Tangled Hearts

JANELLE It was a rainy Saturday evening. It had been raining all through the day and somehow, I was already tired of the weather and nonstop downpour. It started raining at about 8:30am, few minutes after I came back from the gym. It was so heavy that I couldn't even go out or do anything outdoors so I had to retire to my bed and just stay indoors. All through the day, I didn't do much, I did a little reading, then eating, sleeping, eating and finally back to sleeping again which I was already tired of doing. I literally had no idea what to do with my phone as I had gone through all the apps in it, listened to songs, and even watched a few Netflix movies. I loved been indoors, spending my time alone, reading, writing or even meditating. I was an ambivert, but my introvert life was less on the edge. I stretched out of my bed and leaned over my reading table to the mantel clock - it was already 6:32 pm , and from the way I saw things, this rain had no plans of stopping soon. I yawned and recoiled into my duvet. It was really cold and my phone battery was dead, leaving me with no idea on what to do to escape this boredom. I tossed my dead phone on the bed, wondering how I could get it charged before midnight. I had the thought of eating but I wasn't really hungry, and if I could recollect correctly, I had already eaten more that five times today. And leftovers of junk food were littered all over the place, so food was out of the equation. What on earth should I do now? I thought, but I ran out of clues and ideas. I was the only one home, my roommates - Bernice and Skyler went out the day before, and I knew for sure they won't be back anytime soon due to the heavy rain. While I was drifting away in my thoughts, I heard a hard knock on the door. I drew the duvet over my body then noticed that it was already a drizzle outside. Dragging myself up, I walked slowly to open the door, yawning lazily and stretching my hands up. I came in face contact with the other angry face, it was Bernice, she looked really mad with anger. Storming into the room, she threw her bag over her bed. Her blonde hair was wet, her clothes were half soaked, her blue eyes were dim, and her face was red with anger. She angrily pulled off her shoes from her feet,throwing each pair separately from the other. Murmuring inaudibly, she struggled to get her zipper down in a bid to get off her dress " Let me help you with that" I offered. Unsure of what to do or say so I wouldn't provoke her more. Walking up to her, I flipped her wet hair to the right side of her shoulder and unzipped her dress. I heard a murmured " Thank you" and nodded, proceeding to throw myself on her bed. " Isn't Skyler back yet? " Her shivering voice asked me, pulling her dress down, and tying her towel over her body. I could tell she was cold. "Nope. I thought you both would be together" "I left her at the party, she was with Scott " My mouth dropped in awe Scott was Skyler's boyfriend, and the duo always had a series of argument that never seemed to end , I thought they broke up like two days ago, well, guess I was wrong. " Really? I thought they broke up ! " My left hand was over my mouth. "Sky is just confused." " It's up to her. Why are you angry?" "I'm not." "of course, you are" "I'm not. Honestly, I'm not mad she's back together with him" " Bernice I'm not talking about Skyler and her boyfriend, I'm talking about you" "Me? why? what happened?" I sighed. Bernice was a very good pretender, she hardly expressed her emotions or talked about her feelings. She was very good at keeping to herself most of the time. " I noticed you came in angry, so tell me,what happened?" " I'm fine, it's nothing" She turned to face her dressing table, applying her moisturizer "You can pretend all you want, but I know you too well, is this about Ken? " I got no reply. Instead she was humming, acting like she heard nothing or I was talking with myself " I asked you a question Bernice, but....." "Just stop it okay! " She half yelled, turning to face me with tears forming in her eyes. I felt bad for her, I wasn't sure though, but I felt this attitude had something to do about her relationship with Ken " Listen " I stood up, walking close to fill the gap between us, and placing my hands on her shoulders " I'm here for you, I just want to make sure you're fine " " Well I'm good, and I don't need any help from you or anyone " That was rude to my ears. " Okay fine." I withdrew, throwing my hands in the air , and walking to my bed " I'll leave you alone" * * * * * * * * * * * BERNICE's POV Janelle trying to talk to me and get me out of my mood was something I was really grateful for, but I also wasn't ready to talk about it. I felt bad about the way I reacted and spoke to her but I guess I only did so out of the mood I was in, but that really didn't justify my actions for treating her that way. She was right when she guessed it was about Ken. But I didn't want her to know about it, cause she would freak out and chastise me for putting up with his attitude after everything I've been through, and the last thing I wanted right now was to get blamed and yelled at for being in love. Ken and I have been dating since high school, three years to be precise. I really loved him but his attitude towards me was something I just couldn't explain. He cheated countless times and came back begging me to accept him, which I did anyways, cause I just couldn't see myself saying no to him or living life without him. At the party last night, we were together. Ken and I, Skyler and Scott, with some few Friends. Janelle wasn't really the outing type so she stayed behind. I was mad at Skyler for getting back at Scott at the party after he got sexually involved with her cousin. But she gave a thousand reasons why she couldn't leave and although I was in the same situation as hers, I just couldn't see reasons with her so I left her to be alone with her cheating sweetheart. My relationship with Ken was perfect to my friends, but only I knew what I was going through. The abuse, the cheating scandal, the insults, but I couldn't dare say a word to oppose his, or even expose what it was like to my friends, cause it would bring alot of shame and disgrace to me. Especially since Janelle thought I was her biggest relationship model. So, going back to what Really happened the night before, and the cause of my mood. After I left Skyler with Scott, and the little argument between us, I went to the bar to get some drinks to take back to the lounge where Ken and some other friends were. Heading back there I couldn't find him so I asked Zac - a close friend of his, who told me he went to ease himself out. After waiting for about 20 minutes with no sign of him, I went to look for him myself as I was already tired of the party and just wanted to relax. I had the idea of talking to him about us going to his place to spend the night as it was already late and I won't be able to head back home. At the entrance of the men's bathroom, I half yelled his name,but I heard no response. I was contemplating on going in, when a guy came out from it and winked at me, he reeked of alcohol and I almost puked. " Sup, gorgeous " I covered my nose from the smell that oozed from his mouth and ignored him, taking the risk and walking into the bathroom. I had no idea if he remained there or he left, I couldn't care less. The first two doors were empty. Walking to the third,I heard voices coming from inside. They were moans actually, like some persons were making out. I told myself there was no way I could invade their privacy although it was quite disgusting to me that they chose to make out in the bathroom of all places, but somehow, something in me led me to push open the door and I met face to face with the unimaginable. My boyfriend was the one making out with another girl, not just any other girl- his ex girlfriend Nora, who he just couldn't get over with. My mouth dropped open, I couldn't find the right words. I tried to speak but no words came out. I was shocked beyond expectations. "Bernice" He called, struggling with the belt of his trousers and trying to straighten his shirt at the same time. I looked at Nora, she had this "I don't give a f**k" look on her face as she walked out staring at me, with a mocking look on her face. "Don't even dare!" I yelled , allowing my tears flow freely " Why Nora of all people Ken? and in here of all places! " " I'm sorry, there wasn't another place I could think of " I looked at him in disbelief, he realized his statement and tried saying something else " I'm really sorry, believe me, she lured me. you know I would never hurt you " I had no idea if that was a real statement because he always hurt me every now and then, or maybe he couldn't remember when. " How could you do this to me! , Why do you keep repeating the same thing over and over again" I could feel my voice quivering, and my tears hot. The pain I felt in my heart was just too much for me to handle. " Babe. Honestly I'm sorry, I. I didn't mean to, we all make mistakes right? " He was trying to place his hands on my shoulders but I flinched and pushed him away so hard he hit his back on the bathroom wall. " f**k you Ken! f**k you! " I ran out of the bathroom, sobbing heavily. My heart broke into different pieces, I just wanted to be alone from him and everyone. I looked back to see if he was following me but he just stood there not moving, and it broke me even more. I stormed into the lounge to pick up my purse. I could see Skyler dancing happily with her lover and their laughter was all over the room. I felt pangs of jealousy but I shoved it away, after all Scott was no different from Ken. I knocked over the drinks I had brought earlier in my bid to go over the table, Zac gasped and called after me but I couldn't care less. I passed by Skyler and she called back at me but I just ignored. I didn't want her to see the tears in my face and question me about it. I had had enough already for just one night and I really needed to get myself together. Getting outside, I sobbed heavily as the scene of Ken and Nora making out in the bathroom kept on replaying in my head. I couldn't go home in such a mood and at such time. I checked my wrist watch and it was 11:34Pm. Janelle would be asleep and I definitely needed a safe space to cry my heart out without anyone knowing. So I decided to lodge a hotel room till the next morning. * * * * * * * *