CURSED 1

JUST BE CAREFUL

***DEVIN’S P.O.V***

I was just sitting in my chair when I saw mom come in. “Your admission is done. We have become the trust of the college also, so you will not have any trouble there.”

She said she sat in front of me as I was not saying anything. “Devin, it might be a mistake or just a coincidence that you saw her. She is not alive and she can never be alive and you know that she is dead and even if they both look the same, she is just not the one.”

“Yes mom, I know we can't just leave this town.”

“No we can’t and you also know that it’s not possible we did it. We have to be here for a significant year before shifting.” I have to be here. What if I see her again? What I would do then I don’t know about then I saw her there. She was in my arms.

The same face is exactly how she was not. They are both not. Same and they will never be the same. “Okay cool, I will do what I have to do.”

I said, know that right now, my frustration doesn’t matter. It all needs time and has to be taken with care. “Just one thing, Devin, don’t make any mistakes. I don’t want you to make any mistakes this time. This will just ruin it all.”

“I know mom what I have to do. I will not do anything wrong.”

I stood up and then went to the balcony. This place. In this air I am in the same place again. I am back in this town and have already taken a lot of stuff from me.

“He is a big guy now. Don’t worry about him right, Devin.”

“Yes Dad.” I said, even if the only thing that’s going on in my head is that she is the only one that’s in my head.

“I just want to give you a piece of advice. Stop thinking about her or she will make it all into pieces.”

“Yes Dad.” Hey, see it, and then mom and dad left my room. I am just looking at the moon. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but I just hope that I don’t see her again, even if I want to.

NEXT MORNING

I woke up and then got ready for college, wore my clothes, and then drove to college. As I went to college, I went to the principals' office and then got my schedule.

“Devin, son, if you need anything, then just let me know OK, I am here just for you, okay.”

He said. I turned and I looked at him. “I know that very well. Now I have a class to attend. Excuse me.”

I said and then made my way to the class, asked why I feel that she felt there there as I was, going close to the class. I just feeling that she was felt there.

As I reached arrived, I saw her. No. I am not going. I turned to leave when the teacher looked at me. “Where are you going?”

She asked me “I am finding my class.”

She took the schedule from my hand. “Ohh, only. That is only it. I am your home teacher.”

She said and then I followed her. I entered the class and I saw a pair of eyes on me. The same pair of eyes that was just killing me.

“So everyone, this is Devin, a new student from today. He will be joining us.” I was looking at her. She was just looking at me. No, I have to stop this. I started to look at the other others started

I took my seat and then sat down. I had to avoid her as much as I could. I had to do that. Class was over and then I made my way to the parking car when my phone started to ring.

ON PHONE CALL

*Yes mom*

*Devin. I heard that there is a play gonna happen at your college. I want you to be a part of it.* I don’t want to be. Part of it is, if she were also there, then it would not be great.

*mom I don’t want to be.*

*Devin, you know that you have to blend in with them and already everyone in the town is gossiping. I don’t want more of it to be a part of it like a normal one. I have talked to the principal. He will help you to be the lead.*

*Ok.*

END OF THE PHONE CALL

I don’t have any option right now. I just have to do that at any cost. I made my way to the principles room. He got up from his chair. “Mom talked to you.”

“Yes, she did. Don’t worry. I am here and I will sort it all out okay.”

He said, and then we both made our way to the auditorium. As I reached there, everyone looked at me.

We both made our way to the auditorium and then went down there. I just saw her there. She was just looking at me. It would be good for me if I would just keep on ignoring her.

“I am here for auditions,” I said, and then Pearl looked at me. She came to me and said,

“I am sorry but you are late and it’s already done.”

She said, then gathered myself and then said “I was not aware about it, so as soon as I learned that something like this was happening I just arrived. I am sorry if I am late.”

“It’s absolutely alright, you don’t have to feel so much of it, it’s just gonna be great.”

She just said to principal and then the principal came, “Why are you not letting him give the audition?”

He said, then Pearl looked at him, “Can I know who you are?”

She asked him “I am the new principal and what is the reason that you are not letting a student audition over here?”

“Sir, it’s because it’s already done.”

“Ohh, usual, I know Chris. He is the one who has been doing this all for so long. Now you have to do the audition.”

“With due respect, sir, I just can’t do that. We have already taken the leads and I can’t change that now he is the one who is late.”

“Without even taking his audition, you are saying that now it’s done, how come this is fair? Can you explain that to me?” He said. I was looking at Pearl, who was not in the mood to give up.

“Sir, honestly, it’s not my mistake that he didn’t show up for the audition. It’s absolutely his fault.”

“It’s okay, Pealr, as I told you this earlier also, that I was not aware of it that something like this was even happening. That’s why I was not on time. I just want to propose a deal in front of you. If you do not like it, then I will do as you then say.”

“What is it?” she asked me. I smirked and then said

“Let me give the audition. If you do not like it, then reject me. That’s it, Ned, if it and the decision will only be yours and no one else and I promise you that.”

I said

I said," I know that her eyes are just on me. I have to be like I don’t care “, but okay, fine, I am ready for that to do, but if I do not like it, you will not argue.”

She said, then I took the script, read it and then made my way to the stage. I did the act. She looked at me, then at the principal. I went down off the stage.

“So did you like it?” I asked her if I knew what she was gonna say. I smirked and then looked at Penelope.

“So, as I had been promised that I would not be lying, it would be a fair decision. Devin is the new Romeo and Juliet is Penelope, because he truly deserves to be the one. I am sorry for Chris”. She said that and then just left.

Tatia came to me with a smile. “You know why you were just killing it on stage, it was just fabulous. I must have to say that it was just wonderful and absolutely stunning. Where did you learn it all? Huh tell me tell”

I didn’t say anything. She is gonna be with me all the time. Now how much I want to be away from her. I just can’t

“Excuse me.”I said, and then came out of the auditorium. I sat in my car and drove back to the house. I was not in a mood.

As I entered, mom said “I heard that you got selected for the lead just be with them and hang out with them.”

She said. I looked at her with anger. “Yes I will do that mom.” I turned to leave when she stopped me.

“Is something bothering you?”

“No mom. I am tired. I want to rest for a while.”

“Okay.” I made my way to my room, punched the wall. She is there. She has to be away from me.

I can’t let mom or Dad know about it or it will cause a problem for her. Why Penelope, why do you look just like her? Why?

NEXT DAY

I got up and then got ready. I have to be alert in every sense. She seems smart to me in every way. I made my way to college after college. It was our performance for the act. I looked at my script.

We both went on the stage. I was looking into her eyes and saying my dialogue. Everything that I said was just meant for her. I wish that every single day she would have been mine.

“Excuse me, can you please say your dialogue?” I said, as she was just looking at me.

She starts to say her dialogue," I just want to hold you like this in my arms, but I know that I can’t. You can’t always be mine.

“I have to say that you are both just great. I like both of you together.”Pealr said. I smiled at her and then sat by her side. I was looking at the script when I saw that Penelope was gonna fall. I hurried up there and then held her as she fell. She didn’t let her fall on the ground. She was just looking at me.

“Ohhh s**t god are you okay damn put her here in the chair.”

Pearl came and checked on her. I put her on the floor but then she got a sprain “auchhh .”

“Is everything alright? Is your leg moving or still having pain?”

“Just a little bit of pain. I am good looking .” She said. And then I just looked at her. I didn’t know what had happened to her and in what sense it had happened. I just hope that she is well.

I took her up in bridal style and then put her in the chair. I left there without even looking back. I couldn’t come close to her. The more the closeness, the more the risk.

A few days have passed. Just by that. Only, me being with her and trying to avoid her. Just in 3 days, we have our drama and then I will be freed from being close to her 24/7. Then I can at least be away from her. It just causes so much effort to be around her and act so cold.

I went to college and then I was in the auditorium. You know what I was upset about in the beginning about having you, but now I am more than satisfied to have you in my drama. I am glad that you are a part of it. You are just killing the pain. It’s like it’s real.” How can I say that it’s because it’s real? I can feel the pain of each and every word.

I smiled at her. “I am glad that you liked it .”

We were both just talking when Penelope came, we did our act and then after that she asked me “Hi Devin.”

“Hi.”

I said, then she smiled at me, “Umm. I wanted to ask something from you.”

“What is it?” I asked her. She looked at me and then said,

“It was you, Devin, who saved me right.”

What the hell?

She asked me, yes, it was me who was there. It was just me who was there who did that. “excuse me, I didn’t get it when I saved you .”

“That day when it was my first day of college, when I was about to fall from the cliff and then you held me in your arms.”

“I am sorry, but you are mistaken. It was not me, as you know. I am being shifted from another state and I am late. It was not me”, I said, and then left.

I have to avoid these. I knew that would happen. For how long she will avoid my cold and arrogant behaviour is the only way through which she will avoid it all. She will avoid me in every way.

I reached home. “Devin, come here, let’s have a drink together.”

Mom said. I looked at the house. Everything was being decorated. What’s gonna happen here now?

“What’s going on here?”

I asked her as I went and then sat in front of her. She gave me a glass of blood. “A small party which includes all the big bees of this town so that they will learn something to talk about us.”

“Humans in the house.” I said. What she was saying was she didn’t come in contact with them and today she is talking about having them here.

“Yes, humans in the house. Your Dad also thinks that we should do that, so I did that. I hope that you are okay with it. A few of your college mates have also been invited.”

“How come?” I asked her. Did she not didn’t come to college or else she would have told me?

“I came to your college to give the cards to your classmates and everyone when I saw someone there.”

I stood up and got angry. When you come to college, “ why did you come to college? You could have asked me to do that and I would have done that.”

“ so that you would have gotten the chance to hide her from us.”

“ I am not hiding anyone from you.”

She laughed at me and then came close. “My dear Devin, then you never told me that Isabella is in your college or the girl who looks like her.”

She said in anger. I looked at her. “Because she doesn’t matter to me at all. If she had to, then I would have said something and she was not Isabella.”

“If not, then why do you become possessive of her? I saw it in your eyes when she fell from those stairs. I would throw her out of the college. I don’t want any sort of problem.”

I held her hand. She can’t do that. She can’t involve her in anything. I am not letting her come close and here she is. No. I can’t let that injustice happen to her. “You are not doing that. I am not gonna let you do that. Whether you get that or not, I will not let that happen. She is not even close to me.”

“But she has that thing built in you which will make you do stuff that you should not if you go and we can’t afford that.”

I just know that it’s not something that I will let happen to her. “Why, Devin, if she is gone, then it will be for good. Your mom is right. She should go away from all of us.”

I looked at my father with anger. She was just not going anywhere, not with my wish until I am here why to drag her in my stuffs

“Why do we have to drag her in all the stuff that I have? Why is she far away from that?”

“Cool, then if she is seen as a problem, then she will be thrown out of this college. Did you get to do such things in a way that she would just not stay close to you, not in any way? I hope that I am clear son.”

Dad said it and then just left. I know it all, but at the same time, I know this also, that I just don’t want that at all, not even a bit.

“Devin. You take this as his final warning. You know your father very well, he’s not gonna have mercy on her as she will come in our way.”

“ I know, mom, she will never come in our way. I am staying as far as I can from her.”

The more she is away from me, the more she’s going to be happy. I don’t want her to be even close to me, so least I can’t risk her life.

I made my way to my room. Penelope. I didn’t want that at all, not by any chance.

It was time to get ready for the party. I wore the tuxedo and then went down

“Looking good.” Mom said. People started to gather and mom's tolerance started towards him.

“Relax, mom, just for a few hours, then they will all be gone for good.”

“Yes, see, I will see they are here.” Mom went to see the guests. I went to the side of the bar and was having my drink when Tatia came to me.

“Hello Devin. How are you? You know I am so happy. I mean this kind of party. They are just the best. Don’t you think that way? By the way, I was very happy when your mom told me to distribute the cards. She seems to feel that I am part of the family.”

She said and then I just looked at her, “She did that because she didn’t want to stress out about that and you are great doing that.”

“So is it for that slum dog you know this Devin that she is not of your standard, I don’t understand why Chris is behind her.”

“By the way, Tatia, I also have a question. Why don’t you go and enjoy the party and just leave me alone? I would be very happy.”

I said my phone started to ring so I just went to the back door and picked it up.

I just hope that she is safe. I am gonna help her every way. I had just finished the call and was about to go when I saw her, Penelope. As far as I know, she is not invited. Then what is she doing here?

“Excuse me and are you going over here without an invitation card”, I asked her as I went and stood in front of her.

“I am here because Myra needed me. She forgot her card. That’s why I was over here.”

“Do you think that I am a fool? I know very well how things are here. You just wanted to come to the party. As you were not invited to the party, I can understand that clearly.”

“Devin Penelope is here with me. She is a part of our family. I am sorry if you have any trouble.” Myra's mom came and Said mom also came with her.

“Ohh comon absolutely not she is also like a family of yours why anyone will have problems and Penelope I am sorry I forgot to give you the card and I am sorry from Devin’s side about his behaviour . “

Mom said she had to act all the time. If someone is not important, then they are just not. It’s simple.

“Say sorry to her.” I looked at mom and then at her

“sorry.” I just said it’s bad they came back to the party. This is so irritating that I have to be with her. I just don’t like that at that.

“What was that, Devin? At least you should not behave like that?”

“What is your problem, mom? If I am behaving in a certain way, then what is wrong with that, tell me?” I told her. Then we were both arguing when she glared at me.

“I am gonna announce that you have to dance with her as an apology and you have to do that. People will think that it’s normal for that.”

She said and then just went there. I can’t understand what was wrong with her.

“Penelope, as a token of apology, Devin would like to have it. A dance with you. I hope that you are okay with that.”

“Go and do it Devin, don’t create a problem. Scene over here” Dad said I went to Penelope and then asked her to dance

“As you heard what mom said, can I have a dance with you?” I asked her. She gave me her hand. We both went into the dance floor lights. They were close to each other. I spoke in her ears.

“Not even in your dreams do you even think that I did it all because I am sorry or feeling bad. Did you get that? I am doing this all because of my mom.”

“There is no need for explanation. I know how you are and it’s obvious that you are here just because of her or else you would not have been over here.”

“I don’t even understand what there is there for an apology. I mean just look at you who came to the party without even an invitation,” I said. I know that she got a bit of tears in her eyes few days, but then she just controlled it. I know that I am the worst man that she would have met, but yes, this is how I am a monster.

We were both done with dancing, then I moved away from her.

“Thank god that you didn’t create any scene.” Mom said.

“Mom, I am least interested in her and she just pisses me off. She is not even close to Isabella, she is just a pain in the ass, that’s it.”

“I am happy because of that, Isabella, you have lost your life. I don’t want you to make the same mistake again.”

Mistake. Even if she calls her a mistake. It was my love which I failed in saving. I just failed to save her. However, many times. I will try to forget it. But I will never forgive her. She was the one who died saving me.

“Yes mom.”

“Greta work Devin, you were good at playing along. Just don’t let this all get real. You okay, she should be away from you and today everyone has gotten a lot of stuff to talk about, and it’s all about our money, how rich we are, how much we own and how we live.”

Dad said, as most of the guests were gone.

As the party got over, we all sat down together. “Today it was very tough for me to control my hunger. They were all right.”

“But it was all worth it. Now no one is suspicious of us about how we are here. What is it that we have and how do we have so much? The only thing they will talk about is our lifestyle and that thing will help us live here peacefully.”

“You are right just about Devin's behaviour today. Maria got upset, but I also took that. Now she will not say anything and Devin just knows one thing: that you don’t have to be so vocal, that can also cause harm.”

“Yes mom, now I am sleepy. I am going.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

They just want to pull it all on. I just don’t understand one thing about what is going on in her head and what is it that she has been thinking about has

“Devin doesn’t mind your father so much, he just wants you to be happy and you will have a peaceful life and we just came here. She is already a very big red flag.”

“I know that mom and I just know what I am doing, it’s just that I don’t want to have it in the way you both want the thing that I know and that I want is that I just don’t care about things like that.”

I just said it. I know that that’s how it is gonna be like that and that is it. “Look, what I was saying is that, it’s okay I got it, but if you keep on shouting at her like that, then things are just gonna go out of control.”

“Mom, I can understand what you are saying. I am just saying that it’s gonna be all good. Don’t worry at all, I am gonna handle it and I just know what I have to do and what I have to do.”

I just told her I knew how I have to put Penelope away from me. I just have to do that. I just don’t care about it all, she has to be away from me as much as she can.

“I believe that you are going to be absolutely fine, but just don’t worry about anything at all. Just know one thing, that it’s going to be absolutely alright.”

She just said it and then I just don’t know about it. Definitely for a fact, I just know one thing that, I have to push her away, but I don’t know what is wrong with her. The more I push her away, the more she comes close to me and it just irritates me a lot like most.

“Mom, please. Now you should not stress about it. I know that staying at this place is very important, but at the same time, I just know how I have to push her away. That is it. I know one thing very well, that things are just going to be very well, I promise you mom.”

“I hope that, Devin, I have seen you in that state because of a girl years ago now. I just don’t want to lose you to anyone. I don’t want you to lose anything, or I will lose my son just for a girl.”

She just said," I know that for a girl, I have already lost a girl, but it’s absolutely alright. It’s going to be fine. I will make sure that it will all be sorted.

“I just want to say one thing to you, don’t stress about it. This time, no one is gonna do it okay. Just don’t worry about it. It at all I am very glad that I have you and just because of you I have you.”

I just said I know one thing very well, that things are gonna age okay if she stays away from me and my family for the peace of my family and everyone’s happiness is if she stay away. It’s better for her safety also.

“Don’t worry about it at all. Okay, I just wanted to let you know is that it’s gonna be okay. I am here, your father is here and everything is just going to be absolutely fine. Just don’t worry at all, okay.”

She just said and then I hugged her “Yes mom, just don’t worry about it, I just want to let you know that it’s gonna be okay, I am here for you and I am going to sort it all out on my own and that is it.”

I am happy, I am absolutely fine and I am going to be fine. Just don’t stress about it like that, I just want to let it be like that.

I just want my family to be happy. That’s it and I will make sure that happens.

TO BE CONTINUED….