Beta's Lover

Chapter- Three

MACKENZIE

I was lost in my own thoughts as i stared out of mirror wall while rotating my nose pin. It kind of gives me a sense of calmness.

Weird, right? But it was true.

I had been working non stop since the day i got the new project. I want to impress Mr. Roman and Jack. I have been so busy to meet Quinn who herself was tangled in her business. Quinn is one of top class chefs in the city, so she is assigned to do cooking classes for two weeks. Both of our schedule was packed to even hang out.

The weeks passed by in a blur before i knew i was done with my part of project and now it was Jack’s time to do his part. I took a breather as i signed the papers.

“You need to rest. You are worn out,” My assistant said, probably looking at my crinkled clothes and racoon eyes.

My short hair were roughly tied back in a pony which was useless as half of my hair was hanging around my face.

“Yes. I badly need a good sleep and one week vacation to release all the bottled up tension,” i told her weakly. A yawn came making my eyes teared up.

That’s how much i was tired.

“Take good care of yourself Maam,” she left the room after wishing me good bye.

I relaxed back in my seat and closed my eyes. Wrapping my arms around my chest as i felt myself been drawn to take a nap. In no time, i was in my own world.

Ring Ring

The ringing and the vibration of mobile pulled me back to my present. Blinking slowly, i picked up the phone and placed it on my ear.

“Hello?,” my voice came out as a whisper.

“Hi! Why do you sound like a dead fish?” Quinn’s curious voice reached my ears.

“Because i have been working day and night for the past three weeks, ” i sighed in the end.

“Yeah i heard from Lauren. So to ease all tension that been build up inside of you, i have an amazing plan!,” Her voice broke in between from the bouts of excitement radiating through her.

I could never imagine myself being this energetic.

“Keep on going. Why do you stop in between!?,” i grinded my teeth at her.

“TO look for your curious response but i never get it,” she whined and i could picture her pouting in my mind.

“I guess you forgot the last time i got excited over your question and in return i was forced to hear your useless joke, Quinn. It’s not happening anytime soon,” i told her with no expression on my face knowing she couldn’t see me.

“IT WAS ONE TIME MACKENZIE! ONE TIME!,” now it was her turn to bite back her tongue.

“Okay Okay. So tell me about this ‘amazing plan’, I asked her to stop her from whining.

“So the plan is that we are going on two week vacation to the beach, where we will be joined by our other friends,” she explained,” she explained having an enthusiastic tone.

“Hmm. Sounds good,” i liked the idea and felt my lips moving up in excitement.

“Yohoo! Finally you sounded a little excited,” She said , probably trying to tease me but i didn’t budge.

“I will text you the details in a few. Have to go now, i am needed in kitchen. Bye!,” Chef Quinn bid her byes and leaving me in the thoughts of the upcoming trip.

I love going to trips, especially if it includes long drives!

It took me an hour to make a schedule for when i come back, sending the mail to my assistant. Assembled my table and look after the mails that were pending, i was finally done with my work.

I was waiting for my laptop to shut down in the time being i heard a knock on my door.

“Come in,” Saying, i grabbed my laptop bag and put my stuff inside. ,

“Maam i have forwarded the mail and informed the employees about this week holidays. And also informed the ones who are needed at Sir Jack’s office,” Lauren reported,

“Good. Alright. Grab those files and let’s go,” i told her, grabbing my purse and handbag.

Stepping out of my office was a sea of silence and dead. No one was to seen and heard. Sighing as tiredness was hitting me up once again, i walked out the office and waited outside for Lauren who was second checking all the locks and the lights, heaters are switched off.

“Done Maam. Everything’s good,” She said as soon as she stepped out. I nodded my head and passed her the studio main door keys. While i headed towards my car to put the stuff as my hands were exhausted now. After sitting in the car, i used my phone for a while as Lauren was putting files and my stuff like thermos, water bottle and a few books at the back seat.

“Maam here you go,” She said passing me the keys through the car window which was rolled down.

“Thank you Lauren. Have a good weekend!,” after that i left the parking lot and drove back to my apartment and of course music playing in the background.

Lost in my own thoughts kept on driving aimlessly, looking up at the red color on the signal, i pressed the brake and the car steadily came to a stop. Sighing, switching off the music, i looked around my surrounding and noticed something was off. I was not familiar with the street, the shops where i stood. Forehead creased in confusion, picking up phone from the front seat beside me, i opened google maps and found i was in another town than mine.

Cursing, i quickly typed in the name of my town and found i was 10 kilometer far from my town. Rolling my eyes at myself, i waited for the signal to turn green, as soon as the red switched to green, i turn a sharp turn to other road and drove towards my area. I was already tired and my life keep messing with me. I grabbed food on the way back home, not having enough energy to make food after i reach home. After a 1 hour drive, i was back at my apartment which was only 30 minutes away from my work place.

Sad life.

Sympathising with myself, i walked inside the building while trying to balance all things in my hands. Stumbling with things, i somehow managed to open the door and dumbed all the stuff on the couch.

What? I had no other choice.

Taking a breath of relief, i put my hand back and bended backwards; heard crackling of my muscles and moaned as i felt my back muscles relax.

I always do my chores before i rest, no matter what. I cleaned my thermos which had tea in it and then i poured myself a glass of water to drink. Coming to stand in the launch room, my eyes wander around to see which thing i need to tend to now. My eyes caught the pile of files lying on the glass table, telling me to place them in their place. Slouching, i walked towards the table, picking them all and placing them on the small wooden office table which had cabinets on either side of it. Taking a seat on the cushioned seat, i opened the top drawer and put them in chronological order. After i was done with them, i just stayed there with my back resting against the comfy seat and closed my eyes for a while.

My mind went to the upcoming trip, i was excited to go as soon as possible. Just thinking of the trip, i felt a surge of energy boosted in me. Quickly i did my chores and finally i laid in bed after i ate my food which went cold.

I heard my phone blowing up with messages while i was doing my chores, i ignored it knowing it was Quinn. Sending me all the details of the trip. So picking up the phone from the night stand and laying back again in a comfortable position to read her numerous messages. I don’t remember when i slept while reading the messages, only to have phone under my arm.

After making sure i was fully awake as a result of washing my face with cold water which almost froze me at the spot. Grabbing my phone, i shuffled towards the kitchen to make breakfast, especially that takes less cooking because i have yet to pack my stuff. Opening the blinders from the window, i let the sun rays kiss my kitchen walls and floor. Automatically my lips lifted up as my eyes caught a few house sparrow on my windowsill, one of them drinking water from the plastic cup which i put it out for the birds. And a mini plate that i bought for fun turned into their food plate, the other two birds were hitting their beaks on the plate trying to catch a single grain of biscuit which i had put yesterday for them to eat. Taking out the bird food from the cabinet above the slab and put my hand in the packet to take a handful of it. As i put the packet beside the window, they perked up immediately and had their eyes on it. Slowly and steadily i opened the window trying not to scare them, i emptied the contents of my hand into their plate. They backed away a little when i approached the plate but had their eyes on my hand the whole time. After i pulled back my hand, they looked at each other and then one of them walked forward with its cute little legs and took a bite of food. Then the bird chirped probably telling the others to join as it was food. They all sprung forward and continued eating. Just looking at them eating gave me a feeling of happiness from within. I grabbed the glass and filled it with water and poured it in the cup for them.

Looking at them made me miss my mom too, i decided to call her and bit my lip in anxiously.

Pick up please.

She didn’t. Probably passed out on the couch after drinking alcohol all day. I was tired of counselling her into come back to her normal life but she just didn’t have any passion left. But still she is my mom i can’t let her live her life like that.

Today i was going shopping with Quinn for trip, i didn’t have good clothes for trip. It’s been ages since i did shopping. Looking at my reflection on the mirror fridge, i found myself feeling fresh and excited.

I better not show excitement in front of Quinn.

And the reason for that is she is a shopaholic. She could do window shopping /shopping for hours, going from one shop to other, from but even after that she has energy to cook. And i was an ordinary person who is done with the day just after shopping.

After making breakfast, i sat down on the couch in the launch to watch anything good on TV while i eat. I kept changing channels for a some time while my breakfast was getting cold on the table. Cursing, my finger hurriedly pushed the button on the remote and finally landed on a Kpop music show.

This is better. Atleast i can enjoy.

Listening to songs and bobbing my head to the beat, i was done with my food. But i stayed in, listened and sang along with a song i was familiar with. It was- Given and Taken by Enhypen.

I was dancing to the song when the clock caught my eyes. It read 11 o’clock.

Oh s**t. I was getting late!

Increasing the volume of TV, i left to do some packing. Dragging the chair from the dining table, i put near the wall cupboard and stood up on it. Opening the large cabinet above, i took out the blue luggage bag and threw it on the bed.

What, it was heavy!

Grabbing few tissues, i cleaned the dust from the bag, which haven’t been used for a while. Opening the wardrobe, i stood with hands over my waist about to deal with the difficult task of the day.

Choosing clothes fit for trip.

Folding a few black and blue jeans, a few shirts and a bikni, i arranged them in the bag. Grabbing my makeup bag and toiletry kit, i threw them in the bag. Finding matching shoes among others and a slipper to wear it on beach and putting them into the bag, i was done with packing. I just need one good dress to wear on beach and for that i was going shopping with Quinn.

Later in the evening, Quinn picked me up and we left for the mall. After walking around for hours in the mall, Quinn and i was done with our cloth hunting. We decided to stuff our stomachs which have been growling for an hour now. While drinking the soda, i was once again reminded of my mom, putting the drink aside, i dialled her number again.

“Hello?,” i was able hear her normal self instead of her drunken talk.

“Hi Mom. Its me,” i spoke up , my voice having a calm down to it. Looking up at Quinn, she perked up at my response and looked at me with curiosity.

“What is it?,” she asked, her voice monotonous.

“Are you home?,”

“Yes,” same as usual. One word answer.

“I will visit you in a few,” i told her and was met with nothing only disconnection of the call.

Sighing, i pulled down my hand on my lap and met with Quinn’s sympathetic eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but a single shake of my head stopped her to do so.

I have only one parent in this world and they are not even interested towards their only child.

What a life.

Wrapping up our food, we left to visit my mom. Quinn waited outside as i made my way into the familiar house which i once used to call home. Walking inside the door which was left unlocked, sighing in disappointment, i continued walking in. Stepping into the launch i was met with a usual view, mom lying on the sofa with several empty and unopened wine bottles.

It pained me to see her like that and wasting my money on drinking. I want her to live a good luxurious life through me. She faced criticism and had a hard time because of me though she didn’t played much role in my upbringing but still. She gave birth to me. I just want her to go shopping with me, have good dinner dates with me and drink with me, spend the money i send her in a good cause. But not this.

Approaching her figure cautiously, i pushed back my open short hair behind my ears.

“Mom?,” i called her out and came around in front of her.

She was drinking wine which was half emptied, she wore a dress and had heels on.

“Mom. How are you doing?,” i asked her and sat down beside her.

She kept staring at the TV screen and kept on sipping the wine. I waited for her to respond, a child looking at their mother with great hope that the mother will give them attention and a little bit of love.

“Why are you here?,” her voice cold as ice piercing through my heart. Gulping down my emotions, i looked down at my trembling hands.

“I missed you thats why i came to see you. You don’t pick up my call and if you do you don’t talk to me,” i complained to her, knowing deep down she won’t open up and talk to me about it.

Again, i was met with silence.

“I will take an appointment with psychiatrist tomorrow. Come with me Mom?,”

Putting the bottle down, she turned towards me for the first time and met my pleading eyes. Her eyes were empty- dead.

“I have told you before, i will not go. Stop coming here and disturbing me! I just want to live my own life, is that too much to ask for!?,” she yelled at me, making me startle, my heart picked its beat at the sudden loudness.

I told myself to not to get hurt by her words but it still does. She’s the only blood relation i have in this world.

“How many times i have told you! Dont show me your face! It reminds me of that fu*ker! He ruined my life and now you are trying to take away my few years i have left to live! Let be me in peace please! Let me live the way i want!,” she stood up in between her yelling and knocked the mini table over. The bottles smashed against yhe floor and the glass was everywhere. My eyes were on the shattered pieces of glass while she spoke.

I felt like those glasses right now.

Broken and alone.

And by the fucker she means my biological dad. I wanted to scream at her why she gave birth to me when she didn’t want to have connection with me. But i controlled myself, digging my nails into my palm and closed my eyes as tears threatened to fall.

I heard a gasp behind me, without turning around i knew it was Quinn. She must have heard the yelling and came inside worried for me.

“Aunt! Step away you will cut yourself!,” i heard her dragging her away from the launch as she continued yelling. Telling me to leave the house.

Taking a deep breath, i walked into the store and grabbed broom to clean the mess she has created. I was almost finished clearing the glass pieces when Quinn came back.

“I gage her tranquillisers and have put her to sleep,” she spoke softly, her hand slowly patted my shoulder.

Nodding my head, i cleaned the rest of it and threw it away. Coming back into the launch, i switched off the TV and looked upstairs where she was asleep .

I wish for the day to come when she shows me even a little bit of affection.

..............