THE GIRL THEY BROKE

CHAPTER 6 - MRS SINCLAIR

I didn't know how to go about my feelings. I tried so much to put myself together, but I couldn't. My mind wandered. It was him. I longed for just him and nobody else. After classes, I headed to the library because I had a lot of research to handle.

“Jasmine, are you okay?” I turned to see Milo. I dropped the books I just got from the shelves and was about to leave, but he held my hand.

“Milo, let me go,” he said. He still didn't let go of my wrist.

“Milo”

“You can scream all you want. School is over” I pushed him with my other hand. We looked at each other for a bit, and then I turned to leave. He was quick to grab my hand again. I couldn't hold back my temper. Yes, I slapped him.

“Don't you ever come close to me”

“I apologised. I said I'm sorry. Jasmine please” I looked into his eyes and saw something. Something I could never see in the eyes of Dice.

“Why….Why are you guys trying to make life difficult for me? I need peace. I don't want this trauma”

“I can give you peace, Jasmine,” he said, coming close to me and holding my hand. His hands were cold. I guess they were scared, scared of letting go of mine. I looked into his eyes. He moved away from me. Did I feel bad? Where was he going?

“When you are ready, you know where to find me” I called him, but he left without even responding. What on earth was wrong with me? I was on the verge of losing my brother. Now, this?

But I didn't like him?

“f**k!!!!!!!”

***************

Dad was on his way back from Washington D.C. As usual, the staff ran around to keep things in order but today, they didn't just run around because they wanted things to be in order.

“Mr Cavin,” I called out to our butler.

“Yes ma'am”

“What's the extra engagement about?”

“Mr Sinclair has a very important guest arriving with him”

“Oh, I see. And who is he?”

“It's a she ma'm” She? Who is she?

“I'll excuse myself, ma'am,” and he left. I called Damien but he wasn't answering.

A few minutes later, Dad came back with other cars following him behind. Damien’s car was the last to come in. I stayed on the terrace as I watched the cars. I wondered who the MRS was. Dad stepped down from his car. He went to the next car behind him and opened the door elegantly. That's not normal. I ran down the stairs. The dining table was set with different dishes. Something was fishy. Damien came in and was shocked as I was. There were other people and from what I observed, it seemed they came for the woman. Oh, but she wasn't a woman, she looked Damien’s age.

“Your house is lovely Mr. Sinclair” one of the guests said. They all settled before Damien and I walked to the dining room. They all laughed and chatted and ate. Damien's face crumbled. I could see how he looked at the lady dad came back with. It seemed it was his girlfriend or…

“So, a toast to our new couples in town. Sinclair Jasper and Sinclair Charlotte. A toast to more kids. A toast to a healthy relationship. A toast to their new home. Cheers”

“Cheers” Everyone echoed. I looked at Damien as he played with his fork. The brother I knew could never be quiet. He was aware of this union. Why didn't he tell me?

“Damien and Jasmine, it might sound odd but this is your new stepmum”

“I've heard a lot about you guys” she said as she smiled. Those smiles didn't look real to me. I was naive but-

“Excuse me” Damien said and left the dining hall. I couldn't just sit there. I got up as well. I looked for him around the house then I found him close to our mum's grave in the outer house. He sat there alone. Why was he punishing himself?

“Mum, you can't let someone take your place. Mum, come back! Come back! I'm…..I'm tired. I don't even know how to tell Jasmine that Dad doesn't give a f**k if she is dead or alive and that I'm the one doing everything. She's gonna enter college soon. Tell me, how do I go about this? How?” He cried. No exaggerations but I've never seen Damien cry. Never.

The words I heard from his mouth couldn't sink in properly.

“Dad. Dad just keeps making life miserable for me. Do you know who he brought into this house as his second wife? You remember Charlotte right? My middle school classmate. f**k!!” He shouted and stood up. It then dawned on him that I was there all along.

“You were-”

“What happened to we'll never hide anything from each other?”

“Jasmine, I had to”

“Why is everyone breaking me?”

“Jasmine calm down”

“No, leave me”

“Jasmine, I was waiting for the right time”

“Oh no. Don’t tell me that s**t. I ain’t a child anymore”

“For the sake of this, I had to”

“Well, this is already happening. You know what, don't come after me” I said as I turned to leave.

“Jasmine” He called as he came after me but I was quick to throw a stone in his direction. He stood there as he watched me. I turned and ran away. I didn't know where I was going to but I didn't turn back home.

When you are ready, you know where to find me.

I tried calling but he didn’t pick my call. Where was he? Where would he be?

“Amira” I said to myself before dialling her number. I told her what happened and she told me where he'd be. Yeah, she was right. He sat alone as he looked into the air or the clouds, whatever it was. I quietly walked to his direction and sat down on the sandy floor. The water looked cool and all. I didn't dare to look at him but my side eye did. None of us said anything.

Ten minutes passed and none of us uttered a word. He brought a handkerchief and cleaned his face. Was he crying? I felt really bad. What caused the tears? I slowly pulled my hand to his side. I didn't know how to place my hand on his. I kept moving my palm slowly. I finally placed it on his and I felt like the ground should get up and swallow me. He looked at me which I noticed through my side eye. I didn't dare to turn. He pulled his hand away. Jesus, did he just do that?

No, he didn't. He placed his on mine instead and got his fingers locked in mine. He turned my face towards his.

“I want to be with you” I said finally. He gave a cool smile. Just that? Just a smile?

“Let's get you home”

“No”

“It's late”

“I can't go to that mad house”

“And why classify your house as mad?”

“It's-” I stopped. “Why aren't you happy that I agreed to be your girlfriend?” he smiled. He walked towards the car and got the door for me. I stood looking at him in disbelief. I got in the car and he began driving. We got home and he had to park his car outside since dad was around.

“Goodnight” he said as he looked at me.

“Goodnight?”

“Blondie, I promise to have your time tomorrow. I'm not just in the mood”

“I made a mistake” I said as I got down from the car

“Jasmine” he called out but I ignored him. I got into the house through the back door. I slowly climbed the stairs so I wouldn't make a single noise but that didn't work well. I bumped into a glass vase and it fell across the passageway. I tried picking it up but I heard his gentle yet scary steps. His walking stick flogging the staircase gently. I froze instantly.

“Where are you coming from?” God. What's the way forward?