Little Rose – Chapter 1 – Rose

To what extend we human beings can stoop low, with full of malice, hatred and unforgiving nature towards the less fortune. Here is my story…

Keith! Keith! I screamed. Please save me. Keith!!!!! What had happened to him when he was struck on his head and was pulled apart from me? These thoughts we rampaging in my mind, while my battered body was trying to grasps as much air into my lungs. Blood was draining and seeping out from my wounds, making it even more difficult for me to breathe and preventing my eyes from closing. I can no longer feel any sensation on my face. My lips were cracked open, opened wounds on my cheeks and a broken nose. I could feel the taste of my own blood in my own mouth. Blackness was strongly over powering my will to stay alive for myself and for Keith, my love. I had to stay alive. I have to stay alive. I can’t die in these people hands. I repeated this chant in my mind over and over again. Slaps and punches were thrown on my face and head. I knew I was being battered very badly. I was slowly losing my level consciousness and pushed roughly into the car. I willed myself not to allow total darkness took over me. When the car started, I heard one of my assailants saying “the boss needs us to throw acid on her face but I think that’s enough now for her face is now beyond recognition, bloodied and I doubt she will last long”.

I know not where my assailants were travelling too. It was pitched dark and raining heavily when the car came to a sudden halt. They quickly opened the door, grabbed me from my hair and dragged me out the car. I was dumped unto the dirty wet ground. I was so weak. Soft tears were running down from my swollen eyes. Heavy rain slits hit my face, stinging my wounds in pain but no scream came out from my mouth. I told myself “ if I were die, at least I have heaven to cry for me. What more can an orphaned asked for? I was in pain, in severe unbearable pain. I could not utter any words from my mouth. I knew this was my end, my punishment for loving Keith. I do not know who Keith was or how powerful he was? He was always very careful when he was with me. To me he was a normal, happy guy, you would find in the neighbourhood.  My love for Keith was for all what he was. I loved his cheeky smile, the twinkle in his eyes when he was up to some mischief. His eyes captivated me the most for I could just drown myself into them. I remember telling Keith that I fall deeply in love with him because of his lovely mysterious eyes and also to remember that I loved him more than I love myself.

My pain brought me back to reality. Why me, God? Why me? All the prayers said in my younger days in the church, came haunting back to me. If prayers are answered, please God, please, let me live. Please let me live. Do I not have the right to live peacefully and lovingly with the person I love? Why me? Oh God! Why me? Why me? Where is Keith? Keith? Keith!!!!  Save me God for I love Keith. Only him.

“Quickly dig a grave here, to bury this little idiot, who dare loves the boss son. Thanks heaven it’s raining as we will have little trouble digging deeper.” These words chilled me to the ground. I was numbed to my senses. No… I screamed these words over and over again but no voice echoed back to me. This was my end. This was the value of my life. I am too young to die. Just eighteen. No. No. No. I begged you all, please. I am sorry. I am sorry. Please let me live. I can’t be buried alive in an unknown grave and unknown place. Please, please. Could my attackers not hear me uttering all these words? Darkness. Total darkness was engulfing me. May heaven forgive me for all my sins, for loving Keith, my lover, whom I had loved with no condition attached. I have to live. I can’t let this total darkness to take over me. I need all my meager strength to stay alive. I have to fight death. I have to fight death. I kept repeating these words in my mind even though I know it was fruitless.

While my assailants were busily digging my grave, their words “acid to be thrown on my face and bury alive” kept ringing in my mind. I was fighting within myself to fight off death when I suddenly felt kicks on my side and was rolled with a “thump” into my prepared grave. No. Please God, please. I tried to raise my hands up to my assailants but nothing happened. I was being buried alive and I could do nothing for myself. This could not be happening to me. Where was Keith? Is he not looking for me? Why is he not here, to save me from this terrible death? I was freaking out and losing control of my senses. My whole body was filled with terror with the terrible fate (punishment) that was before me. I was being buried alive and soon the rainwater will fill my grave and drown me.

“Help me! I finally heard my own plea and it came out in a little whisper from my mouth. All I got in response was an eerie silence. Finally someone said in a soft voice, “Little Rose. That’s what your lover calls you right? This is your fate for loving someone above you. This is a mean world, which the rich think it belongs to them. In the world of the rich, the affair of the heart (love) does not matter. It is a plaything for them and for centuries this heart has been broken and this is the bleeding plead of the heart.” “Did you forget all the lovers, who died of broken heart? I am sorry little one. In your next life, choose someone within your circle”. There was a pause and a silence. The soft voice continued again and said, “If you are still hanging on to your terrible death, listen to what I got to say”. “I did not allow the other guy to pour acid on to your face. I left it by the side of your grave. Your grave is partially filled and left open for the rain to engulf and drown you in. If this downpour continues, very soon this fresh grave of yours will be filled with water. No one will be able to trace you or find you in this open barren wilderness. Forgive me, little one. I could not save you from this terrible fate and death. This is not the worst punishment I have seen and given out by the boss. Others like you have suffered worst then this. I will remember you, little Rose… (A silence) and then “good bye, little Rose.”

I was totally helpless and trying to cry out in agony. But, alas no voice came out from my mouth. I felt heavy lumps of soil thrown on my face and body, followed by pure evil laughter. This was the other attacker of mine. “Leave her, Mad Dog. She won’t survive in this grave and in this crazy weather. There is not a single soul here in this wilderness. You “Mad Dog, have other things to worry on your hand. You hit the boss’s son so hard on the head that he needed to be rushed to the hospital. Your life is in danger too, Mad Dog”. Think of how to save yourself”. There was a total silent for a minute and then…. “Hey you, Grey Wolf, you are too soft to be in our organization. I wonder how long you will last with the present boss?” (Laughter could be heard, followed by fading footsteps. Finally, the roaring of the car engine was heard). “Come back”, I screamed with all my might. But my own voice echoed back to me. Alone. I was alone. Left to die alone in this place, where no one can find me. I try to struggle to sit up but my body was not my own. I was beaten and made into a pulp. My life, my happy days with the nuns, with my friends in the orphanage and with Keith flashed before my eyes. I gave out a little sob as the heavy rainwater washes off what little soil that was left on my face. There was no one to cry for me. This is an unmarked grave. How long? How long will it be when another soul will find me? Poor Keith. Is he dead? Alive? With these thoughts in my mind, I finally succumbed to the total darkness and coldness, leaving myself to my ill-fated death, uttering the word “mother”.

I grew up in an orphanage, not knowing my background and my parents. According to the nuns, I was found wrapped in my dead mother’s arms, in a pure silky white cloth, woven with small little red roses. There was also a beautiful gold plated basket next to my mom. That’s all the nuns know and thus christened me “Rose.”

Poor Mama died on the doorsteps of the chapel. I was very much loved by Mother Superior and all the nuns. According to the nuns, I was a beautiful child, with some wild streak hidden in me. As I was growing up, Mother Superior had plans for me to take a vow and become the Lord’s bride. But I wanted none of this. With big dreams for myself, I told Sister Cathy that I want to study, go to a college and then to the university. Knowing myself, I told Sister Cathy that I do not have the trait to be a nun. Sister Cathy, my so call “mother” took care of me from baby. She was there to soothe my hurt, wipe my tears and chase my fears. She was always there to encourage me to chase my dream. She was not only my “mother” in spiritual form, she was also my friend, my sister and above all my confidant. She was everything to me. I called her (Sister Cathy), “my miracle angel and fairy godmother”. As I grew older and started preparing myself to leave the orphanage, my miracle godmother passed away. A year and a half later, I came to the city to look for a job in order to earn money and to support myself for my education. Even though I was struggling to save money to study, I greatly missed the chapel, the orphanage and above all Sister Cathy. Sister Cathy has willed all her belongings and possession to me. Her most precious possession to me was her little cottage behind the chapel, facing the wide ocean and a crystal Angel. The cottage was my sanctuary and my hiding abode. It was a place where I could go and cry all my sorrows and tell Sister Cathy (“mother”) how I felt without her. I have always felt a kind of peace in the cottage. This was the place, where Sister Cathy could sit for hours, praying to the Lord. Prayer was something Sister Cathy had done for most of her life.

I was a simple foolish girl, full of dreams. I wanted to make a name for myself in the big world out there. I wanted to attend university and make my unknown parents proud of me. Life was fun for me and I always looked on the bright and the positive side of whatever was transpiring in my life. Keith! How do I describe him? I was working as a part time waitress in a café, a few blocks down the road, where Keith was working. When I first saw Keith, he was ordering coffee and flirting very sweetly with Angela, my colleague and roommate. She was “throwing herself” all over him and I could see that she was trying her very best to ask him for his number and name. I told Angela once, “Silly girl. Guys like him, especially handsome playboys do not make good husbands”. But Angela, the silly goose whose heart always flutter whenever any good-looking guy walks into the café could not resist herself from flirting.

A few days later, Keith walked straight through the café glass door, not seeing me and knocked me down. I was too stunned to say anything. As I was afraid of the lady manager scolding me, I quickly busy myself to pick up the dirty coffee mugs and plates. He muttered something like an apology and stooped down and started helping me to gather the coffee mugs. That’s when I got a glimpsed of Keith’s eyes. Oh! My God! I could drown myself in his eyes. Such downturned eyes full of mystery. I kept my head down, stood up with the tray in my hands. I could not look at him. I refused to look at him. I was shaking. Really shaking to my core. It was as if lightening has struck my heart and I could hear my own heartbeat, beating loudly right into my eyes. Another funny thought in my mind that was killing me was that “I could create a sexy cat’s eyes shape with my liquid liner on these eyes.” Ah! One day this wild streak mind of mine is going to get me into trouble. Suddenly, there was laughter and Keith lowered his head to look at me and said “Rose! That’s your name right?” (He pointed to my nametag). “I could marry you, make many mistakes, and come home to you and not to be reprimanded in return. My face turned red like a lobster. I turned around to walk away but he blocked my path and said softly in my ears, with his sultry violet voice, “Have we met before, hhmmm? Look out for me from now onwards. I, will definitely look out for you too, little Rose for I am adamant to marry you. This was said with so much of arrogance and confidence. He smiled, his cheeky smile and called out his friend. “Bob, remember her. She is mine, this little flower”. Laughter followed suit and both left the café. I was doomed. Time stood still for me. I was awestruck. The shouting of the lady manager brought me back to my senses and I started going around, doing my normal chores, waiting for my shift to end at five.

As I was walking towards the bus stop, I saw Keith leaning against the lamppost. His first words to me were; “I told you I will be looking out for you.” He started to walk along beside me, towards the bus stop. “Hey! Take me home with you”, “I want to be with you”. I refused to take his baits. I knew it was useless to waste my precious breath on this type of guy. I kept walking, quietly to the bus stop. He kept on talking but I was too scared and busy to pay attention to his conversation. My heart was beating very fast. I wished he would leave me alone. Even though I was strongly attracted and drawn towards Keith, deep down I know he was not right for me. The girls in the café talked about his playboy attitude and affairs. I heard so many stories about him and I was afraid. I do not want to be one of his broken kites. Suddenly he pulled my hand to stop me from walking. He stood in front me and asked me a question. “Are you deaf and mute?” I have been talking to you for the past good fifteen minutes and all my talk had gone unnoticed,” Keith said. I was flabbergasted. He was so serious suddenly and repeated his words, “I want to know you. Take me home with you”. I was stupefied. Suddenly I saw my bus coming and in a very firm voice, I told Keith “No” and quickly ran to board my bus. As the bus drove past him, I saw a look of astonishment on Keith’s face and turned my face away. “Serve him right, I muttered these words under my breath and started fanning my blushed checked”.

Angela came home after her shift. Seeing the light my room, she walked in and asked me what had happened? I was so engrossed in my schoolwork. “What happened?” she asked me again. I told her about Keith and said, “I refused to play a mother to a spoilt rich brat. She smiled, nodded her head and said, “Uh…no wonder he was in a bad mood when he was at the café”. Angela was silenced for a moment. Looking at me seriously, Angela abruptly said, “so…he got eyes on you this time huh?” “Watched out for him, Rose. Rumours about him are true. Do you see the branded clothing he is wearing? He reeks of money from head to toes. Yeah, I know he looks like a model cut from a fashion magazine and with his kind of look it’s enough for a woman to be a “ruined good”. I smile at Angela and said, “Wow! Were you not asking for his number a few days ago?” She smiled, pats my head and said soberly, “he is not for us Sista”. “Understand?” With these words lingering behind her, she left my room.

Keith. This stubborn guy pursued me relentlessly. He was always at my back, annoying, vexing and infuriating me. In another word a big bothersome. He would walk into the café, order his coffee and just sit down for hours. Many a times, I caught him looking at me secretly and sometimes openly and grin whenever our eyes meet. Infuriating guy. I dare not offend him. I avoided him at all times. I even change my route to another bus stop and make sure no one notices me when I leave the cafe. Sometimes, I would use Angela or other colleagues as a bait to distract him when knocking off duty so that I could leave the café quietly, without him noticing my absence.

It was nearly after three months, when I sneaked out of the café from the side door, when Keith suddenly appeared in front of me. “How long are you going to avoid me and running away from me?” “You are driving me crazy, woman. If I don’t see you, I feel as if a part of me is missing and I can’t breathe. Have pity on me, he said with so much of pleading, running his fingers through his hair. You know how much time I have spent in this damn café alone? It’s all because of you, dammit.” I built up my courage and looked directly into his eyes and said, “I am sorry if it’s because of me you have to spend so much time in this café. No one asked you too? You have proofed my point. A spoilt rich brat, who does nothing else but spend the hard earning money of his parents on useless things, doing unproductive work. He tried to interrupt me but I continued. “Look here. I am earning a living here. It’s my daily bread and I need this money for my studies and for my university entrance. I can’t afford myself to be distracted by you or by anyone else.” With these words, I brushed past Keith but he pulled me back against the wall and the next thing I knew, he was kissing me passionately. I struggled against him and try to avoid his kisses. He cupped my face and started raining kisses all over my face again. “Please. I love you,” he said quietly and softly when he was done with all the kisses.

I averted my face. There were tears of frustration in my eyes. First, I was angry with myself for allowing him to kiss me. Secondly, because of my attraction towards him and lastly, Keith was slowly building a place for himself in my heart. Pushing my emotions aside and taking in a deep breath, I looked at Keith and told him that it’s not love that he feels for me. It’s pure animal lust and sexual attraction, which can be fatal. He (Keith) will throw me away once he has satisfied himself with me thoroughly. Where will I be, then? In the trash and another of his love conquest to boost about? Come to your senses, please”. “I heard you are a foreign graduate, soon to be trained to take over your dad’s business. You are twenty-four years old, right? You are born with a golden spoon in your mouth. Everything is laid there for you. Your world is different from mine. Look, I am not complaining. I am happy the way I am. I did not ask for your attention nor seek it. You brought this upon yourself. Not me”. There was a pin drop silence. Pushing himself away from me, Keith looked into my eyes and gave me his killing smile. “Ah, the Rose thorns are being seen now. Ouch! (He touched his hand to his chest) I am bleeding now.” “You are mean, very mean. A sweet little woman who knows how to throw daggers directly into my heart. You know Romeo and Juliet?” Than he started quoting a phrase by William Shakespeare “By a name, I know not how to tell thee who I am. It’s but thy name that is my enemy.” Letting out a sigh, Keith asked, “what do you want me to do for you and how can I prove my sincerity of my love for you?” I shake my head, pushing Keith aside I started to walk away from him. Turning to look back at him, I told him, “nothing and to leave me in peace.” I could see the pure look of desperation and hurt on his face. I started walking and running at the same time and not allowing my emotions and attraction for Keith to take over me. I did not see Keith for the next couple of weeks and strangely I was yearning to see a glimpse of him. “Am I in love? I asked myself, shaking my head.

On the fourth week, I got a surprise visit from Bob as I was walking from my school. “Follow me,” he said quietly. We walked to the school garden when suddenly Bob said, “That idiot is slowly killing himself. He lost the zest of his life. He is not attending to meetings, always in bed, not eating and the family doctor cannot detect what is wrong with him. He is just wasting his life away”. “What the hell have you done to my friend?” I was taken aback. Slowly I said, “Nothing. I have done nothing to him. I did not give him any encouragement or sign that I was interested in him. It’s all his own doing”. A silence and then Bob pleaded, “Come with me, please. Just come with me. He is right now resting at my place. We are more than brothers and both of us know each other with no hidden secret between us.” I was reluctant and after much persuasion from Bob, I nodded my head and followed Bob to the car. Deep down I kept telling myself it’s not for the emotion I feels for Keith but purely on humanitarian ground. We drove over to Bob’s place in a tension silence.

God really knows how to provide for the rich. Wow! Big houses at expensive district area, I told myself. It was a very silent drive, which I thought would never end, when the car suddenly came to a stop. Bob came out and opened the car door for me to alight. I think he might have caught the look of wariness on my face. He assured me that there’s nothing to worry about for he lives alone and no mean parents to worry about. I know Bob was trying to lighten my mood. We walked up to the house and upon entering the drawing room, Bob shouted Keith’s name and said, “I am home brother and I am coming up.” Bob lead me to the stairs and right into Keith’s room. There lay Keith on a huge bed, with untouched breakfast on the coffee table. “Keith! Look brother. Who did I bring along today? I stood still, at the entrance of the bedroom. This idiot is a fool. Is he really that sick and willing to let his precious life goes to waste? Bob was trying to sit Keith up when Keith suddenly saw me and went limped in Bob’s arm and turned his face away.

“Why did you bring her here, brother? She won’t budge. Sent her back”. Bob let out a sigh of frustration and told Keith “Shut up and listen. The day you saw her at the café and announced that you would marry her; I knew there and then that you have been hit by the cupid’s arrow and were seeking your own downfall when she refused to reciprocate your love. I know you well, Keith. I know when you are playing around with women and their love. But this, this is the first time I have seen you in this state”. “Do you remember the Las Vegas bar? I remembered you telling me in your drunken state that if you ever fall in love, it will be forever and everlasting. Unlike your dad, for you, that will be a full stop. No other women in your life. You told me you are looking for your other half and she (Bob pointing his finger at me) is your other half. You have been searching for her brother and she is right there now. I am going to leave you with Rose and when you are done talking, let me know”. With these words, Bob pushed me into the room and shut the door behind him.

My emotions for Keith were overpowering me. I do not know if it was love that has finally hit me too. “Keith, I am sorry. I really am sorry. But you have to give me a chance to explain myself. Keith, you don’t know anything about me. Be patient and listen well to me. I grew up in an orphanage. I do not know my parents. My mother was found dead on the chapel steps by one of the nuns. Mother Superior wanted me to be a Bride of the Lord but my miracle mother and angel; Sister Cathy spoke up for me about my dreams and guided me in my life. I am still grieving for my miracle mother. Keith, you understand the importance of education. I cannot afford to have distraction in my life. I need to stay focus. This year is a crucial year for me in the college. I need my place in the university. You are asking for my heart. I am going to trust you and bare open my heart to you. I too felt the attraction towards you. I do not have the courage to tell you and let you hold and take care of my heart. I am afraid that one day you will walk away from me. How long can you hold and protect my heart, I don’t know?  But yet I am going to trust you for if I don’t trust you, I won’t gain trust from you in return. To me trust is a very fragile thread that can be snapped and broken within a blink of an eye. So, I am going to keep my faith in you, beginning from today and from this very moment. I thank you for listening to me without any interruption. Now I am tired of standing and I had a long day in school. Can I at least sit down, please?” I asked with a brave smile on my face even though I felt like hiding myself away.

Keith, all this while was looking so intensely at me. His intense stare was unsettling me and I blurted out the first words that came to my mind. “I love your eyes. The first time I saw you, I fall for your eyes. I could not reprimand you for knocking me down for your eyes were like magnets, slowly pulling me towards you. Do you know that your eyes are full of mystery? I could just sit here and look into your eyes and try to solve the mystery the whole day”. Oh my god! My own words sounded very strange to my ears. I was shocked and embarrassed at myself. I quickly turned away from Keith, walking towards the window. “Come here, Keith said softly, holding out his hands. I hesitated but Keith was quick to remind me that I have just promise to trust him. I walked very precariously towards the bed. “Grab my hands. Common on. I won’t bite you, Keith said”. I shook my head and instead asked him if I could just sit on the chair, beside bed, near him. “Stubborn wench. Are you or are you not going to trust me?” Looking at Keith, I solemnly said, “Yes, I will always trust you” and sat on the bed, close to him. I was feeling very uneasy, sitting close to Keith and inhaling all his scent. “Don’t you think this is a bit weird?” I asked Keith. “Why? He asked.” Looking at Keith, I said, “Well, I…in reality it’s usually the ladies who put up the drama of dying and crying about one sided love.” I laughed out loudly to cover my nervousness and the same time was quick to realise my mistake and quickly apologise.

Keith was quick to ask, “You think I am lying?” Do you want me to call my doctor? (A silence follows). “Did you ever get beaten up in the orphanage, Keith asked?” You know, you have a wild streak hidden somewhere in you, Little Rose.” I shook my head and told Keith that all the children in the orphanage were well loved by all the nuns and none of us ever went to bed on empty stomach. A very awkward silence follow suit. “I don’t believe you are sitting next to me, in my bedroom and having this unromantic conversation with me, Keith said”. “Look here and give me a passionate kiss, to seal our love and to trust for each other. “Can I give you a peck on the cheek?” I asked in return and smiled sweetly at Keith. “Little Rose, I am going to have a hard time in taming you”. Well it will be worthwhile for I will tame you with kisses for each mistakes you make and each time when you go against me and my wishes”. With these words, Keith pushed me down to the bed and started kissing me passionately and gently. Each time he would pause between his kisses, he would tell me “this (followed by a kiss) for this you mistake and “this (followed by another kiss) for going against me and my wishes.”

We were interrupted by a knock on the door and before we could pull apart from each other embrace, Bob walked in. “Finally the lovers kiss and make up, huh”, Bob said. “Welcome to the family Rose and finally I can send this idiot back home and have my own privacy. Hey! Keith. Go home. You know with you here, dying on this bed, I have to abstain myself and live the life of a monk”. Bob laughed so loudly that Keith has to shut him up by throwing a pillow at him. “Send her home, Bob. I need to rest and build up my strength for I got “Taming of the Shrew” in my hands now”. Turning towards me, Keith said, “I will wait for you at your normal bus-stop. Give me a day or two recuperate, okay?” I nod my head, stood up and walked out from the room with Bob.

My romance with Keith begins. If he was at the bus stop, it was a signed that he had finished work early and if he was not there, there were always text messages from him, telling me to go home by myself and that he would call me later in the night. One day Keith walked into the house, which I was sharing with Angela. She refused to allow him to enter into the house. She was very mad at him and threatening him by saying “if he every hurt and dump me (Rose), she will make sure to haunt him (Keith) and bring him to hell with her. Keith, as always has his charm. He managed to convince Angela to be his friend rather than his enemy and surprisingly, both got on well with the platonic friendship. As for me, I was never jealous of Angela for she was the first person who put out her hand of friendship towards me when I started to work at the café. She became my elder sister and my protector beside Keith and Bob.

When my exams were near, Keith would always be in the house after work and once a while, he would drag poor Bob along with him. Bob was very uncomfortable with Angela around us. Apparently, his was a one-sided infatuation. He was infatuated with Angela and she was not showing any response. She kept telling him that she was older to him and was in relationship with someone else and to get the information straight into his head. Keith kept to his promise of not distracting me from my studies. But once a while, he would remind me that he would extract a sweet revenge from me once my exams were over. This Keith said was for tormenting and not allowing him to kiss me during my study and examination period.

It was our seventh month anniversary of getting to know each other. I told Keith, “let’s do something silly and mischievous. “Why? Keith asked me. You want my baby? I am willing to give you one, honey but you are too young for it”. “You are sick?” I told Keith. “You promise me you won’t do such things with me.” I was really mad at Keith. Keith hugged me from behind and apologized. “I remember my every words with you, Little Rose bud. A promise is a promise. I won’t break it. You will bloom under me, on our wedding night as I slowly reveal and kiss every secret of yours. He bit my left ear and said in his sultry voice, My Rose Bud have lots of secrets under her many layers of clothing, right?” “Oh! Shut up Keith” saying this, I pushed myself away from Keith and turned to face him. “Keith, lets do a tattoo. I will do a tattoo of the alphabet “K” which you are always penning in that beautiful old manuscript, vintage handwriting. I will tattoo it here (I touched my hand to my left chest) and you can do a rose or an alphabet ‘R’ on your chest. I will do it on my left side and you do it on your right. What say you, Keith?” There was a silent and then Keith said, “I think I need to tame my shrew again. It has been a long time and it’s high time I extract my revenge since your final exams are long over.” Keith said with a cheeky grin on his face.

“Look Keith”. This is my last request. “I will never ask you for anything again. All these while, you have been giving it to me without me asking from you. Please for my sake dear?” “Do you know of any tattoo shop which is open now?” Keith asked me after a moment of silence. “Yes. I replied. I know one, which is on the other side of these blocks. Let’s go together before you change your mind and thank you, Keith”. On the way to the shop Keith was muttering something about having unnecessary pain flinching on oneself. He chose a rose tattoo, which he wanted and asked the manager to modify and make it fancy. Suddenly Keith turned around and told me in my ears to keep my dignity for “these (he pointed discreetly to my chest) are solely for my eyes only”. I could not be angry with Keith and laugh out loudly. He was finally doing something, which I really wanted to do with him only. “Don’t worry, I assured him. The lady boss is tattooing for me. Is this design of the alphabet ‘K’ okay with you or do you want to modify it?” I asked Keith, showing him the piece of paper in my hand. He was surprised and said, “I thought I have thrown that manuscript design away. It’s okay with me. It is my design. You can have that tattooed. On your left, right?” said Keith with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. After the tattoo was done, Keith insists on seeing the tattoo on my slope of my left breast. Laughingly, I told Keith to hang on for it will be my wedding gift to him. “Let me kiss the pain away,” he insisted. “No, I insist and also not allowing him to caress it with his index finger”. After much disagreement from both sides, I settle for a kiss on my lips, which made Keith very happy.

While we were slowly strolling down the road to hit home, four black cars stopped by us, making Keith to tense immediately. He refused to answer me when I asked who they were. From the first black car, Bob alighted, looking very worried and quickly said, “Sorry brother and looked at the second sleek black car with total black windows. A manly voice from that car demanded Keith presence in the car immediately. Keith quickly turned to me, blocking me with his body and told me to go home know and wait for his call. I have never seen this side of Keith before. He looked furious and defiant. I quickly nodded my head and give him a weak smile. I started walking down the road, while Keith straighten his shoulders and went to sit in the second black car. All four cars went pass by me with such fast speed. I was literally shaking. When I reached home and on seeing Angela, I quickly hugged her and told her what has happened. I confided to Angela about my guts feelings of being separated from Keith and may be I should stop seeing Keith. Angela looked at me with a very worried face and told me to lie low for the time being. I did not receive a call from Keith that night but only a text message, cheering me to stay put, have confidence and trust in him. I showed the message to Angela, asking for her advice. All I got in response from Angela was to stay out of sight and not to report to work for the time being.

I was woken up from my sleep by the persistent ringing of my hand phone. It was Bob, telling me that Keith wanted him to call me to ensure that I was fine and no harm had been done to me. I assured Bob that I was fine and safe and asked Bob what was going on. All Bob could say was hell has broken loose in Keith’s house, involving Keith’s father, Keith and me. Bob mention something like “keep low”, “Keith said he will call you.” Then Bob continues in incoherent sentences…“Father and son having tumultuous relationship after the death of Keith’s mother”, “father not able to manage his anger”, “father doing things in impulsive manners” and “father and son not seeing eye to eye”. I told Bob that I don’t understand what he was saying but assured him that I will keep low and wait for Keith to call when all is settled. Noises could be heard in the background while Bob was talking to me and suddenly the line went “dead”. Angela hugged me and assured me that all will be well and to wait for Keith’s called. One day Angela came home after work, looking very worried. She told me the lady manager has laid me off and passed me an envelope containing my salary. There was no news from Keith and Bob for almost a week. Angela also mentioned that these two have not been visiting the café too.

I was anxious and frightened. I cursed myself for falling for Keith in the first place and not judging the consequences of my fallacy of falling in love with a rich kid. I have ignited the bad flame between the father and son and my love was responsible for all this. I felt like running away but my promise to Keith to trust him came haunting back to me. There was lots going in my mind; fear, anger, frustration, sadness and disgust at myself. Two weeks after this incident, there was a knock on our door. Both Angela and myself refused to open the door. We looked at each other with fear. The knocking went louder and suddenly we heard Bob’s voice pleading with us to open the door. Angela opened the door and quickly pulled Bob in and shut the door behind her. I asked Bob why and what was he doing here. Bob looked at Angela and pulled me into my room. “Rose, there is a message from Keith. He is planning an escape route for you to be kept alive and safe”. My legs wobble and I quickly sat on the bed. Seeing my worried look, Bob quickly assured me that Keith would be you. At this moment Angela walked him and hit Bob hard on his head. “What nonsense are you talking about? Are you saying that Rose’s life is in danger?” “Who are you guys that we the poor and local has to be afraid of?” “Mafias?” “Godfathers?” At this Bob nodded his head, while rubbing his head at the same time. Angela started swearing at Bob. But Bob only had his pleading eyes on me and kept saying, “Rose, Keith is waiting for you. He is taking this drastic step to keep the woman he loved safe and alive. Please come. I am to take you to him.” “Please Rose, I have never seen Keith that desperate. He really loves you more than his life and is making the dangerous move without his father knowing it”. I was in a dilemma. On one side Angela pulling me to her side and the other side, Bob dragging me towards the door. “Idiot, stop. I am not sending my friend to Keith,” Angela said in anger and in a crying voice.

I could no longer constraint my anger too. I took a deep breath and told Bob “since Keith is waiting for me, I would go to him, for I trust him completely”. I left the house with Bob, after giving Angela a quick hug. She was still protesting when I sat in the car with Bob beside me. Angela’s last words to me, before the car move on, “don’t go. My heart says it’s not a good feeling.” Ignoring Angela, Bob drove the car. Bob tried to cheer me up by telling me to keep Keith happy for he is a good guy. “One woman man” Bob said with a serious face. The only answer I could give Bob was a weak smile and a nod. After an hour drive, we reached a quiet road, where I noticed Keith’s car parked in a secluded area. Upon seeing Bob’s car, Keith got out from his car and got me out once Bob’s car had come to a halt. No time wasted and we were on the road again. Keith kept apologizing and promise to keep me safe. All I could do was to nod my head.

While we were driving, four black cars suddenly engulfed us. A group of men came out from the car and started walking towards Keith and me. Keith told me to stay in the car and got out of the car. Suddenly punches were thrown at each other and then another car came up. It was Bob. He joined in the fight and told Keith to get me (Rose) to safety. One man opened my passenger door and pulled me out. Keith came pouncing on him and told him “keep his hands to himself” and not to touch me. The next moment, I heard Bob shouting, “Keith, look out”. Too late. Keith was knocked on the head by a stick and blood was gushing from where he had been hit. I was panic-stricken. I knelt next to Keith and kept calling is name. The man who hit Keith came for me and I heard Bob’s voice, calling out for Keith and telling me to run. The man pulled my hair and tore me away from Keith’s side. He started slapping and punching me like a rag. I heard Bob’s voice in agony. “No…No…not Rose, please”. “Keith get up brother…. before he (Bob) went limp on the ground too. I kept screaming Keith’s name in agony. Keith attacker kept slapping and punching me. I was being battered very badly was slowly losing my level of consciousness when I was pushed roughly in the car. I willed myself not to allow total darkness to engulf me but I finally lost my battle in my unmarked, opened grave in the wilderness.

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