Uncharted: Crossing The Lines

“Shot! Shot! Shot!” A group of strangers chanted at me. I smiled widely and grabbed the shot glass from a man. I don’t care who he is; the night is still young! This guy came closer to me and stared into my soul. I could feel the heat when he started dancing with me. “You don’t look too good, yet you still drank it?” He bent down to speak slowly near my ears. Now our faces are side by side. I can feel that this is going to be good. “I’m quite…the competitive type,” I said, looking at him once again. Black hair, hazel eyes, with a tall and sleeper-built body wearing a sleek belt that complements his black, casual, button-up shirt. Ha…that sleek belt is GOING AWAY later. Target locked. I felt his hand snake its way to my waist, and the other is on my back. “STOP! Stop, wait—Noelle!” I was dragged away. I looked at the man, and he just smiled. “Later?” he mouthed the words that I couldn't hear over the loud music. I just smiled at him and faced my classmate. “What the hell was that? I told you not to call me by my name here too!” I asked her. She’s not about to ruin my fun tonight. “Be thankful I did that, I saw your brother, Aki, over there at the bar counter,” She pointed in the said direction, and I instantly covered my face. I looked at myself. I am wearing a red bodycon dress with cutouts on the sides, paired with black strappy heels. s**t, s**t, s**t! I’ve had enough of seeing him on every occasion possible…he cannot see me like this! “Here’s your purse bag, your laptop is heavy as f**k. Who brings a laptop to a bar?” she gave me my brown leather purse bag. Yeah right. I went back to the dance floor, but the man I saw a while ago is gone…WHERE IS MY TARGET MAN AT? I've gotta go and switch places before my damned brother sees me in this place and outfit. It’s already 10:30 p.m. “Looking for me?” My eyes widened. This cannot be. Why now? He kissed me, and now he’s on top of me. “I know you want this,” he said as he lowered his face to mine. I responded with a deep kiss as I held his face. SHIT. I cannot be remembering that stuff now. THAT WAS A BIG MISTAKE. “Are you alright?” I turned around to face him. After looking around to make sure my brother is not looking this way, I just smiled and grabbed his hand. “Is that—Noelle! Hey—excuse me, Noelle! Don’t make me say your full name!” SHIT. NOW HE’S SEEN ME. I ran while grabbing the hand of the man I was dancing with. I need to get to a hotel. RIGHT! That’s where we are going anyway. Running is no easy feat with this laptop! “I don’t know what we’re running from, but give me that laptop first.” I did and now we ran into an alley. We hid but he is going this way for sure. “I’m sure Noelle is here…” IT’S HIM! After hearing that he’s nearing our place, I grabbed the face of the man I’m with and kissed him. “Ah..h-he’s looking to this side, by the way,” he whispered as he put our foreheads together to catch our breaths. “Noelle shouldn’t be doing all these things…she should be studying,” I heard Aki, my brother mumbled. After hearing his footsteps walking away, I looked at the man in front of me. This is definitely a catch. He’s too nice for my taste though. I hope he won’t mind this being a one-time thing. “Do you want to come over?” I asked as I smirked at him. He’s tall, so I’m looking up to him. Now that I can see him clearly, he is about the same height as my brother. I think they are in the same age range. STOP THINKING ABOUT AKI! s**t… “Can I really do that?” he asked, smirking back. “Well, my mom won’t mind it too much, and we’ll be in my room, so it’s fine,” I smiled. “How about the guy earlier? Isn’t that your brother? O-or so I heard…” What’s his deal? Doesn’t he want to do it with me or something? I mean, it’s fine, but get to the point… “Don’t mind that too much, let’s go.” I grabbed his arm but this time, I could feel that his feet were planted on the floor. “Noelle, uh…I’m really screwed,” he hesitated. Oh, wait. He heard my name. Nevermind. “With what exactly? Look, you can just tell me—” “AH!” I screamed when a punch landed on the face of the man I was just talking to. “YOU PIECE OF s**t!” “What the hell is your problem, Aki! Wait my laptop! There’s a laptop in that purse!” I shouted and quickly grabbed my purse from the man writhing in pain on the ground. “Ah…shit.” He coughed and smeared blood from his lips. I am not about to be a part of this s**t, so I quietly backed out while my brother is focused on the man. I don’t know what his deal is, but who cares? I can’t exactly leave him here because, for sure, he will snitch on dad and I will lose contact with him entirely. Looking around, there is a wooden bench on the side, so I sat down first. “Man, you sure are too fired up for a brother’s reaction, Aki…” the man coughed again. One punch landed straight into his face again…while my brother remained unscathed. I don’t know how he does that and what his deal is. I knew it, he would overact if he knew about this… “That’s not how a professor should act, by the way…” I mumbled. He should be more mindful of his career. “Shut it and stay there while I finish this, and YOU, how dare you even get near to her? SHE’S A CHILD!” “THE f**k? I’M NO CHILD AKI!/SHE SEDUCED ME AND WE HIT IT OFF!” I looked at the man after we shouted at the same time. He’s not wrong, but why did that sound wrong? I will give Aki a talking later. HOW DARE HE GRAB MY TARGET?? He’s ruining one of the joys this life could ever give me. I sighed and blocked their fighting from my hearing. I have no time for that. My phone vibrated and I answered a call. “Check the student portal, Noelle, the grades are out.” Oh. I put my purse bag on my side and grabbed my laptop…well, to put on my lap. Logging in, I can feel my fingers get cold as I type in my student information. This semester’s professor was the worst, but I hope I didn’t take too much of a hit… My eyes followed the course subject and then the grade… FAILED. FAILED. FAILED. Not one, BUT THREE?! I stood up while holding my laptop. “NAH, why the hell??” That shitty professor… Two of those subject courses are my majors! “What’s the matter, Noelle?” I looked to the side and Aki had just finished doing his punching practice with my target. I sighed… Aki’s intense gaze meets mine, and he slowly raises his hand to his now blood-stained mouth. His fingers traced over the curve of his lips slowly, while a subtle smile played at the corners. I mentally smacked my head. WHAT WAS THAT IMAGE?! I looked down to see the man now trying to stand up and run away. NO, MY TARGET! “Look at me, Noelle.” A stern voice called me out, and now I am looking at Aki. Of course, it’s July, and the last time I talked to Aki was at Christmas. We’re not that close anymore. NOT AFTER THAT INCIDENT. But why is he still acting like this? I keep asking myself, is it just me? Am I the only one who feels this way because I’m the only one who’s guilty? Because I'm the only one who remembers the blurry bits?? “Stop ordering me around. You even followed me here. What’s your deal? A 27-year-old successful professor wouldn’t be out partying this late,” I mumbled as I closed my laptop and prepared to go home. My mom’s not strict with my actions, but if she knew about my failed grades, she would snap. Surely, she will limit my nightly activities. I can’t have that. It is the only thing that I can do to release stress from this life. TO FORGET THAT MISTAKE. He walked up to me, and since I was standing near the bench, I had no choice but to sit down or else I would lose my balance. Being near him anywhere makes it difficult for me to breathe properly. Now I am looking up to him. He smiled. I hate that it’s a genuine smile. “If only…you would give me a chance again, Noelle. But I wouldn’t force you,” he grabbed my purse bag and wore it on his shoulders. “What—” “Let’s go? You need to go home now. I’ll give you a ride,” He held out his hand. I just looked at it. What does he want me to do? Act like nothing happened? ACT LIKE THAT INCIDENT DIDN’T HAPPEN? 4 years ago, yes. But it still happened. I stood up on my own and motioned for him to give me my bag back. He ignored me and walked away. “Argh!” I shouted in that alley. Does he think he’s better than me because, even after that incident, he’s still successful and I am a failure? I even failed three of my subjects. If I become a successful surgeon like our father, surely he will come back. But now, NOW WHAT SHOULD I DO? If I don’t pass these subjects during the summer class, my graduation will be delayed! I will be known as a disgusting, immoral daughter who cannot achieve anything and f****d around with her brother. That fact cannot be known, or else I’ll lose them forever. My family. We will be complete. We will be happy just as before. I just need to figure this out without our mom knowing. THE WHOLE car ride is quiet. I pestered him into letting me ride in the backseat. I can’t even be in the same enclosed area as him and now he wants me beside him? He didn’t budge, so I’m here suffering beside him. “I don’t want to question your choices too much, Noelle. But partying alone at night is not safe.” His stern voice is now back. His eyes are still glued to the road. “I am not alone, I’m with my friends,” I said while looking out the window by my side. “Then where are they? You were with a random man, Noelle. You were—” “Okay! Okay, I know! I was making out with him! There! And what is it to you? You failed to do so, and now you’re trying to act like a proper brother?” “Noelle? I don’t even remember what happened that night! I’m in the dark just as much as you!” “You are older! That day was supposed to be spent with Theo! I was supposed to be with him! Why do you always ruin things for me? AH—” The car suddenly stopped. I faced him, but he’s just looking straight ahead, gripping his steering wheel. I can see the veins popping out of his fair hands. Alright. I’ve lived with him since forever, and he’s mad. But I’m not wrong. He turned to me, his left hand on the steering wheel, while the other is on the backrest. I tried scooting back to the window to escape his intense gaze. “Please, Aki. Stop this. You know well that…that mistake shouldn’t have been done in the first place. It ruined me and I’m trying my best, so please…don’t ruin it for me.” “I’m not ruining things for you, Noelle. I’m trying to save you. Doing this won’t help you at all. I saw you a while ago, and that’s not the same happiness that I watched over growing up. Forget what happened, but you cannot do this to yourself,” he only looked at me. I hate it. He’s genuinely concerned, but it feels different. It’s not fair. I quickly got out of his car. Before closing the door, I stared at him, “Don’t follow me ever again. I don’t know how you got a hold of my location, but I don’t want you in my business. I’m an adult, and I can handle myself.” “I just want you to be safe…” Aki mumbled something that I didn’t bother hearing. AFTER that car scenario, I went back home only to be greeted by my mother’s intense stare. Why are people intensely staring at me these days? She is in the living room, arms crossed and staring at me. “Was that your brother? Why didn’t you call him in?” “He said he got work.” “Okay, tell him to call me, alright? Anyway, what’s up with your grades?” How did she know it’s today? “Your brother texted me a while ago that this is the season where your grades are out. So?” Shit… “Open your laptop and let me see,” she motioned for me to sit down beside her. I did and while logging in, I can already feel the cold sweat trickling down my forehead. “EXPLAIN THIS TO ME, NOELLE SALAZAR!” “Don’t hit me with a broomstick mom!”