Backstabber

"You went to see that jerk even after knowing who he is?!" Ciara's dad yells

"Stop dad. I wanted to see my son!" Ciara rubbed her face with her palms in frustration.

"Then what? Did you get him? No. Rather you care for that son of bitch more than your son!"

"No, dad. That's not true. He is not just my son's dad...so don't talk about him like that!"

She yells and he is silent while her mom just stands with a depressed profile.

Ciara is already as red as the sun. She wants to see her son and doesn't even know where he may be. Now her dad can't stop his theory of Jake and her past.

"I see..." He nods "I see where all these are coming from. You still love him right?"

She looks at him at once and tries to formulate words against his word but stands still like a child caught right-handed.

She knew her dad was right. His words pierced deep into her heart that she still loves her baby's dad. The man who made her life miserable. Though now after he told her the truth. She doesn't see him as the drug addict he was but a guilty man who wants to make up for his wrongs.

"I knew it!" Her dad slams his hand on the counter and helplessly leans his back against it and folds his arm unable to look at his daughter.

"I acknowledge that he did so many...things in th past-"

"Specify. Drug dealer" He says firmly and she sighs.

"Yes, that... But he's changed now. I saw it in his eyes. I've known Jake for my life dad and I've never seen him in so much fear. He will never take Jack from me. Not this way"

"You're just blinded by whatever spell he used on you. I can't believe you're the one saying this. Did you guys by any means make out?"

"Oh no James" her mom interrupts.

"Because I admit he's so attractive that your eyes can't turn down his manly touch"

"That's enough. Let the child be. She's grown now and make proper decisions"

"You see, that is my problem. You're always supporting her. That's why she couldn't complete school."

"James!!" Her mom calls loudly this time and he pauses. He bulges from his position and walks close to Ciara then whispers.

"You're such a disappointment"

She gulps and blinks her eyes struggling to control her guts. He walks away and her mom rushes to engulf her in her arms.

"Oh, baby. I'm so sorry."

She gives in to the hug as she buries her head over her shoulder like a newborn.

...

It's past 8:00 in the morning and Apriva has just arrived at work. She walks into the shop and turns the board open.

She greets her co-worker who's cleaning the seats "Good morning Tedd"

"Morning Apriva. You're late"

"I know. Didn't sleep well last night. However, why was the bakery closed this early"

"You mean this late" Tedd corrects

"Whatever."

"You know you owe me for this right. Hope our boss doesn't notice your check-in."

"I promised to give you something for your birthday. You don't have to humiliate me"

"Hahaha...Thought you forgot"

Apriva takes some clothes and heads to the other section in an empty room. She changes and returns

"I never forget things"

"Ohh before I forget, someone left this for you" Tedd gives her an envelope.

A slow frown forms over her face as she looks at the strange paper "What's this?"

"I don't know. You check it out. Maybe a love letter or something" Tedd mumbles the last phrase under her breath though not low enough for ears not to catch.

Another worker, Brenda, walks in just in time "What love letter?"

"It's none of your business"

"Ohh that's cold. You sure you slept well?"

"No, I didn't. Thanks for asking."

"My bad" she strolls to the corner and wares a long rope and ties the ends of it over her back and neck.

Apriva opens the envelope and removes a white sheet containing writing words in black ink.

She blinks her eyes at the address then moves to the heading.

...

Hello Apri,

Hope you're doing great. I want you to know that I miss you and I've never stopped loving you. I'm sorry I should've messaged you personally but I lost my phone and your friend told me you traveled. However, right now, I'm cut up in a tradition that I marry a girl before my junior brother does. Due to pressure, I had to pick someone...you know.

Trust me I want you alone. And if it's not too late, hope you accept my offer before next week. Nevertheless, at your will. If not, I'm sorry this will be the end of my journey with you.

Dearest,

Jeol.

Her chest rises up and down as she fiddles with the sheet of paper and folds it back into the envelope.

*What did he mean someone I know*

"Tedd?" Apriva calls stepping ahead

"Mmm," she brings up her gaze.

"Did you-mistakenly tell Jeol I traveled?"

Her brows crumble "Who's Jeol?"

Apriva jams her lips together and sighs

"Ooh, the handsome guy who's always here to take you out. I've been wondering, it's been long I saw him around"

"Tedd please focus. You mean to say someone just walked in here and gave you a letter without you knowing their names. What if they gave a boom? How will you identify the assassin?"

She chuckles "We'd all be dead so no worries."

Apriva gave her a deadly gaze and she brought her face to normal

"Sorry. Well, someone else sent the letter. He asked for Brenda but she wasn't on duty so he gave me to give you once you come back"

"Brenda?"

"Yeah,"

Apriva quickly leaves her sight and she looks at Apriva in confusion.

Brenda pauses at the sight of a wounded Apriva

"Why did you tell Jeol I traveled?"

Brenda didn't look surprised but she rapidly tried to wipe it off

"I don't need you to act dumb with me because I know the bitch you are!" She rests a hand on her waist

Brenda folds her arm "You don't have to insult me because I didn't tell you to leave him"

Apriva blinks her eyes and recalls the words Jeol used in the letter.

"...someone you know"

*She's the someone?*

"You backstabber!! How dare you accept my boyfriend's proposal"

"You mean your ex-boyfriend?"

Brenda laughs and rolls her eyes to walk away but Apriva grabs her arm.

"You won't get over this so easily. I'm not done with you"

Brenda takes her hands off "Don't you dare touch me!"

"And if I do what will you do? Mmm? Now listen carefully to your slot. You will call him right now and tell him you're not interested"

She raises her fonts "I'm not surprised you're crazy."

"Good you know. Trust me I'd be crazier than this if you don't do as I instructed"

Brenda smirks "You see...it's this same crazy attitude of yours that made you leave that innocent gentleman"

"You know nothing about my relationship so don't you dare speak of it"

"You don't merit him and you know that. Why don't you just let him be? Haven't you hurt him enough?"

Apriva clenches her jaws and folds her hands in a fist "Watch your next words, Brenda. I'm getting out of my patients"

"Who fucking cares! You can erupt as you like. We'd soon get married and that's final!"

Before she could firmly complete her words, Apriva's palms landed on her jaws.

Loud enough for Tedd to hear and well-timed for their manager to see.

"What the hell is going on here?" The manager looks between both of them expectantly.

"She slapped me for nothing" Brenda's words come out almost inaudible.

"Both of you meet me at my office now!" He says and leaves while they follow him from behind.

...

"Why this urgent meeting?" Brithney askes Romaine who is seriously studying her.

"Romaine?" She calls

He blinks his eyes twice "Yeah, I'm still here"

"But you don't seem here. You seem far away. Is everything ok?" She questions bringing a plastic cup of hot chocolate to her head and envelopes the straw with drag the brown liquid into her mouth.

His eyes fall on this action for a second and he replies taking his eyes off "Who did you say is your boss again?"

She stares at him blankly "Did we ever have such a discussion?"

"You don't remember?" He askes bringing his cup to his head.

She takes a second to visit the past and strain her brain cells.

"Uhh...could you please remind me of what exactly I said?"

"If I remembered, I won't be asking. Anyway, let's take it as though we didn't talk about it before and talk about it now."

She nods her head narrowing her eyes at him

"Why do you suddenly want to talk about him?"

He rests his cup on the table and sits upright.

"Well, let's say I want to know more about your Job"

"I told you am a secretary"

"And? How is your experience in this job?"

She gulps blinking her eyes.

"Romaine,"

He tilts his head "Are you happy working there? I've heard you give a lot of complaints about your hours of working. Hope he's not extorting you."

She bits her lip trying to control her emotions from betraying her. She looks rapidly away from him.

"Brithney, talk to me"

She faces him again and he nods giving her the go-ahead.

To be continued...