The Jilted Bride

Chapter Four

It’s a cold Saturday night and I’m alone at my home, sitting on the couch with a blanket covered in my body while I am watching a typical romance movie. Rain is heavily pouring and any minute it will cause flood.

I stared at the bags of chips on the center table that’s unorganized and the crumbs are all around the floor. The cans and bottle of beer is scattered everywhere. I just don’t feel like moving because it’s really cold. When a time comes like this, I wanted to have someone with me, someone who can sit beside me to cuddle and exchange a sweet butterfly kisses and someone I can talk about things like our goals and ambitions in life, things we wanted to achieve and what makes us happy.

I suddenly miss my fiancé but I didn’t bother calling him. His mother Margarita would be very, very angry with me. What’s with that woman anyway? I understand her but I think she was just overreacting. What is the big deal if I am just a regular teacher and doesn’t own a gigantic building?

Why? Would you call it love when you’re attracted by the status and not by the soul? I am not after Kenji’s wealth, I am after his adoration for me, his love and support and care which makes me the happiest woman in this world. Why don’t she understand it?

I lazily slide down the couch and removed my blanket that was covering my body. I hugged the throw pillow and put the other one under my head and dreamily imagine what would I look like in our wedding day. I am excited but I also feel scared for no particular reason, I’m being paranoid like what if someone will show up and stop that very precious moment?

I brushed away that thought inside my mind, being negative isn’t good. I continued to imagine myself, I would wear a white simple wedding gown. I am holding a bouquet of roses which has a combination of yellow and white colors. I’ll be wearing a beautiful flower crown and I’ll walk on the aisle with a sweet and happy smile plastered on my lips. I would look great on that day and everyone’s eyes will be glued on me.

I can also imagine Kenji crying while he waits for me. Such a lovely moment.

I was snapped out from the reverie when I heard a loud bang coming from the kitchen. I quickly get up and run to see what is happening. I turned on the switch but no one is here. I decided to go back in the living room when I saw a letter hanging on the window so I walked around the table and grabbed it.

I immediately open the letter but there are only two words written on the paper.

“You’ll die!” It was written on the paper with a red bloody ink.

“That i***t hasn’t given up on threatening me.” I crumpled the letter and throw it on the garbage can. If something would bother me again, I will immediately alert the police to ask for a help.

I made sure that the window is locked and the backdoor. I checked every corner of my apartment and leave the kitchen with a lights on. I don’t want to switch it off because he might still around, just trying to find the perfect timing to kill me.

I calmly walk thru my room and locked it also. I am used to the dark room but this time I left it open so I can make sure that I am secured.

I lay down carefully on the carpeted floor inside my room after I put the mattress on the floor including my seven pillows and two blankets. I put two pillow under my neck, one on each side and two on my feet, the last pillow is placed on my stomach so I won’t feel alone. I decided to sleep here for tonight, I don’t feel safe sleeping on my bed.

I played an online game on my laptop before snoozing off to sleep.

The day after, I woke up very early. It is still raining cats and dogs outside. I hugged my pillow and crawled to the window of my room, I opened it and watched the water dripping from the clouds. It’s still dark but I can clearly see everything. The road is covered in water and there is no cars passing by.

I stayed for a while before descending down the four steps staircase to fetch a glass of warm water. I drink it straight in one big gulp and left the glass on the sink.

I walk around the house and started to clean up my mess. After a few hours of cleaning, my house is already tidy and smells very fresh like a sweet lavender.

I tied the garbage bag tightly and carried it in my back. I opened the door but I was stunned to sew Kenji soaking wet.

“What a surprise!” I explained and put the garbage bag down to let him in. I pulled him inside and locked the door.

“Gosh! What gotten into you? You are wet, you might catch a cold. Quick! Take it all off, I’m going to look for an extra clothes.”

I hurriedly went back to my room and started to ransacked my cabinet just to find him a decent clothes. Luckily I found the shirt that I was about to give him year ago for our anniversary and a short that he left when he sleepover here.

I was about to go downstairs when he showed up and not wearing anything. I shamelessly scanned his whole body and oh, look at that sizzling abs. He looked like a ancient god trying to punish his slave.

I licked my lips and without thinking straight, I run to him and claimed his lips. He was taken aback by what I did but he responded with the same ferocity. He willingly opened his mouth so I entered my tongue to envade his mouth. He softly moaned that made me feel happy, I have this effect on him. I tried to lift my legs on his waist and he must've get what I wanted to say so he carried me and made me sat on the working table. I am glad that my laptop is under the table.

His lips travelled down from my lips to my jaw and neck, he bit my skin sensually making me moan softly.

His left hand went under my shirt, I flinched when I felt him touch my stomach and he caressed my breast with his right hand. I pushed him away to see his reaction. We’re both flushing but I saw happiness in his eyes.

“I love you, Kenji,” I said in a hoarse voice. He chuckled and hugged me tightly. After a few minutes he fixed my hair and the shirt that I am wearing.

“You’re already dry,” I teased him but he just chortled merrily, he leaned closer and planted a kiss on the top of my head. Kenji carried me to bed and tucked me in, he grabbed the shirt and wear it while directly looking at my eye.

“Are you going to stay here?” I asked him, he paused and think for a moment before nodding his head. He jumped on the bed and hugged me tightly.

“I am staying here because I missed you.” My lips instantly lifted up after hearing what he said.

“Wait, I am going to change my clothes. I smell horrible,” I joked but he just don’t care about it, he snuggled my neck and I giggled because it’s ticklish. He stopped tickling me when let go of me.

“Go on, change. I am going downstairs and I’ll be the one to prepare our lunch. By the way have you eaten your breakfast?”

I awkwardly smile at him so he glared at me.

“I told you to never skip your breakfast.”

“I never skipped it, I just… uh… forget about it,” I reasoned out but he flickered my forehead.

“Aww!” I pouted but he glared at me. I laughed and made face to him for a couple of minutes, I did not stop until he started laughing.

“You never failed to make me happy. Go on, change. I’ll be downstairs.” I nodded and waited for him to left my room.

I jumped out of the bed and went inside the bathroom to take a shower and hurriedly dry my hair and wore my simplest yellow chiffon dress. I put a light make up so I won’t look pale. I want to look beautiful in his eyes.

I went out of my room and tiptoed on my way to the kitchen. He didn’t noticed me because he was busy preparing for our lunch, I can already smell the aroma of the food he was cooking.

I hugged him from the back and he look at me over his shoulder with a wide smile. I want this to last for a lifetime. I want to see him every morning when I woke up and before I go to sleep. I want to cuddle him in rainy and cold weather and to see him making simple breakfast for me.

“Can you get some plates and utensils? I am about to finish cooking.”

“Sure,” I quickly responded and give him a peck on his cheeks.

After we finished eating, we both sat and cuddled on the couch as we watched a mystery movie. We’re too focused that we didn’t realized that the rain has stopped and it’s already evening.

“I have something to tell you, Kenji.”

He hummed and get closer to me.

“Someone is threatening me. That person sent me a box with a dead cat on it and leave a letter saying that I’ll die.” He get the remote and paused the movie. He diverted his attention to me and stared at my face.

“Are you okay?” he worriedly asked me, I gave him a small smile to assure him that I am fine.

“I’m just wondering who would do such things,” I said in a soft voice and snaked my arms around his waist.

“Call me if someone tried to threaten you again, we will report it to the police and we’ll have you guarded so we can be sure that you’re safe.”

“It’s just a waste of money. Don’t worry, Love. I can take care of myself, I know what to do.”

He problematically sighed and locked me in his arms, “should I stay here?” I’m tempted to say yes but he have his own life. I don’t want to bother him.

“It was just nothing, don’t worry too much.” I gently touched his cheeks and caressed it.

He keep on staring at me, I know he would like to say something but has no strength to tell it straight to my face.

We’re both feel into silence and no one dared to break the silence between us. I can feel that he is worried about me but I don’t want to depend on someone, to keep myself safe. I am not born in this world to be damsel in distress who always need a knight in shining armor to save her. I am the kind of woman who won’t ask for help as long as I know how to fight.

I may look weak but I know exactly how to use guns and bombs.

Kenji excused himself so he can cook our dinner. I was left in the couch alone, watching s horror film. I didn’t even flinched when I saw the ghost’s face, like why would I be scared. I heard a knock coming from the window, thought I was just hallucinating but I heard it again. This time I waited to hear that again.

I leaned on the window and I can hear a fainted sound coming from the lawn. I quickly opened the window and I saw a stranger running away. He is wearing a black hoodie, faded blue jeans and a big black shoes. I didn’t mind him, maybe just a passerby but when I saw the box on the ground I got fed up.

If I caught him again pestering me I will make sure that he will rot in jail.

“What are you doing there, love?” I stilled when I heard Kenji’s voice. I quickly faced him and put a smile on my face.

“I am just watching the sky, I think the rain will started to pour again,” I stated and closed the window. I went to his side and snaked my arms to his left arm.

“What did you make for dinner?” I sweetly asked but he look to me suspiciously. I act normally so he won’t notice that my mind is mess right now.

“Langouste a la Vanille,” he casually said and pulled the chair for me.”

“What? Where’d you get the lobster?” I am confused, I did not even noticed that he left.

“I ordered it when you’re taking a bath earlier.”

My mouth formed an “o” and I nodded my head. He loves to surprise me, such a sweet guy.

He happily ate dinner together while talking about our wedding plans. We decided to get married by the end of the year and after the wedding, we will have our honeymoon in Sicily.

“Have you already scheduled an appointment with the seamstress?” he asked me but his eyes are on his foods.

“I still haven’t.. I got busy this past few weeks. I will try to meet her in Monday to discuss what are the designs I want for my wedding dress.”

“Hmm, don’t make it too revealing,” he reminded me.

“Of course I won’t,” I quickly responded to assure him. I don’t like to show too much skin either, I prefer to wear long sleeves, turtle necks and formal clothes.

I cleaned the table after we eat and wash the dishes. Kenji’s already in my room and I bet he is lighting up some scented candles.

After doing my chores, I sneak out to get the box that the stranger left. I am glad that it was still there, I picked it up and opened it.

It didn’t surprise me to see a dead animal inside, but this time it has my picture tied in the neck of the dead rat.

“You will die, Ivien!” I read the text out loud and arched my left brow.

“Nonsense,” I whispered to myself and tossed the box on the garbage bin.

If that person really wanted to kill me then I am probably dead right now.

I entered the house to get some gas and lighter, then I went out again to set the garbage bin on fire. I am mad but I’m controlling myself.

“Ivien! What are you doing?!” Kenji shouted in shock and hurriedly run towards me.

“Did you set it on fire?”

I nodded my head without hesitation and showed him the lighter that I’m holding.

“Someone just pissed me off,” I said calmly and left him outside, alone.