Loneliness (Complete)
“Vicky!”
“Yes, I’m coming,” I shouted back, sighing to myself.
“Hurry up!” the woman shouted, “Useless child! I’m sorry, she is always slow witted.”
“Well,” the man said, “It ok, I’m sure that she is taking care of her appearance.”
“Yes, yes that right,” Vicky’s mother, agreed without hesitations, “You how that daughter of mine are, always caring for her beauty.”
Slowly, Vicky descend the stairs towards the sofa, the man stand up, Vicky had always taken him by awe no matter how many times he see her. Clad in whites dress, Vicky walks gracefully towards him, bestowing a smiles, which carry no meaning but to the man it means everything. He came forward and grasped my hands, “Vicki, you are prettier each day.”
“Thanks,” is all that I can manage, I can't even bear looking into his eyes seeing the lust that I would not want to see. The feels of his lusted hands is just too much causing bile forming in my throat. Mom is money all to you? I wanted shouted but I can't for I would bear the consequences afterwards. Oh, she wouldn’t do it in front of Ray; she will be putting on her act of stricken mother and cried out how she failed my father gaining sympathy making me looks bad.
“Lets go,” Ray guiding me out of the house into the jaguar.
Without a backward glance towards my mom I said or rather murmur my goodbye to my mom. I can't see another hard stare she will give me. Warning me to play my cards right. I could not but I must.
At Pearl hills, a guy stares out of the window with a hard look in his eyes, looks at the stars and mocks their beauty. To him the world could have been prettier then it already is. The beauty that cover the harshness of life.
“Alec,” a lady in white cotton from the bed called out towards me. Without another words I walks to the bed and gently take her stretch hands, “Auntie why don’t you rest more. You know what the doctor said.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Auntie May waved my concern by, I know what is going to come out next, “Alec it times for you to find you other half. You know it not your faults the last times. It all her faults.”
“Auntie, please let the pass bygones,” I tried to avoided the most dreadful topics that could have come out from her mouth, just the mention of her made me harden, “I’m big enough to take care of myself.”
“That what yo…” suddenly auntie falls into a fits, without wasting a seconds I press the button above, the doctors and the nurses rush in, pushing me out to sit and wait for the results. Without them saying it I have known what is going to happen. I walked down the corridor to the window, screaming inside my own hearts. No matter what I have to keep my cool. My sister is much luckier than me, having her husband by her sides to lend her a shoulder.
Auntie May is like a mother we don’t have, after our own mother died of overdose drugs not knowing who our father are, she have been kinds enough to take us in without question. Even though that she have to struggle days and nights to make ends meet. By the times that I could let her live in luxurious she is going leave us. I don’t know what else to believe.
“What is it mother,” I asked quietly, within me I already know the answer, she had come for more, but I don’t mind I’m rolling in it anyway. I give it all to her if she would leave me alone.
“Now why can't a mother visit her daughter I wonder,” mother said with a feign innocent, her act is on again. To other she may look like a doting mother but with me it nothing new. Since I move out four years ago, I never had look back but the reminder are standing just in front of me, “You know how I miss you all the times and I always objected the idea of you moving out.”
“Now that is touching,” I said in a sarcastic, “It is really I or the money?”
“Vicky!” mother gasped in horror. She is such a good actress that always made me wonder why she didn’t go for acting as her career; I would personally nominate her for the Grammy awards. “How could you talks to me like this?”
“Cut the act mom!” I said harshly, too wary of her, just spending a minutes in her company made me tired, “How much?”
“Ten thousands,” she spurted out, knowing her act is useless to me. I know she hated me for making her coming begging to me.
“When you want it?” I asked without delay, “Now.” Was all her answered, without looking at her, I steps away from my tools and wiped by hands by the clothes nearby before picking up the phone and dialing Angel number, she is my secretary and friend, she is younger then me but I know she felt my pains and understands them, “Angie?”
“Yes?” a calm voice answered my called, “Vicky?”
“Yes, it me,” I sigh into the phone.
“How much?” she asked without me telling, that my friends she knows from voice.
“Ten, makes it twenty,” I said softly, hoping that the double amount will keep mother out of my hair longer this times, I slowly place down the phone back to it cradle, “It done. I have told Angie to transfer it into your account.”
“Fine then,” mother wave her hands and without a word of thanks strode out, I follow close behind but not a words exchanges not even a kiss. There is no love loss between the two of us. After she went out, I slip slowly into the floor my back to the sofa, feeling strains. I don’t know how long I sit there, suddenly a shadow cover me, I look up and there Angie is. Bending down, she took my hands into hers. I’m too spent and I needed the contact. “She gone.”
“She be back,” I said tiredly.
“I have a solution if you want,” Angie volunteers.
“What is it?” asked eagerly suddenly feeling like my battery being recharge. I would do anything, anything at all to get her off my hands.
“Why don’t you enter a certain amount into her account every months?” Angie suggested softly.
“It be useless,” I said, I have though of the suggestion before but mother like to terrorize and knowing that she could do that with a just visit made her gloat at my weakness, “She will not be satisfied if she does not take back a piece of me.”
Shaking her head, she look at me, “Why you let her get to you?”
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully, “let forget bout it. Anyway how is the show coming along?”
“Fine,” Angie answered, she have taken care of all my contact and contacting the agent when I felt to be left alone I know she can be trusted, “There is a Mr. Edward, who wanted that piece.”
“The answers is no,” I know this Mr. Edward had been aftering that pieces for sometimes and it seem like he will not give up any soon but he had meet his match, “It all for show only.”
“I tell him that the next times he phone, but he demand to meet you personally,” Angie said quirking a brow at me, at the same times the doorbell rang, diverting Angie attention, “I answer it.”
Angie upon opening the door, a man about 6 feet 1 tower over and her and without giving her a thought strode in my living room, eyes synchronizing the whole room without a word, his brow drawn, “Mister!” I heard Angie gasped but the moment his eyes meet mine I’m lost.
So that is her? I wonder to myself, I heard the girl by the door shouted at me but I ignore her. All my attention was on the woman who sits at the floor. “Miss Vicky?” I heard myself asking, I’m glad that my voice didn’t betray me.
“Yes,” the woman answered softly.
Her voice was so sweet that it washes over me. Her eyes are guarded, suddenly she was cover from my view, frowning I stared up to see a pair of angry eyes boring into me, “May I know why are you? You have no right at all to strode in here!”
“Excuse me, are you Ms. Angie?” this times I caught the outrage woman by surprise before she gave me the searching looks of her, “Who are you?”
“Angie I think I know who is him,” Angie turning to look at the girl on the floor, I was surprise that Vicky know who am I. I didn’t even introduce myself but I’m sure she will know if she is into the gossips magazine.
“Mr. Alec Edward,” she replied with that calm voice of hers.
“How you know?” I was surprised for I have yet to introduce myself.
“The way you carry yourself,” she said, slowly getting up from the floor and stands directly in front of me, even though she had to crane her neck back to look at me directly into the eyes, her defiant is up and I can feel it, I hated to admit it that a mere woman like her will not cower in front me, “Anyway, I just have to open any magazine and I already can see you.”
“I see,” I said with equal calmness, there is something about this woman that set me on my nerve, while Angie beauty can be compare to her but it Vicki that caught my attention. From the first times I landed my eyes on her, a surge of protectiveness consume me, she look so frail and fragile there on the floor but the moment she open her eyes, I know there is more then meet the eyes about this woman, “So I assume that you know why I’m here?”
“Yes I know,” she answer me before turning her back to me and walks away, “The answer is no. Angie sees that Mr. Edwards know the way out.”
“Yes, Ms. Vicky,” with that the girl, I assume that I should called her girl for she is only around 20 if I’m not mistaken, and a mere girl dare to lift her eyes and look at me with disdain written all over her faces, determine to show me the way out, “Mr. Edward this way please.”
Left with no choice, I have to follow that Angie out of the house, before I leave, I turns around and deliver a piece of my minds into Vicky back, “You won't see the last of me.” With that said I strode out of the house and banging the door so hard that it could have tear of from it hinge and miraculously it held. I strode out of the front yard and got into my car, and drove it away.
Vicky, I said inside my heard, I will have the painting no matter what and with the painting it came the price, I will have no matter what. Somehow the girl have caught my by surprise, never in the world or the times have woman resisted me before, oh yes I know I have the charm that could send woman to their knees in front of me with just a smiles. Women have been falling in front of my feet since I gain the height. They use me and I use them.
Meanwhile at the window in front of the house, Vicky, stood in front of it watching the car lights disappear down the street. I know it will not be the last times I see of him. The magazines are splash with his picture, from the picture he looks really magnetic and I should not wander why most women will fall for him. Why not with his dark look and magnetisms with such a load. Who wouldn’t want him? All he has to do is snap his fingers and the women will come falling. From his look I know he would like to add me to one of his collection on the scalp, but I would not be one of his women. Angie is save from him for even though he tends to collect women as his scalp I know he didn’t go for youngsters, but not me.
“Vicky?” Angie breaking into my thoughts, “Are you scared of him?”
“No,” I answered simply, Angie knowing, didn’t pursue the subject further instead saying that she will go off now, her fiancé had already arrive, “Then I will go off now if you don’t need anything.”
“Sure go ahead,” I smile at her, she had been a darling, “Enjoy your dinner.” I said knowingly causing a tint of red in her cheeks. From the window I see Ah Hei, Angie fiancé walks up the walks and help her with her back before seeing her into the car, in the car Angie wave at me before the car speed away, left alone in the house I thought that I will go up to my studio to finish up the painting been doing till my mother interrupted me just now.
No matter how hard I try, the image of Alec keep coming back to haunt me, deter and disturb bout it, I decided to turn in early, as I was getting into the bathroom, someone lean heavily upon the doorbell causing it to ring non-stop, highly irritated I stalks towards the door and swung the door open, wanted to give the particular person a piece of my minds but the moment I see Alec the words just got stuck in my throat making me look at Alec with mouth a gap.
“Lose your voice?” Alec taunted me.
“What do you want?” finally finding my voice; glad that there is nothing in my voice that betrays me how much his looks affected me.
“Join me for dinner?” he said out of the blue caught me off the guard again.
“I’m not dress for it,” I said as an excuse to decline it but I know inside my hearts I wanted to join this guy for dinner.
“You look fine to me,” Alec said, brushing my rejection aside, “I wait here for you.”
“I …” I would have rejected the invitation once more but the looks in his eyes challenging me, and I for one who never back down from a challenge, “Wait for me, I get my purse and my key.” I left Alec standing in front of the doors, quickly gone in and grasp my purse and my key before joining Alec on the walks.
“What would you like?” he asked for my opinion on what I should eat, not like my other date where they would like to decide for me as if I have no brain or taste at all. Oh yes I do date when the mood suit me and I didn’t lack of man companion if I choose to but I prefer the way I’m living right now for any companion, “Anything, I never been here before.”
“Well then you got to try their Seafood Pasta, it just great,” Alec, suggested towards me before calling the waiter, whom hover nearby waiting for Alec signal, “I would like to have two Seafood Pasta, one salad and one oxtail soup.”
Suddenly from the corner of my eyes I saw Angie and Ah Hei walking in, but they didn’t saw me but I was glad for I’m not ready to face Angie at the moment after the harsh way I turn Alec away and going out to dinner with him the next, “I see that you secretary,” Alec break into my thoughts.
“Yes,” was all I could muster myself to answer but Alec ask more and the way he ask after Angie make me stands on my nerve, I never thought that I would feel it, “I wonder who is that guy with her?”
“Her fiancé,” I gritted my on my teeth, I hate the way he look over Angie, “They are getting marry soon.”
“At such young age?” Alec said with wonder, I don’t know if he did it on purpose or what, “What a waste. She is quite a catch, her fiancé must be real lucky.”
“I tell her that,” I said tightly, looking over to Angie and Ah Hei, suddenly feeling guilty, all I did was look with sarcasm over to them, they been my friends forever, been there when I needed someone no matter what the times is, and I’m letting this guy coming over our friendship so easily, it not the first times man look over Angie like a dish and I never paid them any heed before I don’t know why I feel taunted by Alec instead, “They are very much in love.”
“I can see that,” Alec said looking over me, “Are you hinting something?”
“Why should I?” I said with an innocent looks, “Even a blind can se that they are in love. They had been too much together.”
“You seem to know a lot of it,” Alec commented, “She look to young to be your friend, you are 23? 22?”
“I’m 25 now,” I said simply, I know most people underestimate my age, I use to joke that I use the right facial cream to keep me on my look.
“You don’t look like it,” Alec commented accessing me over and I hate the way he looks over me.
“Does my age have anything to do with our dinner?” I asked looking over Alec, giving him a queering looks.
“No, I just wonder,” he said with equal calmness, “It no crime right?”
“No it not any crime,” I said looking into his eyes, I made a mistake at that I should not have look into his eyes, there is something there which confuse me.
“Tell me, what made you choose painting as your career,” Alec suggested, and I find myself telling him things I would never have told anyone, how I found Angie and how I help her through her study as well as her living, but I did not tell him about the things between my mother and I, which made me move out in the first place, till today I still find the memory haunting in the middle of the nights. The dinner pass between us in an easy pace.
“So Loneliness, is your first paintings,” Alec nodding his head, for I told him how it started my career in painting and now I was recognized and found by an agent whom fall in love with my paintings and made me sign a contract with him, “No wonder you would not want to sell it.”
“I’m glad you understand it,” I said gratefully.
“I know it hard but I got a request to made and it important to me and it tell parts of it why I’m desperate for the paintings,” Alec said and from the way he says it, I know he would not force me into anything I don’t want, “If you could lead me the painting just for a month I guarantee I return it to you in the condition you lend it to me.”
“Am I allow to know why?” I’m curious at the way he wanted the paintings, I meet a few people who have beg me to sell them the painting but none of them have touch my conscience as Alec has.
“It for my Aunt,” he said in a simply voice but I could detect a harshness in it, “She is dying and the moment her eyes landed on the painting she is eager to see it another times, for it said that it describe her very souls to the rightness.”
“Let me thinks about it first?” I said, I know I wanted but I’m scared for the painting is what it represent that counts, I’m afraid that Alec accessing eyes would look through me. All these years I had been building a shell around me and I hate to think that this guy could penetrate through it, “I give you the answer tomorrow.”
With that Alec did not pursue the subject further and we leave the café in peace, when upon reaching my home, he insisted of seeing me in. Reaching the door, I halt and turn over and look at him. I didn’t know that he was so close behind me, the moment I turn, I came up to face his chest, the moment seem to come to a stand still. There I stand breathing in his masculine scent, his hands came up to rest on my shoulder. I lifted my eyes slowly to look into his eyes.
“Vicky,” he breathed slowly I could felt that his breath came in hollow.
Everything in Vicki head screamed, ‘I must not let this happen!’ “No…” Vicki mutters even though it sounded weak from her lips, Alec ignored Vicki, he is much more determined than Vicki, “Yes…” was all his response towards Vicki and slowly his lips descended upon Vicki lips. It’s like tasting heaven, Vicki was loss the moments his lips touched hers.
Gently he nibbled on Vicki lips, savoring her gasps of delights, the hands Vicki puts against Alec chest in hope of pushing him away from her, gave ways and stealing way up to his neck and thrusting hers fingers into his hairs at his nape. His hairs feel so silky against Vicki’s touch. Suddenly a code in Vicki snapped her out of her daze, “No!” she wretched herself out of his embrace so fast that Alec did not had the times to react, within minutes Vicki was save behind the door.
“Vicki!” Alec bang at the door, “What wrong?”
“Go away Alec…just go away,” Vicki said weakly, leaning heavily against the door.
“Vicki…” Alec said softly, it like a whispers in the nights, left with no choice, Alec turned and walked down towards his car, thinking hard to himself, ‘What wrong? What went wrong?’
While Vicki, leaned at the door did not bugged even after she heard Alec car roared away from her driveway, she is just too weak, just too weak to move from that spot and she felt spent, “Why?”
That night, Vicki did not budge from her place at the door; she slept thru the nights at the doorstep. “No!” Vicki jolted up from her sleep with a shout, finding herself, sleeping against the door, standing up slowly, Vicki walked into the bathroom. Wincing at her own appearance in the mirror, ‘I looked a zombie!’
Her fair skin are pale, her hair a mess, her clothes are in the most disarray form anyone could had seen. A hammer was hammering down on her head, making the lights painful the eyes. Her forehead was burning up with fever. ‘I need a rest. Got to phone Angie to let her know.’
That particular day, Vicki took a day off her work something she never did, especially nearing her show as it is. Angie came in and see things over for her, never spoke a words for from the looks Vicki gave her earlier when she came it, it was enough that Vicki needed some times alone to herself to sort out her own tangle. ‘It time for her to stand up on her own. If I can she can,’ Angie thought to herself. She remembered correctly that she was in a much more worse state. Being sold off to the prostitution by her own uncle at a young age.
Working there was not easy to keep one virtue intact, most peoples who walked in a child walked out a woman. It like walking into hell every night for Angie. Till one night where Angie meet up with Ah Hei. It was like god sent to her. Ah Hei was Vicki friends and agent at the same time for her paintings.
Ah Hei had been attracted to Angie the very first moments he saw, as he was one of the most top agents, he could read depth that people could not. As unwilling Angie was, he managed to read the sorrow in Angie eyes. With patience and love, Ah Hei managed to break thru Angie ice and showed her that there is more to the world than what she had at the moment.
Somehow Ah Hei managed to land Angie into her current job and with Vicki help Ah Hei managed to bail Angie out of the prostitution center, as it was not easy. The boss there was unwilling to release Angie, as she is one of the top servers in his center.
Slowly Angie managed to stand up again and learnt to trust and see the world in different lights. From that moment, she was Vicki friend, secretary and her sister. The relationship between Angie and Ah Hei blossomed. [I know you guys are bored but well I get to get Angie out as well as she had also her dark pass…^_*]
“Vicki you back,” Angie snapped out from her thought the moment she heard the key lock twisted.
“Hi Angie,” Vicki greeted softly.
“Vicki…” Angie did not know how to approach. Unsure how will she be able to help her friend.
“Is there…Angie phone call for me?” Vicki ignoring Angie plea.
“Yes there is one. From Mr. Edward,” Angie said quietly, she knew that somehow this Alec had managed to penetrate Vicki hard shell.
“What did he said?” Vicki said in that small voice of her once more.
“Nothing he said he call back later,” looking at Vicki now you can wonder what really happen between the two of them. “Vicki…”
“Look Angie I don’t want to talk about it,” Vicki said curtly toward Angie.
“Vicki!” Angie was on the point of yelling. “You don’t want to talk about it! Get alive Vicki. It time you wake up. What do you want? Hide forever in your life? It won't do Vicki.”
“Look who is talking now,” Vicki said sarcastically.
“What do you mean by that,” Angie said coolly.
“I’m sorry,” suddenly feeling remorse at herself, how could she said something like that but the thought of Angie talking to Alec on the phone get on her nerve, “I’m sorry…” couldn’t stand it anymore Vicki broke down crying earnestly into her hands.
Vicki nodded her head without a words passed her lips. Every year at this date is the date where Vicki would lose herself in her paintings but this year it different. Somehow Alec had shed the lights. No matter how hard she tried to lose herself in the paintings she will never be able to. She had to let it go for the longer she hold on to it the harder it would become.
“I remember very clearly that night,” Vicki finally opened her mouth and spoke out softly in a bare whisper. Once started Vicki could no longer stop, “I walked down the corridor with a heavy heart. Knowing the inevitable at the same times holding on to my tears. In I walked, putting on a smile before I turned the knob and walked in. Greeting him with all of the cheerfulness that I could cook up. There he lay looking pale against the white sheet. Without single words I took up his feet and began the slow massage to ease his pain. Which is all that I can. Smiling weakly he look on at my bent head. I could felt his stare but I dare not looked up for fear of him seeing the tears brimming at my eyes. Trying to carried the conversation on as normal.”
Taking a deep breath, Vicki stopped and looked up at Angie. Looking at Angie and at the same time no looking at her. Her eyes staring at infinity, pain wrecks every single scratch of her face just remembering that night.
“Suddenly he place his hands on my head caressing it softly and lovingly before dropping lifelessly next to his body. For a moment I could only stared at the lifeless figure in the bed and carried on with the massage.”
Telling it all, tears slowly slipped out the tight closed eyelid, “Vicki…” Angie whispered softly, feeling the pain that Vicki is going thru, putting her hands on top of Vicki’s, Angie gave it a squeeze where Vicki acknowledge just with a nod of her head and turn her head side way. Seeing there are no points of staying on with Vicki, Angie left her alone.
Sitting on the floor all alone, Vicki hugged herself tightly into a ball, she had remembered that night where she had shouted till her throat hoarse still there is no response.
“No!”
“You can't leave me like that dad!”
“You promised!”
He was her mentor.
He was her companion.
He was her friend.
He was everything to Vicki.
There in the bold strip of colors which represent different things stood a girl with her backs to everything where it show the girl hugging herself tightly against the world where it had only showed cruelty towards her and no welcoming hands. Somehow Alec had managed to see this in the painting where other had not able to. Slowly twirling around to the songs. Vicki started to look at herself at a different light.
‘Dad I’m going to be the girl you always wanted me to be!’
Vicki swore silently to herself. Her face wearing a genuine smile where it had long been gone but somehow after today it had managed to worm it way back in. The sparkle that had gone from her eyes is back making it luscious and warm with an innocent touch.
Looking up from his hands, Alec saw that Vicki was staring straight at him thru the window. Without breaking the stare, Alec walked slowly towards Vicki and stood directly in front of her at the window. There they stood staring at each other, times forgotten and things in the world became blur, all that is ever exist is Alec and Vicki and the wall that stood between the two of them.
Suddenly Vicki could not longer bear the separation between the two of them, wretched herself from the window and started towards the door. Seeing this Alec did the same. Wrenching the door open, Vicki stared at Alec not knowing what to do now with the wall gone.
Suddenly Vicki was in Alec arms, not knowing who made the first move. Was it her or was him no longer important. All that is important is that she is in Alec arms. That is all that really matter. Alec tightens his embrace as if scared that Vicki would disappear should he let him out of his embrace. Closing his eyes tightly shut and burying his face into Vicki hairs as if wanted to absorbed Vicki wholly into his own body. At the same times, Vicki buried herself tightly into Alec chest.
“Well, well, well,” a voice called out sarcastically. “Look what we had here.”
“I know what you thinking,” Vicki mother looked into her eyes silently, “It not enough. You had to pay!”
“Vicki?” Alec asked softly, concern wrenching in his face. “Pay what?”
“Oh you didn’t knew?” Vicki’s mom asked innocently.
“Mom!” Vicki protested softly. “It not my fault. You knew that!”
“Not your fault?” Vicki’s mom bit out, “Then whose faults was it? Mine? Your dad spending every singles dim on you and never on me?”
“What do you expect?” Vicki bit back, “All you knew how to do is spend it all on clothes, gu…”
Before even Vicki could finished the last words, her mother stepped out and gave Vicki a hard slap making her staggered into Alec protective arms. “Mrs. Zhao!”
“Don’t you dare to say it out!” Vicki’s mother snapped out. “It all your faults! Your father rather gave you all his money than giving it to me! Who do you think you are?”
“I’m my father daughter!” Vicki no longer worried and no longer scared for she had promised herself that she would be standing on her own two feet and no longer a person who hide from the reality.
“Do you think so?” Vicki’s mother smirked.
“Yes!” Vicki said it with equal calmness. “There is nothing you said that is going to eliminate my father love for me. I know long ago that you are not my mother!”
“How…” Vicki’s mother for once lost her coolness.
“You don’t think that I won't know about it right?” Vicki snapped. “I’m no longer the teens that you used to get your everyone any more Madeline!”
“What do you mean?” Madeline said evasively. “I’m your mother and that final!”
“No you are not!” Vicki said out loud, passed caring who is there to listen and who is there to gossip this out. “My real mother died giving birth to me. Father had always loved my mother. You! You are the one who taken everything away from him and demand more than he is able to give. Driving him into his early grave!”
“No!” Madeline denied. “That not true! I love him! I love him! Your mother is the one who taken everything from me! Fame! Money! Jack! Everything! If you mother didn’t come into the scene everything would have been mine! Instead in the scene she walked and everything once I owed became her! Do you think this is fair?”
“What is there fair in love? There no such words as fair!” Vicki bit out the last words with a sigh. “Why? Why must you treat me like this? Must I pay for a sin that is not committed?”
“No sin committed?” Madeline gave a harsh laugh. “Not committed? You have to pay! If I can't get my hands on your mother then you should replace her!”
“No!” Vicki denied, “I will no longer pay for something that I didn’t commit. I will give you no more money and I will not let you ruin my life no more. I want to be myself again.”
“You will always be mine!” Madeline snapped.
“No,” Alec butted in. “She is not yours to own!”
“Who are you to say that she is not mine?” Madeline turned to Alec who had been standing there mutely while the sparring between Vicki and her had started. “My, my Vicki you also had a knight in shining armor? Remember the one that turned away from you disgust when I showed him something?”
Upon hearing that Vicki’s face pale and staggered on her feet. Gathering all her wits that seem to scatter around but to no avail it seems useless to fight the inevitable. Looking up at Alec, Vicki tried to memorize his features before Alec learned the truth and turned away from her in disgust.
“I don’t care!” Vicki said walking away from Alec hugging her own body tightly. “Show him all you want.”
There in the picture showed, Vicki sleeping with her dad embraces like lovers like. In the picture it showed the contented smiles in Vicki face. The camera had somehow managed to make it look soft and comfy, making the picture all the more romantic and making the couples looking guilty as a cat being caught licking the cream.
“Vicki?” Alec looked up softly from the photo into Vicki eyes. He wanted to hear the words from her own mouth rather than looking at the damn evidence for he knew in his heart that Vicki is innocent of all the sins.
“Alec…” Vicki unsure where to begin. “Look at the picture. How old do you think I am at that times?”
Taking a closer looks, Vicki did seem to be rather young in that picture. Somehow the lights had managed to make her looked older than she is at that particular moment. Looking up from the photo Alec stared into the Vicki eyes and there it written the answer he wanted to hear from her lips. Turning away from Vicki and facing Madeline, Alec started to tear up the photo right in front of Madeline into pieces.
“What do you think you are doing?” Madeline shouted, trying to grasp Alec hand to stop his action but it was already too late. By the times she reached out for the photo, Alec had thrown the thorn pieces at her face.
“Get out of here,” Alec said in that quite voice of his. “I won't let you harm Vicki no more.”
“Harm her?” Madeline laughed, “You call this harm her? You ruined the evidence I had on her. The evidence of her conducting a sin in human and god eyes and you called that harm her?”
“To you it a sin but to the god and the human eyes, I can guarantee you that is a fatherly love towards a young girl,” Alec said staring straight into Madeline eyes without blinking.
“No!” Madeline shouted, knowing that she had somehow lost. “It a sin! Yes it a sin!”
“Madeline,” Vicki said out softly trying to reach for at the same times. “You know that is not the true. I let you use me for many years but I think it times we stop this charade now. I can that my pity for you had turned you into a merciless woman and that had to stop.”
“Your pity for me?” Madeline snorted. “I don’t need your money to survive just you wait and see.” With that said, Madeline turned on her heels and walked away. Vicki tried to reach out for her but Alec stopped her shaking his head.
“It times she accepts the truth,” Alec took her hands and gave her a smiles kiss on it. “It times for you starts a future.”
Alec and Vicki stared into each other’s eyes. Without them knowing the night had already decent and the stars shining there looking down at the two lover. Back into the background the radio had somehow played the song again.
Twinkle, twinkle little stars,
How I wonder what you are,
Up above in the sky,
Like a diamond in the sky,
………………………..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
