My Ex Next Door

Novie walked to the hallway like a zombie, last night Anders sent her Ken's picture with the triplets but what shock her the most was the woman sitting next to Ken, she had never seen the woman in person but she's somehow familiar and based on the picture, seems like Ken has moved on while her… she's still dreaming.

She doesn't understand herself, she wants to be with Ken but it might put her family in danger. God knows how much she tried to stop herself from going to the airport and fly to see Ken, but now that he's happy she can't help but feel hurt.

(It's my place!!!) she screamed inside.

She's sulking in her mind when her face bumped into something hard, she massaged her forehead and looked up to see John standing in front of her with his casual smile.

(It will be nicer if he's Ken) she sighed and fake a smile.

"Mr. Castro, how are you?" she asked in a lifeless voice.

The man cleared his throat and reply, "I am good, how are you?" he asked.

Novie stared at him, she hasn't seen him for the last two months, the teacher conference had passed and she wasn't able to attend since their principal was missing.

"I am good, what happened to you?"

"I've been busy..." John paused and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I am sorry I was not around when you needed me the most, how's Ken? Are you two back together?" he asked in a concerned tone.

Hearing his name, Novie lowered her face, she could feel the hot liquid forming in her eyes when she remembered the picture and Ken's smile.

She cleared her throat and meet his eyes, "About the video, you showed to me when we were in Vegas, do you still have it?" she asked, she wanted to watch everything after all of Daniella's question popped in her mind. She has been wondering if Daniella was telling the truth.

"No" John replied short.

"Did you watch the whole video? How did it end? Did Ken really kill the girl?" Novie tugs on his shirt and urged him to answer her question.

"Novie, I saw it, he killed the girl" John replied.

Novie let his shirt off and took a step back, the realization came to her, she paled when she realized that John lied to her, even though she didn't watch the video, she recognized that the woman in the video was the same girl in the photo she got last night.

She turned around and ran to the gate without saying goodbye, she left John baffled by her reaction, tears overflowed her eyes when she realized her mistake.

Her feet ran towards the parking space, her heart wants to explode with all the grief and frustration, she's mad to herself. Angry that she didn't believe him, frustrated that she hurt him, guilt weighed down her feelings, she regretted that she didn't believe him or even give him a chance to explain.

She opened her bag and took the ring inside.

Regret tugged at her mind as she recollected the words she said to him that night, she wishes to take them back but she could not.

She loathed herself for saying those words, and just like Daniella said, Ken's face popped in her mind, the pain in his eyes starting to pierce her heart.

She shook her head slowly while her heart throbbed.

(I am sorry Ken) she pulled her hair and smashed her forehead to the steering wheel, hoping that it will transcend the pain she's feeling right not.

Then she took the phone out from her bag and dialed Ken's number. There's only one thing she wanted to do now, one thing she should have done since he left that note.

Every time the phone rings, her heart pulverized, she gulped repeatedly and wait for him to answer. Inside she implored that Ken will answer the phone, she wishes that the woman in the picture is not his new girlfriend.

Just the thought of Ken being with another woman made her body weak, she bites on her fingernails in nervous.

"Novie?" her heart jumped when she heard his soft voice.

She accidentally bites her finger and she felt an excruciating pain when she saw it turning into purple.

She cried all her feelings and unable to talk, she doesn't know how to start or if she's crying because of guilt or the pain she felt in her finger. Her mind went blank, she doesn't how to apologize and ask him to take her back.

"Are you crying?"

"What's wrong?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Where are you?"

Ken asked one after another, but Novie couldn't speak, she keeps on crying like there's no tomorrow.

"Ken," she said in between her sobs.

"Yes Novie, I am here. what's wrong?" Ken spoke in a soft tone.

"I bite my finger and it's turning to purple" she blurted, all she wanted was to apologize but the pain in her finger made her forget the reason of her call.