47: THE HATRED IS MUTUAL
ARIEL’S POV
The second bullet came flying towards Luke, the man, and me. But it was quite a miracle that it still didn’t hit any of us. And with this, Luke and I hunkered down. More bullets came our way, and the
baldheaded man was able to fire back at whoever was attacking us.
After a few moments of releasing some bullets, the man looked at us. “The both of you, follow me, he instructed and moved away, at a fast pace. Luke and I glanced at each other before trailing behind
him.
He took us deep inside the forest, and I could see a farmhouse a little bit far from us.
“So what happened back there?” The baldheaded man quizzed, as the three of us were now walking at normal pace. “You guys have a problem with someone?”
“As for me, no. But this woman right here?” Luke pointed at me. “She has a problem with everyone. She’s even a huge problem to herself.“–
I glared at him. He smirked in response, and I turned my face away quickly.
“Nah, I think those guys were after you, young man. Most of the bullets fired, were aimed in your direction,” the man said, turning to Luke.
Luke halted, and so did I. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked.
“Someone is after your life,” the baldheaded man told him. “It’s very clear that person wants you
dead. And I just have to let you know right now, that if anyone comes shooting at us, you’re the target.
((
“That’s crazy. Why would someone be wishing me dead?” Luke queried himself, living in his own thoughts.
“It’s not surprising, is it?” I told him and he looked at me. “I mean, you’ve never been a great guy. “Just because I wasn’t nice to you, doesn’t mean I wasn’t nice to others,” he spat.
I chuckled. “What a hypocritical fool you are then.‘
“What did you just say?” he asked like he was going to cut my head off or something.
I looked him right in the eyes. “You’re going to deny it now? Three good years spent with you was nothing but hell. And here you are, saying you’ve been nice to other people. This shows how you’re a good–for–nothing scumbag. What did I even do to you for you to treat me like that?” I uttered, my tone was getting louder each second.
Luke rolled his eyes, growling in annoyance. “I thought we were over this.”
“Yeah we are. But everything’s still stuck in my head. Don’t think I’ll be able to throw away those terrible memories.”
47: THE HATRED IS MUTUAL
2/3
“Well to hell with you and your worthless memories,” Luke spat. “You should even be happy that I’m about to marry you again. Consider yourself lucky.”
“Why should I? Are you some sort of gold or something?” I crossed my arms.
Luke budged his face closer. “I don’t want to start arguing with you. Right now, I’ve got better things to be thinking about.”
“Things like what? How you’re going to get yourself out of this sticky situation?” I retorted.
“Watch it, okay? We’re still not sure if those guys are after me.”
“Well I wish they are. I wish they can just come here right now and take the living soul of you!” My anger aggrandized.
“After I saved your life, this is what you feel, huh? This is what you want?”
“Saved my life?” I chuckled. “Please Luke, don’t make me die in laughter. When did you save my life?”
He was about to speak, but I interrupted him. “If you’re talking about back then after the funeral, you’re clearly mistaking. You did save me from those bullets, that’s true. But you were only trying to protect yourself. So don’t start acting like a hero around here.”
“What?” Luke blurted, making an irritated face. “That doesn’t even make any sense. If I wanted to save only myself, I would have just zoomed off without pushing your lame ass to the ground.‘
Yeah, that is true. But I wasn’t going to keep silent. I wasn’t going to be defeated in this one.
“I know you have no brain. You just love thinking like a fool,” Luke spoke these harsh words. “Even if a rock got no senses, it’s a hundred times better than you. Nitwit.”
“You are impossible!” I snapped. “You still have the guts to be talking like a fool when you’re clearly the one who’s at fault here!”
“How exactly?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “Because if I can remember, you’re the one who started the whole nonsense.”
“And I wasn’t lying. You are a hypocrite. Luke Reynold, acting all nice to the people, loved by everyone, and yet he treated his own wife like trash.”
“You and I both know the reason why.”
“I was never a golddigger, okay? And I didn’t even have any clue of the deal my parents made with Sir Reynold. So if you’re going to start blaming anyone for ruining your dry relationship with your lover, point the fingers at them.”
Luke heaved his finger at me. The warning sign, I’d say. “Don’t you dare talk nonsense about my grandfather. We just finished his funeral. Have some respect you moron.”
“Sorry, but I’m only saying the truth,” I said. The anger in my eyes was absolutely visible.
“You better watch your mouth. If you keep on spitting nonsense, I’ll have no other option but to….”
- THE HATRED IS MUTUAL
3/3
“But to what, huh? Hit me?” I cut him off. “Go ahead then. Inflict the pain on me like you always did those years.”
Luke’s baleful look compounded. “You and I both know that I never laid my hands on you,” he said bitterly, with his voice barely above a whisper. “But now you’re laying false accusations at me.”
“You didn’t touch me, yes. But only your words, actions, and ignorance brought deep pain to my heart. You can just complete the sequence right now by hitting me.” I could hear the pain in my voice. Harking my mind back to those times always left me broken. And today, it did again.
“You’re an idiot if you think I’m going to fall into these temptations invoked by you.” Luke still wore his dark look. Indeed, the hatred is mutual.
“Okay that’s enough!” The baldheaded man chimed in with a loud scream. “I’ve had enough. Will the both of you stop fighting like children?”
“Well tell her to have some senses. I won’t be able to put up with her if she keeps on with this nonsense. I’ll just get the hell out of here,” Luke talked like he was of any use around here.
“That’s right, leave!” I bawled. “Maybe you can leave the earth as well. Cause I believe those guys won’t hesitate to end your worthless life.”
“I thought I told you guys to put an end to your silly fight!” The baldheaded man spoke harshly. Have you both heard of the saying; two heads are better than one?”
Luke and I gave him no response. We refused to utter a single word. And yes, our countenances were still the opposite of happy, gleeful, and friendly.
“Now I don’t need to know what happened between the both of you in the past. I just want to focus on the present, where we stand at the moment. Right now, the two are you are in a serious trouble. So I think it’s better not to bring up a conversation that’s going to lead to a heated argument.”
He glanced at the two of us. “You guys claim to hate each other, right? But that’s not what I’m seeing around here. I can see the passion in your eyes. The anger might be there but it’s going to slowly fade. Your history together might be terrifically bad. But destiny has brought the both of you into each other’s arms once again.
“My grandfather was the one who brought us back together,” Luke said coldly. “And please, don’t start bringing out romantic quotes.”
48: BITTERNESS ENKINDLED
