My Possessive Admirer

09. Memories

"I can't imagine..."

"What?" She asked curiously, running her slender fingers in my hair.

"Life...without you..." I responded, laying my head down on her lap, holding her closer to me.

She bent her head down and gently kissed my forehead.

"How much?" She queried.

"Hmm?" I questioned her back unable to comprehend what she implied.

"How much do you love me?" It felt her eyes were glistening, eager to know what I might say for an answer.

"I love you as much that I would like to kill you, only if you deny to be mine," I said looking into her dark brown eyes.

I gazed as her expression was subtly altering.

"Sometimes you intimidate me to the core," She whispered. I could see the shimmer fading away from her eyes. Her fingers were running through my hair gradually now.

"Isabella..." I pressed my lips against her, bringing her head closer to mine with one hand and kissed her slowly. I could sense her denial at first but soon she gave up and kissed me back.

"Do you want me to accept it if you love someone else?" I asked blankly staring at her pale face.

She seemed puzzled for a second then retorted, "No but you can't kill someone you love, no matter what they do to you!"

"No matter what?" I smirked.

"Yes, yes! No matter what!" She repeated.

"Then embrace what's coming your way!" I warned.

"What?" She looked at me wide-eyed.

"Get ready to be tickled!"

"Nooo!" Isabella started running, refusing to get tickled by me.

I ran across the green meadow and finally caught up to her.

"Gotcha!" I declared my victory.

Isabella started laughing. It was a melody to my ears. She gave me peace, a certain serenity that I never felt before in my life. I embraced her in my arms, planting a gentle kiss on her neck.

"I love you," She whispered in my ears.

"Dear beloved, how do I express my love that burns in ardent flames inside my heart?

Never have I feared death this much! I don't want to lose you..."

I kissed her for one last time before she had to leave, "Don't go..." I requested.

"I would rather have you for a little time than no time at all. I will remember you perfectly. My memory will touch your skin, your lips. The memory will hurt, but it will be mine," Isabella recited from my favourite book before she left, "I was born to be yours, why do you worry?"

I got lost in memories while reading 'The Midnight Lie' by Marie Rutkoski. Bella used to read me it. I put down the book and glanced at her watch. It fell from her wrist, she probably didn't notice.

My hands shook as I picked up the watch in my hand. How long has it been since I touched her like that?

I couldn't control my urge to kiss her today after all these years. It was unexpected that I had to show myself in front of her. Even though I craved to meet her every single moment. I'm glad she didn't see my face.

How could you do this to me, Bella! I felt an impulse to destroy everything in front of me. Why did you throw me out of your life like that? Why did you betray me? Thousands of questions stormed inside my head but I didn't have an answer.

I don't know what I feel for you sometimes...

Is it rage? Is it love? Or just a dreadful pain that you've caused me.

"Wait for me, my beloved. For you've only seen my love, not my revenge."

Bella's POV

"How did the visit go dear?" Mom asked after I came back home.

I faked a smile, "Mom it was so much fun. I'll tell you what happened later. I'm really tired now."

"Of course, dear. When you are done freshening up eat your dinner alright?"

"I ate outside, goodnight mom." I didn't feel good lying to mom but I don't want to mention all the incidents that happened in there either. There's no reason to make them worried.

I closed the door after entering my room. Washed my face with cold water. I looked at myself in the mirror. When did you become so foolish Bella? Have you fallen in love? You are stupid. Nobody can ever love you for real. Nobody will ever love you without wanting anything in return. Now the question is what does he want from me?

I wore my nightdress and took off the black dress that I was wearing. "I'll never wear you again. Today was the last time," I said putting the dress aside. It only brought bad luck.

Suddenly, I noticed that I didn't have the wristwatch that I was wearing, " But I had it with me," I whispered in frustration.

I can't lose it. It's my lucky watch. My dad gave me it on my birthday. I recall it was still on my wrist when I came back to the entrance. It probably fell when I lost my consciousness.

I searched in my purse again. There was nothing inside it except my wallet.

"Wait a second! What's this?" Suddenly I saw there was a memory card inside my purse. I don't remember putting it inside the bag. It can't be mine. Whose is this then?

I decided to insert it into my phone to check.

The whole memory card seemed empty. Except there was only one video in the video folder. The thumbnail was completely dark. I paused before playing the video. What could be in this video? Should I even watch it? It's not mine. Then?

In the end, I ended up playing the video. Let's see if curiosity kills the cat or not.

The video was completely dark at first. I noticed the date in the corner. The video is from a day ago so it's from that same date when I was attacked in the washroom. I couldn't hear anything clearly. Only hear white noise was playing in the background. Suddenly I saw there was light in the video, it was evening time. The video seemed like it was taken from the security camera's footage at the back of our school. But I precisely remember what the teachers were discussing a few weeks ago. They needed to fix the security camera in the back because it was not working anymore. It has been dead for weeks then how did it record this video?

All of a sudden, I saw someone approaching in the tape.

"Becky?" I was surprised to see her there.

What business can she have at the back of the school like this? And at this hour anyone hardly goes there.

After a while, I saw three other girls coming towards her. I froze when I saw their faces.

"Candice!" Why is Becky meeting with them?

I recognised the other two. One of them came to me before and requested me to do the artwork on the walls. They are from my class.

I noticed Becky was looking at her watch again and again. What was she waiting for? I looked at the time of the video. It was seven o'clock. I remember checking the time before going to the bathroom that day. The video is approximately fifteen minutes before the incident. So Becky never went home! She was there the whole time!

The video didn't record any sound. So I couldn't hear what they talked about.

They talked for about five minutes then all of them left. I couldn't see where they went after that the video ended.

I sat silently for a few minutes. I still couldn't believe what I just witnessed. Was Becky behind all these the whole time? Tears ran down my cheeks without me even realising it. No this can't be! The video is definitely fake. Becky can't do this to me. We've been friends for so long. We are best friends. She will never harm me.

"But...the video..." I remembered what happened today in the haunted house. Becky was acting so weird. I decided to do one thing that could confirm everything.

I opened a small drawer and searched for the paper where Becky's brother Josh's number was written. I never saved it on my phone. I didn't know I'll ever need it until today.

"Hello, Bella? Woah you called me, seriously?" I could hear the excitement in his voice.

"Hi, I called to congratulate you. Sorry, I couldn't come that day to your party," I replied calmly.

"Nah, it's fine. Thanks for calling."

"Did Becky reach home late that day? I hope I didn't give her too much work, sorry."

"Oh, she was late, yeah. She reached around eight o'clock I think. I was a bit upset because of that too. Maybe you can repay me by going on a date with me, hehe," I could hear his awful giggling again.

"Haha, I'm not quite sure about that. Anyways, it's late. Goodnight Josh," I cut the call before he could say anything else.

I buried my face in the pillow crying silently.

Becky lied to me. She was a liar all along. She never loved me, only hated me. Wanted to hurt me. Is she the one who made all these schemes to put me in danger? How could you Becky? Was I not a good friend? Everyone hates me. Even him, mysterious stalker...everyone...

I can't remember when I fell asleep that night. I woke up early in the morning to my phone's ringing.

"Hello?" I picked up the call without checking the number and spoke in a drowsy tone.

"Good morning"

The gorgeous voice from the other side struck me like a lightning.

"You?" It didn't even take me a second to recognise his stunning voice. My mysterious stalker called me, it feels impossible!