Restless Heart

Barry hosted a banquet at the Today Manor, inviting almost all the old classmates who were still developing in New York City. When someone told him that August Dean was also coming, Barry was surprised. After a few rounds of drinks, Barry invited everyone to the manor's card table. The atmosphere was lively, with August sitting at the main seat near the entrance, seemingly in a good mood, with a smile on his face, and playing his cards quickly and accurately. Just as August's female opponent, who happened to sit opposite him, needed to use the restroom, Barry stepped in to play on her behalf. August didn't say anything when the opponents changed. He casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing his clean and powerful arms, and glanced at Barry before lowering his head to look at his cards, the long lashes casting a shadow on his face. "August..." Barry spoke up, "Are you really dating that female celebrity, Daisy Cole?" Only then did August raise his head. The person asking was his new opponent, and August had a good memory, especially in recent years. He could remember everything clearly, except for the name of the person asking him now. However, he remembered clearly that this person had tried to steal his girlfriend Julia back in college, acting shamelessly as if he didn't know August. "Yeah, we are together. Why? Are you interested in her?" August replied calmly. Barry suddenly threw the cards, scattering the deck with classical beauty prints all over the green tablecloth. Just before Barry could make any further aggressive moves, several classmates hurriedly pulled him back. "What's wrong with you, Barry? Are you losing your temper? Sit down, quickly!" Barry Parker's face was red, showing a deep resentment towards August, but he didn't say anything. He allowed the classmates to pull him into the next room. The original opponent of August returned, and a lady in a sexy black spaghetti strap dress came to reshuffle the cards and deal them out again... The previous incident seemed as if it had never happened. The host, Steven, chuckled and said, "August, you really shouldn't argue with Barry. He's just unlucky. He was recently scammed by a young girl, and his work on the case hasn't been going well. It's understandable that he's a bit irritable today." August smiled noncommittally. "I'm fine, Steven." Steven forced a smile. "Yes, of course, I'm just worried that it might ruin our friendship. Let's go for a few drinks at the bar after this?" "Forget it, maybe next time. I have to go on a business trip tomorrow." ——————————————————————- August didn't go to the bar. In fact, he was the first to leave, coming out to check the time, which happened to be midnight. He went to the garage to get his car, sitting in the silent cabin. August felt somewhat dazed, leaning quietly against the car seat with a calm expression. He took out a cigarette, lighting it, but soon lost interest. After a while, he lifted his hand to take a puff, and a faint white smoke slowly escaped from his nose, while the sparks flickered between his fingers in the dimly lit car cabin, accentuating his flickering eyes. His phone suddenly vibrated beside him. It was Daisy. August tiredly rubbed his temples because the phone vibrations seemed endless. He picked up the phone, answering with a tone that wasn't particularly friendly. A soft and sweet voice, smooth like satin, came from the other end. "August, when are you coming back?" August hung up the phone and skillfully reversed the car out of the parking space. Since the manor was located in the suburbs, he drove down the road, the dim streetlights receding as he went. The car passed by the shimmering city canal, then onto the highway, bypassing the lights and revelry, eventually arriving at a luxury apartment in Manhattan. After tossing the keys from the elevator and opening the door, a fragrant and soft body immediately threw itself into his arms. Daisy hung onto him tightly, her long and beautiful legs wrapping around his waist, one hand hooked around his neck, the other hurriedly unbuttoning his shirt. August pushed Daisy onto the sofa in the living room and went to the bathroom to take a shower. August had developed a habit of not being comfortable sharing a bathroom with others. After the shower, August came out to find Daisy wearing only his old T-shirt. Working in the entertainment industry, Daisy was as thin as a matchstick to look good on camera. So, the T-shirt, meant for summer, looked particularly oversized on Daisy, reaching down to about the middle of her thighs. "Take off this shirt!" August stopped drying his hair, his tone not particularly heavy, but enough to make Daisy's heart sink slightly. "No." Daisy smiled coquettishly, moving towards August, "No, I don't want to take it off myself. I want you to help me take it off..." With that, she stubbornly stood up, sticking to him, rubbing her body against him while kissing his neck. August grabbed Daisy's waist, pulling her onto the bed... After the intimate moment, Daisy snuggled into August's arms. He couldn't ejaculate during the act, and in the end, it was Daisy who helped out with her mouth. August pushed the woman snuggled up to him away, not in a good mood. "Aren't you feeling hot?" "Isn't it supposed to be cooling?" Daisy approached again, holding August's cold face with a special affection. "Director Smith offered me a contract. August, I'm so happy. You've been good to me." "Yeah, I haven't even spent so much money on my wife." August suddenly chuckled, patting Daisy's face, "But I'm really curious, you only get criticism for the roles you play. Do you enjoy being criticized so much? How can there be someone as despicable as you?" "Ugh, you're such a jerk." August got up and went to the liquor cabinet in the living room to pour himself a drink, then went to the terrace to light a cigarette. Over the years, his tolerance for alcohol had increased, and he belonged to the type that became more sober the more he drank. Sober enough to feel the loneliness and helplessness in every part of his body. This boundless emptiness was like the cool breeze of the summer night penetrating his chest from the twenty-eighth floor, so cold it hurt, as if there were cards scraping against his inner chest cavity. August took another two showers, looking at himself in the mirror afterward. On the surface, he appeared fine, but inside, he felt twisted, dirty, and gradually decaying, like his soul.