The Haunted’s Kiss of Regret and Repentance

My phone has been ringing nonstop the entire morning, and with a very annoyed sigh, I decided to wake up from my sleep. I looked at my phone as another missed call was registered on my phone, and I saw that it was Brixton who was calling me. An unexplainable emotion began to claw at the back of my head, and I could feel tears swell up from my eyes. I checked my phone some more, and I saw that it was the fifth time that he called. I guess I was so tired from what happened yesterday that I failed to wake up from the first four rings.

As the phone rang again for the sixth time, I took a deep and shaky breath to calm my nerves, and decided to take on the challenge and answered his call.

“Hello?” I asked in a more stable voice. I silently smiled a bit at the shaky breath that Brixton took. He probably didn’t think that I would actually decide to entertain his calls.

“S-Shyne, uhh, hey, how are you?” He asked in an unsure tone, “I have a meeting a few blocks from your school. M-maybe you have time, and, well, I was just thinking that, maybe, uhh-”

“Spit it out, Brixton, I’m still tired, and the morning today isn’t really my cup of tea,” I said in a bored tone. He makes me annoyed for some reason, so it’s probably that time of the month again for me.

I ended up agreeing to have lunch with the man, and we eventually agreed to meet each other at the mall. I looked up at the sky as I leaned on the window of the taxi that I was riding in. I didn’t feel like driving, nor did I feel like being driven back and forth to the mall by the bodyguards that dad gave.

“How are you, Shyne?” I was now face to face with the man that made my heart flutter, and my heart beat fast.

I looked at him as we both made small talk. After the order was made, there was a heavy silence between us. I stared at his eyes, and he was staring at mine. I felt so heavy, and I felt sad as I realized that his eyes looked as sad as mine. We stared at each other for a good ten seconds before I decided to clear my throat first and break eye contact.

“Umh, Brixton, uhh,” I stuttered and I didn’t know where to begin.

“I’m sorry, Shyne,” he said as he leaned on the table and held my hand while maintaining eye contact with me, “I heard from someone that you know about Eliza, the girl I was courting.”

I nodded as I tried to stop my emotions from going all over the place.

“I’m sorry if I suddenly decided to court her, I was-”

“Don’t explain, Brixton,” I interrupted him as I intertwined our hands together and I gave her a sweet smile that showed all the pain and love I had.

“Brixton, we’re friends. We’ll always be friends, whether we end up together or not. I have feelings for you, and I understand why you went to her. The situation I’m in is not easy, and though it was painful when I found out about her, I was still glad nonetheless. If she can make you happy, then I don’t plan on being anything but happy for you.”

“B-but-” he was stuttering as he tightened his hold on my hand.

“Brixton. I’m still your friend right?” He nodded, “Good. Then we can have this lunch now as friends. I missed you, and I’d rather live life happy than sad. If this curse I have would never be erased, then I might as well live positively, so I can at least bear it more. It would be better for me if you have a happy lunch with me and tell me how are you and your work.”

“You’re trying to escape reality again, Shyne.” he said.

“No,” I shook my head and pulled my hand away as I folded them over my lap, “I’m accepting what is, and I am deciding to move forward.”

Brixton ended up accepting that I won’t change my mind, and I refused to talk about the relationship between us. I felt somewhat happy about spending time with him. In the end, we agreed that we would just have to meet from time to time to catch up. We both had feelings for each other, but I insisted he does what he wants, while I do what I need to do for myself. Nothing was really solved between us, but being friends is the safest solution that we could have, especially since I was in such a predicament.

I went straight outside and didn’t let him come with me as I left the restaurant and rode the taxi. I asked the driver to take the long way to my place as I noticed my dad’s guards following close behind. I didn’t want them to see the small tears that fell from my eyes from time to time as the car traveled from the mall, and back to my place.

A week Later…

“Dad? What do you mean? I still have classes, and-”

“Now!” My father screamed in fury. I complied, and he ended the call. I just sighed as I looked at the paperwork that I needed to do on my desk.

I called my sister and informed her that I was told to go home today by our dad.

“This is going to be a very long and tiring day,” I said to my sister who just snickered on the other line before she ended the call.

As I arrived home, it turns out that my father found out that the twins and Amy were behind the folder that was sent to him before, and they used one of the intelligence units of the family to achieve them. Amy was living a quiet life for months now, but now that my dad confirmed what she and the twins did, the head of the clan, my father, destroyed Amy’s father’s business.

Meanwhile, my cousins, the diva twins, were taken to their rightful places in the clan, and were branded as traitors. My dad just made sure everyone who knew about it were paid to shut their mouths. Dad made sure to inform everyone that the information about me was all lies, and that none was true. I hated it, but I just shut my mouth. This is what power and money can do.

“Sis, where are you going?” Izzy asked as I started fixing my things and grabbing my bag from my closet at our house.

“Well,” I looked at her, “I’m going to the church. I think it’s time I face everyone again. I decided to live life better, and now, I intend to actually do it. But, I need as much help as I can. So, come with me.” She just smiled and went there with me.

I went back to the church and decided to ask for instructions and prayers from the senior pastor of the church. There were multiple hindrances like the shadows and the cold presence around me and my sister, but I decided to force myself to stay positive and I was able to go.

“What are we doing again?” I asked the pastors. I was surrounded by them, and we just prayed, “is this a ritual or something?” I asked, and they laughed.

“No, silly,” Izzy said as she stood beside me, “We’ll just meditate here and pray. Just like what we do during yoga. Just so you could pray sincerely to God and speak to your inner self.”

“Izzy is right,” Pastor Malina said, “just join us, pray, and just relax. You need to forgive yourself and let go of your past, Shyne.”

During the prayer, I just relaxed and did what I did during yoga. I breathed evenly, and I just prayed with all my heart to God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Time passed by, and I felt myself drifting off to sleep. I had a vision of Rian and the shadows once again. I fought with them as they surrounded me. I couldn’t scream, so I just continued to pray as I tugged my arms and legs back from the shadows.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

I was about to be taken by the shadows, but a bright light was beside me. It then began to cover me in a comfortable warmth and light. The shadows screamed, and Rian’s face transformed before I closed my eyes again, and ran towards the light and hugged it.

“Shyne…” a voice spoke softly.