THEIR ΦΩΤΙΆ(LIGHT)

Let's Bet

JACKY

I wake up to the ringing of my alarm placed at the nightstand. It's 6:45 am already, I feel like I only slept for 10 mins.

I don't want to go out. I just feel like sleeping forever and hide from everyone.

I went through this every morning though. Waking up all numb, not knowing why I even woke up.

My nightmares remind me of the memories I really want to forget and bury to the pits of the earth.

I want them to just disappear, hoping for that day that I'll wake up to notice I have amnesia.

I forgot everything. But I know that's just wishful thinking, so I just decide to wake up and face the day.

With sleepy eyes and a lazy body, I throw the covers off me and head towards the bathroom to brush my teeth.

I come to the bedroom to grab my clothes and head for the bathroom to have a quick shower since I hate walking around with a towel.

My house is not that big as it's a single room with blue and brown washable walls and a patterned floor.

The living room is at the middle which has two brown couches having white spots, an armchair facing the balcony, and a coffee table near the shelves stocked with my favorite self help books for my mental health.

On the left side, my kitchen lies, with a sink, drawers and a small island encircled by two stools.

My bedroom is on the right side , which has my black and purple themed walls, covers, sheets and curtains.

My black bathroom door is on its right with a golden coloured knob. My brown closet is on the left side of my bed drawers.

I quickly shower, wearing my work clothes. I go to my vanity table just after my large mirror in the bathroom to apply my mascara and pink lip gloss since I dislike make up.

My neck is adorned with a necklace pendant which was given to me by Sister Sera when I was staying in the children's home.

I am wearing an oversized black plain t-shirt, a blue pair of jorts, white pair of ankle length socks and black pair of Nike sneakers.

I like wearing loose clothes, to escape the truth that I resemble her everywhere.

I take my sling bag from my bag hanger sitting beside my shoe rack and finally my favorite toilet water perfume.

My red waist length hair is left free and curly at it's end. I remove my phone from the charge and head for work which is just three blocks from home.

It's 7:30 already.

I lock my door and start walking with my ear pods on my ears listening to my latest audiobook.

I open the door of the eatery, the bell jingles announcing my arrival. I say hi to Mrs. Jones and Mariah, my best friend and colleague as we came from the orphanage together.

Mariah hugs me affectionately and we disengage quickly before Cecilia starts ranting since she always feels neglected.

We are a circle of friends but Cecilia being the most insecure one rants whenever she feels that we'll leave her alone someday.

I guess everyone has their own demons and her demons are the fears of being left alone.

We always have to assure her that we're there to stay, love her and cherish her.

Cecilia is a blonde with emerald green eyes, pink full lips, tanned skin and high cheekbones which makes her strikingly beautiful.

She has that body of a professional model though we all know that she is insecure with her body.

Her medium sized busts, snatched waist, round delicious ass and long sexy legs make her undoubtedly attractive.

Don't get me wrong I'm not gay but I think she has a killer body that could cause a tragic accident.

Today she's in a white bishop-sleeved blouse and a red pencil skirt matched with black stilettos. She likes it formal every time.

Same goes to Mariah but she is a brunette with an olive skin, ocean blue eyes pink pouty lips and she has a bigger ass and thick juicy thighs but smaller busts.

She's in a white floral sundress matched with black sandals and her hair is left open.

She's about 5'7 while Ceci is 5'9.

We start working when Mrs. Jones comes from her office to go do her things.

She is a short, sassy plump lady in her late fifties, with warm and kind hazel brown eyes, black hair which has started being grey at its roots, a beautiful smile and face.

We continue working until Ceci (Cecilia), smacks my ass hard just to ask me why I have dark circles under my eyes.

She acts like a mother to the two of us always asking how we are. Mar (Mariah) and I know how much it means to have someone to care for you even if you countlessly shun them away but they always come back.

Ceci has also been through a lot since she came from a rich family where her preferences and desires were never considered.

She ran away from home when her parents were trying to marry her off in a contract marriage with the president's son.

Even her fiancee dumped her on the altar during their wedding day for her cousin whom he said that she had the 'perfect body of a grown woman '.

Also, she used to be plumb when she was a kid. She fought through her insecurities at school when she was a teenager.

There was a time that Mar and I were so depressed that she ordered the two of us to move in with her.

Like ordered, no requesting. We still sleep at her place when we have our sleep overs at her place.

She was so strict with us that we thought we found a mom that we've always yearned for.

She has a big heart that she loves everyone equally and doesn't act like a spoiled brat as many rich kids are.

She is insanely empathetic, selfless and any trait anyone would want for a mom but annoyingly stubborn and loud.

Despite whatever she went through, she didn't let that pain change her instead, making her more independent and caring, at the same time, humble.

That was when we found each other, three broken souls.

Mar was abandoned by her mom and left her in a beach house when she was 3 years old.

Her mom and dad were said to run away from home in their early years so her grandparents never knew she ever existed.

Her dad passed away when she was 2 while her mom left her in that beach house since everything felt all heavy for her.

She was planning on killing herself but thought otherwise so she called the orphanage to pick Mar up before she killed herself.

We're all 25 years but still carry with us deep wounds that we don't see when they'll heal.

I heard from Sister Sera that my mom was married to my father's brother and she's living happily ever after with her family. I don't know where she lives and that is not my least of my worries.

" Darlings, I saw a notice for a personal assistant job vacancy today . Let's bet that whoever passes out earlier today at the Arch applies for that job and makes sure she gets it."

She says merrily. The Arch is a club that was opened recently in Los Angeles.

There goes Ceci with her ridiculous games and bets and I promise you, they aren't always good.

She's placed a bet with a guy who is a current boyfriend which she lost. I must say the guy is also sick in the head since he wanted her as his price.

That's how she victimized herself and I have a feeling this won't end well either, on my side at least.

I knew that I'd lose to that challenge since I am a lightweight compared to them.

" If we all get wasted tonight then who's going to bring us back?"

Mar asks which I hum in agreement.

" And Ceci you know how much of a lightweight Jacky is and how hard it is to get a cab late at night."

Mar proceeds of which I must say that she is somehow of her dad's version though I've never met him.

She is intellectual, empathetic, selfless and fights for who she loves.

She is so brave, responsible and matured compared to any of us, especially me who acts as a lost child.

She has the characters of a female leader, assertive, strong and wise. But she's terribly shy.

"Thanks dad,"

I say hugging her tightly and kissing her cheeks.

" Come on Mar our boyfriends James and Seb will be there for us, so no worries. As for our little angel Jacky, we'll give a mild alcoholic drink. Chill, today is on Friday, I'd advise you loosen up."

she sings merrily stressing the last syllables of the word Friday.

Sebastian Williamson and James Anthony are Mar's and Ceci's boyfriends, as for me I have never dated and I think I'll never get married one day.

Sebastian is the boy version of Ceci apart from he is too rational for his own good , while James is his own mysterious person.

Did I tell you that I'm the oldest and Mar the youngest but it's just a difference of months.

We're almost done with our shifts when Sebastian snakes his hand on Mar's waist pulling her to his chest from behind and kisses her neck inhaling her scent.

He's always playing PDA in public since he's pretty possessive. He calls it showing her off and sending a message to people that Mar is taken.

Mar's face flushes immediately which happens every time Seb acts romantic with her.

I chuckle softly and leave them to be cause I know how shy Mar can be if she got kissed in front of me.

I head towards the kitchen only to find James between Ceci's legs who is sitting on top of the kitchen island, making out as her blouse is unbuttoned and skirt pulled up to her waist, with her hair disheveled.

These two are the craziest couple I've ever met and I have to tread carefully whenever we're together.

Cause any intimate act triggers my trauma leading to my panic attacks. It became normal that I couldn't watch movies or series with intimate scenes.

I turn immediately towards the bathroom as that scene triggers my trauma. I splash water on my face quickly minding my breathing pattern.

Breathing in and out, listening to my pulse and heart beat to shun from the loud noises in my head.

I feel better with time after taking deep breaths. I reminisce when Sister Sera said that she found me in a dump site defiled and unconscious that she thought I was dead.

She used to teach me how to interact with people since I couldn't even talk to anyone after that night.

She always said that my eyes were devoid of warmth, hollow and always shouted of pain.

Everyday she said that it was fate that she passed through that route that day when she came from the church in the city.

She always said that I have a strong fate but I never cared what she meant.

She's the only person , apart from my best friends and Mrs Jones, who ever cared for me.

When her demise was announced, I fell into depression. Mar and Ceci were always there for me. Mar masked her pain so that I won't get worried about her.

I'm so glad that I have people like them in my life. Those kinds of friends who'll always care and look out for you