Final Boundary
1102 Words
Natalia stepped forward again, closing the space between herself and Thea with slow, deliberate movements. Her shoulders were slightly slumped, her eyes lowered, her lips curved into a cautious, apologetic line.
It was the same expression she always wore when she wanted to appear harmless, when she wanted to look like the victim even before anyone accused her.
“Thea, please don’t be mad,” Natalia said softly, her voice laced with what sounded like sincerity. “I swear I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I only called Osita yesterday. I honestly didn’t know you two were getting married.”
She reached out and took Thea’s hand gently, as if afraid Thea might pull away. Her grip was light, but intentional.
Thea looked down at their joined hands.
For a second, she said nothing. The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable, like a warning sign everyone ignored.
Then she lifted her head slowly, her eyes cold and sharp.
“Is that so?” she asked, her voice suddenly snapping through the air.
She shoved Natalia’s hand away with force.
Natalia let out a small cry as she staggered backward, her heels scraping against the ground. She flailed slightly, as though she had lost balance, before collapsing dramatically onto the floor.
She clutched her arm and gasped, her face twisting in pain.
Osita startled immediately.
His eyes darted between Thea and Natalia on the ground, disbelief and anger flashing across his face. For a brief moment, he looked stunned, as though the situation had unfolded too quickly for him to process. Then instinct kicked in.
“Would you have called him if you really didn’t know?” Thea continued, stepping forward, her voice rising with restrained fury. “Or did you suddenly develop prophetic powers, Natalia? You must be psychic.”
Natalia looked up at her, eyes glassy, lips trembling. She didn’t defend herself. She didn’t argue. She simply stayed there, silent, wounded, exactly the way Osita always responded to.
Osita rushed forward and crouched beside Natalia, his movements urgent. “Are you alright?” he asked, his hands hovering over her like she was fragile glass.
Natalia nodded weakly, biting her lip as if trying not to cry.
Osita turned sharply toward Thea, his face dark with anger. “What is wrong with you?” he barked. “How can you treat Natalia like that when she only came to explain herself?”
He stood up fully, towering over Thea. “Apologize to her. Now.”
Thea laughed.
It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t hysterical. It was dry, hollow, and filled with disbelief. The sound alone made Osita pause.
“Me?” she asked, pointing at herself. “Apologize to her?”
She shook her head slowly. “Never.”
Her gaze hardened as she looked straight at Osita. “I’ll say this one last time so it finally enters your head. We are over. Completely. Stop pestering me.”
The words landed like stones.
Osita’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. He looked at her as though she had just committed an unforgivable offence.
Thea turned away and began to walk.
“Thea Waterhouse,” Osita called out.
There was something dangerous in his tone, something soft yet threatening.
She stopped walking but did not turn around.
“How dare you talk to me like that?” he demanded.
She remained silent.
Ray Parker, who had been standing nearby with his arms folded, scoffed. “Mr. Dike is pestering you?” he said mockingly. “Are you even worthy of that kind of attention?”
Thea turned her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I’m speaking to him,” she said calmly. “You should shut up.”
Ray’s face flushed with anger. “You—”
But she ignored him completely and continued walking.
“Thea!” Osita called again.
She stopped.
“This is your last chance,” Osita said, his voice measured and controlled, the way he spoke when he wanted to sound generous. “I’ll count from five. Come back with me now, and I’ll act like nothing happened. We’ll even have another engagement party. Five.”
Ray quickly chimed in, eager to add pressure. “Thea, Mr. Dike is already compromising. Don’t cross the line.”
Thea smiled to herself.
Natalia stood up properly now, brushing her clothes and stepping forward with her usual gentle act. “Thea, please,” she said sweetly. “Go back with Osita. There’s no need to make things worse.”
Thea said nothing.
Instead, she turned around and started walking back toward them.
Osita’s lips curved into a confident smile. Ray laughed openly.
“You see?” Ray said smugly. “Mr. Dike only needs to say the word for you to come back.”
“Four…” Osita continued.
Thea kept walking.
“Three…”
She was close now. Very close.
Osita felt a familiar sense of control settle into his chest. He told himself this was how it always ended. She always protested, always tried to sound strong, but in the end she always came back.
She stopped directly in front of him.
“Good,” Osita said, pleased. “Good choice. Now come with me.”
He turned around, already reaching for his car, convinced she would follow without hesitation.
But suddenly, her hand wrapped firmly around his wrist.
She yanked him back, forcing him to turn and face her.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she said firmly.
Osita froze.
“What?” he asked, genuinely shocked.
Thea looked straight into his eyes, her voice steady, her posture unyielding.
“There was a time,” she began, “when I thought I couldn’t survive without you. I was terrified of losing you. Even a single second apart made me anxious.”
Osita nodded slightly, a faint smile returning. “I’m glad you remember that.”
“But now,” she continued, her tone sharpening, “I’ve realized something else. I am better without you.”
The words hit him like a slap.
“What did you just say?” he snapped, disbelief etched across his face.
“This is the last time, Osita,” Thea said calmly. “Listen carefully. We are over. Stay away from me.”
The world seemed to pause.
Osita stared at her, his expression twisting with anger, disbelief, and wounded pride. He had never seen her like this, so calm, so firm, so unreachable.
Before anyone could react, Osita lifted his hand.
Instantly, he raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.
- Writer
