Gypsy Lover

The other woman smiled at her. She could see that there was a change in her. She could feel that this woman's smile was genuine this time. Maybe it is because of Harman. She has him already in her life, she thought dejectedly.

"You still have a grudge on me, huh?" Laili stated and stepped closer to Alodia. She looked fashionable in her cream-colored long winter coat.

"And why not? You're the reason that..." and she halted. It was all in the past. "Why are you here, by the way? If... you're looking for your husband, he's not living in that house but that one across the street. This one right here is my friend's." She pointed the houses respectively while she spoke, trying to not blow up in Laili's face.

Why did I even think of talking to her when she called me anyway? Now, she regretted it. The other woman chuckled. "My husband you're saying?" Her dark brows shot up.

Alodia frowned at the other woman. "H-have you...?" She shook her head, rephrasing her supposed question. "Are you and Harman separated?" It was difficult for her to ask that but she could not stop herself from asking it. Laili burst into laughter. It was quite a while before she stopped cackling. "Really! Harman wasn't that insane and vulnerable as you might think, Alodia. We... never married... anywhere! Not in a church or the Gypsy way. I was the one who broke off the engagement more than three years ago. You know, divorce for Gypsies is really rare. It's a taboo." And then, she sighed and shrugged. "And so... here I am. A gadzo like you... as well as Harman. And we don't live in our ancestors' shadow anymore. We're free! We can do whatsoever we want from now on. Just that... I miss my family that I cannot call my family anymore. Crazy, don't you think?" Pain and longing crossed her beautiful dark round eyes. Alodia could really see feel sadness in her words. But it seemed that Laili was contented in spite of it.

Alodia nodded in sympathy, although this was like a big newsflash to her. She knew how it would feel to lose the ones you loved.

"So... if I'm the reason why..." She started to speak.

Laili shook her head. "No, it wasn't you, Alodia. At the time, I just thought I couldn't afford to lose my life's status... especially that my father was and still is the Gypsy king. That was why I had to cling on to Harman and did not want to let go even though he told me many times that he loved you. Only you. And then... Harman told me he was ready to give up everything and everyone so that he wouldn't lose you... and then, you're going to live together happily... Well, that gave me an inspiration to let him go and go on with my own life without destroying others'. Yours and Harman's. It occurred to me that I won't be fair with him if I hold onto him for life, right? I'd suffer and would be unhappy then, wouldn't I? Because I knew from the very start that you loved him and that you still do, don't you, Alodia?"

"But at the time, I didn't tell you I loved him... and I... I never told him that either..." she said, shaking her head with creased forehead.

Laili sighed and smiled at her warmly and took her gloved hands. "I think you should talk to Harman now. I'm just here to support my friend. He'd do the same if I were in his shoes!" She winked and looked behind her.

That was Alodia's cue. She looked over her shoulder and found Harman gazing at her, with his hands inside his black trench coat pockets. He looked absolutely gorgeous in it! The cold temperature emphasized his cherry lips more than ever. She barely noticed that Laili already let go of her hands and turned to leave to give them time and talk.

Did he call his friend over to talk to me? To tell me everything? she wondered. Her throat went dry.

"That's why I was looking for you for more than three damn years, Alodia! I learned what you two have talked about when you left me in Vaslui without any word." His eyes never left hers as he spoke. "I followed you in the Philippines but I never found you. I discovered that you have already gone back in the country, when I talked to your cousin Karen. And she told me that you never left the address of your next employer. I checked with your agency, but they said you didn't get any employer from them but through your own connections. Then, I traveled from one city to another just to find you here in Romania. My lawyer couldn't also find where you've taken your next contract. It was really pissing me off, you know? Even though I made my money talk, no one talked back. Really weird, huh? So, I figured that your agency did tell me the truth, that you were personally recommended and privately hired without going through them because you have established yourself here now." And now, he was already right in front of her, a few inches away.

"I-it was a last-minute recommendation given by my previous employers Iustina and Petru. I thought that it won't work but Nicoleta has some money and connections that's why I'm still here. Her husband just passed away when she took me in. It was one of her relatives that looked for Nicu's governess and Iustina recommended me. Harman..." she told him the rest of the story and paused to breathe. Her mind was in a riot.

"Yesterday, when you told me you were just playing games with me..." Harman took hold of the chance to talk before she could continue to speak. "I couldn't help but get hurt. But then when Nicu talked to me yesterday while I drove him home, I recalled what Karen said to me. I thought what we did together was totally different from the men you have had games with, Alodia, so I realized that maybe you were thinking that Laili and me got married that's why you wanted me out of your hair and told me about that stupid game you played that I didn't have an idea about. I was so stupid to even call you a bitch yesterday," he said, shaking his and gently caressed her cheek. Her heart was pounding so hard against her chest then. "I was just too hurt, depressed and distraught that I couldn't think straight. I'm so sorry, Alodia," he added, whispering to her while his lips were so close to hers.

The cloud of their breaths met. Her tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Harman. I... I have sinned against you..." She slowly shook her head and embraced him tightly.

Oh, how she missed his scent, his favorite cologne and his rock-hard body against hers!