120.
Vera’s POV.
Two days have gone by and David is still not back from his trip to Miami. When he announced that at first, I had this tentative feeling inside me.
That maybe once David leaves he’ll never come back the same.
I just don’t fucking know why that’s happening.
The strings of thoughts have denied me adequate sleep since he left.
Oh, aside from that, I keep feeling super tired, it’s hard for me to move my limbs.
Yeah, that’s another reason I’ve cooped up in my bed, not moving for the past two days.
I feel so cold without him here. I wish he was offering me some baby treatment and whispering sweet nothings into my ear. Maybe that will make this unease I feel go away.
I feel pains slinging through me as if my heart is being pulled from the inside out. It hurts.
Not hearing his voice.
Not seeing his face.
Not feeling his touch.
“Why hasn’t he called me?” I mumble under my breath, wincing.
Why do I feel so insecure like he’s out there cheating on me?
God, I can’t douse these thoughts, this bitter feeling.
As if on cue, his words from the night before flash through my mind.
“No woman on earth can hold my interest the way you do, Vera Ivanovna.”
Hell, I suddenly fell in love with my last name that night. I love the way it streamed from his lips. It sounded coarse yet sexy.
Ivanovna, a name I’m yet to understand what it truly holds.
You know, it still doesn’t make sense to me that I have a mafia blood in me.
Not at all.
But the evidence all proves I was born with that blood.
I’m a mafia.
The dynamics are too vertiginous. How I went from being a girl swept under David’s care to being a mafia princess.
Although, David hasn’t made any effort to expose me to that underworld where I truly belong.
‘That shows he’s hiding something from you.’ That voice, tiny yet powerful, whispers into my ears again.
That’s the truth I’m yet to unravel.
I toss around my bed, still feeling the bite of cold, the dizziness, and the nausea.
Hell, this indigestion thingy is getting crazier, really. I haven’t been able to eat well.
In fact, I select the type of food I eat.
I might be craving tortillas this minute and in the next, it’ll automatically turn to quesadilla or pizza. That’s some crazy shit but…
I don’t know what to do.
I’ve experienced this before, just that this time around it’s kinda different. Super different.
“Vera…” Evelyn’s voice cut through my thoughts and moment of sorrow.
“Come in.” I chirp and watch as she flings the door open.
She takes in the very sight of me and that pathetic look coats her features.
“You still haven’t gotten up?” She asks, voices mellow as she gravitates into the room.
I shake my head slowly. “I don’t feel like it.” I let out, whining low at the back of my throat.
I’ve never felt this strong urge to be babied so badly.
“Did David call?” I ask Evelyn, feeling hopeful.
Uh-oh, the shake of her extinguishes the hope taking root inside me.
“I see,” I mutter.
You know, I was actually assuming that he’s having a problem getting me through my line so I assumed he’ll try the landline but…it seems, he’s too busy for me.
It meant conscience wasn’t deceiving me before, right?
He…must have changed.
“I’d like to make you some breakfast, what would you like?” Evelyn asks.
Looking tiredly at her, I shrug. “Nothing yet Evelyn, I don’t feel like eating yet.”
My answer makes her forehead shrivel and she steps closer.
“Why don’t you go to the hospital?”
“I can’t. This is normal.” I protest, rolling my hands around.
Irritation has taken residence in my body now, making it so difficult to breathe. Think.
“But…what if that’s not it? What if you’re suffering from something else? Tell me what else do you feel except nausea?” She probes, her eyes boring into mine.
With a silent curse, I offer. “Dizziness. Bone cramps…”
Before I can finish, Evelyn’s already shaking her head.
“Vera, I’ve not felt this before but I was there when my mother bore my siblings. These were the kind of signs she felt…”
Evelyn’s rattle of words makes me pucker up from the bed.
“I don’t understand what you’re implying, Evelyn,” I state, my confusion clearly hovering around us.
“I’m saying you…might be…pregnant.”
Oh, that drains the color from my very face.
How…is that even a thing?
Fuck no, it can’t be possible.
“I doubt that, Evelyn. Anyway, I’ll try and contact my doctor…” She nods at my words before dashing out.
Suspended in a moment of silence, I try to ponder over it but my phone rings.
I hurriedly dart my hand over the bed hoping it’s him. Excited it’s him.
My mind was just playing pranks on me, cultivating doubts and whatnot.
Clasping the phone and peeking at it, my heartbeat falters just as it had picked up.
It’s not him.
Fuck no, it’s not…him.
“Hello, Sage,” I mutter, adrift in sorrow.
“Vee, girl. What’s up? Doing some catch-up with your daddy, huh?”
I cackle humourlessly. “Wish I could say that.” I shrug even though she can’t see.
“Ahh, girl, don’t make me feel like my new guessing skills aren’t professional.” She says, feigning hurt.
“Sorry girl, don’t wanna kill your Skills.”
We both chuckle. Hers runs deep but mine is shallow, a facade I’m putting up so she won’t know.
“So, have any gist for me?” I ask, changing the topic.
“Aha! Why I called!” She exclaims then. “Guess who’s back?”
I can feel the joy clouding her words.
My brows wrinkle as I think and think…until I mutter tentatively, “Nick’s back?”
“Got that right!” She chirps and my belly flutters.
“Omigod! When did he…?”
“Last night. Girl, he’s super cute now. Nick has changed.”
I smile, my metal eyes picturing how my other BFF will be looking like.
“And we’re coming over to the place. Man’s dying to meet you!”
“God, girl, I can’t wait.” I chirp.
Sudden strength cruises through me and I jump off the bed and dash into the bathroom.
“Yeah, right. Be there soon!” Sage lastly says and hangs up.
I drop the phone on the counter and hurry over my bath like crazy.
Nick’s back! Oh jeez, I’ve missed that boy.
That bubble of excitement enables me to momentarily forget about David. My state of inert and pang of sadness.
Before long, I finish bathing and jump outside.
Changing very quickly, I rush to meet with Evelyn.
“Oh, where did that burst of energy suddenly come from?” Her shocked voice pierces the very air around me.
“My BFFs are coming over, Evelyn. Could you make something nice and delicious for us?” I ask, running out of breath for a beat.
“Sure you can count me on that.” She beams going into the kitchen.
I follow her in tow and assemble there.
In a twinkle of an eye, Evelyn is cautiously whipping things together.
I don’t have much groceries so she makes a ramen and sauteed vegetables.
I stay around to brim her ears with chatters about my BFFs.
“You mean to tell me, Sage is dating your formal high school swimming coach?” Surprise flickers on her face and I bark a laugh.
“Yes. They are truly inseparable. Trust me.” I say.
“That’s amazing. I wish I could experience that. Never had a love life.”
My eyes go round like saucers.
“Are you kidding?” I ask, incredulous.
“Yeah. Just never had time for one. It’s always moving from one job to another, you know, so I can take care of my family.”
We fell into silence after that but my eyes watched every motion her hands made as she julienne the vegetables.
Our cocoon of silence bursts when the doorbell rings.
“Oh, they’re here!” I smatter, jumping and darting away from the kitchen.
A peep through the peephole shows me Sage and her big head! I laugh while opening the door.
“Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!” I say in a sing-song voice, hugging Sage. “The big boy is back in town!” I flush myself in Nick’s arms and he holds me tightly.
“Vee, so this is you!” He says, twirling me around.
I bump his chest playfully. “Hey, it’s me. No clone. No doppelganger!”
“I knew it. Girl, you look big!”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Sage seconded Nick’s words.
“You guys, don’t taunt me yet. I haven’t even been eating well lately.”
Nick gives Sage a knowing look, then he leans into me and says. “That’s the work of dad’s cum, huh?”
“Stop! You naughty boy.” I smack his chest. Turning to Sage I ask. “Thought you said he’s changed?”
“Oh, he has.” She gestures at Nick. “He’s all rippling muscles now.”
I nod in agreement and we go to the dining where Evelyn’s serving the dishes.
Settling into the chair, we bicker, laugh, and enjoy the meal.
I suddenly find it in me to eat.
That gives me more reason to doubt Evelyn’s words. I’m not pregnant. I guess my sulking for David is the reason I haven’t eaten much.
It has to be.
*
*
*
My friends and I spend the whole day together, our mouths running nonstop. Nick tells us everything about his life out there and how dangerously close he is to becoming a human AI.
Damn, the boy is all brainy.
He tells us about his girlfriend and how she must be missing him for this little holiday he came back for.
Hell, it’s such a lovely, lively moment between three best friends, I realize.
“Oh, this evening sure won’t end without a picture,” Sage says as they’re about to leave.
We packed ourselves together in the living rooms and took a selfie.
“Posting this now, phew!” She rattles, thumbing her phone.
Nick and I go over talking about my modeling career.
“I’m already proud of you, Vee,” Nick says, pressing a quick kiss on my lips.
I jab his chest playfully. “You haven’t stopped this?” I ask in wonder.
“No, not with you and Sage.” He smirks.
“But you’re more proud of Vee than I…” Sage pauses, staring hard into her phone. “What the hell is going on?”
Her surprised words push me to move.
“What’s that?” I ask, snatching her phone from her and that’s when I see it.
David.
Claire.
Kissing in a golf pitch.
Waterworks begin dripping from my eyes as I stare hard on the screen.
The blogger’s headline says:
Possibility of David Truman and Claire Oliver dating.
That’s all it takes for my heart to crumble.
I wasn’t wrong to think it before.
He went away with Claire.
He left me for her…
He betrayed me.
I don’t know what happened next but I find myself struggling to keep my eyes open as my friends call out my name, begging for me to stay conscious…
Unable to, I allow darkness to wash over me.
To be continued…