ARII shouldn’t have come.“my baby!” a kiss on my cheek. “you look so beautiful.”“thank you mom, you look amazing too as always,” I look ar her side at the man who is smiling, hand on the small of her waist. “Mr. Parkers, thank you for inviting me.”He chuckles and steps in front of me. “when will you stop addressing me so formally?” probably never? He leans in for a hug. Its stiff, all my joints and limbs locked and I count the seconds until its all over.“the place looks wonderful.” It does. The who place is decorated so beautifully, I feel like I have walked rihght in a movie set.“my father loves everything to be a high luxury, everyone must have a good experience at his parties.”As I look around, I feel a smoldering gaze on my left and when i lock eyes with the silver ones, I feel my heart lurch to my throat.I knew he would be here, its his grandfafther’s party after all. I also expected the girl in his arm too, she is his girlfriend after all.I hate how my stomach drops whe
ZADE“zade!”“I am fine, don’t worry about me,” I turn toward the girl following me. “I just need to get fresh air then I will be okay.”Her heels click on the tiled floor as she approaches me, her dress swishing around her ankles. She looks like a fairy, a beautiful princess dressed like this. It’s the opposite of the other one trying to cozy up to my dad in front of me.“I didn't know she would be so shameless as to do that right in front of everyone,” Livie shakes her head. “why do they have to be here? They don’t belong to this world.”She knew I would be watching, that’s why she had t put on a fucking act and do what could hurt me. They look like a family, a perfect family of three.“your grandfather must have sway to your father,” Livie touches my arm. “you need to make sure you get back to the front, where you belong. Don’t let her steal the spotlight. It's yours.”“I am already the heir, what can she do?”“with how close I have seen she is with your father, do you think she ca
ARIWhat am I doing?I exhale as the door closes behind me with a click.The cool air of the open rooftop hits my clammy skin, and I feel like I am breathing properly for the first time that night.I walk to the glass railing and lean on it, looking at the glimmering skyline of the city. It’s a beautiful night, so different from all the ugly emotions churning inside me.Where did it start? Where will it end? My heart on the floor, stomped and bloodied? My honor and sanity to shits? All because my heart, my whole body, and my life seem to be starting because someone is activating all of these things within me?Why does it have to be the wrong person? Why does it have to be the one person who doesn’t love me, will never love me, let alone accept me?I am pathetic.I knew this would happen if I let it happen. I fell into the trap that’s called zade. I am going to get burned, scorched, and burnt to ashes.He was kissing her as he looked at me. I led him on, trapping him in my trap, tempti
ARI“It’s a little desperate, isn't it?”“wh-what?”He starts walking towards me slowly, hands in his pocket. The shadows are obscuring most of his face, and he doesn’t make it near me, standing a few feet away.“Isn't it desperate?”Did he see me?“what are you trying to achieve here, silvers? Mmh?”“I-I don’t know what you mean.”He sighs, face titling to the sky. “why are you doing this?”My face is flush red. I know I am supposed to be sacred he might have watched me as I touched myself. I should be embarrassed that I was thinking about him that way, but all I can feel is a thrill. He is here; he is in front of me.Did he come for me?“Is this what you wanted?”“I know better than to want anything from you.” I hate how I sound. Weak. Desperate. Breathy.“you let him touch
ARI“why would you? You can't make me do anything I don’t want to do, and you have no reason to tell me that, no valid reason at all.”“I don’t like your face. That’s enough for me to command you, will you to step over and let yourself fly. Will you do it?”“Enough with the jokes,” I push his chest again, and he sighs.“you are no fun.”“We have different definitions of fun.”“believe it or not, killing you would be the least fun thing for me. I need you to be around.”“I am touched.”“you should. It bought you more time on earth.”“I hate you.”“I feel the same way.”His lips are redder and plumper up close. Are we getting closer?“Why do you I have to see your face when I least want it?” he looks down, robbing me of the sight I was
ZADE“did you get what you wanted?”“it could have been more, but you stopped. Why?”I sigh, looking at Livie. “I was not in the mood. You got the video, so now you can do what you want.” I start going to the door before she starts talking behind me.“you wouldn’t lie to me, right?”I turn and face her. “what?”“you wouldn’t lie to me about this or to protect her, right? I know I got here late, and you two seemed close. You aren't catching feelings, right?”“if I wanted to protect her, accepting to be your prop and make her look like a slut would not be something I would agree to do.”She smiles, walking up to me. “I just had to be sure. I want to know that I am the only girl in your heart and mind.”“you are.”The party has already started, and Ari seems to have been trapped by my father and her mother because she is sandwiched between them as they take photos. It shouldn't hurt me, but it does.This used to be something mother enjoyed. She planned Grandpa’s birthday parties every si
ARII watch as Zade is dragged out until the doors close.Mr. Parker exhales, the cool mask he had on slipping a little as he looks at Mom and leans down to whisper something I can't make out.He wanted to hurt her; Zade wanted to hurt Mom to teach his father a lesson.He is drunk, hurt, and lonely, a sight I never thought I could ever see from him. To see him acting like this, the cold, nonchalant prince, something must have set him off.“you, come with me.”I am so lost in my head I don’t see the girl snapping her fingers at me like I am a dog.“do you want me to drag you out too?” she leans in to whisper, and I feel like my head will explode.Too much of everything in one night has left me feeling drained. Olivia starts walking, and I follow her. There are things I want to make sure she didn’t see, and I also want to know why she was recording me. I am still shaking from earlier, the stress eating at me at the back of my mind.“what is it?” I sigh once the door to the balcony shuts
ZADEThe white patterned ceiling is my view.I wonder how long I can stay like this, stay in silence before the man seated on the couch in my hospital private wing starts speaking. I can feel his disappointment in me. I figured that he would have avoided me, banished me even, or locked me up before accepting to see me, but here we are.I wonder if he is waiting for me to break the since then, he will bring the hammer down, crushing me.I sigh, taking responsibility. It's going to happen anyway, so let me get it over with.“grandpa … I …” I what? I am sorry. I don’t feel apologetic towards that man called my father. I would do it again. “I am sorry I ruined your party.” That I am apologetic and ashamed of.“it would take more than a few drunk outbursts to ruin my party,” Grandpa sighs, snapping the papers he was reading shut.I sit up on the bed and look at him. The room is big; there is a bed area and a visitor's area, where there is a couch, coffee table, and a large window beside th
ARISomeone is walking to the ring.A figure blending in with the shadows, cleaked until the last minute that he steps into the light, and my breath gets locked in my throat.No.The whole crowd goes wild, screaming and pushing. I get pushed forward, but hands hold onto me, making sure I don’t get swept off. My eyes are on Zade as he walks in the cage, looking like he owns every single person, the place, and the very air we breathe.It doesn’t matter the setting, he owns every room, every space he walks in.Sebastian looks confused. He looks at someone at the side before locking his jaw and watching Zade, who is standing at the end of the cage, eyes on Sebastian.This is the surprise.“Thrilling, isn't it?” Mullet leans on my shoulder, face almost pressing on mine. I get away from him in disgust, as I feel like I am about to cry.Is this a punishment? Is this what he wanted me to see? I thought I had protected Seb from him. I thought I had made Zade get his attention away from him. Ho
ARI“Why am I here?”I grip my phone, lighting it up again to check if the text I sent five minutes ago went through.Read.I am not surprised that he told me to show up only to stand up. It was my mistake to obey him and come here as he demanded.The street I am on is empty, wind rustling the trashcans lining up the front of the shops. There are street lights, making it glow an almost orange flirecscent lighting. Yet, even when I am standing here alone, I don’t feel scared.There is nothing that makes me want to bolt that’s outside here; rather, it's who is coming up to me that’s making me want to bolt and never look back.My mind has been plagued by him ever since yesterday when he declared that he was one goofing around with me. I still don’t understand his encrypted message.Make you feel everything that I feel.That doesn’t explain a lot, and I am not sure I want to feel the hatred he feels. I am good at generating my feelings without his help. Is tonight the first step to assert
ARI“nothing.”I huff out a chuckle. “you went through all of this just to tell me that you know my secrets?”“I know what makes you tick. Your volatile temper, your unstable wolf, all in the palm of my hands. What do you think I am going to do with you?”“I am not your toy to play with.”“Who said anything about playing with?”“Is this another prank? Is your girlfriend going to pop out of the shadows recording us?”Zade’s sardonic laugh is enough to tell me no. “livie’s games are cute. If I started my games with you, you wouldn't survive.”“why? Why are you doing this?”“Because I want to get to know you better,” his smile sends warning signals to my brain. “see, I got mated to you, the universe’s way of a dirty joke. I mean you are mine to do whatever I want to. You are a girl that I want to see shine. Burn and burst into billions of sparkles, light up the whole sky.”He stands up, walking towards where I am stuck in place by his will. “I want to know every little thing that is goin
ARIThere are too many stairs.My foot slips, almost making me fall down the endless stairs, but strong hands catch me. That makes me giggle, my head bowing.“I am so drunk.”“my shoes can attest to that.”“I will send you money for dry cleaning.”“you're yet to pay for the clothes but whatever.”That makes me pout, looking at the back of the boy holding my hand and leading me upstairs. “do you think I won't do it?”“do what?”“pay you back.”“I don’t care.”“Why don’t you like me?”“you puke all over, get drunk with strangers, and make a mess whenever you go. Should I continue? The list is long.”“you are hard to like too you know?”“I don’t care.”“even if you smell nice, even if you are the most attractive person I have ever seen, you are the coldest, most heartless person I have equally ever seen. Your dark soul cancels out the physical appearance.” I shiver.“I am sure Seb would love to hear that.”“Charming is the best!” I hiccup. He is gentle and sweet, he listens, and he told
ARICharming does not take long.The bottle doesn’t have the burning effect like it did in those first gulps. Now it's going down smoothly as I tiptoe around the huge room, looking at the empty and bare room save for the clothes and the bed.Whose room is this?The one I was in didn’t have anything either, just a bed and nothing else. Is this his style? Minimalism?How typical.I walk over to the large window and push it open. I sit by the sil and look at the view. A garden. The moon is on a crescent tonight, the breeze is so soothing and cool over my hot skin.The world is slightly tilting though. I get off, the curtains fluttering as the breeze flows in the room. I think I should stop drinking. I am starting to feel like the room is moving even when I am not.Someone walks into the room. When did the door open?“Miss me?”“Charming? What took you so long?”I start walki
ARIIt’s not hard to find Charming.Sebastian, that’s what the jerk called him. He is leaning on the kitchen wall, drink in hand as he watches people dance. He is very attractive; tall, blond, blue eyes, an athletic body that’s showing under his snug white tee, and low-riding jeans.With such a face and a body, I know he must have a girlfriend or a mate. Some girls are dancing in front of him, trying to catch his attention but he doesn’t seem interested. Doesn’t even look at them.He looks like he is about to leave too. That’s my cue.“You aren't planning on leaving me alone at this party are you?”He turns around, surprised followed by a smile echoing on his face as he looks at me. ”I thought you were under lock and key for the rest of the night.”I ignore that and choose another direction. “Leaving already?”“Not anymore,” his gr
ZADESomething has been wrong for days now.The girl I hate seems to have invaded my mind, body, and soul. I wake up thinking about her, I walk around the campus, looking for her, hoping to get a glimpse of her. I wonder how she is, think of her, and want to feel her around me.She is a disease, a virus that has crept up on me and invaded my senses. Nothing seems good enough for me anymore unless I feel her, I feel her presence and I am comforted by that.I have turned to this desperate person I don't recognize anymore. The only time I get to feel her is when she is asleep, then I can slip through the wall that she has put up. She doesn’t know how to keep me blocked all the time, which is working for me.I creep into her space, through the bond, watch her, feel her, and slip out as quietly right before she wakes up. That’s how my days are these days.This girl, this girl I am meant to hate and crush under my heel has turned me into a desperate, weak being.There is nothing I want more
ARII have imagined how it feels like to die.So many scenarios have gone through my mind including drowning. It's one thing to imagine and it's another to experience it.I am sinking, my limbs are usually flapping but I am still going down. The first instinct is to scream, but my mouth fills up my mouth eyes sting and the more I inhale, the more I feel like my lungs are giving up on me.No one is going to save me.At some point, I can only watch the lights above getting further and further, the heaviness growing inside me and pulling me under. The water ripples above me, but it seems like miles away. A figure is coming towards me, almost in slow motion.I start closing my eyes, beginning to feel light, starting to give up on the force that’s urging me to kick and try to save myself. The urgency to live is slowly fading away.Hands grab my hand, jerking me and I try to open my eyes, I do but it's just too much. It feels so hard to stay awake.Someone is pressing on my chest, and a muf
ARIEver since I stepped into this school, I have been seen.Eyes have watched me get stripped off, thrown to the ground, stomped on, and left there to lie in my own misery. They have seen too much. They have seen the emptiness, the desire to be seen by another that plagues me, the cracks in my soul.I didn't have anywhere to hide; still don’t.So whenever someone looks at me, they look at me like they know everything about me.Charming isn't looking like he knows me or knows of me. he is looking at me as someone who wants to know about me, from me.“are you going to take a drink?”I am still holding the cup. It smells horrible. I think I make a face because he starts chuckling. “it's supposed to smell like that but it makes you feel good.”“does it taste as it smells?”“worse.” he purses his lips and nods. “it tastes way worse.”I raise my eyebrows at him in curiosity. “I thought you would have encouraged me or even lied about it.”“I don’t want you to hate me when I have just met yo