Dark Fairytale (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 18: Shadow of the Day

Chapter 18: Shadow of the Day

I shouldn't feel anything. I shouldn't be affected by things like this. I didn't hold any romantic feelings towards Jareth so I shouldn't care whether he kissed the whole population of girls in school.

No, I wasn't jealous.

I was disappointed.

My engagement with Jareth was a powerful link that connects two influential families: the Devereaux and the Bettencourt. It was the link that prevents them from tearing each other out. It granted them a powerful partnership to rule the business world. And by holding this link, I somehow felt I was important in the family. It gave me a role that was significant to them. It gave me a place only I could fill in.

But standing here in front of Jareth's car and witnessing how he kissed Zoey with those lips that smiled at me on the day they told us about our engagement, I realized that holding this important link is not enough to make me feel safe. It would never grant me their respect. And so holding this disappointment and anger, I decided to walk away and let the link go.

Nakakailang hakbang na ako palayo sa sasakyan nang lumabas si Jareth at sumunod sa akin. Sinubukan kong tumakbo subalit mas mabilis ang kaniyang naging pagkilos bilang hindi naman ako athletic na tao. Agad niyang nahawakan ang aking braso at hinila paharap sa kaniya.

"Let me go!" pagpupumiglas ko.

Subalit mas humigpit pa ang pagkakahawak ni Jareth. "What you saw in the car doesn't mean anything. Zoey was just having a bad day and –"

"I don't care, Jareth. Just let me go, please!"

"What?" tila naguguluhan niyang tanong. Was it really that hard to believe that I don't care about any of it? "You aren't jealous that I kissed Zoey?" halos hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya muli.

Huminga ako nang malalim at diretso siyang hinarap. "I'm not jealous. I'm just disappointed. Pero sa tingin ko ay mas mabuti na ito. I'll just ask Uncle William to cancel our engagement and give it to Zoey. I think it will work better with the two of you."

Muli kong hinila ang aking braso subalit hindi pa rin niya iyon binibitawan.

"Sa tingin mo ba ay ganoon lang kadali ang lahat, Emily? This is the only power you have at the moment. And if you're going to let this go –"

"I'm going to be eighteen soon, Jareth. I've heard that I might be able to get what's mine on that day."

The way he paled when I said that, didn't surprise me. I wasn't even surprised when he pulled me closer towards him as if letting me go would grant me more than the freedom I had wanted. What I didn't expect was that – the words about taking power actually came from my own mouth. I should have known that Detective Penber's idea would actually get to me.

"Hindi mo alam ang sinasabi mo, Emily. It's a dangerous game and you don't even have an ounce of greed to play it."