Chapter 4: Meeting (1)

Having been single for twenty years since birth, Raeliana knew nothing of a gentle breakup nor did she feel that the man deserved such consideration.

“Let’s break up,” she said bluntly. 

Francis made an exaggerated smile and pointed to the side. The raven sitting on top of the streetlight looked down menacingly upon them, pooping.

“Ha-ha-ha! Did you see that?” 

“See what? Did you hear what I just said?”

“What did you say?”

“Let’s break up, Lord Brooks.”

“Ha-ha-ha! Look at that, Raeliana.”

“Hey, I said let’s break up.” 

After asking him an umpteenth time to break up, Raeliana realized that Francis had no inkling interest toward the pooping raven but rather pretended to be on deaf ears. 

The day after their first date, Raeliana scurried to the bookstore. The shopkeeper, bored, handed her a book titled Idiot’s Guide to Break-ups from below the book stand. Raeliana read through the volume in a night.

The book was a treasure trove of knowledge.

***

The second meeting.

Having studied and prepared for the breakup, Raeliana headed to a members-only restaurant with her date. Within ten minutes of arriving at the restaurant, she poured a total of five different liquids ranging from water to various wines on the man’s head and crotch.

Francis Brooks who at first tried to appear gentle began to twitch his thick lips on at the third time. On the fourth spill, he sighed deeply and jittered nervously. On the fifth spill, she emptied the wine specifically on his crotch; his veins bulged and his hands shook.

“Oh dear, I slipped. My apologies.” Raeliana apologized without a trace of remorse on her face and pointed to the piano in the middle of the restaurant. “Lord Brooks, I wish to hear you play.”

Desiring to take a break from the chaos, Francis Brooks walked toward the piano. 

As soon as she heard the piano melody play, Raelianacalled the waiter with intent to praise the fragrant wine and warmth of the restaurant’s atmosphere. She didn’t forget to compliment the chef’s food too.

Francis Brooks glanced over; she wasn’t paying him any attention. He attempted to get her attention and called out, “Beautiful Raeliana.”

She did not look back, heading straight into the restroom instead. By the time she came out, the melody had come to an end and it was time to part ways. 

Raeliana stared at Francis Brook’s stained crotch that had dried white as though he had pissed himself. She shuddered as if to stress her embarrassment and hurried back home. 

She was satisfied.

I’m sure this will guarantee some foul talk. No, he might slap me, saying that he had never seen a vile woman such as me before.

But contrary to her expectations, Francis Brooks had never sent a hate letter. 

It was too bad.

***

The third meeting.

Some time had passed before the third date. Francis Brooks seemed to need the time to nurse his frail heart. The date was set and the two planned to go hunting.

Though Francis Brooks may have meant to reinforce his status as a “nobleman of heritage” through the hunt, Raeliana was a veteran who could call herself “the queen of hunting.”

Raeliana’s father, Johndein, had enjoyed hunting as a hobby for decades and she had tagged along as soon as she could walk.

While her soul may have been swapped, the muscle memories remained and she could wield the firearms quite deftly.

But, Francis Brooks flaunted his meager skills in front of her, boasting how he would teach her how to hunt or how she should hold the rifle as if he was an apprentice boy in front of a master painter.

Raeliana, who had been watching the man’s clownery with narrow eyes, acted the role of a clumsy young lady on her first hunt to meet his expectations.

Standing by her act, she gave Francis Brooks a shallow bullet cut on his temple.

“Oh no, that was my mistake.”

He must have wet his pants.

Afterward, Raeliana skillfully disassembled the firearm and handed it over to the servant. “It seems like Lord Brooks needs a change of clothing. See to him, please.”

He should have been throwing punches by now, but he was a man who put money before his pride.