Just when I was about to go mad in anger, the host came forward and greeted everyone on the mic. “How’s everyone?”
The audience cheered.
Then the host laughed and said again while glancing at me, “And how are readers of 99 days doing?”
The cheering of the audience grew louder. I felt a trace of blush on my cheeks after seeing so many people clapping for my work. Finally, my mind went off of my husband and started watching everyone jumping in the audience.
I couldn’t believe that these people were acting like that for the sake of my novel. I almost felt that I had someone turned into a celebrity all of a sudden who was famous among her peers. I couldn’t help but grin at them and waved at them.
When they saw my response, they cheered even more openly. Even Vampire was affected by the sight, and he was grinning widely. Both of us acted as if we were having a perfect time together. We were still holding hands, and everyone could see that. It was as if we wanted to show off such a perfect relationship between a writer and an editor to everyone no matter how fake it was!
I shook my head and focused on the present. I didn’t want to let my thoughts drift too far toward the negative side of life. I was happy, and wanted to enjoy myself for tonight.
The host joked for a while before he turned toward me and said, “Ms. Elise should be given an award for her feat, right? Do you all agree?”
Everyone cheered, making me feel even more embarrassed.
“Okay, okay. So let’s call upon the editor who worked hard for her book and hand her the award she deserves!”
I and Vampire both were standing on the stage, but we didn’t even know that he was the one who would hand me the award. I was stupefied and smiled widely at that. This was what I wanted. I couldn’t wait to see him before my eyes, smiling as he would give me the award. And the same thing happened when the time came. He took the award as his eyes lingered at my face before a grin formed on his lips. “Congratulations, Ms. Elise.”
I blushed under his intense gaze, but still raised my hand to take the award. Our hands brushed for a moment making me flinch a little from the electric wave washing over me. I mumbled as I lowered my head, “Thanks.”
“Do you have to say anything, Ms. Elise?”
I nodded. I had prepared that speech nicely, and it was everything I wanted to say anyway. So I didn’t hesitate before taking up the mic and said, “Thank you very much for liking my work. It wouldn’t have been here if it weren’t for my editor, Vampire.” I gestured to the man standing beside me and everyone cheered. “He made it possible to motivate me to write everyday no matter how much I wanted to give up. He would pick me up every time I was on the verge of dying, and I’m grateful for that. And lastly, I wanted to thank everyone who supported me for my work. It wouldn’t have been possible to rise high without you guys.”
After that, I handed my award over to the host and stepped back. The host talked and joked around about my book a little bit before he let both of us go.
We appeared backstage, and I laughed looking at Vampire. “Did you see that?!”
He nodded with a smile on his face. “I did. Congrats.”
“I didn’t know they loved my book so much.” I cheered as my eyes glistened with happiness. “It almost feels like a fairytale!”
Vampire nodded as he stared at me with a hidden emotion in his eyes. I continued to talk endlessly about my book and didn’t notice as his eyes became warmer and warmer. It was almost as if he wanted to pull me closer and crush me in his arms. But before he could act on his thoughts, a certain someone came and destroyed the moment again.
“Congrats, Elise.”
The smile from my face vanished as I glanced toward the entrance of the backstage. It was Lewis, again. A spark of anger grew inside my heart. It had been a while since I had been surprised by my boiling emotions. But now when this guy was constantly becoming an obstruction to my happiness, I lashed out on him.
“What is it with you?!” I glanced at Lewis in fury. “Why can’t you let me be happy just for today?”
My husband was stunned. He still didn’t understand what he did wrong to face my anger. He tilted his head naively before a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes. Sadness appeared on his face, and he bit his lips, standing there like a brokenhearted fool.
But such an expression didn’t help him. I couldn’t feel even an ounce of sympathy in my heart for this person. My face grew more distorted in anger as I continued to look at him.
“I-I….” Lewis’s expression became strange as if he didn’t know what else to say to me. So he averted his eyes and closed his mouth.
When I saw this kind of expression, I took a deep breath to control my rising anger and said, “You know something, Lewis? The thing that I regret is marrying you. So just get out of my life and let me live!”
I didn’t want to face those guilty emotions in my heart anymore that were eating me alive. I didn’t want to be like this anymore! Why couldn’t I be a normal girl who had just fallen in love? Why did I have to continue to face such a situation where I was forced to deal with the guilt of falling in love with someone else?
I gritted my teeth and said, “Get out of here!”
I didn’t dare to look at my husband’s face. So I closed my eyes as I reached for my husband’s shoulders, and pushed him a little. “Go back.”
I was thankful that no one was around to see this embarrassing scene. I knew Vampire was still standing behind me, but I didn’t care anymore. Both of our situations were similar, and I bet he could understand what I was going through.
So when my husband finally left, I leaned back on the wall as if I had given up on my life. Just then, Vampire held my hand and dragged me outside the ceremony place. I was stunned and glanced at his back. I didn’t know what kind of expression he was making. “Where are you taking me?”
He didn’t reply, but the hand that was gripping my wrist tightened. After a while, we came over to an area where a festival was going to be held. That was when I realized that today there was some Chinese festival here, and everyone wore traditional clothes. The sky was dark as family members stood beside a lake and stared at the sky with expectations in their eyes.
Before I could ask anything, a firecracker flew up in the sky and bloomed to form a circular flower shape of multiple colors. I stared at the scene before me in a daze.
I had forgotten what day it was! It was Chinese new year! Some people even came out of their homes with their lanterns and lifted it up in the sky by giving it a push and lightening it.
The sky became filled with brightness, but my heart was still crying. I knew that after today, things wouldn’t be the same. Starting from the time my husband came and obstructed my happiness time and time again today, I had realized that it was destiny, indicating to me that I shouldn’t ask for too much happiness. I should just be satisfied and live peacefully.
Vampire was still clasping my hand, not having an intention to leave, but he didn’t pull me closer anymore. It was as if there was an invisible crack between us that was forcing him to stop his steps. Just when I thought we would stay like this, Vampire opened his mouth and said, “Stay with me tonight.”
I glanced at his face that was devoid of any expression. No it wasn’t that he didn’t feel anything, but he was hiding the emotions from appearing in his eyes. He didn’t even look at me.
I wanted to! I just yearned to jump in his arms and never let go. Every part of my body was urging me to go and kiss Vampire with all my heart, but I knew for some reason that the kiss we had backstage was the last one. A teardrop slipped from my eyes. I opened my mouth and closed it, not wanting to say anything.
So I silently took my hand out of his grasp and walked away without looking back. I had a husband at home, and the immense guilt in my heart made me feel uneasy, especially after seeing how Lewis continued to come and destroy my dream.