The Wallflower's Revenge

AWR Chapter 43: He said, she said

I met Miss Lena's gaze. She looked serious as she asked me about my father. I am a bit disappointed because she's my mom's best friend. Why is she asking about him when her main concern is supposedly my mom alone?

"I don't know,"

"Don't you plan to join him with his family? I think he will be happy if you do that." She held my hands as she said those words.

"Why would I? I still hate him, miss Lena. I always hold him accountable for my mother's death."

I could see that her facial expression changed all of a sudden. She looked hesitant on things she would tell me. I could see it in her eyes.

"He is reaching out to you. I could see that, dear."

"No, thanks. I believe he's happy with his family and I don't care anymore. He preferred them over us. I guess it's the end of everything, too."

She sighed.

"I can't blame you dear. I just hope you will give him a chance to care for you."

"How sure are you? He even wanted to sell the house where I live now. Is that what you call "fatherly care"? How will I ever believe him?" I couldn't help but close my fist. I can't believe Miss Lena will get the sympathy of my father when all he did was betray my mother until her death. He even beat her and told her curses and mean words.

"I don't know, Rebecca. I knew a lot about what happened between your mother and father. But I think I don't have the right to tell you."

I looked at her in the eyes and she nodded. Something in me wanted to ask her further about it, half of me wanted to be silent. I don't want to meet my father again. I guess he is the last person I will ever want to meet because the pain is still here.

I stood up and she smiled at me once again. I thank Miss Lena for the meal. She insisted on making me bring some take home bread for breakfast. I entered my car full yet my curiosity is bugging me.

What does she mean by what "she knows"?

Should I be bothered by it? What does she exactly mean by what she knew about my parents? I hurried home to read mom's diary. I opened the cabinet again and got her diary. I even wiped it with a cloth because there were dust particles forming on the front page of the diary.

February 20, 2016

Dear diary,

I went shopping with him. Albert didn't know this. Rebecca, either. It was a random day for everyone. However, for me it is a special day.

Today marks our wedding anniversary. I didn't exactly know how long we've been together. This date is too random. I guess he already forgot that this day is supposedly special for the both of us. My daughter is also busy at school. Surprisingly, I found out that he was free. He was willing to go with me even if he didn't need to. I know I'm not his responsibility to begin with.

I feel like I am getting a headache all of a sudden. My mom is not even mentioning any names. How could I ever know whom she meant from this diary?

I continued reading the diary as I scratched my head. Mixed emotions triggered me all of a sudden. I remembered what Miss Lena also told me. Is this connected to what my mom is saying here in her diary?

I waited for him in front of the mall where we first met. I was like a teenager anticipating the arrival of her crush. I am married but I feel like experiencing goosebumps like it never happened to me before. This feeling is too ecstatic, I feel like my heart will get out from my ribcage. His car stopped in front of me. He opened the window from his driver's seat and waved in front of me. I smiled at him as he opened his car. He let me sit next to him, on his passenger seat.

We went everywhere, from a nearby theme park to our favorite cafe. I felt like a young teenager in love once again. Too bad, this isn't what I feel towards my husband. I don't know why. He makes me happier than him and that's the truth.

I closed mom's diary as I massaged my forehead and I closed my eyes, too. I glanced at our wall clock. It was past eight in the evening. I grabbed my jacket and my keys. I was only wearing a plain T-shirt with jeans. I rushed to my car and started the engine right away. I have to go there to light candles for mom.

The cemetery is well-lighted compared to the usual ambiance. I am confident that I am safe because there were security guards roaming around. I also made sure I charged my phone so that I may call for help any minute if someone may be a threat.

I sat in front of my mom's tomb. I lighted her favorite scented rose candle. It's a bit fat and about three inches in height. As the wick displayed the illuminance of the fire against the tomb, I could see the bitter truth again.

The one with "RIP" and below it, the name of my mom, the day she was born and died as well.

"Hey, mom." I said in a cracked voice. I could feel that my tears were starting to form.

"I can't believe you're already here." I felt like I wasdoing my own monologue in front of her grave.

I touched her name etched on the tombstone. I badly miss her so much. This is not the version of her that I want to see the most.

I just want to see her alive most of the time. I want to see her baking my favorite cinnamon rolls every morning.

"Why did you have to leave me? You know what? I feel so alone and lonely most of the time. Everything changed since you passed away."

----

"Why are you acting weird? You're not like that the last time I returned here, right?" She asked her as she sat next to him. Gavin sighed as he got up, gathering his scattered clothes.

"Look who's talking?" He replied with sarcasm. He puts on his pants and his shirt as well.

They shared their own version of playtime again. Gavin knew he needed Klaire as much as she needed him. They were mutually bonded in bed. She smirked as she pulled him close to her.

"Why are you in a hurry? We have a lot of time here…" She said, narrowing her gaze to his torso as she bit her lower lip.

"Well, look who's acting weird now?"

She just gazed at him and said nothing. She sighed as she covered her body with a blanket.

"I know you always need me."

"Yeah, I am aware of that. I enjoy every moment we share in bed." He smirked, giving her a darker vibe.

"But then, that doesn't mean we're still in a relationship. Remember, everything is over between us."

She suddenly turned her back at him as she moved to the opposite side where he's at right now.

"It's about that Rebecca, right?"

"Why do you keep on insisting Rebecca to me?"

"Why do you always give me a reason to do so?"

"Don't act as if you're an overprotective girlfriend when everything is already over between us."

"But I am here. Why do you act cute?"

"I am not someone you will leave and then pick up later. Do you really think I am some sort of trash?" Gavin couldn't stop himself from telling her all of this.

"You will always long for me. I am sure of that. You will always ache to touch me." She said with a smirk.

"When you left me, I realized you're not into commitments."

"Cut the drama, Gavin. I know who you are. I also know what you wanted in life. Someone who would pleasure you any time of the day, and I am that woman."

She gazed into his eyes without even blinking.

"If you think I believe that you're in love with that woman, nice try but I won't. Never." She said, more of a warning.

"Let's end this one. I don't want this kind of setup any more."

"No, I will not. I am still having fun."

"Fun? Is that how I looked like to you? Grow up, Klaire."

"Yeah, I'll do that if you are being true to your words. You can't even prove that love exists in your vocabulary."

He clenched his fist. How the heck could this woman say these things to him? He badly wanted to change since the day he laid his eyes on Rebecca, but how could he?

Klaire returned and she is turning his world upside-down again. He is finding himself trapped in a similar situation again and again. Now, all he needs to do is to get away with it before it will be too late for him.