FOREVER MINE.

Chapter Fifteen

Jina swells with anger and sits in silent contemplation. She was so ticked off that she no longer had the guts to proceed to the boutique. "This day is fatally flawed." She thought and fear crept up on her. As she reflected on the odd scene minutes earlier, she shrunk and was wrenched by fear. Then she twisted to look at Richard who seemed to be lost in thought.

"We can't go ahead, honey. I sense danger in the nook. She said, squeezing his arm."Give me the car keys, I will drive.

" Richard is quiet and miserable that his plans have flopped. He too was scared of what might have happened to him. Jina clasped the keys and occupied the driver's seat. "What a loss!" He muttered and peeked at Jina. He was speechless and gutless and decided to be led as a dumb sheep. Jina 'started the car and made a turn and drove slowly along the lane.

A dark cloud blocked out the sun and gradually the whole sky turned black. A strong wind blew and swept across the tall buildings making the windows clatter and shutter. It edded the scattered leaves in the air and whirled them in the air; then followed the rumble of the thunder and flashes of lightning. There was the anticipation of a downpour.

Jina drove at a high speed to escape the rain. Down the low lane, it started drizzling.

Richard sat emotionless and stared into space. Jina twisted her head and turned to look at him. The veins on his face stretched. She noticed the rash on his skin. When he touched his hand  he flicked, "Honey, you are as cold as a mummy!" Richard lifted his head and smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth and then crossed his arms. He chose to keep quiet or else he would have told her that his heart was frozen in his chest.

"So you don't want to talk, ah!" Jina said and tickled him in the ribs giving him a coquettish smile. Richard flinched and giggled, "Honey don’t forget you are on the steering wheel. As such I am still in shock."

"Let it go, dear." She said and fluttered her eyes. "I don't remember marrying a coward for a man." She remarked and beamed.

 In a moment, the rain came down in buckets and drummed on the windscreen. "Oops! This is terrible. I can’t see the way." Richard jerked and cried, "Honey you have to be careful, wipe the screen, this is dangerous. Jina trembled on the steering. It's not working. It's dim!" The vehicle suddenly skidded to a halt and she formed her grip and parked on the side road.

"Honey, are you Ok? She asked, yanking him and cupping her mouth with an alarming gesture

" I don’t know."

"I am dead scared. It looks as if death is looming around." Jina said and then cried, 

"No wonder it's Esther who opened the door!" She pursed and carried her arms like a little child. Richard glared at her questioningly and shook his head incredibly. Upon beholding the aghast look on his face that was full of resentment rather than the fear he naturally dropped and reclined on the seat and said, 

"And so, what has that innocent girl got to do with what’s happening to us?"

"Can’t you see, she’s a child of bad luck! Ever since she came to the mansion, strange things have been happening; it's either this or that or the other, damn her!" She snapped and blew her nose with a hankie.

A globe of pain-filled Richard’s heart. Esther’s picture reflected in his mind, and his heart curled. It was obvious to him that the beleaguered girl was innocent.  "Why is she acting strange? Superstitious Jina! Unbelievable." As such, Richard didn’t see any point in pointing fingers at the girl, but Jina was paranoid. 

He shifted his bottom slightly in position and leaned forward; “Honey, he spoke in the softest tone, take it easy,hmh-calm down." He clasped the hankie in her hands and wiped her face tenderly and lovingly and pursued,   "you are tense right now." She turns and stares at him. Richard draws a bit closer to  lay an explanation, 

"Leave the poor girl out of our troubles. She’s not a causative factor to any of our misfortunes. Jina clasps at the steering with her hand, growls and stares in space. Richard pokes her  arm  to get her attention and tries to jest, 

"Wait, since when did my Sweet loving husband become superstitious?  Ok, tell me, what will happen if I kiss you in the rain, will I die?" Jina broke into a peal of deep laughter and then looked at Richard.  He had the same old glow on his face. She naturally released the steering and clasped his hands and her face brightened. She started, 

"Honey, just imagine if something tragic happened to any or both of us, what would happen to Esth…" She stops and wrinkles her nose in disgust at the name.

 “The stupid girl is now on my lips! she’s a demon!" She thought and corrected herself, 

"I mean, our kids?"

Richard gives her a reproachful stare and wriggles his head slightly. "There you go again! Esther too behoves to be loved and considered as our own. Jina was in no way chastened for her mistake but rather boiled inside every time Esther’s name was mentioned in the topic. Circumspectly he resumes, 

"And who has told you that something will happen or have you now turned into a fortune teller, uh-huh?" Jina pouted 

"Stop!"She cried and clapped his cheek, her face bubbling a smile. It was raining heavily outside and their skins felt cold and clamps. Richard, seeing that his wife was beginning to chatter with coldness, draws her closer. Jina gazes at him with a luring look to clarify her feelings. Her heart craved his touch. It was plain in her eyes. Richard too felt the urge to hold her but tried to cloak his desires inside him to trigger her and Jina’s face clouded over with sadness. In a moment, Richard clenched her into his chest and sighed. Naturally, their eyes met and warmth thrilled their bodies.