As Toby and I sat at the table, enjoying a meal together to celebrate his birthday, the atmosphere was vibrant with laughter and the clinking of glasses. We were engrossed in animated conversation, reminiscing about old times and sharing stories of our adventures, when suddenly, the door swung open and Toby's sister, Alora, stepped into the restaurant.I felt a pang of unease wash over me as I saw her approach our table, her expression unreadable as she took a seat beside her brother. Despite my best efforts to maintain a façade of calm, I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that settled over me like a dark cloud.Alora's presence was like a shadow looming over our table, casting a pall over the cheerful atmosphere that had prevailed just moments before. I could feel her disapproving gaze boring into me, her eyes narrowed with suspicion as she surveyed me from across the table.I tried to ignore her scrutiny, focusing instead on my meal and engaging in light conversation with T
As I received the message from my coworkers that Toby was looking for me at the reception table, a knot formed in the pit of my stomach. I hadn't expected him to seek me out after the tense encounter with Alora, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to face him.Part of me wanted to avoid the situation altogether, to spare Toby the discomfort of seeing me after what had happened. I didn't want him to feel guilty or responsible for his sister's words, nor did I want him to pity me. I prided myself on my resilience and independence, and I didn't want to be seen as weak or in need of sympathy.But deep down, I knew that I couldn't ignore Toby's request. He was my friend, and he deserved an explanation for my abrupt departure from his birthday celebration. And so, with a heavy heart, I made my way to the reception table, steeling myself for the conversation that lay ahead.As I approached, I could see Toby waiting for me, his expression a mix of concern and apprehension. I forced a smile onto
The blood-faced chamber began scorching like hell while I glide my body above the burly stranger whose gasps lace along the constant knocks on the door that I intentionally ignore for instants. After his strokes crawl from my mounds down to the tender, snowy skin of my middles, I tilted my face and gazed aloft for a pant. I remain in gradual shoves as my fingernails drill over his sweaty bronzed frame. “F-F*ck,” the man groans, chest tightening, as his manhood throbs inside her warm stiff cave. As the I slam my weight over him, I hear Celine ambiguously bellowing my name from other side of the locked-up door. Then a series of fierce whacks on the door amplified the thrill in the bounds of the sweltering room. “I’m coming…” he mouthed, heaving. “Faster! I’m near…” Wholly nonchalant, I jeered. And in the middle of his dying gasps, I swiftly took my body off him, leaving him hanging before his rapture. The man was dumbfounded as he stares at me wear a silk robe in lavender color and
“What will we do if he really killed himself?” With his arms crossed and eyes both pinned on me, Sir Atlas unbelievingly asked. The whole hour he’s scolding me, I was just polishing my fingernails before I counted all the money I got from my customers earlier. For all the years I’ve been here, it’s not a surprise if I act deaf in front of him. “Hey, Gia?! There’s even a video of that incident spreading on the internet,” he blabbered. I looked at his eyes, blankly. “Are we done?” Sir Atlas already knew he won’t get any explanation from me so he just nodded. “By the way, I need you to compensate for the mess you lit up last night,” he added. “You can fire me if you want,” I replied and stood up. But before I could step my feet, Leila, the receptionist of The Blue Apple, entered the room, and seems like she’s looking for someone. “Yes?” I heard Sir Atlas ask. "Sir Felix is asking for Gia,” Leila said and smiled sweetly. My brows furrowed in an instant. “I’m busy!” I instantly rea
As the car moves, my brows were vaulted as I glare on the road. When my sight alighted on the rearview mirror, I caught the guy beholding me. “You okay?” he asked. I don’t know what to say. I just avoided his gaze and looked at outside the window. Then, I heard him scoff. “That’s how you express gratitude?” the guy playfully queried. And when I looked back the mirror, he’s still staring at me and he even beamed. “I’m Damon, by the way…” he said and offered his hand which I just looked at. Do I look like I asked for it? “Okay,” I shortly answered. And then, the silence covered the place again. “Oh, by the way…” I suddenly remembered. It felt weird when our eyes met when he faced me and his brows raised. “Uhm?” His lips formed a smile. Is he playing with me now? I asked, “That gun earlier, is it---” “Real?” he answered in abrupt. He took out the gun and I was staring blankly at him, not until he placed it against his right temple. My eyes enlarged. “Hey?!” “Worried?” he tease
It was already dusk when I went to the Blue Apple. And after I finished my first session, I was jumbled when every worker in the pub seems like they’re in panic. They were walking fast across the hall and they’re even mouthing to each other.“What’s happening?” I cluelessly asked Jen, a co-worker of mine. Before I could get an answer, I heard Celine’s voice from behind.“Sir Atlas has been furiously looking for you, Gia. What did you do?” Celine worriedly asked me as she walks towards my direction.My brows bowed. Instead of asking her anything, I just went straight to Sir Atlas’ office and there, I saw all the employees bowing their head, seems like they’re scolded.As soon as I stood inside his chamber, a pile of folder flew over my direction, but I luckily dodged it. Sir Atlas threw it and his face says how he feel.“Didn’t I tell you to not break my rules?!” Sir Atlas howled and everyone in the room was utterly terrified, but since I was ill-informed, I remained staring at him. “W
I decided to go back to the pub, not only because of the money I earn there, but also because I don’t want to meet that guy again. For sure, Sir Atlas will be surprised that I’ll be here despite of being suspended but I don’t care that much. “It’s so funny, right?” I heard a familiar voice of a woman inside the locker area, she’s talking to someone else and they’re both sniggering. “They believed my lies just like that.” “So, you’re telling me it’s you who put a dagger and cocaine in Gia’s locker?” "Exactly! And look at her now, she’s---” “You really thought I’m gone?” Before I let her finish, I entered the room and I saw their startled look. “G-Gia?” Celine stuttered. Even though I don’t trust anyone at all, I can’t help but admit that I did not expect Celine to do this to me. It’s been nine years since we met here in the pub. So, I didn’t think of her doing me dirty like this. "What? Did you enjoy your show?” I sarcastically asked her. Our other co-worker who’s been with her
“I don’t want to feel like I need to be saved.”With a blank expression on my face, I told Toby then I gulped on the bottle of beer we’re drinking.He just looked at me for a second and he once again poured his gaze on the lofty buildings right before us.We are now at the rooftop of the publishing house where my friend is working at. For how many years, this has been our go-to place whenever I don’t know what to feel. Whenever I am sad or burnt out, I just can’t explain how I can I simply find myself lying down on a rooftop.I don’t know either. Just by solely resting here and gazing over the serenity of stars, I can somehow feel at peace… even for a temporal moment. Mayhap, only the stars are the ones who won’t judge me even when I look so horrible, like I do now.And maybe in these stars, I can whisper all the things I can’t easily tell other people. And through them, I can see something that won’t hesitate to shine on me, when I, myself, can’t lit up my own little world within me.