Mam Camila and I had a broad conversation that day, I told I wasn't happy with the fact that Frank didn't even cared to message or call me. He obviously needed space. However, she told me space wasn't what he needed, but me. I had to remind her what happened that day that he told me to go, and that he needed some rest. I believed space was what he needed, and I would surely give him space. Our conversation ended with her promising to all her best to fix things between us – even if it means losing her job or position in the process, if only she knew what I had in mind she wouldn't even be making any plans to involve into the case. The only thing I needed at the moment was space, even if she settles things I would still ask for space so I could possibly redeem myself. I was broken from the inside, I felt betrayed and hopeless. Everything seemed like a dream to me but sadly it was the reality and I was left with no other choice but to deal with the pain my way. And that is exactly what I was going to do now, relocate to another place.
The day prior, Naomi had called and informed me that an apartment had been found and registered in my name and details. She even snapped some pictures of the exterior and interior for me. It was okay, pretty much okay for the price I was charged. I was so happy about it, I really was. Hence, I began arranging my things. I would be going with all the valuable things I could carry. I had booked a cab which would be coming soon, and as soon as it comes I would bid everyone goodbye and then leave the house until further notice. I thought that was easy until the cab arrived and I began packing my things out. Aunt Vicky was shocked, she quickly asked what was going on… and then asked where I was going. Thus, I told her I was going to see a friend in another state. Hearing that, she became sad and asked when did I started making plans for it, to which I told her the day Jessica messed things up and ruined my relationship with Frank. I knew Jessica was inside her room and was definitely hearing us because the conversation wasn't like any other conversation we've ever had, our voices were loud… we were both laying emphasis on our words so it could be heard clearly.
Aunt Vicky tried to convince me to stay but I didn't. She even promised to send Jessica to the U.K soon for studies regardless of what the drug cartel would say but I didn't like the idea. I didn't want to be the reason why she would end up in pain when the bad guys began showing up to see how she becomes rich overnight despite the fact she had no job, nor was she running any business. I told her to try and talk to Frank about being her daughter's benefactor, and if he wouldn't then she should convince her daughter to study here in the States. After about twenty minutes of wasting my time and that of the cab-man outside, she finally decided to let me go. But not because she agreed with the trip, but because she had no other choice. You know, it wasn't as if she could convince me to change my mind. There was no way I would change my mind, I had already made up my mind and had applied stamp and signatory already. Hence, there was no going back.
However, before I finished packing she brought some money for me in a small bag. I didn't really need it, I told her that but she insisted I must take it and that it would go a long way. According to her, it was hundred thousand bucks. And with a faint smile and teary eyes, she told me to try and come back soon as she was already missing me. Well, I didn't say anything to her about it. I wouldn't make promises I can't keep. I just bade her goodbye and left. And as the cab began to move, tears gathered in my eyes making my vision to be blur. It was a decision I had to make even though it was painful. I blinked the tears in my eyes and then heaved a sigh as I relaxed on on the passenger seat. The one and only person to blame for all this was Jessica, she was the one that ruined everything. If she hadn't done what she did, things would have been the way they were and I wouldn't have been left with this terrible choice of leaving their house to another place. Away from her, her mother, Mam Camila, and even Frank himself.
As the cab continued to move, I received a call from Naomi asking if I had left home. Thus, I told her I had left home for nearly two hours now, hence she should expect me in an our or an hour and half. At most, in two hours. The road was good but there were speed limit signs almost everywhere, making the drive to be somewhat slow. If only we could go any faster, but I wouldn't pressurize the cab-man to increase in the speed because if something ended up happening I would also be held responsible. By the way, I doubt if he would even listen to me and increase the speed knowing the danger involved. He kept abiding by the rules of driving and the rules of the roads until we eventually arrived at our destination. I was sleeping when we arrived at Vinewood main gate, hence he woke me up. I then called Naomi and she described her location to us. The cab-man then drove us there and even helped us unpacked my luggage. Thus, I paid him and told him to hold the remaining change… to which he thanked me wholeheartedly and drove off happily.
Just then, Naomi took me into the apartment building she rented for me. She helped me took the some of my luggage to the doorstep, and just as she was about opening the door I told her I would go and bring the last bag in. Surprisingly, just as I was out of the apartment building I saw a young man standing close to the bag. He was glancing at it and then glancing around, obviously wondering who the owner of the bag was. Suddenly, I walked into view and he saw me. He then stood staring at me with his brows slightly wrinkled. Did he knows me, or have he seen me somewhere? I wondered.
"Mark, is everything okay?" A young lady came from nowhere and grabbed his arm. She then turned and glared at me, "And who's this girl?" she asked.
"I think it's the new girl" he looked into her eyes and then kissed her. Thus, the two giggled and walked past me into the apartment building. That was great, first day and I was already making enemies. I huffed and walked over to my bag. After grabbing the handles, I turned and headed straight into the apartment building.
It was a big building with fifteen floors. Each floor was divided into two and were separated by the zigzag stairway in the building, as well as the elevator space in between. In every floor, there are two apartments. One on one side of the stairway and the other on another side of the stairway. My apartment was on the tenth floor. For someone to be in such floor, there was a need for me to be using the elevator in order to save my time when going up. When I arrived at the tenth floor, I stepped out of the elevator and saw the couples I met earlier trying to get into… perhaps their apartment. The guy, whom the young lady called Mark was looking for their keys while she – on the other hand kept pressing her phone. As soon as she saw me, she glared at me again. And at the same time, Naomi opened my apartment's door and helped me with the bag inside.
Hence, I walked in and shut the door off. The interior was the same as I saw it on the pictures she sent me. It was really nice. There were two rooms, each with bathrooms… and then a sitting room, a small storage room, and also a kitchen with a small dining space. It was more than enough for me. After arranging some of my things, Naomi and I had dinner together in the dining island. It was the pizza we ordered earlier. While gisting, she reminded me of our college life, how I used to fear guys and so on. She even asked if I was in a relationship or not. And that made Frank's thoughts to come into my mind. Seeing how changed my mood was, she asked if everything was alright. At first I lied to her that everything was fine but seeing how persistent she was to know what exactly was wrong, I decided to tell her everything. Starting from I met Frank, how we gently and unknowingly became lovers, to how my cousin – Jessica ruined our relationship by sleeping with him.
I didn't end the story with a dry face, my face was drenched with tears. And even when I stopped, I couldn't stop crying. She kept consoling me and telling me everything was already, and that the decision I made to relocate what the best thing to do. I was so happy that she supported me, she was the only person that understood my plight, others were against in order decision but be patient and pretend as if it never happened. Meanwhile, that would hardly be possible. There was no way I could pretend as if all that didn't happen, absolutely no way. Although time can naturally heal the wound, but won't wipe away the memories. While Jessica was happy for what she did, I and Frank were sad it happened. Although, I was more pained because I was the one who had been cheated and the one that was lonely at the moment.
When Naomi successfully calm me down, she asked if she could find someone to live with me. Perhaps a temporary boyfriend. However I wasn't interested, I told her I could live alone. She then giggled and said she was only joking and that she knew right from College that I wasn't the type that liked mingle with guys. According to her, she was very surprised to hear I had a boyfriend… someone I was willing to marry. She thought I was never going to marry. Her words made me to chuckle, hence she decided to gist me about her own life and how she met a guy that betrayed her. She didn't mention his name though, however she told me they were working in the same place. According to her, the guy was one of the hardworking staff, hence he was promoted.
Before he was promoted though, he had eyes on her and she also had eyes on him. But due to the nature of their jobs, none of them was able to say anything about love to each other until after he got promoted. He started having less time, since his new task was just to supervise. Gradually, he confessed his feelings for her. Her brother warned her against dating him, that he didn't trust him. However she didn't listen the fact that her brother couldn't give her genuine reasons as to why he didn't trust him. Gradually, both she and the guy began seeing each other. He showed her so much love and she also did the same ti him, until later she found out she was pregnant.
At first she didn't want to tell him in fear he may ask her to abort it, she wanted to keep it until he finds out about it himself. However, she later changed her mind in fear of what he might think if he finds out about it. He would probably think it wasn't his and she was just trying to hide it from him. Hence, she made up her mind and apprised him with the hope that he would welcome it warmly. However, as soon as she told him he frowned his face and told her they had to eliminate it. She knew he was joking, hence she told him she would like to keep it. The two then got into an argument and separated for some weeks before he came back asking her to forgive him and that he was now willing to accept the pregnancy.
She thought he was for real not knowing he was only trying to fool her. Unfortunately, she agreed with him and then they reconciled. After three days of unimaginable love and care, he used an handkerchief to sedate her on the fourth day in his apartment and then took her to an unauthorized clinic to have the baby removed. The doctor was one of his old friends whose medical license was seized after attempting to operate on someone while drunk. Since then, he had been running an underground clinic for all illegal activities. He carries out abortion which was prohibited as at this time, he also removes bullets from robbers after having been shot, as well as harvesting or.gans for sale. He was very good at all illegal activities related to medicine.
The day he operated on Naomi, he was kind of drunk. He made a mistake and she woke up and found herself bleeding. She was in a serious pain. The baby was then removed and she was sedated again. When the whole thing was done, the doctor gave her boyfriend some drugs for her before they left. He took her to her apartment, drop a note for her and the drugs. According to him, he had resigned from his work and would be leaving the country for good. He begged her to forgive him told her to use the drugs regularly in order to reduce the pain and to heal fast.
Her brother was shocked to find out about it, he came back and saw her crying. Before they could alert the police, the guy had already left the country and had passed through the border. Nothing could be done to bring him back, unless if Naomi and her brother would be willing to spend thousands of dollars in the manhunt. Something they didn't have, they were also managing their lives, how on earth would they be able to get such amount of money!
They decided to just leave everything in the hands of Karma, surely what goes around will one day come around. And life has its own way of teaching people lesson. Since that day, she had been very careful about guys. She would often shun them and currently, she had no plans of jumping into any relationship soon. She would focus on building her life and her future. And when it is time for her to get married, the right man for her would come and win her heart and then make her his wife. I really liked how she embraced her fate and hoped for the future. I was finding it difficult to even think about not reconciling with Frank in the future the fact that I – without doubt still loved him.
I just needed some time away from home and everyone. After our conversation, Naomi brother called and asked if she was on her way back home already, actually it was getting late. Twenty five minutes after seven. She then lied to him that yes, she was on her way home already. I didn't know when I burst into laughter after the call. She also did the same. I never knew she was that good at lying, well a lot had changed throughout the years. "I should be going now!" she said as she stood from her chair in the dining island and took her handbag from the table.
"Yes, you really should!" I giggled as I withdrew from my sitting position to my feet too. Hence, we began heading towards the door. Just then she asked if I had spoken with my neighbors recently. "Well," I cleared my throat, "we didn't really talk but we had me… and I don't really think they like me" I responded.
"That's because you are new here, Laura. Give them some time, and don't forget to always smile and appear lively" she advised.
"Okay, thank you" I huffed.
"You are welcome," she said and then paused the moment she opened the door, "lest I forget, the landlord's information is on those documents I showed you earlier. He may or may not come to check on you as I already settled him. He's a good guy, but I heard he's only good to those that are always renew their rents in time. Hence, if you are staying for more than a month then make sure you renew your rent when it's due otherwise you would see him with his crazy looking mustache standing in your doorstep trying to scare you to pay or get thrown out in few days time" she explained.
"Like seriously," I wrinkled a brow knowing fully money wasn't the problem at all. I had enough to even pay for two decades or more at the moment. "I would be glad to see him soon" I joked as I pouted.
"Really?" she choked, "Good luck then" she said and then bade me goodnight before leaving. I had wanted escorting her downstairs but she told me not to bother. She also warned me against going downstairs without locking my door, she said this wasn't Cornfield nor Vincity. Here in Vinewood, a lot could happen. It was a land filled with different kinds of people from different places, and that anything could happen. She also advised me to know how to mingle with the rest of the people in the building. They shouldn't know much about me, and if possible they shouldn't know exactly where I came from. She strongly advised me to keep my stories to myself otherwise many would find my weakness from it and take advantage of it. I was really grateful to hear that. I thanked and then watched as she stepped into the elevator before returning back into my apartment and shutting the door off.
