Fiery hearts: she's feisty; he's her ex

"Donald! How could you!"

The voice was so loud and piercing that Kimberly was momentarily startled. She was so engrossed in her phone as she was walking in the park that the shout nearly made her jump out of her skin.

Raising her head, she saw a lady fuming at a guy who was hugging another lady.

Kimberly watched them slightly amused. She made sure to keep a discreet distance from them. She wondered if this will degenerate into a fight.

"So this is the 'job' you said you wanted to deal with, huh?" the enraged lady snarled and made to grab his collar but the other lady restrained her.

"Don't you dare touch him, Mica." she pushed her nearly causing her to fall.

Kimberly was surprised the guy wasn't doing anything.

"So you even know my name huh?" Then turning her attention to the guy, she said,"l suspected you were seeing Christine but I still can't believe you. You're a jerk ! I hate you! Trust me, you'll pay."

Mica stalked away, pain etching all over her pretty face. Kimberly sighed.

The couples didn't seem to care as they started kissing passionately.

Kimberly looked away, incredulous. Eversince her boyfriend broke up with her, she's hated boys and this guy's attitude is just enough to make her more embittered. She's been there. She's been betrayed and cheated. Kimberly closed her eyes briefly and continued walking.

She was heading to her bestie's boyfriend birthday party. Samantha's boyfriend is a CEO of a big company and like Kimberly's ex, he's rich.

But unlike Kimberly's ex he didn't betray her.

Kimberly shook her head in an effort to dismiss her thoughts. She had, so far, for months, gotten over Nate, so why is she thinking about him? He's her past and will always be.

Her phone beeped and she glanced at it. It was a message from Samantha. She read:

«Where are you? I know you like being late but come on Kim, not this time»

Kimberly wanted to protest that she's not a tardy person, but gave up when she recalled all the time she's been late.

In fact, lateness is a habit of her who oversleeps all the time and forgets easily. And not to talk of being easily distracted just like the way she was moments ago. It's terrible.

Few minutes later, Kimberly arrived. She used the park which was is a shortcut to the party. She was greatly astounded by it's beauty.

From a far distance, you could see the colorful lights and everything. Kimberly blinked repeatedly. And now she was distracted by it's charm.

The gate was opened and she was ushered in. Wow! Some party this is. It's stupendous.

Kimberly wasn't that surprised cause her ex also throws big, amazing patties.

Again with her ex! She supressed a scream. Why is she thinking about her ex? He caused her so much pain and she was on the throes of denial for a month. Luckily she got over it.

Now Kimberly felt so restless and couldn't explain the slight twinge she felt. Maybe it's because Sam told her that there's a guy she'd like to meet who's a friend of her boyfriend, Trevor.

Even though Kimberly doesn't know his name, she's thrilled. And although she has no intention to date again but it won't hurt to see this fellow Sam called incredibly handsome.

Kimberly finally forced her attention to the party. As she started towards the hall. She could see beautiful sculptures of Sam and Trevor. The person who made the glass sculpture must be reasonably proficient in his job.

"Hey girl!" she heard from behind and turned to see Sam striding towards her.

Her jaw dropped instantly. Sam was looking gorgeous as ever. Her beautiful conspicuous red hair which matched her red dress. Her dress was awesome, set with diamonds that glittered.

She was pretty with the red lipstick that revealed her full lips. Her dress is nothing compared to Kimberly's blue plain gown.

"OMG! You look amazing. Love the hair." Kimberly blew a kiss to her. Samantha hugged her, smiling.

"Thank God I was finally able to convince Mr Stewie to give us a day off so that we can attend Trevor's party. You know, he refused my request like a dozen of times. " Sam sighed.

"but that means double delivery for us." Kimberly frowned playfully and they both laughed heartily.

Despite having such a rich boyfriend, Sam loved working in Burger Beach. It's a big eatery that has branches everywhere. It's so influential that the pay is incredible.

Sam's boyfriend would've made her a famous model but she preferred informal situations and simple stuffs. And Sam, like Kim, sucked at modelling. And they both have stage fright.

And they're both delivery girls. It's worth it as the pay is substantial.

The girls both walked into the hall. The beautiful hall with glass vases of flowers strewn everywhere, making the party look like some kind of paradise.

"So Kim, I'll be right back. Trevor said his friend will be here any minute." Then,"Kimberly...I thought I told you to use a lot of makeup. Come on Kim, you're supposed to look extra dazzling," Samantha whined.

Kimberly scoffed. Much makeup is so not her thing. She only uses lipgloss and mascara."Still I look pretty without it, right?"

Samantha looked at her face then laughed. "Nah.."

"What!"

"Hold on. Wait here. I'll be right back," Samantha said walking off hurriedly.

Kimberly couldn't believe her. She's naturally pretty, she doesn't need a lot to look astounding. Besides is this guy really worth it?

Kimberly removed her phone about to confirm when she heard Samantha scream "OMG! He's here!"

Kimberly felt a hand drag her nearly causing her to trip. "Whoa! " she exclaimed regaining her balance.

Samantha was dragging her to a guy who was backing them. And it was apparent he was smoking. Kimberly supressed a scoff. She hated smoke. It triggers her asthma.

She hastily removed her inhaler just in case. And now she knows better than to stand close to him.

Suddenly she recalled too that Nate also smokes. Shit! Kim forget him! She chided herself.

And now oddly, she felt sick in her stomach. And her heart was lurching unpleasantly. She surveyed the guy, breathless. His black sleek hair, white suit...she froze.

"Hey girl...don't be nervous. Come on," Samantha said as she just froze like that.

Kimberly felt she had no control over her body as Samantha tool her closer. Her eyes darkened.

"Hi everyone!" Samantha greeted gaily once they reached. Kimberly's face was white with shock.

Trevor and the guy turned simultaneously to look at them.

Kimberly's eyes locked with his and she felt so much fury. Nate!

"So this the girl huh?" Nate said surveying her coldly. He smirked and puffed more smoke into her face that her asthma registered.

Kimberly couldn't believe it-what an unexpected meeting

" I thought she was prettier," Nate mumbled just loud enough to be heard clearly. He continued puffing his cigarette effortlessly.

Kimberly fumed feeling uncontrollable rage."Well I didn't know he was a smoking jerk!" She said loudly inhaling her asthma tube furiously.

Samantha and Trevor exchanged glances, gobsmacked. They certainly didn't understand the sudden hostility between them. But they had just met right?

Kimberly staggered backwards obviously affected by the smoke. Only a gentleman will stop smoking at once. But Nate was no gentleman and it's evident he won't stop.

Now that explains why she felt uneasy ever since. Cause she'd be reunited-no traumatized by her ex presence.

"Kimberly, are you okay? " Samantha whispered feeling awkward as well. She had regaled Kimberly about his perfection not knowing their meeting would be sour.

"Is your asthma fine?" She asked concerned and Kimberly managed a nod.

Nate had stubbed his cigarette in an ash tray and Kimberly would've been relieved if he didn't light another cigarette.

"Now can you leave so that I can meet more impressive ladies?" Nate said arrogantly.

Kimberly didn't need to be told twice. She rushed out angrily. She was nearly tempted to leave the party. But instead, she went to the garden and found a bench.

It was situated far away from the guests and Kimberly liked it that way. The garden was filled with assorted kinds of flowers.

She glanced at a red rose and plucked it. She admired the beautiful petals but too bad she's going to rip it apart.

Whenever Kim is mad, she loves tearing stuff and if there was a paper she'd happily shred it for you. And right now she was enraged.

Why Nate? Why that annoying guy? Could this get any worse. Her mood has been ruined courtesy of Nate Sanders. She wanted to be happy and meet guests but Nate is making it extremely difficult for her.

She wanted to meet someone else not tortured by her past. No wonder she was thinking about him-cause he was going to grace her with his insidious presence.

And before Kim knew it, she was ripping all the flowers which petals lay sadly on her dress. And the entire bush beside her was devoid of flowers.

On noticing that, she walked to another rose bush and cut off the flowers angrily. And just like that, she was done. The bush had a lot of flowers but she had destroyed them.

She had to stop when she noticed some guests were looking at her. They were gaping and she knew they must think she's weird. Or crazy.

Kimberly shyly carried her purse and walked back inside the party. Her anger had been quelled a bit.

A waiter offered her a drink and she wanted to wave it aside, but something crazy popped in her head. This party, she thought, will be fun after all.

She collected the juice from the tray and the waiter walked up to others to serve. Her eyes were riveted on Nate standing with Trevor. Samantha was no where to be found.

She walked slowly and steadily towards them. Her heart racing eagerly. It was telling her not to back down. Ruin that suit of his with your juice and ruin his day-just like he ruined yours.

"Hi," Kim said reaching them with a smile. Nate turned to look at her quizzically. She smiled broadly.

"Sorry, we didn't really meet and I..." she couldn't bring herself to continue apologizing so she acted.

Since she was wearing heels, it was easier to stage a fall. So she pretended to trip over her heels and splashed the juice on Nate's White suit. Normally only a little would pour as she fell like that, so she deliberately poured the entire content on him even after she regained her balance

Nate was aghast.

"oh am so sorry." She bit her lips, tentatively. "My bad"

Nate closed his eyes for a bit. Trying to fight back the waves of rising anger. He stared at his suit, angrily.

"Don't worry, it'll clean off. Or should I clean it?" She pestered with a smug smile.

"I wouldn't mind you using your dress to clean it, Kimberly"

He muttered.

Nate was already piqued by her deliberate effort to annoy him. From her fall, it was painfully obvious that she wanted to spill it on him. Who does that? Only a disgusting b**ch like Kim.

She's so gonna pay. His designer shirt. And her feigned concern and remorse was so painful.

When he was told he'll meet a pretty lady, he had no idea that it'd be Kim. And if it was another lady that complained about his smoking, he'd stop it.

Bit not his ex! Her face makes his blood boil. She's the reason his life is a mess ever since her shocking betrayal.

She started It but he ended it. And that was splitsville for them after two years of dating.

And five months ago, he never saw her and he was resolved to move on, she just showed up-with her annoying face and annoying auburn hair and black eyes.

"Ahh! There you are, c'mon let's have fun. I know it didn't turn out great–"

Kimberly cut Samantha off with a smile," yeah. It's cool. Let's go!"

"So who was that guy? You guys seem to know each other," Samantha asked curiously.

"Just some jerk I know." Kimberly smiled.

She loved the look of distraught on his face. She knows that he knows it was deliberate. Good!

Kimberly walked with Samantha feeling breezy and cheerful.

*****

Finally, after the party, she walked home or rather staggered home. She was so tired and worn out that she had a lot to drink. She was slightly drowsy.

Happiness made her overdrink. Happiness caused by what she did to Nate.

She walked into her bedroom. She lived as a tenant in a big mansion. Her apartment was comfortable enough for her with three rooms. It was convenient.

She plonked on the bed sleepily. Her eyes threatening to shut.

Everything was okay– if only she didn't see Nate. But it's like after what she did, he left the party. Or probably didn't see him again.

Whatever. She feels no regrets.

She glanced at her phone. It was really late.. very late and she needs enough sleep to wake up early for work. She prayed she'd wake up early.

Surprisingly, despite her frazzled state, she was thinking of Nate's face. She had forgotten him but unfortunately she can't anymore. At least she gave him a taste of his medicine or should I say juice.

Jeez. His dirty blonde hair and grey eyes stuck to her head like a leech. She groaned inwardly burying her face in her pillow.

Slowly she drifted to sleep.

And dreamt of him...

Kimberly screamed, jerking up from the bed. "Never!"

A little sleep and he's invading her dreams. And in the horrible dream Nate had hired her to be his maid and she suffered in his cruel hands.

Suddenly Kimberly laughed uproariously. That's not ever happening right? Cause nothing– absolutely nothing will make her work for Nate.

Ever.

BEEP! BEEP!

RING!

Her alarm was beeping repeatedly and her phone as well–she had a call.

But sleepy, lazy Kimberly still lay there snoring heavily on her bed. And she was close to falling down from the bed. Her leg was already on the floor.

Then she fell with a resounding thud that slapped Kimberly back to life.

"Argh!" She screamed in pain. "Oh my God!" She shrieked as her back throbbed painfully. Tiredly, she got up and glanced around. She was fully awake and the impact had drained all the sleep from her head.

She finally heard her alarm which had been beeping for hours now. She turned it off and glanced quickly at the time. It was 10:45!

Kimberly's eyes widened. She had set her alarm to 8:00 and in her setting, she has to turn it off or it'll keep beeping till the battery dies.

Even her phone was filled with messages, missed calls and notifications.

Well, no time to waste, she needs to go to work.

And how many times has her boss complained of her lateness? She can't recall as it was endless. And even the loudest alarm cannot fix her sleeping problem.

"Maybe I should be falling down so I can wake up earlier," Kimberly mused as she made her bed. Then, she went ahead to pick a vase that fell down...

Then,

What the hell Kim? Get ready for work!

Kimberly rushed to the bathroom and in five minutes flat, she was done. She had carefully made sure to wash off all the soap off her hair pertaining to the fact that her co workers laughed at her cause she had soap in her hair once.

She was done with her preparations in no time and sighed, looking at her room. It's super messy and she's itching to clean it.

But work is More important.

Rushing outside with her bag hung limply on her shoulder, she tripped and fell down. She hit her arm as she landed. "aah!" She shrieked, hurt.

How pathetic. This was unbelievable. Was it necessary to fall? Jeez. She hastened to get up, dusting herself and her eyes raking her body for any signs of dirt or injury.

Luckily her cloth was devoid of it. This time, she walked steadily.

Her phone rang in her bag but she ignored it. She didn't even make an attempt to check the time. She already knew, unerringly, that she was late. Hopefully Mr Stewie will pardon her as usual.

But again, he'll tell her to do something about it and she'll end up not doing it and disappointing him.

Kimberly waited for a while before she could find a taxi. There was a lady in it holding a cute, sick–looking cat.

Her enemies

Cats hate her and she's also afraid of them. She doesn't have to provoke them to be attacked. It's like all cats are born to attack her. They seem to know instinctively that she's an enemy. She wondered if she looked like a mouse to them. At least the cat's caged, so that feline isn't gonna mess with her.

"Michi Park," Kimberly said absently to the driver, her eyes were glued to the cat.

As she got in, she shuddered as she looked at the cat's malevolent eyes. It seemed to be saying to her, "if I had the opportunity, I'd kill you"

Kimberly waved at the lady. She looked Kimberly's age or younger.

"OMG!" The lady screamed heartily. Then covered her mouth to prevent further outburst." Oh my, he's back" she exclaimed quietly this time.

"Who?" Kimberly asked automatically. It must be someone very special and famous to make her this excited.

"Ace Sanchez!"

Kimberly's heart fluttered and doubled it's rapid pace. She bit her lips and covered her mouth to forestall any scream which was imminent.

Ace was her favorite superstar. She's never missed any of his concerts. He traveled for a year now he's back. Every lady is passionate about him, Including Kim.

She hurriedly turned on her phone and gazed at it. Surprisingly his news was what she found in her phone. She also saw some of Sam's missed calls and"you're late" messages from her.

Kimberly frowned slightly and switched off her phone. She laid back in her seat, closing her eyes smiling. "He's back. That's so amazing, " she muttered.

"Do you know the famous CEO of the San company is his cousin? I've been crushing on Nate Sanders since day 1 and now I know he's related, am so thrilled...!" The lady, Gigi, said effusively.

Kimberly snapped her head and looked at the lady with disbelief. Gigi was now scrolling through her phone blushing and Kim felt like she's been struck, hardly.

Nate is related? That darned CEO!

"There's nothing perfect about Nate," Kimberly found herself saying truculently.

The lady merely looked at her as she was deeply engrossed in her phone.

Kimberly seethed with despair. Why Nate? Really? Aw C'mon! She had just dealt with him last night and managed to sleep although haunted by dreams of him and now he's related to her favorite superstar!

Suddenly, the cat meowed viciously at Kimberly who shifted almost immediately. "Sorry, that's Tracey for you..."Gigi laughed and finally she alighted with her crazy cat.

Kimberly waved. Finally she paid attention to her surroundings and was surprised to see the driver stop at Michi Park.

"Wait a sec, this isn't where I wanted." Kimberly was confused.

"Ma'am you said Michi Park," the driver answered.

"I said avenue! Michi avenue!"

"It was park!" The driver pointed out confidently.

Kimberly bit her lips angrily. Seriously? "Well please take me there– I'll pay double," she asked sweetly trying to simmer down a bit.

The driver studied her with disapproval before driving away.

She wasn't planning on paying double. Jeez. Her phone beeped and she checked, only to see Nate's picture with Ace Sanchez."This is all your fault!" She blamed him, switching off her phone.

They're related. Damn!

***

"Again, Kimberly?"

Her boss's stringent voice made her feel queasy. She stared at her decorative glitter boots.

"Alright. You know what to do–Double delivery. I'll pardon you this time"

Kimberly nodded, at least that's better than being fired. Way better.

"At least try to get up early, Kim. It's not good for you," Mr Stewie chided, a bit concerned.

"Yes sir, I will,"-then quietly,-"try" Kimberly assured as she picked her bag wearing her face Cap.

Burger Beach uniform was a blue and white polo and black trousers or skirt with black boots.

Glancing through the window, she saw a black car drive in. The car was familiar and just as she tried to recall it, she heard..

"Kimberly! Let's go!"