Chapter 3 Five Years Ago

MELANIE

I sat with my fiancé at an exquisite restaurant, giggling happily as we discussed. I felt very happy today. My application to intern at my dream company had been accepted, and I was to start my internship in a few days.

Chris Joe, my ever-loving boyfriend, had suggested we celebrate the success of my acceptance at a famous restaurant where they served the best cuisine.

"I still can't believe that I, my cute Melanie , would now be working at PamarooL & Co Ltd! I'm so happy for you, darling. It's what you've always wanted and what you deserve."

"I remember telling my friends back at college that I, too, will one day work at my dream Art company! They liked my work, you know? They were very impressed. So much so that they didn't want to interview me. They just sent the acceptance email instead! Can you believe it?"

Chris nodded in agreement, placing his glass cup on his lips and sipping his wine.

"I'm happy about the recent happenings. We deserve it, especially after how hard we had it back at college."

Chris just started administering his parents' company. In just a few months, the impact of his works was noticeable, and he had increased total profits by almost forty percent.

"Well, I wouldn't have survived it if you were not always by my side, protecting me, my loving protector," I said and brought my face closer to his, pressing my lips on his lips.

Chris kissed me back and then broke the kiss.

I returned to my seat and took a bite out of my meal.

Chris was staring down at his meal with a strange expression.

"Anything the matter?" I asked.

Chris looked up at me and told me there was nothing to worry about and continued eating. But then he stopped and said:

"The meal reminds me about my ex."

I was chewing a delicious bite of my food when I heard Chris mention an ex.

"Ex?" I asked.

He had an ex?

"You have an ex?"

That's a stupid question, though. Chris was now a grown man and one of the most desirable men in the city. Of course, he'll have an ex or exes. Would he have been celibate all those years I didn't know him?"

"Yes, my ex, Sasha," he replied.

"Oh, she has a beautiful name."

"You think so?"

"Yeah," I replied and took a sip of my wine.

I was feeling extremely jealous at the moment. Why were we talking about his ex on our date?

I asked no further questions and focused on my food. My cutleries made loud noises as they made contact with my plate as I ate. I was utilizing too much force in using them. That was why they were making such loud noises. It was not deliberate, but I was annoyed.

Chris seemed to sense my annoyance as he also didn't say anything. An awkward silence passed between us until I decided to break it.

"Was she beautiful?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"Your ex. Was she beautiful?" I asked again.

Chris stared at me. I knew he was searching my eyes to see my emotions. I knew he would lie about it if I showed how pissed I was. So I forced a smile before asking again.

"Was she beautiful?"

"Why do you want to know?" he asked.

"Nothing important. Just curious."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Sure you won't be mad? I know how you girls behave."

"And by these girls, do you mean your exes?"

"Melanie ."

I laughed, even though deep down I was not happy.

So Chris had more than one ex?

Okay, Melanie , you are being unrealistic and childish. Of course, he has more than one ex!

"I'm kidding. Tell me if she was beautiful or not."

Chris sighed heavily.

"She was beautiful."

"Oh."

"Hmmm-mmm."

"How beautiful was she?"

"Very beautiful. Long brown hair, green eyes, long legs, long neck. She looked like a model."

I clenched my fists that were under the table. I did not like that he was talking about his ex while he was on a freaking date with me! But I asked, so it wasn't entirely his fault.

"Is she more beautiful than I am?" I asked.

"Don't ask me that, Melanie. I know you want to trap me and then blame me for it," Chris said and laughed.

"Of course not! Why would I do such a thing? Wouldn't that be gas lighting? So what did you say reminded you of your ex again?"

"Well, it was the meal. She used to cook it a lot when we were still together. It was what she was best at cooking."

Chris smiled as he spoke, and at that moment, I felt like punching him in the face. Could he not see I didn't like him talking about her?

"Well, I had an ex too. And he was an excellent cook," I said, trying to spite Chris.

His expression changed, and I was satisfied.

"Really? Tell me about him."

"His name was Sebastiano. He was Italian. Very handsome and easy on the eyes, too. He was an Italian chef, and he made the best meals ever. The funny thing was that his meals made him win my heart. You know how much I love food, right?"

Chris nodded.

"We were so in love," I pressed on, trying to make Chris jealous, "I was naive and stupid. I thought we would get married and have five kids and five dogs- a rather silly dream if you would ask me."

"So what happened? Why didn't you get married and have five kids and five dogs?" Chris asked.

"Well, let us just say things never go as planned. He cheated, as all men do."

Chris placed his hand atop my hand.

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"Don't be. It was his loss. I don't understand why. No matter how much you think you are happy in a relationship, men would always go ahead and cheat. Why do you guys like doing that?"

Chris drew closer and placed his hand on my cheek.

"I will never cheat on you," he said, looking straight into my eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, my love."

We leaned over from across the table and kissed.

$$$

Funnily enough, the kiss couldn't reassure me. Immediately I got home, I went on the internet and scrolled through Sasha's Instagram account. She, indeed, was beautiful. Far more beautiful than I had ever been. I guess it's why Chris hadn't wanted to reply when I first asked him earlier. He didn't want to lie. I scrolled through her page, checking every detail. I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know what she did, who she was, why Chris had not forgotten her, and why he still thought about her.

I scrolled through her pictures and realized there was no picture where she had posed with anyone as her boyfriend or love interest. She posted merely friends and families. That was until I scrolled down some more and saw pictures of her and Chris two years ago. They were numerous, and my blood boiled seeing them together. They looked so happy and contented with each other. Sasha seemed to have been in love with him at the time. She took pictures of almost all the things they did together.

Sasha had not deleted the pictures of her and Chris she had taken years ago.

There was still evidence of what they had once had, what they had once shared.

Is she still in love with him? It has been two years already. Usually, after a breakup, people erase all memories of their exes, not to remember the old times.

I have done it. My friends have done it. I have heard about others doing it. Why, then, did she not delete these pictures from her account?

Is she still into him? Is she hoping they would one day be back together? Does she want my man? What if she's still trying to get him back? What if she had messaged him several times, begging him to take her back?

Sasha had no right to still hold on to a relationship that was already over two years ago.

I slapped my hand on my forehead in frustration. I was overreacting. Chris had always told me to take things slowly, but I never listened. I'm just scared of losing Chris. That's my man, and no one is taking him from me. Even if it was this pretty bitch from his past who cooked shrimp just how he liked it.

"Baby?"

I looked back and saw Chris standing at the door, smiling.

"Yes, love?"

"I want to tell you something," he said, coming forward, sitting on the bed and kissing me.

Since moving in with Chris, my mouth had become his obsession. He spent every moment kissing it. And I loved it.

"What do you want to tell me?"

"My parents want to meet you," said Chris in between the kissing.

I stopped.

I couldn't believe that since we started dating, I had never considered meeting his parents, even though he was close to mine.

"Oh, that's great. I'm so excited to see them."

"Yeah. My parents live on the far side of town. We'll go there this Saturday."

He looked at my open laptop and asked:

"What are you doing online anyway?"

I quickly slammed the laptop shut. I didn't want him to know I was busy online stalking his ex-girlfriend.

"Okay, if you say so," Chris said and started walking out of the room, "Let's go make dinner together."

"Um....just go ahead and do so. I'm a bit tired this evening, so I'm not sure I'll be able to work in the kitchen as much. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you tomorrow. We'll cook breakfast and dinner together.

I sighed heavily when he left and ensured he had done it before I started stalking Sasha online again.

I learned about her favorite food, her profession, and her family. She even had a video of her makeup tutorial. I watched the video several times that evening, watching keenly every brush stroke she made on her face, every caress. I wanted to get it ideally so I could do it, too. That way, Chris would love me even more.

I was not insecure. I was merely trying to please the man I loved. Those were the words I repeated to myself that night as I stayed awake, practicing Sasha's kind of makeup on my face, and still not feeling assured that I was indeed not insecure.