[ Rain ]
The cold breeze mixed with the scent of various flowers and far stretched mountains bathed in the pink rays of sun is a bliss for a aching heart. I forgot about my huge fight with Nicholas as soon as I spread my arms for the nature.
I hired a cab to reach on a cliff from where I can have a clewr view of the town in down valley and a blue narrow stream running through the rift between the mountains. It feels surreal, a different world where everything seems magical like I've seen in the fantasy movies.
I bought a box of swiss chocolates and some other sweet treats to eat during my lone trip in these hills and it was worth my decision of leaving the boredom of villa and a sulking husband behind. I took many pictures capturing this moment forever.
I was busy enjoying a hot mug of coffee in a small cafe, an attraction for tourists in a deserted area where couples come for privacy in the lap of nature.
The ringing of my phone snaps me out of my staring session. I fish out my phone from my bag and frown seeing a private number on the screen.
Who could call me from a private number?
Keeping all the questions aside, I decide to answer it first. So, I swipe the green button and put the phone on my ear.
"Hello?" I ask in a questioning tone.
"How's the lone wandering goes with you?" The same raspy voice of Xavier reaches into my ear.
Hairs erupt on my skin. It's indeed Xavier.
"How did you get my number?" I ask bluntly and regret my tone later. Herey own husband doesn't care if I fall from a cliff, on the other hand, Xavier calls to check upon me.
"I have my own ways, Rain. Sorry to invade your privacy but I had a video call with Nick and he didn't sound good, pissed off, or I define it as mad on someone and it doesn't take me a minute to join two and two together who could be the reason of his madness." He answers.
"Oh please, forgive me for my rudeness. It's totally fine. You didn't harm my privacy. A cellphone is invented to call people and yes, I am the victim of his anger not the reason. The reason is mainly his ego and his reluctance to see the truth, Xavier. I tried my best to make him see my efforts and how serious I am to make this marriage work but it takes two people's equal contribution in a successful marriage. I am tired of his coldness, Xavier." I say in a defeated voice.
"Hmm...I can't support my friend in how he treats you but you have to give him some time, Rain. He isn't a person who opens up very easily to everyone but a close shell. Your sister first brought him out from his safe confinements and then threw him under the bus. He needs some time to heal from the wounds of betrayal." He says sincerely.
"No, Xavier, you're wrong here. Your friend, Nicholas confessed his never dying love for the very same woman who left him for another man but that's not the worst part,"I chuckle sadly,"He accepted my proposal for a divorce. Now, do you anything else to say in his support?"
Silence is what I receive in response.
"Hard to digest, right?" I try to sound ineffected but Xavier's gentle nature compelled me to share my pain with him.
"I am sorry, Rain. I didn't know that he's still not over her and if he's ready to divorce you then I'm not backing him anymore. He is a foolish man to run after the wrong woman and not keeping you close to him." Xavier's disappointed reply comes.
"Don't apologize, Xavier. You're his best friend and it's natural for you to back up your friend." I try to avoid the sore topic which would only give me more pain.
"I thought we were also friends." He complains.
"Do you consider me as your friend?" I ask him as I feel my heart racing on a dangerous speed.
"Of course, you are more like a true friend for me, Rain. I believe time span isn't necessary to build a friendship but mutual trust and understanding." He replies very sincerely and his words touch my heart.
No one has ever shown me empathy other than my Dad, Rainard and Candace.
"Will you be my friend, Rain Anderson?" I hear him ask with a hint of amusement in his raspy voice.
"Yes, Mr. Xavier Carlyle. I would be blessed to have you as my friend." I reply with a grin and feel him smiling on the other side.
"I thought you would block my number after this call.' He says.
"And why would I do that?" I ask playfully. Suddenly, I grow to like our random conversation.
"You seem a very reserve person who doesn't like to socialize very much and I thought the very conservative wife in you wouldn't accept another man's friendship but I guess I was wrong about you." He answers with hesitantion in his voice.
"You would be right if you had said it to me a couple of days ago but I am not the same ideal wife anymore. Yes, I still feel shy to expose myself to a great number of people but I am not the trophy wife hoping for husband to love her one day. In fact, I am planning on to live my dreams and it will start from next month when I'm going to participate in Chicago photography competition and the best collection of a photographer will be auctioned for a charity work." I tell him excitedly about my new agenda.
"It sounds really great, Rain. I think you should go for it and prove your husband that you're not a weak girl whom he can run on his finger's tip. Prove yourself a worthy life partner. Make him regret his decision of choosing Roselie over you, Rain." Xavier encourages me and it really worked.
"Thank you, Xavier for understanding me and my dreams. You're the first person in years to support my dreams like a true friend. I wish Nicholas could give me his support, not as a husband but at least as friend." My heart drops. He barely cares about me.
"Let's not talk about him. Uncle Nathan has spent a good fortune on your so called honeymoon. Please enjoy your trip. Who says we need someone with us to be happy, happiness can be found in anything or anyway." He says.
I feel lighter talking with Xavier. We have met only twice yet I feel free around him with no fear of being judged on my behavior or my shady personality. He only sees me as another human being with natural flaws and accepts me the way I am.
"I see you're a person who is good at understanding the other people. You listen to them than judging them on their outer appearances. I'd be lucky to have you as my friend, Xavier." I say with a smile.
"I am equally fortunate to meet you, Rain. In this short period of time, I've known you, I find your personality unique and rare in the high rich class society where money and outer reputation matter the most to women. They are always in a constant competition with the other to look superior, your sister was the best example in the category. May be, her over the top personality attracted Nicholas who always wanted a life partner with confidence and ready to share his burdern with pride of a regal woman."
"Yeah..I know. I used to be there with my sister during their interviews for magazines. She always asked me to write her answers. It was a secret to Nicholas but my sister sucks at such stuffs." I smile sadly remembering those days when I happily agreed to help Roselie with her answers because it would give me a chance to get close to Nicholas though he hardly recognized my presence, his whole world used to revolve around Roselie.
"See, that's why I said you have a unique personality. You love to help others no matter how much it could hurt you. You prioritize other's happiness over yours but sometimes you need to be selfish for yourself, Rain. Do not give others the leverage of crushing your feelings under their pride's weight." He says casually but his words leave a deep impact on me.
They force me to think about myself.
"I really enjoyed talking to you, Xavier. I just..I just needed someone..to..talk to. I hope I can call you off your work time." I ask biting my lips in nervousness. I certainly crossed the border.
"No problem, just give me text so I can tell you whether I'm free at the moment or busy but don't worry if I don't receive your call due to work then I promise to call you back in my free time. I can always spare time for my friends." He says excitingly.
We talk more for an hour. I disconnect the call when the sun set and temperature falls considerably low. I haven't taken an over coat. So, the coldness is reaching in my bones. Collecting my stuffs, I take a quick dinner at the nearby cafe before heading back to the villa though every single cell
in my body refuse to see Nicholas or even stay under the same roof as him.
By the time I reach at villa, it's seven thirty and snowfall has already begin. Silently entering in the living room, I cone across a furiously pacing Nicholas with frown lines on his forehead. The sudden creak of wodden floor due to my heavy boots draws his attention.
The frown lines disappear from his face and replaced by concern. With three long strands he is standing in front of me.
"Where have you been Rain? I tried calling you multiple times but your phone continously went engage. I thought something...something happened to you." He says with a hint of worry in his tone but I could be hallucinating.
Nicholas doesn't give a penny if I fall off a cliff.
"I was busy talking to Candace and I told you that I wouldn't be back before sunset." I reply as flatly as I can which brings a flicker of hurt on his face which he quickly masks.
"I don't care what you do or wherever you go but don't ignore my calls when I call you, is that clear? I don't want our families to blame me if anything bad happens to you." He says coldly and leaves to his room.
His words stung but what I should expect from a cold husband. I enjoyed my day that all I know.
Sighing on the agony of my life, I too retire to my room in a hope to have a beautiful day ahead.