Leave Me If You Dare

“Bill, it’s the opening of my new restaurant today. Have you forgotten it?” With nerves trembling with anger, Trishia cooed. Today, she went there with a very vibrant vibe. She wore all red colors for good luck in her new venture though she’s really not into business. For her, the only thing she likes the most is exposing her timeless beauty to the world and Bill of course.

“Oh.” Bill stopped signing. His expression was very obvious. He forgot the event. “I will drop by after my work is done.” He declared.

“Oh, no! Bill my dad is waiting for us.” Trishia refuted immediately. She had prepared all the media in Capital Z to cover the opening ceremony of her newly opened restaurant just across the Sky Corporation building. The main purpose is to show the world that she’s not just a beauty but also a business-minded one just like her fiancé, Bill Sky. She even bought the former coffee bar at a triple price for her restaurant just to be in that area.

Trishia walked beside him with a coquettish pleading expression. She should need to bring Bill or her preparations will be ruined. She could not attain to be the laughing stock of the town when she would appear there without him. If she needs to kneel to him, she would do it just to achieve her goal.

“Bill, please. Just this one.” With her sweetest flirtatious voice, she pleaded. Reaching his shoulder to give him a massage but Bill quickly stood up. “Okay. 5 minutes. Let’s go.” He walked past her with big strides. Trishia quickly ran to catch him and hooked her arm to his.

Inside the bus, Arabella let out her cries. The doctor had already called her that her mom was successfully transferred to the VIP room of Sky Medical Group. He was even shocked at how powerful is Arabella’s connection inside that her mother had given a VIP room and a VIP doctor. He couldn’t believe that Sky Medical Group went to the center and made the necessary procedure.

Arabella just listened to him while her tears flowing uncontrollably. If only he knew what she had to do just to get that transfer done. She had to deal with the monster and sold her soul to him.

After hearing that her mother was already transferred, she opted to travel by bus. She didn’t want to go back home. She’s not prepared to face Damien. She felt very disgusted with herself and she had lots of questions in her mind.

6 years with Adam and Damien, she had a peaceful life back in country Y. She never thought that peace would be over so soon from the time she stepped in Capital Z.

How could she face Damien now?

Is she going to act in front of him like nothing had happened?

She’s a dirty woman and she didn’t deserve him.

Because of that psycho, she betrayed her boyfriend. The person who never left her for 6 years.

In the middle of the road, the traffic light made the bus stopped.

“Wow! Such a perfect match made in heaven!”

“Yeah! I wished them to get married right away and make many lovely babies.”

While Arabella was crying silently, she heard clamor by passengers inside the bus. She didn’t mind them as her swollen eyes were fixated outside until they landed on the big LED screen hanging on a huge building.

She saw Bill and Trishia together. Trishia was glued to Bill waving and smiling proudly at the camera.

“Wow! Such a perfect couple!”

Someone sounded again with a voice full of excitement.

Arabella suppressed herself from shouting at everyone how evil the couple is.

The man is a jerk, a scumbag, a killer, a monster, disgusting, and the king of all evils!

The woman is a fake, a vicious envious trying hard bitch!

Getting a hold of herself, Arabella closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see them again as they are the reason for her sufferings and aside from her mother fighting her life every day, she still had to settle the matter with Damien.

Thinking of Damien, her heart was clenched hard.

When she came home, it was already late. It’s her only way of avoiding Damien but just when she reached the floor of their apartment, he was patiently waiting for her outside standing and leaning on the wall.

Arabella was stunned by his presence outside. He seemed to wait there for a very long time. Dispirited, she quickly lowered her head and strode towards him.

“You’re here.” She said plainly but deep inside her guilt was killing her softly.

“I am worried about you.” Damien answered and welcomed her to his embrace.

Feeling his warmth, Arabella sobbed. She wanted to control it but it all rushed out in his embrace.

“Hey! What happened? Are you all right? Is your mom, okay? Hearing Arabella’s crying, Damien was alerted. There must be something displeasing that happened along the way.

“I am sorry, Damien.” Arabella had said the words that her heart had been longing to say to him. She thought she can just act in front of him like nothing happened but she just couldn’t.

She’s not a good liar and never a good pretender.

“Why? Why are you saying that?” Damien frowned and his expression became puzzled and worried.

“I…I wronged you.” Arabella started to confess.

“Hey, come on! Whatever it is, forget about it. I can forgive you.” He had already something in his mind of what happened to her and he didn’t want to hear it. He felt intense anger but he could not show it in front of Arabella.

“Damien, don’t do this. I don’t deserve your love. I am not a clean woman. I betrayed you and you deserve someone better.” Arabella broke the hug and got something in her pocket. Quickly, she held Damien’s hand and put the ring on his palm.

“No. No. Arabella, you can’t do this. You can’t do this!” Damien opposed hard. He hugged her again and not wanting to let her go.

“Please don’t do this. Let’s talk about this. Don’t give up on us. Please.” Damien’s begging voice got hoarse and his hug got tighter.

Arabella felt Damien’s pain but she knew she’s doing the right thing and that is letting him go.

“Then tell me, can you accept that your woman went to another man’s room, knelt at him, and play…” Arabella was shocked by her words. She was driven by her surging emotions. The intense hatred she felt for Bill, her guilt, and her decision were all mixed up that triggered her to speak harshly.

“Stop!” Damien cut her words shouting. The thing in his mind was right and he didn’t want to hear anything about it.

Feeling his anger was about to explode, Damien punched the wall then quickly strode out but stopped in the middle, turned around, and asked, “Did you ever love me?”

His eyes turned a bit reddish and gloominess mixed with anger was seen directly in there.

Hearing Damien’s question, Arabella was taken aback.

It’s just a matter of yes or no but she could not decipher the correct answer to his question.

Yes! She loved him as a friend but she knew it’s what Damien wanted to hear.

The clock was ticking but still, she was lost for words. With tearful eyes, she looked at Damien sending him the message that she could not utter, ‘I am sorry.’

Meeting Arabella’s eyes, the little hope in Damien’s eyes had switched off. Then, he ran away swiftly with a bleeding fist.

“Damien! Damien!” She never wanted to hurt him but the situation had gotten its way and out of her hand. “Damien…” She cried calling his name as she felt the loss of a friend. Sitting on the floor while her back was leaning on the wall, she let go of all of her tears then memories of them came rushing in.

‘You are so heartless, Arabella! You should have handled it painlessly!’ She regretted and hated herself but it was too late.

The damage had been done.

Damien was hurt.

But on a side note, there’s no painless way of letting a person go. It’s always been painful especially when you had her or him for a very long time.

Meanwhile, At the bar,

“Hey, girl! Look that good-looking man, OMG! He’s exactly my type!” A brunette skinny girl giggled watching at the man from another table.

“Oh, shut up and drink. He’s too good-looking for you.” The girl with a big mole on the cheek exclaimed.

“Waiter! Waiter! Some more here!” The man they were talking about shouted.

“OMG! He’s so drunk.” The brunette girl was babbling with dismay.

“Why’s everyone not hearing me? Are you all people deaf in here?” He raged at the futility of the people around him.

“Sir, please go home. You are very drunk.” The manager of the bar followed by his two bouncers convinced the man politely.

“I am not drunk! Who are you? You are useless!” The man’s voice resonated the bar making the people caught their attention.

“Sir, if you will not listen, I am sorry but we have to drag you out.” The manager was obviously holding his temper.

“Stop talking nonsense and serve me more drink! Now!” The man pushed the manager roughly but good thing the bouncer had caught him before he stumbled.

The scene was palpable to everyone as the bouncers started to drag him out forcefully.

“Excuse me, my apology Mr., he’s with me.” Lira came to the rescue after seeing Damien being dragged by two big muscled men.

She was with John and some clients in the bar. At first, she thought it was not Damien as he can’t be in Capital Z.

Probably, he’s on a vacation?

But she quickly got rid of it. Capital Z is a place for booming businesses not for tourist vacation.

When he stood up, Lira had a clearer vision of him. She’s not wrong.

It’s Damien Lewis.

The man she left in Country Y is now in Capital Z.

He’s here!

Seeing him again, made her caught in the middle of joy and sadness. She tried her best to erase him in her life and she thought she had gotten over him but she was wrong. Seeing him again made her longings for him surged up.

“Hey, you! Who are you?” Damien was wasted. His eyes were glossy and drifted around her.

“Damien, It’s me, Lira. Let’s go!” She said while putting his arm on her shoulder. He was heavy as he could not walk properly.

Seeing a familiar face, Damien didn’t argue and let Lira assist him.

“What happened? Why are you here and why you are so drunk?” Lira had many questions in her mind but seeing the man who couldn’t carry himself properly she stopped asking.

Inside the cab, “Damien, where’s your place?” Lira asked but no answer. Damien seemed already sleeping.

Lira had no choice so she brought him to her rented apartment. She had a very hard time moving him as he was very heavy. Then she heaved a sigh of relief when she finally succeeded in putting Damien on the sofa.

“Ara… Bella…” In his sleep, Damien sounded.

“Ara… Bella…” He muttered again with his eyes closed.

Lira came closer to him and put her hand to his forehead. She was right, Damien had a high fever.

Alarmed, Lira quickly went to her bathroom and got some water to clean his body. She closed her eyes when she opened his pants but to her surprise, something fell on the floor from his pocket.

Lira opened her eyes and looked for the ring that rolled over under the sofa. Stretching her hand, she reached for it with all her reflex. When she got it, she already realized that it was the ring he gave to Arabella.

It’s beautiful!

Realizing that’s it’s not hers, she quickly returned it back to Damien’s pocket but something had caught her eyes.

There were small letters engraved on the ring. She didn’t want to read it as she knew it’s a love message of Damien to Arabella but her curiosity had gotten the way. You have to look at the ring up close to read the message so she slowly raised it to her eye level and squinted to see it closer.

When she got to read the letters clearly, Lira suddenly dropped the ring on the floor again.