Chapter 22: CHAPTER 22
Pop smoke ft Lil baby: For the night
~The broken may be fixed, but some pieces will never be found ~
~Mina
SERAPHINA'S POV
One year, twelve months, fifty-two weeks, three hundred and sixty-five days, eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours, to get over Tyler. The most depressing stage of my life.
There were the days I cried myself to sleep.
Endless breakdowns on an empty stomach.
Lost thirty pounds in two weeks.
I felt betrayed, used and trashed.
Insecurity and self-loathe, I battled.
Depression and Post Traumatic Stress, I was diagnosed with.
Admitted to different hospitals. Referred to the world's top psychotherapists. Just mention the name, and I'll tell you the nationality.
Gradually, my condition worsened. My subconscious gradually detached from my body. Trying to find an escape route. The pain was unbearable.
Day by day, I slipped into a partial coma.
And there was the final and most horrendous phase.
Suicide. Five attempts and one almost successful, but for Asher's intervention.
At the point of no return, I eventually grew numb from all the pain, depression and stress.
From there, it was sleeping in his shirts. Surprisingly, they brought me comfort.
Primarily, it was hard, but as the days passed by, I found it normal sleeping in his clothes. At a point, they started to feel like some random Pajamas I sleep in. Totally casual.
Hope started arising, as I trained myself not to give up on me.
To retrieve my humanity, I resorted to online group therapy and counselling.
Months later, and I was all about myself and well being. Although memory fragments of Tyler still lurked around, I refused to let them overpower me like before.
Despite all the rough and bumpy paths, I became a free bird.
I believed I could do it, and I did.
If anything, one morale I learnt from this remarkable experience was that sometimes breakups weren't meant for make-ups. Sometimes they were meant for wake-ups.
Today, here I stood, after two years, recalling the memories. Sympathy surged in me, as I watched a friend, follow my footsteps on the same journey.
Miskha repeatedly hit the punching bag until it exploded, sand spreading everywhere. She pushed her hair back and screamed.
"Phina, I think we should go in now," Severina whispered. I sighed and took a deep breath before walking into the gym, Severina following closely behind.
"I only hope I don't lose it," I mumbled.
"You won't. Just stay strong."
I squatted to Miskha's level from where she laid sprawled on the sand, with her back to us. I gently helped her sit up and my heart clenched on seeing her face.
How could one have the heart to hurt such a caring and selfless girl?
"I loved him you know. I still do." She chuckled. I remained silent, not wanting to interrupt her. I was going to help her through this. I've been through the same. So, if anyone understands her better, it's me.
"Funny how I knew he wasn't fully interested in the relationship and still turned a blind eye to it. I was in denial, Seraphina. Denial of the fact that the only guy I've ever loved doesn't return my feelings. Afraid of the fact that the one guy I've ever opened up, to might not feel the same way about me."
I can't decipher how I felt at this moment. Even Severina was discreetly wiping her eyes, thinking no one was watching. It was heartbreaking.
"Why now though? Why wait until I was fully committed? Why wait until I fell deep? When I couldn't be myself without him anymore, he decided to play with my feelings." She sobbed.
"You know what's painful? Choosing my own best friend over me. I always knew Ahmed wasn't faithful, but I never expected the other girl to be Sophia. That was the hardest blow."
Insecurity.
"Made me wonder what she had that I was lacking. It couldn't possibly be looks. I'm pretty and cool okay. Any guy would kill to be with me. And maybe that's the issue Phina. Maybe, he saw me as an easy target. Too cheap, too easy to shoot at and miss. Having dated a lot of guys and all."
Self-hate.
She broke down for almost an hour, and I patiently cradled her head in my lap, comforting her.
My phone suddenly rang, ending our peaceful silence. I didn't bother checking the caller ID. I already knew who it was.
Enrique had offered to take me out the previous day. I was already dressed, and on my way to the library to kill time before he arrives, when I came across Miskha in the gym.
"Yeah, I'll meet you at the gate." I hung up and put the phone in my clutch before standing up.
"I'll be leaving now Miskha, but Severina's here okay? She'll take care of you."
"Thank you. I love you." She whispered with a weak smile.
"Love you too. Bye." I waved and left.
Enrique's black range rover was packed at the gate, with the passenger's side already opened for me. I couldn't love this guy less. He was so perfect.
I buckled up and gave him a short, but sensual kiss.
"Where to?"
"I hope you've packed a bikini?"
He smirked.
Sneaky bastard. Let's see where he takes us.
"I flew to Paris just to buy some Dior,
She beggin' for attention, I don't see her,
See, I could pop out, wish that could see us,
Me and cash plus whenever I go re-up,
I got some niggas in the street, wanna beat me,
I got the industry tryna be me,
I just go Ray Charles, they can't see me,
I'm in the Rolls Royce with the"
"I never knew you could rap this well."
"I can't. I just have a crazy obsession over Pop Smoke." I laughed.
"You're good." Enrique complimented. He applied more suncream on my back and gently massaged it. I moaned and lean back, the feeling intense. His hands were heaven.
Apparently, Enrique's version of a 'little date' was taking a cruise on a sixty-foot yacht in the middle of nowhere. The ride was quite long, considering we reached by six pm, having taken off from campus at four pm.
Initially, I thought Enrique was going to hand me over to some mafia Don in exchange for money when hefty men dressed in black suits received us at the deck. However, every fear and hesitation vanished in thin air when I heard them refer to him as Boss. Meaning I was in safe hands. The hands of the 'Boss' himself. Okay, girl.
"It's so peaceful out here." I traced Enrique's tattoo with my fingers.
"It's my favourite place." He nodded, massaging my scalp.
"Babe, do I need a haircut?"
"No. Not at all. Your hair is perfect like this."He assured.
"You're the first to say that. My siblings had been all over my ass about getting a haircut." I sighed, recalling the memory.
"You have one interesting family."
"Tell me about it. They are genuine people though you know." I craned my neck to look at him, only to find him already staring at me.
"What?" I chuckled.
"Being this beautiful is illegal." He breathed, tracing my jawline. I got off his lap, and went over to the edge of the yacht, running my fingers on the railing. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, sighing in content as the wind blew my hair. I felt hands encircled my waist from behind, pulling me flush against a warm body.
"I almost sold this yacht. It was a matter of signing a contract, and millions of dollars will be transferred to my account, but one thought was all it took, to have me cancelling the entire deal."
"How could you throw away such an opportunity? Why?" I couldn't believe it for the life of me. We're talking about a once-in-a-lifetime deal here. I mean, it's not every day that you get people willing to do multi-million dollar business transactions.
"You."
"Huh?" I was confused.
"I did it for you. Remember when you told me your biggest dream is to go on a cruise. I decided to cancel the deal and transfer the ownership to your name. This is your yacht Seraphina. "
No
Fucking
Way.
I turned in his arms and placed my palms on his hard chest. Trust me this guy's fine. He could definitely pass as a model.
"I can't accept this Rique. It's too much. You've got to stop spending money on me. I'm human not an object bro."
His face fell after my mini-outburst but he was quick to mask it. I felt guilty for lashing out though. God, how ungrateful was I?
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it like that I...
He shut me with his lips, ending my ranting. Our lips moved perfectly in sync as we delved into passion. I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. He lifted me up, leaving me with no other choice but to wrap my legs around his waist. The contrast between our bodies made everything more intense. Me with my cold body, and him with his abnormally warm one.
"Let's go inside." He murmured against my lips, and I nodded absentmindedly, so dazed to form a coherent sentence.
Our lips still locked in a passionate kiss, he carried us to a huge cabinet in the yacht and gently laid me on the bed before locking the door. He hovered over me and peppered wet kisses over my body. I wrapped my legs around him, and hugged him closer to me, not wanting to let go. I wanted more. Needed more.
Enrique reached for my bikini bottom, At the same time, his phone rang, ruining the moment. I suddenly felt exposed and self-conscious.
He cursed and tossed the phone. "Forget it. Let's continue."
"No. It might be something important for all we know. Maybe even a family member. "
He groaned and received the call, lowly cursing at whoever was at the receiving end.
Getting cock-blocked isn't the best feeling people. He came back in after few minutes and sighed, flopping down on the bed.
"Everything okay?" Excuse my nosiness, but I was just being considerate with my loved ones.
"Yeah, it's just my parents. They'll be landing this midnight"
"As in they're coming home?"
I couldn't help the nervousness in my voice.
"Yeah, so I've to get the house modified. " He continued, checking his wristwatch. I knew he didn't want to end our date this way but I understood. He had to do what was asked of him. Parents were a priority after all.
"Let's get going then. You don't want them to come to a littered house now, do you?" I joked, making him chuckle.
"Alright. I'm so sor...
"Don't you dare," I warned. He put an imaginary zip on his lips and pretended to throw the key away. Better.
We got dressed and set for home.
A car ride worth two damned hours. Might as well prepare for a sore butt.
You didn't complain while you were going. Shut it bitch.
The ride was pretty quick, contrary to when we were going. Enrique dropped me off on campus and walked me to my dorm before leaving. What a gentleman.
That night, I stayed up late, relishing on the memories until sleep took over, submitting me to peaceful and serene darkness.
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I promise I didn't write this chapter😂🤭
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Xoxo,
Mina.
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