~Ours~

Poisoned Piece: Chapter 1

Second Fold

Poisoned Piece

My body was so heavy for me to move, still I forced myself to find her holding the ticket she wanted. I put my coat on, telling Mr. Jones that I'm going to give the ticket to Jennifer before the concert starts and surprised her perhaps if she won't notice my gift to her.

My feet led me to the West Park, and I saw several people leaving the park. I was too late but still I saw her with her friends and a guy whom I'm not familiar with. They seemed they had a blast and guess this ticket lost its value. Well, I was happy to see her smiling.

She noticed my presence.

I was waiting for her approach and expecting her happy remarks about what she saw. She might talk about Richard, the vocalist whom she idolized.

And then, unexpectedly, I saw what I did not expect. The guy kissed her. Then my heart ached like someone punched it, a pang of jealousy made a hole in my heart.

My hands weakened and the ticket I kept to be a surprise for her dropped on the ground.

I was jealous because someone kissed her...

I was jealous because someone kissed her, better than me...

And I was cheated...

-----♪-----

I never thought that loving someone in this crazy world is a great or perhaps the greatest experience a man could succumb. It's hard for me to clear my mind and forget everything that happened three days ago. There is no time for leeway. I'm drowned with my mistakes and perceived love foolishly. I'm a fool to believe.

But I can't blame God for experiencing this unfortunate life I'm having. It's the people that surrounds me and trying to be with me. Mom and dad, Jennifer and Mr. Jones. I never seen them as a help to live longer. They just made my life worse and bitter. These things brought me to nadir of my life. I see Jennifer as a real person, but in the end it was the opposite of my expectation. The love I gave to her was enough and I expect she'll love me back, but she didn't.

Love is temporary...

Death is everlasting...

And there's learning, and there was pain together with the things I learned, Now, I have no valid reason to live. I'll never have my dream nor someone loves me until death.

I was poisoned, and who's going to love a dying person?

-----♪-----

If my memory serves me well, it was thirteen years ago. I was innocent and I see the world as a vast never-ending playground. Yes, Madison---the place I grew and the place that cursed me.

My father Thomas always brought me to where he wanted to go, especially nighttime. He talked with middle aged women. Then, he would buy beers or when he received his weekly salary from being a foreman, he’d buy wine, its cheapest kind. He talked everything he could think of. He would tell his childhood life and all his sweethearts he had been with. The time when he nearly died from a bicycle accident and the years he was happy together with his friends who were there during the time of his prosperity. His Golden Age, that’s what he called it.

I seldom saw mom and dad talked intimately. I only saw them doing petting quarrels and invalid misunderstanding. Seeing them made me feel unpleasant and unworthy to be a part of this family. Am I included? This is not the family I dreamed to have.

“That’s my boy,” my father would say to his friends.

And then he would tap my back, looking proud of what he had.

I’m his boy. His only son. The favorite one, knowing I promised to be like him.

When we got home, I always cry. I’m ready to let the tears coursing my face without even bothering to wipe it. My mother Estrella would bring her knife, threatening my dad. Father would just laugh knowing she couldn’t even hurt someone, even killing a live chicken in our yard.

-----♪-----

I stood and left St. Catherine of SienaChurch, it is the time to get my things I left from Jennifer’s house. Remembering what Mr. Jones said to me few days ago made me stop for a while…

“The pursuit of happiness is difficult to have,” he said, holding his favorite mug, “but it does not mean you’re out of the game, Kelly. No matter how misery hits your life, you can still find happiness tomorrow or maybe the next day. But you must remember that you have limitations, I gave you limitations towards my daughter. She’s precious to me. You know what you mustn’t do.”

Limitations…

I gave myself an ample time to lessen the aches I felt, but still remembering that night hurts me a bit. I was jealous-ed, that guy kissed her better than me.

After all the hard works I did, it seemed it turned out to be nothing.

I left my guitar, the witness of my trials in life. Guess Jennifer acts so real. She made me believe that she really loves me; she even tried to do intimate moves. Yes of course, she is going to be a theatre actress. She passed De Sales.

I could tell it is now midnight; everyone’s now asleep except one house. Her house. Mr. Jones sleeps at dawn; he told me he experienced insomnia. I could see him on their front porch, sitting on the racking chair, as I stood from this dark street.

Mr. Jones has been very kind to me, he lends me his shirt and pants I’m wearing now, but still hatred works, filling me up. He understood my situation and let me have her daughter. I looked down towards him, my unwashed hair falls down, hands on my pocket, thinking what I will say.

“Achilles,” he exclaimed, happy to see me.

“I’m here to get my things, Mr. Jones.”

He nods.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize.

“No, you did nothing.”

I leaned on the porch’s post, looking at Jennifer’s window. She’s sleeping, I guess.

“You saw the wrong things. It was a set-up,” he suddenly say something, “Jen told me everything. Her friends made it. She had no choice, the kiss was not real.”

“And she did it, didn’t she?”

He nodded, eyeing at me.

“I-I should look at the other side of the coin, I should have asked her,” I admitted, “My actions are not proper.”

“Yes.”

I took a deep breath, and in a sudden the front door opened. Jennifer came out. I looked down, trying not to see her face. My heart starts to pound like a fast train.

Jennifer…