Twenty Five

•DEMI•

(POV)

Growing up to a household that constantly dictates and mandates every single thing you act or do, you intend to long for a escape from it in the process.

Painting got me the chance to escape it from time to time but I didn't know it will help me in the long run. My ultimate freedom.

As an only daughter to a renowned in the industry of Real Estate business. It's a prerequisite to be successful and achieve great things in life and by that it's a necessary to not cause shame and dishonor to his name.

I know it's a cliche problem you always heard and see in the books,movies or series you watch daily. The crazy thing is. It happened to me.

Flashback (4 years ago)

"Sir? You asked for me?"

Standing in front of his table from his huge office fitted to his intense and dignified demeanor.

My dad is well known businessman to our Country for his accomplishments and achievements. He's been on the top of his game as long as I can remember.

He already told me to separated what I thought of him inside the house and what he should be in his office. He may be strict but I never saw him this serious before.

"Take a seat."

As he pointed the couch and he followed me bringing his ipad with him.

He sit opposite from me.

"I have an important thing to discuss from you"

He said sternly as he typed something from his ipad and show me a video.

It was a video of me taken from our university hallway.

"Look who we have here.

Are you taking the video, Ev?"

Chelsea said with her loud irritating voice as she grab the yaoi manga i was reading.

Chelsea, The It girl in our department and heiress to the known chains of luxurious hotel in the state with her 3 minions, Anne, Julia and Eva. Anne and Julia are twins, daughters of a famous actor/director in the film industry while Eva is the daughter of my father's business partner.

"Give it back"

I said sternly as I furrowed my eyebrows looking at her angrily

"What is this?"

She scanned the book and show it to her minion.

"OMG! Is this even allowed here?"

Julia asked Chelsea with her fake shock face while her twin Anne and Eva snicker at the background.

I walk towards them and said sternly

"What do you want from me?

I far as i know

I don't mingle to your crowd, Chelsea"

She laughed mockingly and

stared at me with her sly irritating voice

"You. are. shameless Demi.

I'm just concerned to our Department

on what you bought here in our school.

You're polluting this place"

"Yeah homo.

How dare you bring you're trash here!"

Anne added

I make a fist as and breath out as i control my urge to punch this bunch plastic brats.

"It's not your place to pry about my things, Chelsea.

I don't meddle to your whereabouts.

So give it back"

I said with the calmest voice i can ever say to her.

They laugh mockingly as she move towards me.

Pushing the manga book to my chest then whispered to my left ear.

"What will you're father say about this?

You disgusting. piece. of. shit."

I couldn't take it anymore. All i can see is red.

so I punch her nose.

"Cheal!"

"Oh no!"

"My God! Chelsea!"

"My nose!!! You freak! How dare you! QC$&2@!);;!!!" Chelsea shouted

The shout and static from the background as the video cut and ended.

God that is so satisfying.

I never thought i had that in me.

As my lips turned up remembering what happened.

They've been gagging on me for months now. Making fun of me in every social events.

The frustrating part is, we're from the same school and family circle of friends.

A loud coughed brings me back to where i was. At my Dad's office as I can feel the unnerving tension radiating from him.

"What can you say about this, Demi Marie?"

He asked with his cold stern voice i only heard with his very angry. His eyebrows furrowed and his intense eyes stared at me disappointedly.

"Dad i mean sir. They were bullying me. I'm just protecting myself" I calmly explained as i hold both of my hand nervously.

"You bought a prohibited book to your school! How can you say you're protecting yourself from this? You're proud of how shameful you've done? and on top of that your whole School knows about this. You're –

This happened a couple of weeks ago. They are the ones who post it on our school website.

How can this video reach my father?

"–it's not. It's just a book, dad."

"It's just a book? a book!?

You broke your schoolmate's nose. The parents wants to sue you. You know how influential that family is. If Jax didn't interjected and pleaded you're be locked up in jail at 20."

There's a brief silence as he massaged his temple.

Then dad removed a newspaper where under it is a yaoi book hidden on the coffee table. As my eyes widened from shocked as one of my BL manga i collected in the past is in front of me. He push it towards me and said.

"Is this what a proper young lady would read?"

"Dad. I can explained. I-i—"

"—You made me looked ridiculous to my bestfriend/ business partner Marcus and his children Eva and Jax, Demi Marie."

He said coldly. He look at me defeated and sigh disheartenedly

"If Jax didn't show me this video. I wouldn't have known"

Jax showed it to my dad? He did this?

Is this his payback after I broke up with him?

The engagement both our father agreed upon.

He's the one looked down of me for being BL fan then he question my sexuality.

I was tongue tied as i looked my dad face.

I know I couldn't change his mind. The disgust looked upon his face as his stared at the book in front of us.

"What done is done. We can't do anything about this anymore. Don't tell this to you're mother. It will only breaks her heart." He breath out heavily.

He waved his hand forward, dismissing me.

"I'm very disappointed with you Demi.

You may go now"

I bowed down slightly and walk out with a heavy heart. As I wiped the tears I tried to hide runs down my face. I didn't expected my dad wouldn't try to listen and defend me. I'm his only daughter why would he sided with them?

My dad who I respected and love the most. Turned his back on me.

What's wrong about reading a boy's love? Is being a BL fan this shameful?

END Flashback

After what happened. Me and my dad, we're never been the same again. He would look at me as one of his greatest disappointment.

I just can't seem to erased it from my memory. Jax's manipulation and my Dad's disappointment. It will always sneak up on me randomly. And most specially when my dad's birthday is coming up.

Staring at calendar with my schedule and reminders written on it in front of my desk wall.

I sighed.

•CHARLIE•

(POV)

"Is this the time of the year?" Moi with folded arm asked as we stared at Demi who is heavily drunk and ready to pass out in front of the bartender at the bar counter.

"Yep. July 4th" as I answered her.

She nodded

"Does Kai knows about this?" Moi asked

"Yep Moi. she asked me to come and get Demi"

I sighed with frustration

"I skipped my steaming night with Pete. just for this?"

Moi laughed as she put her hand across my shoulder.

"Demi got you this time. You always bailing on her. This is you bad luck"

I chuckled shaking my head.

"Yeah, she a sneaky little freak."

I glance at her.

"Is this going on for a while now?"

"Yes. A couple of hours. She's been scaring the guys around. Should I called Bright now?"

Moi worriedly asked me.

This is always a heartbreaking sight.

I known Demi all my life. We grown up together. I know what happened to her past and about her ill relationship with her father. After what her ex did to her then sabotage her relationship with her father. She locked herself up to the world and focus herself to her paintings.

I thought after her new life here, she forgotten about this and moved on.

I breath out and answered

"I think that would be better."

Moi excused herself and called Bright. As for me, I went to where Demi is and sat beside her. She was drinking another shot of the patron when I stopped her. I removed it from her hand and drink it.

"That's enough Dee."

As I wiped my mouth with my hand.

She looked at me strangely as she squinted her eyes to stare at my face. Her flustered face and the smell of alcohol radiating her.

"Charlie?

Oh sh*t! You're here!

look what the cat dragged in."

She said enthusiastically as she hugged me.

"You drunk, Dee. Let go and continue this at your condo" I said calmly as she removed her arms around me.

"Nooo! We should celebrate. It's my dad's birthday today" she smiled bitterly.

She called the bartender and said with

"E-Excuse me. A s-shots of patron for me and my bestie please."

She leaned forward with a loud whisper

"S-she didn't bailed on me this time"

As the bartender laughed at her.

A 30 mins later she passed out.

I tap her right shoulder to know she's still awake. Hearing her little snores confirmed she's asleep.

I texted Moi and Kai about Demi. Moments later Moi arrived with Bright on her side.

"How's Demi?" Moi asked as they standing back at me.

I turned my sit around at them while i rest my on elbow in the bar counter and pointed the passed out Demi.

Bright walk towards her with his intense eyes turned softer after looking at the knockout Demi. He touch her cheek as if it's his most price possession.

His eyebrows knitted and asked me with concern.

"What happened?"

"Tequila.

The never ending Tequila"

He smiled and shake his head disagreeably as he pat her head.

I turned serious as I looked at her sleeping face

and said

"It's her father's birthday today and this.

Pretty much happens every year after what happened 4 years ago"

Bright puzzle looked raise his knitted eyebrows at me, waiting for answers.

"That all i can say Bright.

It's better if you heard it from her."

•DEMI•

(POV)

A cold touch on my face woke me up from my sleep.

I opened my eyes slowly as i looked towards the person did it.

"Bright?" I said confusedly

as i rub my hand to my right eye.

"Finally. You're awake"

he said nonchalantly

As i glance to where i was. I'm laying on my bed as he sit beside me with bowl in his hand facing me. I squinted and glance at the time on my alarm clock in the night stand. It's 6 am.

What happened?

Did i've done something troublesome again?

He sighed loudly

"You scared all the guys at the bar as what Moi told me which I'm pretty proud of."

He touch my face with a cold towel again that made me woke up immediately.

"But getting drunk again to the point of passing out is not what I'm fond of."

I looked at him with my wide eyes regretfully as I'm humiliated.

Again.

Why is Bright present in every humiliating situation in my life?

I sighed defeatedly As i covered my mouth with my hand shyly from my morning breath and looked down embarrassed.

"I'm sorry for troubling you"

He stop on what his been doing and put the bowl in the night stand.

He touched my chin that made me looked up to him.

"Babe, why would you say you're trouble for me?"

I tried covering my mouth my hand again to speak but he stop me.

"Talk to me. Don't cover you face."

"It's my morning breath." I murmur

"What?"

"My morning breath" i murmur again

He furrowed his eyebrows confusedly

"It's my morning breath, Babe" I said loudly

He paused for a sec then he laughed heartily that made him teary-eyed. I pushed him back as if i'm not humiliated enough and said

"Jack-ass!"

As i rushed to my private restroom to fresh myself up.

He stop laughing and said

"Babe, stop! don't be shy. It's not that bad."

_