A Promise

“Have you seen the interview with Grayson Spencer?! My god! I never felt so jealous in my life!”

“Sophia, you’re always jealous of everything, remember, when I got a new prem? You got super jealous that after two days, we have the same hair, right? And when Cassandra got her new car, you got a car too—”

“Oh, shut up, Esther! I’m not even talking to you, am I?” we chuckled, while having our lunch. That announcement was four days, but it is still the talk of the town.

I didn’t know, Grayson is as famous as this, I looked at my colleagues, I’m wondering what their reaction would be if they discover that I am the ‘mysterious wife’ Grayson has been looking for. But he can’t really find me? Or he wasn’t really looking for me? I just moved town, it’s not that I moved to another world, well, what should I expect? I never knew, he was as serious as this.

“I bet she’s beautiful, whoever her was is,”

We finish our lunch, and decided to walk back to work, Sophia and Angie had to run some errand, so, it’s just me and Esther, Christmas is around the corner, so, it’s cold, but nice to walk around.

“What’s your plan for Christmas?” Esther asked out of nowhere, “Are you going on vacation?”

“Don’t have plans as of the moment, how about you?” I fixed my coat. We run into a boutique my mom and I are used to buy some vacation clothes. I don’t know if there’s a new owner, or still the old kind lady who used to give me chocolates while waiting.

“My boyfriend and I are planning to get married this Christmas, no one knows, except us, and you, of course,”

I looked at her, “Wow, I—I uh, congratulations, that’s awesome, best wishes for both of you, if you need a wedding singer, I can sing for your wedding,”

Her eyes widen, “Really?! I was really looking for someone! I didn’t know you are,” but then, she stopped, as if she remembered something, “But most of our savings almost run out, how much if ever I hire you on my wedding?” she looks a bit hesitant and worried.

I chuckled, “Considered it as my wedding gift for the both of you,”

My day ended well, I did not know what happen to Marco, but I hope, it is nothing to do with me, and I haven’t seen him around, he must have been to places I didn’t care. my colleagues invited me for a night out, but I didn’t want to end up with a heavy hangover, just like last time, and I even dreamed of that guy!

Instead, I went to grocery, I just got my salary, and decided to grab some on my way home. The stalls were mostly filled with sales for Christmas, even the song, it was enticing, and nostalgic, I will never get used to celebrating Christmas without mom and dad.

I sighed and immediately completed my order, good thing that it’s Wednesday, the line is not as heavy and long as the weekend is. After less than an hour, I finished my grocery and book a taxi.

“Hi, thank you for booking,” a man in his mid-forty’s I think, said. I just nodded and mumbled my thanks before grabbing my phone and texting Jane that I’m on my way home, “Here comes the wet season,”

I looked at the driver, he looked kind, like a father-figure vibes, “Yeah, I think so too,” I’m too tired to have a small talk tonight, all I want to do is to lie on my bed, we have an off-site activity tomorrow. My attention reverted when my phone rang. I dug on my sling bag.

“Ana,” I said, as I answered the phone, she is in a fashion shown at this moment, I heard that one of her models got into the show, and she’s there to support the lady.

“You want anything from here? Jane sent me a bunch of things to buy for her, also Dan, how about you?” her background was a little noisy, I can hear laughter and some clang of glass. She must be on some sort of party.

“You’re spoiling them, I told you that once or twice is okay, but that? Sending a bunch of things isn’t good, tell them you’re not buying—”

“But I am! And besides, I’m spending my well-earned money, and not yours!” I rolled my eyes, here we are again, with this old and non-stop argument, “Buy them just one or two from their list, then that’s it, I don’t need anything, don’t bother to buy me—”

“But I already bought you a limited-edition sling bag! You can use this when you go to work!” she chirps, she sounded like a bit drunk, knowing how annoying she is when she’s drunk, I stop myself.

“Let’s talk when you’re okay, I’m about to get off the taxi,” I said, after another block will be my house, “I have to get my grocery bags,”

“Okay! Send me the plate number, okay? Let me know when you got home, or else, I will buy another three of these bags, intiendes?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever that makes you sleep at night,” I said, I felt dizzy, maybe from the work, “I’ll hang up now, Ana, take care,” I said and hang up the call.

I tried to hold my groceries, but for some reason, I can’t feel my hands, my vision doubled, and my breathing hitched.

I tried to relax myself, “Sir, can you please stepped on the gas, I need to go home fast, I have to attend some important matters,” my voice is a bit groggy, and sloppy.

“Of course, dear. I will step on the gas, I will make sure you will get home, as fast as we can,” although my vision was unclear, I can see the driver’s face, he was smirking, he had this sinister smile on his lips, while looking at the rear-view mirror, “Now, rest, you will have a long night,” he said and licked his lips.

I want to get out of this vehicle, I want to jump, but my body is too heavy to move an inch. I didn’t know what happen next, everything just went black.

“What a lucky night, I’ve got to taste this sweet girl,”

What’s happening, why can’t I move? Did I sleep while on my way home?

“This will not take that long, you wouldn’t even feel something, when you wake up, you’re in front of your house, tired from your usual day,”

Who’s that? I tried to open my eyes, is that the driver? And what the fuck is he doing? Why is he touching me?! Slowly, the numbness is subsiding, his hands were on my thigh.

“D-don’t touch me!” he immediately looked at me, I tried to push him, but he just brushes it off, and made his way to my underwear. Tears starts to build up on my eyes, as my heart is shattering, “Please, don’t touch me,”

“This won’t take much of your time, just stay still, then I will send you off, like nothing happen,”

Tears falls from my eyes, “N-no, please, d-don’t touch me,” he just laughs, he just fucking laugh, I tried my hardest to push him, but he just held a grip on both of my hands as he unbuttoned my long sleeves. I closed my eyes, praying for any miracle.

I halt, when I heard a screeching sound, the man stopped and I looked when the sound was coming from, the black car recklessly stopped and parked the car, a man—a very familiar man gets off, I started to sob, feeling at ease, I know, I am safe right now.

His eyes ware waving in rage, I can see his gnawing jaw, and his closed fist, he is skipping steps, his walks is heavy, as his breathing.

“Who the fuck are you—” the man wasn’t able to finish his sentence, he was caught off by a heavy punch straight on his face.

“I will fucking kill you! You fucking demon! You will die tonight! Fuck you! Fuck you!” he kept shouting, like it was some kind of mantra, he keeps on punching, he is now on the top of the driver.

My weak knee didn’t stop me to stand up, but it just lasted for a second, then I fell straight to Grayson’s back, that stops him. My vision was unclear due to my tears.

“Grayson, please. Stop it, just send me home please,” I mumbled, then fell to the ground. I felt his warm hands on my waist, I looked at him, he gave me a soft smile, with that, I cried out, all the emotions I was trying to hide earlier.

“You’re safe now, I’m sorry I came a little late, hush now, nothing will ever happen to you, sweetheart, I promise,”