HIS ACCIDENTAL OBSESSION

Morisette Lebastro's Point of view. “Why did you think of dragging me here to vent your heartbreak?” I asked my cousin Roxie. She had just broken up with her boyfriend and suddenly asked me to come with her to a club. This kind of place wasn’t new to me. I worked as a waitress in a club not far from this one. “Where else would I go?! Just shut up and drink with me,” she replied, handing me a glass of alcohol. “What if I get drunk? What if we both get drunk? How are we supposed to get home?” I asked, but she just laughed. “Oh my God, Sette. You’re already 20 but your brain still works like a 13-year-old! We’ll drink moderately. Even though I’m brokenhearted, I don’t plan on getting wasted,” she said. Roxie was older than me — she was 24 — but sometimes I felt like I had more sense than she did. She worked as an intern in a company, while I had been working as a waitress since I was 17, and now I am 20. I had no parents anymore, so I lived with Roxie and her mother, Aunt Rowena, who was incredibly arrogant even though we were poor. I was still young when they were forced to take me in at my grandmother’s request before she passed away. My parents died in an accident when I was only seven. Aunt Rowena was my father’s sister. On my mother’s side, I didn’t know anyone — no stories, no relatives I had ever met. I wanted to leave their house, but I couldn’t because of the debt of gratitude I owed them. Even though Aunt Rowena often hurt me and said cruel things, I was still thankful because she had taken me in and raised me. “I’m just thinking about our safety, but if you really want me to drink with you… fine,” I said and downed the alcohol she gave me. “Ackk… it’s so bitter,” I complained as the heat and bitterness burned down my throat. “You’re so dramatic. I started drinking when I was only 16… goodness!” she bragged. I just sighed and took another glass from Roxie, drinking it down. I looked around at the people dancing on the floor, but I had to close my eyes because the room started spinning. “R-Roxie…” I called out. She was talking on the phone right beside me, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. Even the music and the noise from the crowd had become muffled. I tried blinking, but my vision only got blurrier. I lightly slapped my own face and ears, but nothing changed. “Roxie!” I called again. She finally turned to me and helped me up. I could see the worry on her face even though my sight was fading. Then she called someone, and the next thing I knew, strong arms grabbed me and lifted me up. “Roxie…” I whispered weakly. “Shh, we’re taking you to one of the VIP rooms so you can rest… You got drunk after just two glasses?” she laughed, while I felt like I could no longer keep my eyes open. I vaguely felt us entering a room with red lighting. I sighed in relief when I was laid down on a soft bed. I still had a bit of consciousness left — I managed to touch Roxie’s hand and heard her last words before she left. “You guys take care of her. My mom has already paid.” I wanted to stand up and ask what she meant, but I had no strength left. Eventually, I completely lost consciousness.