Chapter 53: Chapter 53

JUNE

My mind was filled with thoughts of my uncle throughout the day. I couldn't even concentrate on my studies. I was guilty — I swear, it's written on my face.

Despite how cold I was to Kristin, he was still treating me well, trying to get closer to me. And here I am, acting like a spoiled brat because I wanted to show him that I've grown.

But where did that leave me?

With my heart unable to heal.

It was a long day for me. One that made me think of the right approach to this. Perhaps, I'm trying to solve things the wrong way.

I didn't call him like he asked me to. I took a cab home, but that was after I went grocery shopping. I had a 180 turn after a deep thought about my uncle.

I've decided to make dinner tonight as a silent apology. Since I don't know much about meal varieties, I decided to make Italian fried rice and beef Salad with macaroni.

I watched a video on how to make it online, and I got busy. I changed out of my clothes and wore a loose gown, tying my hair up, I coveted it with a scarf — trying to act like a professional chef.

Pfft.

You can't blame me for that, can you?

I got ready for dinner, soaking the macaroni as I went about making the fried rice. It took me close to an hour to get everything done because I had to follow the tutorial step by step.

It was how I got everything done before 7. I covered the food and went upstairs to have my bath, changing out of the gown I wore to cook.

I had a quick bath and got dressed in another loose gown which stopped immediately after my knee… Surprised?

I'm not always a slut. I have decent clothes in my closet.

It wasn't until I went downstairs that I called Kristin. Since the confrontation I had with him 7 days ago, he has stayed late in his office, coming home by 9 or 10 most nights.

He picked up at the first ring.

“Doll, I'm sorry. I had a meeting this afternoon and forgot to call you. I was just trying —”

“When are you returning?” I cut his words short, going right to the chase.

“... Um, let's see… I'm still going through my mail, and will be—”

“Kristin,” the witch interrupted his words, causing me to grit my teeth tightly in anger.

I know I promised myself not to get worked up about that bitch, but I can't help it. I still have this urge within me to seek her out and hit her head on the wall.

Sorry, bash her head on the wall.

“A minute, Edith. I will get back to you,” Kristin said. “So, Doll, what were you asking me? I think I will…"

“Don't bother,” I said before I disconnected, throwing the phone on the table. My heart felt heavy, but I refused to acknowledge the feeling.

I have long decided to ignore the feelings I have for him. Making food tonight is just to apologize for being a brat. That's all.

There is no hope for a future for us because he has emphasized that he doesn't like me. I'm not his type.

I covered my eyes with my right palm as I tried to quell the urge to scream out.

Here I am, waiting for a man who obviously has a date with Edith. I'm just a child compared to the woman, who is closer in age to my uncle than I am.

They are like a match made in heaven, and that tugged hard on my heartstrings.

Once more, I find myself falling down the pit of depression with no one to help me out. I'm purely a lost cause.

I'm nothing like the woman I thought I was. I'm not as strong as I made myself believe these past few days. It was merely a mask that I kept, to hide my feelings.

But now that the mask is gone, I have nothing to cover my feelings with any more.

The sound of his car startled me from my thoughts. I sat up on the couch and turned to look at the door. My heart skipped a beat, but I quelled the eagerness I felt at the sound I heard.

Kristin is back?

I checked the time on the clock, furrowing my brows when I noticed that it hadn't been close to 30 minutes since I disconnected from the call.

Could it be that he left the office the moment I dropped the call? But that can't be possible. There is no way in hell…

The door burst open, and a winded Kristin ran into the sitting room. He glanced around until his eyes landed on me.

“Doll!” He closed the distance between us, and knelt in front of me, taking my hand in his. “Are you okay? Why did you suddenly drop the call? Do you need me to do anything?”

The way he was acting reminded me of the time I first bled. Whenever I remember that day, it makes my entire body turn red in embarrassment.

I had just returned from school during our sports day when we were obligated to wear white jerseys.

I had just gotten out of his car when he rushed towards me, yelling as he checked me out.

God.

It was so embarrassing because at first, I thought I had somehow gotten a wound during our basketball ball game, only for my uncle to widen my legs.

Until today, I can still remember the shocked expression that appeared on his face when he finally understood what was happening to me.

Despite his embarrassment, he helped me, reading articles to know how to treat me, and getting some pain relievers for me. My uncle has never cared for me as much as he did at that time.

Though it was embarrassing, he never made me feel that way…