Toxic Relationships

Late (Flashback)

⭕ Italicized printed word is the past

...Happy Reading's...

3 years ago...

Jack was now staring at the girl in front of him intensely. The girl in front of him was much more attractive than the delicious dishes he had eaten this time. While the girl in front of him seemed calm eating his dishes, as if not disturbed by the gaze of Jack who never separated from him.

But the girl's gaze now turned to Jack. Jack had been staring at her for almost five whole minutes, without even touching her dish at all. Actually Jack came here for dinner or just looked at him? It was as if he was full just looking at her.

“Jack, you make me uncomfortable.” Clara said, Jack did not flinch. The man was still looking at her deeply, Clara scratching her nape awkwardly. Jack wasn't under hypnosis, was he? That guy is so weird.

“You are very beautiful Clara.”

Those four words instantly made Clara bow her head deeply. Jack smiled broadly at Clara's face which now looked flushed.

Making Clara misbehave was her favorite hobby. But he was just telling the truth. Apart from Clara who had never even been as expensive a treatment as most women, the girl remained so beautiful in her eyes.

“Do I have to marry you right now?”

Clara's eyes were now staring at Jack, Jack widening his smile even more. Imagining how every waking moment he saw Clara's face before him made him happy. Moreover, these two weeks they have just met again, the busyness is getting crowded and he is so difficult to make time for his lover.

“Don't think too much of Jack, you know I'll always be waiting for you right?”

Clara's soft words now hit her heart. Jack now grabbed Clara's hand and stroked her gently. Clara is a very understanding woman. Even some of his acquaintances always complain if the lover asks for marriage, but Clara always understands the situation.

“I am now curious, much greater your love for me or vice versa.”

Clara laughed at Jack's innocent words. Why did Jack become so childish? Three years into her relationship with Jack, her love for him has never changed, and continues to grow.

“You must have known the answer, right, Chal?” Jack started laughing, while Clara squinted her eyes at Jack.

“I will do anything for you Chal, my love for you is much greater.”

Hearing Jack's confident speech, Clara now smiled faintly. Everyone in this world would know, if a woman has a share of so great a problem of feeling. They are much more loyal than men. So he strongly disagrees with Jack's remarks this time.

“You bet on me?” Clara now smiled mysteriously making Jack's laughter stop. Jack looked at Clara curiously.

“We'll see who leaves this relationship first. You or me.”

Seeing Clara's serious face, Jack looked at the girl deeply. No, he would never leave Clara no matter what. Seeing how Clara's past is so painful, her job is to protect Clara from any problems that could hurt the girl.

“You can't leave me, Chal.” Jack now smiled wryly, while Clara looked at the man in a daze.

“I won't let you do it.”

Jack's short speech now evoked laughter for both of them. Clara and Jack now look at each other meaningfully, they each so know how much love they give each other. Love is such a happy thing.

The laughter stopped when Jack's phone started ringing. Jack now reaches into his phone nailed to his pants. Who would dare to disturb him in the middle of his leisure time this time? Jack's annoyed gaze is now replaced when his mother's contact now fills his cell phone screen. What's his mom calling.

“Before Clara, my mom called.” Clara nodded, and Jack began to move away from where Clara was sitting. He did not want to disturb the girl with his call.

“No dear, I just want to hear from you.”

Jack now stared at the screen of his phone before returning it to his ears. This is his mother's number, right? Even this morning he took the time to stop by his extended family home. Although he did not live with his mother, several times he took the time to just have breakfast with his mother.

“Mommy want me to buy you something? I'm having dinner outside with Clara.”

Jack began to speak softly, he wanted to get rid of his negative thoughts about the mother. Maybe his mother was just missing him, definitely just because of that.

“No, no Jack. Can I ask you something else?”

Jack now frowned. This was the first time her mother had asked her. Even though she was quite successful as now, her mother never asked for anything, even though it was just Brown Betty, one of her favorite dessert.

“What's Mom? Do you want me to buy Brown Betty? I'm at your favorite restaurant.”

Jack's smile expands, considering how his mother who always smiled if eating Brown Betty makes him so happy. Even with the little things, her mother looked so happy.

“Can you keep Judy for Jack's mother?” Hearing the mother's request, Jack's smile faded. Jack swallowed his saliva, there must be something wrong with his mother's condition.

“Is Mom okay?" Jack began to ask in panic. His mother's voice suddenly disappeared, Jack's heart skipped a beat.

"Mom, I'll be home soon. Wait for me Bu.” Jack now turns off his call and walks quickly to Clara who is still eating her dishes.

“Chal, Clara. I... I have a sudden business, you... Can you go home alone? “ Clara is now standing and looking at the restless Jack.

“What's Jack? Did something happen?” Seeing Jack's restless face, Clara looked at him worriedly. A few minutes ago the man got a call from his mother and now his face is so panicked. Clara understood, something must have happened.

“I... I have to go.” Jack now picks up his work coat, but Clara quickly restrains Jack's body.

“You can drive yourself? Shall I take you?"

Clara looked at Jack worriedly. Seeing how panicked the man was now his mind went awry. It's not usually that Jack is so freaked out like this, it must be something big has just happened. And he should be calmer if driving alone. He didn't want anything to happen to his girlfriend.

“Sorry Clara, I have to go.”

...----------------...

Jack's heart is now beating uncharacteristically, his mind is in turmoil. Her mother's soft voice a few minutes ago always lingered in her head. With Jack firmly stepping on the gas, his speed had reached 100km/h. I don't know how many red lights he's been running. He doesn't care anymore, his mother's situation is more important than anything.

Jack's car is now entering the Hilton family mansion. The journey that he usually takes almost an hour and a half, now only he takes about fifty minutes. I don't know how many tickets he'll receive in his office tomorrow morning.

Jack quickly opened his car door and started running towards the main door. Jack could hear the sound of a woman crying from inside. Jack's heart that had been beating had started to slow down. Jack took a deep breath, trying to be ready to see the situation there. Jack's hand began to grab the door knob making the big door open.

As Jack's legs weakened, the man fell down, staring at something in front of him in disbelief. A few meters from where he stood, there was a crying Judy hugging her mother who was already helpless. Blood was on the floor. Judy's painful screams made Jack's tears drip.

“Mother, am I late?”

To be continue...