Yesterday's Pain

Chapter 1

Loud music filled my ears and dancing lights blinded my eyes when I entered the club. I am not used to this kind of lifestyle, I prefer quiet places rather than going to crowded places full of different people I haven't met.

"Madie, I want to go home please, I don't like this place," I beg Madie, my best friend who forced me here to experience something new, and to forget the man I love for five years.

"Lauren you need this. We will find a f*****g hot guy in this club, and then you'll forget Andrew. That asshole will be out of your system. Trust me on this, pretty please." She convinced me for almost an hour and Madie being Madie, I know she won't stop until I say yes, so here I am dancing with the man I didn't know at all.

"He's so f*****g hot b***h, told you it's fun!" She smiled at me while holding a glass of liquor.

" I felt uncomfortable Madie, I don't like this. I can't please." I almost beg her.

I can't do this, it feels illegal to allow some stranger to touch you in places you haven't been touched before.

I know dad will kill me if he found out about this. He'll scold me because his conservative daughter is partying and dancing with an unknown man. He'll hate Madie if he found out about this or worse he'll never allow me to see Madie ever again.

"Okay, girl chill, fine, we will just chill and sit on that f*****g sofa and watch everyone enjoy their night."

The disappointment was written on her face but I know Madie won't force me to do things I don't like. She will convince me until I say yes but if I said no she will respect it.

Madie is the complete opposite of me. She's an outgoing person, fun to be with, and full of adventure, while, I am a boring woman with no social life. Afraid of trying new things, and cannot go out of her comfort zone.

I have nothing to offer maybe that's the reason why Andrew didn't like me, and won't even look at me.

"Hey b***h I am not mad I just want to help you forget Andrew, but will go on your way, will go on your phase. I love you, weakling." I saw tears in the corner of her eyes so she hug me immediately to hide them. She hugs me so tight as if telling me that she is here, always here.

I can't help but cry, I am so lucky to have Madie in my life, she stayed even though being with me is boring.

"I love you too Madie, thank you for everything." She looked at my face, she hold it and laugh.

"Stop crying you're too ugly." I slapped her hand.

"As if you are not." I scoffed.

"Let's dance b***h, please, just the two of us, no strangers allowed I promise." She raises her hand just to show how sincere she is.

"Okay, okay, wish granted Ms. Maddison Miller."

"Thank you, Ms. Lauren Smith," she bowed as if I were some royalty.

Just like what Madie said, we dance, drink, and laugh. Enjoying life with each other's company.

"Lauren, see that man over there?" she pointed at the strong-looking guy sitting on the barstool.

"Yeah what about him?" I asked confused because she promised earlier that no strangers were allowed but here she is pointing at some random guy again.

"He likes me b***h" she said confidently as if the guy asked her to go on a date or something, but no, the guy is just sitting and minding his own business.

"He didn't even look at you, stop dreaming Madie." I laughed at her face which made her frown and be pissed at me.

"He did, I f*****g swear. I saw him." Convincing me to believe her.

Madie's beautiful I can't deny that, with that strong but beautiful facade she can get any guy she likes, I just want to tease her and see her annoyed face.

I smiled so wide and then she's pissed, totally pissed.

"I'll show you b***h, that guy likes me, and he'll be mine tonight." Determined to prove something she walks to the guy and sits on the barstool next to him.

Madie left me on the dance floor standing alone, so I decided to sit on the sofa instead of looking like a stupid human being because her friend left her just for a guy.

I saw my best friend introduce herself to the guy, they started talking. Everything happened so fast and now here they are making out in front of me.

Like, oh my God, they're touching each other's body as if I am not here.

My daddy will kill me for watching live p**n.

Madie moaned the guy's name, Christian? Tristan? I don't know I just want to leave this place but I can't because I can't leave Madie with this guy.

What if this guy is a killer or a drug addict. I can't afford to lose my best friend. I'd rather stay here and watch them enjoy themselves, even though it means losing my innocence.

"Lauren I'll call Adam to pick you up." Confusion was written all over my face when Madie said that.

"What about you?"

"We'll go somewhere." Is she insane? She'll leave me here?

"I'll call Adam promise. Just wait here and don't go anywhere. Don't talk to strangers, your father will kill me if something happened to you." She talks so fast and then just like that she left with the man she just met.

"Yeah great after dragging me here she just leave. What a great friend."

I sipped on my drink while watching the people around me dancing.

I waited for almost half an hour but Adam didn't show up, I bet Madie forgot to call him because she's busy pleasuring that man named Christian or Tristan or whatsoever.

I hate you, Maddison, I hate you so much.

I want to go home. I want to lay in my bed and watch Netflix.

Daddy's worried for sure. He'll scold me for going home late. I'm not even sure if I can go home tonight.

Where are you, Adam?

"Alone?" I am busy overthinking when someone spoke beside me.

No, it's not someone, it's Andrew, it's Andrew oh my God.

My long-time crush, the love of my life is here in front of me asking if I'm alone.

This is not a bad night after all. The person I love for almost five years finally noticed me. He's looking at me, I can't breathe. What should I do? How do I look? Am I pretty?

Shit! I'm wearing a white plain shirt and a long skirt. Yeah church outfit, nice. I'm in the club but I look like someone who'll invite you for a Bible study. Why now Andrew?

"Are you waiting for someone?" He looked around as if finding the person I am waiting for.

"Yes, I mean no." He stared at me, confused about my answer.

"Yes or no?" he asked with a serious face as if I'd done something wrong.

"I mean no, I'm not waiting for someone. I came to this club alone." I'm afraid that if I said yes, he'll leave. It's my second time talking to him after almost five years. Fate is giving me the chance, I should grab it.

"I like you, Andrew" he looked at me holding his laugh. If I were in his position my reaction will probably be the same. Imagine a stranger confessing to you. He doesn't have any idea who I am, he'll probably think I'm crazy or I'm on drugs.

"Are you crazy?" he smiled and sipped on his drink.

"You're probably on drugs, I should leave." He stood up and was about to leave when I spoke up.

"Andrew Callan Gray, 26 years old, CEO of Gray Company. I know those are basic information but I know you."

"You don't know me, you don't have any idea who I am so stop talking like you do." He told me in a serious tone. I'm sure he's mad.

"Way back when I was in high school I interviewed you for our school paper for being the youngest CEO. Since then, I started to like you. I was amused with the way you talk it shows how passionate you are in handling your family business. You also said you love the color of the sky. You hate pickles. You love being with nature. You love-" he cut what I am about to say.

"That man died a long time ago, Miss." I am shocked by his answer.

"You don't know me." He said with finality and I can't find any words to answer him.

"Do you want to know me? Do you want to know the real Andrew Callan Gray? Marry me." I don't know if it is the liquor or I am just too in love with him that made me nod.

"Three days from now you will be Mrs. Gray. Let's go, I'll take you home." I nod again. I don't know what's happening all I know is I am inside Andrew's car and he's driving me home.

My father will be shocked if he saw who I am with. He knows that I am in love with Andrew and he just let me, maybe because he thinks that I'll never meet Andrew again and my so-called imagination about marrying Andrew won't happen.

But guess what dad, I am marrying him in three days.

How can I convince my father, what if he refused?

"Which way?" Andrew asked me that made me stop thinking about ways how can I convince my father.

"Just turn right...and then that house, the white one." He stopped his car in front of our house. I immediately open his car door and I get off the car. I thought I won't get scolded but I saw my father sitting on a chair outside our house, waiting for me. He immediately stood up to check who I am with. I saw Andrew getting out of his car. He'll probably greet my father. He's such a gentleman that's one of the reasons why I love him. When my father got near me I told him the craziest idea he ever heard before.

"I'll marry Andrew in three days." He stopped walking trying to process what I have said.

In his head I know he's thinking I am crazy.

"Stop with those imaginations, Lauren. You are 20 stop acting like a child." From the way his forehead crease and the way he looks, I know he doesn't find this situation funny.

But I am not joking I am determined to marry Andrew and spend the rest of my life being his wife.

"Yes, sir I'll marry your daughter."

"You can't. It's the marriage we are talking about here young ones. It's a serious thing. It's a commitment you'll make in front of God." Dad started talking about the importance of marriage to convince us that we should reconsider our decision because it is an absurd idea.

"I love Andrew Dad, you know that right? I love him for almost five years, now here he is asking me to marry him, and then here you are opposing it."

" Lauren can you hear yourself. You love him I know, but does he loves you too? He didn't even know you."

"Do you know my daughter, Mr. Gray?" He turned his head to Andrew and then waited for him to speak.

"I love your daughter, sir." I know Andrew's joking, he doesn't even know me. I don't know the reason why he is doing this but I'll take this opportunity to be with him.

I sound desperate, I know but this is a one in million chance. I'd rather spend the rest of my life being single than marry someone who is not Andrew. But God is good. He is giving me a chance to be with the man I love.

"How come Mr. Gray? I've never seen you before going out with my daughter. Lauren's telling me stories about you, on how great you are but she never mentioned anything about you two going out on a date, so how come you love my daughter Mr. Gray?"

"Love at first sight?" Andrew's answer made my father's forehead crease even more.

"Are you joking right now?" My father is slowly losing his patience.

"I love your daughter, I am sure of that sir."

"And I won't allow you to marry her, I'm sure of that too. Go inside Lauren."

My father held my arms motioning me to go inside our house. But tonight I will make the stupidest decision in my life.

"I am pregnant, Andrew is the father of my child," I said with conviction. I felt my father's hold loosen and when I look at his face I saw anger, pain, sadness, all sorts of emotions the father would feel when he found out that the daughter that he is been treasuring all along will bring nothing but disappointment.

He was about to slap me when Andrew came forward, trying to shield me from my father's violent act. But my father's next action shocked me, he hits Andrew's face. Andrew fell to the ground so I immediately bend down to check his face. I saw blood on the side of his lips so I looked at my father, but I didn't see any guilt in his eyes.

"Leave both of you, and remember this Lauren, my daughter is not a disgraced woman." After saying those words he left me dumbfounded. Did my father just disown me?

I am trying to process everything when I saw Andrew extending his arms urging me to get up.

"Come with me, you won't regret anything I promise, just do what I say."

Like an alone kid who has no one to run to I took his hand and leave the house that I grew up in. Before we leave I took a glance at our house and I saw my father peeking at our window. When he saw me looking at him he wiped something on his face, that was probably tears and I am the reason behind that. After a few seconds, he decided to close the window, and when he did that everything sank into me. I lied to my father just to be with Andrew. I chose to disappoint my father just to be with the man I love. I just chose Andrew over my father. I chose to leave the man who loves me unconditionally over a man who has no feelings for me at all and probably using me for his gain. Maybe they are right, love will make you do crazy things.