BASH I had a text message from her an hour ago saying she was going to her apartment to pick up some things. I called her immediately. She picked after the third ring. “Bash, can I call you again? I am in the middle of something?” She immediately said, her voice was breathy. “Where are you? Are you alone?” She paused and lied, “Yes. I came to pick up some things. I will call you later.” Then she hung up on me, making me ball my fists. SHE LIED TO ME. My chest rose and fell in erratic bursts, each breath heavier than the last at what I’ve learned till now. My fists clenched and unclenched at my sides. I look at David for one last time before stomping out. “Nice,” Sandro commented from behind. “If there’s anyone who can do that she is the one.” With a sudden, fierce motion, I grabbed his collar, yanking him off balance and slamming him hard against the brick wall. “What the hell are you implying?” Sandro’s lips pulled into a twisted smile. “I wonder what makes you lose
HANA I used to think that this life could not break me more than it already has. I am wrong. I always am. It can become worse and worse. I didn’t expect my dad, I mean Jonathan to show up at my old apartment. When I looked at him, I didn’t see him. I saw that hand raise to slap, I heard the yelling, I saw the shards of glass on the floor, and I heard the fights between my parents. That’s all he has ever been to me, a trauma. “You are making a mistake, Hana.” That’s the first thing he said to me. It’s either I am a mistake or I am making a mistake, never a how are you? I can’t blame him though. He lost the investment because I ran away from the marriage. I sucked in a breath, carefully taking a step back. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?” An ugly smirk spread over his lips. “Your boyfriend isn’t that powerful, Hana. He cannot stop me. He cannot stop Colton.” My father is many things, but he never ever trembled before someone. He has too much pride to admit that
HANA "You will die if you stay here." He said, gripping my elbow tightly. "Run when you had the chance." He coughed again, and more blood splattered out of his mouth. "I can't be more dead than I already am," I whispered to no one. But he heard it. His intense gaze caught mine. It's like he has become an entirely different person. I caught a glimpse of determination in the way he looked. "Are you sure?" He asked me. "Yes," I replied, and together, we fought the demons. * I woke up to a pounding sensation in my head. It feels so heavy. With every passing day, the nightmares are getting worse. Sometimes, I even fight with dragons which is funny in reality. But I was fighting for my life in my dreams. But every time, he is there. His hazel eyes, bloodied knuckles, and fierce gaze haunted me for years now. My phone vibrated with a notification. I checked it just to fin
HANA I hate it when someone takes the food I was just about to it, let alone grab it from me. I don't know why. Since childhood, I have been like that. My brother, Misha used to do that when we were kids. He used to offer me chips, `bringing them to my mouth, and right when I opened my mouth, he used to take them away, sticking out his tongue. For the whole day, we used to fight over a chips bag. But when my mother did it, I didn't know whom to fight. There were boiled veggies on my plate when Misha was enjoying his meat in the pool of gravy. "You should reduce weight." My mom said. "Go to the gym starting tomorrow. Your tummy should be toned." "But.." "No, but, Hana." She cut me off. "It's seven months till your wedding. You should be more presentable for Cillian. Look at Violet and learn." Violet didn't say a word and quitely sipped her protein drink. "I can't." I protested. "I have been so hungry for weeks now," I tell her.
HANA Why the hell does he look like he is on some kind of challenge? Why the hell is smirking? I don't know. I almost walked past him, almost did. My life would have been different if I had. "I will offer you a deal." His words made me stop in the middle of taking a step. I turned around to look at him. His eyes travelled from my head to toe. Is he checking me out? Eww. I snapped my finger. "Eyes up here," I demanded when his gaze lingered on my blouse for more seconds than necessary. " I could use your help while I am in the city." He said. I folded my hands across my chest. "Oh, shut up." I snapped. "First you laid me off. Now you are offering me another job while staring at my cleavage like a perv? Disgusting." I yell. He held his hand up, taking a step forward. And I took a step back. "Wait, wait, wait, wait. I wasn't looking at your, you know..whatever you think I am looking at. I have seen better. I am looking at your locket." He says, tou
HANA ' I found out about your marriage with Cillian. Please call me. Explain what is happening there.' The message was sent 13 hours ago. And I am still waiting for Violet's reply with a ramen bowl on my bed. I know it is unhealthy. I feel full after completing this bowl. I am eating it anyway. I feel physically full, but mentally, it is not enough. Shalini said that it is not about food but about having an emotional need that food can't fulfil. She read it somewhere it seems. I always eat more. She always eats less. Lucky her. When I was about to finish the ramen I made, I got a call from an unknown number. I immediately swiped it and kept it at my ear. "Violet," I said with a hope. "Um..nope." I heard a male voice from the other side. I instantly knew who it was, and I hated that I was able to recognise his voice. "What do you want?" I snapped at him. "You." He simply said. I rolled my eyes at that word. "Stop playing games, Bash. I barely
BASH Just one and a half kilometres. If I make it to one and a half kilometres or at least one kilometre, I can get help. The pain is excruciating. I was shot just above the chest. He missed it, and he is coming for me. I couldn't run more. I couldn't fight him. I could see the lights of the resort I visited this morning. So close yet so far. I dragged myself to the cottage I spotted twenty steps away. There is no one here except for the wooden logs. I can't use my right hand as the bullet pierced on the right side. I can't fight a murderer who intends to kill me at any cost with my left hand. But I waited for him to enter so that I could knock him down with the log. I heard the creaking sound of the door. But it wasn't the killer in the red mask who walked in but a teenage girl. I don't know why she entered an abandoned cottage in the middle of woods in a baby pink pyjamas. She did. She wasn't shocked when he looked at me. She looked as though she was contemplating
HANA "Are you a parking ticket? Because you’ve got FINE written all over you." When I turned to him, Matteo made a Korean heart gesture by crossing his thumb and index finger. His hair covered his entire forehead, and his glass skin always amazed me when I looked at him. How come he is so cute and annoying at the same time? "Matteo?" I called his name slowly. "Did I already use that?" He asked me with a serious tone. "I don't know. But get the hell away from my desk. I have an important activity to complete by EOD." "Okay." He said and disappeared. Shalini is smiling without looking at me. "Stop smiling," I told her, gently patting her shoulder with mine. "He is trying hard. You should give him a chance." I was dumbfounded at her suggestion. "He is younger than me." "Just two years." She shrugged as if it was not a big deal. "Physically, yes. Mentally, he is five years younger than my age and I am ten years