22 Again

“I’m home!” Vida said after entering the door of their house. While taking off her wedge, she glanced around her house. It was strangely silent. She tilted her head and thought, ‘Maybe, Dave is cooking in the kitchen like he used to and he just didn’t hear me?’ Vida smiled, feeling touched as always, and like she used to, Vida didn’t linger more in the living room. She picked her wedges to wash them a bit in their washroom just inside the room and wore the fur slippers worn inside the house. Vida sighed contentedly. No matter how much she wanted to see Dave cooking and preparing her food, she didn’t want to upset Dave. The last time she tried to watch him, Dave got angry and gave her silent treatment for a week. After all, they are both tired. He is her house husband while she runs their company which she inherited from her grandparents. She didn’t want to add to his stress. She climbed upstairs to their room to change. As she walked through the quiet lobby, she heard strange noises coming from the library. Since it was just on the way to the master’s bedroom, Vida decided to take a look.  The more she got closer, the more she got to figure out that they were moans. Vida then felt that it was ominous. ‘Why were there moans inside my house? Is there anyone else occupying the library?’ she thought. Vida refused to believe that Dave had brought a woman right inside their house. She refused to believe that he could do that to her. They were a loving couple and the envy of many people! Even though she has been crippled and had a hard time walking, she can still run the company more efficiently than anyone else. After being crippled for a year, he didn’t leave her and they stayed with each other through thick and thin until she was able to walk a year ago. Dave and Vida have been married for three years. They weren’t able to conceive because Dave refused to touch her for the reason that he respected her and that he was afraid to hurt her. However, right now, Vida is starting to doubt Dave’s excuses. Vida couragely walked the looby. The moans are starting to get so loud that Vida is starting to recognize the voice. However, she doubts herself for doubting her step-sister being the one moaning so brazenly inside her own territory. Vida then stopped in front of the slightly opened door. Not minding the rapid beating of her heart, she pushed the door and saw the horrifyingly disgusting sight. Her step-sister, lying on the long table, with her legs held upwards and her husband… Vida tried not to puke. Dave refused to touch her, yet did it to her step-sister who’s not his wife! She still can’t understand how and why Dave did it to her. ‘Why? What did I do? We were happy, weren’t we? What did I do wrong?’ She can’t process the pain and anger the way she wants it to be. She needed the answers right away. Filled with resentment and frustration, Vida couldn’t stop herself from blurting out, “You…” ‘..you’re all shameless.’ Dave and Fretz, like dogs mating being thrown into cold water, immediately pulled against each other. Fretz was annoyed, she gritted her teeth and glared at Vida. Dave, however, immediately calmed himself down and tried to approach her. She avoided him. She glanced at his hands, body, and finally, his face, which she had always admired ever since, but now, she couldn’t seem to feel anything but disgust at the man who vowed to cherish her for a lifetime. Vida smiled sarcastically. ‘Something’s wrong with me? No. There was nothing wrong with me.’ But in truth, she still needed Dave’s words. She did nothing wrong, but her worth is the most valuable thing being brought between them, man and wife. Dave tried to approach her again and called her, “Vie–” “So, why did you do that?” She cut him off. Dave paled and tried to explain but was not able to utter a single word. Vida almost forgot someone. She turned to Fretz, who had already put her clothes on. Vida’s eyes turned cold. “What are you doing here?”, she asked. Vida had always disliked this step-sister of hers. No, she disliked everyone in her family who was alive, because those she loved dearly had all died. Even in her next life, she might never be able to like this snake. Fretz chuckled, “You still don’t get it, do you? We are all using you. Including your husband, who was originally my boyfriend. Who asked you to marry him? Now, we’re doing it behind your back. You have finally found it out!” Dave, who was spacing out, shouted so late, “Shut up!” “What?! Don’t tell me you really liked this crippled btch? You must have forgotten our plan already?” Fretz widened her eyes, agitated, and glanced at Vida viciously. “Our plan is to have you handle the company while Dave and I make our plans to steal it behind your back.” Fretz slowly approached her while fixing her collar filled with burning hickeys. “Unfortunately, you were still able to live after that car accident. Tsk, tsk, tsk. We were really unfortunate. However, you were able to grow the company bigger and wealthier. It will be in our hands soon and you can’t do anything about it,” Fretz sneered. Vida, feeling disgusted, took a step back. “No. I won’t let you,” she said, vowing to herself. The company wasn’t even theirs in the first place. This level of shamelessness creeped the hell out of Vida. She was even more creeped out about why she married Dave in the first place. She ran from the library to the master’s bedroom. She even called a divorce lawyer to prepare divorce papers for them. She can’t seem to stomach to stay here any longer. She loved him. However, he seemed to be not the Dave she loved and married. It was hard to unlove him when she loved him for so long. “W-wait! Vida! Wait for me, please. Let’s talk! Vida, please!” Vida slammed the door against his face as she leaned on it and cried her heart out. Dave was so anxious that he didn’t know what to do anymore. If he hurts Vida, he will die, much more if Vida divorces him. Vida didn’t give a dime about Dave and continued to pack her things.  She opened the door and stormed out of the living room, not wanting to stay any longer. However, Dave was consistent and chased her until at the garage.  “Vida, please let’s talk!” Once again, Vida slammed the car’s door in his face. Dave was extremely anxious. Vida didn’t know why. But the one who was more frustrated was Fretz. Her face was so distorted out of frustration and jealousy. ‘That’s it? After I gave you myself, you treat me this way, Dave?!’ Fretz agitatedly thought. Glaring at Vida’s car storming out the villa’s garage, she called someone. Viciously staring at nowhere, she said, “Do it.” Vida, driving her car on the wide empty highway at a slow pace, suddenly met a large storming dump truck coming her way. Before she could think, her car and the truck collided. Everything was excruciatingly hot and red. ‘Til everything turned black.