Ruby
"Best of luck, honey!" I flashed my mom an assuring smile before entering the car to leave for my last exam which happened to be Artificial Intelligence.
It had been two weeks since I was staying at my parent's place, and much to my dismay, I was missing Vexon miserably. But he didn't even bother contacting me, let alone ask me how my exams were going. Not even once!
I thought maybe I should take the first step this time, so I texted him, tried to call him��but the result was nothing. He didn't even see my texts.
Why was one stupid, silly argument making Vexon act like that? What was wrong with him? Dammit!
I fidgeted in my seat the whole way to the college, yearning to hear his sweet voice, instead of revising the study materials. I felt so empty within me. It's been two lifeless weeks for me.
I heaved a sigh, forcing a smile on my face when I got out of the car in front of the college front gate.
"Hey, Rubber!" I was greeted by Max, one of my closest friends, who also got out of the car and came rushing to me. "Can you believe we are going to finish our college life today?" he chirped, and I hummed in response, making our way inside through the walkway.
"Still missing that husband of yours?" he asked, and I nodded. "Don't worry. He must be busy. Once he's free, he will definitely call you," he tried to console me while patting my shoulder lightly.
I was about to retort, but another of my friend bounced in between us while catching her breath. "Ruby, there is a problem," Mel panted.
"What?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Steve wants to talk to you after the exam today. Alone, he said," she informed me, and I rolled my eyes.
"Doesn't he understand? Tell him, I don't want to meet him. Not alone, not in public, not anywhere. Geez!" I was already pissed because Vexon wasn't contacting me. On top of that, stupid Steve was asking me to meet him in private from the very first day of the exams, and of course, I politely denied.
Why would anyone even want me to meet him? As if I was nuts to stay in the same room as that psychopath for more than two seconds.
I let out a sigh as the warning bell rang up, grateful that I didn't have to explain anything to anyone. We quickly went to the hall room and started taking the test.
The time went by fast during the exam as I accessed myself in the world of Artificial Intelligence. Before I knew it, I was already out in the hallway, hollering with my friends in celebration of the end of exams.
My friends offered me to join them at the party in the nearby restaurant, but I declined, saying I would come later after I was done matching the answers. It was a habit of mine to match answers after every test, even if it was the last one. Otherwise, I couldn't sit still.
I grabbed a granola bar on the way to the gymnasium which was supposed to be secluded by now. I sat on one of the benches and took out my question paper to match the answers.
I was taking out my books when I heard a deep voice, "Have you been waiting for me here, Ruby?" My heart almost jumped out of my chest at the sudden croaky voice. I slowly looked over my shoulder, my hands starting to shake, and found Steve looking at me, a mad glint in his eyes.
I gulped, standing up, knowing that it wasn't the normal Steve. He was a psychopath right now who wanted nothing more than me.
Be strong, Ruby, I told myself and stood my ground.
"I wasn't waiting for you," I asserted and asked, "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"Shouldn't you know by now? I want you, Ruby," Steve replied, taking a few steps forward.
I sucked in a breath, steadying my nerves, and let out, "I'm afraid it's not possible. I am a happily married woman now." To prove my point, I showed him the ring on my left hand, yet he didn't pay any heed and came closer before grabbing my wrist.
"I love you, Ruby. Come with me. Let's live together."
I tried to free my hand from his hold, but it only became tighter. "Steve, leave me alone. I don't want to go anywhere with you," I pleaded, my eyes stinging with the tears that were about to form. In response, he twisted my hand badly, making me wince out in pain.
"Stay quiet, and come with me!" he yelled.
All of a sudden, Steve left my hand. I immediately turned my attention to my bruised wrist which had red fingerprints on it. I looked in front of me when I heard some painful groans and hissing.
I gasped when my gaze landed on the person who was now beating the crap out of Steve. That person was none other than my knight in shining armor, my husband.
"How dare you touch my wife?" Vexon asked before kicking Steve in the guts, who was lying on the ground. "You have some audacity to touch her," Vexon grumbled.
Steve laughed, blood oozing out of his nose and mouth, and provoked, "Ruby will never be yours. She is mine. She loves me, and I love her. You tore apart two lovers. We were about to get married and live happily before you came into our lives like a bad��" Vexon's nose flared with anger, and he started kicking Steve out of rage, although Steve had lost consciousness by then.
I mumbled seeing the situation, "Vexon, stop."
He instantly stopped and glanced at me. Whereas, Steve laid on the floor, cold.
I shifted my gaze towards Vexon to glare at him, but when our eyes met, I had a strong urge to hug him. There were so many desires bubbling inside me, but I was angry at him.
He was staring at me, looking handsome in the navy blue suit, his hair disheveled as always. I shook my head, resisting my urges, and rushed towards my car.
"Richard, to my house. Quick!" I ordered after getting into the car, and he politely obeyed me, pulling out of the parking lot as fast as he could.
Vexon didn't contact me for two weeks, and now he was here like nothing happened. I didn't want to meet him. He needed to suffer, even a little bit.
You messed up pretty bad, Vexon Bevine.
___
"Honey, I am going out for dinner today. There are some leftovers in the fridge. If you don't feel like it, order something from outside, okay?" Mom hollered from the threshold of our house.
"Okay, bye!" I replied from my bedroom where I was laying flatly on my bed, talking to my sister over the phone. I heard the main door closed. Since our guards were there, I didn't bother to close the door, knowing I would be safe.
When I came back here, I got to know that the man my mom was dating, proposed to him. I met the guy and he seemed pretty nice. I was really happy for my mom.
"Pearly, what was that you wanted to tell me?" I asked my older sister. It had been a long time since we last chatted.
"Ruby." Pearl sounded awfully shy for some reason. I wondered what could be the reason for the sudden call. "I, uh, I am pregnant," she finally let out.
There was a minute of silence as my jaw dropped before Pearl asked, "Ruby?" I couldn't utter a word. "Ruby, are you there?" Finally, she screamed, "Ruby!"
I came back to my senses and jumped out of my bed, literally jumping up and down at the good news. "Yes. Congratulations! Oh my God, I can't believe it. I am so happy for you, Pearly. And say congratulations to Kendrik. Actually no, I'll call him. I can't explain my happiness and��"
"Won't you share the news of happiness with me?" I heard a sharp familiar voice and turned my head over my shoulder, giving Vexon an uninterested look, pretending as if I couldn't be bothered with his presence.
Vexon was there, standing near the doorframe of my room, a smirk plastered on his handsome face.
"I'll talk to you later, Pearly." I cut the call and kept the phone on the nightstand. I stood face to face with Vexon and crossed my arms over my chest before asking, "May I know what the hell you are doing here?" He was about to answer, but I raised a hand, stopping him. "No, don't answer that. Just tell me why you are here."
"To take you back," Vexon simply stated.
"Forget it." I shook my head and said, "That's not happening. You didn't keep in touch with me for the last two weeks. And now you expect me to go back with you? Keep dreaming, Vexon Bevi��" I was cut off with someone's lips.
Lips?
Vexon firmly started kissing me. I didn't respond at first. I wanted to push him away, but he didn't stop. His lips felt warm against mine; it was tempting.
Sighing, I wrapped my arms around his neck, moving my lips in sync with his, and he pulled me closer by the waist.
I missed Vexon a lot. It felt like the emptiness of my heart just vanished. I felt myself again.
What was this feeling called? Love?
