We Found Each Other

'Black Wall'

"WHERE WERE YOU?" Emalie came running to me.

"Nothing, I was just upstairs," I answered hesitantly. It wouldn't have made sense even if I told her the truth. It still didn't make any sense to me either.

"Come quickly. You need to cut the cake," Wiola said smilingly.

I peeked behind me at the stairs that no one seemed to be descending. 'Where did he go?'

"Uhh...Yeah!" I said returning the smile and accompanied them outside.

People amassed around a circular linen-covered table with a cake positioned on it. Ryle waved at me as soon as he caught a glimpse of us and Kyle also smiled warmly. Standing there with them and watching me with complaining eyes was none other than the person I had left behind upstairs. No surprise.

'Is he mad that I left in a hurry without saying anything?' I reckoned. At that time, Emalie's worried voice urged me to sprint down as fast as I could and I didn't even consider exchanging words with him. I ended up fleeing after all.

"Do you like the cake, Linna?" Ryle asked with sparkling eyes. Like a kid would ask his mother after baking something for her.

The fancily iced cake in front of me was all pink. A strawberry cake with literal bows decorating it and strawberries painted on it with food dye. Along with the abundant rainbow sprinkles and pink dust on the icing. In short, the cake was a total nightmare.

"Tyler said you like strawberries, so Ryle ordered a strawberry cake," said Kyle.

My eyes moved to Tyler. He peeked at me and then looked away, still grumpy and sullen. As if I would thank him and he'd say, 'It's my pleasure, you don't need to thank me. And I'm still mad at you for abandoning me like that earlier.'

How could I tell him that strawberry milk and strawberry cake are two. Different. Things?

I had always preferred chocolate cakes over any other cake. Be that as it may, this strawberry cake would always hold a special place in my heart. After all, It wasn't Ryle's fault if it looked like a birthday cake of a 9-year-old barbie enthusiast. Because it had occurred to 'Tyler' that I like strawberries.

"I love it," I told him.

"Seriously? She likes it? It looks like some girl turned 10 not 18," Kyle thought while gazing at me in disbelief.

'Hahahaha you too Kyle? should I cry then?'

As I blew the candles and cut the cake, everyone cheered while Wiola and Emalie bounced at me for a hug. I had no clue a birthday could be this pleasant.

Later, everyone drank champagne at the impeccable golden bar indoor. Including Emalie, Ryle, Wiola and Kyle. Tyler too was drinking the same brown liquid and conversing with the guys present there. Surprisingly, they all started evacuating few by few. Good for me, though. I was already enough bothered by their stares and thoughts.

He looked unusually sober for someone who had been drinking since the party started. "Just how good is his alcohol tolerance?" I muttered under my breath.

Wiola's chuckle lured my attention. Who reclined beside me at the bar counter. 'Did I say that loud?'

"Don't worry, There's no drink that can get him drunk." Wiola offered me a glass of champagne with a smile. "But you should enjoy."

"I've never drank before. I don't know if I can handle it," I said.

"Oh don't worry, it's just champagne. There's no harm in drinking just one glass," she insisted.

"Okay, then," I responded.

Bubbles repeatedly accumulated upwards in the clear golden fluid. I wrapped my fingers around the chilled glass and took it from Wiola's hands.

As I attached my lips to the rim of the glass and took a sip, my tongue and throat tingled with a slight burning sensation. Along with a refreshing burst with hints of cherries and almonds. After that one drink, I couldn't keep the count of how many drinks I gulped.

"Linnet you've had plenty, I don't think you have enough tolerance to drink more." Kyle grabbed the glass from me.

"I'm alright! Give it back... I'll... just have this last tasty glass..." before I could complete my words, Kyle was gone along with my drink.

My surrounding began wavering like a whirlpool effect and all of the chatters and chortles became slurred and senseless. My cheeks were ablaze and my mind signalled me that I was completely wasted at this point.

I wobbled and staggered, struggling to keep my balance. My legs knew where they were taking me to yet I didn't. I let them take control of me. With my steps swaying left and right, My head unexpectedly collided with something hard.

"Oww!!" I cried while rubbing my forehead.

As I strived to open my eyes, a black wall came into my view. This wall was strange, it had buttons. Like in button-down shirts. Cold and slippery under my fingertips.

"What a strange wall," I muttered, trying to keep my eyes open. "Get out of my way, you goddamn strange stupid wall!!" I shouted again but the wall didn't budge.

Exhausted, I leaned my head against the wall. It was strangely comfortable. That hard wall had become soft, it wasn't cold anymore. It was warm, it was throbbing.

This day had been so unusual for me. A new chapter had started up in my life. I wanted to see mom. I wanted to get comforted by her, tell her my heart out.

"My life had been a lie, mom," I said softly, half asleep. "Even I don't know who I am," I added. "He promised me that he will not leave me alone, that he will always be with me in difficulties." I paused as I felt drowsy and calm. "I should trust him, right mom?" I asked.

Nothing aside from a throbbing sound of two heartbeats in sync did I hear. The silence caressed my skin like a cool breeze and comforted my soul. It had been one hell of a crazy day and letting it all out was like letting my energy come down to something softer.

All at once, his face lighted up in the sheen of the moonlight struck a chord once more, when he had extended his hand to me.

"I want to know about him so I can trust him," I said. "What else is he except for being extravagantly attractive?"

I felt like a feather, free in the wind travelling back in time to the day we first met, when he was abruptly rude to me on returning his pendant. I needed to whine about that too. Even though I pretended to be unaffected by his sudden behaviour change but I actually got hurt by that. Did he take me for a thief?

"Do you know mom?" I continued, "He was so rude to me when he first saw his pendant glowing, what if he goes back to behaving like that again?" Moisture filled my eyes and got absorbed in the satin-like wall, I was leaning against.

I felt arms encompassing me, slowly resting at my back and head. As if I'd been held by someone. "I'm sorry, I won't do that ever again." I heard a familiar deep voice.

Just then it occurred to me that I was in Tyler's embrace. Even reacting required too much energy for me. I fell in a profound sleep as soon as he began stroking my hair.