Chapter 2 The Consequences

Jenny awoke in a state of confusion, her head throbbing with a dull ache. "Why does my head hurt?" She mumbled to herself, her surroundings unfamiliar and disorienting. Fueled by a sense of panic, she quickly rose from the bed, scanning the room for any sign of her friends from the previous night.

As a cold breeze brushed against her naked body, a sudden realization struck her—she was unclothed, and the truth of her situation began to sink in.

"Why am I not wearing any clothes?" She gasped, her mind racing as she desperately tried to piece together the events of the previous evening. A wave of discomfort washed over her, accompanied by aching pains throughout her body, making it difficult for her to even stand. With a sense of growing dread, she examined herself, unable to recall the events that led to her current state.

Attempting to rise once more, she winced as her body protested, the soreness in her private areas sending shockwaves of anguish through her. Overwhelmed with confusion and anguish, tears welled up in her eyes as she noticed a telltale trace of blood on the bedsheet beneath her, hinting at a disturbing and unsettling reality she couldn't yet comprehend.

"No! This cannot be happening to me. No man will ever love me if they find out I was raped. Who is the wretched person responsible for this? What sin did I commit to deserve this?" She sobbed, gathering her scattered clothes from the floor and hastily dressing herself. When she emerged, the security guard appeared taken aback.

"Miss, you've been here all this time. Your friends were still searching for you at dawn," the guard said, clearly surprised. It was to be expected.

"I apologize, I dozed off. I'm not accustomed to drinking alcohol," she replied politely, even though she was being untruthful.

"Oh, I see. Wait here for a moment, I'll arrange a taxi for you. Fortunately, I haven't locked up the bar yet," the guard offered.

While seated in the taxi, she attempted to recollect the events of the previous night, but all that came to mind was the pounding in her head. Lost in thought, her concentration was broken by the ringing of her phone.

"Julie!" She exclaimed, answering her friend's call, her voice choked with emotion.

"Jenny, where are you? Why did you both leave without saying a word?" Julie inquired with concern and contemplation.

"What? Why? Where's Dana?" She asked, her voice tinged with worry and confusion, her nose starting to run. The driver continued to glance at his rearview mirror.

"She followed you last night to use the restroom because you hadn't returned after drinking the last drink the waiter gave you," Julie explained.

"What? How is that possible? Where is she? I didn't see her last night, and I'm not with her. I'm almost home!" She exclaimed, her voice betraying her exhaustion.

"Alright, give us a call when you're home, Jen. We're still searching for Dana, and Aunt Helena is already out looking for her," Julie replied, her tone laced with concern.

"Goodbye, Julie! I'm sorry for worrying you about our sudden disappearance last night, and I can't seem to recall anything today." She apologized.

"Kindly halt in front of the green gate. Thank you!" She instructed, reaching for her fare before swiftly making her way into the building.

Upon reaching her room, she found herself overcome with emotion, unable to contain her tears. 'Even though Mom won't inquire, Jared, my elder brother, would go to great lengths to uncover the perpetrator. He's the only one who genuinely cares for our family. What if I end up pregnant? I must find a means to work overseas. Yes, I'll accept the job offer in Dubai. I've already passed their exams and interviews; all that's left is to send a confirmation email accepting their offer. I believe God will watch over me there; I need to be independent now.' She contemplated.

I'm planning to inform my brother Jared about the job, just to prevent him from discovering the real reason behind my departure. My elder brother can easily discern if I'm being untruthful or withholding information. I apologize, brother Jared, but I must temporarily leave this place for the sake of our family. I don't want our parents to condemn me for my foolish actions. I will return when I am capable of handling everything. Right now, I need to mend my broken self. I love you, brother, and thank you for all the love and support you've given me! She continued to mutter to herself.

While Jenny is grappling with her thoughts, Dana has her own challenges to confront. She stretched her arms, opening her eyes and taking in her surroundings. "Looks like I overslept today. I'm already feeling hungry, and today is my physical assessment at the hotel I'm applying to in BGC." She acknowledged, rousing herself.

Her parents agreed to take on managerial roles initially to gain experience, leveraging her computer literacy. Anticipating the future, she had already formulated plans for her parents' business, foreseeing simultaneous ventures for both her father and mother. Their inseparable bond extended beyond personal relationships and permeated into their joint business endeavors.

'Wake up, Daniela, before you're late for your appointment!' She scolded herself, sensing a discrepancy as she stirred.

'Why do I feel like I've been hit by a bulldozer, with my head throbbing like never before? My thighs seem ready to give in with every movement. What's causing this unbearable pain in my lower body? Ugh!' She sighed, rolling her eyes and surveying the room with a groan.

An unexpected scream escaped her lips, her eyes widening in disbelief. 'Oh no!! Where am I? What am I doing in this room? This is not my princess-designed room!' She exclaimed, startled, just as the doorbell rang.

'Wait, doorbell?' She pondered in confusion, almost reaching for the door before realizing she was still unclothed. She let out a loud cry as she scrambled to put on her clothes one by one, stumbling due to the intense pain coursing through her entire body!

As she opened the door, the room service greeted her with, "Good afternoon, ma'am. It's time for your checkout. Is everything alright? Would you like me to bring you some food before you leave?" His polite questions.

"I'll just check out, but my card isn't here. I'll call my dad." She began, but her words were cut off by the room service.

"No problem, ma'am. The bill has been settled. Your food expenses are covered until lunchtime as well. The gentleman left his card in this paper bag, and he instructed me to give it to you when you woke up. He was in a rush to catch his flight." The room service personnel explained, handing her the ATM card and the paper bag. Still disoriented by the situation, she accepted the bag and the card, eager to depart.

"I'll hold onto this credit card as evidence that he was with me all night. Dana, you planned to keep this for Prince Charming. Why did you forget?" She chided herself, her voice filled with desperation.

Tears cascaded down her cheeks one after the other, yet no amount of weeping could reverse what had transpired. She longed for a world where mistakes could be effortlessly erased like words on a page, but reality proved unyielding.

The paper bag contained an assortment of underwear, each in different sizes, a stark reminder of the violation she endured the night before. "That pair was my favorite Victoria's Secret." She lamented, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Enough self-pity, Dana!" She scolded herself, determined to pull herself together.

"Get dressed and leave, ensuring not a trace of evidence remains for the cleaner. Don't forget to bring the torn underwear and bra." With a bitter resolve, she prepared to face the world outside, steeling herself against the lingering turmoil within.