07

CHAPTERS 07

That’s when I feel a drop of water hit my nose. The rain starts to pour down. It falls from the sky, as if celebrating his victory. As if it falls for him.

The people around me begin to fuss, not wanting to get drenched. But I can barely care about what’s happening.

My gaze hasn’t left Jake, who now has pure bliss and contentment skating all over his face.

His team continues to cheer for him, and a happy laugh escapes from his mouth.

He looks so magnificent. So beautiful. Inside and out.

And just like the rain that falls for him, I do.

Unapologetically. Falling for him.

Six months have passed since that big football match, and a lot of things have happened in my school. The final exams. The results. And tonight, the prom.

As for me and Jake, nothing happens between us since then. There’s nothing more than me admitting to myself that I have feelings for him.

He’s the first guy who makes me think differently of men, and until now, I still can’t understand this feeling either, whether it’s just adoration or goes beyond that.

Tonight’s prom should be something I wouldn’t want to miss, but strangely, I have no interest to attend it. I don’t have any close friends who would push me to go with them either – I’ve spent too much time working my part-time job that I barely have time to hang out and make friends.

I don’t have any interest to find out who will become the prom King and Queen either – I already know who would be.

Right now, I’m spending time in front of my laptop in my room, going through some college application processes.

A sigh of desperation leaves my lips. Even though my academic scores are quite satisfying – I’m really proud of that – I still doubt that I’ll be able to enter college.

My records are definitely above average, but it isn’t outstanding enough to get a full scholarship.

I still can get some loans, but I can’t pay the rest of the tuition fees and the entrance fee. How would I have gotten that much money ?

The music from my favorite Boyce Avenue’s song relaxes me a bit as I keep browsing some contents on the web. I’m too caught up with it that I don’t realize what’s actually happening in my house.

It’s when the sound of something break on the floor reaches my ear that I startle.

« Lais ! » Tuck’s voice booms, and I abruptly take off my earphones.

Wondering what’s wrong, I rush outside my room, only to find Tuck settling in the dining table, a beer in his hand, other bottles scattered on the table and on the floor – one of them is shattered into pieces.

I’m clueless about drinks, but anybody can tell that they’re all alcohols.

How much has he been drinking ? The smell of the alcohol attacks my nostrils, making me nauseated.

« What the hell have you been doing ? Did you not hear me calling you ? » he barks, and I can see that he’s nowhere near sober.

So I’m still keeping a distance from him.

« You have a job tonight, » he states, making my eyebrows rise.

« No, I don’t, » I say. There’s no shift for me at the bookstore tonight.

« For me, you stupid brat, » he bites out, making me wince from the harsh words.

To my surprise, he stands up and approaches me, more like trudging and swaying because he’s drunk. And I automatically retreat, my back pushed against the wall behind me.

« You’re going to help me get my money, » he says, his voice hoarse. « Someone’s waiting for me. »

Now the penny drops. He’s too drunk to meet that person, so he’s asking me for help ?

I scoff. « Why would I ? »

I’m surprised that I’m brave enough to say that.

To my horror, Tuck grips my neck, throttling me. I choke due to the lack of air. My hands shoot to his arm, hoping that he releases me.

Fear begins to ascend inside me as I stare at the fury in his eyes.

« You will do it for me, because I need it, right now, » he hisses.

Panic builds up inside me as his grip on my neck tightens. Now, I realize just how bad he fucking wants the money, as if he won’t hesitate to kill me if I don’t do as he said.

Feeling my throat burning, I quickly nod, begging him to spare me from this torture. When he does, I pant hard, my chest heaving up and down and my legs shaking from the fear.

Jesus. If he needs to pick up the money so bad, he shouldn’t have drunk that much. I wonder again what this is all about.

Does it have to do with all those gamblings ? I just hope that this is not about drugs or something like that.

« Meet him at this hotel, » he commands, handing me a small, torn paper from his pocket. I look at it, reading the name of a familiar and well-known hotel. « He’s waiting at the lobby. The passcode is Coal. »

I’m openmouthed. I can’t believe that he just dragged me into this shit.

« Now ! » he roars, making me jump.

Quickly, I get into my room to grab my purse and phone before putting them inside my sling bag. I don’t have any time to change my clothes, so I just grab my sweater in addition to what I’m wearing – t-shirt and jean shorts.

When I arrive back in the foyer, Tuck already opened the door for me. I yelp as he grabs my collar and throws me outside, making me land on the ground harshly.

« Be back before midnight, » is all he says before he takes another gulp of the beer in his hand and slams the door shut.

Swallowing a lump in my throat, I look at the time on my phone.

9 PM. I have three hours.

I’m sitting at the lobby, waiting for the said person to arrive.

While I’m fidgeting anxiously, a man who looks like he’s in mid-thirties comes up to me. He’s sleek and looks neat, wearing a polo shirt.

« Lais ? » he asks.

I nod, standing up. « Yeah. »

« Passcode ? »

« Coal, » I say, and he hands me an envelope containing the money. I quickly put it inside my bag.

Without saying anything else, the man walks off, and I sigh.

Slowly, I walk back toward the glass door.

Even though it costs me a lot more money to take another cab, I think that I might do it again. I just want to get this done quickly and safely.

While I’m almost reaching the street, I stumble upon something on the pavement. I yelp in surprise as I hear someone groaning under me.

My eyes widen in shock as I see a person lying on the ground. I think that I just accidentally kicked his head.

« Goddammit, » the guy curses. « Why doesn’t everybody just let me sleep ? » He groans again.

I roll my eyes. Please. Not another drunk person. I’ve had enough for today.

But then, something kicks inside me. The voice is too familiar to be ignored.

I think that I’ve heard his voice before.