Love is Bound to Happen

Her Spy

The sunshine of the fresh morning made its way through the white clouds. The clouds were few and the sky was clear and blue. The wind still had the smell of after rain. The birds were chirping and some were already busy finding their food for their babies.

Belle was still sleeping. Henri and Belle had talked late into the night. They had decided that today they would go for the cake tasting.

Clara barged in. She shouted, "Belle! It is your wedding today!"

Belle woke up and frowned at her. "My wedding is today?"

Clara showed her teeth, "Yes, it's your wedding day."

Belle realised that her wedding day is tomorrow and not today. She decided to play along with her.

"Oh no, I got up late. How will I get ready now? I have so little time. I have so many things left to do: my skin care is left, my makeup, which will take hours, is also left and so much to do in less time."

She feigned her helplessness. She jumped from the bed and hugged Clara. She fake cried, "But my beloved friend will save me." She screamed her words in her ears.

Clara tried to free her hands, but Belle tightened them more.

"Belle, leave me. I know you caught my lie."

"No, never." She smiled at her and Clara also smiled. Belle kissed both her cheeks. She pressed the left side of her face against the right side of Clara's face. Both their faces were pressed together like a sandwich.

"Clara." Belle called her name lovingly in a low voice.

"Oh, Belle." Clara imitated.

"I will miss you so much."

"I will miss you more."

"Really?"

Clara looked at Belle and nodded. Belle once again pressed her face.

Belle said in a low voice, "I wish I could take you with my luggage too."

"No, don't talk about leaving too soon."

"Oh, Clara."

Belle placed her finger on Clara's lower eyelid and wiped her tears.

Belle said, "I will call you daily."

"I don't want us to part. I wish I were also going with you like our trips and dates."

Belle hugged her tightly. Clara wiped her own tears while engulfed in the hug.

Pauline opened the door and kept their breakfast on the table. She commented, "You both are more like sisters than friends. I wonder how you will survive now?"

Belle looked at Clara with teary eyes. Pauline came near Belle and wiped her tears, but more tears started to fall.

Pauline choked, "My lovely daughter will be gone tomorrow. This house will be empty. And I ..." She couldn't continue and hugged Belle.

Belle and Pauline hugged for a few moments. After they broke apart, Clara encircled her arms around Belle and gave her a side hug. Pauline wiped away Belle's tears.

Clara said, "We both will miss you."

Belle said in a whisper, "I will miss you too more."

Pauline said, "Ok, now, enough with the tears. I don't want my beautiful daughter to look sad tomorrow. Look, you have already lost weight."

Clara chirped, "Yes, see. " She poked her index finger at Belle's stomach. "Your five l****s of tears have made you lose five kilograms of your weight."

Belle smiled through her tears. Arthur called from downstairs to Pauline. Pauline left her before saying to eat breakfast to both of them.

Belle left to freshen up. Clara sat on the bed. She opened her phone and started reading messages in her group chats. The messages were from her classmates. She replied to them.

Belle came out. She reached her window and opened the curtains, then the window. Her gaze searched for that black car and to her surprise, it was still there.

She turned and reached to Clara. Clara gazed up and patted her side to sit. Clara observed her lost face and asked, "Why are you lost?"

"No, it's nothing."

"I got it. You are still upset about leaving us."

Belle blankly nodded.

Clara took the spoon and put the food in her mouth. Belle chewed and did the same for Clara. A silence took over.

Henri called, Clara picked up her phone and was about to give the phone. But she stopped, her eyes turned playful and she smiled. She swiped right and answered the call.

"Hi, Belle. Did you get up?"

Olivia tried to imitate Belle's voice, " No darling. I was with you in my dreams."

Henri caught her and laughed. "Belle does not even call me darling. So, from next time, please make sure to get such details from Belle."

Olivia pressed her lips and looked at Belle. "Anyway, my voice is still easy to recognise."

"That's true. Now, may I please get my wife to be?"

"That desperate for my friend. She is mine first then yours."

"But I want us to share her."

"What will I get?"

"May be our yet- to- be born kids."

Clara said while laughing, "Your yet- to- be born kids." She emphasized each word while looking at Belle, who turned red.

"Of course, that deal sounds perfect. You may have my friend." She stretched her arm out to Belle. Belle took the phone, still shy.

Belle chewed her food quickly to answer him.

Henri asked, "Belle, what should I wear for today."

"Something casual."

"Ok, and which colour?"

"I think I will wear pink today."

"Perfect, I have that shirt with me."

"When are you coming to pick me up?"

"May be around twelve."

"Ok, I will be waiting for you."

"Ok."

"Bye." Belle was about to remove the phone from her ear when Henri said, "I love you, Belle."

She did not want to say it in front of Clara. So, she simply hummed. Bht Henri wanted an answer.

"Belle, please say it."

She again hummed. Clara looked at her carefully. Belle shifted herself away from Clara.

She said in a whisper, "I love you too."

Clara heard it and started laughing. Belle knew this was coming. She immediately ended the call and ignored her. She chewed slowly and took more bites.

Clara said, "Don't pretend now. I heard it."

"You heard what?"

"Belle."

She looked up annoyed, "Stop teasing me Clara."

"But I did not even say anything. "

"Oh, shut up!"

Clara and Belle continued with their usual teasing and talks. After they finished their breakfast, they went downstairs. Belle was waiting for Henri. Clara helped Pauline in her housework.

Belle was messaging Henri. She was about to send her typed messages when a message popped up.

She tapped it and the new screen with anonymous message opened.

The message said — pink does not suit you.

She found it offensive. She glared at the message and then cursed that person. She tapped the number and looked for his information. But, there was no name in the bio column. There was no profile picture either.

She frowned. She thought of possible people who could have done it. She could not come up with any image of the person.

The doorbell pinged. Belle got up and went to open it. As she opened the door, she found a parcel and no person was there to hand it to her. She found it odd. She bent down to pick up the parcel from the floor.

The parcel was in a beautiful golden colour. She closed the door. She walked with that parcel to her room.

As she sat on her bed, she opened it. There was no name from the sender. She found some cloth of white colour. She picked it up and unfolded the cloth fully.

She was surprised to get a wedding gown. She thought that if she had already bought her wedding gown, then who delivered it to her. Henri couldn't do it. It was decided that Belle would choose a gown for herself.

The fabric was of good quality. The designs were minimal but beautiful. The design had small flowers.

Her gaze fell on the note on the bed. She picked it up and read — Be ready to be my bride.

Belle was confused. She thought of all the possibilities of getting this dress. But she came up with with more chaos.

She heard Henri's voice. She answered him that she was coming.She picked up the dress and placed it in her cupboard. She closed the door. She descended the stairs hurriedly.

Henri complimented, "You are looking pretty. "

Belle smiled and reached out to him to give a hug. He hugged her and after breaking the hug, he kissed her on her forehead. Clara hooted. Belle looked down and her cheeks turned red.

Clara shouted, "Take him to your room, Belle."

Henri said to Clara, "I wish you had atleast a boyfriend to tease you back."

Clara faked hurt. "It is just that I don't want some boy like you to separate me from my best friend."

Henri laughed and said, "Oh, yeah. But as I remember, it was you who encouraged or rather approved me for Belle."

"Me? When?"

Pauline interjected, "Henri, I am preparing lunch for you as well. Get back on time. And don't leave Belle alone, ok?"

Henri said, "Sure aunt."

Clara again pulled his leg, "Aunt? You will be her son-in-law in the blink of an eye, and you are stuck on aunt."

"Oh, yeah. Alright, I correct it. " He told it to Pauline, "Sure, mother." He emphasised 'mother'.

Pauline was chopping vegetables and continued her work. She had a smile on her face looking at them pulling each other's leg.

Belle said to Henri, "Let's go, Henri. The staff will be waiting for us. "

"Oh yes, let's go."

They were in the car. Henri was telling something to Belle. Belle was listening. Henri asked her to pass the bottle that was in the back seat.

She turned to fetch it. As she picked it up, she looked up. Her focus went beyond the glass screen of the car; she saw that same black car.

She felt chills. She immediately straightened up and handed him the bottle. Henri took it and had a sip.

The traffic signal was red. Many cars were crowded around their car. But that black car made her look back again and again instinctively.

Cold sweats appeared on her forehead. She rubbed her hands. She tried to take deep breaths but her body was not listening to her.

The wheels of the car moved, she turned back, that black car was behind her. She turned her head quickly. Many thoughts crossed ber mind: the possibility of the unknown person and his identity, that encounter with that murderer in the boutique. All the scenes flashed in front of her eyes.

The car stopped. The sudden halt made her bend forward. It made her aware, too, of her present. Henri unbuckled his seat belt and got out. She did the same.

The staff welcomed them warmly. Many cakes were on display at a large table in the room. Henri made Belle look for the cakes. She glanced at each cake carefully. A cake with a swan design caught her eye. She turned to Henri, who was already looking at her.

Belle had a small smile on her face, "I love it."

"Are you sure about it? There are many cakes yet to be seen."

"No, it is fine. I like it. I don't want to see the rest of them."

"Ok, let's taste it."

Henri grabbed two spoons from the table and handed her one. She took it. Henri asked the staff to serve them. A waiter cut the cake and handed both of them their share.

Belle's mouth watered and she took a bite as she took the plate. The cake tasted fesh, creamy and its vanilla cream mixed with the spongy cake melted in her mouth. She ate another spoonful of cake.

"What do you think?" Henri asked with his mouth full of cake.

"It is so tasty. I want to eat more and more."

"I agree, the taste is good." His Adam's apple bobbled. He wiped the corners of his mouth and then he placed the plate on the table.

Henri said, "You eat and wait for me here. I will finalise the order with the manager."

She nodded.

Her phone pinged. She tapped with her free hand and slowly moved towards the table while checking her phone. She placed the plate alongside Henri's plate and took another spoonful of cake.

Her phone showed two new messages. As she tapped it, it opened her chat app.

The message said — You can't stop yourself from eating that cake and I can't stop myself from eating you with my eyes.

Her heart spiked up in an instant. Her appetite for the cake was gone. She placed the spoon on the plate. She turned her body and looked at the door.

Its glass screen showed that black car parked in front of the store. She gulped. She moved slowly towards the door. As she was about the grab the handle of the door, Henri caught her hand. He took her by the waist and then he kissed her forehead.

"I have finalised the cake. It will reach tomorrow by two hours before our wedding." He had a small smile. Belle nodded absentmindedly.

He frowned and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing, it's just that I hope evertything will turn out as we have planned for tomorrow."

"Of course, it will. Don't worry." He tightened his hold and pulled her towards himself a little more. Then, he ducked his head and placed a kiss on her lips.

Belle felt nervous. He had kissed her for the first time. She wanted to feel it, and reciprocate it. But that gaze lingered at her. She could feel that gaze on her every action and on each part of her body.

Her legs could not hold her weight. She felt as if blood had been drained from her legs. She felt his tongue wanting to enter her mouth. Her heart was beating too fast. She wanted to take breath, which she could not get.

She could not break the kiss; his hold was too strong. She heard the glass crashing and falling with a clink on the floor. Both of them turned their heads immediately to the door. The glass pieces were pooled at the foot of the door.

A bullet has been pierced to the wall. She could not make out when all this happened. She was shocked. Considering the position of the bullet, it had not aimed at anyone; rather, it was a point which that the owner of the car was trying to make.

The staff came with the manager.

The manager looked at the wall, then at the door. Henri was already calling the police. The manager started cursing and shouting orders to his employees. The employess cleaned the floor.

Henri and the manager talked about the incident. The police arrived soon after. The manager showed the CCTV footage on the tablet. The officer and the manager were talking. Belle was too shocked that she was standing in the corner motionlessly.

Henri came in and looked for Belle. When he found her, he went near her.

"Belle, you are sweating badly. Do you want to go home?"

Belle looked at him and nodded. He hugged her and tried to calm her down. But his words were not affecting her. She was staring at the hole in the door without even blinking.

Her memory looped that murder scene, then that black car always near her, the gift and those messages. Her mind replayed it again and again.