Escaping The Past (Agreste Series #1)

I: GETAWAY CAR

"Natalia and Raziel, you have chosen each other out of all the world, to love and to cherish from this day forward. Before we proceed, if anyone present knows of any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace." Raziel could only nod at Natalia, unable to change their dilemma except to escape from his obligation.

Raziel, who was meant to be Natalia's groom, only sees her as a friend and not as someone he loves. Despite their close friendship, their situation became increasingly difficult when both their families insisted on their marriage. Raziel refused to marry someone he didn't love, knowing well that he would only cause pain to his friend Natalia. Moreover, his heart had long been devoid of love, adding to the complexity of their predicament.

As Raziel stood facing a critical decision, the burden of his dilemma weighed heavily on him. The prospect of marrying Natalia, a cherished friend but not his romantic love, loomed large. He valued his independence and the career he had carefully built. Now, contemplating sacrificing it all to avoid marrying Natalia, he grappled with a deep sense of loss.

He wrestled with conflicting emotions about Natalia. Despite his deep care for her, he couldn't overlook the absence of romantic love between them. The thought of rejecting the marriage, potentially disappointing Natalia and others, troubled him deeply. He questioned whether it was fair to Natalia to proceed under these circumstances.

In his heart, Raziel longed for a genuine connection, a relationship founded on love rather than duty. The weight of societal expectations and family obligations felt suffocating, yet he held onto a glimmer of defiance—a determination to pursue a path aligned with his own aspirations.

Amidst the uncertainty, Raziel understood that his decision would not only shape his future but also define his integrity and self-worth. He grappled with the tension between familial duty and personal happiness, knowing that whichever path he chose would mold the person he was to become.

"We will," Raziel heard Natalia's answer, which made him smile bitterly. He felt happy yet sad at that moment. He knew it was the moment he could finally be free from all societal expectations and pressures, but his decision would bring chaos to both his and Natalia's families. He was also aware that his choice would change Natalia's and his reputations, given their status as a popular showbiz love team. Despite this, he believed his decision would also grant Natalia her freedom. Raziel loved Natalia as a friend, but he didn't see a future with her—not because she wasn't worthy, but because he believed he wasn't the right one for her. After everything that happened in his past, it affected him a lot and changed him into who he is now.

Raziel watched Natalia's wedding a bit longer, but as the situation escalated and the audience grew increasingly confused, he decided to walk out of the church. As he stepped outside, Raziel suddenly felt nervous because his getaway car still hadn't arrived. He heard the people inside starting to panic, which made him even more anxious. Raziel's skin began to sweat as his heart pounded. "Goddammit, where's that goddamn car?!" he murmured while waiting outside.

The commotion inside the church grew louder, with many people gossiping about what was happening. Raziel was thankful that no one recognized him in his current attire, though he knew he looked suspicious. Fortunately, no one, not even the guards, paid attention to him since they expected some onlookers at the church.

However, as the scene inside the church intensified, the guards became more vigilant. They started searching for anyone who looked suspicious. Feeling the rising tension, Raziel decided to move farther away from the church and look for a taxi cab instead.

"Where to, sir?" the taxi driver asked Raziel. "Sir?" the driver repeated, as Raziel was too nervous to respond. Raziel, breathing heavily, began removing the accessories from his face to avoid recognition. "Sir, I have a job to do and many more rides to take. Please answer me... Mr. Agreste?!" the driver said, frustration turning to surprise as he recognized the famous actor in his rearview mirror.

Upon recognizing Raziel, the taxi driver was taken aback. Raziel quickly smiled at the driver awkwardly, hurriedly thanked him, and stepped out of the taxi with his bag on his back. Fueled by adrenaline, Raziel managed to get out just as his getaway car sped toward him. Unfortunately, in the rush, the car grazed him, though he wasn't seriously injured. "Dang it!" Raziel shouted in pain.

As Raziel writhed in pain in the middle of the street, the driver of his getaway car quickly rushed over and helped him into the backseat. Raziel's driver struggled a bit to help because Raziel was larger than the driver. "Dang it, I'm so sorry. You're not dying on me, are you?" the driver said, as Raziel continued to groan in pain in the back of the car. "Are you okay? Are you still breathing?" the driver asked urgently.

As the driver awaited a response, a crowd began to gather around the car, leaving the driver with no choice but to start driving away to somewhere.

***

After several hours had passed, Raziel, who had fainted from the pain of the accident, woke up with intense pain in his leg and foot. Upon waking, he noticed that his body was bandaged, and he felt disoriented. Looking outside the car, he realized it was already afternoon, and he still hadn't reached his intended destination.

"Who are you?" he asked in a high, panicked voice, addressing the driver he hadn't noticed earlier. With everything happening so quickly, he hadn't recognized the person driving the car; all he knew was the vehicle itself. "Where are you taking me?" Raziel demanded.

Trying to get a closer look at the driver, Raziel realized it was a woman. "Hey, stop moving around. Isn't your body still in pain?" the woman driving responded, not answering Raziel's question.

Feeling both anxious and irritated, Raziel leaned closer to the driver. As he did, something about her scent seemed familiar. "Wait, do I know you? Why don't you take off those shades so I can see your face? It's getting dark anyway. Why are you still wearing shades?" Raziel questioned sharply. He couldn't help but feel annoyed with his driver, as the accident was not part of the plan. It certainly wasn't included in the payment. "Hey, answer me or I'll jump!" Raziel threatened. "You're making me nervous. You're driving my car, but I don't even know who you are!"

"Can you please give me a moment? I'm thinking right now. At this moment, I'm starting to contemplate my decisions in life," the woman shouted, trying to make Raziel shut up.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Do I know you? You're not the one I arranged to help me escape the wedding," Raziel responded, growing more irritated. "You don't even know where I need to go, yet you're the one driving me. This is ridiculous," Raziel continued angrily.

"Wow," the woman replied, "Why did I even bother to follow you?" Frustrated, the woman abruptly stopped the car in the middle of nowhere. Unable to contain her annoyance, she took off her shades and turned to face Raziel, who was seated in the back. "You can get out now."

"The audacity! This is my car!" As Raziel finally got a clear look at the woman, the pain in his leg seemed to vanish, replaced by a sudden tightness in his chest. He felt like he couldn't breathe, his usually squinted eyes now wide with shock. At that moment, a flood of memories rushed back to him, leaving him overwhelmed and unsure of how to feel.

"Oh, I forgo-"

"What the f**k? Ei?" And because of the shock, Raziel fainted once again.

***

At 10 in the evening, the club outside Raziel's small room throbbed with pulsating music, jolting him awake. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, intensifying his discomfort as he lay there, every muscle aching from the earlier accident. Struggling to cope with the pain, a sudden realization struck him—he remembered Ei. Panic surged through him, but he tried to convince himself it was just his imagination.

"It's not real, what happened earlier isn't real. I'm just imagining things—she left me years ago, she doesn't want someone like me anymore," Raziel muttered, teetering on the edge of a breakdown, desperately searching for clarity. Determined to clear his mind, he decided to explore his surroundings. As he wandered through the dimly lit room, his eyes were drawn to a framed photo on the wall. It was a picture of Ei, proudly labeled 'Employee of the Year.'

When Raziel saw the picture on the wall, he suddenly felt like he was about to throw up. His skin prickled with goosebumps as his stomach churned. Despite his overwhelming nausea, he forced himself to leave the room, desperate to avoid suffocating in the confined space.

As Raziel left the room, the corridor greeted him. He scanned his surroundings and realized he was in the club's employee area. As he approached the dance floor, the noise around him grew louder. Though the area was dark, he could still see because of the party lights. The longer he stayed, the more he was drawn to the crowd and the hype of the people. However, he suddenly remembered that someone might recognize him, so he slowly distanced himself from the crowd, even though he was still limping.

"Hey, are you new here?" a random girl suddenly grabbed Raziel's arm as she noticed him walking away.

Feeling her touch, Raziel turned to look at the girl and gulped nervously. But when he heard what she said, he relaxed, realizing she didn't seem to recognize him. "Y-Yeah?" Raziel replied.

"Come here! Let's dance!" she invited, placing Raziel's hand on her waist. Raziel had no choice but to dance, enduring the pain in his thigh. "What's your name, handsome?" the girl asked, handing him a drink.

"The name is Ziel," Raziel answered, masking his true identity.

"I'm Stefany, nice to meet you, Ziel," she responded with a wink. "Come, let's drink more," she said, handing him another drink as they danced to the beat of the music.

As Raziel drank with Stefany, he glanced around his surroundings, observing the people in the club. He was on the lookout for anyone who might recognize him, while also searching for any sign of Ei's presence. Despite the lively atmosphere, an undercurrent of tension lingered in his mind. The pulsing lights and booming music only heightened his senses as he scanned the faces in the crowd, hoping to remain unnoticed. His heart raced with anticipation and anxiety, torn between the urge to blend in and the need to find Ei.

After several hours of drinking with Stefany and her friends, Raziel began to notice a gradual change in how he felt. It wasn't unexpected since he was aware of the strong alcohol they were consuming. He figured Stefany and her friends were just trying to finish off their remaining drinks, and he didn't refuse, even though his vision was becoming blurry and his body was heating up.

"Hey Ziel, can I get your Line?" Stefany asked again, dancing closely with Raziel.

"S-sure," Raziel replied, taking Stefany's phone as she handed it to him. "H-here."

"Thanks, Ziel! I can't believe I'm getting such a handsome guy's contact tonight," Stefany said, smiling at Raziel. As they danced, Stefany's body pressed closer against his, her hands slowly moving up to his chest. "You're so hot, are you alone tonight?" asked the clearly intoxicated Stefany.

"Uhhh," Raziel hesitated, unsure of his own situation. He didn't know where he was headed or if Ei was truly with him or just a figment of his imagination.

"You can come with me, come to my place," Stefany suggested flirtatiously.

Who wouldn't want to take someone like Raziel home? He was tall, with a tanned complexion, strikingly handsome with his captivating eyes, and had a powerful presence. His well-built body and pleasant voice only added to his irresistible charm. Raziel isn't the flirty type, but he's the kind of man many women find irresistible.

When Stefany and her friends had enough of the party, she pulled Raziel away from their table, intending to take him home. However, as they were paying at the counter near the exit, someone grabbed Raziel's hand, stopping them. "And who are you?" Stefany asked the person holding Raziel's hand, causing them to halt.

When Raziel turned to see who had stopped them, his eyes widened in disbelief. His eyes glazed over as he looked at Ei, who stood there with a raised eyebrow. "E-Ei?" Raziel whispered.

"Uh-uhm," Ei stammered, but then her mood shifted as she thought of an idea. "Where are you taking my brother?" she lied.

Upon hearing this, Stefany smiled in embarrassment and let go of Raziel's hand. "I thought he was alone," she said, coming to her senses. "You didn't mention you had a sister working here, Ziel."

"Y-yeah," Raziel agreed nervously.

"Aight, I'm heading home. Thank you for tonight, handsome!" Stefany said, bidding Raziel goodbye. But before leaving, she kissed Raziel on the cheek in front of Ei, who frowned, making Raziel even more anxious. "Ciao!"

As Stefany and her friends left, Raziel felt Ei release his hand and turn away. Determined, he tried to follow her. "Don't follow me. I'm working. But if you want to be with me, behave at the bar," Ei said emotionlessly as they walked towards the bar where she worked. "I'm the bartender here, so don't expect to disturb me. I have other customers, and you're not one of them," she added, her words stinging Raziel.

"You're the one who brought me here, Ei," Raziel murmured.

"Well, I'm working right now. Is it too much to ask you not to disturb me? We can talk later, after my shift," Ei replied, causing Raziel to stop in his tracks, realizing she had a point. He could wait.

As Ei worked behind the bar, Raziel watched her from his seat, drinking something to sober up. But while sobering up and taking his time alone, he was deep in thought. Even now, everything still felt unbelievable to him. He never expected that the woman who left him years ago, without a word, disappearing without a trace, would suddenly reappear in his life. He still couldn't process the emotions and experiences flooding his heart and mind. Even now, he didn't know what to do. Aside from that, he couldn't accept that after everything he had gone through with the woman he loved, he couldn't understand where Ei found the strength to suddenly reappear as if nothing had happened.