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"Come on Randy. It's going to be fun!" Nina whines as she tries to pull me off of my hotel bed.
"Nina, I really don't want to go to any parties here in Los Angeles.” I answered while groaning in pain. “It's too noisy. It's too loud and crowded. And, I’m sick. Like really really sick." I explained.
"First of all, that's what parties are for. Second, we're all going to college after this summer, we need to get ready for more parties to come. And three, you're totally fine!" Nina says sarcastically as she puts on her mascara.
I sigh..
My friends were all into parties and I don't even know why in hell we became friends in the first place. In high school, people would always ask why I became friends with them since I don’t even physically belong in their circle. I think it all started in liking the same things but even if people questioned the friendship I had with them throughout in high school, I enjoyed their company.
I even heard that they were only keeping me because I looked nerdy and pretty girls in high school always needs to have an ugly friend to make them stand out. I didn’t really mind it.
But despite our attitude and personality differences, we had the same interest on one thing.
Satellite Patrol, the biggest band on the planet and have been often subject to fan hysteria.
They propelled to global success by social media and had topped charts in most major markets and generated big hit singles since they came out. They are so popular all over the world and broke history when their first four albums debuted at number one.
Satellite Patrol’s first tour two years ago was the highest-grossing concert tour, the highest-grossing tour by a band in history next to The Beetles and the 12th highest-grossing concert tour of all time grossing $320.8 million.
They are the best-selling band of all time having sold a total of 90 million records worldwide. They won 250 awards from awards’ shows and won a lot of females’ hearts all over the world. Forbes ranked them as the second highest-earning celebrities in the world in three consecutive years.
"Jeez Rands!” Beth chimes while shaking her head. “We're here to have fun for this vacation. We've saved up for this trip for an entire year. Now don't be a party-kill."
"I'm not." I defended myself.
"Yeah you are. You missed that SatPat concert we attended yesterday ‘cause of that stupid tummy ache and no one would ever." She scolds me.
I did feel a little disappointed that I missed it.
“I mean…” She continues. “Miss out something as huge as a Satellite Patrol concert over a stupid tummy ache."
"I would still go there no matter what.” Beth chimes. “Even it means I'd shit on where I am seated or even if I am on my deathbed, I would still go.”
I chuckles softly as I thought to myself how would you be able to enjoy a concert when you’re sick?
"Exactly my point!” Nina seconded. “You had to sell your ticket and miss the fun. Now don't tell me you're not going with us for a party tonight. You're always such a bummer, you know."
"I'm not!" The more defensive I am, the more I realize that I've always been a party-kill. All those times they asked me to party with them, I always had had reasons to miss it. Both intentional and unintentional, of course. Well, I have had my fair share of excuses here and there.
But for the record, I was terribly sick last night and I was having a deadly tummy ache which caused me multiple trips to the bathroom the entire day and night. Scallops, it had to be that fresh scallops. Curse those scallops I had for dinner, now I missed my chance to meet the ultimate love of my life, Landon Thompson. He’s the drummer of SatPat and the best drummer in all over the globe. I even told my dad to buy me front row tickets but I had to sell it because I don’t want to embarrass myself and poop in my pants.
Talk about bad luck.
"And we're going back to New York tomorrow afternoon. Lighten up! College is starting in just a week." Beth jumps to my bed.
I stare at my two friends who were all wearing such skimpy sparkly dresses and high heels, showing off their belly, with heavy make up plastered on their faces. They look mature for their age but I guess it's a trend now. They both looked beautiful to be honest and I know I'm nowhere near them that’s for sure. I would probably wear anything I could grab comfortable from my closet and definitely not like these.
I glanced at my watch, and it was already eleven in the evening which makes me think that the night is still young for teens like me. Usually, back in New York, I would spend most of my time reading books all about nursing and being a healthcare provider.
Yes, yes, boring I know. We all have ways to cope up with boredom okay?
I have always wanted to be a nurse and that's what I'm taking up in college this fall. I want to prepare myself in advance once I get to medical school that's why I've been reading different great books for my course.
"Let's go Miranda." Beth tells me, pulling me again and again.
I smiled ruefully.
"I heard some hot guys go to that bar on the regular and that's where we're heading to. Come on Mirandy." Nina joins Beth on top of my bed as she rests her head on my shoulder.
"I also heard that Ned Hall and Landon Thompson went there to party before.” Beth giggles while wiggling her eyebrows at me.
Ned Hall, the platinum blond and blue eyed lead guitarist of SatPat and adorably handsome.
“Maybe you'll have your luck tonight and meet one of the boys. Or even Landon!" Beth giggles, continuing to tease me.
Being an ultimate fan like the rest of the world, I fell into those incantations and a part of me actually believed that I would definitely see them. When Landon was mentioned, my ears instantly tingled.
"Guys, even if I'm not there, it'll make no difference at all." I doubt.
"Oh bullshit, we're incomplete when you're not with us. What if you'll meet your one true love there?" Beth adds as she looks at me on the mirror.
I laughed softly. "Seriously Beth. In a club?"
"There are always what ifs Miranda. Don't lose hope. I'm sure you'll meet him tonight. Now start pulling yourself off the bed, we need to get you ready whether you like it or not." Nina says.
The two of them started pulling me from the mattress with teasing smiles on their faces even though I kept pulling myself back away to stop them but they were successful. Actually, I gave in.
They started stripping my clothes off of me and puts my hair into whatever style they wanted it to then starts applying make up on my face.
"Not too heavy make up guys." I say, while Nina puts blush on my cheeks.
"Grab my push up bra Beth. Miranda needs that for this dress." Nina pulls up a red dress.
My eyes widened. "No way in hell I'm wearing that Nin!"
The two of them started grinning and I knew I had no choice but to agree with it.
"Yes. You fucking are." Nina and Beth says in unison with grins.
Nina moves closer to my ear, "Maybe this could be the night, you'll finally say bye-bye to your v-card."
I playfully smack Nina on her arm and the two of them started laughing. I was the only one in our circle who is still a virgin and to be honest I am not embarrassed about it at all.
I slowly opened my eyes, the vision was blurry but I can see the high ceiling over me. There’s this heavy pounding on my head as if it was being hammered continuously and I still feel a little bit... drunk.
0.5I don't remember what kind of drinks I had at the club last night but I'm sure it was hard liquor because my head feels like it's about to explode.I don't remember everything that happened in details last night ‘cause I was still in a state of shock on how the hell did I get back to my hotel room.I finally adjusted my eyesight and take a good look at the white ceiling which was above me. I noticed that there was a huge-ass golden chandelier hanging over me. The scent was unfamiliar too but it smelled like roses and I wonder if the hotel service cleaned my room for me.I groan in satisfaction, God this bed is softer than I remember.I snapped myself out from my thoughts, wait.I don't remember having a huge-ass chandelier above me in my hotel room.I stared at myself and for a second I thought I was in my hotel room but later then I realized that I wasn't. I am in someone’s room, on somebody’s bed and lying down with an actual freaking person next to me..Holy shit!I quickly gra
1I quickly pulled my hands up to cover my mouth out of extreme shock.No, this cannot be actually happening. There’s absolutely no way.Relax Miranda. Don't scream or else you'll wake him up. I thought.I try to shake my hands in front of me while my heart was racing inside my chest. I pinch my cheeks to see if I was dreaming or if this was one of my wet dreams of Hugo Saintclare in it, but it's not.This is real.This is actually happening to me.This just fucking happened.Holy fuck, Hugo and I had sex.We literally had sex.I tried to rub my eyes to triple check but it's really Hugo sleeping on top of the bed. I'm definitely not hallucinating and definitely not making things up because he is actually right in front of me.I have never imagined that this could happen. I never thought I could be this close to seeing the Hugo Saintclare. What was more shocking is that, I am not screaming or fangirling hardcore because I am still in a state of shock.I can feel my blood rushing throug
1.5He rushed to the bathroom, perhaps he was thinking that I was there. If he is looking for me, he should have thought about wearing something first. He finally walks out of the bathroom and I began to pray that he won't walk into this closet because I wouldn't know what to do if that will happen.He stood next to the closet where I am actually hiding and my heart just leaped out of my chest and my soul begin to leave my entire body. But then he stopped and didn't continue opening the closet's door and I was saved from his phone ringing."Hey Leon." Hugo greets.Hugo looks so troubled and of course he should be, seeing a bloodstain on his bed with no woman in his room would totally ruin his career. But don't worry Hugo, I won't let that happen. I will not be the reason to ruin your career even if it means hiding everything. I will forget this day even existed but I won't forget what I saw around here."You need to come here in my room. I need to talk to you." He keeps running his f
2"Miranda!"Beth and Nina exclaims in unison as they rushed towards me once I entered our hotel room. Both of them hugged me tight and I tried to smile ruefully, keeping my tears to myself but I still feel so disgusted of what I did from last night.Riding all the way back to my hotel, all I thought about inside the cab was the embarrassing things I did when I was drunk and of course how I ended up having sex with the Hugo Saintclare.Moreover, it still has not sink in that I actually talked to Landon so casually inside an elevator without screaming at his face and busting his ears. But the traumatic part is the drunken sex with Hugo. I still can't believe I gave him my virginity like a snap of a finger.The bloodstain. The look on his face, I sigh inwardly recalling about it again.In the cab, I wanted to take a three-hour shower because I feel like I'm a dirty woman, not because I had sex with Hugo but because of that shameful things that I could have done last night that I don'
2.5Both of them started screaming loudly and started pulling me back and forth as if I did something really great last night. They were happy for me. They were even happy that Hugo was the one who got my virginity. Well, it is something to be proud, I mean just of a little bit of it. because he is actually freaking Hugo fucking Saintclare from the freaking Satellite Patrol but there is still that shame since he met me in my drunken state. If he'll remember me, he will assume that I am that kind of woman and that I have always been an easy girl my whole life.Seven years later."MOM!! MOMMY!! MOM MOM MOM MOM! I can not find my Ironman shirt!""Honey it's on the top drawer!" I yelled back."Mom I can't! It's not here! Moooom!!"I grunt inwardly as I was quick enough to wipe my hands over my apron after washing the dishes. I pulled it off from my body and ran upstairs to see Benedict still wearing his black jeans with no shirt on him. All of his clothes from the top drawer were scatter
3"Nervous?" I asked Ben with a smile."I am." Ben nervously smiles back but with eagerness in his eyes."You'll be doing great on your first day baby. You always do."When we arrive at his school, I held his hand tight as we walk together to the building. I can tell he was nervous but he was trying his best not to freak out. I walk him to his classroom and to be honest, I feel like I was much more nervous than Ben when we reached his school. I know how it goes in schools and there are always going to be bullies which is one of the reasons why I am scared about. Ben’s a very nice kid and he’s too good that I am scared other kids will bully him because he doesn’t have a father.I squat down before him as I push his curly hair off from his forehead. He smiles at me sweetly and kisses my cheek then hugs me."Thank you for driving me to school for my first day mommy." He says too adorably that it’s warming my heart.I kissed his temple and pulled myself away from him as I smile back tryin
3.5When you’re a nurse, you're always needed in every part of the hospital. Everywhere. It's crazy tiring. But you know, it's a good feeling to be able to help to other people. Seeing them smiling at you and thanking you for things you do for them, it's such an amazing and extremely rewarding feeling. I love helping people just as how it also hurts me seeing a patient expire.Since high school, I wanted to be a nurse by choice because I know I can help my countrymen. I was inspired by the nurses on that movie Pearl Harbor which was really a brave thing for them to do. Ever since after I saw that movie, I wanted to be one someday.Look at me now, a licensed nurse.As the hours pass by, another tiring day came to an end and I hurriedly grabbed all of my stuff to fetch Ben. I got inside my car and drove my way to his school. When I got there, I was right on time when Ben was rushing out from his classroom. I squat down as he rushed into my arms with a smile on his face. He hugs me tight
4Hugo’s blue-green eyes were still staring at me, they look intense but at the same time calm. I think he is trying to figure out where he could have seen me or maybe he knows already about me. Did he already figure out who I am? No, it was seven years ago. There’s no way that he would remember me, that was seven years ago.Relax Miranda.Relax.Don't freak out.I'm sure he doesn't remember you. It has been seven years after what happened to the two of you. I'm sure he won't remember any of that night because I think both of us got insanely drunk.I smiled away my nervousness. "Good evening sir."Sir? I could barf at myself right now for how I address him that after having sex with him. Jesus Christ, my armpits are sweating.I guess we can actually call it as our first proper conversation because I can’t consider something that happened years ago as counted since I was intoxicated. Also, nothing comes to mind when it comes to that sinful night.I still don’t know how I acted.I clea
87 T H E A Sebastian committed suicide. He ended his own life with a gun in his head. No one even knew how he had a gun in the first place and no one had any idea he was going to do that. He was supposed to meet Ben and the others tomorrow for a reunion. He was supposed to live a new life after being sentenced in prison for seven years. He was supposed to live in a tropical place and start a new life for himself. He was supposed to live a life filled with dreams now that he is out in prison. Sebastian was supposed to live. I was supposed to forgive him. The autopsy report stated that it happened around twelve midnight which means just a few hours after he left our home. I have never felt so depressed in my entire life that I wasn't even able to tell him a lot of things that I wanted to say. I didnt know what I was exactly feeling, completely lost in my thoughts and emotions after Sebastian's passing. I knew that there was something wrong in his eyes when he talked to me becaus
86T H E A"How have you been?" He asks.Sebastian wore blue, white and light pink plaided top, a pair of faded jeans and a dirty white sneakers. He looked older than the last time I saw him and his hair has gotten longer too. He looked different, but those eyes still frightens me.Those merciless eyes.I couldn't stare at him longer and I had to look away from his gaze. I clear my throat, "I have been well." I answered."I'm really glad that you are." Sebastian tells me."Um, do you want to drink something Sebastian? Tea?" Ben offers.I quickly held his wrist, stopping him from leaving me alone in here and stared into his eyes as I said to him. "Please don't leave me here."Ben stares intently at me before he turns to Sebastian who speaks, "You dont really have to offer me anything."I bite my inner cheek and breathe in some confidence before I faced Sebastian. "What are you doing here?"Sebastian stares at me eagerly."What do you want?" I asked firmly."I came here to see if you ha
85T H E AI couldn't sleep the entire night as I was bothered about Sebastian's release happening in just a few hours.Thoughts were filling and piling inside my head one over the other and I don't know if this was going to let me sleep at all.So I slipped out of the bed where Ben was sleeping soundly and headed out of bedroom to get myself a glass of wine from downstairs. I hate myself when I turn to alcohol every time my thoughts are fogged up and fucked up. I hate when there are questions left unanswered and my solution is alcohol.I hated it.I hated it so much I hate myself too.I finished two glasses of wine and spent almost thirty minutes just sitting on a chair where I tried to drown and sort my troubled thoughts. I finally pulled myself up and headed back to my bedroom only until I saw Xavier heading out of his room, crying. I rushed to his side and wished that he wouldn't smell the stingy scent of alcohol from my breath."Xavier." I cooed. "What happened?""Mommy I had a n
84T H E A“Why didn’t you tell him?”Benedict's question still lingers in my mind.Why didn't I tell Sebastian back in the day?I have been asking myself that same question over and over again for the past couple of years. I used to tell myself that I wasn't ready and I know I wasn't ready. I lied to myself when I said I was ready to confess to him about our child but I was absentmindedly denying the fact that my mind was filled with so many thoughts as soon as I faced Sebastian.When I saw him, I was reminded of how he raped me mercilessly. When I saw him, I was reminded of how dirty of a woman I was. When I saw him, I was reminded of how I didn't want this baby to be born if only it hadn't been for Ben.Ben has always been my rock and my strength after everything that happened to me. All these years, he accepted me no matter what and I have been beyond blessed to have a man like that in my life.That kind of love and care he showed me is going to be something I didn't want to waste
83T H E AI stare at my own reflection in front of the mirror, I gained weight but I look different compared to the old me a few weeks ago. My eyes travelled down to my baby bump and as I turn to my side, I feel more anxiety building in the back of my head. I am not confident enough that I will be a good mother to this baby once it’s out when I know this baby came from a man who I trusted so much but just raped me. My bump is starting to show now and I know I have a lifelong responsibility waiting ahead of me. I just hope I will be responsible enough.I rub my hand over my small tummy then smiled at myself.“You will be fine.” I told my baby.Ben is here for me and for us. He always has. He made everything feel better. He made me better and happier without asking too much in return. He is a very selfless man and I owe him my life. My everything and all that I have left.I breathe out heavily and tucked my hair behind my ears as I stare at myself wearing this white dress and white ba
82B E N E D I C TShe stands by the balcony sliding door, staring at an empty space wearing my shirt and some pajamas. Standing here afar from Thea, looking at her, I can see and I can feel that her mind is full. It’s full of endless thoughts and worries. I wish I could take some from her restless bothered thoughts and I wish I could help her with what she is going through.Thea is strong but I don’t want her to have another breakdown. I hope I can share the pain and confusions she is going through right now. I wish, at least I could make her happy despite of what has happened lately.But I don’t know what to do as well.I am bothered too, restless, anxious, troubled and angry. I still have this growing hate in me and unwillingness to befriend Sebastian.I hate him.I walk towards Thea and wrapped my arms around her. She didn’t budge but still sets her eyes out the window. “There are no stars tonight.” I say.She sighs heavily.“Aren’t you hungry sweetheart?” I ask.She didn’t answer
81B E N E D I C T“The CEO of Saintclare Enterprises , finally off the market!!”I read mentally the newspaper’s headlines as soon as I got into my office. I scan through the magazines which were also over my desk, and the headlines were also all about me.I sigh. “I knew this was gonna come out first thing in the morning.”The phone on top of my desk rings, I quickly picked it up, “Yes.”“Mr. Saintclare everyone is calling in for an interview with you. They’re all asking if you have any available time.” I can hear telephones ringing from my secretary’s background.“Cancel all interviews. Tell them I have a busy schedule up until next week.” I hung up.Suddenly the phone in my pocket rings. I stare at the screen and it was Mrs. Brown, my PR.I sigh as I answer, “I know what you’re going to say.”“It’s everywhere. My phone has been ringing since six o’clock this morning. I don’t know what to answer them.”“Did you say anything about Thea?”“No. Not unless you tell me to. I’m only wait
80BENEDICTI stare at Thea, and she has been looking out of the window for minutes now. I know she still has a lot of things in mind with what has happened lately and I’m sure she’s tired of thinking about it too. She has talked to Khaleel and I have had talked to him too. Despite her past, we wanted to keep it to ourselves than letting the others know about it. They wouldn’t understand what she went through to survive and it isn’t our story to tell.I have asked myself a couple of times why she had to choose such job but then I didn’t have the courage to ask her. I don’t want her to feel bad about herself and the more I ask about her past, the more she would think it bothers me.Honestly, it has been in the past and we all have had done crazy shit a thing or two. All of us deserves a second chance and women like Thea who strives hard to change herself to become a better woman deserves more than that. I am proud of her and she knows it.A smile creeps on her face as soon as I rubbed
79THEASometimes, in our lives there are instances when you just want to disappear because of awkward situations or embarrassing moments. And right now, that’s what I want to happen. I want to teleport to another place far from here.It feels like everything inside my system malfunctioned and brain feels dead. I have never felt more disgusted of myself and my past than how Sebastian is embarrassing me right now in front of Ben. No one has ever made me feel so little of myself, only Sebastian.This bastard. This one of a hell man. I wish he dies.My tears were just flowing from my closed eyes and I feel this growing pain against my chest. I try to breathe in but the pain grows as I exhale so I remained quiet. I don’t want to face anyone or see how they look at me with disgust and filth. I just want to disappear like one pop of a bubble or run out of this house and never look back.But I cant, I know I have to face them now. I have to face Khaleel. I have to face Benedict even if it’s