LEE
Cursed with a default face that radiates chronic tenderness and a cheerful ambience- I attract every kind of crowd that I don't want to be with. For years I had people coming over with prospects and fooleries, thinking of me as someone who they believed they could walk over. Without a consequence in vision.
I pity them.
I do.
The world is always prepared for the one who is complex and dire in personality. But never for the one who has it all in control. Never for the one who can do both. So when I entered Only Hour, a base nightclub by the second floor of the cosmopolitan skyscraper that I was easily more familiar than my original hometown. I see the heads turn, considerations lure and intentions tumble. I have been here almost every other day during my three years of living in vegas.
Not the club- but what was beyond this building and with who operates it. my stint here was at the twenty-seventh tier, but here I was. In a bar, by the counter- judging the frenzy. The very trait that I pledge to avoid, had thought me a lesson. When the misfortunes and cunning strategies of people I used to work with and for stabbed me in the gut did I learn.
I fell.
Scraped my skin until it bled. I wasn't naïve- but the hostile atmosphere and people were just extra careful. Maybe If I was as unforgiving and smart as my friends are, I might I've seen it all going down. At twenty-two, I was giving up everything I had worked for. Four years ago- under the roof of this building, I had killed my dreams. Knowing that none of it was my fault.
Four years ago-
I begged. My pleads had resonated the walls of their cabin where they were asking me to quit. To forget everything when being on tracks, under gear is all I had known since the day I first had taken on the wheels as a teen. Even before that- I broke rules, hired a private trainer, did my research- obtained my NASCAR license. Began my journey in a youth racing league when I was fifteen.
I had won.
From then, year after year- I had no fusion to look back. I was at the top of my career, a rage among the logistics. Want and need of the sponsors and investors.
Investors-
I was faithful to one- had been to him since the beginning. But when his personal stocks and shares collapsed, he used me to spring his position into the hub again. He paid for a racing collision- In agreement with the investor of the only competitor I considered by the field.
Nicholas Moreno.
He sold the race. I would've forgiven him. After all it was only a race.
But what none of us knew what how vile they had been with their tactics. It even made me laugh at how cleverly it was executed. From manipulating the agency to landing me in hospital for half a month, publishing the cover story to deeming me unfit for the sports because of my health. The national committee apologized to me for baring me with a reason that I had no control over.
I didn't cause the accident.
I didn't ask for this.
My opponent could've asked me and I would've given him years of win. Would have refused to even participate in his trials. But this- this was insanity. You can't ruin a man for your pleasure. I wouldn't have understood because I am young and pathetic. Aren't I?
It's why I had been laying through the sleepless nights pondering upon where I went wrong.
When I couldn't find the answer, I locked myself up refusing to come out to my friends who- fruitlessly were camping out around the house. honestly- I wouldn't know what I might have done without them. At the time I had realized that â I had made friends with people from all walks of life.
Clarissa Blakewall was a lawyer who threatened me to stop being a wuss and leave it up to her and her celebrity prosecutor of a father. While Alex and his Wife Elzina white, who I had never- ever addressed by her real name- opting to call her chingu since she Is the only friend I had who had a friendly face were considering buying and crushing the stakes of my ex sponsor. Trust me- they don't bluff when they consider such crazy antics. When they mention it- they know they are capable of doing it.
Hailey Howard was an actress and media personality- she sensibly argued with Edmund Sargent- the hotshot director and her ex-boyfriend that they should give me some space. To which Edmund had told her off by mentioning that the only space he needs is from her. she complained to me about her ex for an hour later that day.
It kept my mind off of stuff so I welcomed it. In a week they had me up In spirits. Or it's what I pretended to be in. They tried to stay in turns.
Clarissa and Hailey lounged for three days in a row. Their sole purpose was getting me back on my feet. Food, proteins, and diet supplements- they had taken the role of two mothers. Elzina had a son to take care of so she parted with a warm comforting hug- But left her husband behind.
Alex White- if there's anything one should know about him- is that he is, he is a stone that occasionally laughs and speaks. But he is there- right behind, hovering above, watching and loving us. His first night with me- he walks into my room with his pillows and duvet thrown across his shoulder.
Then he takes a seat on the vacant side, looking through his shoulder, frowning.
"What are you so happy about?" he grunts, he hates it when I grin. I personally feel as if he mostly doesn't know what to do with me. do I scare him? I mean, I'd be an honor to affect the aura of the mighty Alexander White. A guy can wonder.
"Why are you here?" I raise a quick brow " In my room"
His gaze coils in disinterest as he lays down. I turned to my side, my head propped by my hand.
"You know- you are the most perverted among us three. But I don't think anyone will ever believe that" he brings his hand behind him. So his head rests on it.
"Perks of being an Asian" I smirk. I have never seen him look so disgusted. I was curious why the students of Stuarts were so scared of us all. Though we were popular and shit- there was nothing much exotic about us. We were a bunch of idiots whose life had always been spiralling off the vast.
Just like anyone else. But then- we also were toxic in some ways- because not understanding why they feared is also a sign that we seldom were afraid of anything.
"You should've gone along with Chingu," I say- the humor in my tone vanishing into air.
"I should have"
"Yeah"
"In dreams"
One can't tell Alex White what to do. Except- surely with the exception of Elzina, none can tame him.
"You can sleep in the other room buddy" I promote, switching the lights off "You already are doing too much. All I could do I advise you to get a good sleep night"
He had a powerful snort- it made me feel stupid even if it was a fair point across.
"Can't have you bruising more of that pretty face with your night adventures" he mutters sleepily. Knocking myself out earlier than others had been habitual- I wasn't used to staying up awake after my scheduled bedtime. so when I realized that Alex was zoning off, it dawned on me finally that why do people keep complaining of the stress tampering with their sleep.
Like an owl I had my eyes wide, staring at the ceiling-
"So you think my face is pretty" I had to keep him awake. Something dark was trying to get to me and can't let that happen.
"Pretty lame. Yeah"
I wasn't disappointed that I asked. But his mind seems to waver off- so when he speaks, I wasn't anticipating it.
"Why do you sleepwalk?"
Was he serious?
"Alex" I pause- "You can't just ask a person why they sleepwalk. They walk in their sleep and they don't know why or how. It's how it functions. If I knew why I wouldn't be participating in a midnight cardio"
Surprisingly even in the dullness, I was able to suspect his smile- did he? Was he?
Since when did Alexander White began to joke around? But I was glad he was capable- because it helped. Sort of.
When Edmund turned in to fill the last week of our deal, is when my guard kept crumbling despite my will to pull the last week of my stay in here. I couldn't live here like this- and if they knew what I was going to do, they might try to change my decision. But not Edmund, he knows me the best.
We use to share a dorm room. He knew how to wake me up in rank with the stages of the slumber I was in. Be it splashing me with a glass of water or simply slapping me into reality. Literally. When it happened I never question him. we would nod at each other and go back to bed. He would assure my father about my failing grades when the results came in and would pull out three tickets to a movie the second he'd hung up. Alex will be dragged by his collar. He was on leaner and slightly shorter on scale than us. with Edmund soaring the built of a hunk- it wasn't a chore. Though I was almost as tall as Edmund with lean but muscular body- I could never dream of putting up a physical fight with him like how Alex desired to.
Edmund is like a big brother I never had. I don't even know what or how I must fill in the role because I haven't been much around my family. Aaron was my younger brother- but it's all I know.
"I know what you are planning to do. I saw you packing your bags last night" Edmund throws a dipping smile at me as he prepared to leave. I don't reply to him the instant- watching him fasten his shoulder bag. But after an acute silence, I say-
"I need a break" the muscles in my throat tightens as if it does not want to allow the lie.
"All I can hope is it's just a break" Edmund pats my shoulder, engulfing me into a hug. I needed this so I return it. Grateful "Remember. We will always be waiting. No matter what"
Nothing echoed after he was gone.
It was cold- the apartment seems to host me and yet once Edmund left. It seems to bore a void. As if I wasn't there despite still standing in the middle of it. I sat by the couch- alone, physically and mentally. I let my head fall on my hand â the numb veil I had on dispersing as a sob left my body.
Is this how it ends here.
Crying felt good- it washed the chaos that I had up bottled for two months. They were cleansing it off- but the stain, it still was too fresh. There was nothing here left for me to fight for.
I need a break?
How honest was I?
Pretty honest!
I came back. but I wasn't here to fight, it will be a shame to proceed with a fight that I know I will already be winning. I rather was here to tear this place into pieces until it's stripped to ashes.
As I sipped on my diet coke, smirking at the ginger who had been hitting on me since the moment I stepped in. Though I hadn't shown any kind of sign or ushered her advancement- yet she was there, getting fooled because of my face.
The music luckily wasn't as ear-shattering as it usually uses to be. Since it wasn't weekend the club seem to harbor a decent amount of party-goers. Something that Clarissa will appreciate. I wonder if this was shin's scene? No matter how tastefully I try- I can't picture her dancing. But rather cooped up in her own world sitting by the secluded corner with the most random questions regarding the crowd seem to be her way. I won't lie- watching her react to anything, in general, is entertaining.
When I first saw her standing there in the corridor, awkward but with the brave front- I hadn't given heed about her or her appearance. When you are dying for a way out from a forced marriage, you quit thinking straight. I had been rude to her, but when she raised her small but tall nose as if to match my complete strature- defending her looney tunes sock and putting me back to my place did I began to think rationally.
I wasn't the only one being forced into a marriage perhaps.
I had thought.
But the next time we met- she had made it clear. She wanted to marry me for unknown reasons. The one that I still attempt to claw through her little slips. But no- none of them helped. Her little slips? It doesn't do me good, when she confessed about her struggles, I didn't know what to say-
I had it in my doubts. She was too interesting, but with such a quirky personality came its challenges. I wish she believed that I meant every word of what I had said last night,
Not the lingerie part.
No not that.
Alex wasn't lying. I wish I had a filter. But then again, I loved how she reacted to it.
Loved? what the hell am I saying?
When the ginger, dressed in high shorts and string top came to stand beside me with a sultry smile did I own up to what I had been doing. Smiling at my thoughts while unconsciously blemishing out mixed signals to a girl who I don't want anything to do with.
"Hey," her lips were full. So when she smiled I had to stare at them. I smirked though I didn't want to "You are new here" she says nearing, her red manicured nails brush against my arms.
"I am" I lie. Shifting so I was completely facing her.
"Temporary?"
My eye shrunk in an elongated wink as if I was reminiscing.
"I don't know" I shrug, stretching my lips into a million-dollar smile. "You are gorgeous" a quick flirt doesn't harm anyone.
She bites her lower lip, her fake lashe seems to fan more as she steps closer.
"You aren't so bad yourself" she whispers, snaking her arm through my neck she pulls me- I lead so she could speak in my ear. Her perfume was giving me a headache "So what are you doing tonight?"
And this is where I decide to draw the line. I massage my neck in order to stroke her hold off of me. With what I presume is with twinkling eyes I declare-
"My favorite K-pop band is having a comeback. I plan on streaming the single"
The channeling she had up decomposed, but she springs up her hope and tried one more of her shot. I was impressed by her persistence.
"What about tomorrow?"
Of course, I had an answer for that.
"Me and my friends have selected a few of the trending group tiktoks. I am going to make that. I am so excited" she stumbled with her drinks, probably blinded by my grin as she walked away after a ridiculed see you around later then.
Tik tok- my friends and I? why am I such a genius?
Tilting my wrist I glance at the time. it had been half an hour since the meeting was scheduled. He must be waiting- sweating out at my absence. Cameron blaze, the man who sold me to save himself from bankruptcy.
A month ago when I had dialed an early morning call to Clarissa she had been just out of a renowned national case hearing. When I asked her to direct and reopen the case for me, she had it divert to her father.
The Ian Blakewall.
And with the name- defeat wasn't an option.
So when I received an urgent call from Cameron. I had stared dead at the screen, at his name with so much hate that it surprised me of what I was capable of. My unforgiving voice had agreed to his pleads- he begged me to meet him. I accepted. So now I lounged by the bar mere tiers down to his office.
I gestured at the bartender- he waddled with multiple bottles he carried that he had been stocking up.
"Can I take a selfie with you?" he was tongue-tied for the second, but the young lad soon nodded happily. Dumping the drinks he wiped his palms by his uniform. When we posed, I made sure the neon sign of the title-only hour was captured by the image.
Uploading it on Instagram I slipped my phone into the pocket, cracking my knuckles I got up buttoning my suit. As I map my journey to the exit I calculate the time it'll take for Cameron and his staffs to understand that I had been right under their wing as they sat there haunted because of my absence or how many minutes it's going to take him to run across the bar trying to seek me.
I don't care though. As I walk to the parking lot- pressing the keys to unlock my car. I heard my name being called from behind. It was feminine- and so familiar that I regret knowing who she was even before I turned to look.
"Lee"
No. I am in no mood to see her or have this coincidence take wheel. But then again- Maddison worked for Cameron. Isn't it how she became my assistance in the first place?
She looked not a day older than how she used to. the same long blonde hair. Sunkissed skin and deceiving noble eyes. The difference today is I don't long to see them smile at me or heal me. she was a con- always there for money and fame. There to use me like how they all did.
"How are you?" it was strange how I wasn't angry or a least bit hurt to see her. In oppose to it I felt an alien annoyance creep through as I smiled. She frowned, did she really thought I would change just because I cannot do what I want anymore?
"So much better," I say, I felt as if I owe her the answer. She made me question my loyalty after she dumped me for Nicholas. And today- I am a better man with a purpose. when she doesn't continue the chain i move to leave when-
"I am sorry"
Faking an astonishment I nod. My gaze must have had been too sharp on her as she stole hers. The guilt wasn't doing it to me. she could have had her fairy tale- she just failed to understand my impact. With or without a career. I was powerful.
Her and Cameron. They did this to themselves. They chose the wrong person.
"Don't be Maddison" I open the door, but then I looked at her â I have no semblance of why I did it. But from my pocket, I pulled my wedding ring out and slipped it by my finger as she watched me, a shadow of appalled awareness. I do it as if I was proud of it- and I don't know why. But I know it wasn't an exhibit for Maddison or anyone else "I was way out of your league. I am glad you did what you did. It helped me realize my place and worth"
Not once with the appetite to look back, I got into my car, driving into the lane as I without a will or onset was reminded of my past and present. After what happened last night with my diabetic levels I had been cautious, I did check my vitals today and it had been at its healthiest. Then why was my heart so erratic?
Was I falling sick?
It couldn't be.
It took me twenty minutes to get to the penthouse, I park my car acting out to get home faster than I could've. I text shin to check if she was home because when I woke up- I saw a yellow poster atop of her pillow.
I will be back soon.
That's it!
Against my ethics I was frustrated. She may look younger- but she was twenty-two. She could be there out doing whatever she wanted- but this note was too short to of a note to humble me up. what does she take me for? She was my responsibility while we are here and she-
Are you home now?
I type on my phone with my nose flaring up. she wasn't there when I left in the evening- is that her early?
Yes and no. I am at the park.
Park- the customized yard for the residents in the structure. That was at the posterior annex of the building. Bribing my mind I walk to where she supposedly was hanging out. I spot her a minute into the garden, she sat with her back resting on a tree- the golden lights creating a mild hue around her as he frowned at the screen on her lap. What does she keep doing in it? It doesn't feel that pleasant by her expressions. But she is mostly there glaring or staring coldly at the monitor most of the day as she typed.
I swear I once saw her smother the keyboard with a smash and cunning smile.
She had her raven black hair curled and wore a maroon dress with a white cropped jacket. Her signature heels sat beside her as had her bare, stocking-clad feet propped up in a picnic pillow.
Where had she- why is she dressed up?
But my monotone contemplations decipher when I felt a movement by the bushes- it was pitch black at where I stood and I sensed a presence. When I saw the visage- I don't wait. In three-step I was fisting, a gather of the man's shirt- rocking him out of his hiding spot. Startled he shrieks as I motion him with my index to my lips- warning him to shut his mouth.
I know this guy too well- though he was a nuisance I always thought I had a much more important job to tend to. But today, he crossed the line. It wasn't me he was spying on.
Paparazzi, media, stalker, call it what you want but when I yank the camera out of him and shove him to the side, he doesn't stop me as I scroll through. they were images of shin from now, some from last night of us. further from Korea.
"Please âPlease sir. Don't-
I lift one of my hands, not enough to heed a look at him but to halt his disgusting stutters. Clicking open the data slot, I pluck the reel card out and drop it to the ground. With the heel of my shoe, I crush it to my satisfaction. When I look at him, he was still there. as if he was too afraid to even move from there.
Good.
"I don't want to see you again" I throw the camera at him, flocking and trembling he caught it with frantic nods. But I wasn't done yet- also, I wasn't done understanding where the depth of my promise was leading me to- but I say it without a flounder-
"And if I see you around the girl, I'll make sure you aren't seen again"
An insight into his head. What do you think? This was a long chapter- but I think I can do faster updates...you know the drill to make that happenð. Comment, vite and share...P.s unedited. Sorry Lee