Chapter 4 Moved On

(Song: Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran)

BELLE

I closed my eyes for a moment. No, this wasn't real. It must be part of my hallucinations. I opened them again.

It was really Brandon King, flesh and blood. My very own ex fiancé.

He was dressed in plain white shirt and black trousers. It looked like he lost some weight. Why should I care? I could see the other women gawking at him like he was some demigod. One literally licked her lips. My heart went out to them. If only they knew how much of a terrible person he was.

I felt my stomach going hard. Mixed feelings of anger, hurt and betrayal rushed through me. I felt like I was reliving the worst day of my life all over again. His presence brought back those memories I buried a long time ago.

My mind was racing with multiple questions. How could he be here? How could he show up in this place like this? God, how do I clear my head when he is the main reason I'm here? The more reason why I'm pained now is the fact that my last memory of us was when we made love a night to our wedding.

I shouldn't have accepted Samantha's request to audition for this show. Where the hell was she? I think I'm going to make a voluntary exit this instant.

Then on another thought, I was like nah. Brandon would see me as a weakling. He would probably laugh at me. 'I'm going to stay and prove to him that he means nothing to me anymore.'

"What is it, Belle? You look pretty shaken up." I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't know when Samantha came back. "Belle." She tapped me.

"He's here." I whispered.

"Who?" She was oblivious of who I was referring to.

I showed her with my eyes.

"No way." I noticed her face suddenly growing pale. This wasn't the reaction I expected from her. I wanted her to be a bit feisty with her response.

Brandon was still talking with Logan when he suddenly looked at me. His face went white, like he had seen a ghost. I made sure not to look bothered while maintaining eye contact with him with a huge smile on my face.

"Take your seats everyone," Logan started, stopping my staring contest with Brandon. "Congratulations on making the first ten as more contestants would be joining as time goes on. As a norm, each female is to choose a male to couple with for the time being. But before that, I'd give a list of important rules." He announced taking a look at everyone, as if he was trying to read our faces.

I could feel Brandon's eyes on me throughout Logan's speech.

"The most important of all the rules is don't ever remove your microphone. You would be axed from the villa after being warned once for infringement. No bullying, violence or use of inappropriate language," Logan paused for a while. "The rest of the rules are in a book which would be giving to you just before you enter the living area. Go through it and always keep it in your possession. And yes before I forget, you are given a day off every Saturday which is the only day you're allowed to take your mics off."

'That's fair.' I darted my eyes briefly to see if Brandon's eyes were still on me.

Yes, he was still staring.

"It's time for the coupling ritual. Please, can the gents rise to their feet?" Logan gestured at the men.

He turned to where I and the other females were sitting. "Alright, it's your turn, ladies. Starting from our first contestant, Belle."

Ouuu, I so much loved what I was going to do.

With a sly smile, I moved forward, my eyes on the man just before Brandon, the very one I said I'd avoid. I took note of the name on his tag - Kyle. What a fine name, though.

I wrapped my hands around his neck without thinking twice. I pulled him close for a kiss. I could hear gasps, shouts, whistles from behind me as I let my lips linger on his for a few moments.

"It's getting spicy in here," Logan cheered. "If this is your definition of fun, I'm so in for it."

I pulled away, wiping off stains of my lip gloss from Kyle's bottom lip. Taking a brief glance at Brandon who was just beside me, I was damn satisfied with the expression on his face. Then, I turned to Logan, "I choose him."

"It's pretty obvious, Belle."

Samantha's eyes were almost bulging out of her sockets when I returned to my seat with Kyle.

"Next up, Samantha." Logan called.

In no time, everyone was coupled up now. The girl who went for Brandon was the one who licked her lips when he was introduced. She was clinging to him like a prize she'd won. I rolled my eyes. 'No, I won't get jealous.'

Before we entered inside the living area, we were giving the rule book Logan mentioned of.

"That was one hell of a kiss, Belle." Kyle said while we walked inside the villa.

The way he said my name made my insides tingle a bit.

'I should not be feeling this way, Belle.' I reminded myself. I was only using him as a pawn in taking my mind off Brandon.

"It's my way of choosing you. I..."

Samantha interrupted by taking a hold of my hand. "Excuse us, Kyle. Women stuff," she laughed nervously as she took me to the bedroom. "What was that for?"

"What?" I knew she would question my kiss with Kyle.

"I thought you said no relationships."

"Yes, I did."

"And you kissed the life out of him right in front of everyone."

"It was for Brandon, Sam. I wanted to prove a point that I've moved on, that he meant nothing to me." I sighed. "I want to avoid him at all cost."

"I understand, baby. I know he was the last person on earth you were expecting to see here. But..."

I reached up to tuck the right part of my hair behind my ear when I noticed something unusual - my ear ring was gone. I touched my ear again to be sure I wasn't overthinking. It wasn't there.

"Sam, did you see one of earrings around?" My mind was completely off from what we were talking about.

"Nope, we just came inside," Her eyes were everywhere on the floor. "It must have fallen down somewhere."

I have to look for it. It was my late mom's gift to me when I turned eighteen. "Give me a minute, please." I said as I left the room.

"Hey, Belle." Someone called from the kitchen immediately I walked past.

"Hey," I looked at her tag. "Hey Jodi." She was carrying two glasses of juice on a tray.

"Care to have one?"

She sounded friendly, and it would be nice if I reciprocated."Of course, sure," I carefully took one glass from the tray, smiling at her. "Thanks Jodi."

I made my way to the living room. I didn't know how it happened, if it was an oversight or something, but I almost tripped, my juice spilling on the back of someone's shirt.

"Oh my. I'm so..." My apologies got stuck in my throat when he swung around to face me.

"Belle, looking for this?" Brandon opened his right palm with my drop earring on it.

How the hell do I avoid this man?