Chapter 2 That past

CRIMSON LUCA

I decided to come on the night club that Tristan talks about. This man had never gave up on trying to use his method. He even took the closest table. I always use a mask to cover half of my face. Only my right cheeks is visible in them.

"You have been bringing me to this place twice a month, Tristan. You never learn are you?"

"Kind off. But at least we can try several method as possible. Don t you think?"

"I don t know what exactly you are trying to say but after this show, I will go home. I have a flight to England tomorrow."-I said.

"All right. England won t leave its place okay? Let s enjoy the night, Crimson."-he said. The light suddenly changes, I put some whisky in my glass. A couple of women came. The song changes and they started their strip show.

The woman on the middle is indeed beautiful, sexy and her dance is seductive, she started to take off her undies and her breast is exposed. But I can t feel even a single intimacy or desire towards her. I drink my whisky and Tristan speaks.

"What s with that face?"-he said.

"What face? What are you referring to?"

"You of course. Who do you think I m talking to, a ghost?"-he said. I put some peanuts in his mouth.

"Shut up you rascal. You should stop being this wild. You re an ultimate playboy. Choose where you use that, idiot. You might have a worst illness than mine."

"Sshh. Stop. Your sharp tongue is hurting this beautiful man in this bar."-he said.

"Narcissists."-I mumbled and drink again.

"Domineering arrogant."-he talk back.

"Cut his tongue."-I said to Greg.

"No problem, Sir."-he said. He took the knife and he look at him. He took the spoon.

"Don t come near me Greg. Hey, stop your secretary! Do you want him to be a killer?!"

"Cut them in three."-I said.

"Ahhh!"-he said and change his seat. He stop after. The show has ended and Tristan signed her to come in our table. She is smiling closely and sit on the chair between us. She stare on me in particularly.

"Hi, handsome."-she said.

"Why don t you order a ladies drink first, what do you think?"-I said. Her smile became sweet again.

"Waiter."-she said. Their waiter came.

"Ladies drink, ask her how many she wanted."

"Oh, really? Okay, give me at least a bucket. My name is Lizzy, how about you, mystery guy?"

"Cris, just call me Cris."-I said.

"Okay."-she said. When his drink came, she keeps on eyeing me and even her legs caressing mine.

"Ahem. Uhm, Lizzy, are you free tonight?"

"Of course, if the price is right."-she wink on Tristan.

"Cris?"-he said and look at me.

"Not tonight, I have an early flight tomorrow. I might miss it. It s up to you if you want to?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I m sorry sweetie but maybe my friend can join you in fan tonight. I have an important flight tomorrow. But your drink is on me, don t worry."

"Okay."-she said. At the end of the time, they speak to each other.

"I ll go ahead first. I don t want to miss a flight if I ll stay much late at night. Enjoy you two."

"Have a safe flight dude."-he said. We left him and Greg send me home before he went home. Good thing that his wife is an understanding woman I can drag him easily on my trips or things like this. I took a quick shower and lay down to my bed.

I look on the right side and I suddenly saw the picture frame on my bedside table. It was my picture with my ex-fiancée when we visit Argentina, six years ago. That is when I proposed to her.

5 years ago

"I said no! Are you deaf for you not to understand what I said. Are you an idiot?"-she said.

"But I have to do my obligations. My grandfather will be mad if I won t go to Dubai, Isabelle."

"No! Tomorrow is mom s birthday and I want you to be there."-she said. I can t drive any further, I need to park somewhere before we continue to talk.

"You know my grandfather. If he said that he can t do it then I have to be in his stead. I will send your mom a gift okay? Please understand."-I said.

"I said no, no! You have to be worried if I get mad at you, Crimson. I don t care if he dies because of madness of you didn t follow him. After all if he dies he can t control you anymore and you can go to your office any time you wanted. It s a win-win."

"What did you just say?! Did you just curse my grandpa?"-I ask.

"Yes. And I wish he die—agh!"

I slap her. She is surprised and get hysterical. She even push me that made me lose the steering wheel and we get into an accident. The car roll down.

"Oh my!"-I said and woke up. That dream…

ROSELYN JENSEN

I am wearing this long face because I have a bad night. I keep on dreaming a weird dream! I keep on dreaming that I am kissing a man whom I can t remember his face and even holding that—

"My goodness, Roselyn! What is wrong with you last night?! What is that, a sign that your life is boring? What kind of dream is that?"-I speak to myself while staring on my reflection on the mirror.

"But somehow…that feeling. It feels like it was true. Nah! My psychology teacher in freshmen said that sometimes dreams feels like true but it is still a dream. Maybe I am just too lonely because I was too focused in life. All right then! Wake up, Roselyn."-I said. I splash some water in my face and end up taking a shower when I feel like I want too.

Just like my daily routine, I visited mom for an hour to massage her and change her undergarments. Went to the bank to deposit my money and go to my work in Starbucks, call center depot and to the burger stand. It might sounds repetitive but the experience and the scenarios will always be a refreshing moment. I m walking my way home when I trip myself. I almost kiss the floor, good thing I grab the plants on the street garden. I stood up and act normal again.

"Things had never change. I m still clumsy. How can I trip when I m wearing flats? Especially that there is no humps? Oh my goodness, this is really embarrassing. I have to do something with my clumsiness or else I might put myself in a danger if I can t control this at all. Good thing no one sees that.

"Ahhh! My bed at last we can warm each other again. My back is aching, my hand is tired in serving several customers, my voice is cracking for talking all day. Now I can finally…"

When I open my eyes, it s already morning. It looks like I have slept while talking to this lonely self. I woke up and decided to cook something and bring it to the hospital. I ll just eat there.

"Mom, I am here again. Still sleeping? I envied you, I haven even complete a 6 hour sleep. I really miss your soup and your fried chicken. I wish I ll eat them soon. Wake up for me okay? I will bring you to Disneyland if you wake up soon. I promise."

There is no response. I still cry at several times but I never lose hope. I always pray and I knew one day mom will wake up and nag me soon. I believe she will.

"Bye mom. I ll come back again tomorrow, okay? I love you. Bye-bye."-I said. I leave the hospital and repeat my life again. Typical yet still enjoying.

ALONA REID

I enter college and took the same course as Roselyn choose to take. But I feel sad that we won t graduate together. But I understand her situation that s why I save up and give her some groceries every two weeks. She didn t like it but I always insist. It s my way to express my sympathy and love for her as her best friend. I knew she wants to save up that much.

"Tiktok is indeed famous to everyone now."-I mumbled. I am buying groceries but instead I saw a group of girls making tiktok while they re inside the store. I avoided them and my car accidentally bump a strangers cart. I bow down.

"I m sorry. Did I destroy something?"-I ask. I look at the items first before I look on the owner. He is smiling when I look at him. He is a handsome man and he has a strong charm as well.

"It s okay, no damage at all. How about you miss?"

"I am okay. I m sorry. I never look when I turn around. I just saw tiktokers on that place and I wanted to avoid them so I am here. I don t want to be part of it if their theme is a prank."-I said. He smiled.

"I see. Actually I do have the same reason and I bump you as well. Anyway, I ll go this way and you ll go this way. Is that good?"-he said.

"Okay. I m sorry again."-I said and went to the right side. He smiled again.

"No problem. I m sorry also."-he said. I just smile and continue to push my cart. I still have things to buy. I also need her help about my homework.

"I know you will be here. Good thing that today is my day off."-she said and when I get in she close the door. I put the grocery bags on the table.

"I ll cook something. Stay for a while okay?"

"Of course, after all I need your help about my homework."-I said. She smiled.

"No problem. Stay put then."-she said. I watch her as she cooks something for snack time. She is good in cooking and I always try to learn what I saw on her when I get home. Mom is surprised actually and she love Roselyn as well. She even add a 100 dollars on what I save up in buying groceries for her.

"A dream? Like what?"-I said.

"Last-last night. I am kissing a man and even touching his crotch. I woke up after that but dreamt it again. But I can t even remember his face even it happens thrice in a row. His face is not blurry in my dream yet I can t remember it."-she said.

"Really? Maybe it means someone will come soon."

"An admirer? Nah."-she said. But I just smile.