CHAPTER 4

“Mummy, no. Don't leave. Dad, please say something to her.” I begged, even though I didn't know the reason why she was leaving at that moment. My dad looked like he had even given up.

“Dear, it's alright. Go back to your room, daddy's here.” My dad soothed me but my mum had her back to me.

“Mum, say something,” I begged her again and she turned to face me, thinking she had finally agreed to my pleadings. But she broke my heart the most.

“You should listen to your father, I can't be with you anymore” She said her final words and left with her belongings, not even giving one last look at my father or my direction.

“No, mum, please,” I cried and all my helpless father could do was hug me tight and tell me that it was going to be okay.

“No!” I screamed and suddenly, I sat up on my bed, sweating. I gripped my bed covers and reached for my phone from the bedside table.

How long have I been sleeping? I asked no one but myself and rubbed off the sleep from my eyes. I dreaded the day I watched my mother leave us, and how my father kept on being strong even though he was broken by my mother's actions.

Why can't I forget about her? She gives me nightmares, and I hate her.

I brushed my hand through my messy hair, tying it up into a ponytail, at least, that was my favorite hairstyle.

A call from Kyle. I put the phone to my ear.

“What's up, Kyle?”

“You've got to come a bit early tonight.”

“Why, is anything happening?' I asked, surprised.

“No. But I just want you to do something for me, that's all.”

“Er, okay. See you later, then.” The call ended and I sat in the kitchen with the fritters I had taken from the fridge.

I guess I could use some alone time. I took my bath and stepped out, taking a taxi to Hills Mall. Nothing felt better than being a normal girl.

“Mm.. mm.. mm,” I hummed to a song I was listening to through my earphones as I moved from rack to rack, selecting dresses of all kinds that caught my eye. I took one floor-length dress from its rack, checking it out. It had a V-cut and a lower cut up to the waist.

“Mm.. this is cute,” I muttered.

“Of course, it'll look good on you as well,” came out a voice. I looked up and immediately, my smile turned into a scowl. I couldn't believe that of all places, it was in a mall I'd meet him. GEORGE SAM, my ex-boyfriend, 3 years ago.

“What are you doing here?” I asked with hate.

“This is a mall, Morgan” He smiled.

“I know that. What are you doing standing in front of me?” I asked again.

“I saw you coming this way, and the dress in your hands is to die for. It would look good on you.” His eyes moved from the dress to me.

“Thank you, if you don't mind, move aside.”

“Morgan don't do this.” He spoke softly.

“Can't you forgive me? It's been 3 years now. Come on, I'm sorry.”

“Oh!” I smiled at him, “I've forgiven you, George. I hold no grudge against you, the truth is, that's who you are, a cheat, and you'll always be a cheat. I don't mind at all, because for all these three years, I stopped worrying myself about you, and I stopped crying over you. So, just be loyal to whoever you find next to date. Excuse me.” I walked out on him, taking the dresses I had selected to the front desk to make payment.

—

3 years ago

George was my second boyfriend after high school. We dated throughout my college years, even though he was two years ahead of me. And, oh boy, I was madly in love.

He would shower me with kisses and love, he made me feel special, and I thought nothing could break us apart, until that one faithful day.

“Hey, love,” George's voice sounded from the phone and I smiled.

“Hey, baby, what's up?”

“Nothing, except for the fact that I miss you.”

Immediately, heat rose to my cheeks, making me blush. Though we had been dating for a while, I still blushed over his sweet words.

“I miss you, too, love.”

“I'll be out of town, it is an impromptu departure and I'll be gone by noon.”

“But I can still meet you for a goodbye”' I said to him on the phone.

“I would love that but I don't want to worry you for now. I will make it up to you.”

“It's okay, love.” Of course, it was not okay. I was already missing him.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I giggled over the next thing he said to me.

“Blow me a kiss.” George always made me do this before we ended our call, it was cute and who was I to refuse? So I did it anyway.

Later that day, when my dad had gone out for his evening stroll, I decided to go to George's house, since I had a spare key.

I would feel better if I went there, at least, I wouldn't miss him that much.

I walked to his house, a walking distance from mine. But to my surprise, his door was opened, something he doesn't even do when he's home.

“Hm, weird. I wonder why this is opened.”

I walked in, slowly looking around like it was my first time. I felt my heart drop at the sight before me. Female dresses were scattered everywhere, along with George's.

Then I heard muffled sounds, but I still doubted it was him.

“Maybe it is a friend of his,” I said to myself, still taking the steps slowly to the room where I heard the sounds coming from. The more I got closer to the room, the more the sound became intense.

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed, seeing George and another girl, having intimacy. I was shattered, and immediately ran out of his house, not waiting for him when I heard him call after me.

He told me he was leaving, nothing hurt me more than the scene I had witnessed in his house. He could have gone anywhere but why his house? Did he think I was that dumb?

I shook my head off the past, took my bagged outfits, and walked out of the mall.

————

I got ready for work. Just like Kyle had requested, I went 30 minutes earlier than my normal time.

“You never disappoint.” He spoke with a smile and I nodded to that.

“So, what is the special occasion that needed my early arrival?” I asked, focusing on a text I had received from Jerome at that moment.

Jerome: good luck girlfriend. I'll be home tonight. Love ya.

Me: thank you, Jerry. Love you too.

“You got yourself an expensive offer, Ronnie. From tonight, you’ll be starting your private sessions. Adonis wants you to be his private dancer, and he's offered to pay any amount you want, which means, you get—”

“Hold on Kyle! You agreed to it?” I asked. I was more than surprised.

“Yes. He can be trusted, and it happens to be that Adonis is my friend.” He smiled, obviously mocking me for calling his friend Adonis.

“Dance for me privately... Think about it, Kyle will do anything I want”' His voice rang in my head again, making a smile kick at the corners of my lips.

“You’re not trying to set your friend and me up, are you?” I asked.

“No ma’am. So?”

“So?” I asked back.

“What do you say?”

“Do I have a choice?' I giggled. “I will do it.”

“Why do I have a feeling that you already have an interest in Adonis?” He laughed and I playfully scowled. “Anyway, you won't dance out here again, that is only if, Mr. Adonis likes what you do.”

“I know, I know. I hated it up there anyway.”

It was for the money. It was for the money, I chanted to myself like a mantra.

LIAR. The word bounced back at me.

Ohh! Morgan gets to dance for Mr. Adonis. What do you think will happen between them as they keep meeting? Comment, and share. See you in the next chapter.