Love Aint Always Pretty

Obscurité

Translation: darkness

Origin: French

53

NICK'S POV

SEVEN YEARS AGO

It's been almost a year since my mother died. It's been almost a year since my mother's case was closed. It's been almost a year that I've been fighting for justice of my mother's death. Hans was the one who killed my mom. He intentionally killed my mother but he didn't get to be put in prison cos they paid the entire police station. They paid the witness and they left town right away after that day they killed my mother.

Yes, they. Hans and Mr. Forster.

It has been almost a year too since I lived alone in the house with Tracy. It's been almost a year I've been wanting to get my revenge on them. And it's been almost a year since Catherine left me.

Catherine found out on that same day who killed my mom and she couldn't stand being around me cos she felt guilty of what happened. When I got back home that day, I couldn't find her clothes on our dresser and I found a note on the kitchen table. That's all she left me, a note.

She said how sorry she was and how guilty she was of what happened. She said she didn't want this to happen. She blamed herself that my mom died. She said she didn't expect her father could go this far. She said she's going back to her father. She left me just like that. She left me so easily as if what we had was nothing important.

Catherine left me alone.

"Congratulations Nick." Tracy hugs me.

"Thanks Trace." I hugged her back and kissed her forehead.

"Bro, we're graduates! Wuhooo!" Alec fist bumped with me.

I smiled at him and he hooks his arm around my neck. "Dude, stop with that remorseful look. I'm sure your mom is proud of you right now."

"I just wish she could've seen me right now. She'd be so proud of me. She'd tell me for sure that she didn't expect I'd pass high school." I laugh humorlessly.

I looked up at the sky. "This is for you mom."

"How about we go to Tuck's party tonight? They said it's going to be epic! It's the last party we could attend to as high school. What do you say?" Alec offered.

"I can't leave Tracy alone." I say.

"Mom will guard her for us. She could sleep in my place." Alec blurted.

"I'll be fine Nick. Just go and have fun." Tracy says.

•••••

Later that afternoon after attending my high school graduation, I waited for my shift in this mechanic shop to end. I tried to do little fixes in the engine of this car that needs to be picked up any minute now. It's an old classic car and it's a pretty damn beautiful ride. Mrs. Tonkin, the wife of this shop's original owner, said that a beautiful man and a pretty lady owns this ride and she also said it's a pretty damn special car for them cos they'll be using it when they get married.

I stared at the engine as Alec starts trying it back again. He starts the engine and thank goodness it starts working. Alec steps out of the driver's seat.

"It worked bro!" Alec chimed.

I smile and closed the trunk. "That's really brilliant. I'm sure the owner of this car will extremely be happy."

"Damn this baby is a 1959 classic."

I smiled.

"Boys! The owners of that car are here." I hear Mrs. Tonkin call out to us.

Alec and I hurriedly turned around to see who it was. To my surprise, I dropped the tool from my hand and I stood there, frozen. My eyes grew bigger every time they walked near us and my heart was pumping really fast. I feel so surprised and happy but furiously angry.

Catherine is with Hans!

I know Catherine was also shocked to see me too and Alec even stared at me the moment he knew it was her and this douche bag. Her eyes looked like she's about to cry but she's holding it back.

her how she was. I wanted to ask her why she left me so easily. I wanted to do so many things and ask her so many things but I stare at Catherine, she looks

Happy with Hans.

flats. She's so pretty. She's always so

He knew I worked here that's why he brought this stupid car here. I know he planned this cos he's smirking at

is Hans Fitzgerald." Mrs. Tonkin said to us while gesturing. "And

Fiancée.

tears back. I don't want to cry in front of this bastard who killed my mother. Catherine stands right before me. She gained weight. Her cheeks are a little bit chubby. I looked down on her

My eyes dilated.

She's pregnant!

Catherine is pregnant.

soon that's why he's marrying her. It's really lovely. They're such a perfect couple." Mrs. Tonkin chimed

them and Catherine isn't even doing anything. She just kept looking at me. Not a word said. Not a how are you from her. Not even an I miss you Nick came from her mouth. I grabbed the car keys from my

she's

then looked back at her as I exhaled

being married to Hans soon? Catherine is so unfair. I waited for her to come back. I held on to that promise that her and I made. I held on tight to it even though she

up!" Alec chased

he

wanna hear it

"Why didn't you beat him

my head.

my fingers through my

couldn't hit him Alec. Not in front of

laugh humorlessly. "She's fucking pregnant with

night, I didn't want to go to that party that Alec said. Instead, I drove back to that old house where Catherine and I used to live together. Even though it was a short period of time, it was very memorable to me. This place was where Catherine and I filled our dreams together. This house was where we planned our future together. This was where we started planning our family soon and her future

hurriedly grabbed my gun and inserted it inside my jeans then covered it over with my shirt. I had this gun ever since my mom died. Dad came here last year and left it for me, he said to

stepped inside the front door and noticed that the entire lights were on. No one comes here, instead of me. I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Catherine's image appeared on top of the staircase. She paused and looked shocked to find me here. Slowly, she starts coming down the steps and I didn't move from where I

What a surprise."

that. What are you

says while touching

many months?" I asked as I stare at her

at

I watch her sit down on the couch. The couch where we'd used to cuddle or make out with when we watch a movie she loves. "Sit

saying a word and neither did she. We stared at the tv right across us as our reflection was appearing on the

we'd run around this living room

I nod.

did a lot of stuff inside this house. We cooked together, we washed clothes together, we ate together, we washed dishes together. I learned how to do chores cos you taught me. You learned not to cook cos of me. We even slept

We. Not you and Hans but we. You and

bends her head down as

come back to me? Everyday I'd wait outside that doorstep hoping you'll come back to me, but

think I grew up,

"I realized that what my father told me was true. He was

you were okay

Nick. Sixteen

with me and being with me was

had was forever but then I realized that I need to live my dreams and not to be stuck inside this

exhale as I got hurt by her answer. Her words were knife and how she said it so calmly

ever love me

she's doubtful of what to say to me. "Did

so much.

used to love

then I reached for her small soft hand. I hold onto it, for the first time after a year. "God knows how much I missed you Catherine. I missed you terribly like

me so eagerly and I was doing the same thing. "But you

in hopes that you'll come back." I

sad and slightly

I finally let you go..." I

at me pitifully. Her eyes tells me not to let her go but then she was the first one who let go of me. She was the

kiss you."

was the first time we do it. She tilts her head sideways, feeling my palm closely. I started moving closer and closer to her until both of closed our eyes, until my lips were

love you Catherine.." I say