Nora's standpoint.
“What?” I blinked, his voice dragging me out of my thoughts and my eyes locked with his. He looked at me confused, his face slightly marred with fear.
“Are you sure you're okay? You seem like you've seen a ghost.” His voice was tender, and I swiftly glanced at his neck, the same spot where I had seen how much time he had left.
But it was gone!
A sigh of relief swept through my lips and I relaxed on my back.
“You have to talk to me, you know that, right? I can't know what's going on in your head unless you tell me.”
“It's nothing, Alex. And I'm grateful that you're here with me, but I think you have to leave now.” I uttered in a tired voice, without sparing him a glance.
“Did I say something wrong?” He questioned, but I shook my head. I was too tired, too numb to give him a response.
“Then I can't leave. I can't leave you alone like this, with nobody to care for you. You need me, and I'll be here for you.” He said swiftly, his voice firm and leaving no room for any choice for me.
I lifted my head up and looked at him. He looked so sincere that I wanted to run into his arms but then, Leonard’s face flashed before my eyes.
His eyes are half the most sincere look I've ever seen, but what did he do to me? He broke my heart. A man I've been in love with for years left me as though I were nothing.
What assurance do I have that Alex is nothing like him? Or perhaps worse?
“No,” I shook my head, though I wanted to kiss him so badly and slept in his arms until the next morning. Though I needed something strong to numb the pain I was feeling, I knew better than to fall for his tricks. “I don't need your help, I'll be okay on my own.”
“Trust me when I say that's the grief speaking. I'll go make you a cup of warm coffee and read you a book.” He smiled as he rose to his feet.
“No,” I uttered, making him look back at me. “I'm exhausted and would like to rest, I'd appreciate it if you can leave.”
He stared at me in disbelief for a moment and nodded with his lips slightly pouted. “Sure, you should rest. I'll be here to check on you later.” He responded and retreated from my room.
I wanted to tell him never to come back, that it was over between us, but my lips wouldn't say the words.
It felt as though something was pulling me closer to him, and it wasn't ready to give up, no matter how much I tried to fight it.
I watched his retreating figure and got out of bed as soon as I heard him shut the front door. I walked to the door and locked it behind, before dragging my feet to the kitchen.
My eyes scanned through the kitchen, and it sank in that almost everything I had in the kitchen was bought by my parents. The same parents I had failed to save.
Tears streamed down my cheeks and my wobbly legs too weak to hold me up, failed, and I came crashing against the slab, to the floor. My hands covered my mouth as I continued to cry, whimpering.
They were gone and it was all my fault. If I hadn't fallen in love with that gold digger and gambler… if I hadn't made the devil herself my best friend, perhaps my parents would still be alive.
I sat on the floor and all I could think was “what if” until my body felt numb, and it felt a bit better.
My eyes fluttered open, and I slowly sat up as I held my hand up to my banging forehead.
“Ouch…” I moaned and got to my feet. My eye got a glimpse outside the window and it was already dark.
I walked to the living room, sank myself on the couch and turned on the television. I searched through the channels to find something soothing, but there was none. So, I leaned my head against the couch, hoping I would be at the mercy of sleep again.
My doorbell went off, jolting me out of what wasn't entirely my thoughts. My eye instinctively landed on the door and no matter how hard I thought about it, I had nobody to come visit me. Still lost about whom it could be, the bell rang again, and I walked to the door.
For a moment and with the slightest of hopes in my heart, I wished it were my parents, wanting to tell me this was all a bad dream I would wake up from.
I peeked through the hole in the door and to my disappointment, it was Leonard and Vivienne. A frustrated sigh surged through my lips as I rolled my eyes.
“Open the door, Nora. I know you're in.” Leonard said with his voice raised as he banged his fist against the door.
Not wanting them to cause a scene, I grabbed the knob and was about to open the door when I heard another voice.
“Who are you?”
It was Alexander’s.
I felt a wave of relief sweep through my body, and I took a step away from the door.
“Well, who do we have here?” Leonard whined teasingly.
“That depends on who's asking.”
“You should head your way, mate. I'm feeling generous today.” Leonard barked.
“How can I go my way when you're standing in my way? And I just asked who you are.” Though Alex's voice was calm and collected, I could feel his rage in his voice.
“You really want to get a good beating, don't you?” Leonard threatened, but Alex chuckled.
“Would that be coming from you? Or was that simply a joke?” Alex grinned and walked to the door.
“Leonard, will you just let him walk over you like that?” Vivienne whined in a cute and childish voice that almost drove me mad.
How could she be this disgusting?
“He doesn't stand a chance, baby.” Leonard uttered and banged on the door again.
Filled with rage, I stormed closer to the door and opened it, but Leonard was already on the floor, holding his face with Vivienne crouched beside him. All eyes landed in me as I stood confused and surprised by the door.
“Is this what you do, Nora? Jump from one man to another? Have you got no shame at all?” Vivienne snapped at me.
I pulled Alex in and our lips met in a kiss, I shifted my gaze to Vivienne, my head up high. “I'm not like you, who seduces her best friend's man. Alex, here is mine and made for me alone.” My voice was firm, as though I were marking my territory.
Of course, I was.
This might have started as a contract with Alex, but I'll make sure Vivienne won't be able to get her hands on him. Same to other ladies.
I turned to him, and he looked at me, yet to recover from the surprise. “You belong to me, don't you dare forget that.”
