He's pissed, she's hesitating.
Katherine Samson
“What are you talking about?” Katherine huffed in frustration. The more she listens to every word this girl said, the more she realized she’s not making any sense. And that drives her mind insane.
“Hmm... I contacted Iyesha to keep Akemi busy with their celebratory drunk party so Michael has no chance of banging her tonight. Which means, he’ll find someone else. Someone whose willing and available. I’m thinking you, but after hearing your story, I get the feeling he will never touch you.” she said with graceful simplicity.
“What do you mean never touch me?” Katherine said in mocked astonishment.
“That leads me to believe he’d rather find someone else instead. Someone he can bang one night, with no strings attached. Have you ever wondered why? You -” she dramatically paused and ran her eyes to Katherine’s body, going up then plummeted down. The patio lights she put up above the sliding door are illuminating the girl’s appraising eyes.
“He never once touched you. I only know Michael for what - three weeks? But I already know he’s a narcissistic piece of sh*t who won’t think twice of making a move on every lady he laid his eyes on. But you are an exception.”
“ You’re both here. Living together on one roof. Horny bastards like him won’t think twice of banging you - but he didn’t. Instead, he tried to push you away. Deliberately showing his bad side to you. Desperately trying to make a point that he’s the worst piece of crap you would never expect him to love and stick to just one girl.”
Katherine frowned. Alice let her words slowly roll out of her tongue. Like she’s trying to prove something to her. Leading her to believe in something unbelievable. Her mind refused to acknowledge it. She rejects the idea before her heart will assume.
She knows she will only get hurt if she believes what Alice said. She’s tired of making the same mistake twice. She’s tired of hoping, chasing, suffering by herself. Tortured by her own mind. Made miserable by her own love.
Maybe it’s time to… Alice stepped in her line of vision and tapped her shoulder.
“Before you make a decision there, let’s see what this will lead to.” she inclined her head inside. Katherine knows she’s referring to the paint trap she set up on her door.
“Try to tell him it’s you who put that up. Tell him you’re tired of watching him bring different girls every night. And...” she paused.
“Be brave enough to tell him you’re feelings.” Alice clasped her hands on her shoulders. Causing her knees to shake uncontrollably.
“Tha - That’s impossible. I - I can’t. I can’t possibly do that. I’m - ” Alice cut her off, putting her index finger on her lips to stop her stuttering.
“Shhh. I assure you. It’s gonna be okay. You have every right in the world to speak out your feelings. You’re already tired of putting up with him. You’re suffering alone. Carrying this burden for a month. It’s too much already.”
“Did you know? The more you bury your feelings deep within you, the more it’s going to eat you alive. It starts small, then it gets greedier until it consumes every part of you. Leaving you with nothing but your broken unrestorable self.”
Alice whispered these words, taking her feelings into consideration. Katherine can’t say anything to refuse or to say something that contradicts what she said. Because deep down inside, she knows it’s the truth.
In the midst of loving Michael hopelessly, she keeps losing every part of herself. Leaving her in a mess she’s currently in.
She slowly parted her lips, trying to voice out the words she wants to tell. As an assurance. As an oath. As a means to push herself to face the unimaginable.
“I will.” Her fingers are trembling on her side. She’s scared. How will he react? Not happily, she supposed. Shocked? He might push her away again. Reject her feelings for him.
But at least she’ll try. If that wasn’t enough to move him. Then that will be the indication she will stop. From pursuing him. From chasing him. From hoping he will look at her way. From expecting that he will come to love her one day.
If confessing won’t work out, then it’s time to give up. She took a deep breath to prepare herself. Alice is looking at her straight in the eye. Giving her the drive, the urge, the support she desperately needs to accomplish what she’s about to do.
The front door clicks open and two people laughing and chattering resounds. They both gasped. They’re already here. Katherine gulped and covered her ears. Prepared to what will happen next.
Just like how Alice prepared it, the pint of paint splashed on Michael and the girl’s head with a splattering uproar.
His voice boomed with grumbling and cursing across the room. Katherine bit her lips. Guilty for what they’d done. She feels his irritation is somehow directed at her. The girl he brought won’t stop shrieking and complaining.
They made a scene in the living room. There’s him, trying to calm the girl down. And her, blaming him for the splashing paint, for the mess she’s in, and the new dress she just bought, which, in fact, is now destroyed.
“Aww, such a waste. It’s brand new.” Katherine narrowed her eyes to Alice’s satisfied expression. The playful smile plastered on her lips tells her she’s definitely enjoying the scene they’re making.
“Should I go?” she hesitated.
“Ooh, not yet. Let’s wait for them to fight. I’m sure the girl will throw tantrums and march out of the room a few minutes from now.“ Alice eyed her watch and nods.
They crouched behind the drawn curtains and peered. With the sliding door closed, they can’t hear what they’re saying but it’s evident in their expressions how pissed they are.
After snarling with each other, the girl walks out within seconds, slamming the door right on Michael’s face. They both watch how his jaw clench and balled his fist in fury.
He’s facing sideways, Katherine can see potches of red on his cheeks down to his neck.
Uh-oh, he’s clearly pissed. She grimaced. Now she’s not sure if she can actually do this. Sensing her hesitation, Alice grabbed her arm and slid the sliding glass open. Shoving her inside.
That’s when she lost herself within a few seconds. One moment she was hiding from his sight, now she’s standing completely frozen under his intensified gaze.