Chapter 1
989 Words
Year 2023
"Happy first wedding anniversary!" those are the words that Cassandra and Herdon keep on hearing from every person that comes to their table.
Herdon and Cassandra have been married and they are celebrating their first wedding anniversary in a five star hotel.
"You are very lucky having Cassandra. She's sweet and very kind... and rich," said Pilita, while pouring some wine in her goblet. Pilita is Cassandra's cousin on her mother's side.
"I'm lucky having him too," smiled Cassandra. She knows that her cousin is trying to annoy Herdon.
"Oh, I hope so," murmured Pilita before drinking her wine.
The three are seated together while holding their goblets.
Cassandra would have still respond to Pilita if not for Herdon. She felt Herdon's palm rested on her hand. When she looked at Herdon, Herdon just nodded as if telling her not to speak anymore.
"Happy wedding anniversary!" Herdon and Cassandra both turned around to the newcomer.
It was Herdon's mom. Cassandra quickly kissed her mother-in-law on the cheeks.
"We're glad you made it, mom," Cassandra said happily.
"You know, I want to be with you guys in every celebration you have," her mother-in-law said with a wink.
"We want you to be here with us too, mom," Cassandra said while holding her mother-in-law's hands. Her mother-in-law looks elegant wearing a flawless black fitted dress with white shining beads forming a flower on the waist.
Cassandra saw Pilita's smirk. She wanted to scold Pilita but she just let it go as she didn't want to ruin their night even more. She planned to talk to her cousin after the celebration instead.
"Hon, I'm sorry about my cousin, Pilita. I knew it, I should not have invited her," Cassandra said in dismay.
"It's alright, hon. She's your only relative here, why would I be pissed of her?" Herdon said while giving Cassandra a little pinch on her cheek.
Herdon is telling the truth. Pilita is the only relative of Cassandra who attended their first wedding anniversary. Even though Cassandra invited her parents, none of them showed up. Only Pilita went there but it looks like Pilita just attended to piss Herdon.
Cassandra knows exactly why her cousin is against her husband. Even before she married Herdon, her relatives didn't want Herdon for her because Herdon was a drug addict before. But Herdon changed after they got married. Cassandra admits that Herdon gave her headache when they were not yet married. But she really loves Herdon. And when Herdon proposed to her, he promised that he'll change. He said that he only wants to be with her starting that day. Her family was against it. Her family decided to send Herdon to a rehabilitation center. She refused but Herdon agreed just to give her family peace of mind. She was very proud of Herdon after their marriage. He really changed a lot. He told her how much he loves her that he's willing to become a good man. But until now, her family and relatives still doubt Herdon.
Cassandra met Herdon in her college days. They became friends and she fell for him. Herdon did not finish his study due to financial reason. Then she found out that Herdon was selling drugs just to have money. Herdon started using it too until he became addicted to it. As a lover, she pitied him. She really loved him. She tried to help Herdon financially. Then her parents learned of and started hating Herdon. When Cassandra finished her study, Herdon asked her to get married.
"Hon?" she almost jumped when she heard her husband's voice.
"Huh?" her reaction.
"I was calling you, but you are just looking outside," Herdon said wondering.
Cassandra then realized that she was too pre-occupied by the past that she didn't notice that the celebration was over.
"We need to go home now. It's twelve midnight already," Herdon said.
She just nodded.
"Where is mom?" she asked as they walked towards their car.
"I told her to go home early. She said goodbye, you don't you remember?" Herdon asked while still curious of her behavior.
"Ah, maybe I just don't remember or I did not hear her... maybe," she said while rubbing her right eye. She looks sleepy.
When they finally got to the car, she put on her seatbelt and closed her eyes. She felt tired. She was half asleep when she heard Herdon's voice. As she opened her eyes and turned to Herdon, it seemed Herdon was talking to someone on his cellphone while driving. She could not hear the actual words especially because Herdon's voice was not loud. When she looked outside the car, she frowned. She saw tall grasses outside. She was not familiar with the place. There were no other cars on their way. She wanted to ask Herdon their whereabout but Herdon was still on his phone. But this time, Herdon was not speaking. She saw Herdon's eyes seemed to glaze over. Cassandra felt nervous. It was the eyes that she saw one year ago when Herdon was still using drugs.
Cassandra had the feeling that Herdon was not in his self again. She just ignored it thinking that she was just sleepy.
"H-hon?" Cassandra called her husband as she fixed her posture.
"We're near," Herdon answered while his phone is still on his ears.
Cassandra was not sure if she heard Herdon really said those words. She was about to ask again but she felt something bumped into their car. The impact was too strong that was why Cassandra's face hit the windshield.
She wanted to look at Herdon but she couldn't move her body. Her vision was blurred and she felt the blood running into her nose.
"H-herdon... h-hon..." she can feel her body is weakening.
Cassandra shed a tear but before her eyes closed, she heard a gunshot.
- Writer
