MARRY ME NOW

They walk out of the building took a few minutes because of how huge the building is. I wonder if Jake knows what happened.

I don’t think he does, he didn’t sound curious when we spoke earlier on the phone. I spotted Jake’s car, parked along other cars. Reaching it, I opened the back door and placed Anne inside.

Before going over to the passenger’s sit. Keep a smiley face, he doesn’t have to know what happened.

He’s going to find out either way. Two voices argued in my head. I’m such a burden to Jake. I need to start fighting for myself and stop leaning on Jake.

“Thanks for coming,” I said to Jake. After sitting down. He started the car. “You’re always welcome.” He replied. Normally, I would have smiled, but the situation right now is so overwhelming.

I just want to cry. “You don’t look okay,” Jake said. I looked down, fumbling with my fingers. Tears were threatening to fall down. “Hey, are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay!” I snapped. I have no idea why but I felt like the only way not to cry right now is to sound angry. And then I poured out all that was in my mind. I told him what happened. I told him how I felt.

It felt like a load was brought out of my mind now he’s known what had happened. Even if there’s a chance I could go back to work in that stupid company, I wouldn’t take it.

I just can’t take it anymore.

“Tessa..”

“I’m sorry… I snapped.” I said.

~

I sighed putting down my phone. I just returned from Anne’s school where I had gone to pick her up. Of course, after talking to Jake yesterday, he had offered some help but I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I can’t keep on being a burden to him. I’ve had to act like a grown-up for once. Take care of my own things, but I wish it was simple as it sounds.

Life is just not fair.

I walked to the kitchen to prepare lunch for Anne, and just when I was in the middle of cooking, the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anybody.

I went to the door and looked through the peephole. Loren? What was she doing here? How did she even know my place?

Do not open the door.

I wasn’t going to. She is here to cause trouble and I’m definitely not in the mood for her drama. I ignored it and went back to the kitchen to continue what I was doing. The door rang again and again until it finally stopped.

Hasn’t she gotten what she wants? She wanted Austin, she’s always had him. I think. She wanted me away from Austin. Now, I’m gone and she still wants drama? Really?

Seeing her face makes me want to puke. I finished what I was doing 20mins later. I served Anne and then served myself. We were halfway eating when I heard a knock again.

Ah jeez.

I stood up and walked to the door, I looked through the peephole, and Loren stood there. Doesn’t she give up? Opening the door, I asked. “What do you want?” Only then, I realised she was crying.

“Tessa,” she cried. I gave her a confused look. She’s crying? Why here? “Tessa, I don’t know what’d gotten into me that made me act the way I did to you… I was just scared. I guess I was scared of losing… I was scared of losing Austin, I know that’s a silly excuse, but I.. I..” She trailed on.

“What are you talking about?” I asked. To say I was confused was an understatement. Why’d she want to apologise, I thought she was just the normal bitchy girl.

“I’m so sorry, for what I did Tessa. I’m so sorry, I hope you’d find a place in your heart to forgive me.” She broke down. She looks like a whole new person, probably because she’s not on makeup and her face is beet red from crying.

“Please, forgive me, I can’t live knowing that I had offended someone as I did to you, what I did was absolutely wrong and for the wrong reasons. I’d make it up to you, I’d do anything.” She said, her palms clapping together. She looks really sincere and it seems like she really meant what she said.

But, it could be an act. She’s really good at acting.

“I can’t forgive you, please leave me alone. You’ve gotten what you wanted right? Just go and leave me alone.”

“If that’s what you want… For me to leave you alone, I would bu -”

“Thank you,” I said cutting her off, I stepped into my house and locked the door before she could continue. No need to feel guilty, Tessa. I scolded the part of me that was already feeling guilty for interrupting her like that.

~

I lay on my bed reading a novel. Yep, this is officially what I was doing every day since I’ve got no job, though I have applied for some. I hope I get a call from them soon.

I still haven’t gotten over what happened yesterday, it’s difficult to get the fact that Loren was actually here last evening, to ask for forgiveness. Why’d she wanted me to forgive her?

It just doesn’t seem right, maybe she’s up to something… My thoughts were interrupted when my phone rang. Stretching out to it, I picked it up and answered the call.

“Hello, please is this Tessa Carl?” A male voice asked.

“Yes, why?” I didn’t feel good about this call, I’ve never gotten a call from an unknown person asking a question like this. Maybe it’s from one of the companies I applied for a job?

“Yes, please, may I know who is this?”

“It’s a call from the hospital, your daughter, Anne Carl was rushed in here a couple of minutes ago, please your attention is needed.” I panicked. Jesus Christ. What happened? Why’d she be rushed to a hospital?

He told me the hospital’s name and address. I quickly got up and threw on some clothes. Oh, my baby. I wore my slippers and rushed to the hospital.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

My child. Oh, God. My heart was racing. I reached the receptionist. And asked for Anne. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know who I was talking about. “Please, check the list again, her name is Anne… Anne Carl..” I said I don’t know if she understand what I was saying.

I was shaking so much. “Oh here, room 54a.” She said. I ran, I ran in search of the room. Please, she’d be okay! Oh God, please! Let her be okay. I mentally cried.

I got to room 54a. I turned the doorknob and stepped in. There, I saw a doctor, but that’s all my mind could take as I looked straight at who was on the bed.

Anne. My baby…

I cried out. This can’t… This can’t be! How’d this happen?! She was in school. “W-what happened?” I cried.

“She got in an accident.” The doctor said.

“How?” I asked. Not sure if he heard, my voice was low and rasped.

“We were going to take the kids on a short trip but then the vehicle wasn’t enough so she had to go with Mrs Dave, her car brakes, unfortunately.. She wasn’t able to control it, she’s also in an emergency.” The teacher who I didn’t recognise till now said.

“But, Miss Xander here was luckily close when the scene happened, she was able to save both the child and the teacher, it’s a miracle.” The doctor said. I looked at who he was talking about to see Loren.

“H-how? How was she in the scene?”

“I was on my way to my work place when I saw a car getting into an accident, I quickly called the police. Then I saw Anne in there..”

“This is not the time for stories, the little girl needs blood.” The doctor said.

“You could take my blood, we’re a match,” I said quickly.

~

I sat on a seat outside the room Anne was in. I couldn’t think straight with everything going through my head. According to the doctor, there wasn’t much damage except that she had a cut which she’d lost an amount of blood from.

He said she might wake up any moment from now. But I couldn’t stop myself from crying, knowing what Anne went through was killing me. It kills me that I’m not able to protect her.

Someone sat next to me. “Are you okay?” I heard the voice of Loren. I owe her a huge thank you. If she hadn’t. I don’t know what would have happened… Maybe she really is sorry for what she did to me?

“Yes,” I replied. “Thank you, Loren… I don’t”

“It’s okay, you really don’t have to thank me for anything, I’d do anything to let you know how sorry I am for what I did to you..” She said with a smile. I nodded my head slowly.

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