Choosing paths

Don't break me

I couldn’t enjoy my sleep deep enough, barely even six and my door was being attacked, the endless raps were driving me insane.

I stomped to the door ripping it open, “What?” I growled at the intruder through hooded eyes.

“It’s not my fault your girlfriend is a party pooper” Asher lamented as she stormed into my room, two women hot on her heels.

“Hi Good morning, I'm Shane and this is Kelly, we’ll be doing your makeup, fitting you into your dresses, basically dolling you up, we have seven hours before the driver gets here so I’d suggest we start now” Shane said smiling brightly.

I glowered at the woman, SEVEN HOURS! She had seven hours and she decided to disturb my sleep right now, oh I was so going to kill cherry.

Three hours trapped beneath two hands that tugged and pulled, scraped and invaded my privacy, I was ready for the day to end.

Asher was left alone probably because she had kicked Shane in the jaw, the woman still smiled; cherry must have paid extravagantly for this.

After much begging and dragging Asher was all dolled up in no time, we were both being fitted into our dresses when Raymond walked into the room; he looked dashing in his suit.

I blushed under his gaze, he spared me from anymore embarrassment as his eyes roamed towards Asher’s direction, with his eyes fixated on Asher, the s****l attraction was almost cringe worthy, I stopped myself from gagging, who could blame a babe, the temperature must have risen several degrees since he walked in. 

The ‘witches’ as I termed them almost cried when we were ready to go, I had to admit we were a beautiful trio, I smiled at Shane and Kelly silently thanking them for their magical wonders.

And… the water works began, Shane had used up a pack of tissues by the time our ride arrived, we couldn’t escape fast enough.

I gawked at the sight before me, a man in a suit stood holding the door to the limousine in front of our college, I had to blink several times to get the image straight or maybe it was Asher’s excited squeal that made it seem believable, I didn’t know, my brain was still processing slowly.

“Miss Katya” the man smiled warmly at me.

“Uhh ye-ah that’s uhh me” I stammered

“My name’s Gerald, I’ll be your driver today”

He ushered us into the limo, with a nod he shut the doors, I could feel the faint start of the engine before we glided away into I didn’t know where.

I should have read the text cherry sent to me yesterday, I let out a short ragged breath, I just hope we didn’t get kidnapped or worse sold into slavery, I snickered at the direction of my thoughts.

The windows were tinted so the view was a special kind of new, everything looked black and white, I watched everyone go about their day, some stared at the limo while others were too caught up with their devices to care.

We pulled up in front of the airport, I frowned, agree with my kidnapping and slavery thought now?

Gerald opened the door standing ram rod straight, I came down cautiously, Asher and Raymond right behind me, two different men escorted us into the airport, passing through the normal checkup line, we weren’t given tickets so I assumed our seats had been saved.

Awe couldn’t begin to describe what I felt, A FREAKING JET, she sent us a private jet, oh lord! I guess Asher was stunned into silence as well, she just opened and closed her mouth, Raymond looked bored, tsk tsk men would always be men.

Once again we were escorted into the plane as the men nodded their goodbyes, if I was surprised before, nothing could have prepared me for the interior of the plane.

I had to sit on the closest chair in the fear of passing out, the air conditioning was doing wonders to my flushed skin, i massaged my head trying to ease the ache forming there, this was too much for me.

A stewardess stepped out, she did her usual explanations, normal routine, in no time we were air borne, I stared at the clouds, buried so deep in my head I didn’t hear Asher calling me.

“Jesus Christ, KATYA” she whisper yelled my name.

I jumped at the sound of my name “Huh huh”

Asher shook her head staring at me disapprovingly, what was that about?

“Hello Miss Katya I was asking if you wanted anything” only then did I notice the stewardess standing next to me.

I smiled apologetically as I shook my head.

“Oh before I forget Miss Cherry dropped a letter for you” my heart skipped a beat when she handed me a single folded paper, I took it carefully waiting for her to leave before I read it.

I opened the simple paper that held words I knew would be important once I read it.

My darling Katya

I don’t know how you look today but I'm sure you outshine every other woman with your beauty; I can’t wait to see you and kiss you, hug you and touch you.

You might not see me immediately you get to the venue but I just want you to know that I love you and I’m thinking of you

I miss you

The woman you chose to love.

I smiled widely touching the paper with care, I did miss her but now I just missed her more, I craved her presence now more than ever, I couldn’t wait for the plane to land.

**

“Thank you for flying with us” I smiled at the stewardess’ words, thanking her instead for getting us here safely, technically it was the pilot but I'm sure she would relay the message.

Another round of escorting through the airport, getting awed by another limousine, amazed by the sights I saw before me, cherry did spend a lot of money for this.

She flew us to her family’s island, I had no idea till we got there, my heart couldn’t go a beat at a time, Asher kept throwing me suggestive glances, I blushed, yea I was going to get laid today.

The limousine turned right into a long driveway, a solid ten minutes before a mansion came into view.

It was pure white, it extended… everywhere, how they maintained the elegance of this place, I didn’t want to know, Oh I forgot billionaires, I'm sure my jaw was on the ground, I waited for the self-consciousness to hit me but I felt nothing but pride, knowing my cherry was part of this was enough to fill my eyes with tears.

“Damn Katya you hit the f*****g jackpot, maybe she wants to introduce you to her parents ,I mean, look at all this luxury” Asher said pulling me into her side to give me a weird side hug.

If my heart got any heavier I'm sure it would explode, I would die with a smile on my face, did she really want to introduce me today? A frown marred my face, What if they didn’t accept us? I needed to find her, tell her to take her time.

With my mind made up I set out in search of cherry, I walked into the mansion; I mean the door was wide open.

People scampered through the halls, I got dizzy just taking in the activity, they set the tables, some carried champagne flutes, others came through this wide door carrying food trays, it was an all you could eat buffet, damn i held in all the animal instincts in me not to eat like a pig.

I saw Raymond taking long strides towards the food table, I shook my head, well I could always deny him, the look of horror on Asher's face as she hurried to catch up with him was comical.

And then there was one.

I went back to my mission of finding cherry, I searched everywhere, smiled at a dozen faces, apologized when I bumped into a gazillion people, maybe she hadn’t gotten down yet.

I made my way dejectedly to the food table, nothing could ever go wrong with food, I loaded my plate with snacks and the likes, I didn’t want to get too full then need to use the toilet, which would be embarrassing.

A microphone was tapped from the stage they erected in the center, this dashing woman smiled warmly at the crowd but her eyes were cold, creepy.

“Hello everyone, my name is Martha Alcarez, I’d like to thank all of you for coming here today, it’s with great pleasure that I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Nate Alcarez, the newest couple in town and also the latest CEO’s of the Alcarez companies” she motioned towards the edge of the stairs, I could only make out Nate's head.

Oh good old Nate got married today, I snickered, who would want to put up with that guy? We all moved in to congratulate the new couple.

I caught Nate’s eye, he smiled sadly at me, sorry bud I got the girl, where was cherry anyway?

We walked in a line for a while, as we got closer to the couple I felt ray and Asher stiffen beside me, I was too busy counting the heads in front of me to ask them what the problem was.

It was almost our turn when Raymond grabbed my arm, I yelped staring angrily at him “What was that for?” I snapped.

“Let’s just go back to the table Katya” he whispered softly.

“We’re almost there, what’s the need to head back, you could have said that when we weren’t just in front of the couple” I snipped, my arm hurt like a b***h.

“Katya let’s just go please” he begged

“Katya listen to Raymond, let’s just go back ok” Asher said, her eyes darting everywhere but at me.

Why was everyone so weird today? I glared at them so hard I saw Raymond wince, that’s better, don’t test me today.

I grinned widely when it was our turn to congratulate Nate and his bride, I was so happy I hugged him, this barrier was going out of my way, I never understood why I was so insecure about him.

“Congratulations Nathy, I'm so happy for you”

“You are?” he asked surprised

What was wrong with people today, was I a complete b***h to him?

“I’m so happy you are in line with this, come on say hi to my wife” he tapped the woman beside him, she turned throwing an angelic smile our way, her smile faltered.

I stared at her, my brain trying to capture, access and file what I was seeing, it couldn’t be true, this was a sick joke, I waited for the woman beside her to introduce herself as Nate’s wife, I waited for this woman to deny what I was seeing.

I waited to accept any explanation, to forgive the unforgiveable, I waited for the remorse, an apology, a hug, something, I needed anything.

All I got was a smile, a smile reinforced with sweetness and happiness as she kissed Nate; we were all forced to witness the love and affection they poured into themselves.

The crowd cheered when he dipped her, I couldn’t hear anything above the ringing in my ears.

I couldn’t feel anything besides the breaking of my heart.

I didn’t struggle when Raymond guided me carefully through the crowd, I didn’t notice the look of pity on Asher’s face, I didn’t want to know anything.

With my troubled heart and jumbled mind, I spared one last look at the couple.

Nate beamed, he stood taller, he moved confidently, he was perfectly f*****g perfect.

His wife didn’t even spare me a glance, she glided through the room, her beauty radiating through every pore of her body.

“It’s time for photographs everyone” Martha said through the microphone.

“Nate call out your friends would you?” the rhythmic beating of their chests made the crowd clap as Nate’s best men walked to the stage.

“Cherry it’s your turn, what about your friends from the university?” Martha asked

Cherry finally looked at our direction where Raymond was holding me up, Asher silently showing her support, she smiled staring at our faces and said “My friends in the university couldn’t make it”

That was all I needed to hear to get the hell out of there, I walked through the open doors praying my legs wouldn’t fail me.

I prayed that if I fell, someone wouldn’t be there to catch me.