CHAPTER 002: THE NOTE
1375 Words
[MORNING]
Daphne woke up with a throbbing headache. She groaned, stretching herself. Images of last night resurfaced in her mind.
How she returned from work after a stressful day to find her husband entangled with her step-sister.
It hurts deeply.
She rubbed her temples as tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.
Her phone rang out. My Angel flashed on the screen.
Her face lit up as she swiped green.
"My baby," she smiled, setting the phone to her face.
A four-year-old girl gave her a gummy smile while waving at the screen.
"How are you?" Daphne asked.
"I'm fine, mummy," Angel replied.
"Mummy, why didn't you come to the hospital yesterday? I was missing you," she pouted.
Daphne's face fell as the memories rolled in again.
She quickly flashed Angel a smile. "Mummy had a stressful day and fell into a deep sleep. Sorry."
"You are not forgiven." Angel crossed her tiny arms on her chest.
"What should Mummy do to earn her princess's forgiveness?"
"You want to know?" Angel turned her attention to her.
Daphne nodded repeatedly like a child.
"I want to go home. I'm tired of staying at the hospital," Angel said, her voice slowing down.
Daphne's shoulders dropped as her eyes fell on her hands.
"Mummy."
Daphne looked at her, the smile returning to her face.
"Soon. You are a strong girl."
"But—"
"What of Ma'am Zoey? I don't see her around," Daphne said, changing the topic.
"She went to the bathroom not long ago," she replied, returning to her cheerful mode again.
Daphne secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
"Okay, mum, Ma'am Zoey has returned. I have to go now." She pointed out her finger. "Make sure you come see me before going to work."
Daphne laughed. "Alright, honey. Pinky promise," she stretched out her pinky finger.
"Pinky promise."
Daphne disconnected the call, mumbling some incoherent words as she felt the headache.
She wondered if Monica was still at home.
She rolled the duvet to the other side and wanted to get down on the bed when her eyes caught a paper under her pillow.
Curiously, she picked it to read.
~Your tears are precious, little fox. Don't waste them.
Daphne didn't know when the paper slipped off her finger as her brow narrowed in confusion.
A note under her pillow and that, too, from a boy.
She could guess the gender from the tone.
"Could it have been Greg?" she thought, but shook the thoughts off almost immediately.
He was so in with Monica that he wouldn't write the text.
Then—
She gripped the sides of her head and closed, trying to remember what had happened last night.
She remembered going to the bar next street, and—
Her eyes snapped wide open, shock written all over her face.
"No, no, this is wrong," she stood, her voice rising with panic. "I... I made out in the bathroom and that too with a stranger."
"What if we..."
She closed her eyes again, trying to see the rest of the things that happened, but everything remained blurred.
She picked up the note and read it again.
She blew out air from her mouth, calming herself down. "It's a prank. Yes, I made out with a stranger, that's it. I won't think about it again," her eyes fell on the paper. "It's. Just. a. prank." She shredded the paper into pieces and threw it in the trash can.
Her eyes went to the wall clock, and she gasped. "I'm late for work." She hurried into the bathroom.
--
Daphne was about to twist the doorknob when she heard the sound of steps down the stairs.
She exhaled and made to open the door.
"Come on, sis, you shouldn't ignore me like that," Monica said.
Daphne turned to them, and her eyes landed on Greg's arm curled around Monica's waist.
He was kissing her ear and neck, not acknowledging his wife's presence.
Daphne's chest tightened as she felt air slowly leaving her lungs.
Her eyes met with Monica's, and she wiped the tears, preventing them from falling.
"Awwn, she wants to cry."
"Let her," Greg said, finally taking his eyes to her.
"Why are you hurting me?" Daphne asked in a cracked and broken voice.
Greg smirked and walked towards her. "The marriage has always been a loveless one. I was forced into marrying you. If you are tired, you can file for a divorce."
Tears fell from Daphne's eyes as she realized what he was doing. He knew she loved Angel a lot, and she wasn't capable of paying both bills. She needed his help, and he was rubbing it on her face.
"You're a monster," she muttered against her teeth.
"I've always been, took you long enough to figure it out. And why are you crying? This isn't the first time I'm bringing a girl home."
"That's because she's my sister!"
"Stop being delusional, sweetheart. My father might have married your mum, but we share no relationship." Monica eyed her. "No one would want to be with someone as pathetic as you."
Daphne dried her tears and gave them a long stare.
Without another word, she left.
Monica wrapped her arms around Greg's neck.
"When do you plan on divorcing her? I can't wait to be fully yours."
"Soon, darling. Once my plan works, I will send her back to the trash she belongs to." He pecked her lips.
--
Daphne's vision was blurred by her tears as she trekked down the streets.
She hates her life and everything in it.
At times, she blames herself for her father's death. If she hadn't done that foolish thing, then her father would have been alive. Her mother wouldn't want to find solace in another man and then marry the wrong husband. The one who ripped off the things her father worked for.
She would have divorced Greg a long time ago, not stayed in a marriage based on his flirtatious life.
She sniffled, twisting her ankle on her heels.
"Argh!" she screamed and held the nearest bench nearby, shutting her eyes tightly as tears poured out uncontrollably.
She managed to sit sobbing silently.
Suddenly, the air changed, feeling really cold.
She immediately noticed the change.
Goose bumps rose in her skin, and her hair stood out.
She stood despite the pain in her ankle.
She tried calming herself down, but the feeling got stronger.
For the first time, she felt as if somebody was around her. Watching her.
She looked around, clutching her bag.
She began limping, hoping to see a taxi.
The road was somehow isolated, and the way fate had thrown its bad luck on her ankle. If a thief were to attack, she'd be completely defenseless. She could barely stand on her feet.
Her heels kissed the silent floor, echoing in her ears. Her heart kept sinking, and goosebumps had covered her entire skin. Her hair wasn't left out.
Luckily, she saw a taxi.
She flagged it down and got in.
"SKY college," she told the driver while fastening her seat belt.
The driver glanced at her in the mirror.
Daphne didn't fail to notice it; her nails trembled into the seat belt as she left it.
If she suspects any strange movements from the driver, she'd open the door and jump off.
She silently prayed, wishing nothing would go wrong.
Before she could even realize it, they were already at her destination.
She stared at the school, surprised.
"Ma'am," he called to her attention.
Daphne alighted from the car feeling thankful that nothing went wrong. Well, except for the weird feelings that haven't stopped.
She didn't want to believe that whoever it was, followed her to the school.
She opened her purse and took out some cash.
"Here." She gave it to the driver.
"Don't worry ma'am, someone has already paid for you."
Daphne's hand slowly fell as she blinked her eyes in shock. Confusion.
"You might be mistaken. No one would pay anything for me," she said.
"Aren't you, ma'am Daphne Monroe? The person was the one who sent me to pick you up."
"W... Who's that?" she stuttered unbelievably.
"He told me to keep his identity a secret."
"He!"
- Writer
