Chapter 40"Kylie... you could have told us. We won't judge you. We're all friends, right? Of course, we're on your side no matter what." Samantha said."We love you dearly, Kylie, and we'll support you no matter what you do." Ariana added.Selena hugged me while Samantha and Ariana wiped away their tears. Since I am numb, I don't care even if they cry blood. I know they feel sorry for me now, and I don't even need it."I don't need your pity." I replied to them and gently pushed Selena away from me. "Don't touch me either." I knew they were surprised by my actions and words, but..."We understand you, Kylie. You're not yourself right now, and we're here for you." They smiled at me, and Selena suggested a group hug. They all hugged me, and no matter how much I tried to break free, they wouldn't let go."The night is still young. What should we do?" Selena asked after glancing at the clock. It was only 10 PM."We can just chat." Samantha suggested, looking at me. She gave me a mischiev
Chapter 41-Two years later-"Kylie, don't you have any respect for us and your mother?!" Daddy asked me. Kenzo and I were going upstairs to my room when we both froze upon hearing Daddy's shout.I slowly turned around to face their angry gazes. Mommy was there too, looking very sad."What's your problem, Old Hag?!" I replied to him. I saw Mommy trying to stop him from coming at me. I went down the stairs to approach them with Mommy.It seemed like Kenzo didn't care and went straight to my room. Well, it wasn't the first time he witnessed this scene."Why do you keep bringing home different men every night?!" Daddy asked me with intense anger. I could feel his restrained fury. I glared at him and answered."We can't understand you anymore, Mommy and I! You join illegal street races, you've been in jail. You party every night, and it's my money you're spending. You don't have a job, you don't even want to finish school. And now, you're bringing home random men! What's next?""Child, wh
Chapter 42"Why is my baby frowning?" Kenzo asked me as soon as he entered Starbucks. He hugged me, and since we were sitting on the couch, I leaned my head on his chest. I could hear his heartbeat."My heart is beating so fast.""Of course, because you're with the woman I love." And I felt him kiss the top of my head. I pinched his side."Baby, you're such a sadist!" I laughed at what he said. We called the waiter, and he ordered his drink while I already had a frappe. I sighed. He noticed, so he straightened his posture and held my hands."I can sense that something's bothering you, Baby. What's wrong?" Kenzo really knows me well. Well, after two years of being together, it's expected that he knows me."Well, Mommy set me up on another blind date, and it's happening at lunchtime." I looked at my watch; it was only eleven-thirty. I still had thirty minutes to spend with Kenzo. He laughed at what I said, so I pouted."Do you want me to pinch you again?! I'm so tired of blind dates! Sh
Chapter 43"I want to die," I whispered to myself as I took another hit of the marijuana I turned into a cigarette. I was inside my room and had no intention of going out. It would be difficult if the household staff smelled it and got high too; I'd be in trouble with Daddy.After being locked up for a week, Daddy told me I was grounded to avoid further arguments. To prevent another fight, I didn't respond and just agreed to his terms. I'm so incredibly bored here—internet surfing, movie marathons, I even tried blasting music all day long, but it all ended the same way, with boredom.Until I started rummaging through my bag and found the small packet of marijuana tucked among my credit cards. So that's what I've been missing. Ah, I wanna get drunk. I overheard earlier while we were eating that Mommy and Daddy were going to the clubhouse in John Hay to check the place for Aria's welcome party. Perfect! I can get wasted.It didn't take long before I heard the car honking, signaling Momm
Chapter 44"What do you want me to do?" I asked him in return, furrowing my brow. But he remained silent for a few moments, so I broke the silence."They're having a party to welcome them back, isn't that enough? Should I also throw an after-party for their return?" He sighed heavily."Stop being so sarcastic, Kylie. We both know that's not what I meant." Now, it was my turn to sigh."Tell me, Kenzo, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" I averted my gaze from him. I felt like at any moment, tears would start falling.The familiar pain I had buried for the past two years was slowly resurfacing. How could it not? Every time the topic came up about what happened two years ago, I couldn't help but become emotional.I clenched my fists and redirected my focus to the food, even though I had lost my appetite. But Kenzo wouldn't leave me alone!"I want the real Kylie now," Kenzo said after a while, and that was my cue. Tears started flowing uncontrollably, and the pain from two years ago
Chapter 45"I want the real Kylie now.""That old Kylie is long gone." Kenzo said emotionlessly. He approached me, and for a moment, I didn't know what he was going to do. But then he placed his handkerchief on my left cheek, and I knew. I knew I was going to cry again for the same reasons as two years ago."I messed up. I ruined my life. It's a new day but the same bullshit. I am forever trapped in the past. I can't even remember how many times I ended up in jail just because of my crazy pranks. I've even learned to smoke and drink heavily. Fight like a fucking wild animal. Everything is ruined, even my relationship with my parents. I even call my Dad 'old man.' Kenzo, I cannot bring back the old Kylie that everybody used to love. She's gone, long gone.""Baby, I'm not asking you to bring back your old self. What I'm asking is for you to move on... move on from the past. Don't trap yourself there. I'm here for you no matter what happens and who you are now. It doesn't really matter,
Chapter 46-Continuation of Flashback-"Miss?" I looked at the man who called me. I only glanced at him because his voice sounded familiar, and my heart raced when I saw the guy who accused me of stealing his wallet."What are you doing here?" I asked him, lowering the watering can I was using to water our plants."I just wanted to apologize for what happened-" I didn't let him finish his sentence."My parents already paid for what was lost last night, right? What are you doing here? Leave." I told him, and I was about to go inside when he called me again, this time using my name."Kylie." How did he know my name? I stopped walking but didn't turn to face him. What else does he want from me?!"Kylie, I'm really sorry. I didn't know that my friends were playing a prank on me." I still didn't face him."The damage has been done. Leave." And I finally entered our house. I am grounded for one month. I can only go to school and stay at home. If I have any group projects, I have to invite t
Chapter 47-Continuation of Flashback-"Why is your hair so short? And your friends have long hair. I think long hair suits you as well," Kenzo said, shrugging his shoulders.As he said weeks ago, he actually transferred to our school. Bad news—he's my classmate. The worst part—he's my seatmate. Luckily, there are only two weeks left in the semester, so I just have to endure two more weeks with him."What's it to you?" I replied grumpily. We were the only two remaining in the classroom, and it's a good thing I'm no longer grounded. Well, my grounding ended last week when Kenzo suddenly blocked Mommy and Daddy's car and explained himself and apologized excessively."Are you heartbroken?" he asked me, moving his face closer to mine. I quickly blocked him with my index finger, pushing his face away from mine."No." I gave him an emotionless response and glared at him."Your eyes are telling me otherwise," he said, moving away from me."Stop bothering me, Kenzo." I answered, annoyed."Wha