The Wallflower's Revenge

AWR Chapter 20: To love you more

Lea clenched her fist again as she followed Sophia and Eveelia with her eyes as they walked away, going to the main gate to wait for the bus to arrive.

She's about to follow them and go home herself when her phone receives an alert.

"I badly wanted to see you. I missed you terribly and I just can't last a day without hugging you…please come over to the--" Lea widened her eyes again as she gasped as she looked at the direction of the old science laboratory building of their school. It was this 'Wilma' again. Why is she sending this kind of message that made her feel goosebumps all over?

She ran to the place right away. Now, she wanted to know who this 'Wilma' is and what's her relationship with Leylah all these times.

----

"Dad, most of my friends have their mobile phones with them. I'm the only one who doesn't have one."

"That excuse will not be counted with you, having one as well."

"But dad, please?"

"When you were homeschooled, you're not even complaining about all this stuff. You've changed a lot." 

That dilemma never stopped until she started to run errands to her neighborhood, such as cleaning their cars or walking their dogs just to have the money to buy her own phone. She always does everything for her to get whatever she wants because she always knows that her father will never support what she wants.

"What are you thinking about?" Walter asked as he put his arms around her shoulders. She glanced at him and gave him a weak smile.

"You know what I'm thinking? I just think that I'm a pretty, terrible daughter."

"Why? How come you're even thinking about those things?" He asked again as he pulled him closer. They were sitting side by side as they looked at the dawning sky. Some clouds were scattered across the sky like a fiery red, blazing fire. It could perfectly be compared to being painted upon a white canvas.

"I was born not good enough that my dad always gets angry at me for doing things that he thinks are bad for me."

"I consider you lucky rather than what you are feeling right now."

Leylah only chuckled in response.

"Please tell me that after you meet my father or after you experience 'his' kind of discipline." She said with a tone of sarcasm.

"Still you're able to experience what discipline is. I was born without having parents at all."

" If you're able to experience what I'm feeling right now, you wish you didn't have one."

"Oh, c'mon…" He hugged her as she kissed her lips so passionately that she's almost breathless when he let her go.

" I admit, right now, you're the only one that makes me happy and no one else in this world," She said with teary eyes.

" Whatever we're facing right now, I guess it's a part of a process. I think that's what life really is about."

" Thank you for always making me feel better. I love you so much." They kissed again, this time, she initiated the response. For the both of them, it felt magical and surreal, all at the same time.

However, for someone who witnessed everything from a distance, it was a major heartbreak that no one has ever experienced even for the first time…

----

"Hello, Mrs. Hacke…" Their neighbor, Willow greeted her again as soon as she finished parking her car in their garage outside the house.

Stella held out an impatient sigh as she faced Willow. Even her smile got so awkward that her neighbor felt it.

"H-Hi, Miss Willow. How are you?" She greeted her but she's slowly walking from their garage to the entrance of their house which is at least six meters in distance. For Stella, it was long enough how she wished she could go inside their house right away. It is for her to avoid Ms. Willow and her meaningful grins that's giving her anxiety attacks most of the time.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," She said between chuckles. It made Stella fuming mad even more, secretly. She's nearing the entrance of their house when she notices that Ms. Willow is following her from behind while humming. All the chuckles and humming became irritating to her all of a sudden, she doesn't even understand why.

Why does she have to react like that? She doesn't even like her presence at all.

 "How's work by the way?" 

"Uhm, good? Sorry, Miss Willow but I have to--"

"Poor you, Stella. Poor you." He said as she shook her head.

"What?" She exclaimed. It made Miss Willow chuckle as she saw Stella's horrible reaction.

"I just want to warn you. Have fun and don't just be a devoted housewife."

"Miss Willow, we're different, alright? I understand you being single and maybe your concerns, but I am a married woman. You can't compare your life to mine. So, please. If you'll have to excuse me. I still need to prepare my family's dinner." She's about to insert the key to the entrance door of their house when Miss Willow tapped her shoulder. She turned her back and she saw her grinning.

"Wow, so you don't have any idea at all, right?" She said while pulling something from her pocket.

"What do you mean?" Stella tries to be composed and calm but Miss Willow is slowly getting into her nerves this time.

"Did your husband talk to you or anything for the past weeks or so?"

"We have nothing to talk about, alright? We're happy and thank you for your concern. Now, if you're going to excuse me…" She tried to turn her back to her when Miss Willow grabbed her on her left arm and held her hands by trying to open her clenching fist.

"Here. I told you, I am just concerned about your family." She said, still grinning. When Stella looked at the thing she's holding in her hands, it was a white square envelope.

"So long, Mrs. Hacke." Miss Willow even emphasized the word, "missus" as she chuckled while going away.

Stella hurriedly shoved the envelope inside her bag and went to the kitchen to cook for their dinner. She wanted some avenue that's why she never opened the envelope first. She has decided to prepare her family's meal first and foremost before opening the envelope.

This time, she felt scared and anxious that she even cut her finger and blood overflowed on her hands.

She hurried to the sink to wash her hands full of blood. Surprisingly, she never felt anything. She's not even hurt at all, just the numbing effect of the wound that was brought to her senses.

She pressed her fingers and the blood stopped flowing. She even bit the affected finger to let her feel the pain but she refused to feel anything. 

She started to chop some vegetables like nothing happened. She was able to finish cooking their dinner for about thirty minutes because she wanted to open the contents of the envelope for herself. As soon as the oven clicked, she arranged the roasted chicken to the dish, as well as the marble potatoes around it.

When she saw that everything was ready, she went to their master's bedroom. She took a deep breath as she got the cutter and slowly cut the envelope.

She saw that it was three pictures. She pulled it from inside the envelope. It was three photos with Carson and a girl. It's like a picture was taken by a paparazzi somewhere. Carson looked very happy as he held the woman's hands on the table. 

She never understood herself but all of a sudden, tears ran down her cheeks. Why is it that she could see her husband’s genuine smile from the pictures? It’s as if he’s really enjoying the woman’s company, unlike when she’s being with him. His reaction is always very dull and unhappy.

She flipped the other picture and in some pictures, it showed that the two were laughing with a certain topic and the girl even put french fries on Carson's mouth as he opened it wide while laughing. The angle of the girl is always exposing her back without Stella seeing her face. There were seven pictures in total. When she reached the last picture, she gasped as she put her hands on her mouth.

Nova?