SAGE was about to go inside his house when he felt that he was being watched. He turned around and looked at the house across the street—Reinald’s house, to be exact. He found him standing on the balcony on the second floor of his house, literally looking down at him with his hands inside the pocket of his jeans. Reinald might be far from him, but he could feel the intense stare he was giving him. If looks could really kill, he must be lying down on the ground right now. Sage knew it was not just about his beloved dead sister now. Selen must be the reason why he was wasting his time on him like that. He knew Reinald. He hates him so much he would not waste his precious time just to stare at him from a distance.
He put the bag down on his doorstep and sauntered towards the direction of his house. But he did not enter his turf. He stood just outside the gate, a few feet away. It is a safe distance enough for them to see each other close and hear whatever they have to say to each other.
“Why did you come here?” Reinald asked in a low and cold tone.
Sage kinda expected that. Since then, that was his tone whenever he talks to him.
“It makes me wonder why you waste your time standing there looking at me,” he said nonchalantly.
He scoffed and cocked his head arrogantly.
“There’s no reason I would waste my time on you—”
“I know you are Selen’s best friend.”
“And so? What is it to you now?”
“Well, since you are her friend and I’m his boyfriend, we should at least be civil with each other whenever we are in front of her.”
“And why would I do that?” Reinald raised his middle finger.
Sage scoffed and shook his head. “For Selen’s sake. I’m going to be civil with you. Let’s not hurt her feelings.”
“Then, let’s not cross paths when you’re with her, and I will do the same. That will be better than your suggestion.”
He shrugged and turned his back afterwards. Sage was about to go home when he heard him speak again.
“Don’t you dare hurt, Selen! Don’t you dare repeat that mistake that you made years ago, Sage. Because if you do, God forgive me, but I’m going to kill you for real this time.”
He felt the weight of Reinald’s warning. It seemed to him that Selen was more than just a friend to Reinald. Too bad for him because she did not feel the same way. He glanced in the direction of the balcony, but Reinald was no longer there. He must have gone inside his room.
Sage drew a breath and walked home. He promised himself not to commit the same mistake because he already learned his lesson the hard way. And it was the darkest phase of his life. Of course, he would not want to walk the same dark road ever again…
SELEN locked herself inside the room after that conversation with her grandmas. She even pushed her drawer in front of the door so that there is no way they could open it. She wanna be alone. She wanted to shut the world behind that door.
It really hurts to know that her grandmas, whom she trusted the most, lied to her. Or course, the truth always hurts, but acceptance is the key. Even though it breaks her heart to accept that she has to push Sage away from her. There is no way she could undo the effect of the love potion, so she might as well tell him the truth. She just wished that Sage would not resent her for doing that.
She buried her face on the pillow and cried her heart out silently. Amid her despair to find a husband so that she could continue their lineage, Selen dug a grave for him. And she hated it.
She hated herself for choosing him. He should have been spared like Reinald. He did nothing wrong to deserve such tragic faith in her hand. No one must suffer because of her.
Damn that family curse. One life already cost a dozen of life in exchange for that sin. And it was so unfair for dozens of innocent lives to suffer. It must be the reason why her Nana Cora always tells her not to curse someone. Cursing was a vengeful and selfish act.
Selen rolled to the other side of the bed and got his phone from the bedside table. With a heavy heart and shaky hands, she dialed Sage’s number. She knew it was inappropriate to break up with him through a phone call, but she could only tell him that without looking at him. Selen knew the moment she saw his face; she would just cry.
“Hey…” Sage said when he answered the call.
She cupped her mouth to suppress her sobs. Selen did not want him to hear that she was crying. So, she composed herself that instant.
“I have something to tell you.” She almost choked as she said that.
“What is it?”
“I—” She heard Sean’s voice in the background, calling Sage.
“Wait, Selen. I need to attend to Sean for a while. Don’t hang up. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh.
It took a few more minutes before she heard Sage’s voice on the other line.
“I’m back. I’m sorry about that. Where are we again?”
“Listen to me, Sage…” She paused for a while. “Let’s end this.”
“But you just called—”
“Let’s break up. That’s what I mean.”
Silence ensued for a few seconds before he spoke again.
“Why, Selen? Is this about that incident in the convenience store? Or it’s because you’re scared of the life I have—”
“No, it’s not the case.” She bit her lower lip. It was easy to tell him about the break-up, but it was hard to explain why.
“Then why are you breaking up with me? Is this some kind of joke? Did Marceline ask you to do this?”
Would he even believe that she was cursed? Would he believe if she tells him that she was a witch?
“Sage—”
“Cut the crap, Selen… This isn’t funny at all.” Sage hung up.
It was the love potions effect…