, and I might be able to lose him.

.............

Alex's POV

Dragging my feet towards my apartment, weariness clouded my mind and I was too tired to be able to understand what the security guy was trying to tell me. It seemed like his daily ritual to greet me with a cheerful "hi," but for some reason, I chose to remain silent.

The moment I stepped inside, I sank onto the bed as a tear ran down my cheek, finding its final destination on the pillow.

What am I going to do now?

How am I going to live without Jo?

I pulled the ring out from my pocket and held it up to the light. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind, wondering how my life had changed so much in just one night.

I can't believe I cheated on her!!

I can't believe she cheated on me!!!

It feels like just yesterday I laid eyes on her for the first time. It was at our mutual friend's party when I first saw her, and in that very moment, I could feel myself falling for her. There was something about her that sparked a flicker of recognition within me, and it wasn't until I mustered up the courage to strike up a conversation that I understood why. It was Josephine, standing right in front of me. She was my first love. The one I've had a crush on since forever.

I extended my hand in an attempt to introduce myself but to my surprise, she looked at me with a warm smile and effortlessly uttered my name. It dawned on me in that very moment that she had recognized me instantly, while I foolishly failed to recognize her.

But to my defense, she had changed so much. She was not the little Josephine anymore, who used to run around in dirty clothes making Mother Rosa chase after her, insisting that she take a shower while scolding her along the way.

Jo had gained quite a reputation for being the ultimate impersonator of Mother Rosa.

"Josephine...I cannot find you a good home if you continue doing this."

This was the lesson ingrained in us - if we wanted to be chosen, we had to put on a show of good behavior. But eventually, I came to realize that it was all a load of rubbish.

Because despite my best efforts to be kind and well-behaved throughout my entire childhood, no one ever came to take me.

It was a harsh realization that I would never be able to meet the standards set before me. Nevertheless, I pushed forward and gave it everything I had.

As time passed our friendship with Jo started becoming stronger. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, I was not able to get rid of the feelings I had for her. The last thing I wanted was to ruin that friendship.

But it never occurred to me that she might be having those same feelings for me too.

Who would've thought that she, who was perfect in every way, could have feelings for me?

The day I lost Mother Rosa, I realized I was now all alone in a world that seemed unfamiliar and cold. Today, as I face the possibility of losing Jo too, my heart aches with the haunting thought of being abandoned once more.

Because If she were to slip away from my life, it would be as if destiny had decided to make me an orphan once again.