Chapter 7

• THE LOVER
• JILLIAN
• My body is shaking a bit while my hand is forming a fist as he walks towards me holding the woman by the waist. So, it is how he holds a woman he likes. The woman smiled at me and I’m forced to reciprocate that smile though I’m so broken. I’m jealous.
• “Jillian, she is Carina, my woman,” Angelo spoke. My world felt like it stopped spinning. I can’t believe what he just said. I was forced to maintain my composed self and act as normal as possible.
• “Nice to meet you,” Carina said, extending her hand for a handshake. I shook with it as soon as possible.
• “Nice to meet you too.”
• Everyone in the mansion is plastering a happy smile on their faces. Nobody knows what I’m feeling right now. They won’t understand though; they aren’t human beings.
• “I told you, he will come back,” the woman that’s tailing me all this time spoke again. “By the way, call me Hailey,” she added.
• I fake her a smile. While I’m trying to eat some though I don’t really have the appetite. I just thought this would be the best night of my life for he came back to me. He did but with somebody else. My heart is broken and this will become one of my melancholic memories. Now I feel like life doesn’t want me to have a single happiness in me.
• “You don’t look like you're enjoying your night.” I look at the woman who came to talk to me. It’s Carina touching my shoulder. Her hand is warm and different from everyone else.
• “Are you a human?” I asked and made her almost laugh. Maybe she finds it silly or crazy.
• “Of course,” she answered. We both sat on the available chairs facing the long table. I can’t help but stare at her. The clothes she is wearing looked very simple but it suits her well. She is flawlessly beautiful even without make up. Her hair is as dark as the starless night with very light brown eyes. Her skin is porcelain white with pinkish lips.
• “How long have you been dating him?” I asked out of the blue without even thinking how to ask her with a less doubtful face.
• “I can’t remember, but I assure you it’s been a long time,” she answered and drank some wine. The pain inside me grew even bigger, almost making me feel it with my whole body and not just my heart. I even drop the utensils from my hands.
• “I’m glad I knew early,” I whispered.
• “Hmm?” She looked at me.
• “I’m happy for both of you,” I changed what I said and smiled at her. Angelo came to us and joined the talk.
• That night is full of pretending. I’m acting all happy until the celebration ends. It pains me seeing the man I secretly love is too sweet for her woman. I know it’s normal for a couple but looking at them is making me drown in grief, crying silently inside. The way he touches her gently, kisses her in front of everyone and smiles for her is just unacceptable.
• I’m all alone in the mansion and it looks like an abandoned place once again. I woke up in the room upstairs and everything is once again silent and empty. I walked outside and saw Carina outside standing and staring at the clouds beside her man. They are seriously talking about something while I am a bit far away at the back staring at them.
• “I will come here more often,” I hear her say while Angelo’s arm is wrapping around her shoulders.
• “Can’t you stay with me?” he asked.
• “I need to settle things from work and I will be here.”
• I averted my gaze when they were about to share a kiss. I don’t want to see such a view this early. After a few minutes I went back looking at them but Carina is already far. It’s my chance to say goodbye to Angelo.
• “Hey.” He looked at me.
• “You are awake. Let’s go?”
• “Ha? Let’s go where?” I was confused.
• “To your house. I’ll stay there since your parents are not there again.” I shake my head after he spoke and walked past him.
• “You can’t do that. Don’t do it. It will only make me suffer even more,” I said using the lowest tone of my voice that he surely won’t hear.
• “Are you okay?” He is tailing me.
• “Just stay here. She will come back for you. You can’t be with me.”
• “She told me to stay there if ever I feel alone. I promised I will help you but at this moment I can’t ruin your future by stealing you there. That will make you stop studying.”
• Before we could finally step out of the forest, I stepped on something sharp making my bare foot bleed. I sat on the ground checking the wound I got. The next thing I knew is that I am between his strong arms carried like a bride.
• “Hey, you don’t have to do this,” I complained and tried moving so he will put me down but he didn’t. Without another word, he took me home and treated my wound.
• “Do you have classes today?” he asked. I only gave him a nod as a response. He took the bandage off again. “There, you can go to school fine.”
• My jaw dropped when I checked on my foot. The wound is gone like magic. No matter how hard I press on my foot, I can’t feel any pain anymore. I even stood up from sitting on the couch and jumped. He is just there looking amused by my reaction.
• Can he also heal my broken heart like this?
• “What are you?” I asked him again.
• “I am what you think I am.” I only got the same answer from years ago. He is hiding something from me and I’m curious about it. There must be a secret about him.
• “You aren’t human.” My words only made him lock eyes with me.
• “I am what you think I am,” he repeated.