Warning: Strong words

I can’t believe what bad luck I have! I had hardly settled in the laps of a comfortable life, and this had to happen? I raised my face to see the very face, I never wanted to see again.

“Robbie?” I gasped in surprise and disbelief.

His grey eyes went wide in recognition as well. He stared at me like he had seen a ghost.

Wait?!

What would Robbie be doing here?

Why would this guy appear in front of me suddenly?

This cannot be real!! This has to be a f**king nightmare!

My mind was so blank that I couldn’t process anything. I wanted to speak out, but my mouth had stopped working. I kept blankly staring at him, hoping it would somehow change this reality.

"Are you-" Robbie started bringing me back to my senses. I saw his eyes looking at me with surprise. He turned and walked to me.

No way could he have recognized me!! It has been eight years!! He should not remember me.

I don’t want him to remember me…

But as my luck would have it, at that very moment, Tanya came running and said hurriedly, putting a defensive hand in front of me,

"Sir Walker. Please forgive Chef Tony. It is his first day. Trust me, he is very dedicated and responsible"

Robbie’s eyes moved to meet hers. His face, full of astonishment,

"Did you just say, Chef Tony?"

Tanya looked confused and answered with caution, "Ye-Yes."

Robbie turned his grey eyes towards me, looking at me from top to bottom.

"You are working in my Resort?" he asked in an amazed tone.

His Resort!!!

Mr. Walker's son was none other than Robbie Walker?!!

I think my heart stopped beating for a second. This was just too much of a coincidence to be believable. I cannot bring myself to believe that this was actually happening. Why here? Why now? Just how on earth did this coincidence happen? It has to be all a lie!

Shaking my head in disbelief, I started stepping back. He frowned at me and tilted his head as if asking, ‘What’s wrong?’. I don't know what he was expecting to see, but right now, all I wanted was to get the hell out of here. I had no wish to see his face or talk to him or have anything to do with him in any way.

"Are you ok? Tony, you don't look good," he said, bringing his hand towards me.

No! Don't touch me!

Unintentionally, I slapped his hand away. Everyone around me stared at us in shock. But I really couldn’t care less. I just knew that I had to leave this place. Get as far away as possible. Without another word, I turned around and ran outside.

"Tony!" I heard Robbie call behind me.

Why? Just why? I had only just started living a peaceful life. Why does my past have to come back to me? Why?

I kept running with my mind filled with several questions and anger till I reached the parking area. My heart was beating so hard that I felt like it would explode. All those years of pain that I suppressed came rushing to the fore, pricking my heart like thorns. I sat on my toes, covering my mouth with my hand, feeling the sweat drenching my face.

"This cannot be Robbie. It is all just a nightmare. It can't be true," I consoled myself, trying to delude myself into believing that it was all just a bad dream.

"What can't be true?" I heard Robbie's voice behind me.

I turned around and fell on the floor on my ass. This guy followed me from the restaurant. He was now taller and dressed lavishly like a true businessman. Right now, his beautiful smooth olive face was covered in sweat, and he was panting. Just like in high school, he still looked like some prince straight out of a novel. But unlike then, now his looks terrified me.

I backed up a few steps as he walked towards me. I realized I was trembling. I have to speak. I have to say something. Stop him from coming near me. But my mouth just wouldn't work.

"So, you ARE Tony. What a coincidence that I met you in my Resort," he said with a slight smile. I can't tell if he was mocking me or was genuinely happy.

"You have grown tall and skinny. Even your hair has grown long, but your eyes still look pretty"

What rubbish was he spouting? Does he think his sweet talk will make up for his past betrayal?

"Why do you look so scared? I am not going to hurt you!" He sat on his toes and put his hand forward to touch my face.

Not again!

I slapped his hand away. And could only choke out, "Do-don't touch me."

He looked surprised and hurt. He took his hand back and apologized.

Just what was he playing at?

"You still couldn't forgive me, could you? I am truly sorry for that day, and whatever the hell I said. I had years to ponder and as time went by, I realized how much I have wronged you. I am really sorry!"

Sorry?

The word was like an electric shock for me. Suddenly, all my senses were back. I gritted my teeth and glared at him.

What damn sorry?!! Can his sorry erase the pain that I went through?

Can his sorry give me back the years I lost trying just to make ends meet?

He destroyed my life and now wants to ease his conscience with a ‘sorry’?

I laughed through my anger and tears which subconsciously leaked out. I looked at him while wiping the tears on my face. My mouth, which was jammed, suddenly started working,

"Sorry? What are you sorry for Robbie? Is it for lying about loving me? Or that even after my several requests you fucked me without protection? Or that after getting me pregnant, you refused to take responsibility? Or that you took away a normal life from me? After you betrayed me, will simply saying sorry change everything? Will it make up for these eight years?"

I saw Robbie's face turn from red to purple as if he was suffocating. His face showed pain and hurt. But I really couldn't bring myself to feel any sympathy. Every time I remembered what I and Twen went through, I only felt hatred and anger.

I forced myself to stand, even though my legs were shaking. I looked at him with disdain. I can't believe he actually dared to apologize after what he had done.

"Don't be sorry, Robbie, because I don't have forgiveness to give you," I said, looking at Robbie’s sad eyes. 

I didn't want to see those eyes which I had loved so much back then. I turned my face away, staggered towards my car, and drove off.