"Here""Thanks." I reached for the bottle and immediately drank it down. The moment the last drop went down my throat, my vision became hazy for a moment.Oh wow. Just how many have I drunk now? This is a first.There were several empty bottles lining up on top of the counter, as if someone just completely bulldozed the entire shelf in front of us.Yet, I wasn't the only one adding bottles to the pile. From my side, he chugged another beer down to the very last drop, exhaling a sigh as he dropped the empty glass.The pub he introduced was kind of isolated, thus there were only a handful of people inside, much to my delight.I don't want those fancy sharks seeing me like this."Hey, that's enough…"He tried to block my hand when I asked for another bottle. Clicking my tongue, I shoved his hand away."Nah. I need more. I still…ugh, my head's still aching…""You're a first time drinker, aren't you? A lightweight at that…The drink's making your head twitch…" I scoffed at his remark and to
"Ugh…" A painful throbbing in my head made me let go of the bottle in my hand.Shit. I drank too much. My eyes wandered to the pub. There were still a few people inside, either still drinking or have totally blacked out. I shook my head to try to ease off the dizziness currently impeding my vision.Yet, my blurry sight landed on that one girl lying down her head on top of the counter."Hey…wake up…" I hesitantly called, slowly shaking her shoulders, yet to no avail. She was totally out.Damn...Now, what?While I pondered on what to do next, she suddenly moved, now facing my direction. I didn't know why but my hand just…reached her, carefully bringing the loose strands covering her face off. The moment I got a clear look at her face, I froze.This girl…she's weeping…even in her sleep.Somehow, my chest constricted to reasons I couldn't fully comprehend.Do I take pity on this girl? To someone I just met a few times?Not once did I consider other women other than…Eri…as beautiful…But
"Ugh…" The moment I woke up, an intense pain in my head greeted me. Wait…where am I?With vision still blurry, I roamed my eyes around me. The room was dark. I thought it was still night but when I reached my phone, shock took over when the screen registered that it was already late afternoon.The heck…did I sleep all morning?I usually wake up early, but with the curtains blocking out the sunlight, I guess I wasn't aware of the time."You're awake?" Suddenly, the silence in the room where I was at broke with a woman's voice from the open door."Who…" I closed my eyes when another round of stinging pain hit my system. "Here. Drink this. It helps ease the hangover." I was busy massaging my throbbing temple when that woman slowly walked towards me, with a tray in hand. As she sat beside me and placed the metal tray on top of the bedside table, only then I managed to recognize her.That figure and this voice…its–"L-Lacey…?""Hi, Lia. It's been a while." She faced me with a smile. As s
The banging on the door kept persisting, causing me to be frozen in my place."Crap. Judging from that ballistic attitude, it's gotta be him." Alarmed, Lacey angrily stood up, checking if it was really him. I followed her, sticking my head from the bedroom door frame."Shit. Confirmed."How in the world did he find me so fast? Is he done making out with that woman? Tsk."I don't wanna face him, Lace…not now please." I pleaded in a thin voice. With this headache, no way would I want to see a glimpse of him. My head would break if I did.At this state, it'll be hard to act without suspicion."I understand, Lia but you need to prepare yourself. He's not gonna back down so easily, you know that." With crossed arms, Lacey warned, looking serious as she kept glaring at the direction of the door."I just need a little time to compose myself. My head is still ringing and seeing him will just make me go crazy." My vision is still blurry from the hangover. Lacey pondered on the plan for a mome
"LIA!" Rupert's voice was the first thing I heard when I entered the apartment. He rushed towards me, enclosing me in his arms."WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! I'M SO WORRIED!" He was shaking my shoulders when he pulled away. Lacey was right. He did look so messy unlike the last time I saw him. So messy that I would have thought he neither slept nor showered since I was gone.I decided to go back…in the evening since he came barging at Lacey's place, afraid that he'll get the cops to look for me. It'll be annoying to handle."I went to Lacey's place. We finally reconciled." I briefly spoke, wandering my sight elsewhere."Wait, you were there the whole time?! That woman…I went there in case I'd find you there but heck, she didn't say anything!" He was utterly baffled, frustrated, as if he was tricked. Heavy breaths staggered his chest, restraining himself from snapping in front of me."I was sleeping. She might've wanted some peace for me to rest.""Rest? What…" I'm sure he smelt it. The smell
"What?" He innocently spoke. Yet, Rupert wasn't buying it."Why are you pulling up a chair beside my fiance?!" He rested his hand over the backrest of my chair, still facing his older brother with a piercing glare.Tsk. They're so damn noisy."Is there a problem? It's just a chair, chill." "There's plenty of chairs here. Pick somewhere else!" Rupert whined like a child. At least that's how it sounded in my ears. I could definitely hear the disappointed sighs from their father, yet he was too unbothered to interfere with their squabbling.Alex Kilmer flashed a confused expression, still with a playful tone. "Oh my…I just left for a while and suddenly, I became a stranger to my own house?"Both Rupert and his mother gasps at his remark, taken aback by the sudden clapback."That's not what I–""Are you perhaps thinking that I might steal your precious fiance?" In an instant, that innocent facade of his turned to a smirk, before his eyes trailed down to me. I pretended not to notice but
"Ms. Smith…?" The nurse who was busy checking up on the unconscious patient lying inside the VIP room was rattled, as the very same patient slowly opened her eyes."Wait for a second. I'll go call the doctor."Weak and recovering, the nurse hurried to get her doctor. It didn't take too long when a man wearing white robes came in, followed by another man who was waiting desperately for days for his future wife to regain consciousness."Lia! Thank god, you're awake! Doc, how's my fiance? Is she okay?" Completely frazzled, Rupert held Lia's hand gently. He kept looking back and forth at her and the doctor, who was busy checking her vitals along with the designated nurse of the VIP room."Well…she just woke so we can't be too sure, but for now, yes she's stable. She just needs further rest to fully recover. I'll be back to check up on her from time to time so please be at ease. She'll be okay." Rupert sighs in relief, before turning his gaze at the still-half awake Lia."Damn..Lia. I'm so
"Why didn't you protect her?" It was the first thing that Rupert heard the moment he entered the room. He just got back from talking to his mother, still stressed. Yet, seeing another person inside, he sighed in disbelief."Mitchell…""The doctor said about traumatic infliction…who did this to her? Was it your family?" Lacey spoke with gritted teeth, gaze fixated on Lianna who busied herself watching the scenery outside from the large, glass windows.She never uttered a word while they conversed, as if she's in her own, little world. Looking so lost, Lacey raged, especially when she confirmed her suspicions when he spoke."Unfortunately…yes." In an instant, Rupert felt…embarrassed. He assured Lacey he'd take care of her, yet this happened."Damn…I know your bitch of a mother is the culprit, right? That witch, how dare she! I've been holding back because it's your family and Lia's wish, but this…she just sentenced herself for torture for almost killing my sister!" Lacey wanted to burst