The next day, on Saturday night, we all decided to go and check my house. It looked the same like it did a week ago, before my kidnapping.
As we were walking towards the front door, all the memories I had shared with my parents in this house started replaying in my head. How mom and I were so excited when we first moved into this house. Mom was so eager to decorate and design it. How she used to get mad when dad would enter the house with dirty shoes. How she would show off the house to her friends. How I would run around in the house pretending to be flying like a bird.
The flowers in my garden reminded me of the times me and dad planted them together. We were so exhausted by the end of it and mom had made my favourite smoothie to cheer us up.
Times have changed so much. Why did my parents change like that? What did I do to make them hate me so much?
"Jen, is everything alright?" Max asked me, bringing me out of my thoughts. I hadn't even realised that I was tearing up. The others looked at me with concern too.
"Yeah, I am. I was.....just remembering the old times. My memories that I had shared with my parents and this house." I replied in a quiet voice.
"Are you sure we can do this, Jennifer? We don't have to do this if you don't want to."Â Damien said to me. "Yes." I said while nodding and wiping my tears.
We entered the house and it was just like I had left it. Th ice cream tub was still kept on the table. However, the TV and lights were switched off.
"Wait.. How are the ligts and TV switched off? And omg the house wasn't even locked!" I glared at them.
"We switched off the lights before leaving. We know how Important electricity is." Zack said.
"And as for locking the house, we didn't find it necessary." Liam shrugged.
I took them to my parents room and handed them my mom's jewellery and dad's Watch collection. I opened the locker and took out all the money. Then I left them to wander around the house to inspect other valuables and furniture.
I went inside my room and nostalgia hit me hard. This was the house I grew up in and this is how I would be leaving it.
I sat down on my bed, remembering how as a child I would get scared because of the nightmares and mom and dad would tell me stories to make me sleep. How they would tuck me in my bed before kissing me good night.
I saw all the pictures of me and my family hanging on the walls. All my clothes and books, everything made me cry. The view of the street my window offered, I will miss everything.
"Jennifer, let's go. We've seen everything. It will take time to sell it all so let's go back home for now." Max said while entering my room.
He stood beside me, and started looking at all the photos. "You look like such a happy family in these photos." He remarked.
"Good times don't stay forever." I said while walking out of the room.
"And so do bad times." Max replied.
***
I was sulking in the couch, hugging a pillow. The others were chatting with each other.
They all looked so happy and relieved and it made me content to see them like this.
I was still drowning in my old memories when Damien sat on the couch beside me. I glanced up at him to see him looking so genuinely happy that I couldn't help but smile at him.
"Wanna go somewhere with me?" He suddenly asked.
I was startled by his offer as I wasn't expecting that at all.
Say yes, you dimwit!
"Sure. Why not." I tried to say in a calm tone.
Okay good, I thought you'd say something stupid.
I am not as dumb as you think I am.
Mhm. Sure.
He got up and extended his hand towards me to grab. I hesitated at first but took it eventually, making my stomach fill up with butterflies.
Just a simple touch from him made me react this way. What's happening to me?!
The others saw us leaving and exchanged looks but didn't say anything. I didn't knew where we were going but I was excited.
The car ride was silent. My hands were becoming sweaty again and again because of the nervousness and I had to constantly keep wiping them on my jeans.
Please don't embarrass yourself in front of him.
I'll try.
Damien stopped the car and got out. I soon followed suit. He came towards me and took my hand and we started walking. I couldn't concentrate on where I was going because all my brain could focus on, was the feel of my hand in his. My cheeks were flushed but due to the night sky, no one could see them.
He looked handsome as ever under the moonlight. A few strands of his hair were fallen upon his eyes and it was so difficult to keep my hands from touching his messy hair.
We stopped and he let go of my hand.
Only then, did I notice that we were standing on a hill top and the view it offered was breathtaking.
I gasped as I took in the beautiful scenery in front of me. The twinkling stars above us and the city lighted up in colourful lights below. It was all so mesmerising.
"Did you like it?" Damien's voice snapped my attention back to him.
"I love it!" I exclaimed, making him smile.
"I often come here when I am sad or depressed. Today I came here because I was so happy. And you're the reason for it." He said while staring deeply into my eyes. His eyes were shining due to the moonlight and he looked like a prince straight out of a fairytale.
Control yourself, Jennifer.
I'm trying.
"I'm happy to know that I'm the reason for someone's happiness."
***
We were lying next to each other on the grass, gazing up at the stars. Why was the sky looking so beautiful today?
Because Damien is here with you.
So?
You're in love, girl.
No!
Yes!
But I shouldn't be in love with him!
Darling, you don't plan before falling in love. It just... Happens.
But he belongs to someone else.
It doesn't matter.
Of course it does.
I turned my head to look at Damien to find him already staring at me. My cheeks flushed again.
"You know Jennifer, you're the first person I brought up here." Damien said, still staring at me.
"Even before Celine?"
Why did I have to ask that?!
"Yeah."
Both of us were staring intently into each other's eyes. I wanted to look away but due to some magical force, I just couldn't.
"You love her a lot, don't you." I blurted out.
Are you dumb? Of course he does!
What's wrong in asking?
"More than anyone else. She was the first girl I fell in love with." He said, finally looking away from me.
We continued lying down there in peaceful silence. "I wish someone would love me as much as you love Celine."
Shit. I didn't mean to say that out loud!
Once again, he locked eye contact with me. "The guy to have you would be really lucky, Jennifer."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
We both smiled at each other.
But I want you to be that guy.
What? No! That can't happen!
Why not?
I don't want to steal him from Celine.
What if he-
No! Stop! Please.
After a few more minutes of lying on the grass, we decided to head back home.
But before I could sit inside the car, Damien kept his hand on my shoulder and I turned around to find him standing inches away from me.
"Thank you so much, Jennifer." He smiled and I could see the genuineness in his eyes.
He then walked around to sit in the driver's seat and we drove back home. The others had already went to sleep by the time we reached back.
Damien wished me goodnight and left.
I couldn't sleep. Damien's face kept appearing in front of my eyes everytime I would close them. The way he looks and smiles at me makes my heart beat two times faster. I was the first person he took on that hill top! I am somewhat special to him, right?
Jennifer, stop.
I don't understand you! One time you say that's it's okay to love him and the other, you tell me to stop.
It is Okay to love him, but you'll just end up getting hurt in the end.
So what should I do?
I don't know.
I think it's better to sleep for now.
Yes. Goodnight.
Goodnight.