At around dawn, Darius barged in and disturbed me from my sleep again. I was getting ready for the day, feeling cranky when Darius held up ice cream,
"That's to reduce your crankiness. Also, we need to hurry our wedding preparations with the elders. I'm going abroad next Wednesday."
"No need for that." I intervened, stopping him from explaining further. He looked taken aback, fear dwindling in his eyes.
"What do you mean 'no need'?"
"The elders are busy with other work." I lied with an saint like smile. Darius was searching my eyes for truth. I felt my world spin slower. Just then, his customized ringtone for Audrey went off. He ran back out, leaving the table arranged for two people to eat.
By next Monday, I was done with my duties and was ready to leave for good. Had I even stepped out of the elevator, Darius dragged me and pushed me into his car. If it wasn't for context, people would think I was being kidnapped!
At a high end restaurant in a mall, Darius snatched my utensils to cut the ribeye for me when he inquired, "Which wine would you like?"
I was scrolling for houses on my laptop and replied calmly, "Your choice."
My lack of giving him attention made him gloom over. Tad bit.
"Who's keeping you busy from me?" He smirked, trying to be sleek. "No one." My monotonous voice said flatly.
Almost suddenly, he shut my laptop and snatched it away as well.
"Whyd you change your wallpaper? You were infatuated with me." He furrowed looking at my phone wallpaper. Not only did it feature a cute picture of my family when I was younger.
Darius was trying way too hard to get a conversation out of me. I excused myself to the restroom. But guess what? I was stumped with an expensive bill and my ex-mate was nowhere to be found. Right before leaving, the staff wished me happy birthday, having noticed my birth date on identity card. It wasn't mine.
I walked out and entered the mall space. Beside the children's play area, a familiar plasticky voice infiltrated my ears.
"Ah! Darius, don't do this in public! You're so strong, alpha!" Darius and Audrey booked out the kid's play area to...wrestle. Audrey almost face planted if it wasn't for Darius catching her right on time. He was looking deep into her eyes, filled with adoration that seemed to be lacking when he was around me.
Audrey was blushing profusely, until her gaze met mine. She slowly retracted herself away from Darius. She shamelessly walked to me, "Daphne, it's not what you think it looks like. Alpha just saved me from falling."
Darius appeared behind her, ruffling her hair, "There's no need to explain to her, silly. She's seen it anyway. All that matters is you're not hurt."
After coaxing her not to cry, Darius's gaze shifted to me, "Done stuffing your face?" He asked, his voice lacking warmth and replaced with condescending intention.
I chose not to reply for obvious reasons. I turned away, the photo booth catching my attention. Audrey scowled behind my back for my lack of emotional sensitivity.
She dragged Darius behind me. "Look alpha! A photo booth! You know how much I love photo booths!" She gleamed like a rat.
The staff told us it was a love booth, and guess who went ahead anyway? Thats right. Darius and Audrey entered the love booth. After their joyous photoshoot, Darius scurried every nook and corner of the mall for my presence but failed to track me down.
That night, upon returning to our house, I carried two small bags and left a note for the man, "I'm done. Goodbye."
Without a shred of hesitation, I walked out of the house which manifested my dreams. It was hard, but happiness came first.
At around midnight, my phone rang. I was on my way to the airport, far away from the city centre. I realized it was Darius, his ID picture changed to Audrey's cute selfie.
I ignored it. I was around the boarding area, lamenting over one hour flight delay back home. I got a call from Darius again and was tempted to block him. But something caught my eye.
As I opened the messages, my inbox was flooded with enraged messages. I kinda saw it coming anyway.
I widened my eyes. Darius, known to be stoic like a rock unbridled his emotions for the first time.
-Darius: Are you serious? Ignoring my calls and texts is your way of wishing me on my birthday?-
-Darius: Stop being petty and childish. I've had enough. Come back this instant or I'm going to sell our house away.-
Well, good luck with that, Darius. I've already done the needful. I'll have no loss statements on my bank.
I felt the breeze magically wash over me when I deleted his messages and blocked him everywhere.
Taste of freedom was addicting. But something else was even more obsessive.
