Ambivert

“Are you coming tonight?” I asked downhearted over the phone on how things have been between I and Jack these past couple of weeks

“I…I…cant, I have pl…plans, sorry”

 His response was still timid as always but I couldn’t holpen my worry. Yes Jack was the ever sober, meticulous, introvert since childhood but still I couldn’t help shake the feeling that something more was up with him. On the other hand, I was the complete opposite of him but nonetheless, we became best of friends since middle school and high school and now, two years as a couple. Jack finally laid his confession to me on our graduation with a romantic move like a proposal.

Even if our lifestyle was contrary to each other, we loved each other and work out our relationship to the fullest until few months ago. Jack started acting strange using the distancing technique.

“Jack what the heck is going on!” I snapped in exhaustion “what’s happening to us Jack? We weren’t this way before?! You are becoming distance. You don’t call anymore, you rarely reply my texts, you hardly pick up my calls and when you finally do you throw me some silly excuse or the other and every time I want to see you or come over, you blow me off! What’s going on!!!” I became emotional

“Tricia I’m kinda in the middle of something right now, could you not start today” he responded in an irritated calm voice “I’ll call you la…”

“Oh no you don’t!” I cut in angrily while standing on my feet in my bed room “I am done with you treating me like crap these past months Jack?! I am a person, a lady with emotions and feelings” I broke down in tears “Jack I ha..ve missed you, so… much. You live just ten blocks away and I haven’t seen you in fi…ve freaking months Jack.” I was jerking because of my profuse tears which was making me give occasional pause during my sentences “I just want you back or are you seeing someone else?”

The phone was silence for a brief moment 

“Jack answer me! Are you freaking cheating on me?!”

The receiver’s end was still silent. I cross-checked my phone to see if he had hung up but the call duration was still counting

“Who is she?!” I asked with so much disgust and fury “Who the hell is she Jack?!”

“There’s no body TRICIA!” He snapped back at me. That was the first time Jack ever raised his voice at me since middle school “there is no lady Tricia, there is no she! So quit nagging at get off my back, I’m done!” and with that he hung up on me

I gazed at my phone screen with disbelief and pain. My tears fell like a heavy downpour. I slummed to the floor feeling exhausted and useless. My head was blank, my emotions were in jeopardy, everything felt like it was falling apart. I hadn’t been into the campus for weeks because of my disoriented state. I had no mum to talk to and tell how I feel right now. I had no father to give me that big tight fatherly hug and love. I never knew my birth parents. I never settled at one foster home, the street was more of a home to me. My present foster parents showed their love only financially, but the attention I truly seek, the love I wanted was never given to me, they were always on their weekly travels.

Partying and hanging out on the streets gave me a sense of belonging. That was how I always got through each day. Who cares if my pals on the streets followed me around because of my cash or whatever they could get, I had the company, I was never alone and that was all that mattered, until I met Jack

“Jack was the only person that stood beside me for me. It was a win-win for me, I saved him from the bullies in middle school and high school, while he gave me his sincere friendship and that was how my love started for him. I got fond of Jack. He was basically my only family, and I was highly contended.

I had withdrew from my old rugged ways thanks to Jack. Since my feelings were known to me, all I ever looked forward to was pleasing Jack, he was all I needed and from my view, I thought It was vice versa. But right now, lying on the bare floor, soaked in my own tears, I say “f**k Jack, I’m getting my life back”

In thirty minutes, I was all dressed looking outstanding and glamorous. I had stopped my outlandish looks because of Jack. He had never supported my exposed dressing as he’s reasons were ‘I don’t want some other guy lusting over what belongs to me alone’. 

“Bullsh*t” I spat at my renaissance. 

I exonerated myself with my expensive perfume and I took one more glance at my reflection and marched out to my old haven

***

“Who the hell am I seeing” Marcus who was the first to notice me at the club threw attention towards me as the others advanced

“The leopard can never change her spots now can she” Abigail said while hovering over me with a drink in her hand. Her breathe reeked of beer, it was obvious she was either getting tipsy or she was already

“Get of me would you” I pushed her off with disgust “I ain’t here for you pipsqueaks, so don’t surround me like bunch of chickens

I walked past the middle of Marcus and Brian over to the counter when I heard another voice that reminded me much more of my past ways “seems you still got that mouth of yours intact.” He yelled 

I could sense a smirk on his face even without a glance at him. I didn’t bother to spit a response but continued my steps towards the counter

“Tequila” I gave my order to the bartender who gave me a stare that requested for an ID

I took out my college ID from my purse and showed it to him taping my date of birth written on it

“Coming right up” the bartender responded

“Look who is no longer a minor” the one who owned the annoying voice earlier on was now seated beside me. I still didn’t spare him a glance and gulped the full cup of tequila down my throat. I felt the harsh pain it gave my throat but enjoyed the feeling it gave me

“Another” I told the bartender, who didn’t hesitate this time

“You know you still glow like a sixteen year old even with the body of a twenty-one”

I still kept mute

“How is that boyfriend of yours by the way” I could feel his smirk arch at the side of his lips. Kelvin popularly known as third lord was the third in command in the street. Information came to him daily like the wind, so I wasn’t surprised he knew about my present status with Jack “I heard he dumped you, ouch, that should hurt. What was the word you said ‘You can never be half the man he is’ pft” Kelvin scoffed “look who came back to that half man now”

I stomped my fourth glass on the table feeling the tipsiness beginning to elude me, but I wanted more “I didn’t come back for you, so shut it half man, no matter how you try, you will still never be Quarter of Jack”

I took my 5th glass and gulped at a go. I was already feeling drowsy

“Common Tricia” I could hear kelvin speak soberly with emotions emitting from his words “I gave you everything, I gave you the attention you wanted, I gave you people at your beck and call, I gave you great s*x but you still went for that fool that doesn’t even know your worth”

“And you do?!” I yelled at him “you deprived me of my life, of what I wanted. I liked the streets kelvin but I loved math. You never saw that, you blinded yourself to my dreams and saw yours as my reality. But Jack was there, Jack knew me and loved me for who I was…”

“What about now” Kelvin cut in “who have you once again come running to when no one accepts you for who you are” he came closer and held my face up tenderly “It’s us, it’s me Tricia. I have always been here, I have always loved you from the very moment I set my eyes on you. I found his gaze stuck to mine. His eyes looked misty, or maybe it was just an effect of the tequila. In that short moment, I felt Kelvin’s lips pressed on mine, it was possessive, strong, forceful and yet passionate, but I pushed him away forcefully.

His gaze still didn’t leave me, his expression was confusing to me. His eyes still looked misty and his expression seemed like he was hurt, emotionally. I had never seen Kelvin this way in the 3years we were together, or maybe my present epiphany also another result of the tequila.

 I need to lay my head, it felt too heavy for me. I said nothing and turned to the bartender

“You don’t have to pay” I heard kelvin’s voice that sounded distant all of a sudden

“Then give me another”

I gulped another glass and left the club.

(Third person POV) 

Tricia was now outside, the breeze that blew was freezing. She searched for her keys and after minutes she located it with her fingers inside her bag. She lousily staggered towards her car

“Tricia you can’t drive, you are drunk. Give me the key” Kelvin had already snatch the keys off Tricia’s hands before she could resist. 

“No no no” Tricia said childishly in her tipsy state. You can’t dwive (drive) my kwar (car)

Kelvin didn’t bother giving her a response as he tenderly dragged her towards the back seat.

“Third lord is everything alright, where are you going” Marcus who had followed kelvin outside the building questioned Kelvin

“Don’t ask me rubbish questions, get inside and watch the others. Do not cause any unnecessary chaos only when it’s necessary. Now go”

Without resistance Marcus headed back inside. Kelvin focused his attention back at Tricia who surprisingly hadn’t dozed off yet, she seemed strong to still be awake. But what surprised him more was the position he had found himself. He was still standing at the entrance of the back seat as he tried putting Tricia inside the car but after his distraction with Marcus, Tricia had her legs caging Kelvin in a crossed form. Her white thighs were endearing. He couldn’t help but get attracted. Tricia was still gazing at him with a sheepish smile that seemed like she was luring him. He wanted to give in but shook his head to get his head back on track.

“No Tricia, you aren’t in your senses right now, so please don’t make me do what I would regret when you become sober”

“Who said I wasn’t sober!” Tricia sounded upset to Kelvin’s hearing. And out of the blues she drew him down by the neck and kissed him with force and strength but to kelvin it was the best feeling he ever had. Tricia was the only lady that got him excited and made him feel strong. He had always loved this lady so much, that he even learnt how to act like an introvert just to win her over from Jack completely but she was never impressed or probably she just never noticed. He forced himself to stay off drinking and smoking for months. It was hell for him but he found it worthwhile. He would encaged himself to less interesting indoor activities as Jack always did, he began to stalk and watch Jack’s everyday activity, he tried doing every single thing Jack did. Paying attention to books, having predictable meals every single day, taming his vulgar language. He became weak in the eyes of many and even himself. Most times he felt like he was running mad, he had lost his second in rank tittle and became the head of only two groups on the street because of his silly love act but it didn’t prick him as much as Tricia’s inabilities to notice what he was doing for her until the day she finally left him for Jack. His heartbreak was adjacent to his rage. It was bizarre that due to his rage, he rose back up and got to the third in command of the entire street. He wanted to kill Jack so many times, but deep down his love for Tricia and her happiness never made him lay a finger on him, instead, he took it upon himself to safe guard Jack for Tricia but with the information he had gotten about the ‘animal’ and what he has done to Tricia, he had prepared a befitting death sentence for him the next day

Tricia had finally pulled back from her kissed that left both of the breathless. Tricia had started the kiss in a playful way at first but as the seconds expanded, Kelvin felt a tiny bit of her soberness regained in her with the way she gazed at him. He didn’t want to make a move seeing she was still tipsy before but now, he couldn’t control himself any more, she had lit up something in him and in a matter of seconds, Kelvin had pushed her into the car and closed the car door behind him. He was now on top of her and she still hadn’t teared her gaze from him neither did he. If she wasn’t resisting, with the level of her hesitant gaze on him, he knew Tricia had a bit on her consciousness back and that was enough affirmation for him to show her how much he loved her as his lips took over hers.

(Tricia’s POV)

I woke up with a slight headache. My surroundings seemed familiar. I was at my apartment, alone on my bed. I shut my eyes, squeezing my forehead with my hands as I tried regaining memories of last night from my temporary amnesia and then it all came rushing; kelvin, glasses of tequila, Kelvin taking my keys, wrapping my legs round him, the kiss…

“sh*t!” I exclaimed remembering my night with Kelvin. I couldn’t believe I had s*x with him on the same night I saw him after five years. I slouched backwards on my bed. Kelvin was the first I opened my heart to. My feelings for Jack was just building up in high school, I wasn’t sure at first. Kelvin was the one there at the moment and he did the honors of the deflowering me

“I guess old feelings never die” I muttered to myself. I picked up my phone and found four missed calls from Jack

I sat up and dialed Jack’s contact but he wasn’t picking up, so I decided to head to his apartment.

Unlike before, if I tried paying a surprise visit to Jack’s apartment, his gate would always be locked but this time, his lock was broken. I got scared and wanted to call the police but I wanted to be sure before raising a false alarm. I picked up a big plank and headed gradually approached his door. 

I could hear moans, it was a confusing sound at first but then one thing was clear, the moans were erotic sounds coming from no other person that Jack. 

Tears threatened to fall, I held my mouth shut to hinder an outburst. I slowly left the door step and was heading back to my car, wiping off each tear that fell but, amidst my blurry eyes, I sighted Kelvin walking towards me. I didn’t bother to ask how he found me, I knew he would have tabs on me

“You shouldn’t have come. Let’s go” was all he said

I obliged without a word as a tear escaped to the ground but then something caught my eyes. I took it out of Kelvin’s back pocket and gazed at it astonished

“Why do you have Jack’s phone with you?” I asked with a stern look even if there where lines of tears in my eyes

“I…mmm… I’ll explain in the…”

“Do it now!” I cut in with fury emerging from my words

“Tricia it’s difficult to explain. I shouldn’t have called that’s why I stopped after a few attempts but I just wanted you to see that ‘animal’ doesn’t deserve you”

“Wait” I scoffed “you called me. You purposely wanted me to see these?” I had my tears resume its work once again

“I’m sorry, I just wasn’t thinking straight. Let’s just get out of here” 

Jack’s moans once again came to my ears. I felt disgust, hearing it. He lied to me that he wasn’t cheating on me. He had the guts to take me for a fool. Instantly with sudden rage, I grabbed Kelvin’s gun from his side underneath his jacket and aimed for wherever those sounds came from.

Kelvin didn’t bother stopping me, He knew the height of my anger

I barged into the room where the very act was done and I encountered the shock of my life. My lips were opened but no words came forth. Jack was flabbergasted to see me. At that moment tears and hatred were my words as my lips failed me. All Jack could do was plead hysterically. He eyes showed complete fright, his pleads sounded faded as my ears began to fail me, my head was in an uproar, but finally, my ears heard the sound of two gunshot.

One was to Jack and the other to his Bitch(Female Dog)