Ch 63: Odd & Strange Behavior
As Mia and I ate. I noticed Rose started to turn pale. By the minute, her complexion started to discolor into a sour look. When she looked around her eyes seemed to narrow in hungrily at the crowds. Her behavior for a pregnant woman was odd.
"I'm going to use the ladies' room," Rose said standing up.
"Do you need us to come with you?" I asked before she ran off.
"Nope, I'm fine," Rose said and then hurried away.
I was a bit dumbfounded by her oddness. "Shouldn't we go with her?" I asked Mia who looked uneasy about her.
But Mia shook her head and then said. "It's morning sickness, she'll be fine once she vomits."
"Ok," I shrugged my shoulders and ate. Mia and I finished fairly soon and threw the stuff away.
"Let's go check on Rose," I suggested but Mia tugged my arm back.
"Huh, n-no..." Mai began to stammer. "Y-yeah, she sent me a text and said she'll catch up."
"Huh... Okay." I was outright baffled by her reaction but I didn't further insist.
It seemed like something was going on but if Rose's wanted privacy then I won't persist to intrude.
"Where to next?" I asked, walking alongside Mia.
"Hum..." She held her chin cutely to mull. "I'd say let's take a break from wedding shopping and buy some cute outfits."
I couldn't help but chuckle, "I like that idea much better."
She giggled, concurring. "I can tell you need a break to clear your mind from the wedding."
"Was it this hectic when you married Ivan?" I asked.
"Well, no," Mia shared. "Things were different back during that time."
"What do you mean by back during that time?" I laughed, teasing her. "You're like what? The same age as me but you say it as if you and Ivan have been married for over a millennium."
While I laughed Mia sorta gaped her eyes, I guess she now realized what she had said.
"Ohh, well once you get married to a guy it feels like a millennium!" She failed at playing it so smoothly while I still laughed. "For me, things were set up fast, so it was less stressful on my part."
"I see." The way she used her wording was weird but I cut her a break. After all, she is friends with Kai, which should be more than enough to explain such weirdnesses.
"Let's go take a look in this store!" Mia took my hand with excitement. We entered inside and began to browse around. And we found a handful of outfits and tried them on.
~~~
About fifteen or so minutes may have passed since Mia and I tried on a variety of styles.
"I'm going back out to find something else," I said outside of Mia's changing room.
"Ok, Rose texted and said she'll be here shortly," Mia notified.
"Sounds good." I giggled and walked out of the changing room. And then I started to look around on several racks for some cute tops.
"Psst!" I heard behind me. "Victoria... psst..."
I turned around shocked to find Crystal hiding behind a mannequin display.
She waved her hand whispering, "Victoria, quickly before Mia comes out."
I looked around still not seeing Rose coming, so I strode over. Crystal snatched my wrist before I knew what happened! My pace picked up from her jogging out of the store with me!
Once we were out, she started taking me down the mall while she navigated her sight in every direction. She even looked above her head. Which was very abnormal behavior for Crystal. It's not like Kai had a bunch of ninjas working for him! Or does he? Ugh! Whatever this was about, Crystal was acting strange.
Why can't my life go back to being normal again!
"Crystal, stop!" I yanked my wrist away. "What are you doing?"
Crystal's sight still scanned around hastily and I didn't understand why she was acting so frantic. It's like she was scared but Crystal has always been intrepid
"I'm trying to save you from marrying Kai." She said nervously. "Orlando is waiting for you in the parking lot."
I was fretted to even hear that Orlando was here. "I never want to see him again!" I gnashed.
Crystal's mouth almost dropped but she held it up, talking clearly. "Look, I know what he did was unforgivable..."
"Exactly Crystal!" I snarled counting with my fingers. "Unforgivable! Unexcusable! ill-mannered! Incompatible! And I will never tolerate nor be with a pig face!"
I turned my heel to leave but Crystal snatched my wrist again. "I agree with you, Victoria! I honestly do! But don't you think Orlando was hurt to see you were about to kiss Kai at the duck pond?"
My voice was caught in my throat and my eyes welled with tears from Crystal hitting a sensitive topic.
"You were the first to cheat and Orlando was a moron from being a guy. He tried to mend his pain by sleeping with another girl. He was convinced you were sleeping with Kai!"
Crystal furthermore said, having pain in her eyes. "He felt betrayed by you so he tried to move on but when you came back that morning. Orlando realized you chose to come back to him. He realized Kai had you apprehended that whole time. Going the duck pond was a trap to separate you and Orlando. Kai set everything up to trick you, Victoria."
"Orlando was the one who made that choice" I pulled my hand free while fighting tears.
"Don't you love Orlando enough to try and fix this?" Crystal asked so desperately.
"Of course, I love Orlando," I softly conversed. "I know I hurt him but I never slept with Kai. I never did anything compared to what Orlando did to me."
Crystal dried a tear falling from her eye. "Everything was perfect between you both, until Kai. Just please come back to us and will keep you safe from him."
I was tempted to follow and a deep part of me wanted to leave. But seeing Orlando with another woman killed me inside. It made me dubious to wanna take another step.
"Look sweetie, I know it's hard to think about facing Orlando but maybe I should have told you this before..." Crystal choked up, trying not to cry.
"Tell me what?" I asked, rubbing her shoulder.
"Zach slept with another woman once too," she clamored in tears. "That's how we ended up engaged. It was his way to prove that he'll never cheat again."
I hugged Crystal asking. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It happened after you left for Egypt," she admitted.
We pulled from the hug and she told me. "I didn't wanna bother you with it but my point is. If I can forgive Zach then you can forgive Orlando." She held out her hand. "Please come with me."