AdonisI resisted the urge to smile as I studied her face the moment she closed her eyes. My arms crossed and I let out a shuddering breath. I was slowly being pulled into some kind of trance, I needed to remind myself that I was not dreaming.I needed to remind myself that I should be alert, and waiting to hear her response, but I couldn’t help myself.Apart from a few times when I managed to send one of the men to check up on her, I had no particular idea of what she looked like in person. Definitely, the pictures sent did no justice to how beautifully grown she was.My head tilted as I observed her entire face. Her lips kept twitching as she delved into her thoughts. Her forehead wore some kind of frown and I realized once again how selfish it was of me to suddenly show up and ask her to choose from painful options. Options that make my heart ache as well.But I have no choice. I had to do it that way. Hopefully, she chooses to…“I have an answer,” I heard her blurt out, her soft v
RubyThe warm air that enveloped the day snuck into the room as another customer walked in with a small girl in his arms. A little smile came to my lips as I noticed the excitement on the girl's face when he asked which kind of cake she would like."Argh, I can't believe school starts next week. I have not made enough money," a shrill voice complained behind me and I twirled my seat to face my friend, Abby whose company I have enjoyed for about eight years, and not once have I regretted having her around."It's our last year though," I pointed out. "When we graduate, you can always take a break to earn more money."The tall brunette wore a pout as she leaned onto the marble counter. Her job at the confectionery store slash café was one of the many she got during summer break because she hated the idea of having to ask her parents for money."Can't we switch lives, Ruby?" Her huge eyes pleaded as though I was some magical godmother who would make her wish come true. As I chuckled at th
Ruby"When is our next movie night?" Abby asked just as I was about to get out of the car.Just staring at my house was making me yearn for the comfort of its walls but her question was quite important. "Uh... This Friday?""Your place or Jake's?" she asked further.We never use her house because her father is a strong believer in a human being not needing nobody else but himself. So... he almost forbade her from having friends if not for some amazing intervention."Mine. My Mom is making popcorn for us.""Yes!" Jake celebrated as his eyes met mine. "I love it when your Mom makes food."My grin was large. "I know it is a compliment. But..." My smile dropped and I wore a dark look. "My Dad mustn't hear you say that or else he will use you as our house rug."His green eyes danced away in discomfort, causing Abby and I to share an evil laughter."Bye guys," I finally said and I walked towards our house.Our family used to stay in a hotel before- I grew up in a penthouse there. But short
Ruby"M-my real mother?""Don't you remember me, Ruby?"Of course, I remember that I have a real mother somewhere. How could I forget the woman who didn't for once treat me like a daughter during the few times she managed to be around my dad and me? That was a memory among others I hate recalling. I could blame my brain for being so vivid when it comes to memories, but it is still a part of me. A vital part.But I still had to deal with the woman in front of me who was staring hard at me as if trying to drill thoughts and ideas into me.Walking out of her hold, I said, "You are not my mother. My mother is most probably at her office working.""Yes," she snorted. "That babysitter." The look of disgust on her face made me want to kick some sense into her. "I am sure she has bad-mouthed me. You know nothing about how vile she is." My mind could only imagine what bad thing she was about to say about my mother. And my curiosity got the best of me."What do you mean?"The tall woman wore a
RubyHeat enveloped me and my heart clenched as my eyes swung open after a too-familiar scene just played in my supposed-to-be peaceful sleep.I stared into the darkness ahead, and I wondered why my real mother bothered to show up.I might not be so sure how, but her sudden presence affected me. And... just a few seconds ago, I saw the scene where she slapped four-year-old me- a thing that hurt not just physically, but emotionally.She made me feel unwanted as a child. Her actions back then made me feel insecure about myself sometimes and that was a tough thing for a small version of me. What am I saying?It still is. The way my heart squeezed as I dreamt about that terrible day made me want to ask someone to scientifically or magically erase that memory and some others from my brain. But I doubt such a thing could happen except I get hit in the head or something.As I sat up, my now widened eyes checked the time on the small analogue clock seated on the small drawer beside my bed. I
Ruby“Who on earth does that woman think she is?” Okay. Maybe it was no argument, but there was no mistaking how furious my Dad was at that moment and it would be for a reason I could easily guess. “Dominic, she didn’t do anything to her," Mom cajoled, her voice a bit tired.“But she went to meet her at her school. Why?”I could picture my Dad tossing his suit somewhere he won’t remember.Then, I could see my mom folding her arms after running her hand through her hair.“Because she is her mother, Dom. Let’s just wait for-”“Diane doesn’t deserve to be her mother and you know that. Don’t tell me you have forgotten what happened with the whole Samantha thing.”Samantha. I frowned. I do remember Mom having a friend named Samantha who took me in at a certain time. Well that was until…“Dominic, don’t.”My frown deepened at the tone of my mother's voice. And then my head started to calculate things. Unlike her other friend, David who checks on us once in a while with his wife and kids,
Ruby“So, what was your response?” Abby asked excitedly. Who knew the duo I call friends would find my brother’s question while my parents were doing it, interesting? Apparently, Jake never actually ended the call the previous night so he heard my little brother being inquisitive. Stopping in front of Abby’s locker, I said, “I told him they were praying for each other.”“What?”I know, Jake.Truthfully the answer just came from nowhere. I certainly wasn’t going to lecture the nine-year-old about sex. No, no. That’s our mother's job.“Did he believe you? I doubt he did,” Abby pushed even more.Certainly, replaying the previous night wasn’t pleasurable for me. But it keeps coming to haunt me. Arrgh! Can I get bleach for my now-tainted mind, please?“Ruby?” Jake called. He looked eager for a response as well. “He didn’t. Not until I screamed 'oh Zion, oh Zion' with my hands clasped in front of me.”Trust me, it was very dramatic. And I was very loud, I think I stopped my parents' sess
Ruby As I made my way to my second class for the day, my friends' words about Bryan continued to plague my mind. The person I met at the prison entrance seemed okay to me. He didn’t even know we went to the same school at first but he engaged me in a very interesting conversation. So it made no sense. And a psycho? How could he be a psycho? I scoffed. Abby needs to end her subscription with her gossip suppliers and Jake… My thoughts fell apart like a deck of cards and my head tilted to the side as it occurred to me again that Jake wasn’t exactly fond of stupid talks. But still, it made no sense. Just when I was about to give up the delibrations, my eyes fell on the man in question who was leaning against a locker, staring at… nothing. Approaching him already, I wondered if he was thinking and wondered even more if I would be disturbing. But then, I was already so close to him and I would finally have a chance to prove my friends wrong. When my small body found stood in front of