Savior

Chapter Fifteen

Sole

Everything. He said he knew everything about me and Luna. It clearly wasn’t me who told him, which only met he was someone close that she told him about me. But the time I was with her I’d never seen or heard about him, so did they meet after she and I broke up? If that’s the case then was he a friend or more than that? Hundreds of such questions were being raised by my mind and I had answer to none.

He turned to her and asked, ‘You okay?’ She nodded.

‘Daniel you shouldn’t be out here.’ Daniel, so they were on first name basis.

‘I thought you were the friend of the bride, I guess I was wrong.’ I said and they looked at me. When I’d seen Emily earlier today, I’d recognized her and avoided meeting her to avoid attracting unwanted attention from Mr. Clarke. But now all I want to do is run to her and ask her to keep her man away from Luna. He wasn’t giving me right vibes.

‘She’s friends with both of us.’ Daniel answered instead of her which I obviously didn’t like.

‘She is more than friends with me which is why you shouldn’t interrupt in between.’

Luna sighed and said to Daniel, ‘Maybe he’s had too much to drink.’

He placed a hand on her shoulder and I clenched my fists. ‘Don’t worry I know you’re smart enough to not get back with a jerk like that.’ Did he just call me a jerk?

‘I’m standing right here.’ I said.

‘No one cares.’ Daniel hit back. I wanted to throw a punch at him but before I could he bent down on his one knee and pulled out something from his pocket. ‘You dropped this inside.’ He then put the anklet in his hand around Luna’s ankle. When he looked up she smiled at him. Anyone seeing them wouldn’t believe that this man just got married.

When I averted my eyes away from his disgusting face, they fell on Luna’s feet again. The anklet looked similar.

Three years ago

It had been five days since I’d kissed her after she taught me how to ride a bicycle. I must admit I felt like a child once again. Dad was always working and this made the bicycle a dream which was never going to be true for me. But Luna took the initiative, telling me that it wasn’t just me who was thinking about her. She thought about me too.

But since that day she’s been sort of avoiding me. Not making it obvious she leaves the room bringing her homework or assignments as excuses. At times she would eat a little and get up before I could finish dinner or at time eat outside to avoid sitting at the same table as me. Her behavior frustrated me a bit for I wanted to know if she was shy or didn’t like that I kissed her. Maybe I should’ve asked for her permission?

One morning, the sun hadn’t even come up yet and my eyes opened after I heard some music. It was coming form an instrument. But no one in this house played one as far as I knew. I got up from the bed and walked out rubbing my eyes and yawning at the same time. Following the music I walked down the stairs and finally found the room from where the sound was coming. I slowly opened it and my mouth fell open.

Standing there, still in her night clothes, was Luna. She was holding a violin. No she was playing the violin and man she looked so beautiful doing that. Her eyes were closed, which is why she didn’t notice me there. She kept on playing for a while and I stood there, still in my PJs and with disheveled hair, looking like a complete i***t. Lost in her composition I didn’t even realize when she stopped playing and was staring at me now.

‘Sole.’ My name escaped her lips and I brought back to earth.

I cleared my throat. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t mean to disturb you.’

‘When did you come in?’

‘Just a few minutes ago. It was beautiful.’

‘Huh?’

‘The composition was beautiful.’

‘Um…thanks.’

‘Though I don’t know much about violins.’ She chuckled. ‘So you’re a musician too?’ I asked.

She shocked her head. ‘Not really. My grandmother wanted me to learn violin so I took it up as a hobby.’

‘But you were good.’

‘Not good enough to compete in the annual music gala.’ She pressed her lips tight in disappointment.

‘What’s that?’

‘It’s an annual event that happens in the city. Grandma had got me registered herself. She was the one who helped me prepare this composition. Now knowing that she won’t be here for the performance just feels…..I don’t even know if I want to perform anymore.’ She stopped and I could already see tears forming in her eyes.

To console here I said, ‘Seeing you not perform the composition she put in effort with you, would be sadder for her.’

‘I don’t have the courage to stand on the stage.’

I walked towards her and intertwined my fingers with hers. ‘As I said before, now you have someone to rely on. If being alone is what you fear then you should know that I’m here and will always be.’ She gave me a small smile and I said, ‘Let’s do one thing. Let me join you in your practice every day until the day of the competition. I will keep reminding you that, the day of the gala you won’t be performing for the audience but also your grandmother who’d sent me to you.’

‘Sole.’

‘What? She went to god and there she requested him for you to never be alone. Hence I sent to you. Got that?’

‘You make nice stories.’ She shoved my shoulder and went on to place her violin in the case. ‘But you won’t be able to make them

into a reality.’

‘And why is that?’

‘I practice early in the morning. Will you be able to get up to be with me every day?’ She folded her hands.

‘Are you challenging me?’

‘Hmm.’

‘Then challenge accepted. Let’s meet here tomorrow morning. Wait for me.’ And I blew her a kiss which made her blush. She hid her shyness with a laugh.

Though it was difficult for someone like me who’d hardly seen the sunrise to get up early but to meet my promise I did. And after a few days it became a routine. What proved to be a motivation was Luna’s smile when every day I arrived in the room she practiced in. I knew deep down she was comforted by the fact that there was someone who was there for her.

Finally after fifteen days, the day of the gala came and the moment she stepped out of her room, I knew she was going to give complex to everyone out there by just her looks. The hued pink gown which reached her ankles fit her in all the right places. Her hair was pinned to the side which gave her a royal look. Wearing the silver heels she told me her grandmother had got her, she walked down the stairs and I admired her with every tuck sound her heels made when they connected with the marble of the stairs.

‘I’m really nervous.’ She said.

I held her face with one hand and kissed her forehead, then said, ‘You don’t need to. Remember I’ll be sitting there right in front in the audience.’

‘No be there at the backstage. I want you to be the first one I see when I finish.’ I could only nod to her demand.

I drove us to the venue and she went inside while I parked which took me some time. When I reached backstage she looked worried.

‘Sorry, parking was packed.’

‘You should’ve parked right in the middle.’ She said irritated.

I laughed. ‘I can’t do that. I don’t want the car to be towed away. It’s not even mine.’

‘Because it’s mine I’m giving you permission to leave it wherever you want next time.’

‘Luna. Stop worrying.’

‘How can I not? Everyone here looks professional.’

‘But no one’s got me rooting for them.’ I winked and she rolled her eyes.

‘Be here when I come back okay?’

‘I will be.’ She was about to go stand because she was supposed to go next when I said. ‘I’ve got you something.’

‘A present? For me?’

‘No for the judges. I’m going to bribe them.’ Both of us laughed lightly to avoid getting thrown out form there. I bent down and pulled out the box from my pocket.

Her eyes widened and she immediately said, ‘What are you doing?’

‘Relax.’ I knew she was thinking it to be a ring. So I quickly opened the box and took out the diamond anklet from it. She took a breath of relief and let me put it around her ankle.

‘It’s beautiful. Thank you.’

‘Luna Agosti.’ A staff called out her name.

‘She’s here.’ I replied on her behalf.

‘Be ready. You’re next.’ He said and left.

‘Best of luck.’ I said. She took steps towards the stage only to run back to me and place a quick kiss on my lips. She hurried towards the stage soon leaving me there shocked. She’s kissed me was all I could think about all through her performance, a smile never leaving my lips.  

Present

She was wearing the anklet that I’d given to her three years ago. She still had it meant she was not yet over me. Elated I was but a pang of envy spiked in me when I saw another man putting it on her. I wanted to grab him by the collar but Ricci came out of nowhere to stop me. ‘We should leave.’

‘Didn’t you say Mr. Clarke would love for me to stay for the whole event?’

‘From where I’m looking at it, he’d rather have you go home.’

‘I’m going nowhere unless I get some answers.’ I said.

‘You won’t be getting anything here Mr. Accardi.’ Someone from behind us said and I turned around. Emily Cooper, Luna’s friend from Art school and Daniel’s wife was standing there her hands folded in the front.

‘Emily.’ I greeted her though it might not have been best of the times to do so.

She walked over to stand in front of me, eyeing me as if I was a convict. ‘I saw you having champagne.’

‘So?’

‘So then why are you still here?’

‘I was about to but then I was attacked by your husband.’ She looked behind me when I said that but her expression didn’t change.

Why were people thinking of only me as the bad guy here?

‘I’m sure he had a reason to do so.’ Few hours into the marriage and she was already defending him.

‘Emily, Daniel came to give me my anklet. He was going back inside.’ Luna walked over to where we were standing and explained to her friend.

Emily put her hands on Luna’s shoulders and said, ‘You don’t need to explain. Daniel told me everything about you guys.’

‘I’m sorry I should’ve been the one to do so.’ Luna said.

What was going on? Their conversation was making no sense to me. What made me more uncomfortable was the fact that Emily seemed to be okay with whatever relationship Daniel and Luna had.

‘You still haven’t left?’ Daniel asked me when he saw me staring at both the girls.

‘Do you treat all your guests like that?’ I was irritated.

‘No, just the ones who’ve been a nuisance to my friends.’ Here he goes again, emphasizing that he had a special relationship with Luna.

‘Daniel let’s get inside, everyone’s waiting for us.’ Daniel nodded to Emily. ‘Luna you’re coming with us.’ Emily didn’t wait for Luna’s answer and dragged her back inside. None of them spared me a second glance before leaving. Never in my life had I been treated like that.

‘Shall we go home now?’ Ricci asked only to earn a glare from me.

As we sit in the car I shut the door behind me loudly. Ricci adjusted the mirror and looked at me through it. ‘What?’ I asked.

‘I saw what you did.’

‘What did I do?’

‘First you tried to manipulate Miss Agosti’s fiancé by offering to introduce to him some investors for his business. Then you were trying to manipulate Miss Agosti herself by manipulating her emotions.’

‘I was not….’

‘Sir, why don’t you leave her alone?’ I couldn’t believe my ears. My own secretary was telling me to back off from someone I was pursuing as if he thought I was a p*****t trying to stalk a girl.

‘Why does everyone keeps telling me that? I want Luna back, why can’t I have her back in my life?’ I asked loudly. Ricci turned the wheel to shift our car in the corner lane and then stepped on the breaks.

Turning back he looked at me with dead serious eyes and then asked, ‘Why do you want her back in your life?’

‘Is it wrong?’

‘Yes. If the reason you want her back is something other than love then it is wrong.’

‘Not everything is about love.’

‘Sir, she’s been through a lot.’ I narrowed my eyes. He knew something.

‘Did you find something about her?’

He nodded. ‘But I’m yet to confirm certain facts.’

‘What is it?’

‘Let me clear the ambiguity and then I’ll tell you everything.’

‘No. Whatever it is I want to know now.’ When he didn’t say anything I shouted, ‘Ricci! Tell me what it is. Now!’

He took a deep breath and said, ‘She had a child.’ And the air was knocked out of me.