His Housemaid

Chapter 7

Walking hand in hand we exit the sickbay. I smile as I remember how Ian took care of me. Maybe my life isn't that screwed-up. Looking up, I lock eyes with Justin. Scratch that. My life is 'definitely' screwed. I could see the anger burning in his eyes. And just like that his warning echoes in my head. I gulped then look down involuntarily tightening my grip on Ian hands. Sneaking a peak at him I saw his eyes glaring at our adjoined hands.

I quickly yanked my hands out of Ian's grip drawing both of their attention towards me. Ian with an eyebrow raised and Justin with a glare that could literally make the devil ashamed, and I'm not exaggerating I felt really ashamed without reason to. Which confused me all the more. I mean why should I feel ashamed ? It's not like I've done something wrong. And ... just like that the memories came flooding my mind like it owned it.

The warnings and insults. Every fucking one of them. Every detail, syllable. Repeating over and over again. Resounding in my head and then came the panic attacks. It started with my breath hitching and my eyes clouding over with tears. I needed to go. Crying in front of these boys wasn't exactly a good idea.

Hiding behind my hair, I took off towards towards my new pal; the bathroom.

Locking myself in one of the cubicles, I let it all out. The frustration, loneliness, hurt, anger and regrets. Regrets of what you may ask ?
Regrets of not dying with my parents.
Regrets of leaving them to burn while I lived doing nothing except being a laughing stock.
Regrets of not saying 'I love you' back to them.

Funny how life works. One minute we were laughing at dad's first attempt of asking mom out and then the next the car was somersaulting.

*Flashback*

I guffawed in laughter as my mom retold the story of my dad's first attempt to ask her out in college. He had got all the guys in the football team to scribble "Will you go out with me ?" on their chest. And you know what's even more funny ? They were bare chested. Just imagine nineteen guys(dad included) in 'only' shorts with the former words mentioned scribbled on their chest. The thought of it sent me into peals of laughter for the nth time.

This portrayed my dad's position on the romantic ladder. Pish posh. I think he's sitting under the ladder. Or maybe he's miles away from the ladder.

"No no no. This can't be happening" I heard the chauffeur say. Confused I sat upright in my seat and lean towards the former. The driver turned towards us with a panicked face and uttered the cause of his panic.

"I'm sorry but the brakes have failed"

That was the last straw before I burst into tears. My dad, who was at shotgun turned towards my mother and I in the backseat. Clutching both of our hands in his, he said his departing words to my mum send then they both turned towards me.
"We love you so much, Nicolette. And we want you to know that no matter what happens we will still love you. Forever and ever".

Fourteen year old me who was scared shitless couldn't do a thing except cry and nod like the fool I was. Gathering enough courage, I opened my mouth to reciprocate only .....
It never happened. And fate couldn't have had good timing. The car was flipped over a many times. The number of times I couldn't tell since I slipped in and out of unconsciousness. But when I came through, the car was in an upside down position. I turned to my left to take a look at my parents only to see them covered in much more blood than in was.

My dad's head was twisted in a weird position with blood covering almost all of him. My mum ... was worse. She had shards of glass in her neck and tummy. Her head was turned in a way it was looking straight at me. Her eyes were wide and lifeless. Glassy with tears that were about to be shed. The sight left me scared, frightened and many more.

I got out of the seat belt and moved towards them. Begging them to be awake, praying to God that they were not died. But deep down, I knew they were. I just refused to believe it. And then I started to hear voices, they seemed near. If I could get them to come closer maybe mum and dad can be saved.

So I cried for help. I cried out hoping someone could hear. My side of the door was ripped off and a hand came towards me. I quickly slipped off my mom and dad's ring, planted a kiss on them and got out. I didn't know why but it felt like goodbye.

The hand pulled me out and I could hear the distinct sound of an ambulance siren. The anonymous person helped me get out and walked me away. When we reached the ambulance I turned to see if they got my mum and dad but ...

The car exploded into flames with my parents and the chauffeur stuck inside. It was then that I realised that I never said ' I love you' back.