Jess/ica Chapter 7 Of 11 [Inside Scoop: Picture of Jessica Corr]

"Hi, Victoria." He replied.
"Hey, who's your boyfriend?" Vicky asked again, emphasizing the word 'boyfriend'.
"What? Me? No, I don't have one. I was just kidding then." My ironic smile and sarcastic tone was too evident for both of them. There is no way out.
"I know you were seriously happy when you told me that. C'mon. Who?"
"I think you and Jess should talk first. I gotta go." If this is the only escape, I would take the risk.

I accidentally bumped Jess when I was making my dramatic exit then I slammed the door behind me. I heard Victoria talking. "What happened to her?" I imagined Jess replying by raising his shoulders. I felt my heart sting again, to prevent the attack; I rushed to my room and drank a handful of pills. Good thing it stopped. When I went down to the ground floor of the house, there was another stranger sitting on the couch. I volunteered to entertain him.

"Who are you looking for?" I asked him as I walk towards the Living room.
"Jess, we need him in the bar. Jessica right?" He replied, looking at me. I sat beside him.
"You know me. Wow. Am I popular?" I joked, and he gave a silent laugh.
"Martin, by the way." He gestured for a handshake, and I accepted.
"Would you mind if we continue our talk in the garden? Jess is pretty busy now." I invited him and he replied with a nod.

We made our way to the garden, and the sunset was spectacular, just as what Jess told me. We were silent for a while until Martin cut the dead air off.

"Let's play a game. When I say a word, say the first word that would come to your mind. And the cycle goes on. Game?"
"Game." I accepted his entertainment.
"Brush." He said.
"Painting." I replied.
"Sunset." I wasn't able to reply for a few minutes.
"Jess."

Again, the same awkward silence enveloped us. This time, he can't think of anything or any topic to cut it off. He just respected my stillness. Though my mouth is shut, my mind is frantic. I think about Jess, Victoria, Martin, and Loise, everyone in this house! I thought that staying here would bring peace to my life. But it's the other way round.

"Do you love Jess?" I heard him ask. I eyed him with weary eyes. I felt a drop of tear rolling down my cheeks.
"He's with Victoria."

We were silenced. My tears turned from droplets, to a river. I found myself clinging to him and crying at his shoulder. His warmth comforted me, though we weren't even talking. He wiped my tears with his hanky. I felt secured with him. A feeling like I have a brother, my refuge.

"Hey, Martin! I've looked all over for you." It was Jess, sounding so normal like nothing happened inside the room.
"Jess, we need you in the bar now." He replied with masculinity in his voice.

Before Martin walked away, towards Jess, I was processing what's best thing I could do to make Jess feel the wrath of my revenge. And in a few seconds, I figured it out.

"Martin, wait!" When he turned back at me, I gave him the same kiss I gave Jess awhile ago. I saw the fury in Jess' eyes.

"Bye." I gave him a blank stare, and let go of my grip from Martin.
"Martin, will you leave us two alone?" This was the first time I heard Jess' talked seriously.
"No prob, dude." In a few seconds, Jess and I were alone under the irony of the sunset.
~ End of Part 7 ~