❤️THE SPACE IN BETWEEN❤️
?Age is just a number?
✍️Written By Precious Pinky✍️
?Chapter Seventeen (17)?
#NOT EDITED.
Theme: *Let’s go on a date…?*
?Malby’s Pov?
My eyes flutters open when I felt the dim of light reflecting on my face.
It is kind of a surprise to me though because I can’t remember leaving the curtains open.
I furrowed my brows at the person standing in front of my window.
It was obviously clear that it was that person that dared opened the window and interrupted my beauty sleep.
Did I say how much I hate it when someone interrupts my beauty sleep?
Anyway, after getting back from the trip last night. I had a nice shower, dressed into my favorite kitty pajamas, ate a wonderful dinner before going straight to bed.
Yeah, I know it’s kinda boring.
But funny enough today seems like it’s going to be a wonderful day.
And guess what… it’s weekend!
I love weekend because that’s a day when you have fun with your friends and families.
During times like this, I always spend my weekend with either mom or Xander.
Hey, don’t give me that look. He was my best friend before he became my boyfriend.
Okay, back to the present!
The person’s back was facing me so I can’t seem to get a better view of his face.
Yeah, his.
The person is too masculine to be a woman.
But it can’t be dad standing over there. Dad isn’t back from the business trip. Yet. Only mom was left alone in the house while I was on the camp out but now that I’m back, it was just me and her and of course the maids and guards as well.
But that didn’t change anything and i was getting scared now.
No guard dares stepped foot in my room unless I call for them. It would have been more better and less scary if it were a feminine standing over there because then it would have been anybody.
Probably mom. Or one of the maids(they were the only ones who have right to walk into my room while I’m still asleep).
I slowly sat upright on my bed, not taking my gaze off this person’s back.
I used the corner of my eyes to scan my room, in search of my phone.
Should I call mom to come upstairs or should I call the police?
What if this person is actually someone I know?
Or maybe not!
But yet I can’t take chances. I’m not ready to die.
I want to live my life to the fullest.
I want to have fun.
And i most especially want to go out on dates with my boyfriend.
-Xander.
So no, death isn’t on my dictionary. Never.
I can’t find my phone anywhere and that was frustrating the hell out of me.
Damn.
I wish I was still out there in the woods. Trust me, that would be better than waking up to seeing an unknown person standing in your room.
And where the hell were the guards when this person entered my room?
I clutched my fist against the soft mattress, crumpling the hell out of it.
Don’t blame me! I’m literally going to pee on myself any moment from now.
What if I gently crawl out of bed and tiptoe out of the room without this person knowing and then call out to the guards?
Yes. That was a better idea.
It is better than just sitting down here like an idiot, afraid for her dear life.
Today is going to be a wonderful day? Tsk, scrap that word. That was just an illusion because what’s going on here right now wasn’t fun. At all.
I slowly crawled out of bed and started walking towards the door_ Crawling, to be precise_ and just when I was about to get hold of the doorknob, he cleared his throat.
And I’m damn sure he was standing behind me now. And this time around he was facing me and not the window.
Was this the time when you scream?
Or should I just turn the doorknob open and run out of this room?
What do I do?
“Why are you in that position, Malby?”
This person knows my name… How the hell is that even possible? Or was it a normal thing for the killer to know the name of his Vic…
“Malby?”
Now that I think about it that voice sounds so familiar.
Very familiar.
I slowly turned my head to look at this ‘person’ with the ‘familiar voice.’
Pardon my manners, I’m always like this.
And i know you all love me that way?.
My eyes widen in shock at the person I was staring at right now.
How the hell is he standing in front of me. In my room?!
He’s supposed to be in Paris with Grandpa so how is he here right now?
“That look doesn’t seem like one of happiness.” He furrowed his brows at me as if trying to read my facial expression.
“I…what are you doing here?” I ask instead.
He chuckles, shaking his head at my behavior. “Now, is that the way to greet your favorite uncle?” He raised a questioning brow at me.
I smiled. “Hello, uncle Tyler. I’m just so surprise to see you here.”
He laughs again, extending his hand towards me, “Well, that’s the important part of this visit. Surprising my beautiful niece.” He winked.
I laugh as well, placing my hand on his then he pulled me up to my feet.
Uncle Tyler was indeed my favorite uncle. According to mom’s story, she was more closer to him and Mom Cherry and when I asked about Aunt Jennifer, she just said… and i quote;
“She was just so busy to concentrate on us. But she love us nevertheless.”
Uncle Tyler was always there for me and Xander.
He will play with us. Take us out to the amusement park. Take pictures of Xander and i as we rode the merry-go-round. But too bad he had to travel to Paris to take over grandpa’s business.
I missed grandpa, great grandpa, Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Collins and their children-Kylie and Kyle.
They were twins and were just one year younger than me.
Kylie Is rude and so annoying. Whenever she comes visiting, I always wish she could just go back that same day.
I know that was wrong but that’s what you wish people that always seem to annoy you all the time.
But even with her pompous behaviour, we were still very close and always seem to have fun as well.
Kylie loves boys! She was a true definition of a woman wh-ore even with the fact that I was a year older than her, she still knows things about guys than I do.
Kyle, he was the opposite of Kylie. He is calm, kind, less annoying, good-looking but loves teasing the shit out of me.
He might be different from his sister but yet they both have one thing in common…
….The wh-ore blood flows in their bodies.
Sometimes I wonder who they got that from.
Looking at Uncle Tyler right now, I start to wonder if he’s ever going to get married.
Most girls he dated always get to break his heart and leave him shattered.
He was unlucky when it comes to love.
They only wanted him for his money. And uncle Tyler was one who has a soft spot for every woman he gets to fall in love with.
It was easy for him to fall in love and that’s why he’s always the one being left shattered and hopeless.
If not that I was a woman, I would have hated women because they keep hurting my dear Uncle.
“I’m flattered.” I say, grinning.
He spread out his arms and i took the hint before walking into his arms and he engulfed me in a warm embrace.
Now that I think about it, I think I miss my uncle so very much.
??????????
?Manuel’s Pov?
“Mom….please… don’t leave me…mom… please…stay with me….please…”
I shot my eyes open and the first thing I saw was the whiteness and blankness of the ceilings.
That was how my life looked like right now.
I had a lot of story to tell but few were ready to listen.
Well, not like I plan to tell people my story, though.
I clenched my jaw as I reminisce about that day.
That day when she decided to leave.
That day she pushed me away and ran, caring less about the life of her own son.
That day when everything became a nightmare _ a nightmare that still haunts me_ that day when I lost my sanity and started having joy in hurting myself.
I balled my fist as my heart start to ache.
Why can’t i forget about her?
Why can’t i hate her?
Why do i still try to make up excuses for her to why she had left me in the hands of that man.
I shut my eyes close as I try to block out that day but I can’t.
It was like a open scar that can never heal.
The memory felt like it was just yesterday.
⏱️ FLASHBACK⏱️
“I hate you! I hate you so much, Steven.” Mrs Smith yelled at the top of her voice.
A little boy leaned against the door of his room as he placed his hands in between his head and started crying.
He wanted to shut them out.
But he couldn’t.
Their voices were echoing in his head and it was doing no good to him at all.
He was just seven years of age but yet he was fated with a life as cruel as this.
Everyday, he listens to his parents fight.
Sometimes they break things.
Sometimes they only just yelled at each other.
While sometimes….they fought.
He was tired of living that kind of life.
He wanted a peaceful life.
He wanted a happy home.
He admires most of his cla-ssmates who had such a wonderful and peaceful home.
Due to his ill-fated life, he shut everyone out but he still had few friends.
But that doesn’t mean he should go around telling everyone about his life and how his parents fought everyday because he knows fully well that they would only just laugh at him and mock him.
“Take that bastard you call a child and get the fu-ck out of my life!” It was his dad who spoke this time around.
He knew his father never liked him.
Like, it was very obvious but he pretended not to have noticed.
He tried playing dumb.
That was the only thing he could think of doing, after all.
It was his mom who only showed him love.
She would play with him, take him to school, feed him…she did everything that a responsible mother would do for her child.
And he loves her also.
“He is your son as well, Steven.”
They kept screaming, breaking things, arguing.
Even with all of these, this little child still doesn’t get the reason why his parents always fought each other or why they hated each other so dearly.
Suddenly, the screams and argument subsides and before he knew it, he heard someone pounding his door.
The little child scurried to the other side of the room to hide.
The door burst open but due to how spacious his room was, his father easily spotted him.
He rou-ghly caught gripped of the child’s wrist and pulled him with him out of the room to the living room, downstairs.
Mrs Ca-ssie Smith was surprise at what her husband was doing right now.
She rushed over to Mr Steven Smith and gave him a very dirty slap, snatching her son away from him.
That made the beast in Mr Smith come out to the open because he started pounding on his wife.
He kept punching and beating her while she screamed for help.
No one was around to help them. Mr Smith had given them a day off. Just as if he had this fight planned out already.
Ca-ssie was screaming for help. She tried fighting back but Steven was too strong for her to handle.
Manuel, the little child, couldn’t do anything to save his mother.
He couldn’t help her. He just stood there in tears as he watched his father beat his mother.
⏱️ FLASHBACK ENDS⏱️
I should have done something to save her that night.
Hell, I shouldn’t have just stood there like a pile of wood and watch that man manhandled her like that.
I should have saved her.
Maybe if I had done that then she wouldn’t have left…or maybe she would have left with me.
A tear sli-pped down to my cheek and my ch-est suddenly felt so tight and damn, it aches so much.
I sat upright on my bed and rested my back against the headboard of the bed and stared down at my wrist.
It was shivering.
The pain was becoming so unbearable.
The thought of slitting my wrist was getting into my head but damn, Malby.
I promised never to hurt myself again.
If I hurt myself then she would leave me and i will be lonely for the rest of my life.
I kept staring down at my wrist… Even with the fact that she left the next day after that horrible night, leaving me with that old hag, I still wanted to see her again.
I want to ask her of her reasons for leaving me behind and not saving me.
I want to hear her excuses and believe her.
I love her so much to hate her.
⏱️ FLASHBACK⏱️
“mom, please don’t leave me. Please don’t go. Please.” Little Manuel kept pleading as he held unto his mother’s bag.
She stopped walking and bent down to her Child’s level then placed a ki-ss on his forehead.
“I love you. I love you so much but I can’t stay. I’ve had enough of your father.” She says in a calm voice.
The bott-om of her li-ps had a de-ep cut. Her face looked so pale. Round her eyes were purple and blue, she was looking so…wounded.
“Don’t go.” He pleaded again.
She sniffed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry and i love you so much.” With that, she stood up to her normal height and walked out the door, wearing her dark shades to cover the purple and blue wound on her face.
She left.
Manuel worlds crashed in front of him.
His only hope left him because she lost hope also.
Right now, he was hopeless!
Manuel rushed into his room and crashed into the bed, crying.
His mom left him.
She left him with his wicked and heartless father.
He kept crying until his blurry eyes sighted a blade at his bedside.
He stared at it for a while before snatching the blade from the table.
He was still crying when he placed the blade over his left wrist and before he could change his mind from doing anything stupid, he slit his wrist.
He watched the blood gushed out of his wrist and slowly lost consciousness.
….At least that eased his pain.
⏱️ FLASHBACK ENDS⏱️
From that day henceforth, I started finding joy in hurting myself because it was the only thing that could ease and make me forget about my pains.
I completely shut everyone out.
I had no friends.
No one to talk to. No one to play with. No one to help me.
I was practically left alone and trust me that hurts like a bi-tch .
I let out a de-ep sigh, grabbed my phone that was beside me and dialed that one number that always seem to put a smile on my face.
That one person that broke throu-ghmy walls.
That one person that saw me as a friend and not a freak.
Her phone kept ringing but no one answered.
I tried her number again….still no answer.
I decide to give up. Maybe she was still asleep. Or she’s busy with something very important.
It’s weekend after all.
??????????
?Malby’s Pov?
“How is school, Malby? Hope you are doing very well?” Uncle Tyler ask as he chewed on his food.
I forced a smile on my face. “Yes. School.. is fine.”
Do I even sound convincing enough? Because I could bar-ely believe what I’d just said.
I hate whenever I’m being asked about school because clearly I su-ck at school but no one have to know that… Especially not mom. So I choose to lie when being asked about school.
Trust me, school su-ck!
We were currently having breakfast right now.
Uncle Tyler is sitting at the head of the table while mom is sitting beside him, at the left hand side. I was at his right hand side with Darla sitting beside me.
Darla have been stuck with me since morning. She refuse to leave my side. I guess she misses me so much.
I hate myself for not having enough time to spend with her.
But what could I possibly do? I was a busy girl.
“Still want to be a lawyer?”
“I gat no choice.” I mumbled under my breath.
“What did you say?” Mom questioned.
“I said, yeah.” I lied.
Uncle Tyler raised a questioning brow at me as if trying to read my facial expression.
He was so use to that. And trust me, he’s good.
Very good.
“I actually thought you will be a musician. It suit you more.”
“Tyler, enough. No one is going to be a musician in my house. Malcolm is already one and we can’t seem to have a free life because of that. I can’t even remember the last time we both went on a date… why? Because of his fans that always pop out wherever we go. I don’t want that kind of life for my daughter,” She shakes her head as if trying to shake off the thought. “And besides, I don’t want her to go throu-ghthat pain I went throu-ghin the hands of Malcolm’s fans.”
I know exactly what she was talking about.
She had told me the story about how a girl named Kara used to date dad, even with that fact that dad never like this girl but due to her obsession over dad she did everything possible to have him by her side.
Mom and Dad had met in a pretty awkward place _ the sto-re room_ they fell in love at first sight and shared their secrets to one another.
As the night went by, they got separated and lost contacts.
Dad didn’t even get to see Mom’s face before she left.
Well, to cut the long story short. They met again.
And as the day went by, mom revealed herself as being mask girl to dad and they both started having a secret affair.
It was a secret affair because dad was currently in a relationship with Kara. And his fans were rooting for them.
But soon enough, Kara eventually find out about dad’s relationship with mom and decided to tell the whole world.
Well, things became very ugly.
I know mom was only trying to look out for me, especially with the fact that I was her only daughter.
And honestly I’m grateful for her love and care towards me but… don’t you think she’s over doing this caring of a thing?
I mean, I don’t want to be a lawyer. I su-ck when it comes to school work or activity aside from the one that have to do with going on a trip…of course.
I want to be a musician. Just like dad.
I want the whole world to hear my music and enjoy it.
Creating music was the only thing I was good at.
So why is mom trying to stop me from doing just what I want!
I twirled the spaghetti over my fork, I was actually lost in my own world that I didn’t even realize mom calling me until Darla barked right into my ear.
Ow… don’t damage my eardrums, Darla.
Stupid subconsciousness!
“Are you alright?” Mom ask, concern evident in her voice.
I forced a smile to my li-ps and nodded my head positively.
Why am i just forcing a smile to my face today?
“Are you sure?”
“Yes mom. I’m totally fine.” I rea-ssured her.
A comfortable silence fell between us after that and we all are our food in silence until Uncle Tyler broke the silence. Yet again.
“So how is Xander? Hope you both are still best friends?”
“Yeah.” I answered.
At the mention of Xander’s name I start to have this sudden feelings of happiness.
The bu-tterflies in my tummy started doing backfli-ps.
I still can’t believe how much in love I was with my best friend.
I mean, we were friends. Just best friends. We weren’t even friends with benefit and suddenly we became more.
No, not friends with benefits but actual boyfriend and girlfriend.
I’m so happy but… I look towards mom and she was grinning over what Uncle Tyler was saying as she ate her food… will mom be happy about Xander and i being together?
She likes Xander, no doubt.
But she likes him as a son and that’s where the problem lies.
“You and Xander aren’t together yet? I mean, it was pretty obvious that you both will end up together. And most importantly, I was rooting for you both.” He winked.
I smiled.
Was this the right time for me to confess and say to them about Xander and i actual relationship?
I opened my mouth to talk but mom beat me to it and trust me the words that left her li-ps almost knocked me off my chair.
Key word, ‘almost.’
“What are you even saying, Tyler? There is no way Xander and Malby can be together. Look, he’s four years older than her and aside from that, he’s like a big brother to Malby. It will be very awkward if they both started to date.”
Probably not the best time to confess about Xander and i actual relationship.
“Never say never, big sis.” Uncle Tyler says, smiling.
I hurriedly finish up with my food and packed my dish before going to the kitchen.
I hate washing dirty dishes. It does nothing but damage my nails so I called out to one of the maids and asked her to take care of the dirty dishes then went upstairs to my room.
I can’t believe mom would say that… although I wasn’t surprise…but I just don’t want to believe it.
I flopped down on my bed and let out a de-ep sigh, shutting my eyes close.
It was so annoying to know that mom was against Xander and i being together and it’s upsetting me right now!
Why can’t i do what I want?!
Why do i have to receive her consent first before I know anything?!
Why can’t she for once accept one of the things that I want?!
Why is she always against me?
Why? Why? why?
Suddenly, the ringtone of my phone started playing, filling up the room.
I stared over at my bedside table and sighted my phone.
I guess I left my phone in the room while I went out to have breakfast.
I snatched the phone from the table and stare down at the caller id, it was a Xander.
I couldn’t help the grin that appeared on my face as I picked the call and pulled the phone to my ear.
“He_”
“Let’s go on a date.” Xander says cutting me off from whatever i was going to say and also making me speechless.
Did he…?
“what?” I choked out.
“i said let’s go…”
“I heard what you said but…why all of a sudden?”
I heard him chuckle and that only made the grin on my face widen. “Why? can’t i just take my girlfriend out on a date?” I could see the smirk on his face even when I couldn’t see him now.
My face flustered over that statement.
Thank God he couldn’t see me because right now, I clearly look like a hot tomato.
“Well…you can.”
“Good. I will come pick you up at noon. So get prepared. Today will be a great day and it will just be you and I…Today, you are mine, Malby.” With that, he hung up the call.
I was blus-hing so ha-rd right now. And the bu-tterflies in my tummy were fli-pping with happiness and excitement.
*Today, you are mine, Malby.*
That word kept playing in my head and before I could even stop myself, I started bouncing on the bed as I danced happily, grinning like some idiot.
*Today, you are mine, Malby.*
Believe me when I say this is actually the first time I feel so happy to belong to someone.
He was right.
I was his and he was mine.
Today not going to be a great day? Tsk, scrap that word because it’s definitely going to be fun!
I glance at the wall clock in my room and the time reads; 10:45am.
I still have more have more time to get dressed.
But the question here is, what do I wear??
??????????
I was still busy turning my closet upside down all in the name of looking for a dress for the date.
I have a lot of dresses to choose from. In fact there are some dress in here that I haven’t even wore, they were still new and had the price tag attached to it.
But for some reason I want to look extra beautiful and stunning.
Like seriously, it’s the first time for Xander and i to go for a date since we started dating.
I need to look good on my first date.
“MALBY.”
I stopped midway as I try to process what just happened?
Did someone just called my name?
And why does it sound like the person is in my room?
And why does it also sound like Mona’s voice?
I slowly turned around and indeed it was Mona.
What the hell was she doing here?
And now that I’m seeing her, I kinda feel so guilty.
Mona likes Xander and have always wanted to date him but I on the other hand, I didn’t tell her about my feelings for him and now we were both dating and I still didn’t tell her about it.
And yet, I call her my best friend.
She glared at me and made some few steps towards me.
She was standing very close to me now.
Wait, am I save?
“Are…you okay?” I raised a questioning brow at her.
“I should be the one asking you that. Are you okay, Malby?”
“Uh…yeah?”
She sighed, going hands on hip. “Where the hell is your phone?”
I slowly point towards the bed.
She walks over to it and grabbed my phone from the bed then switched on the screen of my phone before waving my phone in front of me.
“How many missed calls can you see there?” She questioned.
I stare at it…Oh My God!
Fifteen missed calls.
“Fifteen missed calls?” I voiced out my thought, staring at Mona in shock.
Why will she call me fifteen times?
What was so important that she was going to tell me?
“Fifteen?” She sounded confuse. She turned the phone to her face to see it herself and her brows furrowed. “I didn’t call Fifteen times.” She murmured more to herself but due to my amazing hearing, I heard her. “But anyway, why the heck didn’t you take my calls?”
“I…I left my phone in the room while I went downstairs to have breakfast. Sorry.”
“Phone is meant to be taken everywhere with you so you could answer calls whenever it comes in, Malby.”
“Yes mom.” I say sarcastically.
She try to maintain the frown on her face but soon, it turned into a smile and she started laughing.
We started laughing.
“Mom?” She says in between laughter.
“Uh-huh. You… totally sounded like one.” I say in between laughter as well.
After a while we stopped laughing and were sitting on the floor now.
“Sorry I barged into your room like that. I shouldn’t have done that.”
I waved her off. “It’s no big deal, Mona. I was wrong not to have take your call.”
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
“Why did you call, anyway?” I now asked.
She shrugged. “Just wanted to say hello.” I knitted my brows at her. “Fine. I miss you, okay?”
I laugh. “Aww.” I cooed.
“Don’t make me regret saying that, girl.”
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
I actually miss her too.
We didn’t really got to be together ever since that day when she stole Xander from me and they both spent their time in the library.
I was so jealous that whenever she spoke to me, I didn’t answer. But when I did answer her, it will be rude.
I was wrong to have done those mean things to her.
I was just so jealous to think straight.
Although I knew I had betrayed her but, I hope she gets to forgive me when she gets to figure out about Xander and I.
Or should I just tell her about Xander and i right here and now?
“Um…I have something to confess to you, Mona.” I began.
“Confess?”
I nodded my head yes.
“About what?”
I cleared my throat as I start to get so nervous.
should I tell her?
How will Mona react if I tell her about Xander and i?
Damn, why didn’t I think about this before I went ahead to confess my feelings to Xander?
Now, what do I do?
Because funny enough, it felt like I was at the verge of losing a best friend. Soon.
*
*
*
#To Be Continued….