CHAPTER 31 - JANE (PARALLEL UNIVERSE)
I walk out of the grocery store, steadying the grocery bags in my arms. They're heavy and filled to their brim. It's only a matter of time before I'm tired and need to get a taxi. But for now, I'll just try to enjoy the walk.
"Jane, wait up!" June sprints slightly to meet me, as we take the sidewalk, heading home. The street is rowdy and crowded so we keep squeezing through bodies and sometimes, bumping into others.
"Why don't we just grab a taxi already? It's tiring carrying these bags and bumping into people." I sigh, adjusting the weights on my arms. This definitely isn't what I signed up for.
"Going home with a taxi will make us get home faster, and that's gonna ruin everything."
"Ruin what?" I ask confusedly.
"Your little time outside," June replies, flipping her hair. "C'mon Jane, you've spent weeks brooding and wallowing in misery. You refused to leave the apartment. This is your first time out, in two weeks. You should enjoy the fresh air a bit."
"Yeah, right." I scoff, not feeling the thrill at all. She has just one bag and I have two! My arms are hurting. I'm still sullen and just want to spend the whole day in my bed. Like I've been doing for two weeks.
"Staying locked in won't do you any good. You'll only feel more depressed." June continues with her lecture. "Let me ask you this, and don't you dare lie to me."
"Okay, go ahead," I reply, awaiting her questions.
"Didn't you have fun today?" She asks, stepping in front of me and almost bumping into a man.
"June, watch it." I caution her, pulling her away from the almost collision.
"Sorry!" She giggles, waving at the man who doesn't even spare her a glance. "I'm still waiting, Jane."
"Well…" I drawl, rolling my eyes. I didn't wanna admit it. But I can't lie either. She'll call me out for it.
"Say it, Jane. C'mon." She pouts, flipping her hair again. She does a lot of hair-flipping. It's more of a habit now.
"Okay, fine. I had fun!" I blurt out, with a laugh. She laughs too, leaping and clapping like a child. June is such a breath of fresh air and it's almost impossible not to have fun around her.
Her wild, crass attitude forces out your crazy side, and you're left with no choice but to vibe with her.
And she's right, I've been doing a whole lot of brooding lately and it's left me even more depressed. But then, I couldn't help it. My life has taken a crazy drastic route in the last two weeks.
After walking out on my boss and his wife, it was the last time I ever went back to the company. June went later to get my stuff from my desk.
I thought everything had ended and life will be easier and less complicated now that I don't have to deal with my horny boss. But I was wrong.
My boss, more like my "ex-boss wife", blacklisted me in the business world, making sure no company hired me. In the last two weeks, I've gone to over twenty interviews but they keep shutting the door in my face. Some say I have a bad record of seducing my boss. Others say I'm a bad model to aspiring secretaries. A few others tagged me as a home wrecker and a miserable mistress.
It's been heartbreaking and hectic for me because I'm being wrongly accused and I can't even prove my innocence.
That's why I've been sulking and crying my eyes out. I've got bills to pay but no hope of getting a job soon.
Yeah, I still work as a stripper but the pay is nothing close to what I earned as a secretary. It's only gonna be a matter of weeks until I'm wallowing deep in debt.
"Let's go out more often. It'll help you cheer up. I don't wanna ever see you looking sad again. It breaks my heart." June says with a smile.
"Thanks, June. But to be honest, that's not my priority now. I need to find a job or I might go crazy." I sigh, going closer to June, and making our shoulders brush each other as we walk.
"That's true," June sighs. "I hate that old hag more now than ever. She's so mean. It's not your fault her dry ass isn't appealing anymore. How could she try to ruin you like this?"
"She had every reason to be mad at me. I was almost kissing her husband when she walked in. Any woman will get mad at that situation."
"No, Jane. You got that wrong. Uh-uh. She had no fucking right to be mad at you." June says, waving a finger in the air. "It's not your fault her husband was sex-starved. And it's definitely not your fault that he thinks you're sexy…"
"Shush. Tune it down," I mumble, glancing around to be sure no one is eavesdropping. It's embarrassing to let the world know my way-too-older boss wanted to fuck me.
"If there's anyone to be blamed, it's her." June continues in a lower pitch. "It's her fault she stopped being sexy and became a grumpy old hag!"
"June, that's enough. Please." I adjust the bags again, feeling more miserable than ever.
"Why? After what she did to you, why ain't you even mad at you?"
"I am mad at her. I just don't like saying mean stuff about others. It makes me feel uneasy."
"Oh, dear Jane. I've never seen anyone so much as a saint as you are." June laughs, patting my shoulder. "If I was in your shoes, I'd have dragged her to filth already."
"I'm sure you would have…"
"And not just that." June cuts in. "I would also accept her husband's offer and fuck him in their matrimonial bed, just to spite her to hell. She deserves it."
"Well, I'm not anything like you, June. I hate drama, and I'll never get involved with my ex-boss. Especially not after this mess."
Beads of sweat drip down from my neck to my back, and I feel my top getting drenched by the sweat. I badly need to get out of this sun.
"The poor man," June mutters with a sad sigh, going through her phone.
I glance at her and see that she's reading some content. "What is it about?" I ask, itchy for a little gossip. Maybe it'll help me forget how hot I am.
"R & R. It's been facing severe criticism ever since the incident at the nightclub. Netizens have been calling Richard Riggo out for being such a pretender, and a woman-beater."
"Serves him right. " I snort, increasing my stride. Just the mere thought of that man drives me insane. After what he did that night at the nightclub, I lost every respect I ever did put on his name.
It's been two weeks but his grey, haughty eyes still haunt my dreams. The way he stared at me as he was being pulled away by the other guy was unnerving. I still can't get it out of my head.
"He doesn't deserve it." June retorts. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have spilled my drink on him."
"Why do you keep defending that man? I don't get it."
"No, I'm not defending him. I just think the netizens are being way too harsh on him. He's always had a good record, the perfect gentleman. How could they forget that over a simple slip of aggressiveness? It's mean…"
I tune out her rambling, as I glance at my wristwatch. Thirty minutes are gone and we're yet to get home. I think I'll just have to flag down a taxi. I can't keep up with this.
I step into the side of the street, but trip over something, and the stuffed teddy in my bag fell off. It was a little extra and June paid for it. I couldn't let it get crushed by the cars.
Without a second thought, I jump into the street for it. I merely pick it up when a deafening honk from a car scares the hell out of me.
I remain frozen at the spot and let out a shriek but it stops very close to my leg. Panic slams my heart, and I only move away as June pulls my hand.
"Are you okay?" Her voice is laced with worries. "Did you get hit?"
"No, I'm alright." I try for a smile, but I'm still too shaken by what just happened.
"Hey, are you okay?" A voice asks from behind and I turn. The driver's door of the car that almost hit me is open, so I'm guessing he alighted from it.
"Yes–" I'm on the verge of nodding but then I recognize him and I pause. He's the guy from that night. The side-kick of Richard Riggo.
He seems to have recognized us too 'cause his eyes are wide and he's staring at June and I.
"Jane?" Another deeper, husky voice calls me and I turn my head around. My breath hitches at the person heading toward me.