Falling For The Trap

It felt like there was a big hammer hitting my head repeatedly making the pain more and more uncontrollable in all parts of my head. The situation around me seemed to be spinning around making it difficult for me to just wake up my body. I repeatedly blinked my eyes hoping that the pain in my head would decrease. When I felt my surroundings return to silence, I realized that the ceiling above my head felt unfamiliar. Then another reality struck me, this was not my bedroom!

As I sat up, I realized that underneath the blanket I was wearing, only a tattered shirt was still clinging to my body. What happened last night?

Even more shocking, it made me clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming out loud. I saw a shirtless man sleeping beside me. He was lying on his stomach without me being able to see his face clearly because he was facing sideways.

Who is he? Why am I here without clothes with a strange man?

I whimpered as the pain in my head returned. Although the pain still ruled all parts of my head, I tried to remember what happened last night. Although it was vague, I clearly remembered that I was trying to escape from a man who was about to rape me. Until I bumped into a man.

Oh, my gosh.

I shuddered in horror as a flash of horrifying memory appeared in my head. The scene where he and I were wrestling on the bed, crushing each other's lips so intensely. I even screamed out in pleasure as we released each other's satisfaction.

No, no, no. I shook my head, feeling so shocked and unsure of what was happening that I was startled by my cell phone vibrating. It was down there, in a bag lying on the floor. I hurriedly grabbed it for fear of waking the man who was still fast asleep beside me.

The phone call from my father scared me to death. I glanced at him, making sure he was still fast asleep before pressing the green button on my phone screen.

"Hello, Dad?" I replied in as quiet a voice as possible. I swallowed my saliva with difficulty, my throat now completely dry, barren like a desert. My hands trembled violently as I heard my father's heavy voice that sounded so angry.

In just a few seconds he spoke in a demanding tone. My father told me to go home immediately without saying anything else. This made me feel even more scared because my father didn't usually do that.

I hurriedly went downstairs. Picked up each of my clothes that were lying on the floor and hurriedly put them on. Leaving the hotel room that felt so horrible with him still fast asleep like a baby.

God, I hope I don't get into more trouble than this!

"You're home?"

Nicole's voice was the first to greet me when I entered the house. She stood with a smug face with a smirk perched on the corner of her lips. It looked so suspicious. I just brushed past her, ignoring her completely.

Nicole followed me from behind. Still with both hands on her chest until we reached the living room. Mom and Dad were already there. An unreadable look, a tense atmosphere. But I could sense that something bad was about to happen.

"Dad, what's wrong-"

"Gosh, I feel dizzy smelling the alcohol from your body. How much did you drink, huh?" I glanced sharply at Nicole when she interrupted me just as I was about to speak. But Nicole smiled mockingly at me instead.

"Stay out of it, Nicole!" I exclaimed in annoyance. But the next thing I knew, I was snapping at my father. He looked so angry with the veins tightening around his neck.

A hard slap landed on my cheek. I, who was still in shock, could only stay silent with a stupid face staring at my father. My eyes trembled, almost crying, but I tried to hold it in.

"Dad," I whined in a hoarse voice. But that didn't stop my father from making an angry face.

"Why didn't you come home last night? And what is this?! Coming home in a mess like this when you know I've set you up with Ethan!?" My father's voice was loud, and firm, echoing in the living room. He looked angry.

I immediately glanced at Nicole. It must have been her, as I saw Nicole smiling smugly when my father scolded me. He even went so far as to slap my cheek, leaving a reddish mark and a throbbing sensation that was quite painful.

"Did you sleep with another man?" my father demanded. I could see his hands clenched into fists, holding back his anger.

I couldn't lose to Nicole. I couldn't fall twice into her trap.

"Dad, I can explain. It's not what you think. I did meet up with a friend yesterday, but I suddenly fainted. Someone drugged me and I'm sure someone did it on purpose!" I exclaimed firmly. I glanced at Nicole who was still smiling contentedly. It was her doing!

"Drugged?" My father looked surprised when I mentioned the word 'drugged'. He raised one eyebrow, looking at me in disbelief, making sure that I wasn't lying.

I was silent for a moment, unable to say anything to answer my father's question. If I told him more, he and everyone would know that I slept with a man last night. And my father would be even angrier when he found out. And Nicole, victory is clearly in her hands. And I didn't want that to happen.

I told my father not to bring it up again because now I was coming home fine. "Someone helped me last night, so we shouldn't have to discuss this," I tried to convince my father.

"If someone wants to do something bad to you, wouldn't it be better to catch the culprit and punish him? Isn't that right, dad?" I glared at Nicole who opened her voice. I wondered why there was someone like Nicole who was always meddling in people's business and making it worse.

"No, father. I..."

"Shut up, Layla," my father interrupted. "I'm the one who decides whether or not to pursue this matter. And Nicole's right. What if Ethan's family finds out about this and thinks something bad? They might cancel your wedding."

I was getting frustrated hearing my father's words. My hands were shaking with fear. I was afraid he would find out the truth. And I could only look down without being able to reply to his words.

"Dad, we should go to the hotel and check the CCTV. I'm sure we can find out who drugged Layla," Nicole said. It made me want to shut her up so badly that she couldn't speak anymore.

Damn it. She even smiled triumphantly when Dad agreed to her idea. And me? I couldn't do anything when my father firmly told me to drive them to the hotel where I was staying last night.