Don't Play With My Soul

Zenia's POV

His words stung. They stung like a swarm of bees attacking with their stingers because you've destroyed their beehive.

I silently cried as I got into a cab and took out my phone to message my sister through my pouring tears and tormenting chest pain.

Me: Can you plz come over. I need u.

Big Sister: Where r u now?

Me: Cab. Omw home.

Big Sister: OK. I'll see u soon.

I placed my palm on the security scanner before walking in the door. I flopped down on the chair, wiping away the tears that kept on coming. My chest ached as if a ton of weight was pressing against it. My breath shortened, and I thought I was in a horror movie being suffocated by the killer with a pillow over my face.

My lips quivered and I anxiously stared at the door, waiting for it to burst open and reveal my sister. She was the only person who actually knew how to comfort me.

Jasmine arrived ten minutes later. She rushed straight for me and pulled me up into her arms for a bear hug.

"Baby, are you okay?"

I shook my head from side to side. The words were caught in my throat, and I found it rather difficult to speak at the moment. Jasmine allowed me to sit and she sat beside me, blowing out and exasperated sigh as she stared at me. Another wreck.

"I'm not even going to ask what he said because, judging by your tears, I can already tell he was mean to you."

I nodded my head, words not surfacing yet.

She blew out another breath and pulled me against her chest, her full pair of breasts acting as a pillow for my crying face.

"It's okay Zen, and it's okay to cry. Let it all out baby. Let it out and let it go." She petted my hair before rubbing my back gently.

I was relieved that I could always count on her to comfort me in my time of weakness and need.

After an hour, we were laughing at the animated movie Finding Nemo and greedily stuffing our faces with popcorn and sodas. Just like we used to do back at the apartment, before she got into a relationship with a billionaire. Then it crossed my mind, suddenly. I quickly shot up and ran into my bedroom and retrieved my digital notepad from underneath my pillow.

"Look at these," I said as I sat beside her again in the living room.

She took the notepad and stared at the first wedding dress design. "OMG!" she squealed. "This one is beautiful." She scrolled over to the next. "THIS IS THE ONE!" She scrolled over the final design. "No, no, no. I love this one more. No, wait a moment, let me decide."

Marlin, the clown fish, had already found his lost son and the movie had ended, but Jasmine was yet to make a final choice on her wedding dress.

"Help me decide on one, Zenia," she begged for the umpteenth time, but whenever I selected one, she differed.

"Just pick one, Jasmine."

"I want them all."

"Well let's hope you don't get married three times."

"I don't know which one to choose. Why do you have to make such beautiful dresses?"

"That's what I do: create beautiful things for beautiful people."

We shared a hug and turned back to the television.

"The bloody movie is over already?"

"Yep. What else shall we watch?"

"Moana or Brave. Brave! I love the Irish accent. No, on second thought, let's watch Moana, I love the song from the crab." "Jasmine! What is it with you and making decisions?" I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I selected Moana.

"Back to the dresses."

"Ughhh," I growled and looked up.

"Don't be a drama queen and help me pick a dress already."

"I thought I already did that. I picked the second one."

"Why not the first one or the third one?"

Is she serious right now?

"Because the first one would make you look fat and the third one would make you look like you have two asses."

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I gave a small chuckle and stuffed my face with more popcorn.

"Okay. We'll go with the second dress."

"Finally!"

As a distraction, and healing method, I used the time to create my sister's wedding dress. After taking her measurements, I shopped for the fabrics and materials to perfect my very first big project.

I had never made or designed a wedding dress, but when Jasmine told me she wanted me to do it instead of buying one from a boutique, I was honored and up for the challenge.

It was the beginning of another week and I hadn't seen EJ, or heard anything from him, and I was not about to pursue.

If he was waiting for me to beg and crawl back to him then he'd be waiting until thy kingdom come.

As the days had went by, I felt better. I worked on the wedding dress at home in the evening, and I worked as normal in my boutique. Ashley never asked questions about him, and I was grateful for that. I didn't want to talk about him as well. I was not about to let EJ break me from my performance and capabilities.

One Wednesday, Madison came into the boutique with a wide smile on her lip-glossed lips.

"Hello, Zenia, how are you?"

"I'm great, Madison, and how are you?"

"Oh, don't try to fake it. I heard you and EJ broke up."

"Ummm, who's EJ again?" I asked, arching my eyebrows and mirroring her smile.

She looked at me like she had never seen me before. Well, she hadn't seen that side of me. The fuck-it side.

"I actually came to get a two piece bikini, but I can see you're all out."

"Yes, Madison. We're. All.Out."

"Okay." She turned on her heels and went out the door.

Shaking my head, I went back to work.

That evening, I was almost complete with Jasmine's dress. I had one more golden detail to add to the sleeves of the dress. Fitting it over a mannequin, I stepped back to admire my work

Fitting it over a mannequin, I stepped back to admire my work. Smiles of satisfaction and triumph creep to my lips.

I really hope she likes it.

My cellphone rang on a nearby table. Without looking at the caller ID, I placed it to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Is this Zenia Blackman?"

"Yes, this is she, who's this?"

"My name is Jermery from Hands On. I got your information from a magazine colonist who published some of your clothing lines. I'm very much interested in seeing some of your designs as well." OMG! OMG! Jeremy from Hands On is speaking to me.

"Thanks so much for calling, Jermery. We can schedule a day that's convenient for you."

"How does Friday sound? One p.m."

"Sounds perfect."

"Thank you, Zenia. See you soon."

"Thank you, Jeremy."

I did a happy dance after hanging up.

My phone rang again and I thought Jermery had forgotten to tell me something important.

After all, he didn't mention what designs, in particular, he wanted to see.

"Hello," I answered, without looking at the caller ID.

"It's EJ."

My heart raced around my chest.