Love and its Cost

Chapter 5

THE NIGHT IS supposed to be silent, and people should be resting. But for the crowd inside Graquias, one of the high-end bars, this is never true. The people here are living the best of our lives and enjoying themselves to their heart's content. The sound of 2002 by Anne Marie that the speaker brings and the cheers from drunkards make the place lively and busy.

I am rejoicing inside. It has been almost a year since I feel this alive. I miss the atmosphere of places like this. I've been to bars before, but when I went to college, I had never get the chance to party again.

To the person who claims that college is where you will have the most fun, you have deceived all of us. My college life is giving me nothing but stress.

Today, I declare that I'm going to enjoy myself till I pass out. No reason not to, given there are no classes for tomorrow, so hangover should be fine.

"A Martini, please," I said to the bartender. "And if possible, can you tweak the ratio of vodka to vermouth?"

"You're a heavy drinker for your face, Miss," he replied and smiled. "Sure thing, give me a minute."

After that, he went to browse through the various drinks. How I wish I could do bartending as well.

"But no, Mr. Bartender, I am no alcoholic. Is it wrong if you feel like trying a stronger Martini," I grieved in my

"You wanna live fancy. Live in a big mansion. Party in France. You better work, bitch."

Oh, no. It's my ringtone. Who would be daring to call me this late at night? Besides, I'm at a party.

When I get my phone, it turns out to be my mother. I immediately answer the call. It has been a while since mother called me.

As much as I badly want to, I cannot do so, given my hometown is located in a barren area. Cell towers are not installed there yet. If you're going to make a call, there is a need to travel to town. Mother calling me means she is in town right now. What could be the reason, though?

"Stacey, my precious daughter, how are you doing?" an elderly voice spoke to me. It was followed by coughing afterward. My mother's voice has this tender sound as always. However, the cough just earlier allows me to tell with ease that everything has been rough for her recently.

"I'm doing good, Ma. And what happened? I sent you a hefty of cash some time ago. I thought you had used it to get your cough treated?" I replied.

"Yes, yes, Stace. I have received it. However, your brother was having a bit of difficulty recently. So I decided to lend the money to him." She was happy as she says those words, but I feel otherwise—I'm pained. How could she prioritize the well-being of my brother before herself? My mom's kindness always brings her all the trouble.

That bastard brother of mine milked my mother again. This is not the first time he did this. The situation is never about the money being lent to him; I'm pretty sure myself that he is not paying my mother back for his supposed to be debt.

He's an adult already but still relies on my mother for his survival. For the love of thousand stars, he is no longer my mother's responsibility. Not even ashamed of himself even a bit.

"Ma, how many times do I have to tell you. My brother's welfare is none of your business anymore? He is all grown up already. He needs none of your support anymore!" I can't help but call her out.

"There, there, Stace. It's fine, okay? It's your brother, after all. What are you doing right now? Why is the music so loud? And why is it so noisy? I can barely hear you, dear." Not my mother trying to divert the topic. She really doesn't want misunderstanding if possible. At the same time, I have to agree with her. I am also having difficulty hearing her.

"I'm at a bar, ma. I'm doing party," I responded in defeat—no more point in blaming my mother for her generosity. I will just make sure that my brother will no longer get the chance to his treachery again.

"My, my, so the precious Stace is living her life." She let out a chuckle. "Go on, then. This old mother of yours should let you have the night for yourself."

"I have a long night, ma. Let's have a chat first. How are you? How about father?"

"I'm pretty well, doing good, as usual, my princess. Although I have a cough, I need no person to attend to me. I bet this trouble will go away after enough rest. Speaking of your father, he has his back pains again, that's why we are in the town to consult Mr. Domeng. Can you still recall him?"

"Are you kidding me, ma? In the old days, you keep on bringing me to him whenever I get sick?!" How reminiscing it is to talk about the past. I miss my mother and my life in the province so bad.

"The shaman is having your father cured right now. Your father is supposed to attend to my needs. I'm a year older than him," mother cracked a joke. Together, we are laughing to our heart's content.

After that, there was dead air. I decided to break the silence myself.

"I miss you, ma…" my voice cracked in the last word.

I am longing for my mother's embrace. I won't deny that I am a mother's girl since then. My mother raised me with unconditional love and did her best to provide all that I need. My attachment towards her is reasonable and valid.

"I miss you too, dear. You are coming home after you graduate, yes?"

"I promise, ma." I didn't notice that a tear escape from my eye. "We have a mansion to build, lots of land to own, a farm for father, and cars to buy."

"Dear, I have always told you, right? If you want to do that, do it for yourself. Don't do that to fulfill your mother's dreams that she failed to realize."

If only I could tell the world how lucky I am with my mother, I would do that. She puts her son and daughter's welfare above everything always.

"I am not and never forced to dream the same dream as yours, ma. It's my own will, all right?"

"If you say so… dear. Then I shall leave the rest of the night for yourself."

"Okay, bye, ma. Stay safe as aIways. I love you," I uttered.

"Same goes for you, our Stace. Bye, bye. I love you too." Right after that, she hangs up the call.

Consequently, I let out a heavy sigh and is giving my head a massage. I am supposed to be delighted after the call with my mother, but I am feeling the other way around. Not only the fact that I am angry, but I am also stressed. That brother of mine is full of bullshit and crap. The avatar of the word shameless.

"Bestie! Why the stressed face?!" I didn't notice that Ren is sitting right beside me.

"Where did you spawn from, Ren?" I answered back out of shock. She keeps on emerging out of nowhere.

"I have been here for a while now! Hello?" She grabbed the drink that was served right in front of me and drank it in one gulp. Her face shortly turned ugly. "Woahh!"

"Are you insane? That's a whole Martini?!" Now, I can see her face slowly turning in red. That's what she deserves.

"No one's telling me the right way to drink my beverages. And, oh, that was a Martini? I thought that was vermouth?"

"That was not even your drink, to begin with, Ren," I sarcastically replied. I cannot believe this girl. She just drank a whole Martini for herself that was not a glass she ordered.

"Anyway, you're not touching it, bestie, so why not let your person have it?" Her response is annoying as ever. For the love of thousand stars.

"The class was asking for you, but hell yeah, don't worry, I got your back," she then went back to our table where our class is enjoying themselves. I was just supposed to get a customized Martini, and now I have problems in my hands.

What I love about Ren is that she understands me very well. She would know from a look if I need time for myself. With her, I don't need to ask for my space; she will eventually give it to me the moment she has a complete grasp of the situation. Now, I realize that I'm so blessed with the people around me.

"WE BE GOING home together later, wait for me. No, this is not a request but an order," a voice whispered into my ear.

I am by myself and am drinking the Martini that I just ordered when this girl showed herself again. She forcefully stashed my drink away from me and drank it again. I cannot really believe this girl. "Thanks for the drink, Stace."

"Come on," I shouted at her, but she acted like she didn't hear a thing. But instead, Ren dragged herself to the dance floor, and she is now grinding herself with various guys. Now, I am having doubts if I am really blessed to have Ren in my life.

"I'll have another one, please," I said to the bartender.

"Same order?" I just gave him a nod, and he made himself busy to ready my order.

"It's on me, and I'll have a zombie, please," declared the guy as he sat beside me. He is smiling at me as I gave him a look. Wearing a complete black suit, he looks so formal and well-poised.

"That's so kind of you, but I can afford my drink, Sir," I answered back.

I don't take treats from someone I don't personally know.

"My bad, my boss says I need to treat his lady for a drink. Please do me a favor by accepting it," he reasoned out. He then pointed his fingers to a table.

A guy is sitting there and is looking in my direction. Having a luxury table just for himself, impressive. And for this guy right beside me to be his attendance, what a wealthy man. He can afford a suit for his follower.

This man also claims me to be his "lady" is audacious of him, but well, as expected of my beauty—it never fails me. It can easily lure not just handsome guys but rich ones as well. "He invites you for a talk. Wanna come along?"

From this distance, I could tell that his boss is someone handsome, neat, and filthy rich. But no, not a free pass to catch my attention.

"No, I'm not interested. I am going to accept the drink, but in return, I'll have to refuse the offer of coming to your boss' table."

"Is that so? It's just a minute." He leaned closer to me and whispered a thing that shook my whole world. "Shall we, Miss TheNightSEXy?"

My eyes automatically went wide. How did this man know? This can't be. No one should find out the other part of myself. I am clearly wearing a mask when doing my cam shows. They cannot definitely know who I am—just who is this man in front of me to drop a bomb just like that.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about." I tried my hardest to be composure as I reply. On the other hand, the sweat that is all over my face says otherwise. The air condition of the establishment didn't help me conceal my fear.

My heartbeat right now is comparable to someone who had run a marathon.

"For sure, you know nothing about livecamshow.xxx.com?" he grinned.