49 Prologue (1/2)
In the usual morning sky, amidst the vast field of flowers and greeneries, two silhouettes of people were laying comfortably under a cherry blossom tree.
A young man was happily resting on the lap of a young woman who was humming him a lullaby.
The young man closed his eyes, a peaceful, contented smile playing on his lips, listening to the soothing sound of the woman's humming tunes while the woman was looking at the man full of affections and love in her dark amethyst eyes. Her soft long hair was falling in each side of her face, humming sounds vibrated in her lips that made the young man smile even more.
”Hey…” The young man said after a while.
The young woman stopped and looked at the man on her lap who was still closing his eyes. ”Hmm…?”
The man didn't speak while he gradually opened his eyes, his smile still plastered on his face. The man's brown eyes instantly captivated the woman in a spell, unable to look away.
After a moment paused, the man continued in a serious voice, hands gently raised and held the woman's cheeks. ”After you graduate… let's get married…”
”…..”
”…..”
The woman couldn't speak from the sudden surprised. Needless to say, her entire system had stopped from the sudden explosive 'out of the blue' proposal.
When the woman recovered, the man continued. ”By then, I'm sure I'm already a worldwide renowned actor.” The man grinned, flashing a boyish smile. ”I'll definitely be able to take care of you for the rest of your life by then.” And he raised his thumb in a confident pose.
The woman blinked then finally she laughed and giggled which made the man frowned and got up from the woman's lap.
”What's with that laugh? Don't you believe me?! I have you know that I'm very popular! My popularity is flourishing and limitless. Sponsors, movies, dramas and different advertising company are trying to lull me in you know! That's how famous your boyfriend is!”
The man continued to boost while the woman giggled.
Finally, the man got angry and pushed the woman beneath him, pinning her on the ground with nowhere to retreat.
The giggles and laughter gradually stopped, and the woman looked at the man she loves with adoring and affectionate eyes while the man's mood instantly turned solemn. His eyes reflected the woman's face, flickering with different emotions of love.
Gradually, he held her cheek and leaned in closer while the woman couldn't break away from the man's heated gaze.
”I'm serious... After you graduate… Let's get married…” He repeated once more, his tone softer and gruff.
The woman's eye moistened and shone, gradually nodding her head in unconcealed happiness. ”Mmm…”
Slowly, their breathes turned faster, synchronizing with one another while their lips touch in a soft kiss.
The woman's eyes closed, letting the man kiss her. Drowning in so much happiness and contentment that she almost sobbed in joy.
”I love you...”
”I love you too...”
Gradually, the two of them found themselves lost in each other's kiss while the man's hand slowly traveled on the woman's body.
”Don't worry. I'll make sure it will hurt.”
GASP!
The woman flung her eyes open when she felt suffocated. The hands that were caressing her turned rougher and bigger. The gentle lips that was kissing her became savage and domineering while the kind brown eyes she dearly loves turned dark, ruthless and sharp.
ARGH!!
Satele quickly rose from her bed, gasping for air. Beads of sweat coated her entire face while her clothes felt dump from sweat. Her breathing forced and labored as she desperately breathed for air to calm herself.
*pant
*pant
*huff
After some time more that she finally realized that she was having a nightmare, she gradually relaxed her stiff shoulders. Nevertheless, she didn't loosen her tight hold on the quilt that she was so tightly grasping between her white fingers, clutching it close to her body while the sheets twisted around her limbs.
Her dark terror-stricken eyes gradually began to gleam while her breathing stabilized.
A nightmare.
It's just a nightmare…
A nightmare...
She continued to comfort herself. But deep down, she knew that it wasn't just a nightmare.
For almost two years, she had dreamed the exact dream that always ended in a nightmare. Only to be awakened with the reality that the ordeal was both real and much worse than the fragmented memory her brain was showing her.
Instead of relief of waking from the horrible delusion, she felt pain as the trauma made fresh and new once more — day after day after day...
However, even so, no matter how many times the nightmare comes, she welcomed it the next. Hoping for it even.
Because the beginning was the only time she could be with him. Seeing his loving eyes and warm smile, hearing those tender words and feeling those warm caresses that she was still having a hard time believing that he was no longer part of her world. Part of his world.
Her tears that she didn't know were already falling on her cheeks continued to freely drift. Her hand covered her eyes while the other continued to grasp the quilt tightly against her body.
If she didn't cling to any fabric, she felt that she was really naked underneath the blanket. A feeling that brought unfathomable disgust to herself and bile started to boil from her stomach rising to her throat.
She swallowed the salty lump back down. Still a bit shaken, she went out of bed and walked towards the bathroom to clean herself.
Cleaning the filthy lingering images of that night out of her mind.
----
Meanwhile, Eric had come home late as usual from the hard days of work. It was a Sunday, thus his whole day was occupied with work though he had to request some time off since he had to do his and Evangeline's projects and a.s.signments.
In the past, Eric had no problem balancing his study and work, but now that Evangeline had come into the picture, he had to cut some time of his job to accommodate her.
It had been two days after that event with Evangeline.