Lost in Paradise

Chapter 11

"Nadia Nunley! Tell me the truth, are you out of the country?" Rebecca shouted from the other line.

Nadia, who is now drinking coffee, wakes up early because of Rebecca's constant calls. Nadia has been ignoring her calls for several days now because Nadia knew Rebecca will just convince her to return. She’s aware of how persistent Rebecca is.

"You’re being paranoid. Why would I leave the country? You know how I love our country" she joked.

"So where are you? It's been over a month since you left... I'm worried you know" Rebecca cried.

"Aww besh, I was so moved"

"Funny!... You said you were just going on vacation, what now?"

"I can't tell you my location yet. But I'm in a safe place, you don't have to worry"

"Why not tell me? It’s not like you don’t know me long enough"

"Actually, I know you enough... that’s why I’m not telling you my location... ‘cause if I do, I know you'll quickly come here and convince me again to go back"

"I already told you... I'm gonna support you no matter what. I just want you to be in a place where I can see you because I’m afraid that... it might happen again. You know what I mean.."

"I'm not gonna do that again. I'm doing fine here... Trust me"

"Alright. I’ll stop asking for your whereabouts... but at least answer me whenever I call you okay?"

"Ok ok... I'm sorry, lots of things happened this past few weeks"

"Anyway, another reason why I called you is because of the gallery. What's your plan, should I shut it down temporarily?

"It's up to you. Looks like you can still manage it tho... you have your assistants to help you, right?... I just can't manage it right now"

"I'll keep it running then... I know how important the gallery is for us"

"I'm sorry besh, I'm causing you so much trouble... even before"

"Ok enough with this conversation. I don’t wanna shed tears here... I'll hang up now, I will call you again okay?"

"Yeah... Bye... I miss you!"

"I miss you more. B-bye.. mwah!!"

Rebecca dropped the call at once. Nadia smilingly kept her phone away and go back to her coffee.

Rebecca is a good friend. Nadia has been relying on her since high school and they are treating each other like siblings. That’s why Rebecca has been worrying too much since Nadia had her depression. She visits Nadia almost every day to comfort her and weeps with her. Also, if not because of Rebecca, she would probably have left the world already.

~ ~

[2 months after the Wedding incident]

Nadia got home from work very drunk. She tried to come to work that day hoping to relieve her heartache even for a short period of time, thinking that if she concentrates on doing something else, eventually, she would be able to forget. But she was wrong.

Joshua is working at the same company. Horizon Corporation is their dream company that’s why they were so happy when they were both hired in the company. Joshua is in the Strategic Planning Department and Nadia is in the Design Planning Department. Though their fields are separated, they still made a lot of good memories together inside the company. A perfect couple as what their co-workers think of them. So when Nadia went to work that day, two months after the wedding incident, she couldn't escape the sadness because of the memories the place gave her. Nadia's wedding incident was scattered around the office so she knew they were the topic of the gossips circling around. Many of her office mates even asked her about what happened which worsened her feelings because she doesn’t know what to say since she had no idea what happened either. When Nadia couldn't stand it, she immediately went to the restroom to cry. While she’s inside the cubicle, she couldn’t help overhearing two employees tattling...

“Girl, have you heard the tea?” said one woman employee

"Which one? Spill it girl” replied the other.

Both employees’ voice was unfamiliar to Nadia.

“Have you seen that girl Nadia from Design Planning Dept.? She reported to work today... after 2 months leave?”

"Aah, that girl with runaway groom. Yes! I saw her earlier, she looks okay but not blooming as usual"

"Heard Joshua is still nowhere to be found"

"Yeah. But you know what, I heard that Joshua has someone else and his family doesn’t like that Nadia"

"I know right! Joshua is such a full package. He’s even running for a promotion, but was canceled because he became busy planning their wedding"

"That’s true. Being part of the Strategic Team is really hard like they are the elite team of our company. No wonder many employees got surprised when he announced his wedding... he has many secret admirers here tho"

"I know right... he's so handsome"

"Gosh! You’re daydreaming again... we’re getting late... let’s go"

The two hurriedly went out of the restroom. Nadia who heard the entire conversation, lost all her energy to leave the cubicle. She’s been silently crying inside all the time while restraining herself to be heard by them. Her knees were trembling and she could barely stand because of too much crying.

She knew that what they said was lies, she knew that Joshua’s love is pure and could never exchange her for someone else. However, she’s aware that their wedding was the reason why Joshua’s promotion got canceled. She’s also aware that Joshua has many admirers in their office and some of them are much better than her. All those thoughts ran through Nadia's mind and she just kept crying silently making sure that no one hears her. It took a few minutes before she got up to get herself ready and get out of the restroom.

After that, Nadia did not finish her duty and went out from work immediately. She headed straight to a pub and got herself drowned in alcohol.

As she got home, she took a bottle of whiskey right away and continued drinking. For the nth time, Nadia's endless tears shed again. She just kept thinking and crying. Because of drunkenness, Nadia dropped the bottle of whiskey she was drinking. It broke and the glasses shattered on the floor. Nadia's feet were wounded but she couldn't feel it because the girl's entire body seemed so numb. She sat down and spent her time staring at the shattered glasses on the floor. She does not like what’s running around in her mind. She’s not in herself when she slowly took one of the shattered glasses from the bottle of whiskey. She laid her shaking left wrist and pointed the sharp glass near her pulse. Without wavering, she slit her wrist at once, and blood flowed from it immediately. But Nadia didn't feel any pain until her world suddenly went dark and completely lost consciousness.