Chapter 4
580 Words
I brushed the stack of bills aside without sparing another glance at Celeste's distorted face.
"Serena, that's in the past now. We have to look forward," Dominic said, stepping in front of me to block my path. "Come back to me. I'm willing to make things up to you."
"Make things up to you?" I let out a dry laugh.
Dominic nodded, reaching out as if to grab me. As his sleeve slid up, a silver-gray watch was revealed on his wrist. My gaze locked onto it. There was a tiny scratch on the edge of the watch face, left from when he had once blocked a knife for me. The strap had broken back then, and when I took it to be repaired, the watchmaker told me the scratch was too deep to buff out. I had comforted him, telling him the flaw only gave it a special meaning.
Now, the scratch remained, and the watch was still on his wrist. A sudden wave of nausea churned in my stomach.
"What is the meaning of this?" I stared at his wrist, my face completely expressionless.
Dominic instinctively pulled his hand back. "You gave this to me. I want to keep wearing it."
"Take it off," I said coldly.
He frowned. "Serena..."
"I said, take it off!" I screamed, my composure completely shattering.
Dominic froze in shock. I took a deep breath, raising my wrist to check my phone screen. It was nearly eight o'clock.
"Do whatever you want," I said, turning away. "I have somewhere to be."
"Where are you going?" Dominic asked urgently, rushing forward to grab my wrist.
I shook him off and kept walking without looking back. "To celebrate a birthday."
"Whose birthday?" A hint of panic crept into his voice. "Who else do you even know now? Drake? Or those people from the underground fighting scene?"
"Is that any of your business?"
I quickened my pace, but Dominic stubbornly trailed after me.
"Serena, let's talk," he said, stepping in front of me again. "I know you're not living in a good place right now. I still keep that apartment in Southside. The keys are with the property management office; you can go back and live there whenever you want."
I stopped and stared at him. Sensing a glimmer of hope, Dominic's voice grew frantic. "I haven't touched a single thing inside. Your clothes, your books, your favorite stuffed animals are all right where you left them. I've had people clean the place regularly over the last few years, hoping that maybe one day..."
"Dominic," I cut him off. "Do you think that makes you romantic?"
He froze.
"Keeping the old apartment, wearing the old watch, and showing up to spout a few words of regret... Do you honestly think I'll be moved by you like I was in the past?" I let out a sharp laugh. "To me, you're just pathetic and disgusting."
The color slowly drained from Dominic's face.
"Move," I said. "I'm in a hurry."
"There are actually some things I never told you about what happened between Celeste and me..." he stammered, reaching out to grab me once again.
Right then, the beam of headlights swept in from the other end of the alley. A tall, slender shadow stretched across the ground as unhurried footsteps drew closer. Then, a lazy, amused voice drifted into our ears:
"Wifey, didn't you promise to celebrate my birthday with me? What are you still doing here?"
- Writer
