CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
I woke up and Maggie’s not on my side. I quickly got up and looked around but she wasn’t there. I get up and go to the bathroom to check if she’s there.
“Mag, are you there?” but no one answered me. “Maggie?” I open the door but Maggie wasn’t there. Where the hell is she?
I decided to go downstairs to check if she’s there. When I opened the door she was standing in front of me and holding a knife and fruits.
“Oh good morning, love,” she greeted me.
“Where have you been?”
“Kitchen, I’m hungry so I took fruits.” She entered the room and sat on the couch. “I’ll make for you, what do you want? Apple, pears, mango, or peach?”
“You went downstairs, alone?” I ask.
“Yup.”
“But aren’t you afraid to be alone here?” She laughed and laughed then smiled at me. “Maggie?” She signed peace first before answering.
“Because of the ghost, I’ve supposedly seen before? A man’s back that Dylan denied? Or let’s say, Dy’s old caretaker.”
“H-how did you know?” I asked surprisingly. Did Dylan tell her? That asshole, I thought he wanted me to get close to Maggie.
“Actually, I know that it’s really not a ghost. I know it’s an old man because I even talked to him. It’s just happened that I tried to scare Dylan but he intended to scare me. So I scolded him and pretended to be scared, so I can hug him. And I know we have the same thoughts. Besides, I’m not afraid of those ghosts.” Then she smiles. “I will eat them if I see one.”
“So, you tricked me?” I asked.
“That’s the reason why we’re here. For me to stick to you, right? For sure, that’s what Dylan told you. So, I pretended that I don’t know anything and I am scared of this place. So yes, I tricked you. ”
“Your unpredictable, Maggie. A one of a kind.”
“Well, there is a saying, ‘everyone laughs at me because I am different, but I laugh at them more because they are all the same’.”
I sat beside her. “And that makes me love you even more because you are different.”
“Tss, by the way, I already make food for you. You can eat down if you want.”
“Come with me and help me.”
“No, you can do it.”
“Please, Mag.” She pouted and stood up. I hold her hand and we both go to the kitchen.
“Don’t tell me I will I prepare for you?” She asked annoyed when I sat directly.
“Yes please, love.” I smiled in response.
“What am I your assistant?”
“Please, Maggie, my love.”
“Fine,” she bluntly prepared my food as I smiled. Maybe other people can’t understand her but I who love her understand her very well. They can see her as a psycho but for me, she is strong and untouchable outside but fragile and broken inside. People like Maggie who act intimated and strong are the most sensitive people.
They act tough, but they are easy to get hurt. So the pain they have they hide by pretending they are brave. They defended themselves also by being tough to everyone so no one will dare to hurt them.
“Oh, what are you smiling at there?”
“Nothing, I am so happy to see you preparing a meal for me. I wish we can do it every day.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
“Free to wish.”
“I am hoping as well.”
“Free to hope.”
“Maggie,”
“Eat up, and I’ll do something.”
“Stay here, please.”
“Eat up, and I’ll do something in the back, Blaze.”
“But —-”
“Shh!” She put her finger on my lips to stop me. But I licked her fingers.
“Yummy.” I winked at her but she smirked at me.
“Stay here,” she said in a warning and go.
I just continued my meal. I thought she would come back but still didn’t come back. Until I finished eating but Maggie was still not coming. Where did she go? Up or out? I decided to go upstairs but I did not see her. I roam around the second floor to find her but she wasn’t there. I go back to our room and look at the window.
“Maggie!” I screamed and slammed the window. I can’t open it and I can’t break it either. “Maggie!” But she did not listen to me.
I run as fast as I could to get down. Shit, what is she thinking? I almost beat the stairs and everywhere I collided. My toe even hit the end of the stairs and bled but I didn’t care. I was already running to catch up with Maggie.
“Maggie!” I shouted and went fast with her then lifted her to lower her to the chair she was standing on. “What the hell are you doing ?!” I shouted but she just stared at me. “Are you out of your mind?!” Well, I am aware that she could hurt herself but shit! to do it?
“What’s wrong with you? Then why are you pale? Are you sick?” she calmly asked me.
“Are you on drugs? Again? Huh!” I feel like I’m not pale but blushing with anger and anytime my tears will come out of being overly worried about her. “Did Dylan give you before coming here?!”
“What drugs are you talking about? I think you’re on drugs, did Dylan give it to you?”
“Stop saying nonsense! What are you doing?!” I pointed to the rope attached to the mango branch. I saw her holding a rope and tying it in the mango branch while she’s up in the chair. Maggie’s face frowned but gradually changed to a smile then laughed out loud. She’s holding her chest and she’s still coughing funny.
“Are you playing with me, huh? Not funny, Maggie.” She stopped laughing and wiped away the tears brought by her laughter.
“Shut up, Blaze, I know I’m crazy but you’re even crazier to think about me. You think I’m going to kill myself?” I frowned. “And where did you get the idea that I am going to kill myself?” she asked so I looked at the rope.
“Then what is the purpose of that?”
“I’m going to hang you there, Blaze, because you’ve been swallowed up by the negative. I’ll make a cradle, okay oh!” She pointed to the hammock like a rattan basket leaning against a tree.
“Are you making for the cradle?”
“Most likely, it’s fun to live and then I’ll just commit suicide. Instead of just purgatory because of my madness you still want me to go to hell.”
I pull her closer to me and hug her.
“Hey!” My chest still can’t get rid of the nervousness. Yes, I misjudged her but still, I am afraid. It was as if my soul had run away from me before and I could no longer understand anything. Shit, I am overreacting but I want to cry and I don’t know why. Just so I know I worried her too much.
“I can’t afford to lose you, Mag, I prefer to see you happy with someone else rather than not see you again.” I hugged her tight to let her feel that I was too scared to think she was going to do something bad earlier. I still don’t want to stop being nervous. I feel her hug me back so I tightened her hug with me.
“You can see me anytime you want, Blaze. You can always see my smile and see how happy I am. But, not with someone else but in your side.” She left hugging me and touching my face. “I may be a fucking psycho to others, but I am me and my heart is genuine and pure. A heart that belongs to you and only you. If it wasn’t you, I’ll Never Love Again, Blaze.”
“Maggie.”
“I love you, Blaze, and yes, I will stay with you forever.”
“You mean?”
“We already have a label, not just friendship. But I just don’t want you to be my boyfriend, I want you to be my husband and I’ll take your last name and get married. Will you marry me, Blaze? Will you be my real husband now?”
“You just preceded me, Maggie.” I took something from my pocket and show it to her. It’s an engagement ring. “Marry me, Maggie. I promised I will protect you and love you for the rest of my life.”
“Add that you will accept me as your insane wife. You can still love me even if I’m crazy. Please repeat.” I smile and kneel.
“Maggie, I promise I will protect you, love you, and accept your insanity for the rest of my life. Even if you continue to be mad, I will still love you. Marry me, Maggie.”
“I am, kiss first before wearing a ring.” I stood and kissed her and put the ring on her fingers.
“I have a gift to you, Blaze.” She took something in her pocket then showed us our wedding ring.
“You took it again?” I ask.
“No, because I didn’t really throw anything. The peanuts I threw in the trash and not the ring.” You really are Maggie. You always surprised me in your own way.
“That’s why I couldn’t find it when I came back.”
“You came back?”
“Yeah, I ask the bar cleaner but they said it wasn’t there.”
“Oh! you’re wearing it again.” And she put the ring on my finger and so does the other one on her.
“But didn’t you say you don’t like something that reminds you of the painful things that happened?” I ask.
“Not sadness I remember that ring. Happiness, joy, and love. That ring always reminded me that someday the man who once wore that will wear it again. And reminded me how blessed I am to meet the man that I wanted to spend for the rest of my life. And that’s you, Blaze. ”
“Maggie.”
“Enough for the drama. Put that cradle on me and I’ll sleep there.”
“Aren’t we going home yet?”
“Oh, don’t you like it here? Let’s make the most of it. It’s also an advanced honeymoon. Who knows there will be a honeymoon later?” And she winks at me.