A man I can hate all I want

>>Hazel

A long sad sigh escaped my mouth as I stared at the ceiling of my room blankly.

I was given a room near Emilio’s and I came back after putting the boy to sleep but couldn’t find any sleep myself.

The room was perfect,, it was dark and the bed was soft too, just how I liked it but the environment was very different.

The atmosphere was strange and even though I was mentally exhausted and tired I couldn’t fall asleep.

I wanted to escape in the land of the unconscious very bad and I was getting angry at the fact that I couldn’t. So, I made a decision and sat up.

Okay!

I told myself

Let’s do this.

I stood up and walked out of the room to the first floor. The mansion was quiet, the lights had been dimmed so low I had to let my eyes adjust first before I started walking in the corridor.

As I walked I thought about how strange it felt. It was such a nice and big place, during the day one wouldn’t feel anything weird because of the workers but at night, suddenly everything is quiet and serene. Seeing it like that made me feel like it was dead.

The corridors were empty and I could hear the sound of my own footsteps even though I chose not to wear the slippers I was offered by the maid.

Through the window I saw the guards stationed outside but saw no one awake inside. 

Well, it was pretty late so it was a given that everyone would be asleep.

Quietly, I made my way into the kitchen and started opening up the cabinets to get what I came here for.

Since I didn’t turn on any extra lights the room was dim but even then It didn’t take me long to find it.

AHA!

Wine.

I smiled at the bottle that stood in the lower shelf of the cabinet along with the corkscrew.

It was red wine, one I used to adore years ago.

I took it out and stared at it with one hand and used the other to grab the corkscrew. I stopped drinking five years ago after a life changing incident. I even swore to myself I would never go near any alcohol but this time I need it.

In this foreign and hostile place, I find this bottle an only ally even though it was once the cause of the most terrifying incident of my life.

I sighed as I contemplated my decision again.

Should I? Should I not?

Just one glass wouldn’t hurt. Besides, I need it. I need my mind to relax to catch some sleep.

I opened the lid of the bottle, then I grabbed the glass from the glass rack and placed both the things on the counter of the kitchen that was in the middle of the room.

I won’t drink much.

I told myself and poured some wine in the wine glass, then paused and looked at the half filled glass.

A little more won’t hurt.

I nodded to myself and poured in some more till the glass was filled.

Placing the bottle on the counter, I picked up the glass and looked at it again. I could see a faint reflection of myself in it.

I sighed softly as I refused to drink from it. I knew I was anxious, I was confused and most importantly, I was stuck. I shook my head very lightly. 

I’ve been stuck for a long time now…

I brought the glass up, closer to my lips and tried taking a sip from it but stopped. I couldn’t do it. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, or because I no longer had the need to. It’s just that, in the back of my mind, I’m still scared of the mistake I once made. I’m afraid of the scar it left me with. I know a little amount of alcohol won’t do anything, it won’t even get me drunk but I still couldn’t do it. I guess some psychological things are very hard to get over.

I breathed out softly and lowered the glass.

“Not gonna drink?” A sudden whisper right next to my left ear made me jump in panic. I turned around in confusion as I noticed the shape of a person next to me and I was going to smash the glass I was holding onto the person’s head.

It was an impulsive action, purely out of defence and fear. One could say it was a flight or fight response.

I was about to hit the person as my body did a 180 degree turn but he stopped my hand by grabbing my wrist right before it hit the side of this head but even though he stopped the attack, it didn’t stop the wine from spilling onto him due to the sudden impact. Half of the wine from the glass spilled on his left side head and he closed his eyes in response.

I stared at the person with wide eyes to see who it was.

…

“Valek?” I called his name softly.

He smirked, “You’re too wild for your own good.” Drops of red liquid trickled down his left cheek, droplets hung onto the strands on his bangs before falling down. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at me with an intense gaze.

I looked back at him in fear, “I-I didn’t mean it.” I whispered, “It just,um, it just happened.”

“You must have enjoyed this.” The grip he had on my wrist increased and it slightly started to hurt, the sudden pressure made the glass slip out of my hand and fall on the marble floor. It shattered pretty loudly while the wine spilled everywhere. I felt it stain my bandages and pants but thankfully I didn’t feel any pain, that means no glass shard cut me.

I shook my head lightly, “No,” I answered, “I’m not an asshole like you who enjoys mistreating others.” I gulped as I stared back at him.

The dim lights were not enough to make me miss his cold expressions, it should have been darker but I’m glad I didn’t turn on any lights. I don’t want to see him in HD.

For a few seconds Valek just stared back without saying anything, then I left his gaze soften along with his grip on my wrist.

 “Is that so?” He nodded slightly to himself, “You’re not from here Hazel Bae. Are you?” He asked out of the blue. What’s with the strange question? 

But, he’s asking like he already knows...

…

I slowly shook my head, “No, I’m not…” I looked away.

I didn’t see the point in lying. It wasn’t going to do me any good.

“Then what are you doing in this country?”

“I have my reasons.” I looked at the kitchen window through which I could see the dark sky.  There were no clouds there, some stars but no sign of the moon. It wasn’t that it was a new moon or anything, I just couldn’t see it from this angle.

“What reasons exactly?” There was no curiosity in his voice, just demand.

“That is none of your concern.” I replied in a sterner voice while I refused to look at him.

I guess he didn’t like my response. Of course he wouldn’t, I wouldn't like anyone talking to me like this too but I’m not trying to be likeable here.

“You do know, I can get you deported from here.” As soon as he said those words I shot my heads towards him in fear. He smirked and grabbed my other wrist. I didn’t like that, he was holding me like a captive so I tried resisting, tried getting out of his grip but he didn’t let me. The only thing the struggle resulted in was me slipping on the liquid splattered on the floor and almost falling on the ground but since Valek was holding my wrist so firmly he didn’t let that happen. 

Instead he used more force and slammed me on the cupboard which stood at a little distance from where we were standing. The small impact gave me a jerk but also made me calm myself. I found out that I had no chance against since he already had the upper hand. “You don’t have your passport and you lost all your money.” 

“What makes you think that?”

“You had to leave the hotel you were staying at because you were robbed.” He snickered, “And then you made the grand plan of stealing from me.”

So he found out. Well, it’s no surprise a man of his position won’t get the information. It wasn’t anything classified. I had to leave the hotel because I was robbed. The worst thing that can happen to a foreigner. I stared at Valek with a mix between anger and stress. He probably got the information from the hotel management because I told them my situation and tried to ask for additional stay which they denied.

“Biggest mistake of my life.” I replied in a grumpy voice, “Stealing from a beggar would have been better.”

His grin softened a bit, “It would have been.” A haughty expression appeared on his face, “Too bad you got stuck with me.” He paused and then made an intelligent statement, “You’re desperate for something.” He tried studying my expressions, “But what?” I made sure not to give myself away.

I gritted my teeth, “What do you get from this?” I asked.

“From what?” He acted ignorant to make me more angry but I tried to remain calm.

“From all what you’re doing to me.”

He snickered, “Take a guess.”

“I would say it’s because you’re a sadist.”

His smile didn’t falter, “Bingo.” He loosened his grip on my wrists, “That’s it. That’s the answer.”