Naomi pulls the duvet up wanting to spend another hour of sleep in her comfortable bed. It was past 6 o'clock in the morning when she noticed a car engine halted in her garage. She was thinking who could that be to drive so early on. She gets out from her bed needed to know who might be the person. She headed to the glassy window in her room and sneak. She saw a red-head girl carrying a bouquet of red roses directing inside the house. Emily didn't mention any borrowing thing of her car last night. And the thought that made her mind float was the 'roses'. She's thinking who could be the lucky person? She just continues watching the red-head making her way in. after losing the sight of Emily, she decided to go downstairs and have breakfast with the red-head.
"Hey." She greeted Emily who's preparing the breakfast whilst eyeing the bouquet. "Morning."
"Yeah, morning , Nai." Emily gave her a soft beam. "Breakfast?"
"Yeah." She seems not to be in the mood. She made herself comfortable in her usual seat still eyeing the bouquet.
Emily notices the mood that the blonde have. "Early in the morning; did you wake in the wrong side of the bed?" she's waiting for Naomi's reply. She notices that Naomi is really not in the mood to pick a mocking session with her especially it still early in the morning.
They have the most awkward moment of silence throughout the breakfast but still they kept on catching stolen glances from each other. Emily perceives that Naomi is eyeing the roses she bought earlier. Maybe that's the reason why Naomi was not in the mood to have some simple arguments with her which is very odd because she was used to have a not so severe fight with the blonde before and after breakfast.
"Sorry I didn't ask to borrow your car earlier." Emily is finishing her meal, but still, there's no response from Naomi. She takes a sneak from the roses which are located near the counter before shifted her glance at stiffening Naomi. "I bought that for Mandy."
Naomi looks at her bluntly as if she didn't care. "Okay."
"Nai."
"Yeah." She answers back without gazing at her. She can feel jealousy in her heart.
"Do we have a problem here?" she puts her utensils down and intently stares at Naomi wanting to know what's the reason of her being so serious and quiet. "I said I'm sorry for not telling I'll borrow your car."
"No." she stands up wanting to end the conversation that's making her uncomfortable. "Yeah, fine." She's about to leave the dining to go upstairs and prepare her things for their flight tomorrow to New York but before she does, a soft hand slide from her wrist stopping her from going anywhere and making her attention look back to the owner of the hand.
"Bloody hell, Nai, what's wrong?"
Naomi can see worries from Emily's eyes. She knows that she doesn't have any right to feel that kind of emotion in her heart. She just can't help it. She wants to tell her that she's fucking jealous to the person who's going to receive the bouquet. She wanted to be that person, she wanted to be the one getting Emily's attention, she wanted to have Emily to herself, alone.
"Naomi." She calls out again all too lovingly. "I can't understand why you're acting so weird."
"Erm, no-nothing. I'm fine." She lied. "Maybe I'm just tired from yesterday's meetings."
Emily just stares at her waiting for some clarifications because whatever would be the reason, she's fucking worried. She never saw Naomi so seriously that she can't fathom what's happening in Naomi's brilliant brain.
One last and Naomi glances again in the bouquet. If looks could kill the bouquet might be withered to death by now. "I'll be upstairs. I'll prepare my things for tomorrow's flight."
"Okay." Emily let her wrist go. "Can I borrow your car again?"
Naomi look back; it take seconds to hear the answer from her. "Yeah." She said weakly.
"I'm going to Birmingham. I'll leave the car at the train station, if that's okay?"
"I'll drive." After saying that she went upstairs to fix her travel bag leaving Emily in awe.
"Fucking hell, what's her problem?" Emily whispers. She grabs the bouquet and places them in the car so that she won't forget.
X
"Thanks for the ride, Nai." She's holding the roses as if her life is in there.
"Sure." Still with those insipid expressions, she keeps her eyes glued to the road but there are moments she stole glances from the bouquet seeing the card attached to it. 'I love you, Mandy.' She accidentally stirs the wheel making them jerk of their seat. "I'm sorry."
"What the fuck Nai?" she burst out angrily. "If you don't want to drive, just say so. We're going to die if you're like tha!."
"Em, I'm sorry." She reaches Emily's hand. She was so worried with Emily's reaction.
Emily avoided her hand whilst tears flowing silently in her face. No, she won't have it again. She doesn't want it to happen again. She regretted that day.
"Em?" she stopped the car. She shifted her position so that she can fully see Emily. "Look, I'm so sorry."
Emily still crying like forever.
"Mandy was my girlfriend." She said whilst fidgeting some petals of the roses.
Naomi can feel daggers in her heart. She can feel that any moment her eyes will be flowed by tears. She's jealous. She's freaking jealous. She never thought Emily has someone very dear to her heart. She thought that everything will be fine by and by since they're spending time together almost every fucking minute. She can't understand herself but she needn't to show that pain to Emily. She can't.
"We've been together for almost 3 years." She wipes her tears away. She wanted to tell Naomi everything now to free herself and move on. She wanted to live her life. She thought that maybe if people around her will know the reason why, they'll understand her. "She was my life, my love, my everything." She clears her throat.
"I'm listening Em." She puts her chin in her palm which is supporting her body. She's taking the jealousy for granted. Emily needs someone to listen to her.
"This bouquet is for her. They are her favorite." She grabs the card and read. "I really love her so much. When she reached 20, I proposed to her in front of all the people in her birthday party. I wanted to be with her forever. I was so happy when she accepted it." she touch the platinum ring around her finger. "I chose this simple platinum ring rather than a diamond ring because I can literally read her name on it. She was my fiancée. They were so happy for us, our family."
Naomi is just looking at her intently wondering if Emily wanted to get back with Mandy. It pains her.
"Months before the holy union, we decided to spend time together somewhere in Birmingham. We planned to spend at the beach. I hated the idea but she loved it, so I ended up saying yes. Of course I cannot say no to her. I was the one driving our way to the resort; we were talking about the upcoming union and I can see her face so happy with me. You know the feeling that you just want to stare to someone you love and enjoy the moment whilst it last? She was so fucking adorable that I reached her hand and gave her a sweet kiss at her lips that I never… I never no-noticed…" she sobs herself in her palms remembering what happened. It's still so painful but she thought if ever she'll accept the accident before and stop blaming herself, she can give what Mandy wants; for her to be happy with someone else.
"It's okay if you feel like not saying it." Naomi brushes away the tears away. She wanted to hug Emily so tight. Seeing Emily so miserable doubles the pain she feels inside. She just can't.
"I didn't notice a car coming. I tried to stir the wheel to avoid the drunken driver but it was too late." She looks at Naomi so helplessly. "We had a car accident. The moment I gain consciousness, I saw Mandy bleeding so severe. I was so weak that I can't even move my lower body. I reached her hands and called out her name until she managed to look at me. She smiled and the last words I heard were 'I love you so much, Emily.' She was smiling but it made me so fucking miserable. I fucking survived but I lose her. She died. I'm so stupid, maybe if I didn't agree to go to the fucking beach it won't happen."
Naomi's eyes widen. She never thought that Emily experienced that kind of incident. It's a major trauma. She moves a little closer to Emily. She wanted to touch her and tell her it's not her fault. "Em…"
"I'm not yet done." She cut Naomi off. "I was in therapy for almost 2 years because of trauma and depression. I'll drink myself to death. I even tried smashing the car just to see her again. I was so miserable losing her. I can't live without her. I tried taking all kinds of drugs, alcohol and even smoke myself to fucking death wanting to shorten my life. Katie and Cass were so worried one time when they saw me cough out blood. They both cried begging me to stop. I fucking hate the idea because I'm getting there to see Mandy again but seeing them makes my heart breaks. They never left me; they tried everything to calm me down whenever I lose my temper, especially Cassie. Katie and I sometimes fighting when I reach the limit of her patience making her fight back when it was supposed to be calming me down. I was diagnosed of ulcer because I'm drinking without eating any fucking food. I tried to cut it off because of them and maybe that's the reason why they're so protective of me especially Cass. You might think she's my girlfriend." Emily let out soft sad chuckles. "So these roses are for my girlfriend Mandy who passed away 2 years ago and I'm making my way to Birmingham because it's her birthday and well 3 years of engagement thing for us." She can feel that her heart is beating normally like there are no heavy tons of burden and pain. She can say that she finally freed herself from the past which keeps on blaming her. She knew that it was an accident but she cannot cope up without blaming herself. She can think Mandy smiling at her now, finally.
Naomi hugs her tightly telling her that everything will be okay. "Thanks for telling me." She whispers in Emily's ear.
Emily genuinely smiles. She knows that wherever Mandy is, she's happy for her and vice versa. "I think you should know so that you will stop acting weird like you're freaking jealous."
Naomi can feel her face blushing relentlessly. Emily is now back because of the teasing thing but she's glad, she can now see Emily washed off some painful experience she had before. She's so stupid to despise Emily's dead girlfriend. She can't understand herself but she's actually relieved knowing that Emily doesn't have someone special for the past 2 years. Her heart swells of the thought having Emily to herself.
"I'll be driving carefully." She puts herself back at the driver's seat. She leans forward and buckles the seat belt up in Emily's body. She gazes up to look Emily. "I don't want that to happen to me." She winks making Emily blush. "I might be a lot worse than you experienced."
They made their way to the train station making Naomi go with Emily to Birmingham. Emily told her that she might want to meet Mandy. The idea made her smile. Emily is like asking some permission from Mandy about Naomi in so non-obvious way.
"I 'm wondering before why do you keep on touching the platinum ring in your finger; so now I get it." Naomi rested her head at the train's seat. Emily's sitting beside her close to the window.
Emily stares back at her with soft smirks in her lips. She removed the ring and slid it in one of the roses' stem. She tied it with a black ribbon.
"Hey. That's your engagement ring with Mandy and the last memory you have with her, Em." She was so surprised when Emily removed it from her soft ring finger,
"I know she'll be happy if I let myself love someone else. So removing the ring will gradually allow me to love… you?" she touches the ring again. "If I'll wear this all throughout my life, it means I'm still in love with her. Yes, I love her still and it will never change nor fades away but it will make her happy seeing me happy with someone else one day making our dreams come true, but I think I'll be able to do that with someone that isn't her. I accepted the fact that she's gone forever. So the best way for me to make her happy is to let myself happy." Emily landed her hand above Naomi's hand and she gently squeezes it. "I know I can find someone else one day." The words are like directed straight to her pointing out that the person one day will be you.
They both shared a cute sweet moment inside the train whilst travelling to Birmingham to pay a visit to Mandy. And surely, they can go get along better now after the long story Emily shared with Naomi. And when will be Naomi's turn to tell her own story to Emily?
She's now fidgeting her pendant. She can't. "I can't." her mind says.
HEY GUYS, SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. I WAS SO BUSY THESE PAST DAYS. AND YEAH, AS ALWAYS. SORRY FOR THE ERRORS AND EVERYTHING. THIS CHAPTER LOOKS SO LAME. I'M SO SORRY. AND SUGGESTIONS OR REVIEWS WILL BE VERY MUCH APPREACIATED. I'LL TRY TO UPDATE THIS EVERY OTHER DAY BECAUSE I'LL BE VERY BUSY WITH WORK BUT I'LL ASSURE YOU GUYS I'LL NEVER LOSE TRACK OF THE STORY BECAUSE I'M PLANNING TO COMPLETE IT. LETTING ME KNOW THAT YOU KEEP ON READING THIS, IT MAKES ME GO ON. SO YEAH, CHAPTER 10 WILL BE POSTED SOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOT SOME REVIEWS BUT I HAVE LOTS OF ALERTS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS. GREAT DAY.
MICHELLE1017, ALICE BORICUA, UJIN, DNNHK – your reviews were very much appreciated. Also thanks for the alerts. I'll do my best to deliver the story clearly. I know I suck at grammar at times. I'm sorry. Hope I didn't disappoint you, guys. Anyways, thanks a lot for taking time to read this. Til the next chapter. Cheers!