Chapter 79: Chapter 79

(Avery’s Thoughts)

After meeting with my therapist and having a date with my beloved boyfriend, Jeff, I ask him to go home alone. I made an excuse saying I had to go to the museum so I could buy some gifts for him.

When he proposed, I was utterly speechless, not because I doubted myself but because I couldn’t believe that he has really loved me and was willing to spend his forever with me despite all my shortcomings.

That’s why, for once in my life, I became honest with him, and I promise myself to not leave him blind-sided about anything anymore.

Anyway, it was a lovely day for us, and what else could go wrong? I never thought that something or even someone can ruin what this perfect day has in store for us. Or so I thought.

Now, I am walking along this busy street. There’s a shop I always visit because the old woman there is so nice. I don’t know why, but I always have a soft spot with elderlies, maybe because I didn’t experience having grandparents, and my parents as you know died in a car crash.

And another thing is, they have a lot of good and unique stuff you can choose from as a gift. They even personalize things.

I reach the store and I enter. The mobile chimes as always, and the lavender scent is so relaxing. The last time I visited here, I ended up buying a box of their lavender-scented candle, and I put them in every corner of our apartment.

As she sees me, she welcomes me with a wide smile on her pale pink lips and gestures her hand so I can come in. We always have our conversations in the French language. She is kind of my mentor because I really want to learn it, after all, I will be living here for good.

“Avery, it is nice to see you again, beautiful woman,” she greets me with such a compliment.

“Oh, thank you, auntie,” I giggle since I couldn’t hide my satisfaction hearing her praises.

“How’s the store today, do you have a lot of customers?” I ask her trying to make a conversation.

“Well, just  like the usual, but I am way happier now that you visited,” then she chuckles and asks me what I’m looking for.

“Well, I am actually looking for a gift, did you know, I am getting married,” I announce the good news and flaunts my engagement ring in front of her. I wiggle my finger and ask about her opinion.

“So, is it good?” I ask her and then she grins, “Well, it would have been bigger if only you allow me to set you up for my son,” and raises her eyebrows as if teasing me.

For many months, she’s been asking me to go out on a date with her son, but I always refuse. Still, we become good friends.

“Silly, auntie. You know I love Jeff, right?” I firmly say.

“Yeah, right. The perfect boyfriend,” she chuckles. Then she parades me with different kinds of men accesories but, he isn’t actually the type who loves wearing it. So I decline all of it.

She sighs and then offers me another thing, “Then, if he doens’t like fancy things, why not basic things that he could use everyday.”

“That’s more like him,” I affirm. Then she shows me a hair string knowing Jeff has long hair, a pair of leather gloves, and a scarf.

“The scarf and gloves comes in set, but the hair string isn’t, but the color is the same so we can put it inside the box, too,” she convinces.

I think for a second, and examine the items more. I give my card to her, “Alright, I’ll take all of it, can you wrap these for me? Or just put a simple ribbon or card on the box itself?” I request.

“This will do,” she says, showing me an elegant black notecard that goes well with the box. I borrow a pen and write a note while she processes the payment.

The chimes go off, another customer comes in, a good thing I am almost finished.

She greets the customer, “Welcome and good afternoon,” then goes back to processing my payment.

“I’m sure he’ll like it, especially it is from you,” she goes on with her flattery.

I grab the gift after she finishes wrapping it, “So, how much is it again?” and I wink.

“Don’t worry, I put on a good discount,” she really knows how frugal I am.

Before I leave the counter, she gives her one last compliment, “Your French is getting better by the day, you really are preparing to stay here for good, huh?”

I am caught by surprise but I am glad to hear it from a French local. Still, I want to keep my plans until the wedding, so I just give her a hint, “Maybe? Who knows?”

And then we giggle and laugh. My smile breaks as I feel the presence of another customer just standing frozen behind me.

His scent, I’ve smelled it before. It is impossible not to notice the manly aura he’s emitting.

However, as I hear him speak, my smile totally disappears from my face.

“No, you can’t do this me!”

This voice, this tone, this accent, I know it very well, and seeing how my knees wobble and my muscles tense on their own, it is definitely no doubt.

It is him. Dmitri Sullivan is here.

The man I’ve been trying to forget and buried.

The man who made me what I am.

The man who wrecked me, and yet made me feel… I stop my thoughts from running, not until I hear his voice loud and clear, for the second time around.

“Avery!”

For the whole two years of his non-existential phase of my life, the first thing I heard from his mouth are those words.

I quickly collect my things and bid a short goodbye to auntie through a nod. I ignore his words. I dont have any intention of turning around, and I make sure I avoid making even the slightest eye contact with him so I look down and rush myself out of the stores.

I feel my head spinning around as I reach the bricked ground of the streets. I look left and right, trying to find which direction I must go.

I am panicking.

I am confused.

I am disoriented.

The only certain right now, is my neef to go as far away from him as possible. When I notice his figure going after me, my legs move on its own.

“What the fuck? What a cruel fate? Why now? Why did he show up? This is so bullshit. Bullshit!”

My thoughts retaliates against the cruel reality of this life.

I run as fast as I could, far from the store, and far from the museum.

But another thought comes in mind that put a break on my quick feet, “Wait a second, why am I even running? It is not that I am a criminal or something.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, why the hell are you running from him? From a ghost in your past for fuck’s sake, Ava. You are not a coward!” I burst, and I curse. But I unconsciously do it aloud. I speak my thoughts aloud.

Whic makes him say the next words, with a breaking voice, with a panting noise in his breath, “Right… Avery… You didn’t do anything wrong. And yes, I am just a ghost in your past…” he keeps on panting, and his words, his words  glue my feet to where I am standing.

I, maybe, look like a gorgeous lady statue right now, then I hear his voice again.

“You are not a coward, so don’t you dare run away from me ever again,” his condescending voice brings out the rage inside my heart.

But his next gesture pours the cool water over my head, and it makes my knees weak, and my legs lose balance.

He embraces me from behind.

His big long arms are now wrapped around my body. His right hand is just inches above my chest, and his left arm is around my stomach.

Seconds by seconds, his warm hug gets even tighter. I could feel his warm minty breath on my nape, and his high nose bridge on the back of my hand.

For some reason, my body doesn’t struggle. I just stand there and do nothing. In fact, if not for his firm altitude, I would have fall on the ground. His whole body is now supporting my weight.

My heart nad my mind retaliate against what he’s doing. But my body, my body likes this so much. It misses it. It longs for it.

This is a sensation, Jeff, has never, ever, made me feel.

Is it possible to belong to two different men?

My body belongs to this man who wrecked me.

My heart and mind belongs to Jeff who rebuilt me.