Rhea slammed the door as she stepped into her room. She glided her way across the room towards the end and hung her bag on the stand, then arranged the book she brought out of her bag on her reading table.
It wasn't anyone's fault. It was mine. If I weren't a fool, maybe my love life would be different.
As she proceeded to peel off the clothes on her body. She began by removing the loose corporate pants, then the top before removing her undies. She let her hair down her back, wrapping a towel over her chest.
And maybe then, I wouldn't have been a vending cash machine that he could suck dry.
She stepped into the shower, turned on the faucet, and warm water streamed down her head to her feet. She closed her eyes, as she tilted her face up at the shower.
What a joke! A relationship I thought was the best thing I had in my life and held dear. I tried everything I could to make it work. Turned out to be nothing but trash.
*Flashback*
"Surprise!!!" Rhea shouted, with a warm smile as the light lit up, revealing a decorated cosy sitting room with a banner hung across the room that reads, Happy birthday, Zach, and a medium-sized chocolate cake with three candles lit on top, sitting in the middle of the table in the room.
A young, tall, good-looking guy with green eyes, dirty brown hair and fair skin. Stood frozen at the entrance, surprised by the sudden welcome. After turning on the light switch.
He strode into the room, towards Rhea with a smile as he hugged her, then cupped her face, tilting it up as he claimed her lips. He savoured her taste before gently slipping his tongue into her mouth.
"Babe, you shouldn't have done this," he said breaking the kiss.
"Why? It's my baby's birthday, so I have to do this. By the way, it's the least I can do." Rhea said, her arms still around his waist. "Anyway, I want you to close your eyes and come sit. I have a gift for you." She held him by his hand leading him to the couch.
"Close your eyes, don't look, " she said as she moved over to the small counter at the end of the room, close to a dining table. "No peeping, okay."
"It's closed, I swear," Zach assured her.
"Happy birthday, babe. Look what I got you!" Rhea handed him a box with the latest Hublot watch. "You like it, don't you?"
"Oh my God, Rhea!" He exclaimed, snatching it from her hands. "How did you get this?" He put it on. Examining it as he kept flexing his wrist.
Then suddenly turned to Rhea, "Is this even real?" He asked with a hint of doubt in his tone.
"Of course, it's real. I got it from Soso jewellery." She handed him the receipt.
"Wow, I love you, so much." He said after checking the receipt. Pulling Rhea in for another kiss.
Then, he suddenly moved his head back, "But why didn't you buy a Rolex instead. That's what is more popular now."
"I'm sorry, but that's the only money I have saved, after my parents gave me my tuition," Rhea said, her smile fading slightly.
"Couldn't you have at least used a little from your tuition? Your parents are rich, right?" He added, pulling away from her with a straight face. As he slumped onto a single couch.
Rhea sat close to him, with a slumped shoulder, as she asked, "Are you angry?"
"Don't you think this is embarrassing? I can't show my face to my friends with this outdated thing. This is beneath my status." He said in a slightly raised voice.
"But —"
He cut Rhea off as his phone rang, with one of his fingers raised.
"Hello." He answered the call, stepping away from Rhea.
A female voice echoed from the phone, saying "When are you coming? We're all here."
"I'll be there soon, just give me a minute to wrap things here, okay. Love you too." He said in a whisper not knowing Rhea could hear everything.
He stepped away from the balcony as he slid the curtain between the balcony and the sitting room, and walked into the room.
Rhea looked up at him, as she held back the tears welling inside her, her heart ached as her breath tightened.
"Hey, I'm leaving. Keep these in the fridge when you are going out, okay." He kissed her forehead."
"Do you have to leave?" She managed.
"Yeah," he placed one hand on his waist, scratching his hair with the other.
"Please don't go. I'll do better!" Rhea said, holding onto him.
"Rhea! This is not about you, alright. I had other plans today. I'm extremely sorry, but my friends are waiting for me. We'll see each other tomorrow, okay." He turned his gaze away from Rhea's face, staring into the wall. Then sighed sharply. "Um, I'll come pick you up tomorrow and we'll go to school together. Okay."
*
Rhea wore a pair of blue pyjamas, her hair tied in a towel as she slid onto her bed.
I'm glad I broke away from that walking disgusting flag.
The following morning
"Hey... Rhea," Tia called as she stood at the entrance after knocking on Rhea's door twice, " About yesterday... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that, to make you remember all of those bad memories, I'm sorry. I... I."
"Tia," Rhea called softly. "Why are you being sorry, it okay. I'm fine. I promise." Rhea's brow rose as she made her way to Tia by the door. Taking her hands into hers. " And besides, I'm no longer bothered by that scumbag. So... let's not make our current beautiful lives about him. Okay?" Rhea bent down a little to look into Tia's eyes, who was looking down at her feet.
"Okay." Tia smiled but replied in a soft reluctant voice.
Rhea walked back into her room towards her desk. "But what are you here for, early this morning?" She asked, adding some books to her bag after her laptop.
"Nothing much. I figured I should talk to you before anything." Tia tucked her hands in her trousers' back pockets.
"Don't tell me, you were here to apologise." Rhea snickered as she carried her bag on her shoulders. "No wonder. I was wondering why you were up so early, and it turned out it was because of this. Come on, Tia, it's broken news you shouldn't have gone this far for."
"Don't tease me, Rhea! By the way, where are you going, all packed up? You don't have classes today." Tia asked, leaning on the door, her arms folded on her chest, while standing on one leg.
"To the library, I have some essays to complete and submit by tomorrow," Rhea replied.
"Oh, okay. So, because you are going to the library, it means you are not allowed to eat in the morning." She followed behind Rhea, " I hope you're well aware that you didn't eat yesterday."
"I'll come back on time, and when I do I'll eat. So don't be angry with me, okay." Rhea stood up after putting on her shoes.
"If you're not back after 12pm, I'm bringing you food to that place, got it." Tia held onto the door's latch, opening the door for her.
"Yes, Auntie," Rhea answered, stepping out of the apartment.
Rhea walked out of the complex onto the pavement, greeted by the warm morning sun that kissed her skin, welcomed by the gentle warmth of the morning breeze that was swirling through her, dancing with her shiny black hair. Rhea's face was flushed from the slight chilly residue of the wind.
She walked past different stores: from a boutique, to a coffee shop, restaurants, a bakery shop, and even a fruit stall.
All of which mixed to a pleasant aroma in her nostrils and a bright smile on her face.
It's been a long time since I took this path. I think I should buy Tia a honey croissant when I go home. I bet she'd cry her eyes out.
As Rhea, walked down the street, the loud noise of a fallen tray accompanied by a slap caught her attention from across the street in a restaurant. When she bumped into a girl with straight, bright blonde hair and a heavy build.
"Who is that bitch that is unfortunately blind to see where she was going?" The girl spat.
"I'm sorry, it was a mistake. I wasn't looking." Rhea apologised as she stood up.
The girl walked up to Rhea as she grabbed her by her arms, so she could see Rhea's face, her nails dug into Rhea's skin.
The girl scoffed with a look of superiority on her face, "Ah! If it's not Rhea George, the obsessed freak. Who'd be so blind not to see on a bright day like this?"
She rested her elbow on top of her hand which was on her chest, before she continued, "Wasn't that why you couldn't see the bright picture Zach painted all over the campus before he broke up with you? She said pushing Rhea backwards with a finger.
Why do I have to listen to these insults? I didn't do anything wrong by dating a jerk.
"I bet both of you are still dating, since then, right?"
The girl suddenly went quietly, not expecting Rhea to talk back.
So they are no longer together, and she has the mouth to speak to me.
"Why are you not saying anything, cat got your tongue. I guess you couldn't even keep the second version of yourself, even though you know yourself better than anyone else.
"Umm." Rhea, shrugged with a scornful look, "Was he that worse of a human that a shitlike you couldn't even keep him?
The girl chuckled awkwardly, trying to brush it off. "Don't talk to me like that!"
"Why can't I?" Rhea shot back, "You were the one who couldn't take an apology and go away."
Rhea took a step forward, as she backed the girl to the nearest wall, her eyes darting sideways, as Rhea almost hovered over her.
"Listen attentively, Brianna. This should be the last time you ridicule me or even talk to me, for dating a mistake like Zach and falling for the scheme both of you played to fool me." Rhea said and walked off.
Making her way to her study.