BRUISED.

CHAPTER 001. RED ROOM At the rising of the sun, Kendra opened her curtains so the sun could kiss her room. She fixed her coffee and made toast. She danced and sang to the country-style music that was being played in the background. As she turned down the volume of the music playing in the background her phone beeped. It was a reminder email, stating her Student Loan Repayment was due, immediately, her heart jumped into her stomach, and she quickly dropped the cup of coffee in her hands. The news made her full and one could easily see how troubled she was from the sad look on her face. Kendra scrolled through the email a second time, and all she kept whispering was “Why does she need to go through all that unaided?” She continued “If Mum and Dad were still alive, life would have been much better. It was so depressing and lonely knowing she was all she’s got and nobody was coming to save her. She fell on her bed, facing upwards as she kept staring at the ceiling and biting her fingers. Shortly, a thought flashed through her mind, she said to herself in a loud voice” Yes, the bar at the corner of Mathew Street, yes, Red Room!”Immediately she jumped out of bed and grabbed her cup of coffee again. “If I could do it once and get such a reaction from the crowd during karaoke, how much more going there every weekend to sing my heart out then make money out of it?”She said to herself, Kendra was a very talented singer and music reminded her of her late mother. Immediately she picked up the TV remote, increased the volume of the music playing in the background, and danced to the restroom, this time singing “I could achieve anything I set my heart to do, my name is Kendra daughter of late Mr. and Mrs Mirabel North” as she stared at her family portrait hung on the wall with so much determination in her eyes, then her heart started beating fast. Little did she know that was the start of something new. The weekend finally came, it was her first day at the Red Room bar. It was dark, with a red clublight, you could barely see the person sitting next to you. The sound of cool music and laughter from the guests filled the room, you could perceive the smell of smoke, alcohol, and grilled fish everywhere. She climbed the stage holding the microphone phone in a gold shiny dress, at first she had a little bit of stage fright in her, as all attention was on her. She had to remember she needed to pour her heart out for an excellent performance because she had debts to pay. So, she maintained a good composure and began to sing. Her voice was shaky at first, but the music took over her soul afterward. As she poured her heart out, she had a flashback of the accident that took her parent's life and the memory of her missing brother. This made her sing passionately and the crowd was in awe, leaving some people in tears. As she walked down the stage, the manager reached out for a hug and she whispered “Well done Kendra, that was an extraordinary performance”.Kendra was super excited, she smiled sheepishly while they walked backstage. The manager handed some money over to her backstage, she smiled from her heart and said “Thank you, I’m very thankful you believed in me", as she put the money in her purse and they parted ways. On her way out of the bar, there was a certain man at the exit. He seemed to be on a phone call, he had a cigar on the other hand. The moment she locked eyes with him, she felt butterflies in her tummy. They couldn’t take their eyes off each other and she kept wondering who he was, then she hit her foot against the figurine at the exit, at that moment she realized she was lost in a dreamy world. It was a sunny Saturday, Kendra stood in front of her window, as she stared at the beautiful view, lately she had been very joyful about being able to save some money for her student loan, though it’s been a roller coaster of emotions because she had always wanted a Cinderella kind of life” And she lived happily ever after” but life’s but a walking shadow and she had to do what she had to do, besides nobody was coming to save her. Every day she wished she could find her brother because she felt so lonely most days. It was another weekend again at the Red Room Bar she got on the stage again, and as she was trying to fix the microphone, she spotted him,” this handsome, fair,6ft tall man with broad shoulders and curly short hair. He never missed a weekend at the Red Room Bar. What could he probably be looking for?” she said to herself. Surprisingly he sits alone in front every weekend, staring at her with loneliness and pain in his eyes. She had to always concentrate on her music with the knowledge of the debt looming around her. Each time she locks eyes with him it’s always a dreamy moment for her knowing that there must be something special about him that she is yet to identify because she couldn’t just take her mind off him. After her performance, Kendra went backstage to change her outfit, then headed to the ice cream store to grab some vanilla ice cream, only to surprisingly meet him at the store again. She quickly looked away and he said to her “You’re the girl who sings at Red Room right? She nodded with a smile and replied “Yes sir “.He stretched out his hands for a handshake and these were his exact words,” I’m Damian, my family owns this place, anyway, you’ve got such a beautiful voice, I believe a chorus angel fell from the sky.”She laughed so hard “I’m Kendra, nice to meet you”, she replied in a very relaxed and comfortable tone. Now the cheerful and vivacious Damian, stuck in a terrible heartbreak, found himself laughing from his heart again. It was a mutual feeling, Kendra felt like she had known him forever. “I would love to meet you again, maybe take you out for lunch or dinner,” Damian told Kendra, she didn’t hesitate to say “yes” with her heart beating so fast, he was already giving her butterflies in her belly. They hugged each other, and he walked away. She watched him leave as she smiled like a newborn. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, at that moment, she was convinced there was something special about him, and what she felt was real as she walked back into the store. Maybe this could be the start of something new and beautiful beginnings or she might as well be acting delusional. She couldn't take the thought of seeing him again out of her mind and couldn't wait to see the outcome of the date. Kendra had wandering thoughts,” who could he possibly be, and why did she feel nervous each time their eyes locked? Why does it feel like a predestined match as she felt butterflies in her tummy or could she possibly be in danger? She wondered with so much curiosity on her face.