I hastened toward the front door after the check had been made. There was no bouncer at the door, and I stood still as I wondered what I should do.
This was my first time in a place like this, so I was confused about what to do. Should I open the door and walk in, or should I stand here until the door bouncer comes in?There should be a bouncer or butler, right? I glanced back at the guards at the gates, but none of them was watching me.Hmm.I stared at the door so long, that I seemed to stab holes into it.“Are you going in, or do you prefer staying outside?” Someone asked behind me.The voice startled me, and I almost threw the handbag I came with, on the ground.“Oh, my. Did I startle you?” The female asked once more.I slowly turned to face her without saying a word. Just like me, the female was putting on a long flowing gown. She had her red hair tied up in a butterfly ponytail, and her black mask complimented her silver gown.“So, what are you doing outside here?” She asked in an impatient tone.“I want to enter, but I don't know how to do so.” I nervously chuckled. “This is my first time here, so.....” I trailed off, not knowing what to say.“Oh, dear.” She closed the distance between us and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Did you come with anyone?” She inquired, sounding a bit gossipy.“Nah.” I frantically shook my head. “I came alone,” I forced a smile.“Good, now you have me as a partner.” She linked her arm with mine. “I'm Baddy, by the way, what's your name?”“Caged butterfly,” I said as I tried not to cringe at the name.“Caged butterfly?” She pursed her lips. “How did you come up with such a name? Is there any story behind it?”“You can say that.” I held on tightly to my purse. “There's a story, but it's a long one.”I saw no use in telling her the reason I chose such a name.I was here to escape from reality, and not to still dwell on the same reality.“The name is dope. Wish I thought of it when I was asked to choose a name.” She grinned. “Caged Baddy seemed so dope. Don't you think so?”“Nah, I like your name. It's simple and sexy.” I grinned.“Thanks.” She giggled. “I thought the name sounded bland.”“You are welcome.”“So Butterfly, I think it's time to introduce you to a new whole world. A world you can do just anything without getting exposed.” She took my hand in hers. “Let's exclude the caged from the butterfly.”“Okay.”I followed her into the building.“Wow.”Was the first word that escaped my mouth as I looked around the place. Dumbstruck by not only the beauty of the place, but the people in it.This place looked like it was cut from a movie. The getup, the decorations and the loud classic music playing from wherever it was playing made the entire place lively.This looks like a classic ballroom straight from the medieval books I love getting lost in. There was nothing different between this room and the ones I'd watched in movies.It seemed the owner of this place made it look exactly like the ballroom in movies.Most of the couples were dancing. And each of them had a special mask on their face.Those who weren't dancing were either sitting on the cushions or speaking with someone.The bar area was also filled with those who were more in the mood to drink than socialize or dance.“Wow, right?” Baddy asked. “I thought so on my first day here. Just like you, I was stunned by the beauty of this place.”“It's more than— wow!” I gasped when my eyes landed on the dessert table. “Don't tell me I am seeing exactly what I think I am seeing.” I feasted my eyes on the table of goodies.“And I landed myself with a foodie.” Baddy sighed. “Do you want to go over there?”“Of course!”Miguel never allowed me to take more than a needed amount of sweet things each day, that was why seeing an entire table of sweet things made me happy I came here.“Let's go, then.” She took my hand in hers and led me to the table.I let go of her hands as I devoured sweet after sweet.“You look like someone free from something. I guess caged butterfly suits you.” Baddy pursed her lips.“Of course.” I ate as much as I could before she dragged me over to the bar.“Order whatever you want, butterfly. It's on me.”“Thanks.”I ordered a Sprite, something that causedBaddy to cough when she heard my order.“You are not taking any alcohol?” She asked as if not taking alcohol is a crime.“Will you laugh if I tell you I've not taken alcohol all my life?” I placed my handbag on the table.“Wait a minute, you've not taken alcohol? Before? What are you, a saint?” She asked, probably shocked.“Nah, my hus… I mean, my mother doesn't support that.” I hastily said as I tried to hide the embarrassed flush on my face. In a bid to escape the questioning look in Baddy's eyes, I met the gaze of a man.“Who's that?” I nudged Baddy.“Who?”“The only male sitting on that red Sofa,” I whispered to her as I discreetly glanced at the man whose entire focus was on me.“Oh my gosh!” Baddy whisper yelled. “That's the owner of this place.”“I see.”That explained why he seems to have a certain aura surrounding him.The few females around him kept on staring glances at him, but he didn't seem to notice.“But why is he looking at me?” I whispered lowly, “Could it be he's noticed this is my first time being here?”“Nah, it's not possible. This is the second time I've seen him here, and the first was when there was a situation in the music area.” Baddy shook her head. “Perhaps, there is something he needed to take care of.”“But why's he staring at me?” I chanced a look at him, and sure, he was still staring at me.“I don't know,” Baddy whispered as she too discreetly glanced back. “The owner of this place is said to have a peculiar character.”“How so?” I asked eagerly.Something as juicy as learning the secrets of the owner of this place is something I can't pass out. I bet Star will love to know too.“I don't know.” Baddy took a sip of her drink.“You don't know?” I sighed, disappointed by her words.“I don't. I just overheard the conversation, but they stopped when they noticed me listening in on them.”“I see.”“Hello, lovely.” Someone slid on the chair next to mine, but I paid them no heed.“Hello.” He said again, and this time, I turned to face him.“Hi.” I forced a smile at the man before you turned to Baddy, who was trying not to laugh.“I've not seen you around here before, is it your first time being here?” The man asked in an irritating voice.“Yes, it is,” I pursed my lips when my eyes landed on the ring line on his left finger. “Today's my first day here.”“Wow, I can see that. What's your name?” He grinned. “I will love to know you.”“But I don't.” I stood up from the chair I was sitting on and took Baddy's hand. “Let's go.”I need to leave this place before the married man thinks of saying anything more.“Oh, okay.” Baddy gulped down her drink before she followed me to the dance floor.“Wait, I need to get my purse. You—” In an attempt to remove her arm from mine, Baddy mistakenly pushed me.Like a slow-motion movie, I started free-falling. Expecting to make a collision with the floor, however, I wasn't expecting to fall on something soft.I glanced up in shock, and my eyes locked with that of the stranger who had been staring at me from the cushion; the owner of the building.His arm was sturdy. It was as if time stopped, the music ceased, and everything came to a standstill as I peered into the cold eyes of the male currently preventing my fall.Looking into his golden eyes, which were so much like my husband's, I felt warm and safe.“Be careful.” He said in a gruff voice. “You wouldn't want to hurt those legs of yours, will you?”Somehow, his voice sounded familiar. Yet, I couldn't pinpoint where I heard it. “What's wrong? Love my mask?” He asked when he noticed that I still had my focus on him.At his words, I blushed. The man was still holding me tight, yet he was indirectly accusing me of staring at him. “Can you help me up?” I gulped. “Oh, sorry.” He helped me stand.“No problem.” I smiled shyly before I glanced over at Baddy. She stood like a statue as she watched my saviour as if he were one of a kind dessert that happened to make an appearance just now.She didn't even bother sparing me a glance, since her entire focus was on the man.“Baddy!
I discreetly peered at Miguel, who had his entire focus on the Television. Occasionally, he would sigh, and that was all. I crossed my right leg over my left and leaned on the cushion as I tried not to pay much heed to my husband. Most times he will glance my way. Perhaps, he was checking if I was still watching the movie with him. Oh, stop looking at me.I wanted to say, but couldn't bring myself to do just that. There was no telling what my stony husband might do to me. I yawned after a long time of watching the boring movie without understanding anything from it.The lead actor was so ugly that they made the rest of the actors and actresses seem so bland. I stretched my taut muscles and rose from the cushion I was sitting on. “Where are you going to?” He raised his brows at me. “To have a nap.” I yawned once more to emphasize my point. “Are you through with the movie?” He asked in a gruff, indifferent tone. “I will pass,” I forced a smile as I glared at the TV.Who in this wo
Unlike the first day I came for the masquerade ball, Baddy was waiting outside for me. She was putting on a pink, shimmering gown that hit her below her knees. On her feet were a pair of black nude shoes that were so high, it made me wonder how she was able to walk in them, without breaking a leg.“Butterfly, you came!” She rushed towards me like an excited little kid. “Why? Weren't you expecting me to?” I pursed my lips. “Gosh! I love your new mask. It totally suits your name. You rock it!”“Thank you. My sister chose the mask. She's particular about things like this.”“I guess I will love that sister of yours.”“You won't love her when you—”A yelp escaped from my mouth when she tugged me forward. “I've been waiting for ages. Let's go party!” She hastened towards the front door. “It's time to have a mad dance and a dash for the desserts.” She tugged me towards the table that housed the most delicious desserts ever. Baddy and I stuffed our faces with enough desserts to last us a l
Miguel has been acting weird for the past two weeks now. He seems absent-minded most of the time, and that wasn't too difficult to notice since I'm the type who's observant of their surroundings. Though I wanted to ignore him, I couldn't do that. It's unlike him to ignore me. He hasn't called me to the room and he doesn't bother me as much as he did before. He just changed. “Is anything bothering you?” I softly asked him as I sat on the cushion opposite the one he was sitting on.“Do I look like a bothered person?” He snapped at me. His eyes narrowed until I couldn't see his pupils. “No, you don't.” I forced a smile, “I was just asking because I'm worried about you. That's all.”It's not as if I have another person to be worried about. He's the only one besides Star, who I'm close to —albeit not as close as we should be. “You're worried about me?” He scoffed. “Take that your worry, and shove it wherever suits you, I want nothing of that sort.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “You….”“
It has been two weeks since I lied to Day about not having my number offhand. Though Day never asked about it any more, I was aware that it won't be for long until he does.“Can I have this dance tonight?” Day brought his hand out in the request.I glanced around to check if people were looking our way. And sure as hell, half of the female population were. Even with the mask on, I can feel the hatred sipping out from their body as they glared daggers at me, probably thinking about how best to dispose of me should I turn out to be a threat to them.I guess I had it coming when I decided to make the owner an acquaintance.“No, I would rather not.” I turned my attention to Baddy, who was having the time of her life with her boyfriend. The two of them have gone on a date twice and found out they were compatible. Presently, they're dating.And I'm so happy for them. Though I feel left out most of the time, I can't deny that I love it whenever her eyes sparkle.“We can be them. All you ha
For two days now, I've made it part of my life plan not to meet my husband. I wait until he leaves for work before going down to have breakfast, and I eat dinner before he returns from work.So far, things have been going just like I wanted. Not seeing my husband made the ache I felt in my heart diminish.I no longer feel pissed about that night. All I felt was guilt. I stayed listening until I heard him leave the house, and before long, I heard the ding of the gate as it opened for him.Despite that, I stayed in my room for three more minutes before I decided to head downstairs.I can't allow the mistakes of the last time I hid from him, to repeat themselves. The coast is clear. Everything seemed okay. The morning part has been done…“Just like I suspected.”I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard the voice of the same husband I was trying to evade.Fuck.I've been tricked twice. “Oh….” I nervously swallowed. “Why have you been avoiding me?” Miguel asked. His face was hooded.“N
Throughout the day, I danced around my room. Had I had access to a phone, I would have posted on my F******k page all day. I kept glancing out of my window. For the first time since I got married to Miguel, I was eager for his return.I placed a palm on my heart to still it as I continued staring at the file on my bed. My husband returned earlier that night, and just like he promised when he gave the files to me, he helped me fill out the online form and took the one I'd filled out.“I will have my secretary submit this for you. Currently, it's left for you to hope for the best. Should you not meet their admission criteria, I won't give you another chance.” He took the envelope from me. “Should, in case this doesn't work, I hope you know that I've tried my best.” “It's going to work.” I placed a palm on my heart. I heard rumours about this particular university when I was still in high school. The university is said to be one that only takes the best students. No matter how rich yo
I hurriedly opened the envelope and brought out the precious letter within it.“It's true! I got the letter!” I hastily read through the letter before I ran out of the parlour, past my husband, who was looking at me as if I'd gone crazy all of a sudden.I ran straight to Star's door and knocked on it. “What….” Star yawned. “What's it this time, Jewel?”“I got the letter for the admission exam!” I placed the said letter in her hands as I danced for joy. “Star, we did it! I passed the first test. OMG, I'm so happy!” I squealed. “Oh, my God!” Her eyes widened as she read through the letter. “Jewel, this is it?” “Of course!” I took my letter from her. “I'm going to be a university student very soon!”“I'm happy for you, baby!” Star shrieked. “This calls for a celebration!”“Of course!”“Someone needs to eat in peace!” Came the voice of my furious husband. “Can you take your yelling somewhere else?” “Oops.” I took Star's hand in mine, dragged her into her room, and shut the door.And t