Chapter Fifteen: Bag 2

Ringgo hadn't parked the car properly yet at the Mall’s parking space but Thera immediately got out of the car upon seeing the familiar woman who was stepping inside The Palace Mall’s entrance. She was her fake friend, Kisses who just arrived from a trip with the company CEO, Mr. Hernandez. With her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line, Thera walked inside the building.

Thera’s glare followed her as the woman stepped into a famous boutique shop. She smirked. She still hadn’t changed even after almost a year of living abroad. Kisses’ fashion brand and style are still the same. She knew because the covetous witch was copying her since time immemorial. Thera went inside the famous boutique. She did not even throw the slightest glance at the staff who were scrambling to greet her.

She walked towards Kisses whose gaze was focused on a red elegant handbag. When she was about to take it, Thera grabbed it immediately. The woman looked up at her. She grinned when she saw her frown. Thera tightened her grip on the handle of the bag, but the bitch did just the same on the part she was holding.

"I saw it first," Kisses said firmly.

Thera looked at the bag they were both holding. "You saw it first but we picked it up at the same time."

“Regardless. You're a grown woman now, Thera. You should know when it's time to let things go.”

"Let go?" Thera scoffed. "For what? To be picked up by some lamebrained bitch who’s been dying to see me give up things I like? ”

"You're being childish."

"And you are a legit selfish, copycat bitch with no moral and shame," she retorted, emphasizing the statement.

Kisses clenched her fists. Thera darted her with her insulting glare, trying to provoke her into slapping her. She was waiting for that slap but it didn’t happen.

Coward, she mouthed, mockingly. Kisses knew that it will not be just her palm that would land on her fake face once she tries to hurt her. Thera would make sure her whole body will hurt as well.

“Aren’t you going to let go?” she asked.

Kisses did not answer but she was still firmly holding on to the bag.

Thera left out an exasperated sigh.

“Ah, forgive me for always forgetting that you’ve been living half of your life and still do not know that it is wrong to claim what you do not legally own,” she said, her tone hung somewhere between anger and sarcasm.

Kisses’ eyes sharpened but she lowered her gaze for a moment. “Must you really like everything I liked, Thera?”

Thera laughed again her frigid laugh.“Look who’s talking. You like? Aren't you the one who stooped so low to steal what’s mine? You even used someone rich and senile because you could not contain your jealousy.”

“You are just too much!” Kisses exclaimed.

“No! I have much!” she corrected, confidence laced her voice as she held her head high. “God gave me so much because He could not afford to gift these to someone like you who foolishly believes her own lies just to get what she wants!”

Kisses’ flinched. She was staring at her as if she was trying to read what’s in her mind.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t know?" she asked, mocking her. "Married? Married my ass.”

Kisses’ mouth dropped open, she continued to stare at her, perplexed.

“We only have one stock on display, Ma’am, ” said the sales clerk who finally decided to approach them. They did not fail to notice the tension between her and Kisses. Thera glanced at the sales clerk before turning her gaze back to her ex-best friend.

"Since we all know that you are not busy because you don't really have a job and you are just waiting for your husband’s money who, take note –is of the same age as your grandfather, of course, you have a lot of free time to search and find the same bag." she said, emphasizing again the word "your husband" to annoy her former best friend whose face suddenly flushed.

Thera’s mouth twisted into a wry grin... She could not believe Kisses could still feel embarrassed despite her thick face.

“The brand just made ten pieces of that design, Ma’am. Unfortunately, one is in Paris and the others are in different countries. ”

Kisses cleared her throat. “Let’s not fight over this bag, Thera. But to be fair, why don’t we both chose a different design?”

Thera’s mouth twisted in a wry grin. “Deal. Let go now,”

“You let go first.”

“I don’t trust you.”

"Have you been deceived by people all your life?"

Thera smiled sarcastically. "Shouldn't you know the answer to that more than anyone else?” She’s really got the nerve to ask her that.

Kisses lowered her gaze. Thera scoffed when she saw a hint of guilt flashed in her eyes. Guilt? This bitch doesn't even know the word remorse.

Thera took the opportunity and grabbed the bag. She then threw it at the sales clerk who was able to catch it single-handedly. "Wrap it up, I'll pick it up later."

With a victorious smile on her face, Thera turned her back on Kisses who was at a loss for words. But her smile quickly faded and her expression displeased when he saw the man who was entering the boutique.

The expression on Thera’s face reflected both anger and irritation. It was almost a year ago when he last saw Sean — in his villa in Baguio, the night when she chose to swallow not only her pride but also her self-esteem.

Like a fool who was head over heels in love, she offered herself to him. Yet like a cold bastard without a single drop of human blood in him, Sean, this jerk… Thera shook her head. She does not want to remember anymore. If she could, she wanted to bury his name and forget he ever existed.

“Can we talk?” he asked softly.

Thera stopped in her tracks, her smile was wry. She could not believe she waited for half a decade before she finally able to hear those three words from Sean. Sean left her, avoided her as if she was some kind of a disgusting pest who kept following him around. And now, he’s asking for a talk? For what?

“If it is about the company, call my office. Yumi will take care of the schedule,” she said, her voice was flat and ice cold.

Thera attempted to walk past him but Sean was quick. He was able to catch her hand. Thera’s eyes narrowed. She clenched her fists and shrugged. She turned around and face the man who sighed when he saw the anger in her eyes.

“Don’t you dare touch me with that filthy hands of yours, Sean!”

Furious, she went straight outside the mall. Laida was walking behind her, trying but unsuccessful to keep up with her boss' long, angry strides.

Thera saw Ringgo who was on the phone, leaning on her car that was now parked in front of the Mall.

“Ma’am how about the meeting later?” Laida asked, worried.

“Do I look like I’m in the mood, Laida? Tell Yumi to cancel and reschedule.”

Ringgo was frantic when she shot him a sharp glare. He scrambled in the driver’s seat and sat there, totally forgetting to open the door for her. Thera threw open the car door.

If it was the usual day, she’d make sure Ringgo’s ears would bleed from her nagging. But Thera was not in the mood to scold him. She was about to ride on her car’s backseat but Sean was quick. He was able to stop her on time before she was able to get in. Thera drew a deep irritated sigh. What was this bastard’s problem now?

She could not believe the idiot really came home from America for his parent's wedding anniversary. She was not even expecting to meet him as early as now. There are still a few days before the party at The Palace.

Laida who does not know what to do has a worried look on her face. She heard how much her lady boss hates her own husband. And she’s scared to finally see how scary she can get when she’s angry.

“Thera, this is about…”

Thera closed her eyes tightly but her expression was grim when she turned to face him. But she was shocked to realize that she seemed to be enclosed between his arms. Sean's left hand was placed on top of the car while the right one was holding the door.

But she could not let him see the confusion in her eyes nor let him hear the loud beating of her own heart. She sighed irritably and cussed a loud that made Sean flinch a little.

Good. He was now seeing the whole new Thera De Marco. After causing her so much pain, after rejecting her again and again, was he expecting her to remain the same stupid, naïve Thera who begged him for the millionth time to stay?

But the swear word, whom or what was it really for? Was it because she could not help but get angry every time she sees people who fooled and hurt her a lot or was it because of the loud beating of her heart?

Thera decided to believe the latter was the reason. Her heart would not race just because of that simple skin-to-skin contact. It was a long time ago when Sean, the last made her heart flutter. He could not make his heartbeat so easily again.

But Sean was way too close. She could feel the warmth of his chest despite the fact that it was covered with his long sleeve polo. His scent was achingly familiar, his natural manly scent can send a shiver down her – shiver?

Shit. Thera wanted to slap herself. She needs to wake up from this nightmare, quick.

“The annulment papers I sent you -.”

Fuck. Annulment papers. Again.

Thera looked up at the sky. She had to calm herself down or without a word, she might just punch Sean.

What crime did she commit in her past life to deserve this? Every time he sees her, nothing else comes from his mouth but that damn annulment paper.

“Thera…”

Thera returned her gaze to him, her face flushed and her nose flared. “You should know by now, Sean, that I am the last person on earth who would wish to see you happy. I want you to suffer as much as I do. Just like what you guys have done to me… I want you to live and die lonely and miserable. So don’t expect me to sign that garbage. Even you cry black blood you’ll stay married to me!”

Sean did not answer but his gaze roved over her face – there was something in his eyes – something akin to remorse. But Thera was too angry to comprehend that emotion.

This bastard was asking for too much. He was unfair until the end. He deceived her. Used her. Ruined her. How could he ask for freedom when she can not even give it to herself?

“You heard my answer. Get lost.”

He pushed Sean away, then quickly got into the car. He slammed the door shut just to open it quickly afterward. Her eyes widened. She heard Sean groaned aloud from the outside. Sean immediately turned his back around, one hand holding his hurt index finger. Thera quickly got out of the car. Her face was color-drained when she accidentally saw the blood dripping from her husband’s finger.

Thera wanted to freak out... His finger got pinched in her car’s door. He tried to hide it from her but he was unsuccessful.

Thera could not and must not move. Not even an inch. She fixed her feet on the ground. Even when she saw Kisses approaching, Thera stood very still. Kisses handed him a handkerchief, and when Sean took it, Thera felt her own heart ached.

Kisses glared at her. Sean looked behind. When he saw her staring, the frown of pain in his face quickly faded. He could see the guilt and distress on her pretty face.

“I’m fine. Get in the car. I’ll call you for an appointment,” he says in a tone unmixed with criticism and blame.

Thera was still at a loss for words. She was still staring at Sean's hand that was already wrapped in Kisses' handkerchief. The handkerchief was white, she could see blood slowly seeping into that thin cloth.

“Ma’am…”

Laida’s worried voice pulled her back to her senses. Kisses and Sean are no longer in front of her. Thera blinked. It was only then that he realized, his tears were already dripping.

Thera reluctantly gets inside the car. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. What the f-ck is wrong with her? How could she cry over his hurt finger? He would not even get hospitalized because of that. She was not supposed to give a damn if his nail dies.

Hate. Anger. That was what she was supposed to feel towards Sean. But it felt like she received twice the amount of pain Sean was feeling. Thera fixated her eyes outside the car’s window. Though quiet, she felt Laida’s sympathetic stare. She was seating in front of the car. She knew she wanted to ask so Thera chose to lean her head on the chair and pretend to be asleep.