LOVE ACROSS TIME

CHAPTER 9: THAT NIGHT

JERVIN BRYSON POV'S

YEAR 2022

Overcoming fear is a transformative journey that often leads to profound personal growth and happiness. The acknowledgment that it's okay to try, even if success is not guaranteed, demonstrates a resilient mindset. In those moments of confronting fears, a sense of accomplishment and joy can be found, marking those instances as some of the happiest days in one's life.

The process of overcoming fear is deeply intertwined with self-discovery and courage. It involves stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing the uncertainty that accompanies such endeavors. This willingness to try, to push boundaries, reflects a positive attitude that is crucial for personal development. Each attempt, regardless of the outcome, contributes to building resilience and confidence.

The journey of overcoming fear is not linear; it involves facing setbacks and uncertainties. However, the mere act of trying is a testament to the individual's determination and commitment to personal growth. The understanding that failure is not a reflection of inadequacy but rather a stepping stone towards improvement is a powerful mindset that propels one forward.

Reflecting on the past months and recognizing them as a period of happiness indicates a shift in perspective. It suggests a focus on the journey rather than the destination. Often, the pursuit of goals involves facing fears, and the moments of attempting to conquer those fears become pivotal in shaping one's happiness.

Furthermore, the connection between happiness and overcoming fear lies in the liberation experienced when breaking through self-imposed limitations. It is a celebration of one's own strength and resilience. The joy that accompanies these moments is not just about the specific fear conquered but extends to the realization of one's potential and capacity for growth.

The journey of overcoming fear is a significant and transformative experience. The happiness derived from attempting what was once considered impossible stems from the acknowledgment that personal growth is a continuous process. By embracing the challenges, facing fears, and understanding that it's okay to try, individuals pave the way for a more fulfilling and resilient life.

Do I have to thank Kirsten for helping me? Maybe not, he didn't do anything. I just followed her but I still made the decision to enter here. I have to thank uncle.

We are still here today at the club and having fun. After Rhino signed the contract, I quickly hid it in my pants pocket.

"Congratulations! You're married!" They said together and drank wine.

They even ordered about ten bottles of wine until they were drunk. After a few minutes it was just me and rhino who weren't too drunk, his friends were already lying down as if they were at home.

Amidst the swirl of laughter and the clinking of glasses, an unlikely duo emerged as the last standing soldiers in the battlefield of inebriation – yours truly and Rhino, a name that seemed to hint at both strength and an affinity for, well, hearty revelry.

The evening had unfolded like a comedy of errors, with our group's ambitious wine order rivaling the inventory of a small vineyard. Ten bottles later, the room resembled a tipsy, with Rhino's comrades sprawled across the landscape of cushions, a tableau of inebriated tranquility.

As the wine flowed, conversations took unexpected detours, careening from insightful musings to the downright absurd. Rhino's friends, in their valiant attempt to conquer the fermented nectar, succumbed to the sweet embrace of intoxication, transforming our gathering into a spectacle worthy of a tipsy sitcom.

And then there were Rhino and I, the dynamic duo of sobriety in a sea of inebriation. We exchanged bemused glances, perhaps silently questioning the life choices that led us to be the last bastions of coherence in this vineyard of chaos. It was a surreal moment, akin to finding oneself in the midst of a tipsy carnival, where the rides were metaphorical and the laughter contagious.

As the night wore on, we found ourselves in the role of the unwitting audience to a drunk rendition of human dominoes. Rhino's friends, in their inebriated exuberance, attempted to create a majestic human pyramid, only to collapse in a giggling heap of limbs and laughter. It was a scene straight out of a slapstick comedy, with each failed attempt adding a new layer of absurdity to our wine-soaked escapade.

In the midst of the merriment, Rhino and I shared a moment of camaraderie, acknowledging the hilarity of our sober spectatorship. We were the designated sober buddies, tasked with witnessing the chaos unfold and emerging unscathed from the wine-soaked battlefield.

And so, as the night reached its zenith of absurdity, Rhino and I clinked our glasses in a toast to the unexpected comedy that had unfolded. In a room echoing with laughter and the occasional snore, we reveled in the hilarity of being the last two standing – a duo united by sobriety amidst the drunken revelry of a night that would undoubtedly become the stuff of legendary tales.

"You know, how happy I am today?"

"Are you happy because you got married again?"

"Haha what again? What are you talking about?"

"Are you married yet?"

"No! I've been single for a long time and I don't want to get married. It's hard," She said, which I didn't believe.

She doesn't have a wife but she said she is poor? She is drunk so what is she saying. Also, will she say she's married when she's talking to a handsome man? Tss... Maybe she fell in love at first sight with my good looks so she denies that she have a husband. HAHA. Who is a woman who can't fall in love with me? The first look at me makes me want to own it. Hyst! This is the difficult thing about being handsome.

"I'm happy today because I feel happy. She added almost making me fall off the chair.

Tss. She is really drunk.

I just stood up and went to the comfort room. While inside, I could hear the whispers of two men rubbing their hands about the woman who was said to be drunk but beautiful.

"The one on table 18 pre, it's beautiful!" Man 1.

"She's beautiful and drunk! That's why she's mine tonight." Man 2.

"Pre, she's mine. I came before you." Man 1.

"I was ahead of you! I even went in with her."

"Pre, just because of that you are ahead?"

"So, what do you want to convey to me? You came first, even me. Are you stupid?"

"Why are you calling me stupid? Don't you know it's you?"

Oh, it looks like there's going to be a fight. Tss, they don't want to share their fight with the woman.

I went out so as not to get involved in their fight, but until I got out of the cr, they were still fighting so I approached them to wean them off.

"Hey, if you're going to fight here, it's better to just go outside. You might even get into trouble with the people here inside... They're having so much fun!" I said to them.

"Pre, maybe it will be more fun if you join." Said the man 1.

"Huh?" I was shocked by what he said.

What is he saying? I will join their trouble?

"You join our bet?"

"Bet? Why? For what?" I asked them confused.

"About to the woman that sit on the table 8."

"Whoever gets into the room with her wins."

"I'll bet my car, I'll just win"

"Even if it's my house, I'll bet just to win"

"And you? What are you betting?"

"Me?" I pointed to myself and they immediately nodded in response. "You are the only one's to bet." I said and started to walk back to our table but I stopped when the number of our table appeared to me.

18!

18!

18!

They said Table 18 earlier, right? So they are betting on the rhino? f**k! This is not possible!

I immediately approached the two men who were now smiling and looking at Rhino.

"I want to join." I told to the two guy angrily but they just looked at me in surprise. "I will join in your bet!" I added that make their happy.

"That's good boy! I thought you were gay that's why you didn't want to join" said the man 1 before they laughed.

Wow! I was even made gay for not joining the bet!

I will only join so that my $10 billion will not be destroyed. I'll do anything to get my money because it might just go to them if they end up having a relationship with either of these two guys.

In the intricate dance of relationships, the specter of financial entanglements can cast a long shadow. Entering the fray with a staggering $10 billion fortune at stake, the observer contemplates involvement not out of a desire for love or companionship but as a strategic move to safeguard their considerable wealth. In this calculated approach, the motivation stems from a fear that if a romantic entanglement were to blossom between the two individuals in question, the observer's substantial financial holdings might inadvertently become part of the equation.

This pragmatic mindset reflects a stark reality where personal connections intertwine with financial consequences. The observer's willingness to partake in the unfolding romantic drama is driven by a keen sense of self-preservation, motivated by the prospect that their wealth could be at risk if either of the two individuals involved develops a romantic relationship. In this context, love becomes a secondary consideration, overshadowed by the looming threat of financial loss, transforming the observer into an unwitting participant in the intricate web of emotions and wealth that defines their involvement in this relationship dynamic.

I bet my newly bought car and we approached rhino together.

The man 1 introduced himself as Rosh Balana and the man 2 introduced himself as Joshua Camara. At first, Rhino did not want to accept the hand of the two men who introduced themselves to shake hands, but eventually she also accepted it when she was told that she was beautiful and ready to marry again and again. Tss, she was quickly convinced by these crazy men.

While drinking and talking, I stared at her and her face seemed familiar to me.

I seem to have seen her somewhere.

I stare at her and every part of his face I stare at carefully.

She looks like...

...

...

...

The girl in cr!

Yes, that's her!

If life was unfair to her then why did she get drunk here? Did she fight with her husband or her siblings? Besides, she waitresses, right? Waitresses who are rich? Tss, let her take care of her life.

After a few minutes, the two men's actions and looks at the rhino seem to be different, mixed with desire.

What will I do? Maybe they will suddenly like rhino and this woman will agree because of the flowery words of these stupid men.

"Guys, whoever can finish this wine first, will be the first to invite the girl." Said Rosh and handed us the bottle of wine.

It was surprising that the rhino looked at us. "What's up? What happened?"

We just looked at her and we started drinking.

I need to finish this immediately!... Go ahead Jervin! Just drink, drink! Consume as much as you can!

I started drinking faster and i was feel disappointed and shocked when Joshua and I finished almost at the same time but i feel happy when rhino said I was ahead. She even complimented me that I was good. Tss, she really doesn't know anything about what's going on. But she's still happy!

"Do it. If you manage to get her into the bedroom upstairs, our bets are on you." Whispered Joshua and foolishly looked upstairs, to the bedroom.

I moved slightly away from the rhino and spoke to this man. "How can I be sure you will pay your bet?" Guaranteed.

"When you manage to kiss her until you enters the room, then we will hand over our bet." Rosh said and placed the car and house keys on the table.

Do I have to kiss her? Really kiss?

"If you don't want to, you can leave. We'll take care of her." Said Rosh and looked at Rhino with desire.

"I'll do it. It's very simple." I boasted to them with a mixture of nervousness.

I don't know what will happen but something inside me wants to do what they are asking me to do, maybe it's just because I want to keep her away from these men.

I approached rhino again to do what we talked about.

I simply held her hand until we were holding hands, at first she was surprised at what I did but I just said that I had to do that to get the boys away from us. She agreed until I felt her hand tightly holding mine and she even played with her thumb on my thumb.

Shit. I feel heat that shouldn't be there. Should I make her stop what she's doing?

The boys signaled that I should kiss the rhino because they were impatient so I slowly brought my face closer to the rhino.

F*ck! Am I really going to do it?!

"What are you doing?" She asked nervously.

"Kirsten" I said in a husky voice. "I feel guilty about how we met at the car shop. I dont know how to make you comfortable with me... And i dont know how to express my feelings to you."

"Huh?" She was confused.

"I think, I love you at first sight." I said while fixing the strands of her hair. She bent down so I held her chin and brought her face to me.

Her face is so close to mine!

I can smell the wine she drank and hee feminine perfume.

"You're so beautiful." I told her and bit my lip.

Shit! I think I can't bear to look at hee anymore!

I slowly brought my face closer to her but she kept moving away so I grabbed her waist and caressed it.

"Kirsten, you're so pretty! Can I have you in my heart?" I asked her tenderly and before she could answer I immediately kissed her.

Shit! I really can't!

I kissed her tenderly until I felt her kissing me back!

Isn't she angry because I kissed her? I think she even liked it!

I slowly stood up without breaking our kisses and picked her up.

Each of her kisses brought me something different. I feel that we both have a relationship that doesn't care what others say because of what we do because we are just showing the love we both have.

I picked her up and went up to the bedroom. Before entering, I saw the panic in the two men. I signaled them to give their bet before Rhino and I entered the next room.

Entering, I quickly kissed her and laid her on the bed. Every time she touches my body, it causes intense heat in my body, especially when I feel her small chest. I moved away from her for a while but she kept kissing me until little by little I took off my clothes until only my boxers were left. I was about to kiss her again when she undressed in front of me and there I saw her br**sts.

Shit! I really can't bear it anymore especially in front of me.

Come what may! Whatever happens tonight, it's not my fault, is it?

Whatever will be, will be. When I wake up tomorrow I will never have any connection with hee again. She ruined hee life because of the wrong thing to do with me!

TOMORROW

I woke up when someone's cellphone ringing one after another. I can be sure it wasn't my cellphone because the ringtone was different. Tss, it ruined my morning!

Wait, why does it seem cold?

I slowly opened my eyes before looking around before my body.

What the hell?!

My private body is just covered with a pillow!

Why am I not wearing anything?

"What did you do to me! Did you r**e me?" I was shocked when I heard that question.

Rhino!

A thick white blanket was wrapped around her body as she looked at me angrily.

"Hey angry birds! What did you do to me?! Tell me!" She said, annoyed.

"Can you close your eyes? You're really still staring at my body, you saw it last night!"

She shocked by what i said. "W-what? L-last night? Something h-happened b-between the two of u-us?" She stammered.

"Don't you remember anything? You're the one--- answer the caller on your cell phone first!" I said. I'm annoyed.

It's annoying, it's been making a sound before!

She walked like a shanghai food approaching her bag on the floor.

I just took a deep breath before going to the cr with the pillow still covering my private body.

After entering I threw the pillow.

It's irritating! Did she see it? Hyst!

"Hello, who are you?" I heard Kirsten ask. He must be talking to the person who was calling on his cell phone earlier.

"Yes, it's me... Yes, they're my brothers... W-what?... What happened to them?" Suddenly I heard her sobbing one after another.

Is she crying?

"Are you kidding me?!... Where are they?... All right, I'm going there." When she said that, I heard the knocking in the room. I hurried to get dressed to go see her.

"What are you doing?" I inquired with concern, observing her on the verge of wreaking havoc inside the room.

"Don't meddle with me!" She snapped back angrily, her frustration palpable as she continued to destroy whatever she held in her hands.

"Stop that! That won't help your problem!" I pleaded, attempting to grasp her attention and prevent further damage to the room's contents.

"Why?" She glared at me with a mixture of sadness and anger. "Will my family live again?" Her words hit me like a tidal wave, carrying the weight of a grief-stricken soul. The repetition of her question echoed like a sorrowful refrain, emphasizing the depth of her despair and the profound loss she was grappling with. In that moment, I realized that her actions were a desperate attempt to cope with the overwhelming pain that seemed insurmountable.

What?

Her family?

So, she means... Her... Family died???

In the depths of her sorrow, she revealed the painful truth – her family, the pillars of her existence, had met an untimely demise, leaving her with the heavy burden of grief and the haunting echoes of loss.

Written on: July 27, 28, 29, 30 (2023)