CHAPTER 11
1038 Words
Rachel Evana Louis was dancing in the rain.
Richard admired her every move. She hummed a song as she jumped, flaunted her hair and gently moved her hip in the middle of the Ashfield Park, Broadway.
"I think we should get under some shelter" he asserted looking up at the dark, ominous clouds.
"Just, let it go...." Rachel trailed off, dragging him and wrapping his hands around her waist. She caught him by his shoulder and pulled him closer.
Their faces were just inches apart and the proximity stunned him.
He looked around. It was a week day and The Ashfield Park was thinly populated. Yet, the handful of people at the place bothered him.
Rachel was totally wild today and that worried him all the more.
Her eyes burnt passionately. With the raindrops crinkling on her lips, she leaned forward to brace her lips with his.
Richard felt his gut tighten. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the people sheltering under trees. Some of them were ridiculing at them while the others were making sour faces.
He didn't like that. She belonged to him and he didn't want anyone to make fun of her. What they shared was special and private and he didn't want prying eyes to witness it.
So, he gently pushed her away.
Rachel was offended. "Richard!" exclaimed she with evident hurt.
"I'm sorry, Rachel. But not here" he replied, vehemently.
Rachel was about to breakdown. But she couldn't bear anymore humiliation. So she grabbed her bag and scurried out of the Park.
Richard saw her leave and he knew he'd been too harsh. But it had to be done quickly and he had no choice.
"Rachel! Rachel!" he screamed as he followed her. She kept walking pretending as if she never heard.
Richard struggled in the rain to keep up with her. And even if she stopped, how would he pacify her? He'd never seen her so hurt before.
"Rachel! Please stop" he begged, panting and holding his knees in frustration. Rachel halted and turned around. By now, they were outside the park, near the huge Oak tree.
"What!" she stated rather than querying. She avoided looking at his eyes.
Richard heaved a long breath. "Rachel Evana Louis...." He said tilting his head, making her eyes rivet on him.
"Yes" she replied, trying to sound indifferent.
"I love you"
Wait. Richard, what did you just say?
"What?" She asked, incredulous.
And this time, she made it a point to see his tongue move.
"I said, I love you"
It was spontaneous. Richard never meant to say it at that time. Though, he really loved her, he was waiting for a special moment to say this.
Rachel melted. She saw him like he were a sunshine after a thousand storms, a blossom after a thousand falls and a dew after a thousand droughts.
Richard fathomed what her eyes conveyed. He slowly walked towards her, cupped her cheeks in his cold, trembling fingers and kissed her.
They didn't hear the rain, the thunder, the banters and the laughter. They didn't care about the pointed fingers, the sour faces, the scornful eyes and the teasing remarks.
Their beautiful minds just relished and savoured that moment. Etching it as a lasting memory in their hearts.
And all this happened, right under the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
After a couple months......
Rachel Evana Louis was excited.
She was sat in the cafeteria waiting for Richard. He'd told her that he was going to break something important. And she couldn't help but keep guessing what it would be.
Perhaps he was planning for an early engagement.
Perhaps he'd wanted her to meet his parents.
She gleamed at the thought of marrying him and raising babies. They would be a perfect couple. A couple that would stand for each other at all circumstances.
Together they'll go through every phase of their life. And then, they would die old, happy and holding each other's hands.
Till death do us part.
A few minutes later, Richard arrived. He seemed to have dull eyes, downcast face and a sober spirit.
Maybe he is tired.
Maybe he was dreaming too much about her and couldn't sleep last night.
He sat down uncomfortably. "Hey Richard!" she chirped trying to sound her cheerful best.
Richard looked up and shot a faint smile.
A smile that wasn't from the heart.
A smile that sent chills down her spine.
Richard cleared his throat. "Rachel.... I...I...I am not going to beat around the bush....."
Sweat dribbled down her forehead.
"What is it?" asked she.
Richard looked down making it apparent that he didn't want to look at her eyes, "let's break up"
The words hit her like thunder.
A prank. Yes, that's what it is. A prank.
"What? Are you joking?"
And this time she made it a point to see his tongue move.
"No, I'm serious. We can't marry, Rachel. Let's just end it here"
"Why?" seethed she.
He gulped. "You don't have to know"
"I need to know" demanded she.
"I can't tell you"
No, her Richard wouldn't do this to her. There has to be a reason. He would neither dump her for anyone nor trade her for anything.
"So you've been lying to me the whole time? You never loved me?" she pleaded with wet eyes.
Richard looked down and made a resentful face.
Then got up and walked away.
Rachel boiled with rage. She wanted to grab him, punch him hard on the face and break his teeth. But she showed a totally different face outside.
She was always kind and gentle.
She can't afford to hurt anyone.
Tears trickled down.
She ran to her classroom where Angela was busy completing her assignment. She hugged her and cried her heart out.
"Rachel! What happened?" asked Angela, puzzled.
Rachel felt like she'd been induced with pain. She felt her every nerve throbbing with disbelief and every cell wincing over excruciating pain.
Rachel told everything to Angela and buried her face in her bosom. All her dreams had crumbled down to nothing.
To Angela, it was evident that Richard had broken her heart.
And she knew why he'd done it.
- Writer
