“The girl said she was too cynical about love, but how could you not be? On the surface, relations between men and women were all soft kisses and white gowns and handholding. But underneath they were a scary, complicated, ugly mess, just waiting to rise to the surface.”
-J. Courtney Sullivan; Commencement
Too many emotions were swimming and banging against my skull. However, I felt excited to see Marcus again. I had missed him every day and I always thought of him as I had a lot to talk about and it would feel just like the old times- only it wouldn't be better now after what I've done. I knew in my heart that leaving wouldn't have been the right thing to do.
In that second, I heard the sound of glass shatter from the distance which broke the chain of my thoughts. Carolina rushed towards there, and my heart dropped at the image before me. Blood was oozing out of Marc's hand as he had punched the mirror that had been hung on the wall. My body felt numb and I for a second couldn't move where I saw Xavier running out of the hall in a hurry.
"Marc……" I breathed, shocked.
Rushing and stumbling up to him, I yelled, "What the hell did you do?!"
Before I could touch his hands, he growled, "Stay where you are!"
My throat felt dry and sore, no words were able to come out. I wasn't even able to move. From the corner of my eye, I saw Xavier rushing towards Marcus with a first-aid kid in his hands.
I honestly lost track of the time quite frankly but that was the least of my worries. We all went to the living room, where Marc sat on the sofa as Xavier cleaned his wound and wrapped it in a bandage. Standing as far as I could, I noted Carolina's draining face sitting on the sofa a few feet away. It was unlike her confident and well-kept demeanor.
"Is someone going to explain this fiasco?" Asked Chris as he glared in my direction.
"Chris, not now." Said Carolina as she stood and walked towards him and he scoffed.
He walked towards me, and said, "What is this all about, Evelyn?"
"I-I…." I stammered and after clearing my throat, "I'm his sister." I said and his jaw clenched unmistakably.
"What! His sister? Didn't she run away?"
"Yes." Replied Evelyn.
Running his fingers through his hairs in frustration, "Jesus! I should've known." He said and then continued, "I saw how everything changed after you joined my company as Xavi's secretary." And then he looked at Xavier who stood by Marc's side as his hand rested on his shoulder.
"I saw how he had changed and then Carol also pinpointed you." Said Chris, he wasn't looking at me but behind me as if he was connecting the dots and perhaps, he finally completed the connection in his mind as he locked his gaze with mine. "I should've known you, when you were so lost in admiring the building. And you know what Evelyn?" He asked and I looked up at him, "He did put his heart and soul in that building, after all he made that in the memory of his sister!”
I felt like I was being sucked into the face of the earth at this very moment. Carolina stood near me almost as if she was steadying me up, but I turned to Marcus who held a grave expression towards me. My eyes seemed to fill with tears and his face seemed to hold so much pain.
Gathering my emotions that were scattered all over the place, "We need to talk, Marc." I stared towards him as he locked his gaze with me. "And I assume you have a lot of questions for me as well."
"Is Evelyn left yet?" Savannah suddenly questioned as she walked out of the washroom but stood in place when she saw me.
"You're still here. Don't you have any shame?" Savannah questioned me.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, don't play dumb, Evelyn!"
"I prefer if you lower your voice," Marc warned as he stood up and walked towards her, "This is our family matter. Which brings me to the fact why you're still here, Miss Summers?"
"You're taking her side after what she did to your family. She's a fucking snake!" Savannah spat.
"Will you just shut up?" I asked in frustration.
Walking towards me, "You're such a whore, Evelyn." Said Savannah with such hatred that I couldn't even explain.
"Savannah," Xavier called out for her as we all looked towards him, "Leave."
"Fine!" She stormed out of the living room, purposely shoving me by her shoulder.
Turning towards me, Marcus asked, "You wanted to talk. So, start speaking."