Her Misfortune

VI. Riel

Here I am, sitting in a bar drinking my fifth shot of vodka, keeps thinking what happened just before I got a call from Lisa who took me here.

Flashback

After dropping off mom and the twins at my auntie’s house, I took the bus to return and decided that I will return tomorrow, I rode the car once again and drive home.

I needed some clothes for the twins and mom so I decided to go back alone to get some clothes that we will be needing while we stay there but as soon as I arrive in front of our house, a very familiar car is parked. A man leaning on it is the last person I wanted to see.

He notices me which I gain his gaze. His gaze that is not in a way I expected. The determination and anger. Something you would expect from someone who wants to get something back, something he has lost. But instead, it is a mortified expression, like the whole world fell upon him, like he is dying about something.

I park in front of our house and stepped out as quickly I can. Hoping that he will not have a chance to stop me. But I was wrong, as he got a grasp of my arm before I could even open the door.

“Jay, can we talk? Even just for a bit. Please.” He said sounding so fragile.

“I have nothing to say so no.” I said sternly as I try to shake his tight grip on my arm. After a few try of struggling, he finally let me go which I took the chance to quickly open the door and close it on his face.

“After all these years. Why only now? When I finally can stand on my own and could finally take care of my children? When I decided to be the best mom for them? When I do not search for you anymore? Why now?!” I said to myself as I slid down the door and sob as soundless as I could. Broken into pieces with thoughts that are worst enough to kill me while dreaming.

I heard footsteps walking far away from me. Only then I took all of my courage to stand up, and there I heard the sound of a car zooming off. I took deep breathes as I walk towards the rooms while I sob still.

I took one big suit case to put inside the chosen clothes for everyone. I put them inside in a hurry when my phone rings.

“Hey mother-in-law, are you ready?” said Lisa from the other end.

‘Oh s**t!’ I curse under my breath as I remember that it is her birthday and I already promised her that I will join her in her celebration. Lisa is like a little sister to me, she is the only one I am so close with in and outside of work that I knew I could not say no.

“Yeah, just do me a favor.” I said as I try to collect myself and do not let her hear my sobs.

“Sure thing.” She quickly said.

“Pick me up and please bring me home too. Will you?” I said as I close the suit case and run towards my wardrobe to get something to wear.

“Easiest thing. See you after half hour.” She said before saying I love you and hung up the phone.

I run towards the bathroom where I look at myself in the mirror and just realize how horrible I look like. And thinking that I only have half hour to prepare, I quickly run to the bath tub where I soak myself for five minutes with a wet towel on my eyes before I fully washed myself and got off from the bath.

I walk to my dresser and once again look at my reflection. My eyes are still puffy but I know I have no time to do something about it aside from doing my make up to hide it accordingly

After ten minutes of make up, I got dress in a spaghetti strap black sleeveless crop top, a pencil cut black skirt and was completed with a black cardigan and black stiletto. Giving my pink eyeshadow a perfect bloom.

After a couple of minutes, Lisa arrived ringing the bell.

“This girl, she thought I would take time to prepare and thought of playing with the twins while waiting.” I thought to myself as I open the door, it made me smile even just for a bit.

“Hello aun..tie.” she said with high notes at first into decrescendo.

“Sorry girl, they are not here.” I said teasing her disappointment. I step out of the house and lock it with Lisa still in daze behind me.

“Where are they? To think that I am so looking forward to get a kiss on both of my cheeks from two handsome men as they wish me happy birthday.” She said dejectedly.

“Well I am sorry to disappoint you, you will not see them for a while.” I said as I stepped into her car and so she does before starting the engine and zooming off wherever she will be taking me to now.

“So, where are you taking me to miss?” I said jokingly to her as the drive goes on.

“We will find some hottie tonight, so you do not have be apart form those handsome kids.” She said with a smirk on her face. I could more or less guess where this girl is taking me.

I do know what she meant by that but still if I think it rationally, at the end of the day the decision still be on me.

“I could just go with; ignore the hotties she is talking about and just drown myself for now.” I said to myself with a smile on my face as I look at the night view that this city is offering me for the first time.

Now that I think about it, I have not really taken my time to go out at night since the twins are born, every time I would be travelling at night from work, all I could think of is to get home quickly, whenever I am on board all I could think is for it to end quickly and the reason is just the same, so I could be with the twins as soon as possible and as long as I could.

“It is your treat, right?” I said remembering that I do not have extra cash on me, nor wallet since she has promised me that she will bring me home herself.

She looks at me blankly before she opened her mouth and said “Are you kidding? Of course! It is my birthday and I invited you and for the first time in two years of being friends, only now you have granted me the opportunity to hang out with you.” It is true that ever since we have met, we have never hanged out even once.

I smiled to her and told her “Thank you Li, you have been so kind to and supported me.” And held her hand.

“That is nothing, I admire you really Jay, supporting two kids at your age without anyone’s help. Being the top one in our department at work and being so good and kind to everyone, you deserve more than a queen could have Jay. And because of that we will find a man that is a lot better than a king!” she exclaimed as she stepped in the gas pedal and her mini cooper went into full throttle as we laugh for the rest of journey.

In no time, we arrived in front of one of the famous bars in the city, I do not go into these things but I still do know as it once been a part of my research when I was still a student.

End of flashback

And that is why I am sitting here alone as that girl has gone off partying as soon as some random guy came and asked her to dance that she voluntarily agreed and started dancing as soon as she stood up from the seat next to mine.

“You look so lonely.” A voice came as I take in one gulp my fifth shot of vodka.

I look at the man whom the voice came from. He looks at his early twenties, still a student if I am not mistaken at how his watch being the latest design of one famous brand that only rich people could buy. His long blond hair and his creepy smile.

I put down my glass with a loud enough thud to think that it is broken.

“Easy, what did the glass did to you to break it?” he said grasping my hand pretending to take away the glass from me.

“Do you really want to know kid?” I said with a playful smile on my face as I look at him making the creepiest smile I have ever since.

“These damn stupid men.” I curse under my breath.

“If only you want.” He said with an evil smile as he extends his arm and touch my cheek.

My grasp with my glass has tightened and feel so disgusted with his touch but I decided to stay calm and just go along with him and see what will happen next to what I thought.

“Well, I am mad but not with this glass.” I started lifting the glass that has been emptily sitting in my hand. “But to the man who gave me two handsome kids to support them for the whole five years without a father who just suddenly came back and wanting to get them from me.” I said as I continue not breaking my gaze on his face that slowly become sour hearing about my kids.

“You are a mother of twins?” he asks surprise in his voice tone and a sour expression on his face.

Meanwhile

A man from the second floor of the bar has been looking towards the girl who is talking to some guy with a smile on her face. It infuriates him in all different ways that he throws a punch on a glass window where he has a full view of everything that is happening below.

His expression has soften seeing as the man walks away from her but still a glare on his eyes towards her as she remains smiling alone while asking for another glass of whatever she is drinking.

Back to Jay’s POV

I ask another glass when he walks away with a smile on my face thinking how easily my guess became true.

“People will judge you in any way they want. Men will come to you just to satisfy their needs and will surely leave right after!” I whisper to myself as I took in one gulp my sixth glass.

I kept on asking for the next one until I could barely see things straight and almost let my phone fall when it rings.

“Hello?” I yell as I answer the call.

“Jay! Where are you? Are you out?” the voice from the other side said. I put away my phone to check who am I talking to.

“Oh! If it is not the great doctor Albert. Yeah I am having the greatest time of my life.” I said with somehow, I did not know how I manage to let out this happy tone despite the things that have been going on in my mind for the whole day.

“Are you drunk?” the man asked worriedly. I smiled in appreciation of his thoughts.

“If I say yes, will you come to pick me up?” I said jokingly. I knew he is in the hospital as I could hear vaguely the announcer calling for doctors.

“Tell me where you at.” He simply said.

“In some bar with a lot of noise, lights in different colors twinkling and going around. I will wait for you.” I said vaguely making fun of him and hung up the phone.

I look at my phone before I stood up.

“I need to go home.” I said to myself as I finally could tell that I have reached my limit after ten shots of vodka.

I stood up and started looking to the crowd that is full of people swaying in different ways to the music searching for Lisa. I could barely stand so I needed to take a hold to the table while my eyes went small trying to focus my sight on search for Lisa.

After a couple of minutes, I finally see her, grinding her ass to a man behind her. “This b***h. Founding a d**k suddenly decided to abandon me.” I curse under my breath. I walk towards her, barely as I kept on swaying through the crowd of people bumping to me. A man suddenly stood in front of me and started swaying. I look at him for a bit as I remove my stiletto and push him away from me.

He is kind of persistent as he once again did it. “Get the f**k out of my way before I make a hole anywhere in your body with this.” I said lifting up my shoe and threaten him that I will hit him with it. He looks scared and I knew at that moment I have won so I pushed him aside as I continue walking towards Lisa.

“b***h. I need to go home. Someone will pick me up so enjoy your time. Happy birthday!” I said hugging her from the back as I push the man behind her she giggles as I wrap my arm around her and kiss her lips after saying my greeting. She nods that I take as a sign and was about to walk away when suddenly two strong arms came and scooped me away from her. I could not see his face, but I could tell enough that it is a man by how his body build is. I look at Lisa who just smile and threw a wink to me.

I smiled back and threw one to her as well before the man finally started to walk away from her, to the crowd and finally out of the bar as I feel a bit chilly.

“I did not imagine that you would find me so easy.” I said before I close my eyes in tranquillity and let the chilly air touch my skin in his arms as he walks to somewhere, I do not even know where to until I hear a car door opening and he put down on the car seat and a loud bang.

“Someone is mad.” I thought to myself as I imagine the face of Albert who I could tell is already in and buckling himself as I hear him.

I do not know since when, but I fell asleep because when I hear something again is when my side’s door suddenly open and me being scooped again after unbuckling me. I kept quiet the whole time with my eyes still close. I am carried until I could hear a door opening and soon enough, I feel the softness of the bed where I am laid down and covered with a duvet comfortably.

Meanwhile

A man keeps on looking at her sleeping soundly on her own bed in her own house. She did not even care who he was who brought her home when she is so wasted.

“Almost five years, all this time I thought I would never see you again. I have been searching for you for a very long time.” His crying voice that came out as whisper is echoing inside her empty room.

“I did not mean to leave that way that night. And never thought that when I comeback I would not be seeing you again. I did not know that you were a tourist in that place that you completely does not belong in any part of Europe like I thought.” He added as he watches her sleeping with tears rolling down his face while caressing her cheeks.

Flashback

It is a chilly afternoon in Milan, but as someone who almost grew up here, it is just a normal thing to have in spring. I have some errand that mom wanted me to do and I am free after that so here I am walking around the city.

After a long walk, I have decided to sit in one of the shops in front of Duomo di Milano or known as Milan Cathedral. I have been living and passing here in everyday life, but I have not yet gone tired of looking at its structure that made me once dream about being an engineer. I always smile and my worries would be lift up whenever I see this, just like now.

“How wonderful would it feel to walk down its aisle and say your vows and I do.” A voice of a woman passing by or so I thought, she is sitting just a few chairs from me while taking photos of the cathedral said.

I look at her and a bigger smile has overlapped my usual one I have whenever I see it. I stare at her until she takes a last sip of her coffee and started walking.

She is headed inside as I could tell by the direction of where she is walking.

“I have never tried, but who cares? I am a bit of interested in her and talking to know more about her is not really something bad.” I said to myself as I stood up and follow her.

She looks like a tourist since she takes photos and speaks a rare language in this place. And as soon as she got close enough, she tried to take a selfie but having a hard time finding the perfect angle for her. I smile at the troubled her before I finally walk to her.

“I could help you if you will not mind.” I said as a greeting with a big smile.

“An english person! Finally! And really? Here.” She said continuously after exclaiming her celebration in finding a person who speaks english like her.

“You will not mind if I run away with your camera?” I said as I took her camera from her and turn around teasing her.

“That camera is a lot worthless compared to everything you have in you from head to toe sir.” She said and sees her with a smile on her face as I turn back to her.

I look at her with amuse, how can she tell that what I am wearing are all branded names when she has not seen their tags.

“No offense intends, but how did you know?” I said.

“Do not worry, no offense taken. I am just familiar with the designs since I know a guy who is into branded names.” She said.

“Then I guess she is not a tourist since she knew this locally famous brands.” I thought to myself as smile curved once again on my face.

“Is that so? But why would you think I will not run with your camera? Not because of how much it costs but of what I could discover inside it.” I said with a mischievous smile on my face.

“Well then, if that so, I am sorry to disappoint you since you will not see anything funny inside that aside from my college report materials, since I bought it for that purpose.” She said with a more mischievous smile than mine.

I did not notice until I hear a click sound. I just took her photo with her own camera with that mischievous smile.

“You took that one? Is it good enough to know that it is not edited?” she said ash she walks towards me and grab her camera from me while my gaze has not been away from her.

“It came out surprisingly good!” she exclaimed so happily as she looks at me.

I could not help but to smile as I examine her features that are surprisingly perfectly good enough for me as it made my heart skip a bit the moment she turns her face to me so close that gave me a perfect view of her small heart shape face, her green eyes that reminds me of new green leaves in spring, her perfect thin eye brows, her brown hair, her small nose and her red lips that now I could finally say for sure that are in their natural colours.

“Hey! Are you ok?” she said waving her hand waking me up from daze that her mesmerizing beauty’s effect.

“Sorry, I just thought for a moment that an angel has come running to me.” I said with no other meaning but the words itself.

“You are such a playboy! But I like it. I am Jay by the way.” She said jokingly as she introduces herself and extends her hand for a shake.

I did not waste any second and took my chance to get a hold of her small hand. “Riel.” I said as I shake with her hands.

“Well nice meeting you Riel.” She said with a smile that is such eye candy.

“You just do not know but the pleasure is all mine.” I said with a big smile on my face.

We spent the whole afternoon until night-time together, going around, eating as she acts like a tourist in this very place. I did not know anything else aside from she is a college student studying as a flight attendant and in her last term. We exchange numbers that have been the way to communicate with each other and schedule things that we want to do together.

We spent another whole two days with each other as I tour her around Milan that I, myself have enjoyed more than I thought I would. We have talk more about ourselves, like the family situations, people that has passed our lives, ideas about the future, plans we plan to make into actions and everything else that are nice to know about her. My interest in her also grew more than I thought and knowing that our time together would end soon as she told me from the very start that she is not staying here that long, that she is just here because of her report to make. So, on the third night, we decided to celebrate as she told me that her report is ready to be in words. This will be the last night that we will be together and with a thought that we might not meet again.

It is a bit chiller than the other nights as I wait for her in the very same spot where we met, sitting and looking around hoping that I will spot her soon in the crowd, a thought have played in my mind. I want this night to be perfect that she could always remember as a good memory specially with me in it. And plan what we should do for tonight.

I want something in high spirits for this celebration and at the same time is a parting moment.

“Hey!” a voice came and next thing is a peck landed on my cheek, it gave me a good chance to clearly inhale her scent that is surprisingly into my liking. I was in daze and continued to be only with different view as now it shifted to the girl sitting in front of me, wearing her usual smile that could make my heart beat goes like a song that is soft and pleasant to hear and feel.

“Hey! Are you done with the packing?” I said finally waking up from daze and just gaze on her, engraving this marvellous sight right now with her in it to the deepest core of my mind and sure enough that it will never be forgotten even if I reach my final day if ever, I will not be seeing her again.

I have told her everything except for two things, my real name and my family’s real status which I was told to not just tell anyone except for the people that I trust. It is not like I do not trust her, but I just want her to be safe since my real identity is a bit harmful for a simple girl who lives her life to the fullest and wants only happy things for her that I, myself also wants.

“So, what is the plan for tonight?” she asks beaming with excitement in her eyes.

I smile before I said, “What do you say about some Latin thing?” with my smile and eye brows going up and down playfully.

Her smile went wider and I could already tell that she is ready to have some Latin thing for tonight.

I thought of bring her to a Cuban restaurant here with some Latin songs, foods and of course tequila. It is a place that very lively specially at night and I know she would enjoy it and if she does, I will too more than anything else.

We walk side by side into the busy street with full of people spotting place to hang or to eat or even get drunk for the night of weekend. Full of life as people keeps moving, lights in different colour, noises coming from cars and shops that are full of visitors one after another.

She keeps on taking pictures as she smiles, she has never been yet into this part since I plan it from the start to show it for finale.