Anny constantly looked at Mackie throughout the whole breakfast but he kept avoiding her eyes. She was scared that she has offended him or he knew she told Number 2 about his secret.
Although she had promised Number 2 that she would avoid him but she couldn’t. She felt love and warmth for him whenever he was around, he made her feel at peace with herself. He made her feel like a woman and not a pet. He made her a woman.
She looked up towards his seat again and it was still the same. He had his gaze fixed on the food even when he clearly wasn’t eating it.
What if he doesn’t know you are looking at him?.
The voice told her.
He had to. The Mackie she fell in love with would send glances at her even when she didn’t notice. He would look over his shoulder sometimes and smiled if he didn’t want anyone to notice him staring at her. Sometimes he would fake a cough just to get her to look his way. Sometimes he would drop something on purpose all in a bid to shift it backward and stare at her from underneath the table. He acted like a lover boy around her and he clearly showed his love.
Then why was he acting different today? Did something happen?.
If only she had the necklace with her then she would have alerted him.
Why was he ignoring her?.
Or was he only after her body?.
No he couldn’t, she was very sure he loved her the same way she did. He had proved that on the day they made love, he had promised to stay by her side through the whole tough situation.
What had changed? .
Who had changed? She thought.
Promises can be broken Anny.
The voice reminded her.
Will it just stop! Stop trying to rub more salt in this wound.
She replied the voice, foaming with anger.
One of these days, she would strangle it if she could.
She looked carefully at him from the corner of one eye and he looked like someone whom had something heavy on his mind, something eating him up slowly and deeper. The fact that he barely touched his food proved that. Mackie was more of Food than anything else since he loved the gym and would hit it anytime, anyday.
What could be on his mind?.
Or did Master know about them?.
No he couldn’t. Mackie wasn’t that careless to show the hint and she was sure Number 2 wouldn’t snitch on her and even if Malburt really did, she probably wouldn’t still be in their midst by now. He would have sent her somewhere far and evil, that was how much power he had.
Then what bothered him and why did he constantly avoid her gaze?.
Mackie pushed the plate of Chicken, chips and sauce aside and dropped his spoon on the table. He got up slowly and headed straight into his room.
He knew she looked at him from time to time but he couldn’t face her, he couldn’t bear to look at her nor dare to look her in the eyes, he couldn’t bear to see the hurt and sadness that filled them, he couldn’t bear to see those beautiful eyes fill with pain because of him.
How was he supposed to explain to her without hurting her?
How was he suppose to tell her that he’s gone?
Gone far away from her ?
He couldn’t break the news to her, not after what they had shared, not after all he had promised her . He knew she deserved to know, she deserved to know the truth and he hoped she would understand that it was never his intention to hurt her and he couldn’t have done anything to change it. He hoped she would take it without breaking down, the same way he did.
He just had to tell her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anny hadn’t been herself all day as she wondered what was really going on in his head. If only she still had her necklace on then she could have asked him.
Please show up in my dream Mackie.
She prayed hoping he would hear her.
The moon was not out yet but she was eager to go to sleep; eager to see Mackie, eager to know what was wrong. She laid down and closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep but she couldn’t.
Sleep comes naturally Anny you don’t force it.
The tiny voice said.
Anny knew the voice was right, no matter how much she forced herself to sleep, it didn’t come.
She just wanted to see Mackie.
She said and stared at the setting sun in the sky and s it slowly drifted away enabling the moon to come out for it’s job.
How she loved staring at the moon and making images of it in her head.
Anny had always been the imaginative type she could imagine things to form from the cloud.
She sat down on the bench and stared at the waters as it moved back and forth followed by the sound of waves.
The beauty of the beach had always soothed her it had a way of soothing her pains and take away her worries with it’s waves.
She dipped her toes into the soft sands on the beach, covering her toes with some. She remembered building sand castles and looking for beautiful sea shells with her father.
Sweet old memories, one she would cherish forever.
She promised herself.
She was starting to shiver, the cold wind from the sea has begun to catch up with her she just hopes Mackie would show up soon.
Please show up Mackie.
She whispered.
Some moments had past since she sat down there on the bench playing with the sand and he still wasn’t there.
What if he never comes Anny?
The voice questioned her.
She believed he would, he had to show up. The Mackie she knew would never keep her waiting.
“I can see you’re cold”. Mackie said from behind and Anny ran into his arms, placing a couple of kisses on his cheeks as she absorbed his warmth and breathed him in, all of a sudden she felt better.
“I missed you, I thought you wouldn’t come” she said and kissed him again this time in his lips.
She looked so happy to see him and Mackie’s heart broke at the thought of what her expression would be after he broke the news to her. Oh how dejected she would feel, why did he have to do this to her.
” Sorry I got here late, I was caught up with something and I’ve missed you too Anny”.
He said and sat down on the bench, dragging her with him.
“I lost my necklace Mackie. I don’t know how it happened or where I misplaced it, I just can’t find it and I’ve looked everywhere for it but…”
He cut her short with a kiss and her words trailed off.
” Calm down Anny, the necklace is with me. You dropped it the other night”.
Her cheeks turned red from blushing, the moment he mentioned the other night.
” I had hmm the best night of my life and I just wanted to tell you that Iove you so much Mackie and I promise to stay right by your side forever”. She said shyly.
His heart broke as she let those words out of her mouth. He was too scared to break her heart , scared if taking away the smile on her face but he had to tell her, it’s now or never.
” I have to tell you something Anny”.
He said sadly.
“What is it? I have been meaning to ask you that question myself cause you clearly weren’t yourself at breakfast”. She said and held his hand. ” You can tell me anything Mackie”. She assured him, stariy into his eyes.
How would he start? How would he say those words?.
He knew it would shatter her heart into a thousand pieces for sure.
” Hmm Anny “. He cleared his throat, “trust me but I have thought about this for some time now and emm I just have to let it out “. He said and stared at her face. Her expression had changed, she looked scared and sad.
Was he going to break up with her?
Was he going to leave her now?
Tears welled up in her eyes, stinging hot.
Calm down Anny and listen to what he has to say.
The tiny voice said, calming her down.
” What is it Mackie? You are starting to get me all scared and worried.
Anny was fidgeting and playing with her fingers because she was nervous.
“Hmm I love you so much Anny and I want you to know I do. It just happened Anny and believe me I tried all I could but I couldn’t stop it and trust me it’s was never my intention to hurt you. I tried my best and I am so sorry because I know this would surely break your heart”.
He didn’t have the courage to break the news to her.
“Wait Mackie, did you get someone pregnant? She asked. She had seen it happen before in movies where men would break such news to their partners in this exact manner.
” Of course not”. He nodded in disapproval.
” Phew! Now that was a relief.
” Now promise me Anny that you won’t cry, you know I don’t like it when you cry please promise me.” He said. He knew well enough that Annabel was an emotional person and a cry baby. Seeing her cry would break his already broken heart into pieces.
” Tell me Mackie, I promise I won’t cry”. She wanted to know what was going on in his head, so badly.
” I am getting married to someone else Anny, a princess of another kingdom”.
He watched as Anny froze in shock and let out a laugh.
” You are joking right “. She said. He looked in her eyes for sometime and wished he could tell her he was.
” I’m not Anny but I wish I was. Father has arranged my marriage already. I am so sorry Anny but this is goodbye.” He said and removed his hand from her grip . It was better not to let her get attached before he left.
She couldn’t believe her ears. What he had said was worse than getting someone pregnant.
Marriage! Someone else! Who?.
The words replayed in her head over and over again and tears ran down her cheeks. He didn’t look like he was joking which meant that it was real. The only man she’s ever loved now belongs to someone else.
” And the necklace”. She asked. At least even if she couldn’t be with him, she wanted to have something if his, something to remind her of him, something to remind her of the love they shared.
“I am sorry Anny but it’s better you don’t have it. We can’t hold to a broken rope Anny, we just have to let go. Goodbye Anny”. He said and got up, leaving her right there to wallow in her sorrows.
He really tried to end their relationship on a good note but he had no choice.
Annabel sat down there cold, frozen and beaten. Her spirit was down. She felt like she had being weighed with a burden more than her heart can take. She let the tears roam free down her face, she couldn’t hold it in, not anymore.
Even though her instinct had told her that he would leave, even though it had prepared her for it. She still didn’t want to believe it had happened. Maybe if he had gotten someone else pregnant would have been better. She wouldn’t have minded and accepted her wholeheartedly. All she wanted was the only man she ever truly loved.