JUNE June was starting to regret gulping down five shots of gin just for five hundred bucks. The money was too much to pass up, too tempting, so with a forced smile, she'd poured them down her throat. Now she was paying the price. Five hundred dollars had felt like jackpot earlier, but now with her vision blurring and her legs barely holding up, she wished she hadn't taken up the weird man's offer. He got off watching her get drunk, and she was stuck with a throbbing headache. She'd thrown up twice, and a third was coming up fast. A high-pitched ringing in her ears turned every sound around her into a distant echo. God, she hated this job, but it paid well and for someone responsible for fending for four mouths, she had no choice. But it was becoming too much for her, like she was teetering on the edge of a literal breakdown. June groaned, slumping down on a crate in the backroom before burying her head between her knees. This night needed to end already. June stayed like tha
OLLIE Ollie cursed his friend, Landon, for dragging him to come to the strip club with him that night, a month ago. It was that night he met June— his obsession and his dark fantasy—, and he hated it. That night wasn’t supposed to be about her. It was about proving Landon wrong, showing he could have fun if he wanted to. But instead, he’d proven himself wrong. His supposed disinterest in everything had been a lie. Since then his life had spiraled out of control. He hadn't been unable to shake off the hold she had on him no matter how much he tried He had gone through five stages of grief over how one encounter with a woman could ruin him so completely before deciding to just ride it out. Besides, he hadn't had fun in a long time, and June was a lot of fun. At the sound of the door, his head snapped toward it with anticipation that he hated to acknowledge. Something untamed kept him on the edge whenever he came here to see June. It was as though she was a drug and he was a j
JUNE June winced as she stumbled into the hallway. Her stomach tightened with each step she took. What the hell had she done? She’d broken the one rule she swore she’d never break. No messing around with VIPs. Most especially this VIP. Even though the kiss was undeniably electrifying, she regretted it the moment their lips parted. She took pride in her professionalism and never mixed pleasure with work. Especially in her line of work where it was far too easy to mix the two. But today? She didn't know what had come over her. This VIP was everything she disliked. Cocky. Smug. The type that only saw her as another plaything and an arrogant confidence she couldn't stand. So why? Why the hell had she kissed him? Yeah, sure, he was good looking, but he wasn't her type. Hell, she wasn't his type either. Knowing all this, and yet... she kissed him. As she stepped into the dressing room, her fingers unconsciously brushed against her lips, still warm from the kiss. Before she
OLLIE Ollie had his life planned for the next ten years. He knew exactly where he’d be, what he’d accomplish, and how he’d get there. Nowhere in that carefully curated calendar had he ever planned to be obsessed with a woman who didn’t even know his name—who didn’t care to know his name. He didn’t need anyone to tell him how fucked up that was. June had become his religion, and she had no idea what his goddamn name was. To her, he was just another faceless man in the crowd. Yet, she was wreaking havoc in his mind. She’d slipped through the cracks of his perfectly, structured life, and now he was drowning in thoughts of her. His fingers drummed against his leg as he tried to focus on the chess game, but his mind was stuck. Obsessing over her. Obsessing over the kiss. Sex wasn’t something he ever obsessed over, let alone a kiss. Hell, he didn't even enjoy the act itself. It was laborious and it left him feeling drained. But for some reason, he thoroughly enjoyed the lust-drench
JUNE The distant hum of the traffic matched June's restless thoughts. Should she run? hide? If she did, Ollie wouldn't find her for sure. Quite frankly, she couldn't understand why she was here, waiting for him. She'd only agreed to the ride to get him off his back, not that she meant it, right? So why was her feet somehow rooted here and ummoving? Getting into his car was probably a wrong move. What if he misread this? Or worse, what if he expected something in return for a ride? As the thought churned her mind, June decided leaving was the best option. It was better to be gone before he showed up. She started walking away when she noticed a sleek sport car pulled up beside her. She didn’t have to look to know it was him, but she didn’t stop walking either. The car window rolled down, and that smooth, velvety voice she hated how good it sounded drifted her way. "Didn’t take you for a promise-breaker." She rolled her eyes. Damn his voice. "You were taking too long." she mutte
JUNE June’s lips curved into a small, involuntary smile despite her best efforts to stay indifferent. God, he had a way of getting under her skin. She would be sure to completely avoid him when next she saw him. When she got near the apartment complex she lived, the moment was soon replaced by a souring mood. Of course, the universe couldn't let her have this one night. It would be too much. She walked past her mother, completely ignoring her, but then her mother followed her in staggering steps. "Those little fuckers wouldn't let me into the house." Her mother complained with think anger. June’s jaw tightened, her hand clenched into a fist as her frustration mounted. "I own the fucking house, yet they locked me out." She spat. “Those little fuckers are your children,” June shot back sharply, whirling around to face her mother. “And I own the house. I’ve been paying rent for years.” Her mother waved her off dismissively. "Common June, you are still as cranky as ever."
JUNE The excitement June felt after making over two thousands in one week was unreal She couldn't wait to break the news to Amy when she got home. Her sister had been on cloud nine all week, taking her practice seriously, doing everything she could to prepare for the competition. She talked about it nonstop, and watching Amy's dedication brought a rare joy to June. Unlike Aiden, Amy wasn’t zealous about school, but when it came to swimming, she was a natural talent, which she hadn’t taken it seriously until now. June didn’t want to be the overbearing sister, but she was worried about how aimless Amy seemed towards life. So seeing her this committed about the competitiom was a delight. It had only fueled June to take on all kinds of jobs just to make the entry f*e for the competition, and she in fact did. Though the sleepless nights had taken their toll on her, she didn’t regret a thing. It had been worth it. June turned back to the counter, and offered the cup to the man standing
JUNEFinding Echo wasn’t hard, since it was one of a kind in New York, and June didn’t have to tell the taxi driver twice before he drove her there.Her fingers tightened around her phone as her gaze rose to the towering casino building. The glass wall gleamed under the city lights, making the four-story building of the casino seem almost otherworldly.The opulent appearance of the casino scared her. What the fuck was John doing in an expensive casino like this?She tugged the straps of her baggy jeans, feeling completely out of place as she moved around the line of sleek cars moving in slow procession. She wasn’t used to the luxury that surrounded her but she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and steeled herself. She had bigger concerns than worrying about whether she belonged here or not.As she approached the revolving doors, stares followed her, judging and scrutinizing her, but she gave no fuck about them. Not when her brother was set to ruin both her life and her sister's.A
Two years later. She did it. Finally, she was a certified interior designer. Today was another great milestone for her. With the help of the twins, her friend, Lola who couldn’t be here because she was several countries away And most especially her man. Who’d been with her through thick and thin. Whose loyalty never waver. Whose patience never ran thin. Whose love multiplied daily. Even when she moved across the country, to California, he’d followed her, he’d took charge, he’d been there for her. He’d stayed with her. He’d and made her take the backseat which she was very much pleased. He’d made her the happiest woman on earth. Her heart swelled with the ceremonial gown on her. “Oh my fu—“ Aiden’s exclamation was abruptly cut off when his eyes locked with hers. “Oh my.” He muttered under his breath. He’d become grumpier as he grew older. “What happened?” Amy’s puzzled gaze scanned the surroundings, searching for the cause of Aiden’s displeasure. A gasp escaped her lips, and she
Ollie had been practically glued to her side. He hadn’t been apart from her for more than a minute. And that was a stretch. He followed her around the house like a lost puppy. Whenever she took a step, he was around by her side. “What did you want? What do I need to do? Where are you going?” He would say with so much love and care. She wasn’t complaining at all about his clinginess. As a matter of factly, she loved so much. She missed him so much. Now that he was finally with her, she was never going to let go ever again. Being with him felt like she could finally breathe. She was genuinely happy. She couldn’t explain the level of joy his presence alone brought to her. They’d been indoors for four days without a pint of curiosity for the outside world. It could be burning down and they wouldn’t even care. As long as they were with each other. During those periods, they’d caught up with each other’s life. They’d shared their deepest insecurities. They’d made love so many times. Th
She was just out of the restaurant she worked part time when she bumped Rachel, Ollie’s step mother. When Rachel’s eyes met hers, the smile on her face broadened and Rachel instantly enveloped her into an embrace. “Isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” Rachel’s voice carried a warmth of genuine delight. June returned the hug. “It is.” As Rachel withdrew, she added, “How have you been?” “I’ve been good. Thank you. What about you?” June asked. “I doing well dear. What else can this old lady do?” a shared laughter echoed between them. “What are you doing here?” “I work here.” June answered, her eyes meeting Rachel wrinkled corners. Rachel said with a low hum. “I’m a regular here and I never stumble across you.” “I work the evening shift.” She’d switched shift with one of her colleague who’d pleaded with her. “Must be the reason.” Rachel said, her hand resting on June’s shoulder. “By the way, I heard you broke my son’s heart.” June tensed up, unsure of what to response. “I…” She st
Max: Are you busy?Ollie: Yes. Max: See you by 7. At Eden.It wasn’t hard to make out Max in the bar. His blond hair stood out like a beacon in contrast with the subdued ambiance of the bar and his outfit. A black turtle neck with matching trench coat. When he flopped on the chair opposite Max, he said. “This has better be for a good reason or I might just kill you. ” Max leaned back, no words just a raised brow as Ollie’s hand sought for bottle positioned between them. Not caring what it was, he poured himself a generous measure into the glass. It felt dull as it slid down his throat. He’d gotten accustomed to the taste of liquor. They almost tasted like water to him. “Take another swig, you will need it.” Though, Confused at what Max was implying, he took another swig. The burn of the drink a familiar comfort. This was how he kept his sanity. This was how he kept going after June. She ruined him and he couldn’t even hate her for it. He'd accepted June the type of love he co
She’d been an unfixable mess since the breakup. Firstly, because there had been an unending swirl of chaos within her. Secondly, because life was still life. A colossal mess. She had no luxury to mourn a broken heart. Every morning, she rose to her feet, not because she wanted to but because she had to. She showed up at multiple part-time jobs until she broke a nail because she had to. To top it, she had to read for the exams.When she’d told the twins and Lola about her ambition, they were so proud of her. They mattered to her but deep down she wanted someone else praise. The persono who’d told her it was okay to dream and instilled this confidence into her to take a step towards her dream. The actual person who’d motivated her to take this risky step wasn’t there. At 2 am or 6 pm, when she ate, when she slept when she worked, when she studied. He was a constant pillar in her mind. She had no right to think about him but she couldn’t help it. He was everywhere. He was in every
It always worked. Work had always been a perfect distraction for him anytime he needed to push something aside and not think about it. Until now. Workloads upon workloads. It couldn’t stop the image of June burning the pages of his mind. It haunted him with vividness that made it impossible for him to concentrate. Her anguished voice echoed in his ears, refusing to fade. Her cruel words whipped him like a lash. Her pained face that he wanted to console even after everything.His brain had been on a maddening repetitive loop. We’ve had our fun. Fun?The word taunted him. All he wanted to do was drown thoughts of June out of his mind but everything he’d done proved futile. Seated at his cluttered desk, surrounded by towering stacks of paperwork, but the weight of his workload did little to divert his thoughts. Three days. Twenty hours. And June hadn’t left his mind for a millisecond. Twenty hours of work a day had done little to distract him. June, even in her absence, was a r
He’ll leave you. He’ll regret ever being with you and he’ll leave you. Ollie’s father's words stuck to her, not leaving her mind for a tiny moment just like the ghost of his hand on the skin of her neck, she could also his word strong invisible vise choking her. That’s all it is to you. You don’t deserve him. Shaken by the incident, June’s hand trembled as she extended an arm to the car’s window control panel, her index finger pressing down as if seeking escape from the stifling words that had choked her She’d hoped that the breeze would ease the ache she was feeling. No, it didn’t Instead, it stung her skin with its painful lash. June was quick to wind up the window before slumping into her seat. The more her mind pounded on the words, the more it churned her inside and broke her into pieces. Her insecurities build with thick layers.He would leave you. Soon. He would. The words echoed once more, cutting deeper than any physical wound. An involuntary sob broke out of her m
A week later, June was meeting John at the said hotel. June found it weird that the hotel was deserted, and her eyes darted around in search of signs of life. They were just an old red peacock car and a surprisingly manicured lawn in sight. Before June could change her mind, she made a beeline to the lobby’s entrance. She just wanted to be over it as soon as possible. When she entered, her eyes glanced through the person seated in the corner of the lobby. He wore a fedora. John waved to her from the far end of the lobby. His face was hidden behind a baseball cap, casting a shadow over his features. She hadn’t recognized him at first, her eyes narrowing as she squinted to make out his identity.She sighed with relief and made her way to him. The creak of her footsteps on the grimy floor echoed through the desolate lobby. John’s eyes met hers as she approached, and he smiled croakily, the lines of worry etched on his face evident even in the dim light.“Hey,” she said as she droppe
A sense of uneasiness swept over her when she pulled open the door to reveal John. Her brother whom she’d forgotten existed until now. John's hand shot up, his fingers moving in a stiff, awkward wave as his lips formed a tight smile. “Hey.” “What are you doing here?” June raised a brow. It was a surprise that John had stayed away when she asked him to. But she was determined to report to the cops if he showed up at her doorstep back then. Now, three months had passed. It would be a big joke if he thought she would let him in again. John chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Our reunion went a lot better in my head.” His eyes darted through the dimly lit porch. Her lips pulled into a deep line of scowl. Reunion? After what had happened? The memories of the past twisted her inside into a tight knot.Her grip clenched around the doorknob. “Can you at least invite me in?” John raised a hopeful brow.“No.” she gripped the door’s edge and closed it in on her body, leavi