Bride by Design

C H A P T E R 4

A LINE OFF

Karyssa

Eating my spicy chicken takeout in the living room while on a break from preparing my lesson plan, I entertained myself with an episode of 'The Mentalist'. The protagonist's cynicism and cunning were an absolute treat and it did not hurt that he had a very beautiful woman acting along with him. They were one lovely team that thankfully garnered my attention to keep me from eyeing the couple by the entryway.

"Bye and thanks for the ride."

The locking of the door quickly followed the sound of a kiss. Lauren, my flat mate, gave me a nod in greeting and immediately retreated in her own room. Tonight, she was back earlier than her usual 'too early for tomorrow'.

I have been living here for a week already when she came. Given my current financial and employment status, I could not afford to continue paying for the place by myself in the foreseeable future so I put up an ad online to co-rent. It was risky considering I would be taking a stranger to live with me but I had to. Many contacted me and I went the extra mile when I did a background check on each one of them. Out of eight, I chose Lauren Cross, an upcoming singer-musician.

The first week in together, Lauren and I were okay and were learning to co-exist in our shared space but things turned awkward when she saw my date, a friend of a fellow teacher in the elementary school I have started to work in. I just wanted to be polite when I accepted the matchmaking overture but my companion had other things in mind. You could say my date was rather quick and very much eager to get laid on the first meet.

Pestering me to bring her with, I was very annoyed with how pushy she was. I've never openly dealt with such unwanted attention after leaving my old life. I was caught off guard. Explaining that I couldn't have her over wasn't getting through her. She continued to follow me up until my unit and that was a red flag. When the door opened, out went the plan of slamming the door to her face for she jumped me for a kiss. It was quite a struggle not slap her. Luckily, Lauren was there. The sound of glass breaking and a very shocked but red-faced Lauren spooked my rude date that without even saying goodbye, she left as quickly as she tackled me. I forgot her name and she never called me again which was fine with me.

There was no effort to engage in conversation and get to know each other. She either spaced out most of the time or ignored me that I had brief flashbacks of Helena, who often acted like she was taking her phone to dinner and I just happen to share the table with them. Helena barely glanced at me the entire time we were eating and she would either shrug, nod, gruntle or smile, not trying to converse. If that was the case, we should have dined at home. There, she could ignore me without an audience and spare my diminishing pride but no.

What was the point of going out and spending time with each other then? I might as well have been alone.

Deducing from one failed attempt at getting back in the game I have never tried playing, dating anyone else would not get me anywhere near recuperating. Meeting someone new was scratched off the ten-step recovery program indefinitely or until I could stop seeing Helena's face at every turn. The littlest things could trigger memories of the close-hearted princess I left back in the fortress.

'Don't think about her, Yssa.'

To everyone, I could never be sorry enough for escaping but I wanted to try living a little. Steering clear off the newspapers, television and social media, there was no point of concerning myself with how Helena was. Also, whenever Rey called, we made a conscious choice not to drag the skeletons out of the closet. Avoidance was the only way to keep going. I may have succeeded in removing myself from stressors but I could not fully free my mind of her and the disappointment I had become.