A Bitter Sweet Love

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Chapter Five~

Quietly, Rona sat on her bed, and started reading the new book she had just bought on her way back home. She felt so lonely, and her heart ached. She had come back home alone, without Nicholas. He had more classes, and couldn't drive her back.

Isn't it better to be without him?! Then why does it feel so lonely… she thought.

She realized, her heart was slowly starting to turn to him. It had only been a day since they had met, but she was already falling head over heels for him.

She thought about him every second of the day, remembering the brief time they had been together. The very little words that he said. How his voice sounded so gentle, yet masculine. His hand that touched her hair when he moved it behind her ears. How he looked so handsome this morning when he came to pick her up...
He wore a pair of dark blue jeans, and a white t-shirt on top, with a blue jacket that matched the blue in his eyes. Everything in him attracted her, and she couldn't deny it.

“Rona. Are you busy, darling?” Sarah asked interrupting Rona’s thoughts.

“No mum! Is something wrong?!” Rona replied.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Sarah said, as she sat beside her daughter on bed.

"It's OK, mum. What is it?!" Rona said, as she put the book in her hands away.

"Rona, what do you think about Nicholas?"Sarah asked.

Rona blushed in surprise. Her mother shocked her with the sudden question, and she didn't know how to reply.

"Rona, your father and I thought a lot about it all day, and we reached a decision. We don't want to force you to do anything. We just want to see you happy," Sarah continued, as she held Rona's hands tightly.

Rona looked down on their hands, trying to hide her blushing face.

"I...I think he's nice," she finally replied.

Sarah's eyes widened, and she tightened her hands on Rona's.

"R...Rona?! You like him?!!" Sarah exclaimed in surprise.

Rona looked at her mother with a blushing face, then nodded shyly. Sarah felt so surprised, she thought Rona would definitely say that she wouldn't get married. She didn't know what to say, so instead she pulled her between her arms and hugged her tight.
Rona felt relieved to see her mother this happy. She loved her mother the most in this world, and her biggest wish was to always see her smiling.

Three days had passed. Steven had told Allen about Rona's reply the day before. Allen couldn't believe it. Finally! he must have done something right, he thought. Allen wished to see his son happy. He knew that Nicholas had suffered a lot, ever since Anna left. Anna... she betrayed him and betrayed their children. Leaving them all for some young guy, saying she had fallen in love with him, and that she couldn't be with them anymore. Its no use to think about it now... he thought.
"Nick, are you awake?" Allen asked.
"Yeah dad. What is it?" Nicholas replied.

Allen walked into the room, and settled on the chair next to Nicholas's bed.

"Steven called me yesterday," he said.

"And?!" Nicholas exclaimed as he sat firmly on the bed.

Allen gave him a serious look, making him more nervous.

"Haha, Don't be so nervous Nick. She agreed to get married," Allen said smiling.

"S...she said yes?!" Nicholas screamed as he jumped off of the bed.

"Yes, she did, but thats not all that is to it. She has a condition." Allen said.

"Condition? What do you mean?!" Nicholas exclaimed.

"She doesn't want to get married immediately. She wants you to wait, until you both make sure of your feelings," Allen said and chuckled.

Nicholas sat again on his bed and tried to calm his heart down. He felt... happy?! Why does he feel so happy?! Yeah, he should be happy!! She said yes. Now it won't take long to convince her. Now, it won't take long till she would be... his?! He shook his head trying to forget these feelings, which were suddenly taking over his heart.

"Nick," Allen called him, disturbing his thoughts.

"Ah..What is it dad?!" Nicholas questioned.

Allen looked serious, even more than before.

"I know, you agreed to that marriage because of the hotel. I know it was me who asked you, but Nick I didn't mean that I wanted you to use her. Rona is my best friend's only daughter. She's the most precious thing in the whole world to him. She is so fragile and delicate already. She wouldn't survive it, if you broke her heart," he said.

"What do you mean dad?" Nicholas exclaimed.
"Rona, wasn't always this quiet. She had been in an accident when she was in her 1st year of high school," Allen replied.
"Accident?!" Nicholas asked feeling confused.
"No one knew what happened that day. She came back home one day and her uniform was in tatters... Her shirt was all crumpled and her skirt was torn at the ends. She had cuts and bruises all over her body... She never spoke of what happened, and For a whole year since that happened, she never even spoke a word. Ever since then she had become so... quiet... She didn't socialize with anyone except for her parents. Steven and Sarah are always so worried about her. They tried so many times to do something for her, but they never knew how to help her," Allen said in a frustrated tone.
Nicholas felt pain filling his heart. What could have happened to her?! he wondered. His chest tightened and he felt weird. Is it guilt? Is it sympathy?... that feeling that's filling me inside... he thought.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Chapter Four~

Nicolas looked at Rona sitting quietly next to him. She had glued herself to the door as soon as she got into the car. She turned to look from the window, trying to avoid his gaze. He leaned closer to put on her seatbelt. She flinched, and quickly backed away. He noticed her hands were shaking. Who is she trying to fool? he thought.

A flashback of his third year in high school popped up and occupied his thoughts.

“Don’t go Jen! Don’t leave me!!” His voice sounded cracked as he begged her not to leave.

With passionless eyes, she looked coldly at him. Ignoring his cries that begged her to stay, she left with an older guy that seemed to be in his mid-twenties. Nicholas had fallen to his knees, and soon his eyes were filled with bitter tears. Liars!! They are all liars…

Nicholas’s heart felt heavy, and his breathing became harder. Quickly, he opened the car’s roof, and started the engine.

For 15 minutes, silence had taken over the air. Not a word was said, making the mood awkward between them. Nicholas peeked at Rona who was still quiet, just like the day before. She looked so delicate, so vulnerable, as if she was the most fragile thing on Earth. Air played with her hair, putting life into its soft waves. Sun touched her trembling fingers that looked so small and weak, it gave him a strange urge to touch them. He shook his head and looked in front of him. His plans wouldn’t work out if he got into an accident while he was busy admiring her beautiful features.

“Did you see that guys?” one of the students murmured, but his voice still managed to reach Rona’s ears. “Our butterfly didn't come alone today!”

“Are you kidding me?! No way!!” another student replied.

“She came with that guy, you know. That new student that came yesterday!!” the first one exclaimed.

“Really?! I wonder how he ended up with her,” the second wondered.

Rona frowned as she heard them talk. It seemed that she was again the hot topic of the day. She just wished that everyone would ignore her existence, but the more she tried to stay away, the more it got them interested.

90 minutes left before next class, she thought and quickly took her bag and left the class.

The air felt so refreshing in the Red Garden. It smelled of spring, and everything was colourful. It made her feel calm and her heart felt peaceful again.

So beautiful, she thought as she brushed a blooming rose. Red roses were her favourite; the sight of them always gave her joy.

She was so lost in the beautiful scenery in front of her, that she didn't notice the presence of someone else in the garden.

John Smith stood silently between the bushes, watching Rona sketch. His heart fluttered as he saw her smile. She looked so happy here, between all these roses. It was the only place where he could see her smiling

He looked at her as he drowned in his memories from two years ago when he first saw her.

He had been walking aimlessly for over 30 minutes around the school, trying to find a quiet place where he could be alone, away from everyone. He felt frustrated after the call with his father. They fought again about leaving the school and attending business classes instead. All for his father’s selfish desires that he would take over the company. He didn't want it. He didn't want to be the company’s successor; he wanted to reach his own goals without his family name, but his father didn't approve of it.

He was still drowning in his thoughts, when he finally reached the school’s garden. It was so peaceful and quiet. He didn't know this place even existed, but was thankful it did. He walked through the bushes and saw a small bench in the corner. He started walking towards it, when he suddenly heard a soft moan disturbing the silence that filled the garden. It sounded like someone was sleeping there. He walked towards the way from where he heard it, until he reached the tree in the middle of the garden. What a beautiful girl! he thought and before he knew it he had already taken his camera out of his bag and took a picture of the girl that slept so comfortably leaning against the tree. She was holding a book in her hands and a red rose was lying on her lap. She had such small hands and fragile fingers. Her bangs covered her sleeping eyes. He couldn't fight the urge that filled his mind to move her bangs to her ears. Her eyelashes were long, and her face looked so delicate. She looked so peaceful and her dreams had drawn a smile on her lips. With that sight in front of him, John turned frozen, and at that very moment he knew his heart was stolen.

John’s thoughts shifted back to the present as he watched Rona falling asleep. She knew absolutely nothing about him, and he made sure she wouldn’t. He had been watching her like this, for two years, secretly. He made sure that his feelings would be a secret that he alone would know about.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Chapter Three~

Nicholas walked into his room and started to unbutton his shirt. He tossed it on his bed and sat next to it. Memories of the hour he had just spent not long ago in Rona's house filled his mind.

She had looked... so beautiful. She wore a light pink chiffon dress with a golden strap around her waist. It reached her knees, revealing her long skinny legs. She looked so fragile, so innocent... No! No woman is innocent, he thought. He leaned his back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He remembered the look in her eyes when they met his. The green in her eyes deepened and a deep blush coloured her face. Her silky hair, her eyes and her small vulnerable body, they all attracted him. His heart skipped a beat thinking of her, and he didn't like it. He had vowed to himself to never let another woman in his heart. He had already locked it and threw away the key.

He remembered how she ignored him. She didn't even respond to any of his words. Feeling irritated, he got up and poured his temper on the hard pillow beneath his head, throwing it at the wall.

He thought of his father's words to him from a month ago. He had promised to give Nicolas his hotel by his 23rd birthday, but on the condition that Nicholas would claim Rona's heart and make her his before that day came. Nicholas didn't want marriage. He hated the idea of having to live the rest of his life with a woman. He had already lost faith in them. They all carried angels auras around him, but he knew better.He would never give his trust to a woman. Not again.

He had made up his mind back in France. He would get the girl to accept his ring and by the time he took over the hotel, he would push her to the edge and throw her away.

It didn't seem like it would be easy with this one. Any girl would have tried to play her cards on him. He had what every woman wanted, looks and money. He enjoyed it back in France when women threw themselves on him, trying to get to his good side. He felt satisfied with the weak looks in their eyes, begging him for more, which he wouldn't give.

His thoughts shifted back to Rona. How was he supposed to make her fall into his trap, when she wouldn't even respond to him. He needed to break the silence that surrounded her, and he needed to do it fast.

Rona felt the sun teasing her eyelashes. She pulled up her sheets and covered her face, only to find them pulled away by her mother.
"Wake up Rona!" her mother said in a hurrying tone.
Rona ignored it and turned her body around, avoiding the sun.
"Nicholas said he will be here in 15 minutes to pick you up."
Rona jumped from her bed feeling both confused and shocked.
"Eh ?! W...Why ?" she exclaimed.

"He said he's going to take you to school with him. But I think, he just wanted to see you as soon as possible,"Sarah said and then chuckled.

Rona looked in her mirror as she brushed her hair. A soft blush coloured her face as she remembered her mother's words. He wanted to see me again, she thought and her blush became heavier. Her heart fluttered as she heard the sound of the doorbell ringing. Is it him? she wondered.

"Rona, come down dear. Nicholas is here," her mother called for her.
Rona felt lighter and her knees were shaking. She grabbed her bag and slowly opened the door and started walking down the stairs quietly, trying to control her shaking knees.

Nicholas sat on the chair next to Sarah waiting for Rona to come down. He was satisfied. Sarah looked like she was already starting to like him, thinking that he's such a gentleman. It was what he wanted her to believe, as his intentions weren't that pure.

Finally Rona appeared. Once again, she was able to mesmerize him. She looked so beautiful and natural in the soft green dress that highlighted the colour in her eyes and the long sleeves beige cardigan that she wore on top. She needed no make up, nor clothes to look good. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

What am I thinking? Nicholas shook his head trying to focus on what he intended to do.
"Well then aunt Sarah. We will get going," he said and lead Rona out to his car.

Sarah called Steven to come and look with her from the window.
"Don't you think they look good together?"she asked.
Steven frowned as he looked at Rona and Nicholas.
"Can we really give our Rona to him? Allen is my best friend and I would trust him with my life, but I don't know about his son."

Sarah held her husband's hands tightly and looked in his eyes.
"I know you are worried dear, but I think they would be a good couple, and he seems really nice." She hugged him trying to ease his heart, and then continued,
"She has been closed on herself for so long. It's about time, she gets out of her shell."

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Chapter Two~

Five in the evening… They are going to be here any minute now. Rona felt flustered at that thought, as she sat in front of her mirror putting on her earrings. With each second passing by, she felt nervousness filling her and making her all anxious. Only minutes until she would have to put up with an hour or more of communicating with others away from her comfort zone.
Why should I do this? Why should I get married? she thought to herself, waiting silently in her room. She understood her mother’s worries. She knew she just wanted to make sure her daughter would live well when she wouldn’t be there for her anymore. But she was fine with it. She was fine with being alone, away from everyone. She did want to be alone. How could she make her mother see that?!

At exactly five fifteen, the doorbell rang. They’re here. Rona’s chest tightened. She didn't want to get out of her room, but her mother would be coming any second now to take her down.

“Rona sweetie, are you finished…” Sarah said as she walked into Rona’s room and was immediately stunned.
“Oh my, Rona! I didn't know it would suit you this much. You look so beautiful tonight dear.” She hugged her daughter tightly.
“Please sweetie, give it a chance. Just try to take a good look at him. He seems nice, and his father came all the way from France to take you as a wife to his son.” Sarah said and held her hands. “Just give it a try. Meet him and see what happens, OK?”
Rona released a short sigh. Her mother was pressuring her and she didn't want to upset her.
“OK mum. Go to them and I will follow you,” she said as she smiled at her mother.

Rona felt butterflies in her stomach. Her whole body was trembling as she walked down the stairs following her mother to where the guests were. Her legs wouldn't seem to settle down, so much so that she thought it wouldn’t be a surprise if she tripped with her high heels and fell on the ground.

Somehow she managed to reach her distance, and quietly she settled on the chair nearest to her mother. She felt so nervous that she forgot to greet or look at the guests that came all the way here to meet her.

“We meet again.” It was a familiar voice that she heard not long ago. “How are you today, if I may ask?” he asked.
We meet again? What does he mean? Rona wondered and slowly started to raise her face to look at the man that was talking to her. Such a handsome guy! That was the first thought she had. He appeared tall as he sat firmly in his chair. His suit drew the fine lines of his body that looked just like an athlete’s. Slowly she started to look up at his face. She saw a familiar gaze in his eyes. Eyes as blue as a deep ocean, eyes that she had seen before in her dreams. Who is he? She wondered.

“Are you OK?” He asked, interrupting her thoughts. “You really don’t remember me?! I’m Nicholas. We met in class this morning.”
A look of surprise filled Rona’s eyes. No wonder she could remember his voice.

“Oh my, Nick, do you guys already know each other?!” Allen asked his son.
“Yeah, dad. She’s in the additional class I’m taking,” Nicholas said smiling at his father.
“That’s great then. Now Steven, Sarah, let’s go to the study room. I want to talk to you about something,” Allen said pulling both Steven and Sarah out of the room, in an attempt to let the young ones have their chance to talk.

Awkward silence filled the room, as they left. Rona felt his gaze on her, but still no word came out. Why is he so quiet? Is he also against arranged marriages? She raised her head to steal a glance at him, only to find him still staring at her with his eyes. The blue in his eyes darkened as he studied her silently.

Blue eyes. They looked so familiar. Something in them had captured her, and she couldn't deny it. For the first time in a long while, she wanted to look at someone, a guy no less. She was attracted to him.

“Won’t you allow me to hear your voice?” His sudden request surprised her, but she still didn't respond.
Nicholas felt irritated. There had never been a girl that ignored him. Every girl that he met, tried to at least talk with him, but from her, there was nothing… instead she ignored him, twice!

Determined to break her silence, he left his chair and stood near her. Softly, he moved her long bangs that covered her face to her back, in an attempt to get a better look at her. Quickly Rona backed away in shock. Her eyes widened as they met his. Her cheeks coloured in a soft blush as he stared at her eyes, and quickly she looked away.

Quietly, Nicholas moved his hand away, and sat on the chair next to her.
"Interesting," he whispered with a grin on his face.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Chapter One~

There hasn't been a single man that had laid eyes upon Rona, the Snow White of “Gardens School of Arts”, without having his breath taken away by her stunning beauty. She was the reason for many broken hearts within the school. With her long brown hair, eyes that had the deep colour of gold with a touch of light green that mixed amazingly, and skin as white as snow, you would know how soft it is just looking from a distance. But what made her even more attractive in their eyes was the mysterious aura surrounding her. Only coming to attend her classes then disappearing, it was like almost no one had heard her talk.

No one knew the reason behind her long silences or her lonely looks, but no one really cared or gave it much thought. Men only enjoyed the sight of her beauty, because of which they had given her the title, 'The Unreachable Butterfly'.

She had always noticed their gazes, their eyes that followed her everywhere, but she ignored them all. She couldn't care less for all the love letters that filled her locker, nor did she care for any of the attempts of others to be friends with her.

She had been a closed person for so long, not allowing anyone near; with a strange fear of socializing especially around those who were not of the same gender.

It was almost 11 in the morning, Rona had a class in an hour, but she didn't want to move. She was enjoying the peaceful silence she had in her most favourite part of the school; the “Red Garden”, or that’s how she called it, because of all the lovely red roses that filled the place. She just loved it there; no one to disturb her peaceful little world.

She leaned her head against the big tree in the middle of the garden as she started reading her favourite book. Drowning in her own fantasies; it took her only few minutes to fall asleep.

She had a dream of a handsome young man; his eyes were as blue as a deep ocean. He stood in front of her with his gaze completely focused on her eyes. It was slowly taking her breath away, tightening her chest and filling her mind with incredible thoughts. Slowly, he started walking towards her. Step by step, it became harder for her to breathe, it felt like her heart was about to burst as he came closer. With mixed feelings, she looked at him. Not knowing what to do, her heart was madly jumping up and down inside her chest, and was only saved by the noise that came from her phone's vibration that disturbed her dreams. It was her mother calling, asking when she would be coming back home for the day as some unexpected guests were to come in the evening.

"Is it another matchmaking that you're trying to push me into mum?!" Rona exclaimed at her mother in a frustrated tone.
"Don't be like this dear. You know that your father and I only want to see you happy," her mother answered in a sad voice.
She knew her daughter didn't even like socializing with others, but she thought that at least if there was a good man beside her, they wouldn't need to worry about her future after they leave her alone in this world. Rona knew that very well, but the very thought of communicating with another person gave her the shivers, so how can she just manage to go through a marriage...

"I know you're worried mum, but you know very well this wouldn't make me happy, only worse. Anyway, I'll let you know when I finish my classes as I have one now." She said as she hung up in a rush not letting her mother say more and then hurried to her class.

It was the same as usual in the class, very noisy and loud. She really hated it, but she knew there was nothing she could do about it. For a minute the noises started to disappear, making her realize that the teacher had finally came, but in seconds whispers filled the air and grew louder. They were questions about a guy that entered the class and no one seemed to know him.

"Quiet everyone. Please welcome your new classmate, Nicholas Allen. He just transferred here yesterday. He's one year older than you, but as he transferred from abroad he will be attending this class in addition to his original classes." the teacher said and then let Nicholas introduce himself.

"Hi everyone, I'm Nicholas, I'm half French and like the teacher said I'm one year older than you. I'm majoring in music, I hope we can get along well." he said then went to take his seat in the end of the class. It was the seat next to Rona.
She didn't even bother to look, and was only interested in the book between her hands, reading it passionately. "What are you reading?" A whisper interrupted her fantasies but she ignored it and continued her reading.
"I'm Nicholas, you can call me Nick. What's your name?" Nicholas asked interrupting her again, but she still ignored him as if she hadn't heard his voice and started to focus on the lesson that the teacher just started.
Nicolas looked at her with a grin, he knew she heard him well, and he would've tried again to make her talk, but he decided that he needed to focus as well. The last thing he would have wanted at that moment was to get himself into trouble the first day in a new school.

Two hours have passed by. Finally free, Rona thought to herself as she walked out of class. Her most favourite time on school days was when all her classes would end, and she would finally be able to return home. That day though, Rona couldn't feel as happy. Another guy that her mother wanted her to meet, another marriage meeting that her mother arranged for her. The very thought of having to leave her room and stay with people was giving her deep frustration, and it was the very first time in so long that she felt like she really didn't want to go back home.

Nicholas stared at Rona as she rushed to get out of class. He was thinking about how he couldn't see her face since she didn't look his way even once.
"This is going to be fun." Nicholas whispered as he left his seat and started walking out of the class.

A Bitter-Sweet Love... Prologue~

I craved him so much, in a way I never thought I would for a man... Love has owned me completely for the very first time in my 21 years of life... It was a strange feeling... One that I had never experienced before. It was like I was in a world completely different from the one I used to live in. He came into my life without a notice and turned it upside down, making my heart beat loud and fast, and slowly turning my body numb with the mere thought that soon I would be the woman called his wife... I was mesmerized with his love... Enough that I could not notice the prison I walked so willingly into.