The Serpent's Groom
⚜️✨Prologue✨⚜️
Something must be so special about today. I am feeling so happy, like I am on cloud nine, I swear even my feet are floating too!
Anyway, I don't know the reason behind me being this happy-Hell, who am I kidding, of course I know-it's because I finally got the clarity, the reason why my heart throbs when...when I am with her, like right now.
Me and my girlfriend, Romie, are roaming on the streets of NYC. With joy blooming across our features, and no tension.
Okay, not the last one, because there's definitely some tension, because it's me, duh!
Anyway, for now I have kicked that tension far back in my mind. No need to ruin our...date.
Oh my-just calling this a date is making blush like a teenage girl with a crush. Like me and her, have been in a relationship for a while now, and I still can't believe she chose me.
She was all of my firsts, except of my first kiss with Selena of 8th grade for a dare.
It was the worst kiss ever, I tell you! With me having no experience, and I guess she didn't either-we were just practically bitting on each other's lower lip.
Made me regret eating those onion rings, for sure. And the way she shoved her bubble-gum soaked tongue in my mouth...
Ugh! I still feel my front teeth aching. And then she even made fun of me, for being a bad kisser-in private though.
But that gave me way too many insecurities, as if I didn't have enough already. Booo!
Anyway, my first kiss with her...my Romie, was the best! Like in my opinion at least, I gave it my best, hell, those youtube tutorials on "how to kiss, for virgin losers", yeah that's what it's called... finally
worked.
I was legit practicing kissing on my own, because I couldn't just go to a girl and say, "hey do you mind practicing kissing with me? It's for practice of course, I don't even like you:)"
She would call me a creep, maybe bless me with a tight slap too, and say, "The nerdy boy has finally lost it. All that studying got into his head!"
Nerdy boy? Well that's what they call me, I have heard all versions of it too, so from 'Nerd' to 'Geek' to 'Bookworm'.
Every version, period.
As for my first kiss with her, I hope she liked it too, because otherwise she won't come in a relationship with me, and we won't be walking with smiles on our faces and hand in hand together. Or, so I hope...
What if-stop brain, this is not the time! Currently we should enjoy-or at least make Romie enjoy.
"Babe look at that kitten over there, aww! But wait-is it actually trying to lick it's paws-in the middle of the road?!"
Romie says, bringing me back to the mortal land from the hell of my brain.
"Oh I think it is! Damn orange cats! They have no survival instincts, trust!" I say as we both go towards the cat. Who in return looks at us, sneers, judges our entire existence, and then walks away, while wagging it's furry tail.
Well at least she is safe now. Although the atitude! Damn even cats know, I should be judged...
Okay-okay calm down the self-loathing...there's no need to be that dramatic, ugh!
We are just walking towards the other side of the road and I see that.
That, as in a beautiful flower shop, oh my! I love flowers, and she does too.
So why don't just-
"Babe let's go there, ya?"
I point towards that flower shop, whose owner I suppose is just setting up some fresh white roses.
Romie's fav! Yup we are going there.
"Ohhh flowers and all huh? Wanna woo me, hmm? Don't worry babe-I already like you." She says teasingly.
"Ha-ha! So funny, your sense of humour is improving darling" I say with a smirk, and she in return pouts and looks the other way.
'Aww, she is so cute..' I swoon
"Pouting huh, Ms. Rosalind? I guess I have to kiss the pout away" I lean forward and kiss the cheek facing my direction.
She blushes, then shakes her head, "What will I do about you?" She says with a smile contradicting her words.
"Nothing, cus you seem like you are good." I smirk again and she huffs.
"Meanieeee! Now go get me that white rose ASAP! Before I destroy your crops peasant!"
She says dramatically.
"Meanie? My crops? And now I am a peasant...ahh you hurt me" I say with a hand on my chest, feigning hurt. And that gets me a smack on shoulder, deserved I guess, but still ow!
"Okay-okay princess, I'll bring that to you 'ASAP'" I say mocking her words.
She ignores me, and says, "Bring that white one, and remember, a single piece-"
"-only because I hate wasting money on flowers!" I complete for her, in a high-pitched tone. "Have heard that a million times babe" I say smilling innocently.
"You- I swear to spaghetti god, you weren't like that! You are supposed to be the nerd! And what's up with that sass hmm?" She exclaims, huffing even louder now.
"Huff louder and I will think you are having an asthma attack" I tease more, god I just love it, I love her...
And today I'll confess..
"Okay I am going!!" I say, before she turns completely red.
I cross the road while looking at both sides and make my way towards it.
I reach the shop, and look at all the flowers, although I know which one I am here to buy-but why not right?
So from fresh sunflowers to gushing lilies to bright baby breaths...
From every colour of roses, looking as gorgeous as ever, I choose the white rose. Because she likes it..
"Here, this one." I say pointing towards the rose. "Can I get a piece of one of these?" I ask the shopkeeper, who is busy reading today's newspaper, I suppose.
He looks up, lacking every ounce of interest you will expect from a shopkeeper.
"A single piece only?"
"Yeah, my girlfriend doesn't like bouquets" I say, a polite smile still on my face.
"Sure. That would be 8$, do you want to get it wrapped?" he asks, rising up from his chair to pick the rose.
I shake my head in a 'no', she wouldn't like that plastic wrap.
The shopkeeper hands me the flower and I pass him a 10$ bill, "You can keep the change"
He just nods and goes back to reading, and I take the rose and turn around.
Ahh-it's such a bright day today, everything is just so perfect. I sniff the rose's slightly sweet scent.
Perfect. Everything is perfect.
BOOM
The sound doesn't register at first.
It echoes-
Loud.
Sharp.
...Wrong.
I freeze when I hear that booming sound of a gun firing a shot, and I feel my whole world going upside down when I see the sight of blood soaked Romie lying on the road.
That sight alone makes my blood turn cold and my vision blurry, not caring for the traffic on the road, I run.
"Romie!" I scream, and I see the man with the gun-wearing all black and his face covered with a mask-is making his way back to the car.
"Hey stop!" I think I scream, but all that comes out is a sob, as I am running towards Romie, and I see the man bending to sit in his SUV.
He is tall-taller than me for sure, around 6-ish. And that mark-that snake tattoo on his forearm.
A ring-with a gem-of which colour I can't make out...is it blue or green? I don't know. Because my vision is too blurry for that.
The black SUV rushes as the driver accelerates the car. But I don't see more than that, because I kneel to look at Romie.
"Romie...Romie, please open your eyes..." I cry out, but she isn't responding. The bullet has hit her right in the chest-I remove my jacket to cover her wound, and to stop the blood flowing out.
"No-no-no! This can't happen, no please!" I can't hear my own voice because every sound I am making contains my ragged breathing, silent prayers...and just Romie.
I check her pulse and.-
"Anyone please! Help!" I scream for help, it was a busy road and there are enough people passing by, but no one comes forward..
I call 911, "9-1-1 what's your emergency?" I put my phone between my ear and shoulder while I tell them everything-so that I can still apply pressure on the wound.
"The rescue team and an ambulance will be there in 7 minutes."
"SEVEN MINUTES?! Come faster, m-my girlfriend is dying here!" I rage out on the responder, something unheard for me.
"Sir we'll try our best."
The responder promises, and with that I leave the phone as it is-not caring if the call is still going on or not.
"Romie..p-please.."
I beg her-for her to just, make it, to live...