Anne The blow never came. The first second went by. The second, third went by, still nothing. I was sure it should have arrived already. Did I pass out even before I could feel the pain? I highly doubted it. I still felt conscious of my surroundings. A few more seconds went by before I slowly squinted my eyes open. Andrew was standing right in front of me. His fist was still in the air. From the looks of things, it never came down. He had stopped. I felt Vincent’s chest directly behind me. I turned my head and saw his hand midair, still ready to stop the blow from landing successfully. His other hand was gripping tightly to my upper arm. I guess he sprang back the second I pulled him aside and was aiming to pull me aside too, judging by the firm grip he had on me. I looked into Andrew’s eyes and saw the intensity of his anger slowly seep away, replaced by another intense emotion. It was pain. I saw pain in form of steamy tears fill his eyes. His lips quivered as he stared into
Anne It felt like an Indian movie. Those scenes where someone is being dragged out of the family mansion and is tossed violently to the floor on reaching outside. I felt that way when Vincent pulled me towards the exit. It was as if he realized suddenly that he needed to trash me. I wasn’t worth it after all. His mum was even in tears. That would have been a no-no for him. That should be why I was being thrown out. On reaching the door, he pulled it open and took us past it, turning to close them behind him. Out in the night sky, he slumped against the closed doors, bent his head, and released a deep sigh. He was going to tell me to leave. I knew it. He was going to apologize just like before, in his car, a day after the accident. He was going to tell me he couldn’t bear the heat and that we should probably rethink our decisions. I was going to save him the stress. I was going to unburden him and leave on my own so that he wouldn’t feel he hurt me with his decisions and words.
Vincent He might have been seen as the devil, or the soulless surgeon, but my dad had a heart. He just didn’t allow people to see it. It made him feel weak and vulnerable. All kind gestures, almsgiving, and anything relating to showing care to the outside world were done in secret. This was why people felt all he did was take from the society and, asides from saving lives, had never given to charity or anything of that sort. He always called it “tough love”. My dad might have shown little to no emotions concerning the current dispute between my brother and me, but would you believe me if I told you it bothered him the most? It kept him up at night. He had known right from the party where he first met Anne that something would go amiss. He mentioned that to me. He said and I quote, “Anne Marie Scott is one of a kind. Most men would find her worthy to be by their sides, including my sons.” Naturally, he pays attention to details. He scrutinizes all his doings and that of his subordin
Vincent I knocked on the heavy oak door of my father’s office and entered. He was sitting behind his leather seat facing his large window, which looked out into the large front yard. “Take a seat,” he said without turning. I sat down on the visitors' sit. I was nervous. Yes, I have a good rapport with my dad. But when he’s mad, he’s mad. He knows not who you are. When he’s ticked off, he rains down hell on the culprit. “I know you’ve thought it through, Vincent. I know you looked at the pros and cons of this adventure you’ve set out on, because I believe this is what you’re doing,” he said with his deep icy voice as he rotated his seat to face me. He wasn’t angry, I could tell from his face. He just wanted to talk. “You know your brother has been in love with her. I could tell the first time I saw them dancing on the dance floor. I know you knew that too. You are aware that this will bring a dangerous feud between your brother, yourself, and the rest of your family. Your mum has d
Andrew “All I ever hear you say is how much you love that lady. But, I’ve never heard her return the gesture. Don’t you think it’s a one-sided love?” My dad asked from where he sat behind his oak table. “She wouldn’t care for me the way she did if she hadn’t feelings for me, dad. She was with me, throughout the time I made my music for the golden studios. She pushed me to keep going. She chastised me when I slacked. She gave me her honest and brutal opinion about the way I do things. She practically molded me into a better person. Who does that to a total stranger?” “She, apparently,” my dad replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. “Yes! Dad. She did. It can only mean one thing. She cares for me.” I impassioned. “Why then is she with your brother instead of you?” my dad interrogated. “Vincent brainwashed her. He went behind my back and wooed her. We all know women fall for his cool and collectedness. Plus, he has a way with words. I strongly believe Anny has been misled. She has f
Vincent I turned the key to my door and entered. I didn’t get to close the door behind me when suddenly something ran into me, the force of which almost sent me right back to where I came from. I held onto the door frame to steady myself and with my right hand, secured her soft body against mine. “I could perceive you from a mile away,” she said with a beautiful smile on her cute face. “Hmm… someone’s been watching way too much Vampire movies,” I said, feeling a bubble of joy slowly creep into me at the sight and feel of her. “That’s not true,” she said with a frown, hitting me lightly on the chest. I chuckled, then gently pushed her back and closed the door behind me. “What have you been up to then,” I said, wrapping my other hand around her lower waist. “Well, I’d gone back to school to start the process of securing a hostel for the new semester, then went straight to my department to submit my internship report,” she said whilst twirling my shirt’s button in her fingers. I w
Andrew I signaled the bartender for another shot of vodka as I downed the last one, scrunching up my face as the fierce liquid burned my throat. I was angry at everyone and myself. How are they all right and I’m always wrong? How could it be possible that Anny never had feelings for me? After all the lovely times we spent together? Does it mean I’m unlovable? The lady I invested my time, effort, and love for, did not do the same for me. These thoughts melted the soothing effects of the vodka. It made me furious. I came here to forget but the more I drank, the more pain I felt. “Why!” I yelled out, earning myself curious stares from all sides. I didn’t care one bit. My behavior wasn’t abnormal in a place like this. A lot of people have done worse. In fact, half of the people here wanted to forget or drown horrible memories, pain, or problems. I guess they were only curious to know who had been added to the list. After seven extra shots, I was certain that my stomach couldn’t take a
Andrew I’d initial forgotten why I’d gotten into the fight in the first place till someone hugged me. I had thought it was one of those nauseating females in the bar, but when her scent whiffed into my nose, I remembered I had heard and saw someone I hadn’t seen in a long time. After a while of hugging the life out of me, she loosened her hold, allowing me to turn and face her. Her eyes were brimming with tears and her lips quivering, as she looked at me with the same yearning I saw more than 8 months ago. The first thing that entered my head was why? Why was she craving for a disaster like me? I wasn’t worthy of her love. I’ve hurt everyone around me with my reckless behavior and actions. Why was she pining after me? “What are you doing here..” “Why are you working here…” We had begun at once, but I signaled with a wave of my hand for her to continue. “Nothing really. I needed the extra cash for stuff,” she said, looking bashfully at the floor. “Pam, have you been doing this?