Chapter 49 - start afresh

The days following the incident were boring, sunny and endless. Wren Austin had not left her apartment since her talk with Gwendolyn Jefferson which was a few days ago. She had switched off her phone and kept to herself.
Kind of like a means to start afresh, as though everything that has happened since his return didn’t happen. It was the only thing that kept her sane. Wren Austin was the kind of person who bottled up a lot of emotions, so much so that when it explodes, it leaves her crippled. Of course, Gwendolyn Jefferson would show up and cheer her up, but Wren always thought a few days of ignoring the world was the best remedy.
Sadly, she has had to do that twice, if not thrice since his return. She had not even closed up herself this much when she experienced the greatest pain.
However, the blonde was loving the decision she had made. She has had enough time to reflect on certain actions of hers, watched a lot of self-discovery programs and read a lot of books having to do with self-affirmation.
By Sunday, the blonde was confident she was ready to step outside and face the whispers and condescending stares of the people of Craigsburg.
The time currently read five p.m. and Wren Austin was already dressed up and ready to leave her apartment. Despite the confidence she portrayed earlier, a little angst couldn’t help but settle in, which she pushed in the back of her mind, picked up her pouch and walked out of her apartment.
The blonde began to walk down the tarred pavement leading to the pub. The sunset which was the glorious setting sun helped wipe away her anxiety about dealing with the gossip and restored of sense of peace, reminding her she was only a small part of something bigger.
She had started to care a lot about what people thought of her and she was trying to change. The few hours spent with Calista and Martin, her willing days of confinement and watching the magnificent shades of pattern of the sky reminded her that certain things were beyond her control.
And she was okay with that.
“Hey Wren, you look stunning this evening” the blonde heard someone speak behind her. She turned with a frown which quickly diverted into surprise when she realized who had complimented her.
Wren Austin knew her too well. Her name is Gisselle. They were in the same class back in high school but she dropped out when she got pregnant for the physics teacher. She denied it, but the fact that she dropped out of school days after the rumour and the physics teacher suddenly had a better teaching job out of town and the fact that her belly was already showing off, gave her away. Then, she disappeared and came back eleven months later looking thinner than models for the society management (a famous model agency).
What amused Wren was the fact this Gisselle girl was one of the people who spread and spoke ill about her, yet she seemed to ignore the fact that not too long along, she was the talk of the town. Hell, even those she gossiped with, spoke ill about her when she wasn’t around, calling her a hoe and horrible mother for dishing away her kid.
Not that Wren was invested in her life, but with a friend like Gwendolyn, she knew all the ins and out.
Wren Austin smiled at the girl. “Thank you, Gisselle. You don’t look too bad yourself considering what I’ve heard about you if you know what I mean” she retorted with sarcasm in her voice.
The blonde loved the fact that her reply took the other aback seeing as she wasn’t expecting it. Normally, Wren wouldn’t reply, but she figured a little something to keep her on edge wasn’t a bad idea, given the fact that she was already talking about her.
Wren Austin continued her way to the pub with a smile still plastered on her face, which quickly disappeared as soon as Reik appeared before her, making her stop in her tracks.
She rolled her eyes and sighed in frustration.
“Hi, I know you weren’t expecting me, especially in the middle of the road” Reik uttered with a smile that irked Wren and made her want to wipe it off by knocking him to the head with a rock.
“What do you want?” she rolled her eyes again as she questioned.
Reik smiled even harder. “Oh, don’t be so oblivious. You know why I’m here” he said.
Wren Austin knew. The only reason why Reik would show up before her was either to take her to Hunter or to pass his message across and right now, she didn’t know which one it was.
“What does he want?” Wren questioned with her arms folded.
“Oh, nothing much. You have a client waiting in room eighty-two” Reik said.
Wren began to walk past him before replying. “Got it”
“Oh, he also asks that you see him immediately after you’re done. Not a minute after” Reik added.
“Okay, noted” Reik allowed Wren to walk for a bit before he yelled out to her.
“I am irreplaceable Wren. Hunter will always need me” he yelled out.
Now, it was Wren’s turn to smile. She knew the statement she made the last time she went over touched a spot, but Wren didn’t think it bothered him so much that it stayed in his mind for so long.
“Are you sure?” she smirked as she asked and watched Reik’s smile fade. “Keep telling yourself that” she fired back with a smile that made Reik want to pounce on her.
Wren Austin flipped her hair and swapped her hips as she walked away. She loved that she had once again gotten on his nerves. She felt an indescribable joy to have said the last word, but she felt more joy at the fact that she had given him something to stay awake over.
But as Wren walked further away from Reik. Her smile faded. She couldn’t help but wonder what Hunter wanted with her, and more so, there was an ugly pig she had to please.
The blonde sighed. One cannot catch a break in this God-forsaken town, she thought to herself then muttered out loud when she was standing before the pub.
“I need a drink or ten”
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