Forgetting Mellaine

A Blessing And a Heart Race

“Will you be my girlfriend?” He asked, holding my hand dearly as we have our lunch by the seaside. The ocean’s waves were too dazzling to look at, while the sun is shining its delight upon us. It was getting hot, yet the fresh air was relaxing somehow. Birds began to whirl from above, giving us the perfect scenery together with the water.

“Yes.” I hugged him tight and tears began to fall.

“Yes?! Oh, God! I love you. I love you!” He shouted and hugged me back. Happiness can be seen throughout his face when he received my answer. He slowly cupped my face and kissed me by the forehead.

“I love you, Mellaine. I can’t wait to marry you someday.” He said with a sweet smile.

I laughed and pinched his cheeks. “Silly. I love you too, Robert.”

It was the day when I decided to love him as a partner and not just being one of my closest friends. We took the entrance examination on the same day. He said that it was the time that I got his attention. Despite of me being persistent and motivated in finishing my studies, I was known for being a commoner in our university. It wasn’t a big deal for me at first, since I already knew that I took an examination in one of the most prestigious universities in the city, where most of the students came from privileged and well-known families, just like Robert. But I wasn’t expecting that a person like him will have the interest of courting a commoner like me. Every time someone will make fun of me, he was there to defend not just me but those who’re in the same position as me. When we started dating, all I heard were words behind my back that I don’t have the rights to have a relationship with the University President’s son. But Robert and I were able to prove that it is possible to be in love with someone who has a different status.

Well, the least that I expected from him after our marriage. Yes, he was able to take me to the altar and made me as his wife…no as a possession. I thought he’s the same guy I dated when we’re still studying, but I was wrong. Our marriage was the key for me to reveal his true self – the demon side of him. And now I’m here trying to make myself a little better with some of my new friends.

They say, never expose yourself to anyone if you can’t even trust them in simple things. As much as how you can handle the situation by your own, continue and don’t hesitate to give yourself the trust you deserve. For better or for worse, the only person whom you can truly trust is your soul. And the moment you know that most of your plans are working, gives you the satisfaction to continue and strive for a betterment. Although, France already knew about what happened to me years before, I’m still worried of the fact that Howard might have some information about me which is related to my husband. Having the same vibe he gave me a while ago at my lawn, he really did give me some chills down my spine, as if he’s trying to tear every secret I am keeping from anybody.

“Are you okay, Me?” France worriedly asked me.

“Oh, yes. I just remembered something.” I smiled wryly.

“Well, you should definitely take some rest after this.” She added.

“Thank you.” I hugged her.

Amy was busy preparing the meals on the table. Both France and I were the first to arrive at their house, sitting in their living room and mesmerizing the sparkling lights of their chandelier above. Brandon just also called me and is now heading towards here to join the little party being prepared by the couple. The hidden agenda of this gathering is quite an excitement for everybody.

I look around and was fascinated by the paintings that are placed in every corner of their house. Some of it are abstract while the others are about nature. France elbowed me unexpectedly and saw her lips pouting to another direction as if telling me to look there. I shifted my eyes to that, and saw Brandon at the door, wearing a blue V-neck shirt and a tight black jeans. His fixed broad shoulders are exposed with his shirt. He gave everyone a warm smile and Amy welcomed her inside. He sat beside me and saw France coughed all of a sudden, poking me by my side. I blushed for a bit but still conscious and was able to bring back my normal face.

“How’s your day?” Brandon asked, putting his cap beside him and arranged his shirt properly.

“It’s good. France visited me and we just went here together. Is everything going better to you?”

“I can say it is the best. I got some good news from someone about my plans.” He chuckled, but I thought I have seen some grins from him. I just shrugged at the moment and turned my attention to the tiptoeing and happy Amy, coming all the way to us while putting a big smile on her face. She stood in front and clapped her hands. Howard is there by her side.

“Natalia just called. She said, she’ll be here in a moment. She’s riding a cab right now. Let’s wait for her for a while, then we can eat our dinner.” She said happily.

“Sure, Amy. We’re also enjoying our little chat here.” Brandon said.

Everyone was talking and enjoying each other’s stories, making the whole house so busy and loud. Howard also gave us some desserts to eat. After a while, several knocks from the door caught our attention. France stood and opened it immediately, letting us see the tired expressions plastered on Natalia’s face. She was irritated for some reasons, but did manage to work things out between herself and calmed down.

“Sorry I was late. The traffic was heavy and I needed to pass by my house to change my clothes.” She said.

Amy clapped her hands slowly enough to let the tension fall at the moment. “Good to see you here, Natalia. It’s okay. I just finished arranging our dinner. You’re at the right time.” She smiled. “Our dinner is ready. Let’s eat and enjoy our food before they get cold.” She added and headed towards the kitchen, where Howard is putting some plates and utensils above the wooden table. Brandon handed a bottle of wine to him and sat on one of those chairs. I was sitting next to him and beside me was France with Amy by her side. Natalia made her seat on the other side, facing Brandon. Howard decided to sit across Amy to make himself admire still his wife.

The smell of the creamy carbonara filled the air circling around us. Amy also made some bacon strips, beef steak and a salad with homemade vinaigrette. And the last peace that will complete our good bountiful supper was the ceramic bowl filled with rice. Everyone is excited to taste them, letting our mouths make some fluids. We asked France to give some prayers for the foods and eventually we let our stomachs filled with it.

“How did the meeting go?” France suddenly asked Natalia who’s currently busy with her phone.

“Oh, uh. It’s good. I just had to deal with the local officers regarding the organization’s fund that was taken before.” She said and slowly put her phone inside her pocket.

“Did they find the person being responsible?” Amy worriedly asked.

“Sadly, they still haven’t.” Natalia sighed.

“Well, let’s just hope for the best.” Brandon said.

After our joyous dinner and a little conversation, everyone was gathered in the living room. The couple are standing in front of them, happily.

“I wanted to thank you all for coming for tonight’s dinner and I’m grateful to share this with you.” Amy said and slowly grabbed something from her pouch. It was a pregnancy test and it has two lines on it. Everyone was shocked and amazed of the news.

“Oh gosh! Is this real?!” France said with her usual high pitched tone. She jumped towards Amy and Howard and carefully looked at the pregnancy test. “IT IS REAL! Oh for God’s sake, I’m going to be an aunt!” She shouted. “I’m going to be an aunt!” She said it again and again, congratulating the couple.

I stood from my seat and went to Amy and hugged her and shook Howard’s hand. “Congratulations. I’m very happy to the both of you.”

“Awe. Thank you so much dear!” Amy hugged her back with her teary eyes.

Brandon patted Howard by the shoulder and also hugged Amy. Natalia hugged the both of them and cheered for the new blessing in their family.

Amy couldn’t stop herself from crying, tears were rushing down her cheeks - a clear vision of how happy she is to have her first child.

“Thank you so much for celebrating this with us. All of you have known, that Howard and I are really patiently waiting for this. I know God has His own plans for each and every one of us, and now I really thank him for giving us the opportunity to be parents.” Amy tearfully said. Howard carefully wiped off her tears with his handkerchief.

Everyone gathered around them and hugged each other. All of us are happy for the new baby.

Suddenly, Natalia’s phone rang again which left us from breaking the hug. She excused herself and made her way to the balcony. Amy and Howard went to the kitchen together with France to clean the dining table and wash the dishes, which left us both Brandon in the living room.

“Do you mind to talk for a while?” Brandon suddenly asked and offered me the way to the backyard, where a wooden swing was placed just beside the pool. The moon was shining so bright with the stars. The thick green bush filled the sides of the backyard. I sat on the swing and Brandon was beside me.

“How’s your work?” He asked, trying to keep things away from being uncomfortable.

“It’s good. France just started to bake new flavoured cakes. She also teaches me with baking whenever she has her spare time.” I smiled.

“That’s good.”

“How about you? What’re you up to nowadays?”

“Well, I’ve been quite busy in handling my paintings and selling them the best that I can.” He said and look above the stars.”

“You paint?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. I love painting. When I was a child, I wanted to be a painter, a famous one in precise. So yeah, I’m making that single dream of mine into reality. Do you want me to paint you something?”

“H-huh? I-its fine. I also got some skills in painting.”

“Oh, really. That’s good to hear that we have something in common. So, uhm…I was wondering if I can take you to a d-date tomorrow?” Brandon’s cheeks were flustered and his eyes shimmered through the thin moon’s light.

I felt my cheeks also reddened all of a sudden. “U-uhm…s-sure. I’m free tomorrow and I can share my time with you.” I smiled shyly.

“T-thank you. I’ll pick you up by nine in the morning. Is that okay with yo---” Brandon stopped as soon as France walked towards us with a grin all over her face.

“Hello, lovebirds. I needed to head home now. I’ll be seeing you next week, my dear.” France kissed me by the cheeks. “Enjoy your weekends.” She added and waved us goodbye.

“The two of you seem to get along with each other, don’t you think?” He asked and laughed a bit. The night is getting darker and colder.

“Yeah. She’s like a mother and a best friend to me.” I smiled.

Natalia knocked over the door, which made us turned our gaze to her direction. She was standing still beside it, while her arms are crossed together. She seems not so happy about something. “Amy called us. She has something in favour.” She said and went directly inside. Brandon and I stood and carefully went inside as well. Everyone is in the living room and looking at our direction. As usual, Amy is wearing her inquisitive looks, while Howard doesn’t seem to care at all. Natalia got herself an expressionless face.

“Uhm, do we have to do something?” I curiously asked.

“Oh! Yes. Yes, dear. I wanted to take a picture of each of us for this celebration.” Amy delightfully said and stood up. “Now, now. Let’s all stand and have a lovely picture.”

All of us gathered at the middle. Natalia was beside Howard who was sweetly holding Amy by the waist. Brandon stood beside Amy and I was next to him.

“Say, cheese!” Amy happily said.

“Cheeessee!” We said in chorus and she clicked her phone’s camera. We took several photos, some were random and serious. We also made wacky faces.

It’s past nine in the evening when the three of us, Natalia, Brandon and I decided to go home by a walk, since we’re basically living in the same neighbourhood. Amy and Howards were delighted to spend the night and the celebration with us.

“Thank you so much, lovely creatures.” Amy said as she wave goodbye by their door, looking over us by the street. We waved our goodbyes and headed home together.

“Do you mind for a walk to Natalia’s home?” Brandon suggested to me while I walk beside him. Natalia was just on the other side of him, silent.

“Sure. You won’t mind, Natalia right?”

“Yes. I would love to have someone with me in heading home, to think this place of ours isn’t that safe to walk during night. Thank you.”

“You’re right. The two of you should get back safe.” Brandon said, putting his hands under his pants.

We walked by some houses and eventually arrived at Natalia’s. Of course, her house looks more fantastic during the night.

“Thank you for taking me home.” She smiled and slowly opened her gate and went inside.

“No worries.” I said.

“We’ll be heading off. Goodnight” Brandon muttered.

“Take care and goodnight.”

As soon as we saw Natalia went inside her house, Brandon and I started to walk. The streets were empty and the post lights are sharing their lights with us.

“Did you have fun?” He asked and looked at me.

“Yep. I was totally glad for the couple after they announced that they’re going to have their baby. I wonder if it’s a boy or a girl.” I giggled and smiled.

“Do you wish to have a child too?” He suddenly changed the topic and was now looking at me intently and with warmth in his eyes.

I looked at the clear dark sky. “Yes, I would love to have one…in the future. For me, it will be one of the greatest blessing to bear a child and be a mother.”

“You’ll be a good mother someday, Mellaine.”

“Thank you.” After we passed a couple of houses, we arrived at Amy’s, where all the lights are already turned off.

“We’re here.” Brandon said, facing the way to my apartment.

“Yes. So, uhm, thank you for walking me home.” I smiled.

“No worries. I’ll be going ahead.” He said and waved his goodbye. I passed by Amy’s house and walked towards my apartment’s gate. Everything is in pitch black. I opened and directly went inside. Snatching my key inside my pouch, I opened the door. A gentle squeak escaped as I enter the house. I turned on the lights and slightly looked at the street over the window. There are no signs of Brandon anymore. I was about to close my door, when a stone was being thrown at my direction from one of the lampposts near my apartment. I man was standing beside it with a black hooded jacket. He has this broad shoulders and a complex body. With the light, I can clearly see him despite of the distance we share. He slowly manage to raise his head and looked at my direction. Shivers flew directly over my body. My heart was pounding fast that I couldn’t breathe properly. I could feel my feet are being nailed to the ground. The man smiled.

It was the same smile he gave me before. It couldn’t be… I stepped back, holding my chest. The man wasn’t smiling anymore, he was even smirking as if he totally know how I will react. He slowly walked towards me, crossing over the street. He passed by Amy’s house and is now walking nearer to my gate. I turned my gaze from everywhere, there was no one except the two of us. It would be safer if I stay inside the house. With my shaky hands, I immediately locked the door. I leaned over it and catches my breath. I looked at the open window, the curtain is freely flowing through the air. The night is getting darker, all I could hear is the clock’s tick hanging from the wall and the raging beats of my heart. I slowly walked towards the window. Brazing myself, I took a glance outside and to my hopes, there was no one, not even the slightest sign of him standing near my apartment. A deep sigh escaped my mouth. Holding my chest, I slowly kneeled over my knees and tears rushed down over my face.

I hugged myself tight and sobbed so bad. My shoulders moved up and down as my dress gets wet with my tears. It’s a sudden rage of fear consuming me, like I was its prey. It’s just my hallucinations again that are controlling me or was it? I don’t know anymore, couldn’t think straight. I felt my senses were getting mixed and there was nothing I could do to keep myself calm.

Everything seems to turn around with silence….

And I was there…with the vision of him… staring straight at me out of nowhere.