Mysterious Mrs. Pansy

Patrick was in such a drunken stupor that his vision was blurred. As he reluctantly opened his eyes, a lovely young woman stood before him. Her visage was sweet and oddly familiar, transporting him back to his youth.

Suddenly, he was thirteen again, locked in a dimly lit room with this very girl. Guards patrolled outside, and a menacing dog loomed inside. Patrick had harbored a lifelong fear of dogs, but the girl had held him close, offering solace.

“Dogs aren’t scary at all. If you show fear, they’ll bark at you,” the girl reassured him in the darkness. Her large, starry eyes twinkled, illuminating Patrick’s heart.

In their quiet moments, she teased, “Does this mean I saved your life? Without me, you’d have been terrified to death by that dog. So, you should marry me when we grow up!”

Patrick readily agreed, “Okay.”

In his inebriated state, the girl before him now seemed to be the embodiment of that cherished memory. He murmured, “Candy, do you remember? We were locked together in that dark room. You saved me from the big dog and even bandaged my wound.”

Dark room? Big dog? Bandaging his wound? Jane’s head throbbed as though something from the depths of her memory tried to resurface. Unfortunately, it remained just out of reach.

“Candy, do you know I’ve searched for you all these years? It’s incredible to finally see you again,” Patrick whispered, taking Jane’s hand and brushing his lips against it. Her hand exuded a sweet fragrance, confirming his belief that she was his Candy. “Candy, you smell so delightful,” he mumbled, intoxicated by her scent.

“Patrick, you’re drunk. Let go of me!” Jane chided, feeling helpless when dealing with a drunken Patrick.

In his befuddled state, Patrick refused, clutching her hand with tenacity. “Please don’t leave me, Candy.”

“Alright,” Jane conceded, “let me help you to your room.” Her aim was to swiftly extricate herself from this situation.

After all, she couldn’t stay in the living room with him all night. She was willing to lend a hand by escorting him to his room. Jane strained to help him to his feet, yet his sheer weight presented a challenge.

“Patrick, get up quickly. Don’t just lie here on the floor!” she urged.

Patrick gazed up at her with unfocused eyes and consented, “Alright, Candy. I’ll get up.”

Jane was perplexed by the name ‘Candy,’ but she managed to assist him onto his feet. Patrick encircled her shoulders, leaning heavily against her. His warm breath wafted over her face as his head rested against the side of her head.

The proximity made Jane uncomfortable, and the memory of their bathroom kiss resurfaced, fueling her inner turmoil. She inched away from him, but Patrick clung even tighter.

Her teeth clenched in frustration, she held him upright and proceeded to guide him up the stairs. As they finally reached his floor and Jane heaved a sigh of relief, a woman’s voice pierced the silence. “What are you doing?”

Jane glanced up and saw Melissa, who had woken up during the commotion. Her voice carried a note of disbelief and concern. Melissa, seeing Patrick in this state, couldn’t stay passive.

“Stop, Jane!” she cried out, but Jane, too exhausted to explain, simply maneuvered around her, continuing to assist Patrick toward his room.

“Jane!” Melissa shouted after her, but Jane was undeterred. It was clear to Melissa that Patrick was in no state to fend for himself.

And he was being aided by Jane.

In Melissa’s eyes, Jane’s actions appeared to be an attempt to seduce Patrick and sleep with him. She moved closer and seized Jane’s arm, demanding an explanation.

“Why did you get Patrick drunk in the middle of the night? Are you trying to seduce him?” Melissa’s eyes were sharp and accusatory.

Jane regarded Melissa with indifference and scoffed. “I’m his fiancée. He’s mine. Why would I need to get him drunk to seduce him?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Jane!” Melissa rebuked, looking from Jane to Patrick.

Unable to change Jane’s mind, Melissa was left with the task of helping Patrick back to his room. She gently deposited him on his bed and removed his shoes.

“Patrick, what happened? Why did you drink so much?” Melissa inquired.

Patrick, in his inebriated state, opened his eyes, gazing at Melissa forlornly. “You’re not Candy.”

Melissa’s brows furrowed in confusion. She couldn’t make out what he’d said clearly, and Patrick offered no further explanation. Instead, he closed his eyes and drifted into slumber.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Melissa studied the peaceful, handsome face of the man she had secretly adored for years. His snores were soft, and even in his inebriated state, he seemed more handsome and appealing.

Melissa’s heart ached painfully. “Patrick, why won’t you notice me? I don’t want to be just your cousin,” she lamented softly. She’d harbored feelings for Patrick since she was fourteen, but he viewed her solely as his cousin. Yet, Melissa wasn’t biologically related to Patrick. She had been adopted by Patrick’s aunt, and her eyes conveyed unspoken love and admiration. She lowered her face to his and pressed a gentle kiss upon the man she’d secretly loved for years.

Meanwhile, as Jane returned to her room, she found a diamond button in her hand. It was undoubtedly one of the cufflinks from Patrick’s suit. She must have inadvertently torn it off when helping him up the stairs.

After a moment of contemplation, she decided to return the button to its rightful owner. She had no desire to be falsely accused of theft. Upon reaching Patrick’s room and noticing the door slightly ajar, she pushed it open. “Patrick, I…”

However, the words caught in Jane’s throat as she was confronted with a startling sight. Melissa was kissing Patrick.