Chapter 7 THE BETRAYAL

The next morning, I woke up sweating profusely. I just had a nightmare, one of those terrifying,

paralyzing ones. In it, I was in chains, struggling to break free. My mother stood there, laughing at

me, pointing cruelly. I reached out to her for help, but instead, she pulled out a spear and tried to

stab me.

I jolted awake, panting hard. It felt so real. The alarm buzzed, but I shut it off immediately. I got out

of bed and went straight to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. Her laughter still

echoed in my head. I didn't understand the dream, and I didn't want to so I shrugged it off.

I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a cup of coffee, and went back to bed. There was no shoot

today, it was my free day. I picked up my phone and called Maya, I needed some company; maybe

hangout and do our usual girl stuff.

She answered with a soft voice, clearly just waking up.

"Hey, sleepyhead. Good morning," I greeted.

We exchanged pleasantries, and I asked about her plans for the day. She told she had an

appointment with the guy she met at the club. I teased her a bit and wished her luck, and ended

the call.

Left to my own thoughts, I cuddled my pillow. The events of last the previous night replayed in my

mind. The groaning man's voice... the unease. I knew I had to talk to Romeo, to at least explain

myself and what I heard. I didn't want him angry with me. I tried calling him, but he didn't puck

up. So, I decided I'd visit him later in the day in person.

Still tired from yesterday, I lay back down and drifted off again.

I woke up around noon, headed to the bathroom to bathe. Afterward, I wore a pair of jeans and a

white polo. I let my hair fall freely in a bun, not bothering with a ponytail this time. Just as I was

about leave, my phone buzzed. A message from the stranger reminding me of our meeting. I had

completely forgotten, probably because of the nightmare. Instantly, I had a change in plan.

I went into my and changed into a skimpy, sleeveless golden gown with my cleavages exposed.

"This would help calm Romeo down. I applied just a bit of lipstick, and sprayed my cologne. I

repacked my hair into a ponytail, ordered uber, and headed to Romeo's place.

I got to his place and was told he wasn't home. He had left earlier.

I wasn't even allowed into his apartment, even when explained I was his girlfriend and it wasn't

my first time visiting. Out of anger and frustration, I stormed out of his apartment cursing.

"Incompetent fools". I didn't care if they heard me.

I decided to meet the stranger who texted me the previous night at the dala de vico lounge. I was

skeptical about this but I decided to go anyway.

At the lounge, a waiter approached me.

"Are you Ella Martyr?" she asked.

"Yeah, I am," I replied, slightly suspicious. How did she know my name?

"A reservation has been made for you," she said, pointing to me a table, the best one in the

lounge. Whoever this stranger was, they were clearly intentional.

I sat down. The waiter returned and asked for my order.

"I'll wait until the person I came to see arrives," I replied.

She smiled. "Don't worry, the bills covered. You can order whatever you want."

That raised more red flags, but I shrugged it off and asked for a glass of wine. She returned shortly

and handed it over.

I waited.

Thirty minutes passed.

An hour.

I was pissed. What kind of person would keep a lady waiting? What sought of silly game is this? I

texted the stranger, annoyed.

"If you weren't going to show up, why ask me to come?"

A new message buzzed my phone.

"Look up, I'm here.

I looked up eagerly, only to see Maya walking out with a man holding her hands as she giggled.

My face lit up in surprise.

"That must be the man she has been telling me about." I said to myself.

I didn't call out. I just followed them. I wanted to see the face of this man she has been singing

praises for.

And when I saw him, I froze.

Romeo.

My boyfriend.

Holding hands, smiling and giggling with my best friend. It couldn't be real.

I prayed it wasn't.

But the universe didn't answer. I followed them out, watched them get into Romeo's car, and I

hailed a taxi to trail them. They drove to Maya's apartment. I watched as Romeo's car parked in

her compound. I waited them for them to settle in then I got out, paid the driver and approached.

The door was slightly open.

I walked in.

And the scene I met shattered every piece of me.

My lovely best friend and my so-called perverted boyfriend were banging each other. They were so

engrossed that they didn't notice I was standing there.

I screamed in shock and pain, tears of betrayal running down my face.

They jumped up, scrambling to adjust their clothes.

Was this the man Maya bragged about? The man she claimed she had an appointment with? It

was beginning to make sense to me. My heart bled.

"What are you doing here, Ella? Maya asked, stunned.

"I should be the one asking the questions you slut!" I spat out in anger and pain.

I wasn't stunned anymore. I was burning. The pain turned to rage. This was the height of it all.

"How could you do this to me Maya? I trusted and loved you as friend," I said trying to fight

back the tears building up.

Romeo stood up, not even ashamed. "You have to leave now; we will talk about this out later."

He said trying to send me away.

"You bastard!" I cursed, slapping him hard.

"How dare you?" I sobbed.

But then he slapped me back.

The force sent me crashing to the ground.

"You filthy thing," he spat, and kicked me in the stomach.

Maya just stood there, watching and giggling, no remorse, no guilt. All I saw in her eyes was

excitement and satisfaction.

"You were never anything to me," she said coldly. You took away the I wanted; you are a selfish

bitch. Romeo and I have always been together, you were just too dumb to notice. Nobody gives a

fuck about your ass. You were always the homeless pawn whose momma rejected." She said as

she made faces at me.

The rage in me burned, I stood up and gave her nasty slap.

She screamed and tried to fight back but Romeo held her back, pulled her into his arms and kissed

her while I stood there crumbling inside.

My heart ached, broken into thousand pieces I watched them.

"She is not worth the stress Hun."

It was there it dawned on me that I didn't mean anything to them and I was just a stupid follow

who have been abused and used. I couldn't take it anymore, I stormed out of the house.

They laughed.

"Run along, pumpkin. I'll meet you at home," he mocked.

I ran into the night crying profusely, my hair disheveled, my feet bare, I didn't care. My heart was

torn into thousand pieces. I don't think I will ever heal from this pain.

I stumbled into a bar, ordered drink after drink till I was completely drunk. I wanted to end it.

I left the bar and headed towards the roof of a building. I stood at the edge, looking down, my

tears falling into the abyss.

"Why me" I muttered.

If anyone had told me that maya would be betray me, I would have laughed. She seemed so real.

But there I was broken beyond words.

I closed my eyes, said a quiet prayer, and leaned forward to fall...

A hand caught me.

I looked back.

Estella!

"Let go of me!" I screamed, trying to pull free. But she held tighter.

"Don't do this," she said. "You don't deserve to die like this. You matter. You still have people

who care."

Her voice, her presence calmed me.

But just as I was about to step down from the edge, I slipped.

I screamed, grabbing the edge.

Estella lunged and pulled me back up. I gasped for breath, I realized how stupid I was for wanting

to die. They weren't worth dying for.

"My hero." I muttered as I collapsed into her arms, sobbing.

She carried me to her car. I gave her my address and she drove me home. I clung to her, rambling

in my drunken state. I spilled everything, my pain, my shame, my heart.

She sat with me and tended to my bruises until I fell asleep in her arms.

The Next Morning,

I woke up with a pounding headache. My eyes scanned my room, how did I get home as the only

thing I could remember at that point was falling off the cliff.

"Am I dead?" I whispered.

"No. You're not." A familiar voice. It was Estella.

She sat beside me, a soft hand on my head. "You're safe. You scared me last night."

The memories came flooding back.

Embarrassed, I looked away. I apologized. Thanked her, for saving me again.

She handed me a warm cup of tea and made me promised not to make attempt to commit suicide

again.

"I have something to attend to, she said gently. "But please.... Take care of yourself for me. I'll

be back."

And just like that.... She reminded me that even in the deepest darkness, light still finds a way in.