Grounded
ABBY
I’m completely embarrassed about my behavior. Why can’t I just control my mouth? I should have talked to him and not accused him, but the damage has been done. I ruined everything, and even the almost friendship I started to like. Because of my impulsiveness, everything went wrong.
He just kicked me out of his office. What is more embarrassing and humiliating is that he knew that I’m still a virgin. If only that night didn’t happen, I might have enjoyed sex in many ways.
He doesn’t like me. I guess what I saw and noticed in him has deceived me. God, I feel so ashamed, and I want to hit myself. I left his office without even looking back after he told me three times to leave. If someone noticed me leaving the building upsets, what are they going to think? That Seb refused my indecent proposal?
Oh, my God!
They probably think I’m a whore. As soon as I get into my car, I drive without any destination until I spot a park with a few families having a picnic and children playing. I will never have a family again without Mom.
I rest my head back in my seat, and I’m messing everything up. I just called him names. I should apologize and behave like a decent woman. That’s the right thing to do. When I search for my phone, it’s not in my purse and not in my car too.
Oh, my God! I’m so stupid. I must have left it in his office.
I need to go home. I drive away from the park all the way home. He’s probably talking to my dad about my behavior. Another messed I made.
Dad is going to throw me to the other side of the world for accusing Mom and Seb. He’s going to disown me. He must have hated me right now.
I meet Drew halfway to my room, and he looks like he has no idea what is going on.
“You can’t just leave like that, Abbygail. It’s not safe for you out there and driving like a maniac,” Drew says with a deep scowl on his face.
“Well, thanks for reminding mem big brother, but I have enough for today. Actually, it’s more than enough. So, please, I need to shower. Where’s Dad?”
“Where is your phone? I called you like million times, and you’re not picking it. When I checked your room, you’re already gone.”
“I lost my phone somewhere. I will just call for disconnection and buy a new one.”
“What’s got your panties in a twist anyway, aside from the will?” he asks.
“You don’t wanna know, and I’m not ready to tell you because it’s a long story. Let me take a shower first.”
“You’re not gonna tell me where have you been, are you?”
“Ugh! Just drop it, can you? Later, when I’m in a mood to talk. You know I can’t keep secret from you.”
“Okay. Fair enough. I have to call Lucy anyway.”
“Lucy?” I crease my eyebrows.
“Yeah, Lucy. I plan on asking her out again as soon as we get back. Are you still coming home with me?”
“Of course, you know I can’t stay here long. We need to go out somewhere to clear up the head. What do you think? Answer me that later.”
I head to the shower and plan my next move. As soon as the water massage my body, I relax a little bit after a long stressful day. I change into ripped jeans, a simple red shirt, and flats. My best friend is still waiting for me in my bedroom.
Before we can escape, my dad stops me, and I know what comes next.
“Dad, I can explain, and I’m planning to apologize.”
“What you did is not acceptable, Abbygail. Your mom and I raised you well. We taught you good manners. He didn’t mention too much, but I can see clearly that you crossed the line.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m so sorry, dad. I’m so upset and stressed out. It happened was so fast, plus the fact that I am still trying to wrap my head around that Mom is gone, and there are things that I can’t escape. I’m gonna stuck here, and it upsets me.”
“Don’t apologize to me. You left your phone in his office, and he will give it to me. I’m meeting him at dinner tonight.” Before I can reply, he stops and looks at me.
“Both of you will have dinner at home. No one will leave.”
“But, Dad. I need to—”
“You’re grounded.”
“I’m an adult for—”
“For what?”
“I’m an adult. You can’t ground me.”
“We’ll see if I can’t.”
“Dad.—”
“No, Abbygail.” He left just like that.
“I guess we’re staying at home. Movie marathon?”
Drew looks more amused, and I’m angry. I should visit my therapist. I think I need an anger management class this time.
“I’m not in a mood for a movie. I need to get drunk. We can steal one of Dad’s collections. He’ll notice if we’ll just get one.”
“I don’t wanna be grounded like you from stealing his liquor.”
“Ugh! You’re such a killjoy sometimes. Dad won’t ground you, and you’re old enough to drink.”
“And you’re underage, Abby. I can get drunk while you drink OJ. I can deal with that.”
“I can get drunk at my own house. So tell me about Lucy. We didn’t get a chance to talk after your date.”
“Tell me first, what did you do today? Then I tell you mine.”
“That’s not fair, Tennings. I asked you first. That was before you even go out on a date. It’s overdue. So spill it.”
“What’s going on, Abby? Do you like Seb? What did you do that upset your dad?”
“Do you really wanna know? I told you about the will over the phone.” I grab the paper and let him read it. I told him everything that happened inside the office. Every detail.
“He is a playboy. You can call him names as you want, and he has a reputation over women. He has reasons why he’s like that. Don’t just look at what you saw. Dig deeper. You judged him enough. You, on the other hand, have reasons why you never went out on a date. He can sleep around because he’s a man and an attractive one. At least, he’s not cheating. Give him a benefit of the doubt. Someone must have broken his heart that made him who he is today.”
“I don’t care if he doesn’t like me.”
“He doesn’t like you? Do you believe him? And I know you like him.”
“W-what? Of course not. Not like what you think. I just told you what he said. But he already made up his mind. He practically threw me out of his office.”
“Because you insulted him that nobody did. You’re the first one to do that, and it altered his ego.” He laughs, and I laugh too. God, I miss this.
“Thank you. I can’t remember when was the last time I laughed. It feels good.”
“That’s what friends for. He likes you, Abby. Trust me.”
“I beg to disagree. Sebastian made his point. Don’t argue with me. I saw it directly from his eyes. He’s disgusted with me. What he wants is someone good in bed. Even if I marry him, I’m not sure I’m willing to spread my legs for him. He can go and bang every woman he wants. I don’t care. It’s just a marriage of convenience, and it has an expiry date.” I shrug even though it hurts to think of him banging every woman he wants.
“I saw the way he looked at you. Are you sure you don’t care if he fools around?” Waggling his eyebrows, he looks at my reaction.
“I told you after this god-awful wedding, I’m going back with you. I have a college to attend. He can go back to his life. That’s it. I need an MBA, Drew. I’ll file a divorce after three years.”
He looks at me like he can’t believe it. If he is surprised, then I’m still in shock, but nothing’s going to change my fate now. It officially sealed to Sebastian.
Since he doesn’t allow me to drink, we just watch old movies of Mel Gibson’s, The Patriot because Heath Ledger is hot. When the credits roll, we have dinner, then we watch the next movie Braveheart then after that, Mad Max.
We decide to call it the night then we both head to my bedroom. I change myself to PJs then tuck myself in my blanket. Drew stays with me for a while, and I bury my face on his shoulder and put my hand on his chest. He kisses the top of my head, and we stay that way until I fall asleep.
I wake up when someone touches my shoulder and calls my name.
“Dad, is that you?”
“Here’s your phone, and I don’t mean to wake you up.” Placing my phone on my bedside table, Dad looks at my best friend.
“Drew must have fallen asleep. Thank you for the phone. How did it go, Dad?”
“I knew both of you are like siblings, but I don’t think your husband-to-be will be pleased to see you both sleeping in the same bed.”
“Dad, Sebastian doesn’t—”
Dad holds his hand up before I can say anything. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart. Good night.” He kisses my forehead before he leaves. I can feel Dad is still mad at me.
Life is so unfair.
“Please stop. Please, make it stop.”
It hurts like hell. My face is swollen. I can taste my blood running from my nose, My wrists are tied at the back of the chair, and I can feel the raw skin from the struggle. My feet are tied too.
I notice someone is sitting in front of me, and my hands are tied to the armchairs. The face is unrecognizable with bleeding all over the face and the long hair covers the face. The shirt is bloody too, and the head is slightly leaning down, and I can’t see the face myself, but he is a man, and he looks familiar—the hair, arms, shirt, and his face when he raises his head.
“No, no, no. This isn’t real.”
I cry and try to move forward, but the chair won’t even move.
“No, please, it’s not you. Please, not you.”
I jolt up, sweating. Thank god it’s just a bad dream.