Lured by the Captor

Chapter Six

MILEY’S POV

One year later

It’s been one and two months since I left Brandenburg to Munich. I have successfully gained admission into LMU and its one of the best universities here.

I recently celebrated my birthday. It was one of the most boring birthdays I’ve ever experienced, though I had my loved ones who called to wish me and even sung for me except Melvin of course who didn’t seem to care.

So yeah, I’m nineteen and it sucks already.

Before coming here I had thoroughly made my own research about Munich. So my father mentioning that her sister lives here was like a dream come true for me and made everything easier for us all.

Munich in fact, has surpassed Berlin and has climbed to second place, becoming one of the best destinations in the world for students.

Not only is it extremely cheap to go to university here, the city is also affordable on a day-to-day basis, with plenty of amenities to make life manageable on a student budget. Not like I’m the one fending for myself or paying the school fees but hey, I can’t have my parents penniless because they want to give their only child the best of education. I can’t allow that.

Munich also has unique access to some of the most scenic natural locations in the country. From botanic gardens to natural reserves, the Alps forest and lakes. The city offers the most adventurous and nature oriented and perfect escape from bustling city life.

I remember the day I got here was on Thursday. And on weekend (Sunday), my aunt took me to town for exploring. She took me to the mall where she bought me additional clothes that will help me on this long vacation I’m on. She later took me to so many exciting and fun places.

Of course, one can’t talk about Munich without mentioning Oktoberfest. It happens to be the most famous and biggest beer festival in the world, attracting thousands of tourists every year. It’s definitely not an experience to miss.

After celebrating my eighteenth birthday with my loved ones at my hometown, which was a week after my allergy attack, I spent a month with them as promised. I came to Munich in late September.

The city was giddy and busy and also colorful with so much crowd. My aunt at the time was very happy to have me with her to celebrate Oktoberfest. I arrived when the entire city was in a carefree, extremely busy-mood, exciting and overwhelming celebration of their festival.

I must have been lucky considering I came at the right time to see and feel my aunt’s loving and caring side.

But there’s a sad news for everyone. Unfortunately this year, there will be no such festival applause to Covid-19 and it’s such a sad news for all the natives, even tourists, even me because I had so much fun last year and I’d hoped this year will be same, where my aunt will pamper and treat me good. Bummer. I really enjoyed my delicious golden brown and crispy roast chicken. Reminiscing about it has my mouth water.

My now cold aunt was so good and loving to me that I wonder if she put on that facade just to welcome me and make me feel at home.

I really can’t pinpoint what I did exactly to offend her or when I got on her bad side. She has been distanced from me and I don’t know why or rather who put her in such mood.

She has been hostile towards me and hardly speaks to me, I don’t know if it’s good to complain or tell my parents about her or not.

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Aunt Naomi has been busy to the extreme this one year that I’ve stayed with her. I remember my dad mentioned that she’s a workaholic but I didn’t expect it to to this extent. ‘Maybe she’s intentionally avoiding you?’ But why will she live this big house for her niece alone? ‘She can’t stand your sight’.

Doesn’t she like me like my parents assured me she does? ‘Or maybe she doesn’t like you because you’re prettier than her’ Oh shut the f**k up whoever you are. I mean she’s my aunt so the family genes runs in her.

My aunt is very beautiful with midnight black hair that’s cut in bob making her look younger than her age, brown hazel eyes that I love. She’s also naturally endowed but obviously not like me. ‘See?’ Whatever, I roll my eyes. My aunt is a bit taller, like 5’6 I’m sure. Her skin colour is rather pale , unlike my dad’s olive skin I inherited.

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This one year hasn’t been easy for me at all, I feel rejected and alone.

Ever since I got here there’s been a change in Melvin’s behavior towards me.

When I was at Brandenburg with him, he’d make sure to call me whenever I’m free that I to some point thought he stalks me because as soon as I’m less busy with something his call comes in, I can’t say same about now.

Now that I need him the most, now that I need him to assure me that everything is fine, now that I need to hear his voice every second because he’s not be by my side to cuddle with me, give me that mind blowing kiss I’ve grown addicted to that makes me insensible. Huhhh (sigh).

Melvin hardly calls, no he doesn’t call at all and I don’t complain because no day passes by without me trying to get in touch with him though all attempt proves futile.

It’s either he picks up and hastily say; “I’m busy love, I’ll call you back” and hang up or it goes to voicemail.

Forget the fact that my parents and besties FaceTime me almost every day, I just want, no I need to hear from the boy I’m madly in love with. “Melvin I love you so much”. I whisper to myself on my bed hugging my pillow so tight.

Whenever I ask about him from my besties and parents, both parties assuredly say he’s fine and that there’s nothing I should be worried about.

That’s not enough answer for me not to be worried. If nobody wants to gist me on the happenings in Brandenburg then I’ll have to go there and see for myself what is really going on.

‘Or could it be that he found someone else and forgot about you?’ Oh shut up! Melvin will never cheat on me, the Melvin I know cannot betray me like this. But what if it’s true?

Is my Melvin capable of hurting my feelings? And what if he’s cheating on me with no other than Roxanne? That will make it very worse.

Ughhh, I frustratingly fist and pull my hair. Just thinking about it has my eyes teary.

What should I do? What can I do to ease this pang in my chest? (Sniff)

If he truly moved on then he never loved me in the first place. Then it means he lied to me and everyone? Has Melvin been lying to me and all the people around us all this while, even upon my dad’s warnings? I doubt the Melvin I know doesn’t have the balls to do that.

Tomorrow is Sunday, after church I’ll try his number again to confront him. If I call and it doesn’t go through or he doesn’t answer, I’ll text him what I feel and my decision. If I get no response from him that will be my cue to move on.

I sprawl myself on the bed and sob myself to sleep.

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I wake up late on a Sunday morning. I lazily drag myself to the bathroom half asleep.

I jumped alertedly, all the sleep suddenly disappears from my eyes when the cold water comes in contact with my skin.

“Damn, I forgot to turn on the heater”

Few moments later, I walk out of the bathroom. My hair damp and scarfed in a white towel. Another towel is loosely covering my naked self.

I firstly blow dry my hair and apply body lotion on my soft and smooth skin. I move to my closet and put on my undies.

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Few minutes later my aunt who is robotically driving us with no expression on her face and I are on our way to church.

I wear a beige button up khaki shirt dress, pair of black open toe heels and black bag.

Aunt simply wears a dark blue Tom tailor women dress. Her short hair cascades down. She puts on her favorite wine lipstick that she seems not to get enough of.

I admire her sense of fashion. Always dressed simply but classy.

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The day’s activity is over and we are on our way back home.

I am quietly seated on the passenger front seat with my aunt on the driver’s seat of course, watching outside and admiring the beautiful scenery when I hear my aunt say:

“Miley, how are you getting on with your studies?”

Trust me when I say I was baffled when she asked me that. She hasn’t meddled in my education one bit before that I think she doesn’t give a f**k or care about me and what I do with my life. I’m even sure she doesn’t know what I’m studying at the university. I turn my focus on her surprised and answer.

“Umm I guess I’m managing with everything, considering I’m adopting to the new way of living here”. I don’t know if that’s the answer she demands.

“It doesn’t answer my question at all dear, and when you say ‘managing to the new way of living’ how do you mean? Because the last time I checked you don’t pay utility bills nor your school fees so?” “Oh no she got the wrong message” I muttered to myself.

“Aunt Naomi, I mean to say studies are going well. Since it entails hard-work, I’m trying to put all my effort”. I shrug off the bills and fees part because we both know I don’t. She looks pleased this time.

“Good, it’s worth all your effort, you’ll see that when you start working”. She spares me a glance before she focuses back on the road.

“Thanks” I awkwardly say.

Few minutes later we each home.

We both march to our various rooms.

I have been holding my phone for twenty minutes now, I’m certain he will reply. I sent him a message, as usual he didn’t answer when I called him.

I leave my phone on the study table before I walk downstairs to the living area.

My aunt is at the kitchen like always, preparing something for us to eat.

She knows I’m allergic to corn so she makes sure not to give me any food made of maize.

Even back on campus, I always ask the caterers and chefs if the food they have has corn in it, it’s quite embarrassing when I ask that. It gives out information that I have allergies.

Aunt and I are at the dining eating our meal peacefully when her phone vibrates so she quickly excuses herself to the living room. She’s almost done with her food so I assume she’s full and trash the remaining with mine into the bin.

I clear the dining table and move the used plates and glasses to the sink for washing.

I’m halfway done when my aunt barges in to the kitchen with a displeasing look on her face.

“Where’s my food Miley?” Oh oh, I’m in deep s**t.

“I thought you were done so I trashed the rest to wash the plate”. I honestly said.

“Next time you ask, you ask before you do something like that” she yells and walks out when she’s done scolding. I wonder why she always vents her anger on me.

This has been the rollercoaster of mood swings I endure in this house. Yes, I know I should have asked but also she clearly told me never to interrupt her when she’s talking especially when she’s on phone. Moreover, the food would have been cold by the time she’s done with her phone call. Need I say more, there’s more of the food she cooked, inside the fridge. She could have simply or rather nicely told me to re-dish for her again. ‘You would have called her a glutton’. I already know she’s a foodie. I sometimes wonder how she has kept her body in shape all this while.

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THIRD PERSON’S POV

Miley had a beautiful welcome that she wouldn’t have believed if someone had told her that there’ll be a time where everything will change to the exact opposite.

Naomi Dietrich is a twenty-eight year old woman. She’s very beautiful and single. She has no kids.

She’s an entrepreneur. Naomi is a boutique owner, thrift shop owner and also brand ambassador of about four big brands in Munich.

Her niece doesn’t know she owns a boutique, maybe she doesn’t want her niece to find out.

When she took Miley out on shopping for clothes, she didn’t go to her own boutique instead they went to a*****e in the mall.

Clara proceeds her education at a university in Brandenburg whiles Mia also goes to a fashion school.

Mia will be completing before her friends because her fashion school takes a period of three years to finish. Her friends will follow suit a year later.

Clara is studying editing and proofreading.

Miley studies marketing.

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So what do you think has happened to Melvin and why do you think he is ignoring Miley?

Is he even doing that deliberately?

What about Naomi’s hostility?

Comment below, let me know what you think!